Report Prepared by: Bimley West, Captain, Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Animal Control Contract with the County of Merced
REPORT IN BRIEF
Contract approval to provide services for the housing and handling of animals impounded at the Merced County Animal Control Shelter.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving a contract with the County of Merced to provide services for the housing and handling of animals impounded at the Merced County Animal Control Shelter, and authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or
2. Deny the request; or
3. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
City Charter section 200 et seq. of the Merced City Charter.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2017- 2018 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
The City of Merced provides animal control services within the Merced City limits. Animals that are taken into custody by our City personnel are delivered to Merced County Animal Control Shelter (MCACS), which is operated by the County of Merced. MCACS provides services that pertain to the housing and handling of animals taken to the shelter by Merced City personnel.
Attached is an agreement for the contracting of those housing and handling services provided by the County of Merced. The following is a fee schedule for such services provided by County of Merced:
1. Eighty-five dollars and no/100 cents ($85.00) per live animal, eight weeks of age or older for the first four (4) days of housing. In the case of rabies quarantine, ten (10) days of housing.
2. Seventy-five dollars and no/100 cents ($75.00) per animal for euthanasia services requested by City.
3. Ten dollars and no/100 cents ($10.00) per litter, where the animals are less than eight (8) weeks of age and housed less than two (2) days.
4. Ten dollars and no/100 cents ($10.00) per deceased animal brought to County for disposal.
5. Any additional costs defined under the terms of this agreement.
No fee will be assessed for:
1. Animals redeemed or released to their owners after payment of costs.
2. Animals which have been designated as escaped or missing by County which have been housed less than two (2) days.
In addition to the above schedule of fees, staff successfully negotiated enhanced controls to ensure the City was accurately charged for services. These controls include requiring an incident report number with the acceptance of any animal at the shelter from the City of Merced, any veterinarian services will be obtained through a City approved vendor, invoices are to include the age of each animal accepted at the shelter, and the owner will be charged for services when verified. The term of this Agreement shall be three (3) years, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the sections entitled “TERMINATION FOR CAUSE”, “TERMINATION AT WILL” or “NON-APPROPRIATION OF FUNDING”, as set forth elsewhere in this Agreement.
The contract is attached for a reference and has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office and Merced County Counsel.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding provided for in the 2017- 2018 Adopted Budget.
Additional funds will need to be allocated in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 fiscal year Adopted Budgets.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Animal Control Agreement