REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Bailey MacLean, Management Analyst
Date:May 27, 2025
Subject:Agreement for Animal Control Services with Animal Friends of the Valleys Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an Animal Control Services Agreement with Animal Friends of the Valleys, Inc. (AFV) in an amount not to exceed $271,376.52 for Fiscal Year 2025-26 for animal control services in such final form as approved by the City Attorney and authorize the City Manager to execute change orders not to exceed 10% contingency of $27,137.65 for uncertainties and adjustments.
Background
The City of Lake Elsinore has contracted with AFV to provide a comprehensive range of animal control services, safeguarding the health and safety of its citizens and domestic animals for nearly 30 years. These services include field services, after-hours emergency response, humane treatment of animals, public education, and enforcement of animal control municipal codes.
AFV also provides animal sheltering services, which are governed by a separate agreement. The City's animal sheltering services are covered by an agreement with the Southwest Communities Financing Authority (SCFA), administered by Riverside County on behalf of the City and our neighboring cities.
The cost for animal control field services is based on the number of animal control officers committed to the City, plus backup when necessary, vehicle mileage costs, other infrastructure costs, after-hours calls, and veterinary expenses.
In 2018, the City Council approved amendments to Chapters 6.04 and 6.06 of the existing municipal code regarding Animal Control Officers and Mandatory Spaying, Neutering, and Microchipping, respectively.
Animal Control Services Agreement
1 8
3 1
In 2020, the City of Lake Elsinore increased the City's service level to one and a half officers through a proposed cost-sharing method with AFV, which reduced the overall cost for the City.
This included working with AFV to implement various cost recovery strategies, including an improved citation collection program, a 90-day amnesty program, a first-offense warning citation for animal barking, veterinarian outreach, canvassing, and utilizing distinct outreach strategies.
In 2022, the City of Lake Elsinore entered into a revised agreement with Animal Friends of the Valleys (AFV) that increased the number of dedicated Animal Control Officers from 1.5 to 2. The updated cost-sharing model established a flat monthly rate for services while allowing AFV to retain revenues from licensing and citations to help offset overall program costs. This structure provided the City with a more predictable budget and ensured consistent service levels.
Discussion
The City of Lake Elsinore has contracted with Animal Friends of the Valleys (AFV) to provide animal control field services through a long-standing partnership. The current agreement, which expires on June 30, 2025, establishes a monthly payment model that is updated annually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI- W) in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario region. AFV retains revenues from licensing and citations as a form of cost recovery. To ensure continuity of services, City staff has prepared a new agreement to extend these services through Fiscal Year 2027–2028.
The proposed agreement maintains all existing service levels and contract terms, including field enforcement, licensing, public outreach, and coordination with veterinary services. The annual CPI-based adjustment ensures that the contract remains responsive to economic conditions while supporting the City's commitment to effective and reliable animal control services.
Fiscal Impact
Approval of this agreement will incur a cost of $22,615 per month ($271,376.52 annually) to the City and is included in the Fiscal Year 2025–2026 Operating Budget. The agreement includes CPI-W-based increases for the following two fiscal years, capped at 2.5% annually. The monthly cost shall not exceed $23,180 per month ($278,161 annually) for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 and $23,760 per month ($285,115 annually) for Fiscal Year 2027–2028. If the CPI-W shows an adverse change in any given year, the monthly rate will remain flat from the prior year.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Agreement
Exhibit A – Scope of Services and Payment Schedule
City Manager's Office