Yolo County JPA members weigh operational joint-powers model, fundraising and shelter upgrades; clinic grant approved

At a meeting of the Yolo County Joint Powers Authority (JPA), board members, county staff and members of the public discussed three operational models for providing animal services, the lack of an existing JPA budget and steps for fundraising and outreach to build or upgrade shelter capacity.

The discussion focused on three options presented by a community consultant: keep the county-run model; form an operational JPA that either directly hires staff or contracts with a nonprofit for all services; or use a hybrid in which a nonprofit runs sheltering while the county retains animal-control functions. Lisa, a consultant and community member who presented the options, said the models allow participating cities and the county to “decide what services you have in your community and how they're delivered.”

Why it matters: Board members and multiple public speakers said the county's shelter needs more capacity and a stronger operational plan to reduce costs, manage seasonal surges in animal intake and reduce animal suffering. Without a funding mechanism, however, the JPA as currently constituted has no appropriated funds to enter contracts or hire staff, and any transition would require coordination with the Board of Supervisors, city councils and the county administrator's office.

Board and staff comments Board members repeatedly urged taking the JPA options back to each agency for consideration. Supervisor Barajas said the next step is to present the options to the Board of Supervisors and the city councils in West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland and Davis to determine whether each jurisdiction supports changing the operational model. Supervisor Allen and other board members agreed that securing buy-in from each jurisdiction is necessary before the JPA can move forward.

Phil, a county staff member who answered technical questions about funds, said the JPA currently has no appropriated budget for contracting. He told the body, “If money's donated for a specific purpose, it goes into a discrete fund,” and said he would need to consult the Department of Financial Services for specifics on how donated funds would be handled.

Community input and fundraising Several public commenters and community organizations urged an operational shift and immediate steps on spay-and-neuter services. Eileen Samitz, a longtime veterinary laboratory worker and volunteer, said, “It is a health, welfare, and safety issue,” and warned that delaying changes increases costs and animal suffering, especially during kitten season. Members of the nonprofit Unleashing the Possibilities (UTP) and other volunteers said they are prepared to help with fundraising and seed donations.

Lisa, who said she has spoken with multiple JPAs elsewhere in California and beyond, cited examples of seed gifts and bequests used by other JPAs to pay for initial planning, architecture and hiring an interim executive director. She also said the veterinary school at UC Davis is “very willing and eager to collaborate,” but cautioned that the school has no legal obligation to fund county services.

Board direction and next steps Board members broadly supported taking the JPA options back to their respective agencies for informational briefings. Several members proposed asking the county CAO (county administrator) and city managers to prepare cost estimates and implementation proposals to return to the JPA at a future meeting — board members discussed returning with more information as soon as the next scheduled meeting in two months.

Clinic update Stephanie, a Yolo County Animal Services staff member, gave an implementation update on the “Clinic in a Can” project, a grant-funded mobile surgical clinic to replace the existing on-site sterilization rig. She said, “The plans for that have been approved as of April 4,” and that the county has completed permits with general services; the unit is expected to be turnkey and could be operational by fall 2025. Stephanie said the current facility and “big fix” rig remain operational while work continues to outfit additional space and solicit community partners for spay-and-neuter services.

Donations and accountability Board members and members of the public asked how donations would be segregated and used. Stephanie and Phil said the shelter and the Friends of YCAS maintain dedicated giving “buckets” for adoption, medical services and facility needs on the shelter and county websites; staff said donations designated for a purpose are typically kept in discrete accounts and not absorbed into the general fund.

Public requests and process details Public commenters asked the JPA to consider monthly or hybrid meetings to keep momentum and broaden participation; volunteers requested prioritizing near-term investments in the existing shelter's condition and immediate spay-and-neuter capacity. Several speakers urged a capital campaign that combines county, city, nonprofit and corporate philanthropy rather than relying solely on public budgets. Lisa said philanthropic and corporate donors often fund projects outside their immediate geography if there is a business case for visibility or impact.

What was not decided No formal motion or vote was recorded to adopt any specific operational model or to appropriate funds. Board members discussed directing staff to prepare cost analyses and to report to each jurisdiction's elected body; they agreed to return with additional information before taking a final action.

Next steps Board members asked staff and community presenters to provide written packets of JPA examples and planning materials, and to brief city councils and the Board of Supervisors. The JPA's next substantive action will depend on whether member jurisdictions signal support for exploring an operational JPA and whether seed funding or appropriations are identified to support planning and an interim executive director or consultant to do the initial work.