Monday, May 7, 2012

Palo Alto - considers outsourcing animal control services


Pacifica animal control is contracted with the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA. City council never seems particularly happy with the cost of the arrangement. 

Way to go, smart cat!
Palo Alto Daily News/Jason Green, 5/4/12.  "Outsourcing of Palo Alto Animal Services division to come at a price."

"Palo Alto could save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by contracting out all or part of its Animal Services division, but there would be significant tradeoffs, according to a new report.

The city's budget office is recommending that the division be outsourced in response to Mountain View's decision to leave the partnership it has had with Palo Alto for animal services since 1993. Palo Alto still has similar agreements with Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.

Mountain View's departure is expected to blow a $470,000 hole in the division's annual budget, which was $1.71 million in fiscal year 2011. The Mountain View City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a new contract with the Santa Clara-based Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority."  Read article.  There are several alternatives, with a lot of thoughtful consideration needed. 

Reference - City of Palo Alto animal control outsourcing report.  And, 70 year City of Palo Alto animal control website, looks like a great program. 
Related - Compare Pacifica services:  Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA.  City of Pacifica animal control guide to information.
Article - CBS News, 4/9/12. "Pet lovers fight closure of Palo Alto animal shelter".

Posted by Kathy Meeh

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hire Ted Nugent's animal control service.

Anonymous said...

"Ted Nugent?" Caveman with a gun. Evolved people would prefer "do no harm".

Anonymous said...

Obama's muslim tradition; hunt and eat dog.

Anonymous said...

Pacifica apparently never negotiated a better price.
The Humane Society set the price and Council accepted it without asking for a discount. Council did not sit with other cities and seek cuts. Everyone else in this economy takes wage cuts, benefit delays or no increase contracts. But Pacifica doesn't ask vendors for the same.

Anonymous said...

Ask around. Animal Control services are the cash cow for the Humane Society. They don't discount anybody because they are the only game in town and they know it. The DIY approach doesn't work and scares the crap out of cities.