HomeMy WebLinkAbout6g. FY 2025-30 Animal Control Services Agreement Item 6g
Department: Police
Cost Center: 8001
For Agenda of: 8/19/2025
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Rick Scott, Police Chief
Prepared By: Melissa Ellsworth, Senior Business Analyst
SUBJECT: FY 2025-30 ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES AGREEMENT
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Mayor to execute a five-year agreement with the County of San Luis Obispo
for the continued provision of Animal Care and Control Services for the period of July 1,
2025, to June 30, 2030, in the amount of $389,746 for the first year, with ann ual
adjustments thereafter.
POLICY CONTEXT
The recommended actions are consistent with the City of San Luis Obispo’s Financial
Management Manual, Purchasing Policy, pursuant to which any general services
contracts exceeding $150,000 require City Council approval.
DISCUSSION
The City contracts with the County of San Luis Obispo for the provision of Animal
Care and Control Services for the following:
1. Shelter Services, including:
a. Maintaining an animal shelter where stray, owner surrendered, confiscated,
quarantined or impounded pets are received and provided with appropriate
care.
b. Providing services to allow sheltered animals to be returned, adopted or
humanely euthanized.
2. Field Services, including:
a. Receiving and responding to public calls for service related to animal
management
b. Providing necessary medical treatment and emergency care of domestic
animals when necessary
c. Investigating animal bite reports
3. Provide reporting to the City on a bi-annual basis
4. Participate collaboratively with the City regrading matters impacting the provision
of animal care and control services.
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Item 6g
The Police Department administers the contract on behalf of the City. Although the
current contract expired on June 30, 2025, the County agreed to continue providing
services to each City while further development and adoption of the new contract
continued. Department staff received the County’s final draft of the contract on June 16th,
2025. Additionally, the County initiated a change to the term of the contract from three
years to five years. The main reason for this change was to reduce staff time related to
contract renewals that contain consistent scope and terms.
How Costs are Determined
The County uses a service-based methodology to determine contract costs for all cities.
This methodology is based on Field Service and Licensing. In general, contract costs are
calculated by determining the average percentage of service allocated to each city over
the preceding three years for each facet of operations and multiplying this percentage
against the Animal Services operational budgeted expenses. The average annual
revenue generated from licensing fees or fines by each city over the preceding three
years is applied against a city’s total service cost.
Each city (with the exception of Atascadero) experienced an increase in cost for FY 2025 -
26. Per the County, in addition to using service-based methodology, the following factors
also contributed to the increases:
1. Overall inflationary pressures associated with County expenses, including:
a. Significant increases in liability insurance costs
b. Increased overhead expense assessments
c. Moderate cost increases for fleet services (vehicle maintenance and repair,
fuel, etc.)
d. Increased costs for animal feed and veterinary services. This derives in part
from significant increases in the actual cost of veterinary services generally
coupled with higher levels of animal intake and shelter populations which
results in increased need for those services.
2. New landscaping contract for grounds services, this labor having previously been
performed by County Parks employees.
3. Hiring additional shelter personnel to perform duties previously performed by
County Jail inmates. As a result of some program changes at the jail, inmates
were no longer able to work in the shelter, which resulted in the need to hire
personnel.
4. Specific to the City of San Luis Obispo, cost drivers also included:
a. Decreased revenue generation (e.g. licensing revenue, service fees for
adoptions/impounds, etc.)
b. An increased rate of animal intakes over the three-year cost averaging
period, coupled with decreased intakes from some other cities, pushes the
proportionate share of operational costs higher for San Luis Obispo.
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Item 6g
Below is a chart showing the City’s annual costs since 2022. Costs have increased based
on various factors, including what was mentioned above. A significant jump in costs
occurred in 2023 due to the shelter hiring additional personnel. Those costs were then
distributed among all jurisdictions.
City Jurisdiction FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
San Luis Obispo 190,984 240,883 339,026 389,746
Scope of Services
The proposed contract provides for the delivery of Animal Care and Control services
to the City of San Luis Obispo for five years, through June 30, 2030. Services include
(as outlined in Exhibit A of Attachment A), but are not limited to:
1. Sheltering Services - Provide shelter services in accordance with state
regulations, local ordinances, and policies governing the humane treatment of
animals.
2. Field Services - Receive and respond to public calls for service related to alleged
violations of local or state codes pertaining to the care, keeping, treatment, and
management of animals.
3. Reporting - Provide to the City bi-annual service activity and financial reports
reflecting field services, licensing and shelter operations.
4. Collaboration – Participate collaboratively with the City regarding matters
impacting the provision of animal care and control services.
a. County will also develop performance benchmarks and communicate
those quarterly on topics including cost of services per city, number of full
time equivalent positions within Animal Services over time, GIS hea t maps
with calls for service over a period of time, average response times,
percentage of animals licensed per city, and other data points.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On November 1, 2022, the City Council approved the Animal Services contract for FY
2022-25.
Public Engagement
The public will have an opportunity to provide public comment prior to or at the City
Council meeting.
CONCURRENCE
The Director of Finance concurs with the staff recommendation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to recommended actions in this
report, because the actions do not constitute a “Project” under CEQA guidelines Sec
15378.
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Item 6g
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2025-26
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual Cost
for FY 25-26
General Fund $389,746 $ $ $389,746
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $389,746 $ $ $389,746
The department has available funding in FY 2025-26 for year one of this contact.
However, if costs increase for FY 2026-27 and beyond, staff will need to request
additional funding through the budget process.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could choose not to approve this new contract with County Animal
Services. This would restrict the City’s ability to provide these types of services to the
community, many of which are required by law and would likely necessitate the City
creating and funding its own animal control program.
ATTACHMENTS
A - FY 2025-30 Agreement with County of San Luis Obispo for Animal Care and Control
Services
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CONTRACT FOR
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES
THIS CONTRACT, entered into by and between the County of San Luis Obispo, a
public entity in the State of California, (“County”) and, the City of San Luis Obispo, an
incorporated city in the State of California, (“City”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, County has established the Division of Animal Services to provide animal
care and control functions including the enforcement of the ordinances of San Luis Obispo
County Code Title 9 and of California state codes pertaining to the care, keeping, and
management of animals; and
WHEREAS, County through Animal Services, maintains and operates an animal shelter
and a humane education program; and
WHEREAS, City is desirous of contracting with County for the provision of such
services;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, conditions agreements and
stipulations set fourth herein, the parties hereby agree that to the following terms and
conditions.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Exhibits. The contract consists of the terms and conditions as set forth in the following
exhibits:
a. Exhibit A – Scope of Services
b. Exhibit B – Compensation
c. Exhibit C – Duration of Contract
d. Exhibit D – General Conditions
2. Notices. Notices required in this contract shall be provided to:
COUNTY: CITY:
Eric Anderson, DVM Rick Scott
Animal Services Manager Chief of Police
865 Oklahoma Ave. 1042 Walnut St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, County and Contractor have executed this Contract on the
day and year set forth below.
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COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
By: By:
Chairperson of the Board of
Supervisors
Mayor
Date: Date:
ATTEST:
MATT PONTES
Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By:
___________________________________
_____
Deputy Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL
EFFECT:
JON ANSOLABEHERE
County Counsel
Deputy County Counsel
Dated: August 11, 2025
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CONTRACT FOR
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES
EXHIBIT A – SCOPTE OF SERVICES
1) County Obligations. The County shall perform the following duties:
a) Shelter Services
i) Maintain, or cause to be maintained, an animal shelter whereat stray, owner
surrendered, confiscated, quarantined and custodially impounded household pets are
received and provided with appropriate care, housing, and shelter services in
accordance with state regulations, local ordinances, and policies governing the
humane treatment of such animals.
ii) Provide services allowing sheltered animals to be returned to their owners, adopted
into new homes, or to be humanely euthanized.
iii) Provide for the receipt and publication of lost and found animal reports.
iv) Provide services for the humane euthanasia of household pets and for the disposal
of their remains.
b) Field Services
i) Receive and respond to public calls for service related to alleged violations of local or
state codes pertaining to the care, keeping, treatment, and management of animals.
ii) Provide for the response to any of the following circumstances 24 hours a day, seven
days a week:
(1) Domestic animals posing an active and present threat to public safety
(2) Domestic animals which are severely injured, sick, or in eminent risk and whose
owner is unknown or unavailable.
(3) Domestic or wild animals demonstrating signs of possible rabies infection.
(4) Calls for assistance from law enforcement or emergency response personnel.
(5) Reported animal bites where the animal remains in the area unconfined and
whose owner is unknown or unavailable.
(6) Loose livestock roaming on roadways or other public areas.
iii) Provide for the response to any of the following during Animal Services' normal
business hours:
(1) Pick-up and impoundment of unlimited numbers of stray confined domestic
animals.
(2) Pick-up and disposal of unlimited numbers of dead domestic animals from
roadways, parks, and other public areas.
(3) Pick up and transfer to shelter of owned animals for surrender or euthanasia.
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(4) Pick up of dead owned animals for disposal.
iv) Provide for the necessary medical treatment and emergency care for domestic
animals picked up by Animal Services personnel and for those domestic animals
presented directly to veterinarians by private citizens and emergency response
personnel.
v) Provide for the receipt, processing and investigation of animal bite reports as well as
the subsequent quarantine of animals in accordance with state codes pertaining to
rabies control.
vi) In the event that an animal responsible for causing serious bodily injury (as defined
by Penal Code 243(f)(4)) or death to a person dies in the custody of, or is
euthanized by, Animal Services, County shall preserve the bodily remains of that
animal until such time as City has been consulted and approves of their disposal.
Nothing in this requirement shall be interpreted to prevent Animal Services from
collecting and processing any tissue or body samples required to comply with legally
mandated rabies testing requirements or other public health needs.
vii) Request assistance from the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office Bureau
of Investigations when an animal bite results in significant injury causing death or
likely to cause death or in any case Animal Services believes may require significant
criminal investigation beyond the experience of Animal Services Officers.
viii) Receive and respond to reports of animals, domestic or wild, which are suspected to
be rabid or to have been exposed to rabies infection and attempt to affect their
capture. Captured animals will be processed in accordance with state codes
pertaining to rabies control.
ix) Receive and process all applications related to the keeping and sale of household
pets; inspect and regulate permitted operations in accordance with local and state
codes.
x) Provide for the recording, investigation, administrative hearings, and issuance of
findings and orders related to animal nuisances, animal seizures or confiscations,
and dangerous or vicious animals. Nuisances which remain unresolved following the
issuance of an abatement order will be processed to court through the District
Attorney’s office.
xi) Assist in the preparation and filing of court documents related to the civil and/or
criminal prosecution of cases involving violation of municipal codes pertaining to the
care, treatment, and keeping of domestic animals.
xii) Provide for the preparation, filing and civil or criminal prosecution of cases involving
violations of California state codes pertaining to the care, treatment, and keeping of
domestic animals.
c) Reporting: Provide to the City bi-annual service activity and financial reports reflecting
field services, licensing, and shelter operations, programs. Reports will detail this
information for both the individual quarter and year-to-date.
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d) Collaboration: Participate collaboratively with the City regarding matters impacting the
provision of animal care and control services. County shall not append or modify the
provisions of Title 9 of the San Luis Obispo County Code without having first consulted
with the City.
2) City Obligations. The City shall perform the following duties:
a) Ordinance Conformity: City shall adopt by reference Title 9 of the San Luis Obispo
County Code.
i) In the event that City does not desire to incorporate specific provisions of Title 9,
those provisions may be individually exempted from adoption.
ii) In the event that City desires to incorporate additional provisions related to the care
and keeping of animals which are not established by Title 9, those provisions may be
added and individually specified within City’s municipal code. Animal Services will not
be responsible for enforcing any added provisions which are substantially outside of
the Animal Service Division’s normal scope of operations.
b) City shall immediately notify the County upon determining that any animal in the
custody of Animal Services is believed to have caused serious bodily injury (as defined
by Penal Code 243(f)(4)) or death to a person and request that the body of that animal
be preserved in the event that it dies or is euthanized while in custody.
c) Assistance: Provide such assistance and support to Animal Services personnel as may be
reasonably necessary to safely and effectively execute the operations required by this
contract within the City limits.
d) Collaboration: Participate collaboratively with the County regarding matters impacting
the provision of animal care and control services. City shall not append or modify the
provisions of its municipal code related to animal care and control without having first
consulted with County.
3) Animal Care and Control Coordination Group: The County and City agree that Animal
Services is a shared interest of all parties and that all participating jurisdictions will share in
the cost and revenue generated based on actual costs and fees generated in each
jurisdiction. Further, policy-setting, procedural changes and ordinance development will
happen in a collaborative manner, with all participating jurisdictions having input into the
best way to conduct these services in San Luis Obispo County.
a) To coordinate efforts, the participating jurisdictions, including the City and County agree
to meet and confer periodically to discuss current issues as they relate to the fiscal and
practical application of this contract, along with other potential items identified by the
group. Such meetings shall be coordinated by the County Animal Services Manager from
time to time as necessary, but no less than twice yearly.
4) As part of this commitment, the County agrees to develop performance benchmarks and
communicate them quarterly to the group on the following:
a) Cost of Services/per Capita (by City) overtime.
b) Cost of services/per City over time.
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c) Number of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions within Animal Control over time.
d) Number of field FTE within Animal Control over time.
e) Geographical Information Service (GIS) heat maps of calls for service over time by City
(requested development from County IT Department, maps to be provided when
available).
f) Average response times for priority calls over time by City.
g) Percentage of animals licensed by the City over time.
h) Other data points charted out over time that were used to spread out the Animal Shelter
costs.
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CONTRACT FOR
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES
EXHIBIT B – COMPENSATION
1) First Year Service Fee: The City agrees to pay to the County the amount of $389,746 for
services provided under this Contract during the first year of service.
2) Subsequent Years’ Service Fee: The County shall compute on an annual basis a service fee
assessed to the City for services provided under this Contract.
3) Timing of Service Fee: The County shall calculate annual service fees and provide them to
the City prior to April 15th of each year, with service fees becoming effective on July 1st of
that year. No further action by either party is necessary to implement new fees in
subsequent years.
4) Service Fee Methodology: The County shall use a service-based methodology for determining
city service fees. The service-based methodology shall be based on three key facets of
Animal Services' operations:
Field Service
Licensing
a) Determination of Cost of Service - The cost of providing services to the City will be
calculated by determining the average percentage of service allocated to the City over
the preceding three years for each of the four facets of operations and multiplying this
percentage against Animal Services operational budgeted expense for each facet.
Combined, this then represents the City's total service cost in proportion to the County
and all other contracting parties.
b) Credit for Fees - The average annual revenue generated from fees or fines assessed
directly to residents of the City by Animal Services over the preceding three years will be
applied against the City's total service cost.
c) Determination of Service Fee - The fee assessed to the City for provision of services
outlined in this contract shall be determined by subtracting the average revenue as
determined by item 4b of this exhibit from the average cost of service as determined by
item 4a of this exhibit.
5) Billing: County shall bill City for contracted services in quarterly increments. City shall remit
payment to the County within thirty (30) days of receipt of billing.
6) Year End Variance – In the event that Animal Services’ net operational costs for any fiscal
year are less than projected in the calculation of the service fee methodology (Item 4 of this
exhibit), the City’s proportionate share of that savings shall be applied as a credit against
the calculated service fee for the subsequent fiscal year.
In the event that Animal Services net operational costs for any fiscal year exceed
projections in the calculation of the service fee methodology (Item 4 of this exhibit), the
City’s proportionate share of the overage shall be added to the calculated service fee for the
subsequent fiscal year.
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CONTRACT FOR
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES
EXHIBIT C – DURATION
1) Effective Date: This contract shall be effective July 1, 2025, or fifteen (15) days following of
the date of the signature of the County, whichever is later. The County shall be the last to
sign this contract.
2) Service Date: City and County acknowledge that the services provided under this contract are
a continuation of those established during the preceding contract term and that these
services may have been provided continually and without interruption between July 1, 2025,
and the date of execution by the County in order to ensure the interest of public service.
a) Both City and County expressly and retroactively authorize the provision of these
services.
b) For the purposes of billing and determination of the First Year Service Fee as provided in
Exhibit B, the first year of service will be presumed to have begun on July 1, 2025.
3) Duration: The term of this Contract shall expire June 30, 2030, unless terminated sooner as
provided in Exhibit D.
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CONTRACT FOR
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL SERVICES
EXHIBIT D – GENERAL CONDITIONS
1) Termination: Either party may terminate this contract at any time by giving the other party
thirty (30) days written notice of termination. Termination for convenience shall have no
effect upon the rights and obligations of the parties arising out of any services provided
occurring prior to the effective date of such termination. County shall be paid for all work
satisfactorily completed prior to the effective date of termination. In the event that the
contract is terminated prior to the conclusion of a quarterly billing cycle, the City shall remit
to the County a prorated amount based upon the number of days of service relative to the
total number of days in the billing cycle.
2) Indemnification: Nothing in the provisions of this Contract is intended to create duties or
obligations to, or rights in third parties not party to this contract or affect the legal liability
of either party to contract, by imposing any standard of care respecting the regulation and
enforcement of laws regarding animals different from the standard of care imposed by law.
a) It is understood and agreed that neither City, nor any officer or employee thereof is
responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted
to be done by the County under or in connection with any work, authority or jurisdiction
delegated to the County under this Contract. It is also understood and agreed that
pursuant to Government Code 895.4, County shall defend, indemnify and save harmless
the City, all officers, and employees from all claims, suits or actions of every name, kind,
and description brought forth or on account of injuries or death of any person or
damage to property resulting from anything done or omitted to be done by the County
under this Contract except as otherwise provided by Statute.
b) It is understood and agreed that neither County nor any officer or employee thereof, is
responsible for any damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted
to be done by the City under or in connection with any work, authority or jurisdiction
delegated to the City under this Contract. It is also understood and agreed that pursuant
to Government Code Section 895.4, the City shall defend, indemnify and save harmless
the County, all officers and employees from all claims, suits or actions of every name,
kind and description brought forth on account of injuries or death of any person or
damage to property resulting from anything done or omitted to be done by City under
connection with any work, authority or jurisdiction delegated to the City under this
Agreement except as otherwise provided by Statute.
3) Notices: Any notice, payment, statement, or demand required or permitted to be given
hereunder by either party to the other shall be affected by personal delivery in writing or by
mail, postage prepaid. Mailed notices shall be addressed to the parties at the addresses
appearing below, but each party may change its address by written notice in accordance
with this section. Mailed notices shall be deemed communicated as of three days after
mailing.
COUNTY CITY
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Eric Anderson, DVM Rick Scott
Animal Services Manager Chief of Police
865 Oklahoma Ave. 1042 Walnut St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
4) Status of the Parties' Officers/Employees/Agents: Neither party’s officers, employees,
agents, partners, other contractors or subcontractors shall be deemed to be employees of
the other party at any time. Nothing in this contract shall be construed as creating a civil
service employer - employee relationship or a joint venture relationship. No officer,
employee, agent, partner, other contractor or subcontractor of the other party shall be
eligible for membership in or receive benefits from any plan for hospital, surgical, or
medical insurance, or be eligible for membership in any retirement program, paid vacation,
paid sick leave, other leave, with or without pay, collective bargaining rights, grievance
procedures, appeals to the Civil Service Commission or any other benefits which inures to or
accrues to an employee of the other party. The only performance and rights due the other
party are those specifically stated in this contract.
5) Governing Law and Venue: This Contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California. Additionally, this contract has been formed and shall
be performed in San Luis Obispo County; the venue for any legal action on the contract
shall be in San Luis Obispo County.
6) Entire Agreement: This Contract embodies the complete agreement of the parties hereto,
superseding all oral or written previous and contemporary agreements between the parties
relating to matters herein; and except as otherwise provided herein, cannot be modified
without the prior written agreement of the parties.
7) Severability: In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Contract shall for
any reason be held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision thereof and this Contract
shall be considered as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision had never been
contained in this Contract.
8) Successors and Assigns: This Contract shall be binding upon and insure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and, except
as otherwise provided in this Contract, their assigns.
9) Captions: The captions to the various clauses of this Contract are for information purposes
only and shall not alter the substance of the terms and conditions of this Contract.
10) Authorization: Each of the parties represents and warrants to the other that this Contract
has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or governmental action on the part of
the representing party and that this Contract is fully binding on such party.
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