Clearlake highlights shelter successes, proclaims Child Abuse Prevention Month and outlines traffic-safety steps

Clearlake — At its April 18 meeting the council proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, received an animal-shelter status report and heard a police briefing on pedestrian-safety measures.

Kiersten Martinez of Lake County Child Welfare accepted the proclamation and described partnerships the agency uses to protect children and promote prevention programs. JB White, April event coordinator, detailed the Pinwheel Garden Challenge, a children’s art contest whose winning artwork will be reproduced on local restaurant placemats, and public events at Austin Park and the American Legion Hall.

A lieutenant (unspecified) reported animal-shelter numbers year-to-date: 87 dogs taken in, 64 departed the shelter (17 to rescues, 36 returned to owners, 9 adopted), 2 euthanized, and a reported live-release rate of 98.6 percent. The shelter currently houses 46 animals (43 dogs and 3 puppies); staff have issued 88 microchips and provided 56 free vaccinations year-to-date.

Chief Hobbs described a recent cluster of pedestrian-involved traffic incidents and outlined steps the police department and public works are taking: extra traffic enforcement, temporary radar-trailer deployment, rotating electronic message signs focused on pedestrian-awareness and nighttime-visibility tips, and ongoing coordination through a traffic-safety committee meeting scheduled for next week.

Council members also reported on regional planning meetings, broadband and area-plan work, and reminded residents about upcoming events including a senior summit at Twin Pines and a ribbon-cutting for Oak Valley Villas.