CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
_________________________________________________________________________________ DATE: March 7, 2023
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: Steven S. Carrigan, City Manager
BY: Jim Pia, Assistant City Manager Patricia Barajas, City Clerk
TITLE: APPOINTMENT TO THE HITCHCOCK ROAD ANIMAL SERVICES
AGENCY BOARD ESTABLISHED BY THE JOINT EXERCISE OF
POWERS AGREEMENT
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
It is recommended that the City Council consider the appointment of one member, and an alternate, to the Hitchcock Road Animal Services Agency Board of Directors.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The County of Monterey and the City of Salinas established a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement in December 2022, with an effective date of January 1, 2023. In the coming weeks, the Board of Directors will have their first meeting, with an appointment from the City Council as well as the City Manager.
BACKGROUND:
In the Fall of 2015, the County of Monterey and City of Salinas retained Management Partners to review the ongoing animal control services functions provided by Monterey County and the City of Salinas at separate locations in very close proximity to one another on Hitchcock Road. Management Partners presented their findings to both the County Board of Supervisors and the City Council on June 28, 2016. At that time, the County and City agreed to establish an Animal Services Ad Hoc Committee. Appointed members included Supervisors John Phillips and Chris Lopez, and the City’s current members include Mayor Kimbley Craig, and Council Members Carla Gonzalez and Tony Barrera.
In November of 2017, the Salinas City Council and Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved an MOA for a shared Animal Services Administrator (Administrator) position to review options for consolidated animal services between the two entities. The position was filled in May 2018 and a joint effort on animal services operations began.
The Ad Hoc Committee agreed in October of 2019 to have staff explore the additional shared staffing services in the area of Animal Care and Veterinary Services. Discussions then took place with representatives of City and County staff and management and SEIU regarding feasibility and support for shared positions. All parties agreed to move forward, and on February 25, 2020 Amendment No. 2 was approved, thereby modifying the scope to include greater animal care and veterinary services, and adjusting the total funding of the pilot project. Amendment No. 3 was approved in July 2021, extending the terms of the prior Agreement to December 31, 2021. On Monday, November 15, 2021, members of the Ad Hoc Committee met again to discuss possible management options for the operations, including a review of a contract for services and the future possibility of a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). The Ad Hoc Committee agreed that this Agreement would keep the shared animal services continuing while work on the JPA was completed. This JPA is now complete, and the Council adopted its establishment at the Council meeting of December 13, 2022.
In terms of this appointment to the Hitchcock Road Animal Services Agency Board, Council needs to make an appointment of a primary and an alternate, with initial discussion perhaps being an appointment from the ranks of the Ad Hoc Committee representatives which included Mayor Craig and Members Gonzalez and Barrera. However, the Council is not bound by this.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This report aligns with the City Council’s goal of Effective and Culturally Responsive Government (City of Salinas Strategic Plan 2022-2025) by ensuring the City is represented in and working collaboratively on City/County-wide boards.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Administration, Police and City Attorney Departments coordinated on this report.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement