The City of Cupertino in a letter to the Sunnyvale City Manager dated January 29, 2003, requested that the City of Sunnyvale submit a proposal to provide animal control field service to the City of Cupertino (Attachment A). Staff has prepared a proposal for Council’s consideration that has a financial benefit for the City and results in no reduction in service for residents of Sunnyvale.

Given the City’s current budget challenges, this proposal represents both revenue and cost savings opportunities for its existing animal control operation. Staff has concluded that the additional work will not negatively impact the existing workload, we can absorb the administrative component, and the field component would add only marginal incremental cost to our operation.

Sunnyvale and Cupertino are both members of the seven-city Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA or Authority). The City of Cupertino currently receives both shelter and field services through SVACA, while the City of Sunnyvale receives only shelter service through SVACA, as it has its own animal control field services. Sunnyvale strongly believes that it is cost effective and achieves a high level of service orientation.

Program Outcome Statement: Control animal disease and vicious animals, minimize animal nuisances, and promote the humane treatment of animals.

SDP 45301: Contribute to public health and safety as related to animal control issues concerning vicious, injured, and stray animals.

The City of Cupertino, in a letter to Sunnyvale City Manager, Robert LaSala, dated January 29, 2003, requested that Sunnyvale submit a proposal to provide animal control field services for the City of Cupertino. Sunnyvale and Cupertino are both members of a seven-city joint power authority known as Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, or SVACA. The organization provides animal sheltering and animal control services.

The City of Cupertino currently receives sheltering and field services through SVACA. The City of Sunnyvale receives shelter service through SVACA, but provides its own animal control field services. Sunnyvale strongly believes that it is cost effective and that a higher service level can be provided by using its own field service.

Recent events have called into question the cost/benefit of obtaining services through SVACA. This questionable cost/benefit has caused some of the cities in the JPA to begin looking for services outside SVACA. The City of Cupertino is exploring the possibility of obtaining field services from other sources outside of SVACA. One of the agencies that Cupertino has asked for field services proposal is the City of Sunnyvale.

In order to provide field service for the City of Cupertino, the City of Sunnyvale needs to examine three important points. First, when providing animal control field services for the City of Cupertino, there must not be a negative effect on service levels for residents of the City of Sunnyvale. Second, there must not be a negative financial impact to the City of Sunnyvale. And lastly, for an agreement of this type to be sustainable it must be of mutual benefit to both contracting parties. This proposal was prepared with these points in mind.

This proposal is being prepared in extraordinary financial times. With an uncertain economic future and projected budget shortfalls, many cities within the State of California are looking at creative ways to help address budget shortfalls. This proposal reflects an anticipated mutual benefit for both cities.

Public contact was achieved by posting the relevant Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting the relevant Council agenda and report on the City's web page, publishing the relevant Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News, and making this report available as a source report in the Department of Public Safety.

1. Authorize staff to explore a long-term Contract from the City of Cupertino for Animal Field Services.
2. Do not approve.