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Hemet council delays final action on Riverside County animal services contract after weekend coverage concerns
Summary
Council held a detailed presentation from Riverside County Animal Services on a proposed new cost‑sharing model and staffing increases, then continued the item for further study of weekend coverage and operational details.
The Hemet City Council on June 10 heard a detailed presentation from Riverside County Department of Animal Services about a proposed change to how sheltering and field services costs are allocated to contract cities and the county. After extended questions about staffing levels, weekend coverage and service reliability, the council voted to continue the item to its June 24 meeting to allow staff to finalize weekend coverage options.
County Assistant Director Kimberly Youngberg and other county staff described a fee study and an allocation methodology the county and consultant MGT considered. The county presented two allocation options: a full cost share (option A) and a county baseline model (option B). The county recommended option B, which removes baseline county costs the county would bear regardless of city contracts and apportions the remaining costs to cities based on human population, number of impounds and average length of stay. Under option B the county’s share would be larger than under option A but city allocations would be more predictable.
County staff said sheltering costs have been unpredictable because monthly kenneling charges vary with animal intake; to improve predictability the county would move to quarterly fixed payments with an annual reconciliation tied to impounds, length of stay and population. The county also proposed increasing shelter staffing (38 positions system‑wide) and expanding adoption, foster and intake‑to‑placement programs; county staff said increased staffing is intended to raise life‑saving outcomes.
Hemet council members and residents pressed county staff on response times, especially for weekends and after‑hours calls. Several council members described recent local incidents where callers reported animals in distress but services did not arrive quickly; council members asked whether the county’s proposed staffing increases would provide reliable weekend coverage and whether overtime and dispatch arrangements would create extra city costs. County staff said field services generally run two officers on call five days a week with 24‑hour on‑call emergency response; overtime for after‑hours responses would be charged if it occurred. County staff said the county would phase in shelter rate increases over three years and raise field labor rates 5% for fiscal years 2025–27; shelter increases would begin January 1 of the fiscal year 2025–26 for a half‑year implementation.
Council Member Clark moved to continue the item so staff could confirm weekend coverage options; the motion passed 5–0. Council directed staff to return June 24 with clarifying cost and staffing scenarios, including whether two animal control officers could provide weekend coverage and the budgetary effect of that option. The council noted the city’s desire to avoid duplicative overtime charges and to ensure timely response to animal welfare calls.
No contract amendment or final fee adoption occurred on June 10; county staff said there is an option to spread shelter increases over three years and to move to quarterly fixed payments reconciled annually.
