Monterey: Salinas and Monterey
County are the only public agencies that provide mid- to long-term shelter,
adoption and euthanasia services for pets and other animals. Both are within
200 feet of each other off Hitchcock Road in southwest Salinas and the two
facilities are being considered for consolidation.
The 2018 Monterey County civil grand
jury reported on animal control in Monterey County and found, among other
things, that if a proposed consolidation of the Salinas Animal Shelter and
Monterey County Animal Services facilities were combined, it “should result in
greater effectiveness, efficiency and consistency of procedures for both the
city and county.”
Private entities such as the nonprofit
SPCA for Monterey County also provide some or all of the same services as the
two public shelters.
Discussion of combining services at the
city and county shelters began in 2015.
In June 2016, Management Partners, a
consulting firm jointly engaged by the county and city, published its
consolidation report, a comprehensive study of the feasibility of operating
both animal shelters as one program.
The consolidation report outlined four
options. A: Share an animal services director to oversee both operations; B:
Share an animal services director and consolidate field services; C: Share a
director and consolidate field services, administrative support and licensing
functions; or D: Fully consolidate animal services functions.
In November 2017, the Monterey County
Board of Supervisors and the Salinas City Council entered into a memorandum of
agreement for an animal control services administration pilot project. The memo
is the result of the efforts of county and city staff, Service Employees
International Union and other interested parties.
The terms of the agreement included the
following:
• Monterey County shall provide an
animal services administrator who will spend at least 18 hours per week on site
at the Salinas Animal Shelter and the remainder of the week at the Monterey
County Animal Services location. The administrator will receive general
direction from the county director of health, or designee, and work with the
Salinas police services administrator regarding communication and on-going
Salinas shelter activities.
• “The administrator shall provide
overall direction, management and control regarding the provision of
consolidated services. The administrator shall provide direct management and
supervision of county personnel with respect to such services. The city shall
have direct management and supervision of city personnel with respect to such
services.”
• The city shall reimburse the county
for 45 percent of the costs of the administrator.
• The term of the memorandum of
agreement begins on the date the administrator begins performance of duties.
• “The personnel performing services
under this memorandum of agreement on behalf of the county shall at all times
be under the county’s exclusive direction and control. The personnel performing
services under this (memorandum of agreement) on behalf of the city shall at
all times be under the city’s exclusive direction and control. Neither the
city, nor any of its officers, employees or agents shall have control over the
conduct of the administrator or any other county personnel. Neither the county
nor any of it officers, employees or agents shall have control over the conduct
of the Animal Services Supervisor or any other city personnel.”
• “Within five months from the
beginning date of this (memorandum of agreement), the county shall provide the
city with a written evaluation and recommendations regarding all opportunities
for shared animal services.”
• “Within eight months from the
beginning date of this (memorandum of agreement), the county shall provide a
written proposal for an operational implementation plan, such plan to identify
next steps, effective dates, and needed resources to support implementation of
additional shared animal services.”
In its report on animal control in
Monterey County, the grand jury presented 15 findings.
One dealt with a lack of signage on
Hitchcock Road, which the grand jury said “poses a safety hazard for traffic
approaching the turn to the animal shelters from South Main Street. The county
agreed but the city disagreed with the conclusion that the lack of signage
posed a safety hazard.
“Additional signage may assist visitors
to the shelter with respect to its location, but the final report does not
contain any analysis or study by a licensed traffic engineer with experience in
such matters and with qualifications to make conclusions with respect to traffic
safety,” the city’s response read.
Another finding said the purpose
statements of the two entities are appropriate and recognize the importance of
public service but that fundamental differences may impede the consolidation
process.
The city and county disagreed and
stated the differences “are not significant enough to impede the consolidation
process.”
September 14, 2018
Monterey Herald
By James Herrara
No comments:
Post a Comment