Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 4.D
Meeting Date: October 6, 2025
From: George Crum, Chief of Police
Title: Riverside County Animal Control Field and Shelter Service Contract RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve a three-year contract with Riverside County Department of Animal Services for field and shelter service on a part-time basis and approve a budget adjustment in the amount of $72,540.00 in FY 2025-2026 and $147,211.00 in FY 2026-2027. Staff also recommends City Council authorize the Interim City Manager to execute the contract between the City of Cathedral City and Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Cathedral City has contracted Animal Control Field and Shelter Services through the Riverside County Department of Animal Services since FY 2005. At the September 24, 2025, study session meeting, City Council provided direction to staff to bring forward for approval a three-year animal control contract on a part-time basis which will include fiscal year 2025-2026, FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028. Additionally, the City Council directed staff to establish a working group to monitor and continue to evaluate other options for sheltering services.
DISCUSSION:
The City is currently contracting with Riverside County Department of Animal Services for one part-time animal control officer for 20 hours of field service work, deployed Monday- Friday 8am to 12pm. In this new three-year part-time contract, the Animal Control Officer will work M-F from 8:00am -12:00pm to include a 30-minute break. Any hours before or after these contracted hours, to include holidays and weekends, is billed at an overtime rate with a minimum of two hours callout pay at $206.03/hour for the period July 2025 to December 2025. The overtime rate increases to $216.33/hour for the period January 2026 to June 2026. This contract has a requirement to host one (1) Spay and Neuter Clinic and one (1) Vaccine and Licensing Clinic per contract year. The cost for each clinic is $3,500.00. If the city chooses to host their own clinics, there will be no cost charged from the county. The annual service costs for the three-years of the contract are as follows:
Contract Services FY 2025/26 FY 2026/27 FY 2027/28
Field Services (1/2 time) $ 146,980.00 $ 158,093.00 $ 165,998.00 Shelter Services $ 313,360.00 $ 396,658.00 $ 452,190.00 Spay/Neuter Clinic (1 per yr) $ 3,500.00 $ 3,500.00 $ 3,500.00 Vaccine/License Clinic
(1 per yr) $ 3,500.00 $ 3,500.00 $ 3,500.00 Total $ 467,340.00 $ 561,751.00 $ 625,188.00 Budgeted $ 394,800.00 $ 414,540.00 *Next Budget
Difference $ (72,540.00) $ (147,211.00)
FISCAL IMPACT:
In the adopted biennial budget, the Council approved a budget of $395,800 for FY 2025/26 and $414,540 for FY 2026/27. With the estimated 20% increase in the cost of services, staff is seeking authorization for adjustment in the amount of $72,540 for FY 2025/26 and $147,211 for FY 2026/27 to cover the increased cost of field and shelter services. Costs for the contract in FY 2027/28 will be incorporated into the next budget.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2025-2026 Animal Control
Services
100-300-310-
317-8600-8601 N/A $ 72,540.00 Ongoing
2026-2027 Animal Control
Services
100-300-310-
317-8600-8601 N/A $147,211.00 Ongoing
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
E-13 Review our animal control contract and options
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Three-year animal control contract.