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Council approves $500,000 ceiling for veterinary‑supply contract amid public calls for transparency and local sourcing
Summary
Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the goods purchase agreement with Midwest Veterinary Supply, increasing the not‑to‑exceed amount to $500,000. Public speakers urged the city to prioritize public spay/neuter clinics funded by a San Manuel grant and to prefer in‑state/local suppliers; council approved the contract amendment unanimously.
The City Council approved an amendment to the city’s goods purchase agreement with Midwest Veterinary Supply, increasing the not‑to‑exceed amount to $500,000 and extending the contract period. The action was on the consent calendar and carried by unanimous vote.
Public concerns and staff response Several members of the public used the council meeting to press for transparency about how the contract funds will be used and to urge the city to prioritize public spay/neuter clinics funded by a $100,000‑per‑year restricted grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Commenters asked for an itemized accounting of purchases and questioned why the supplier is out of state rather than a local vendor.
Neighborhood Association Council president Lydia Savala told the council the choice of wording in staff materials — staff “hoping” to run public clinics — did not convey sufficient commitment to the San Manuel grant obligations. “The use of the term hope bothers me,” she said, urging clear timelines and commitments.
Staff explained that the contract resulted from an earlier RFP process; the selected vendor (Midwest) acquired a local supplier, Victor Medical, and can supply vaccines, pharmaceuticals and devices commonly used by municipal animal shelters. Staff said they will continue to work on scheduling public spay/neuter clinics and determining fee schedules and operational details.
Action and next steps Councilmember Ortiz moved to approve the consent item and the council approved the amendment by unanimous vote. Staff said they will return with fee and operational proposals for public spay/neuter clinics and will continue to monitor grant obligations and scheduling for the mobile clinic purchased with a San Manuel restricted grant.
Ending: Speakers asked the city to prioritize delivery of public spay/neuter services tied to the grant and to document purchases and clinic timelines; staff said they will prepare operational details and fees for future council review.
