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5.
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| PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE |
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| Information |
| Referral History: |
The Department’s city service agreements were established in 1985. The agreements stipulate services for mandated programs and the enforcement of all animal related laws. The original city fees were based on Department costs at that time and on a city’s population (per capita). Historically the County has subsidized a significant portion of the contracted cities' cost for Animal Services. The County’s general Fund contribution has often exceeded $20.00 per capita for unincorporated residents while the cities have paid as low as $1.25 to the present $6.79 per capita.
In 2005 and 2006, the Animal Services Department increased city fees for animal services each fiscal year based on the municipality’s population growth and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage.
In FY 2011/12, the Department suspended the annual CPI increase as a result of the economic environment at that time. The annual CPI increase was reinstated in FY 2016/17, though no action was taken at that time to address the gap left by the four-year suspension of rate increases. Therefore, on November 4, 2019 the Animal Services Department presented to the County Finance Committee a cost analysis and the need to increase contracted city fees for service to the 18 cities. The County Finance Committee agreed with the staff’s analysis and recommendations and referred them to the Board of Supervisor. On January 7, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved the Department’s cost analysis report and recommendations to increase the fees with an updated agreement for animal control service to the contracted cities.
On March 12, 2020 the through the Public Managers Association (PMA) the cities notified the County that they were not in agreement with the Department’s proposed new fee schedule and service agreement. As a result of that discussion, in May of 2020, the Department advised the cities of a revised fee for service for FY 2020/21 that represented the cost per capita increased by the CPI as outlined in the original agreement from FY 2005/06.
In September of 2020, the Department advised the cities of staffing and service level reductions that were necessary to reduce costs in response to the cities' rejection of the County's proposed fee increases.
On October 5, 2020, the Department reduced its services to the contracted cities as a cost savings measure:
- Field Services unit’s operating hours were adjusted from 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM to 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM, seven days a week.
- On-call Field Services coverage was eliminated and the afterhours on-call staff were moved to provide appropriate coverage during peak service hours.
- The Department started refering all wildlife calls to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife or Lindsay Wildlife Experience, except if rabies exposure is reported.
- Field Services ceased picking up deceased wild animal pickups on private property.
- All calls for assistance regarding animals caught in storm drains were to be referred to a city’s Public Works Department.
The reduction in services allowed the Department to lower its response times, reduce the calls for activities, while serving the public in a more appropriate timeframe. |
| Referral Update: |
In February 2021, the Department requested to meet with the Public Managers Association (PMA) to discuss again the animal services fee rates. The Department advised the contracted cities that if a sustainable fee plan was not established for FY 2022/23, the Department would again have to reduce services levels, due to the lack of revenue to maintain its operations. During the February 2021 meeting the PMA also requested the Department to assess its deceased animal impound services in comparison to third-party contracted services. The reason for the request was to assess if the cost for services provided by the County would be less if the services were contracted out to a third party. Historically, deceased animal services have been a priority for contracted cities and their citizens.
April 28, 2021, the Department also met with the Chief’s Association on their areas of concerns around the Department’s services level impacts, which were:
- Lack of appropriate staffing for deceased animal pick-ups
- Citizen complaints around lack of response for sick or injured wildlife
- Inadequate beat coverage by Animal Service Officers (ASO)
- Impact on local police when ASOs are not available or delayed in response
In May 2021, the Department finalized the deceased animal cost analysis and presented them to the PMA. The findings confirmed that the cost for services with a third-party vendor to provide the same service was significantly higher than the Department’s cost for services. The Department’s findings and recommendations led the City Managers to approve funding to the Department for an additional 1.0 FTE Field Utility Worker.
In August 2021, the Department scheduled follow-up meetings with various contracted cities to discuss the next steps and the Department’s need to increase its cost for services. The Department advised the contracted cities at these meetings that if further action is not taken and additional department revenues are not secured from contracted cities, service levels will be continuing to be reduced beginning with FY 2022/23.
Recommendation
In order to sustain current staffing and service levels, along with the County’s population growth, the Department recommends a revised fee structure methodology, which would include a reconciliation based on year-end actual expenditures. Effective FY 2022/23 the new methodology and cost formulation would be:
Per Capita Rate = (Projected total cost for services less animal licensing, user fees, and general fund contribution) ÷ Population of incorporated contracted cities
Projected Rates
| Fiscal Year |
Per Capita Rate |
| 2021/22 |
6.79 |
| 2022/23 |
7.66 |
| 2023/24 |
8.26 |
| 2024/25 |
8.87 |
| 2025/26 |
9.52 |
| 2026/27 |
10.19 |
The above amounts for FY 22/23 and beyond are estimates and subject to change. The final rates would be distributed to the contract cities in March for the following fiscal year.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
No immediate impact if the Committee does not approve the Department's proposal. However without additional revenue the following impacts would likely occur in FY 2022/23:
- Reduce public shelter service hours
- Further reduction of Field Operation Services hours of operations
- An increase in sheltered animals’ euthanasia rates for animals with treatable conditions outside of the Department’s veterinary scope of services and financial resources.
- Reduction or possible elimination of Community Education programs
Additionally, if certain cities decline to agree to the new contracts and fee structure then the Department would likely only be able to provide the cities those services that are mandated by State statute.
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| Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s): |
1. ACCEPT a proposal from the Animal Services Department on contracted city services, including a revised fee structure; and
2. DIRECT the Animal Services Department to discuss the proposed changes to contract fees with the cities and prepare a new contract and fee schedule for the contract cities for consideration by the Board of Supervisors. |
| Fiscal Impact (if any): |
| No fiscal impact at this time. If additional department revenues are not secured from contracted cities, then the service levels to contract cities will need to be reduced. |
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