4 - Animal Control Agreement — Colma City Council, May 27, 2026

Staff Report re Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 1 of 5

STAFF REPORT
T
O: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Dan Barros, City Manager
Christopher J. Diaz, City Attorney
MEETING DATE: May 27, 2026
SUBJECT: San Mateo County Animal Control Agreement Amendment

RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following:

ESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO AND 20

CITIES IN THE COUNTY FOR THE CONTINUED PROVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEAR TERM BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 2026.

OUNCIL ADOPTED VALUES
• Fairness and Equity
• Responsibility

BACKGROUND
Animal control has been one of the longest running regional/shared services in San Mateo County. Since 1952, the County has contracted with the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS) for animal control field and sheltering service. All 20 cities in the County have in turn contracted with the County for these services. Historically, cities have taken advantage of the economies of pooling resources in order to realize lower costs for services than each city could likely achieve by providing its own services.

P
HS provides animal control services in a County-owned 45,000 square foot building at 12 Airport Boulevard in San Mateo. The mandated animal control service functions, which occur at the Airport Boulevard facility, include: receiving and housing stray animals; serving as the location for the public when looking for lost pets or surrendering animals; sheltering animals; spay/neuter clinic; and, vaccination clinic. For public convenience, licensing, micro-chipping, veterinary care and animal behavior work, and field services staff are at this location and respond to calls for service in the community.

AGENDA ITEM #4
Staff Report re Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 2 of 5 On January 5, 2021, the County released a request for proposals to 71 organizations for an Animal Care, Control and Shelter Services Contractor serving San Mateo County. Two contractors submitted proposals on February 18, 2021 (Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA and Partners in Animal Care & Compassion/Pets in Need).

On March 4, 2021, a review committee composed of nine reviewers including a Deputy County Manager, a San Mateo County Fiscal Officer, five reviewers from various San Mateo County cities, and subject matter experts from Los Angeles and San Bernardino evaluated the proposals. The evaluation determined that both proposals were acceptable; however, Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS) scored higher overall.

Contract negotiations with PHS began on March 24, 2026. The negotiating team included the County Manager, County Counsel, the County Animal Control Manager, and six city representatives. Negotiations were amicably concluded on April 3, 2026 with the following agreements noted below in the Analysis section.

ANALYSIS
Animal Control services provided by PHS by contract will conclude on June 30, 2026, however there is a clause in the contract that reads as follows:

1. Term

Except as otherwise provided herein, and subject to compliance with all terms and conditions, the term of this Agreement shall be from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2026. The parties may extend the term for an additional three years if the parties mutuall y agree in writing. This Agreement becomes effective only after all jurisdictions identified on Exhibit D as Participating Cities adopt it by entering into the agreement for animal control services between the County and participating cities. If such County/Services Agreement is not adopted by all jurisdictions shown on Exhibit D, this Services Agreement is null and void in its entirety unless Contractor and any of the jurisdictions shown on Exhibit D agree to use it as the basis for a Services Agreement applicable to those parties providing such written consent, with such changes in payment, scope of service, and other terms as the parties may agree.

The County has met with the President of PHS and both parties agree to extend the Animal Care and Control Services contract for another three years until June 30, 2029.

As the council will recall, the PHS contract was developed in concept and reviewed by a working group of County managers, City Managers, and other interested city participants (e.g., personnel from some Police Departments). The San Mateo County City Managers Association (SMCCMA) has also established a standing committee to do an in-depth review of the contract, performance audits, cost sharing formulas, and strategic direction for provision of countywide animal control services. The SMCCMA committee was directly involved with the County during contract Staff Report re Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 3 of 5 negotiations and had a seat at the table with PHS and the County hammering out the final outcome.

The contract has performed effectively, providing the cities with reliable animal control services and significantly reducing the number of complaints compared to previous years.

Provisions of the Amendment:

Only a few modifications have been made to the agreement, as outlined below:

4.1.a The County will pay Animal Control Contractor the following agreed-to amounts.

These costs are to be reimbursed by the Cities as provided in Section 3.7 above.

Fiscal Year Amount
2021-22 $6,189,290.95
2022-23 $6,327,480.28
2023-24 $6,499,455.67
2024-25 $6,674,024.00
2025-26 $6,858,739.01
2026-27 $7,037,138.11
2027-28 $7,220,177.44
2028-29 $7,407,977.72

This is less than a 3% increase a year for the contracted animal control services and this cost will be passed onto our city.

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.1 of the agreement are amended to read as follows:

4.1.b The County will pay Animal Licensing Contractor the following agreed-to amounts.

These costs are to be reimbursed by the Cities as provided in Section 3.7 above (the table in 4.2 includes the payment for the contract PetData for approximately $1,096,827 for five years, which is $219,365 yearly and which will end on June 30, 2027).

Current Contract
2022-2027
Amount
One year license $4.28 per license
Multi-year license $4.28 for the first year and $2 for each additional year
Late fees collected $2.50 collection service fee for each license Replacement tags $4.28 per tag
Bank and supply fees Actual cost

Staff Report re Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 4 of 5 Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.2 of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

4.2 The County shall provide the administrative services as outlined in this Agreement for the following estimated amounts to be charged to and paid by the Cities. Costs may vary as labor negotiations and internal service charges are negotiated at a Countywide level. Cities will only be invoiced for the actual costs to provide said services as outlined in this Agreement and are to be reimbursed by the Cities as provided in Section 3.7 above.

Fiscal Year Amount
2021-22 $790,835
2022-23 $790,375
2023-24 $814,086
2024-25 $822,227
2025-26 $846,894
2026-27 $872,301
2027-28 $898,470
2028-29 $925,424

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.3.j has been removed from the agreement.

This section was to arrange a performance audit or fiscal assessment of the Animal Control Contractor PHS. The county released an RFP in January to find a vendor to perform an audit of PHS and felt that it would not be fiscally responsible to turn around within three years and conduct another audit within three years and would wait until the new contract in 2027 and write it into the new contract. This is the reason for removal.

Section 5 General Provisions under 5.8 Term and Termination of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

5.8 Term and Termination. Subject to compliance with all terms and conditions, the term of this Agreement shall be from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2029.

FISCAL IMPACT
Colma's portion of the contract cost is determined by the number of the Town's residents that apply for or renew their animal licenses. The estimated cost to Colma for FY 2026-27 is $30,000, which is a 7.1% increase over the FY 2025-26 budget of $28,022. An annual 3% increase for FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29 would cost the Town an additional $2,727 over the final two years of the current San Mateo County contract.

Staff Report re Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 5 of 5

ENVIRONMENTAL
This is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378, as it is an administrative activity that will not result in a physical change to the environment.

NCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution.

TTACHMENTS
A. Resolution
B. Amended Agreement

Res. 2026-XX Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 1 of 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX

OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF COLMA

RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO

EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO AND 20 CITIES IN THE COUNTY FOR THE

CONTINUED PROVISION OF ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES FOR AN
ADDITIONAL THREE YEAR TERM BEGINNING ON JULY 1, 2026
The City Council of the Town of Colma does hereby resolve:

1. Background.
(a) The Town, along with all 20 cities in the County, have historically contracted with the County of San Mateo for the County to facilitate animal care and control. (b) In 2021, the Town, and all the cities in the County, entered into a new agreement with the County of San Mateo for animal control services with the current agreement set to expire on June 30, 2026.
(c) The County has negotiated and prepared and circulated an amendment to the original agreement for a three year term beginning on July 1, 2026. (d) The amendment is not subject to competitive bidding under the Town’s Purchasing Ordinance and the Town can enter into the contract with the County directly as a contract for services provided by a government agency under Municipal Code Section 1.06.180(c).

2. Order.
(a) The amendment between the Town of Colma, the County of San Mateo, and other cities in the County, attached hereto as Exhibit “A”, and which is on file with the City Clerk, is hereby approved by the City Council of the Town of Colma.
(b) The City Manager is authorized to execute the amendment on behalf of the Town o f Co
lma, with such technical changes as may be deemed appropriate by the City Attorney. //
//

ATTACHMENT A
Res. 2026-XX Animal Control Agreement Amendment Page 2 of 2 Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-XX- was duly adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council held on May 27, 2026 by the following vote:

Name Voting Present, Not Voting
Ay e No Abstain Present, Recused Absent
Carrie Slaughter Mayor
Helen Fisicaro
Joanne F. del Rosario
Thomas Walsh
Ken Gonzalez
Voting Tally
D
ated ______________________ ___________________________________ Carrie Slaughter, Mayor
At
test: ____________________________
Michelle Estabillo Gourlie, City Clerk
Amendment Template Version May 2021

AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO AND the Cities
THIS AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT, entered into this ___________. 20___, by and between the COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, hereinafter called "County," and Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside, each hereinafter individually called a “City” and collectively called "Cities".

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, such agreements are authorized and provided for by Section 51300, et seq. of the California Government Code and under the Parties respective police powers; WHEREAS, the Cities and County, hereinafter collectively called "Parties", entered into an Agreement for animal care and control, shelter services and animal licensing, in which the County agrees to facilitate provision of and the Cities agree to reimburse the County for the costs of specified animal care and control, shelter services, and animal licensing hereinafter set forth, as they have done for over 70 years with the current Agreement expiring on June 30, 2021; and
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate coordinated countywide system of animal care and control, shelter services, and animal licensing as desired by Cities, County is agreeable to facilitating the provision of such services on the terms and conditions as hereinafter set forth; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 2021, the Cities entered into an agreement with the County to facilitate and coordinate animal control and licensing on a countywide basis on behalf of the Cities and County for a term of 5 years ending on June 30, 2026.

WHEREAS, the Cities and County wish to amend the Agreement to extend the term up to June 30, 2029.

N
OW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED BY THE PARTIES HERETO AS FOLLOWS:

1. S
ection 2 Definitions under 2.3 Animal Control Program of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

2.3 Animal Control Program: The program within the County Health, or County’s designated contract agent, or both, or such other agency as the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors may designate, which is specifically charged with regulating and enforcing laws dealing with animal control within the territorial limits of the County.

Section 2 Definitions under 2.6 Animal Licensing Service of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

2.6 Animal Licensing Program: The program within the San Mateo County Health, or County‘s designated contract agent, or both, or such other agency as the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors may designate, which is specifically charged with regulating and enforcing laws dealing with animal licensing within its jurisdiction

ATTACHMENT B
Amendment Template Version May 2021 Page | 1
Section 2 Definitions under 2.9 Holidays of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

2.9 Holidays: Federally designated holidays with the addition of Easter and exclusion of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day, in accordance with the Animal Control Contractor’s and Animal Licensing Contractor’s existing labor contracts
Section 3 Each City's Responsibilities under 3.3 Designation of Animal Control & License Revenue Collector of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

3.3 Designation of Animal Control & License Revenue Collector. Each City hereby designates County Health or County’s designated contractor as the entity authorized to collect, at Cities’ cost, animal control and licensing revenue on the part of each City
Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.1.a of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

4.1.a The County will pay Animal Control Contractor the following agreed-to amounts. These costs are to be reimbursed by the Cities as provided in Section 3.7 above.

Fiscal Year Amount
2021-22 $6,189,290.95
2022-23 $6,327,480.28
2023-24 $6,499,455.67
2024-25 $6,674,024.00
2025-26 $6,858,739.01
2026-27 $7,037,138.11
2027-28 $7,220,177.44
2028-29 $7,407,977.72

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.1.b of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

4.1.b The County will pay Animal Licensing Contractor the following agreed-to amounts. These costs are to be reimbursed by the Cities as provided in Section 3.7 above (the table in 4.2 includes the payment for the contract Petdata for approximately $1,096,827 which will end on June 30, 2027).

Current Contract
2016-2021
Amount
One year license $4.28 per license
Multi-year license $4.28 for the first year and $2 for each additional year Late fees collected $2.50 collection service fee for each license Replacement tags $4.28 per tag
Bank and supply fees Actual cost

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.2 of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

Amendment Template Version May 2021 Page | 2

Fiscal Year Amount
2021-22 $790,835
2022-23 $790,375
2023-24 $814,086
2024-25 $822,227
2025-26 $846,894
2026-27 $872,301
2027-28 $898,470
2028-29 $925,424

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.3.j of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

Section 4 County Responsibilities under 4.3.j has been removed from the agreement.

Section 5 General Provisions under 5.8 Term and Termination of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

5.8 Term and Termination. Subject to compliance with all terms and conditions, the term of this Agreement shall be from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2029.

Except as otherwise provided by this section, this Agreement may not be terminated by any party during the effective period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2026. Each City is responsible for its annual percentage share under this Agreement for the entire term of this Agreement.

In the event any City fails to pay its percentage share as set forth in this Agreement and Exhibit B, every other City shall promptly pay its Proportionate Share of Cost of the non-payment, unless and until the County is able to recover the non-payment from the late or non-paying City.

This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of termination of the Animal Control Services Agreement. Upon termination, the County shall have no further obligation to provide, facilitate or coordinate services specified herein or in the Animal Control Services Agreement or Animal Licensing Services Agreement. Each City shall promptly pay its Proportionate Share of Cost as set forth in Exhibit B for all services rendered prior to termination.

Section 5 General Provisions under 5.15 Notices of the agreement is amended to read as follows:

5.15 Notices. Any notice, request, demand, or other communication required or permitted under this Agreement shall be deemed to be properly given when both: (1) transmitted via facsimile to the telephone number listed below or transmitted via email to the email address listed below; and (2) sent to the physical address listed below by either being deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or deposited for overnight delivery, charges prepaid, with an established overnight courier that provides a tracking number showing confirmation of receipt.

Any notices required by or given pursuant to this Agreement to any City shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Clerk of that City at the address of the principal business offices of the respective City listed in the introduction of this Agreement or at such other address as any City may specify in writing to the County.

Amendment Template Version May 2021 Page | 3
In the case of County, to:

Name/Title: Lori Morton-Feazell, Program Manager of Animal Control and Licensing Address: 1600 W. Hillsdale Blvd San Mateo, CA 94402
Telephone: 650.573.2623
Email: [email protected]

4. All other terms and conditions of the agreement dated [Enter information here], between the County and Contractor shall remain in full force and effect.

Amendment Template Version May 2021 Page | 4
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo has authorized and directed the Health System Chief to execute this Agreement for and on behalf of the County of San Mateo. The Cities of Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Woodside have caused this Agreement to be subscribed by its duly authorized officer and attested by its Clerk.

For County:

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

By:

President, Board of Supervisors, San Mateo County

Date:

ATTEST:

By:

Clerk of Said Board

Amendment Template Version May 2021 Page | 5

_____________________________
Dated:

ATTEST:

_____________________________
Town of Atherton, Clerk

TOWN OF ATHERTON