REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Ryan Reilly, Police Captain and Kimberly Rodriguez, Management Analyst
Subject:
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Approval of "Agreement for Provision of OC Animal Care Services Between County of Orange and the City of Huntington Beach" for animal care services
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Statement of Issue:
Since 1975, the City of Huntington Beach has contracted with the County of Orange for animal control services. Animal control and shelter services are essential for protecting public safety, promoting animal welfare, and ensuring compliance with state and local regulations. These services play a critical role in rabies control, handling dangerous animals and related incidents, managing stray populations, investigating animal cruelty cases, and providing rescue, licensing, and adoption programs.
Outsourcing these services ensures comprehensive coverage, including field response, animal care, shelter operations, licensing, adoptions, and response to barking dog complaints, allowing the Police Department and other City staff to focus on core public safety and community priorities.
OCAC has demonstrated that it is a qualified, stable, and comprehensive provider, and remains well-positioned to continue serving the City effectively over the next five years.
Financial Impact:
The contract with OCAC will be a five-year agreement, with annual funding determined through a Notice of Intent (NOI) submitted by OCAC each fiscal year. The FY 26/27 NOI is approximately $1.74 million ($1,738,803), but this is not a fixed amount, as actual costs will vary based on services provided.
Funding for these services is included in the City’s annual operating budget, with no additional General Fund impact anticipated. Contracting with OCAC provides cost efficiencies through shared regional resources and avoids the substantial expenses of establishing a City-operated system.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve and authorize the Chief of Police and City Clerk to execute the "Agreement for Provision of OC Animal Care Services Between County of Orange and the City of Huntington Beach."
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve agreement, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
When the City first considered partnering with the County, it evaluated alternatives, including establishing its own animal services department. Research showed that creating a standalone City
operated system would require significant time and resources. This analysis supported the decision to partner with OCAC, providing comprehensive services efficiently and cost-effectively.
The proposed agreement with Orange County Animal Care (OCAC) covers the term from May 31, 2026, through May 30, 2031. The agreement provides city-wide animal care services, including field response, patrol, investigations of cruelty and bites, licensing, sheltering and adoption services, and barking dog complaint response.
Continuing this partnership ensures consistent, reliable service delivery while avoiding the significant operational, staffing, and capital costs required to establish a standalone City-operated system. By leveraging regional resources and established facilities, the City maintains high-quality animal control and shelter services efficiently and cost-effectively.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 8 - Public Safety, Strategy A - Community-wide comprehensive risk reduction program to optimize public safety's emergency response and reduce the number of calls.
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. RCA Contract Agreement Summary
2. OC Animal Care Services agreement