The City has contracted with the County to provide animal care services since July 1982.  The services provided include animal control services, animal care special services, animal shelter services and barking dog complaint services.  Animal control services are those services provided by animal care officers in the field, including the apprehension of stray animals and the investigation of animal related complaints.  Special services consist primarily of licensing animals and animal related facilities.  Animal shelter services are those services provided by the animal shelter, including the impounding of animals. 

At the February 9 and March 22, 2016 City Council Meetings, staff provided the City Council with updates on the County’s plan and accelerated schedule to build a new animal shelter on 10 acres of land at the former Tustin Marine Base.  The schedule specifies a ground breaking in June of 2016 and an opening in September of 2017.  In order to meet this schedule, the County has asked cities to make a ten-year commitment by April 30, 2016.  The major terms of the 10-year agreements are outlined in Attachment 1.

In general, services provided by the County have been very good.  However, since FY 2011-12, Garden Grove’s costs have increased 79% from $729,000 to a projected $1,307,631 for FY 2015-16.  Additionally, the City is being asked to pay 13.8% of the new animal shelter cost, adding an estimated new animal shelter payment of $430,828 to current service costs.  For FY 2016-17, Garden Grove’s estimated program cost, including the new shelter payment is $1,738,459. (See Attachment 2 for County Agreements.)

Although the County has provided financial details and support for the increases in service costs and need for the new shelter, the City’s revenues have not increased accordingly and the City is struggling with a structural deficit.  Consequently, staff has explored and evaluated potential alternative animal care service options.  

The Orange County Humane Society (OCHS) submitted a term sheet for the provision of animal shelter services to the City, which has since been incorporated into a proposed Animal Shelter Services Agreement (see Attachment 3).  Under the terms of the Agreement, OCHS would provide shelter facilities and services for all animals that are impounded or quarantined in the City’s jurisdiction.  The facilities would be operated and maintained on a 24-hour per-day basis, in a neat, clean and sanitary condition, in compliance with all applicable governmental statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations and in conformity with established standards for humane animal care. 

The term of the agreement would be for a period of five years beginning on January 1, 2017, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional five years.  Compensation would be provided at a flat rate cost of $290,000 for up to 3,500 animals and $310,000 for up to 3,900 animals per year. For animals over 3,900 an additional cost of $20 per animal will be charged.  At the direction of the City, OCHS would hold animals longer than the minimum retention period for police and other specified purposes at an additional charge of $9.00/dog and $7.00/cat for each additional day.  Additionally, the City would make a one-time financial contribution of up to $25,000 toward the expansion of OCHS facilities for a new drop-off/remote office that would provide additional space to accommodate the City’s animal shelter needs.  Photographs of the existing OCHS facility are included in Attachment 4.

While the agreement specifies a minimum 5-day retention period on behalf of the City, unclaimed animals thereafter become the property of OCHS for purposes of adoption.  OCHS euthanasia statistics are included in Attachment 5.

The proposed agreement with OCHS does not include field or animal licensing services.  Therefore, field and licensing services would need to be undertaken by City staff.  The Public Works Department would administer these services with support from the Police Department as well as other City departments as needed. Attachment 6 outlines the primary staffing and related cost components.

Aside from the County and OCHS, there are no other services providers that can accommodate the City’s animal care and shelter needs at this time.   Based on discussions with the City of Costa Mesa, who has contracted with the OCHS for the past seven years and operates an effective field service program, staff is confident that a high quality, effective program and partnership can be established.

Response to Questions and Concerns Directed to the Board of Supervisors

Following discussion at the March 22 City Council meeting, regarding animal care services, the City Council directed the City Manager to send a letter to the Orange County Board of Supervisors outlining the City Council’s concerns with rising program costs, the potential $35 million cost of building a new animal shelter and the need for enhanced communication with the public.  (See City Manager’s letter, Attachment 7.)  The City received a response to the City Manager’s letter on April 21, 2016. This response outlined the County’s answers to the City’s questions regarding program costs, the costs of the new animal shelter, and enhancing communication with our diverse community. To assist the City with comparing the proposed service model (OCHS-GG animal care) with current Orange County Animal Care services, the County’s response also includes a summary of current services provided for the City. (See Attachment 8 for the County’s response to the City Council’s concerns.)

It is recommended that the City Council:

•  Approve the attached agreement for the provision of animal shelter services between the Orange County Humane Society and the City of Garden Grove;
•  Direct staff to terminate the existing agreement with the County upon execution of the agreement with Orange County Humane Society; and
•  Direct staff to advise the County in writing that the City will not enter into a participation agreement for a new animal shelter.