Direct staff to develop plans for the transition of Animal Services from the Yolo County Sheriff's Office to the County Administrator's Office and authorize the establishment of an Animal Services Ad Hoc Subcommittee. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/Rowe)

Background
In Yolo County, Animal Services are provided by the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. Services provided include typical shelter operations (adoptions, spay/neuter, sheltering of stray and/or abandoned animals, etc.) and patrol operations (responding to calls regarding stray animals, animal abuse, barking or vicious dogs, wildlife intrusion, animal carcasses, etc.). Services are provided to the unincorporated areas of Yolo County, and within the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland, as well as the UC Davis campus. Provision of services to the cities and UC Davis are established under annual contracts signed between the County and the jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction is billed for services based on service usage versus revenue collected via licensing and other fees. 

In February 2020, Yolo County entered into an agreement with the cities of Davis, Winters, and Woodland to form the Yolo Animal Services Planning Agency Joint Power Authority. The purpose of this body was to explore the creation of a permanent Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to operate Animal Services in Yolo County and to discuss the possibility of constructing a new shelter facility. The belief was that forming a JPA could provide cost savings in future years and that the current shelter facility, which was built in the 1970s, has not been adequately updated or maintained and is due for significant renovation or replacement. However, in March 2020, COVID restrictions went into place, which set back the Planning JPA as the County shifted its focus to emergency pandemic response. The Planning JPA has not reached a decision as to next steps for Animal Services governance nor facility upgrades. Animal Services continues to face significant challenges.  These challenges in shelter operations include limited resources, rising operating costs, an outdated facility, and difficulties maintaining adequate staffing (especially licensed veterinary staff). These operational challenges have also led to significant staffing resources being devoted to ongoing discussions and contract negotiations with local city jurisdictions which contract for services. 

Recommendations
In order to rapidly address current issues with Animal Services, staff is making two proposals. The first is that the Animal Services division of the Sheriff's Office be temporarily placed under the County Administrator's Office, with the intention of transitioning Animal Services permanently to a new organizational structure at a future date, e.g. a different lead department, or establishing Animal Services as an independent department, etc. Temporary placement of Animal Services directly under the purview of the County Administrator will allow the Sheriff's office to retain focus on its law enforcement mission and will permit the County Administrator to continue essential services while developing the new organizational structure. Sheriff Lopez has also requested that any reorganization plan preserve employment for existing staff.

The second proposal is that the Board of Supervisors approve an Animal Services Board Ad Hoc Subcommittee as described in an attachment to this staff report. This Subcommittee would allow the Board to maintain oversight of the planning and transition process. Supervisors Provenza and Sandy are the proposed appointees based on their current role as County representatives to the Planning JPA.

The County Administrator's Office is coordinating with the Sheriff's Office and is actively performing outreach to city offices and community partners to keep them apprised of any and all operational changes.