Panel of Judges Sides With Koi Nation in Lawsuit, Clearlake Now Must Consider Options

The city of Clearlake is looking at what’s next after a panel of three state appellate court judges ruled on Friday that the city didn’t include a cultural analysis presented by the Koi Nation in preparing environmental documents for a proposed hotel within the city limits. That decision will further delay the development of a new hotel and meeting hall in Clearlake as well as a road extension to Old Highway 53. The Koi lawsuit is the first case to test the strength of the consultation requirement as applies to cities, counties and other lead agencies.