Time Set # 48.
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 07/25/2023
- Brief Title
- Animal Services - Transition Update
From:
Gerardo Pinedo, County Administrator, County Administrator's Office
Staff Contact:
Alexander Tengolics, Manager of Governmental Relations, County Administrator's Office, x8068
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Receive update on Animal Services transition and provide Board direction; adopt budget resolution increasing appropriations in the Sheriff’s Animal Services budget for FY2023-2024 in the amount of $15,800. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/Tengolics) (Est. Time: 10 min)
Recommended Action
- Receive update on Animal Services Transition and provide Board direction; and
- Adopt budget resolution increasing appropriations in the Sheriff’s Animal Services budget for FY2023-2024 in the amount of $15,800 (Attachment B).
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Thriving Residents |
 |
Safe Communities |
 |
County Mandated Service |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
Background
Animal Services in Yolo County is currently provided through the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. The mandated service area of the Animal Services division is the unincorporated area of Yolo County, and the Sheriff's Office also contracts with UC Davis and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland for the provision of services to those jurisdictions.
On February 25, 2020, Yolo County and the Cities of Davis, Winters, and Woodland formed the Yolo Animal Services Planning Agency Joint Powers Authority (JPA). The purpose of this body was to function as a planning JPA, which would explore new options for Animal Services in Yolo County and potentially develop an operational JPA to take over the provision of Animal Services.
Due to numerous factors, including disruptions from COVID-19, the effort to review and adjust Animal Services operations was delayed over the next three years. In that time, operational challenges began to emerge. On December 6, 2022, on staff's recommendation, the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the County Administrator's Office (CAO) to "develop plans for the transition of Animal Services from the Yolo County Sheriff's Office to the County Administrator's Office," with the intention being that the CAO would take responsibility for Animal Services, devote its staff and resources to address operational concerns, strengthen key relationships with UC Davis and city partners, and then determine a permanent placement for the division.
At the Board meeting held on March 7, 2023, staff returned with an update and a proposed framework for completing the previously approved transition. The framework proposed that, in the immediate term, staff would focus their efforts on addressing operational issues with the provision of animal services, including agreements with local jurisdictions, veterinary services, and deferred maintenance needs. Once those operational concerns were addressed, staff would make recommendations to the Board regarding a permanent placement for the Animal Services division. The Board approved this framework, with the addendum that the proposed activities be completed within 12 months and that the Board receive regular updates on a quarterly basis.
Status Update and Reporting Framework
This report includes status updates on contractual agreements with local jurisdictions for the provision of animal services within their incorporated areas, veterinary services at the animal shelter, deferred shelter maintenance, and the transition of animal services. Each topic area will include a rating of Green, Yellow, or Red, with the following definitions for each status:
Green - Progress is satisfactory, and the item is set to reach completion with no unanticipated delays or costs.
Yellow - Progress is delayed or is subject to unanticipated obstacles that need to be addressed for timely completion.
Red - The item is on hold until issues preventing progress have been addressed.
Agreements with Local Jurisdictions - Green
The CAO has held regular discussions with UC Davis and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland regarding the County's provision of animal services within their jurisdictional boundaries. Meetings have been held at least monthly with the jurisdictions, and significant updates have been made to agreement language to address issues and concerns. Final language and a full report on the changes made to the agreements will come to the Board when the agreements are brought for signature. The CAO currently anticipates bringing these agreements before the Board at the end of August or the beginning of September.
Veterinary Services - Yellow
The current agreement with UC Davis for the provision of veterinary services at the Yolo County Animal Shelter (Shelter) expired as of June 30, 2023. After discussion with UC Davis, it was concluded by both parties that it would be best to seek other solutions for in-shelter veterinary services. In the near term, the County has brought on a contract veterinarian to address immediate veterinary needs and is in the process of onboarding an extra help veterinarian while staff finalizes a permanent plan. In coordination with Human Resources, the CAO is developing position classifications for a DVM and RVT, which would allow for filling those roles with permanent, full-time employees.
Yolo County still maintains an active partnership with UC Davis in regard to animal healthcare. The County's agreement with the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital for the provision of emergency services at its site in Davis remains active through June 30, 2024, and the supplies and services rendered under it are instrumental in ensuring the health of animals under County care.
Deferred Maintenance - Green
As part of the prior update on animal services in March 2023, the Board of Supervisors received a report on deferred maintenance items for the Animal Shelter. Since that last update, General Services staff have been developing project scopes, sourcing bids, and completing necessary repairs. An updated list with current project status is attached to this report (Att. A. Deferred Maintenance Update). A few items not previously listed have been addressed, such as installing a new forklift charging stand. Staff anticipates bringing requests for approval for work projects over the next several months as project scopes are finalized and appropriate vendors are identified to complete the work.
Additionally, staff is recommending the Board adopt the attached budget resolution (Att. B), which would increase appropriations in the Sheriff's Animal Services budget for FY2023-2024 in the amount of $15,800. These funds would be transferred from the Animal Services Reserve Account and would fund kennel improvements/maintenance. County staff conferred with local partners on the use of these funds.
Transition - Yellow
While staff continues to focus on operational concerns, discussions are ongoing about the options for permanent placement of Animal Services. Once operational concerns are fully addressed, a complete list of options and staff's recommendations will be provided.
Next Steps
Animal Services in Yolo County is currently provided through the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. The mandated service area of the Animal Services division is the unincorporated area of Yolo County, and the Sheriff's Office also contracts with UC Davis and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland for the provision of services to those jurisdictions.
On February 25, 2020, Yolo County and the Cities of Davis, Winters, and Woodland formed the Yolo Animal Services Planning Agency Joint Powers Authority (JPA). The purpose of this body was to function as a planning JPA, which would explore new options for Animal Services in Yolo County and potentially develop an operational JPA to take over the provision of Animal Services.
Due to numerous factors, including disruptions from COVID-19, the effort to review and adjust Animal Services operations was delayed over the next three years. In that time, operational challenges began to emerge. On December 6, 2022, on staff's recommendation, the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed the County Administrator's Office (CAO) to "develop plans for the transition of Animal Services from the Yolo County Sheriff's Office to the County Administrator's Office," with the intention being that the CAO would take responsibility for Animal Services, devote its staff and resources to address operational concerns, strengthen key relationships with UC Davis and city partners, and then determine a permanent placement for the division.
At the Board meeting held on March 7, 2023, staff returned with an update and a proposed framework for completing the previously approved transition. The framework proposed that, in the immediate term, staff would focus their efforts on addressing operational issues with the provision of animal services, including agreements with local jurisdictions, veterinary services, and deferred maintenance needs. Once those operational concerns were addressed, staff would make recommendations to the Board regarding a permanent placement for the Animal Services division. The Board approved this framework, with the addendum that the proposed activities be completed within 12 months and that the Board receive regular updates on a quarterly basis.
Status Update and Reporting Framework
This report includes status updates on contractual agreements with local jurisdictions for the provision of animal services within their incorporated areas, veterinary services at the animal shelter, deferred shelter maintenance, and the transition of animal services. Each topic area will include a rating of Green, Yellow, or Red, with the following definitions for each status:
Green - Progress is satisfactory, and the item is set to reach completion with no unanticipated delays or costs.
Yellow - Progress is delayed or is subject to unanticipated obstacles that need to be addressed for timely completion.
Red - The item is on hold until issues preventing progress have been addressed.
Agreements with Local Jurisdictions - Green
The CAO has held regular discussions with UC Davis and the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland regarding the County's provision of animal services within their jurisdictional boundaries. Meetings have been held at least monthly with the jurisdictions, and significant updates have been made to agreement language to address issues and concerns. Final language and a full report on the changes made to the agreements will come to the Board when the agreements are brought for signature. The CAO currently anticipates bringing these agreements before the Board at the end of August or the beginning of September.
Veterinary Services - Yellow
The current agreement with UC Davis for the provision of veterinary services at the Yolo County Animal Shelter (Shelter) expired as of June 30, 2023. After discussion with UC Davis, it was concluded by both parties that it would be best to seek other solutions for in-shelter veterinary services. In the near term, the County has brought on a contract veterinarian to address immediate veterinary needs and is in the process of onboarding an extra help veterinarian while staff finalizes a permanent plan. In coordination with Human Resources, the CAO is developing position classifications for a DVM and RVT, which would allow for filling those roles with permanent, full-time employees.
Yolo County still maintains an active partnership with UC Davis in regard to animal healthcare. The County's agreement with the UC Davis Veterinary Hospital for the provision of emergency services at its site in Davis remains active through June 30, 2024, and the supplies and services rendered under it are instrumental in ensuring the health of animals under County care.
Deferred Maintenance - Green
As part of the prior update on animal services in March 2023, the Board of Supervisors received a report on deferred maintenance items for the Animal Shelter. Since that last update, General Services staff have been developing project scopes, sourcing bids, and completing necessary repairs. An updated list with current project status is attached to this report (Att. A. Deferred Maintenance Update). A few items not previously listed have been addressed, such as installing a new forklift charging stand. Staff anticipates bringing requests for approval for work projects over the next several months as project scopes are finalized and appropriate vendors are identified to complete the work.
Additionally, staff is recommending the Board adopt the attached budget resolution (Att. B), which would increase appropriations in the Sheriff's Animal Services budget for FY2023-2024 in the amount of $15,800. These funds would be transferred from the Animal Services Reserve Account and would fund kennel improvements/maintenance. County staff conferred with local partners on the use of these funds.
Transition - Yellow
While staff continues to focus on operational concerns, discussions are ongoing about the options for permanent placement of Animal Services. Once operational concerns are fully addressed, a complete list of options and staff's recommendations will be provided.
Next Steps
- Staff intends on bringing the agreements with UC Davis and local cities back to the Board of Supervisors in late August or early September. However, this is dependent on when each jurisdiction receives approval of the agreement from their local board or council.
- Staff will continue to finalize a model for shelter veterinary services and will provide the Board an update on these efforts in October.
- Deferred maintenance needs will continue to be addressed, and an update on these efforts will be provided to the Board in October. A timeline for the expected completion of deferred maintenance projects will be provided when the assessment of all maintenance requests is completed by County General Services.
- Staff will continue to focus on immediate operational concerns. Once all operational items are in green status, staff will finalize recommendations for permanent placement of the Animal Services division.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
County Administrator
Yolo County Sheriff
Animal Services
General Services
Yolo County Sheriff
Animal Services
General Services
Competitive Bid Process/Vendor Performance
Not Applicable
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal impact (see budgetary detail below)
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 15,800
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 0
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $ 15,800
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- Animal Services Reserve
- $15,800
Attachments
- Att. A. Deferred Maintenance Update
- Att. B. Budget Resolution
- Att. C. Presentation
- Att. D. Email from Janet Kunzang Roesler
- Att. E. Email from Ilsa vonLeden
- Att. F. Email from Alicia and Jose Caballero
- Att. G. Email from Cassie Hartzog
- Att. H. Email from Evelyn Dale
- Att. I. Email from Gail Murtha
- Att. J. Email from Julielani Chang
- Att. K. Email from Laura Baria
- Att. L. Email from Mary Lee Miglino
- Att. M. Email from Miriam Shroeder
- Att. N. Email from Sally Ozonoff PhD
- Att. O. Email from Sandra Filby
- Att. P. Email from Scott and Casey Hersch
- Att. Q. Email from Shirley Fenile
- Att. R. Email from Stacy Oler
- Att. S. Email from Yvonne Sumner
- Att. T. Email from Bradley Santi
- Att. U. Lori Carrigan
- Att. V. Email from Julie Ho
- Att. W. Email from Cat Maldonado
- Att. X. Email from Molly Baker
- Att. Y. Email from Neil Hubbard
- Att. Z. Email from Martha Ozonoff
- Att. AA. Email from Cindy Schneider
- Att. AB. Email from Molly Baker
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 07/21/2023 09:34 AM |
| Financial Services | Laura Liddicoet | 07/21/2023 11:20 AM |
| County Counsel | Kimberly Hood | 07/21/2023 03:07 PM |
- Form Started By:
- jrowe
- Started On:
- 06/27/2023 08:16 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 07/21/2023