This August 7th, the Susanville City Council will meet to discuss several pressing issues, including updates to zoning laws, nuisance properties, and complaints about hybrid wolf dogs.
The City Planning Department will present lien hearings to recover costs from the Teazak Family Trust for two properties on Cottage Street that have not been maintained to city code standards. These hearings are part of the city’s ongoing efforts to enforce property upkeep and meet community standards.
Additionally, the City Code Enforcement Division and Police Department have received numerous complaints over the years about the keeping and breeding hybrid wolf dogs at a local home. The property owner, John Murray, has been reported for keeping more than six dogs without proper dog licensing, vaccinations, a required Use Permit from the Planning Department, or a Commercial Kennel License from the Police Department. Despite being served with a Notice of Intent to Declare a Public Nuisance Order, which required compliance within ten days, Mr. Murray has not met the city’s requirements. The notice was delivered in person, posted at his home, and mailed. This has been an ongoing issue for nearly two years, where his dogs were once terrorizing city streets and ordered to comply under former retired Police Chief Ryan Cochran.
The council will also review updates to the city’s zoning laws to facilitate more housing development following state mandates. These updates were discussed at a public hearing on May 28, 2024. They include making building Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) easier, providing Reasonable Accommodations, and setting clear design standards for Multifamily Housing Projects. The city has confirmed that these changes will not have significant environmental impacts and are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
In another agenda item, the council will address the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to the Susanville Elk’s Lodge and the Susanville Symphony Society. To ensure the funds are used appropriately, the council is considering forming an ad hoc committee of two council members. This committee would work with city staff and the fund recipients to develop project-specific agreements, which will then be presented to the full City Council for approval.
The council agenda can be found on the city website. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 7th, at 5 p.m. in City Hall.
