CITY-COUNTY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE
AND CONTROL AND CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
PARAGRAPH TITLE PAGE
RECITALS 2
1.0 AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNDER
STATE AND LOCAL STATUTES
2 2.0 1.0 ADMINISTRATION OF PERSONNEL 3
3.0 2.0 DEPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL 4
4.0 3.0 PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACT 4
5.0 4.0 INDEMNIFICATION 5
6.0 5.0 TERM OF CONTRACT 6
7.0 6.0 RIGHT OF TERMINATION 6
8.0 7.0 CONTRACT SUM 6
9.0 8.0 PAYMENT PROCEDURES 7
10.09.0 NOTICES 7
11.0 10.0 AMENDMENTS 8
12.0 11.0 AUTHORIZATION WARRANTY 8
13.0 12.0 ENTIRE AGREEMENT 8
14.0 13.0 CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT 9
15.0 14.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT 9
16.0 15.0 COUNTERPARTS 9
CITY-COUNTY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE
AND CONTROL AND CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
THIS MUNICIPAL ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) between the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES (“the County”) and the CITY OF REDONDO BEACH (“the City”), together known as “the Parties,” is made and entered into July 1, 2024, or when signed by all Parties, whichever is later.
RECITALS
a. The City desires to contract with the County to perform the animal care and control functions described in this Agreement; and
b. The County is agreeable to providing such services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
c. Such agreements are authorized and provided for by the provisions of Section 56-1/2 and 56-3/4 of the Charter of the County of Los Angeles and sections 51300 et seq. of the Government Code of the State of California.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for good and valuable consideration, the Parties mutually agree as follows:
1.0 AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNDER STATE AND LOCAL
STATUTES
1.1 The County agrees, through the County Department of Animal Care and Control (“the Department”), to provide general animal care and control services within the corporate limits of the City to the extent and in the manner stated in the Agreement and its Attachments.
1.2 Except as otherwise specifically stated in the Agreement, the services will only encompass duties and functions of the type coming within the jurisdiction of and customarily provided by the County under the Charter of the County, the Los Angeles County Code, and the statutes of the State of California. The County will provide services in accordance with the provisions of Title 10, “Animals,” of the Los Angeles County Code, and all amendments enacted to Title 10, except as otherwise agreed by the Parties in the most recently executed Service Level Request.
2.0 ADMINISTRATION OF PERSONNEL
2.1 The County will control all aspects of the services provided by the County including, but not limited to, standards of performance, discipline of officers and staff, and all employment-related matters.
2.2 In the event of a dispute between the Parties regarding the duties and services to be provided, or the minimum level or manner of performance of such services, the City will be consulted and an agreement between the Parties attempted. Each party must employ good-faith and reasonable efforts to reach an agreement. If an agreement cannot be reached, the County will make the final and conclusive determination of the dispute.
2.3 All City employees who work with the Department under the Agreement will remain employees of the City and will not have any claim or right to employment, civil service protection, salary, benefits, or claims of any kind from the County. No City employee will become an employee of the County unless by specific additional agreement in the form of a merger contract, which must be concurrently adopted by the City and County. Except as otherwise specifically set forth in the Agreement or in the attached Service Level Request, to the extent the County provides the City with animal licensing services, neither the City employees nor their agents will perform any function related to the licensing of animals, including the collection of license fees, penalties, or field enforcement fees. Field enforcement fees will only be collected by the Department for services performed by employees of the Department. The City may distribute educational and outreach materials, reviewed and agreed upon by both the Department and the City, related to pet licensing and its benefits.
2.4 For the purposes of performing services under the Agreement, and only for the purpose of giving authority for Department staff to provide these services, every County officer and/or employee engaged in performing any service will be deemed to be a contracted officer or employee of the City while performing service for the City, provided the service is within the scope of the Agreement and is a municipal function.
2.5 The City will not assume any liability for the direct payment of salaries, wages, or other compensation to County personnel performing services under the Agreement. Except as described under Section 5.0, the City will not be liable for compensation or indemnity to any County employee or agent of the County for injury or sickness arising out of his/her employment while providing services under the Agreement.
2.6 The County agrees that it is subject to the County Civil Services Rules prohibiting discrimination based on non-merit factors.
3.0 DEPLOYMENT OF PERSONNEL
3.1 The Department, in cooperation with the City, will determine how to provide the services required by the Agreement.
3.2 The City agrees to complete an Attachment B, Service Level Request (SLR) form, specifying the level of service to be provided, which will be signed and authorized by the City and the Department representative and attached to the Agreement. In the event of a dispute between the Parties about the desired or approved content of the SLR will be handled in accordance with Paragraph 2.2 of this Agreement.
3.3 The Department will issue annual notifications of any change to the billing rate as stated in Paragraph 8.2 of this Agreement. Unless the City changes other provisions within the most recently executed SLR, it is not necessary to execute a revised SLR to reflect a billing rate change.
3.4 The City may at any time request a change in the level of service by completing a revised SLR, and submitting the form to the Department. The revised level of service to be provided and the current fiscal year billing rate will be signed and authorized by the City and the Department representative and attached to the Agreement as an amendment. Changes requested at times other than the beginning of the fiscal year will be implemented as soon as practical, as determined by the Department. The City is only required to submit a new SLR if it wishes to revise its current services or update information listed on its existing SLR. The Department reserves the right to approve or disapprove requests on the SLR in accordance with Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
Regarding updates to contact information, the City is not obligated to submit a new SLR. A simple email confirmation from the City will suffice, and the Department's Contracts and Grants Division will update the City's existing SLR and share the revised copy with the City.
3.5 The City will make its best effort to inform the Department of any modifications to its ordinance concerning animal care and control services.
This approach will enable the Department to verify that the services outlined in the City's SLR align with the municipal ordinance, thereby reducing the potential for any discrepancies.
3.6 The City is not limited to the services indicated but may also request any other services in the field of public safety, animal welfare, or related fields within the legal power of the Director of the Department to provide. The County reserves the right to determine, in its sole discretion, whether the Department can provide requested services not otherwise specified in this Agreement.
4.0 PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACT
4.1 In performing services under the Agreement, the County will provide all necessary labor, supervision, equipment, communication facilities, and supplies necessary to maintain the agreed upon level of service.
4.2 Nothing in the Agreement prohibits the City from providing, at the City’s expense, additional resources for the County to utilize in its performance of the services.
4.3 Any use of special supplies, stationery, notices, or forms, in other than standard Department format, must be approved by the Director of the Department, or his/her designee, and supplied by the City at its own cost.
4.4 If requested, the Department will use its best efforts to attend one in-person meeting with the City, up to three hours duration, per quarter at no charge to the City. Additional meetings may be scheduled under unusual or urgent circumstances as agreed upon by the Department. The City will pay the hourly rate listed in Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates, for any additional hours of the Department's contract management staff's time at meetings requested by the City. Due to a lack of availability of meeting space in County facilities, the City will provide a mutually agreed upon meeting space and location, or virtual meeting link, for all in-person and/or virtual meetings or meet at the Department’s headquarters in Long Beach, California.
4.5 If requested, the Department will use its best efforts to coordinate a virtual meeting once per month at no charge to the City. Additional meetings may be scheduled under unusual or urgent circumstances as agreed upon by the Department. The City will pay the hourly rate listed in Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates, for any additional hours of County representatives’ time at meetings requested by the City.
4.6 If requested, the Department will use its best efforts to send representatives to the City’s Council meetings for proposed ordinance changes, contract revisions, or any related animal issues where input from the Department is needed. The Department will only attend these meetings to the extent that resources and capacity will allow.
4.7 The Department will make available upon request, at no charge to the City, the reports listed in Attachment A, Description of Services, at the intervals indicated in that attachment. For any additional reports that are not included in Attachment A, Description of Services, or those requested at more frequent intervals, the Department will account for the hours of staff time required to produce the reports. The County will provide, at no charge to the City, up to 12 hours of staff time annually for any additional requested reports. The City will be responsible for any excess hours at the current
billing rate for staff time as listed in Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates.
5.0 INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 The Parties have executed an Assumption of Liability Agreement approved by the Board of Supervisors on December 27, 1977, and/or a Joint Indemnity Agreement approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 8, 1991, and/or a revised Joint Indemnity Agreement approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 9, 1993. Whichever of these documents the City has signed later in time is currently in effect and hereby made a part of and incorporated into the Agreement as if set out in full in the Agreement.
5.2 In the event the Board of Supervisors later approves a revised Joint Indemnity Agreement and the City executes the revised agreement, the subsequent agreement as of its effective date will supersede the Joint Indemnity Agreement previously in effect between the Parties.
6.0 TERM OF CONTRACT
6.1 Unless sooner terminated as provided for in the Agreement, the Agreement will be effective July 1, 2024, or when signed by the Parties, whichever is later, and will remain in effect until June 30, 2029, unless sooner terminated or extended.
6.2 At the option of the Board of Supervisors and with the consent of the City Council, the Agreement may be renewable for successive periods not to exceed five (5) years each.
7.0 RIGHT OF TERMINATION
7.1 Either Party may terminate the Agreement as of the first day of July of any year upon notice in writing to the other Party of at least sixty (60) days before the termination date.
7.2 Despite any provision to the contrary in the Agreement, the City may terminate the Agreement upon notice in writing to the County given within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of written notice from the County of any increase in the rate for any service to be performed under the Agreement.
In such an event the Agreement will terminate sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the City’s notice to the County.
7.3 The Agreement may be terminated at any time, with or without cause, by either Party upon written notice given to the other Party at least onehundred eighty (180) days before the date specified for that termination.
7.4 In the event of an unresolved dispute, either Party may terminate the Agreement by giving not less than sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the
other Party. A dispute is unresolved when both Parties agree that there is no resolution and no intent by either party to continue to seek a resolution.
7.5 In the event of termination, both Parties shall fulfill all obligations owed to each other that have accrued before the date of termination. Additionally, each Party will be released from any obligations that would have accrued after the termination date had the Agreement continued. However, the City will remain responsible for payment to the Department for any services provided under this Agreement prior to the termination date.
8.0 CONTRACT SUM
8.1 The City will pay for the services provided under the terms of the Agreement at the current fiscal year rate established by the County Auditor-Controller and set forth in the current Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates.
8.2 The rates indicated in the City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates form will be readjusted by the County annually, effective the first day of July each year, to reflect the cost of services in accordance with the policies and procedures for the determination of rates established by the County.
8.3 The City will be billed based on the current service level described in the latest Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates form.
8.4 The cost of any additional services requested and provided under the Agreement and not set forth in Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates form will be determined by the Department in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the County.
9.0 PAYMENT PROCEDURES
9.1 The County, through the Department, will submit a summary invoice covering all services performed during the month to the City within twentyfive (25) calendar days after the close of each calendar month. The City will pay the County for all undisputed amounts within thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the invoice.
9.2 If payment is not delivered to the County office described on the invoice within sixty (60) days after the date of the invoice, the County is entitled to recover interest on the unpaid amount.
9.3 For all disputed amounts, the City will provide the County with written notice of the dispute including the invoice date, amount, and reason(s) for the dispute within twenty-one (21) calendar days after receipt of the invoice.
The Parties will confirm the resolution of the dispute in writing. For any disputed amounts, interest will accrue if payment is not received within sixty (60) calendar days after the date of the written resolution.
9.4 Interest will be calculated at the rate of seven percent (7%) annually or any portion thereof, from the last day of the month for which the services were performed, or in the case of disputed amounts, from the date of the written resolution.
9.5 Despite the provisions of Government Code Section 907, if payment is not delivered to the County office described on the invoice within sixty (60) calendar days after the date of the invoice, or in the case of disputed amounts, from the date of the written resolution, the County may satisfy such indebtedness, including interest on unpaid amounts, from any funds of the City on deposit with the County, without giving further notice to the City of County’s intention to do so.
10.0 NOTICES
10.1 Each Party shall designate a Primary Contact, as identified in Attachment B, Service Level Request, to facilitate the services covered by this Agreement. Routine communications necessary for the day-to-day facilitation of services may be conveyed through telephone, email, or inperson interactions. However, all notices or demands required, permitted, or desired to be given by one Party to the other must be in writing. Such notices or demands shall be mailed or emailed to the other Party's designated Primary Contact at the address provided in Attachment B, Service Level Request. Both Parties may update the designated addresses and contact persons by providing written notice to the other Party.
The Department accepts both physical (wet) signatures and electronic signatures for any notices or correspondence related to this Agreement.
10.2 Notices to the County of Los Angeles must be addressed as follows:
For physical notices:
County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control Contracts and Grants Division
Attn: Bradley Kim
5898 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805
Phone: (562) 379-9722
For electronic notices:
10.3 Notices to the City must be addressed to the contact person listed on the most recent SLR on file and/or the current City Official or City Manager.
11.0 AMENDMENTS
11.1 With the exception of changes to a City’s contact information, any changes, modifications, or amendments to the Agreement must be in writing and duly executed by the Director of the Department, or his/her designee, and an authorized representative of the City. The only exception to this requirement applies to updates to the City's contact information, which may be made through a simple email confirmation from the City.
12.0 AUTHORIZATION WARRANTY
12.1 The City represents and warrants that the person executing the Agreement for the City is an authorized agent who has actual authority to bind the City to each term, condition, and obligation of the Agreement and that all requirements of the City have been fulfilled to provide such actual authority.
12.2 The County represents and warrants that the person executing the Agreement for the County is an authorized agent who has actual authority to bind the County to each term, condition, and obligation of the Agreement and that all requirements of the County have been fulfilled to provide such actual authority.
13.0 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
13.1 The Agreement, including Attachment A, Description of Services, the most recent Attachment B, Service Level Request, and the latest Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates, along with the applicable Assumption of Liability or Joint Indemnity Agreement referenced under Section 5.0, constitute the complete and exclusive statements of the Parties, which supersede all previous agreements, written or oral, and all communications between the Parties relating to the subject matter of the Agreement. Except as provided in Paragraphs 3.4 and 11.1, all changes or amendments to the Agreement must be in writing and mutually executed by authorized personnel on behalf of the Parties. The Director of the Department, or his/her designee, is authorized by the County to execute amendments.
14.0 CONSTRUCTION OF AGREEMENT
14.1 Each Party has participated in the drafting and preparation of the Agreement, and each Party agrees that the Agreement will not be construed against any Party on the grounds that the Party drafted the Agreement.
15.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT
15.1 Each Party agrees to execute the documentation required and to take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Agreement.
16.0 COUNTERPARTS
16.1 The Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including via facsimile or electronic copy), which will become effective only when every Party has signed and delivered a counterpart. The originals of any counterpart signature pages will be delivered to the County and retained as part of the original Agreement.
CITY-COUNTY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE
AND CONTROL AND CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the County of Los Angeles, by order of its Board of Supervisors has caused the Agreement to be executed by the Director of the Department of Animal Care and Control and the City has caused the Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its authorized representative.
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
By_______________________________
MARCIA MAYEDA
Director
Department of Animal Care and Control
Date_______________________________
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
By______________________________
City of Redondo Beach, Mayor
Date_____________________________
ATTEST:
By______________________ _________
City Clerk Date
By______________________ _________
City Attorney Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DAWYN R. HARRISON
County Counsel
By___________________________
David Beaudet
Senior Deputy, County Counsel
Date_________________________
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
ATTACHMENT A
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
I. Animal Care Services
The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control (Department) maintains seven animal care centers that accept stray, lost, abandoned, and relinquished animals. The Department also receives and maintains animals that are victims of abuse or neglect, under a quarantine order, or that pose a risk to the public. Stray or lost animals are held for an initial period to give an owner the opportunity to reclaim them. Ownerrelinquished animals are held for an initial period prior to euthanasia or adoption to a new home, pursuant to State law. The holding period may vary and may be extended in an attempt to reunite the animal with an identified owner or for other reasons.
The Department is dedicated to providing appropriate and safe housing to all animals accepted into the Department’s care. The Department is required by law to provide a safe environment with proper food, water, shelter, opportunity for exercise, and medical care for the animals it houses. Medical care may be provided by Department staff or, at the Department’s sole discretion, outsourced to a contracted veterinarian.
As requested by the City in Attachment B, Service Level Request, the Department will provide the City with either: Full Care Center Services; Animal Care for Transfer only; or No Care Center Services.
A. Full Care Center Services
All animals collected in the field within the boundaries of the City or determined to have originated from within the boundaries of the City may be housed at a County animal care center. Admitted animals will be vaccinated and provided medical care, food, water, and shelter. The Department may post an animal’s picture on the Department’s website to assist residents in reclaiming a lost or missing pet or finding a new one. Residents may also visit the associated animal care center to find their lost or missing pet. The hours of operation of each animal care center may be found on the Department's website.
The Department will make reasonable attempts to house animals from the City at the animal care center closest to the City. The nearest animal care center to the City will be designated as the primary animal care center. There may be circumstances in which the Department will house animals collected from the City at an alternate location.
Full Animal Care Center services include:
• Providing food, water, shelter, enrichment, and medical care for animals in the Department’s care;
• Holding stray animals and attempting to reunite them with their owners; • Accepting unwanted animals surrendered by their owners; • Making best efforts to find new adoptive homes for domestic animals and livestock;
• Quarantine and observation of animals for rabies and other diseases at the direction of the Department of Public Health;
• Working with wildlife rehabilitators to rescue sick and injured wildlife; • Providing emergency care and housing to pets and livestock displaced by wildfires or other disasters;
• Holding animals that are the subject of criminal investigations or other legal or administrative proceedings;
• Spay and neuter services for dogs and cats pursuant to State law; • Medical treatment and surgeries to make animals more adoptable; • Euthanizing sick, injured, dangerous, unweaned, feral, or un-adoptable animals;
• Public services, including prevention of animal abuse, neglect, or abandonment through outreach and education, and intervention through finding alternatives to relinquishment and assisting at-risk populations; • Filing annual reports to the State of California as required by law; • Disposal of dead animals;
• Maintaining a website with pictures of stray and surrendered animals to facilitate reuniting the animals with their owners or finding new adoptive homes;
• Connecting pet owners to services to increase owner retention of pets; and • Maintaining regular hours of operation for the public.
B. Animal Care for Transfer
If the City has opted for Animal Care for Transfer services in Attachment B, the Department will provide temporary housing until the City has transported the animal(s) to another animal care facility. Services will be the same as described for Full Shelter Service above. The Department will only release animals to be transported to an animal care facility approved in advance by the Department and documented in Attachment B. The Department will only release an animal to persons capable of transferring an animal safely in a vehicle appropriate for the humane transfer of the animal. The City will be responsible for all costs of the temporary care and housing at the Department’s animal care center, as well as the subsequent costs of transportation, care, and housing at the animal care location of the City’s choice. The Department may refuse to release an animal for transport if, in the reasonable assessment of the Department, the vehicle in which the City desires the animal(s) to be transported poses an unacceptable risk of harm to the animal(s) or others, or if the animal is
ill or injured to the extent that transportation would cause further injury or suffering.
The Department will not provide transportation from the field or from a County animal care center to any alternate animal care location, except as necessary for the needs of the County. If necessary, the Department may transport an animal(s) to an alternative animal care location of the City’s choice and the City will be responsible for the cost of such transport at the current billing rate for field service staff.
The City will be responsible for all costs for the admission, care, and housing at the Department's animal care center, as well as the subsequent costs of care and housing at any animal care facility of the City's choice. The City's designated animal care center location is listed in Attachment B, Service Level Request.
II. Field Services
The County will provide the services set forth below in accordance with the provisions of the Los Angeles County Code, Title 10, “Animals,” and all future amendments, except as otherwise agreed to by the Parties in Attachment B, Service Level Request.
A request by the City for the Department to enforce Los Angeles County Code, Title 10, Chapter 37, will authorize the Department to provide an administrative hearing process to accomplish the enforcement when applicable.
In order to harmonize the terms of this Agreement with the provisions of the City’s municipal code, the City must adopt Title 10 “Animals” of the Los Angeles County Code (“Title 10”). The City may adopt or opt out of provisions of Title 10 only as agreed to by the Department. The City is encouraged, but not required to, adopt Title 10 in such a way as to incorporate all future amendments.
The Department will inform the City of any proposed changes to Title 10 with as much advance notice as practical, with the intention to provide the City with an opportunity to submit input to the Department and the County related to the proposed changes. The Department will notify the City of the passage of any change to Title 10 by the County Board of Supervisors as soon as practical. The Department will inform the City whether the City may adopt or opt out of the changes to Title 10.
Description of Field Services
The Department will provide sufficient resources and services for animal control field services. Services consist of Department personnel performing a variety of tasks utilizing appropriate equipment. These tasks include:
• Promptly responding to reports of vicious and dangerous animals that pose a threat to public safety;
• Capturing, reuniting, and admitting stray domestic animals; • Capturing and impounding or returning domestic animals at large; • Accepting and caring for animals surrendered by their owners; • Removal of dead land animals (limited to a maximum of 150 pounds) from public and private property as set forth in Section 10.12.130 of the County Code; • Educating the public and enforcing State laws and local ordinances, including leash laws, animal cruelty laws, and the laws relating to keeping wild or exotic animals;
• Investigating cases for possible criminal prosecution, including misdemeanor and felony crimes; issuing citations; collecting evidence; preparing reports; testifying in court and other hearings;
• Investigating appropriate cases for potential administrative actions pertaining to animals; preparing appropriate documentation to pursue administrative declarations; conducting administrative hearings, consistent with state and County laws; and defending declarations that are challenged in court; • Rescuing ill, injured, or abused animals;
• Enforcing animal nuisance complaints such as excessive animal noise and other violations; issuing administrative or criminal citations as appropriate; • Assisting local law enforcement with their investigations when animals are involved, such as the service of search warrants and impounding animals as evidence or when necessary for those belonging to persons taken into custody; • Responding to emergencies such as fires, earthquakes, floods, and other natural or manmade disasters to rescue and temporarily house animals, or to provide care for animals in evacuation zones;
• Maintain a 24-hour dispatch and communications center to receive calls for service and dispatch staff for field response as appropriate; and • Maintaining records in accordance with applicable laws and policies.
A. Standard Service Plan
The Standard Service Plan includes answering calls for service 24 hours per day, seven days per week, dispatching or assigning field staff, and performing duties in the field based on priority, location, and availability of staff. Services provided under the Standard Service Plan are similar to those services the Department provides to unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County.
B. Limited Service Plan
The Limited Service Plan includes standard services on a part-time basis during days and hours specified in the Service Level Request. Billing rates are described in Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates.
III. Alternatives to Care Center Admissions
The Department's “Alternatives to Care Center Admissions” services are activities that go beyond providing housing for dogs and cats, and have the effect of keeping pets out of care centers and in homes and healthy environments. This includes staff counseling pet owners or connecting them with resources such as free pet food and supplies, medical vouchers, temporary housing, access to a medical helpline, and other critical resources all intended to help keep pets with their families. The Department also offers a variety of pet assistance programs, known collectively as the Pets Are Family (PAF) program, which is funded almost entirely through donations and grants received by the Department. A summary of the programs offered under PAF can be found on our website (https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/dacc-support-services).
As a result of these efforts, the number of dogs and cats admitted into Department animal care centers has decreased dramatically due to the Department reducing preventable pet surrenders. These programs are only available to cities that opt into Full Care Center Services and are charged at a flat per capita rate as indicated in Attachment C, CityCounty Municipal Services Billing Rates.
Managed Intake
Managed Intake (MI) is a strategy that allows agencies to manage and reduce the flow of both owned pets and homeless animals into their care, which is accomplished by partnering with the community and providing resources and solutions. Through the Department’s intervention services, pet owners receive support in the form of consultation, financial resources, and referrals — both medical and behavioral — to assist them with their pet-related issues. MI has reduced the number of surrendered animals admitted to the Department’s care centers to those who have no other opportunity for rehoming. This is reducing the costs for cities that are associated with sheltering cats and dogs.
Components of Managed Intake:
• Community Engagement is key to successfully employing Managed Intake, giving the community an opportunity to foster, network animals, facilitate adoptions, and to develop solutions to keep pets with their owners.
• The Department encourages people who have found stray animals to attempt to reunite the pets with their families. The Department also encourages residents to
allow free roaming cats to remain where they live, as these are often pets or community cats.
• To reduce the relinquishment of owned pets, the Department will provide resources such as training, food, and supplies, or other support to help keep pets in their homes.
• Public safety and animal welfare are a priority. Animals that pose a safety threat will immediately and safely be admitted by the Department, as will animals that are sick or injured.
IV. Individual Animal Licensing Services
Adult dogs four months of age and older are required by State law to have individual licenses. The City may request that the Department enforce licensing requirements in the City for dogs, cats, or other animals as described in Attachment B. The City may adopt the County’s fees for individual animal licenses or set its own fees as permitted in Attachment B.
License renewal notices are mailed or transmitted by the Department to the animal owner of record. The renewal and payment are received and processed on a fee-per-license basis. Pet owners may opt into a one- or three-year license option for their pets. A current license will be required before an animal will be released to a resident of the City.
Fees from one- and three-year licenses collected will be credited to the City monthly in arrears.
The Department’s animal licensing services include:
• Issuing animal licenses for pets as requested by the City; • Processing license applications, payments, and information changes; • Issuing license renewal notices;
• Assessing and collecting fees, penalties, and other financial remittances; • Maintaining a database for animal licensing, records of calls for service, and actions taken; and
• Maintaining the Rabies Vaccination Certificate tool database which scans rabies vaccination data reported by private veterinary clinics to identify unlicensed pets in our jurisdictions and generate compliance notices to pet owners.
V. Additional Outreach and Enforcement Services Options The City may request that the Department provide additional services as outlined below.
A. Animal License Enforcement Services
License Enforcement Services provides staff to perform individual animal license
enforcement in designated areas within the City. This program includes:
• Issuing new licenses and renewing expired licenses;
• Issuing citations to violators of animal licensing ordinances; • Collecting license revenue, delinquency charges, and authorized fees; and • Recording licensing data in the Department's database.
B. Animal Facility Licensing
The Department's Animal Facility Licensing program provides staff to perform animal facility inspections and licensing to animal-related businesses or organizations that require a license under Title 10 of the County Code. Animal-related facilities are inspected annually to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals as well as the health and safety of the public. Licensees are provided a letter grade based on the results of the inspection.
The Department retains facility license fees to offset the cost of annual inspections and related administrative costs. Staff time for licensing and inspections is not billed to the City. Investigations in response to complaints about activities at a licensed location are conducted by field officers based in the Department's animal care centers and are billed in accordance with Attachment C, City-County Municipal Services Billing Rates.
This program includes:
• Annual inspection of any premise used by an animal-related business or nonprofit organization, including grooming shops, pet shops, boarding facilities or breeding facilities, animal menageries, and all other places where animals are maintained for profit or business activities;
• Issuing grades to animal facilities consistent with the requirements of Section
10.28.270 of the County Code;
• Follow-up inspections of animal facilities as necessary; • Collection of license fees to offset the cost of services; and • Documentation and maintenance of records as necessary.
C. Vaccination and Microchip Clinics
California Health and Safety Code Section 121690(f) states that every city and county, "shall provide dog vaccination clinics, or arrange for dog vaccination at clinics." The Department holds periodic low-cost rabies vaccination and microchip clinics at its animal care centers. If the City chooses additional rabies vaccination and microchip clinics, the following services are offered:
• Providing or assisting in arranging for low-cost vaccinations and microchips; • Staffing low-cost vaccination and microchip clinics with medical personnel and necessary support staff, subject to availability;
• Licensing animals vaccinated at the clinic; and
• Assisting jurisdictions in promoting these community-based clinics.
D. Spay/Neuter Trust Fund
The City may elect to contribute $5.00 per altered and unaltered dog license to the Spay/Neuter Trust Fund. Participation in the Spay/Neuter Trust Fund allows the Department to offer a low-cost or free spay/neuter program for the City’s residents who wish to have their pets spayed or neutered. The Department staff will work with animal care center veterinary clinics and mobile veterinary clinics to assist qualified residents in obtaining spay/neuter services in an area near them.
VI. Records
Upon reasonable notice, the Department will make available to authorized representatives of the City, for examination, audit, excerpt, copy, or transcription, any pertinent transaction, activity, or other record relating to the Agreement. The City must ensure such records are handled in a manner consistent with all applicable privacy laws and all laws related to the Public Records Act (Government Code sections 7920.000 et. seq.).
Upon request, the following standard reports are available from the Department on a monthly basis:
1. Dogs and/or Cats Impounded
2. Animals Returned to Owners
3. Dogs and/or Cats Abandoned
4. Special Admission Dog & Cat
5. Other Animals Impounded
6. Quarantined Dogs and/or Cats
7. Special Admission Other Animals
8. Private Veterinarian (Outside Medical Expense)
9. Dead Animal Pick Up Requests
10.Types of Calls for Service
11. Location of Admission
12. Public Hours performed at a specific Animal Care Center
In accordance with Section 4.7 of the Services Agreement, the Department will provide up to 12 hours of staff time annually for producing special reports to the City at no cost.
Additional staff time will be charged to the City at the current reimbursement rate for applicable staff time.
ATTACHMENT B
CITY-COUNTY MUNICIPAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL
AND
THE CITY OF
FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 SERVICE LEVEL REQUEST
I. Animal Care Center Services
The level of animal care center service that the City requests and the County agrees to, is (select one of the three options below):
Full Service
Primary animal care center:
Animal Care Center Services for Transfer
City’s Animal Care Facility contact information:
Agency Name:
Telephone:
Address:
No Animal Care Center Services
II. Field Services
The level of field service that the City requests and the County agrees to, is (select one of the three options below):
Standard Service Plan
Limited Service Plan (check all applicable boxes below) Full County Field Services
County provides service on following
days/times (please identify):
Weekend days and holidays (please
identify days and hours):
Priority County Field Services - Priority 1 Calls Only (As Determined by Department Policy)
County provides service on following
days/times (please identify):
Weekend days and holidays (please
identify days and hours):
Standby County Field Services (Service Requests only from City Personnel; the City will screen calls from the public)
County provides service on following
days/times (please identify):
Weekend days and holidays (please
identify days and hours):
Humane Investigations – as needed Yes
No
Administrative Investigations – as
needed (LACC Title 10, Chapter 37,
Potentially Dangerous/Vicious Dogs)
Yes
No
Administrative Compliance
(Post hearing compliance checks will
be handled by DACC on City’s behalf)
Yes
No
City’s Animal Control (Field Services) contact information:
Department Name:
Telephone:
Address:
No Field Services
III. Individual Animal Licensing
The City agrees to have the County provide individual animal licensing and has adopted the license fees outlined in Los Angeles County Code. The City agrees to have the County provide individual animal licensing and has adopted the following license fees (please provide a copy of the applicable ordinance or resolution):
Altered Dog $ Altered Cat $
Unaltered Dog $ Unaltered Cat $
Senior-owned Altered Dog $ Senior age is defined as age Military Veteran w/ Disability Altered Dog $
Delinquency Charge $ Delinquency charge applies after: days Other Special License Fee $ Description/criteria:
Field Enforcement Fee* (select one)
$40.00
$0.00
*Only applicable when licensing is initiated in the field by Department employees.
Current license fees adopted by the City on _____________________, 20_____. No Animal Licensing Services
IV. Outreach and Enforcement Services
A. Animal Facility Inspection and Licensing (Costs included in overhead— not billed)
□ The City requests the County to license animal-related facilities (including inspection and grading services) in the City.
□ No animal facility licensing services--the City will conduct its own program. (Please provide contact information below.)
The City's animal facility program contact information:
Department Name:
Telephone:
Address:
B. Vaccination and Microchip Clinic(s)
The City requests the County to provide or assist in arranging for vaccination clinic(s) in the City, utilizing Department personnel to also license animals during the vaccination clinic(s), at the applicable rate for staff time. No vaccination or licensing clinic services.
C. Spay/Neuter Trust Fund
Participate in the Spay/Neuter Trust Fund to allow residents access to low-cost spay/neuter services.
No participation in the Spay/Neuter Trust Fund.
V. Enforcement of County Code
The City agrees to the enforcement of Title 10 with no exceptions. The City agrees to the enforcement of Title 10 with the following pre-approved exception(s): (please mark all that apply)
10.20.350: Mandatory Spay and Neuter. The City does not require the spay/neuter of:
o Dogs
o Cats
10.20.185: Mandatory Microchipping. The City does not require the microchipping of:
o Dogs
o Cats
10.20.038: Number of dogs and cats. In the City the following number of animals are allowed per household:
Dogs _____ Cats _____ Total of ______ dogs/cats
10.20.030: Mandatory Cat Licensing. Domestic cats are subject to:
o Voluntary Cat Licensing
o No Cat Licensing
10.28.020: Animal Facility Licensing. The County will not license/inspect animal facilities.
10.40.060: Excessive Animal Noise Complaints. The City will conduct its own noise enforcement.
City’s Animal Noise Complaint contact information:
Department Name:
Telephone:
Address:
E-mail:
VI. Requested Additions to Title 10 Enforcement
Please list individual municipal code sections requested to be enforced by the Department. (Please ensure your municipal code contains adequate enforcement authority.)
COUNTY
City Code
Section No. City Code Section Title Approved Not Approved
VII. Contact Information
County Primary Contact
Name: Bradley Kim
Title: Contracts and Grants Division Liaison
Address: 5898 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805
Telephone: (562) 379-9722
E-mail: [email protected]
County Alternate Contact
Name: Jeffrey Martinez Flores
Title: Management Analyst
Address: 5898 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90805
Telephone:
E-mail: [email protected]
City Primary Contact
Name:
Title:
Address:
Telephone: (____)
E-mail:
City Alternate Contact
Name:
Title:
Address:
Telephone: (____)
E-mail:
(562)256-1363
VIII. Annual/Amended Service Request Approval
For the City:
____________________________ ___________________________ ___________ Authorized City Representative Authorized Signature Date (Printed Name) (Signature)
____________________________ ___________________________ Title Telephone Number
For the County:
Marcia Mayeda _______ ____________________________ ___________ Director Authorized Signature Date
Dept. of Animal Care and Control (Signature)