TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Nicole Tibbet, Community Engagement Manager
DATE: May 14, 2025
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
WITH THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF
GOVERNMENTS FOR THE CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN
THE COYOTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Engaged and Connected Residents
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Safe Community
BACKGROUND
In late 2018, the City of San Marino worked with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and other neighboring cities to form a Coyote Management Task Force to address the existing and rising coyote issues in the San Gabriel Valley, spurred on by the fact that coyote safety and management is a regional issue.
The task force met several times to assess the feasibility of developing a regional coyote management framework and implementation plan that would provide a comprehensive regional coyote management model for all San Gabriel Valley cities, give guidance for dealing with coyotes in the region, and allow the SGVCOG to provide coyote management services for interested member agencies.
San Marino staff members were also a part of the subcommittee that worked closely with the SGVCOG, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and local Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Mayor
Tony Chou, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
Humane Society organizations to develop the two documents that have since been approved SGVCOG and City Council and have been used to aid in the management and tracking of coyote activity:
1. SGVCOG Regional Wildlife Management Framework (Attachment 1)
2. Coyote Program Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment 2) The Regional Wildlife Management Framework serves as a best practices document that cities can use as a resource that includes coyote management strategies, reporting tools, and other resources to reduce human-coyote conflicts.
The Coyote Management Implementation Plan uses the Regional Wildlife Management Framework principles to operate a mechanism for cities in the San Gabriel Valley to create a more robust coyote management and outreach program that extends throughout the region. Under this plan, the SGVCOG serves as the umbrella organization that is responsible for providing public outreach and education and creating and monitoring a comprehensive reporting and response mechanism on behalf of participating agencies.
In September 2019, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the Coyote Program Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and allocated $10,000 for program services. The City and SGVCOG have executed two amendments to this MOU, the latest of which was executed in October 2023 and is set to expire June 30, 2025.
DISCUSSION
The City greatly benefits from participation in the regional Coyote Management Program. As coyotes do not stay within particular city boundaries, tracking their activity is best conducted at a regional level. The Coyote Management program also provides education and resources that City staff do not have the capacity or knowledge to provide. SGVCOG staff conduct outreach at City events, as well as, educational seminars and hotline advice for residents to ask questions about coyote safety. As such, an extension of the Memorandum of Understanding will ensure the continuation of these services. The proposed Memorandum of Agreement would extend services to June 30, 2028. To align with increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the agreement terms shall only increase the annual cost of these services by 3% or based on the Los Angeles area Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage for all items for 12 months ending in January reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, whichever is less.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The cost for participation in the Coyote Management Plan was budgeted for FY 2025-26 in account #101-09-4150-0000.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments for participation in the Coyote Management Implementation Plan. If the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to authorize the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Agreement with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments for participation in the Coyote Management Implementation Plan, extending the term through June 30, 2028.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Coyote Program Memorandum of Understanding Expiring June 30, 2025
2. SGVCOG Regional Wildlife Management Framework
3. DRAFT Coyote Program Memorandum of Agreement