Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Care topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council moves to contract with DocuPet for pet licensing; Proposition L findings read
Summary
The council read a Proposition L ordinance and authorized the city manager to execute a one‑year (with optional renewals) contract with DocuPet for online pet licensing. Staff said there will be no cost to the city and projected improved compliance and revenue.
The Long Beach City Council on Feb. 18 took first‑reading action related to contracting out pet licensing services to DocuPet Corp., a vendor that provides online pet‑licensing and tag fulfillment services.
Parks, Recreation & Marine Director Brent Dennis and Long Beach Animal Care Services Bureau Manager Dr. Melanie Wagner presented the recommendation and a Proposition L (City Charter §1806) analysis. Staff described that in FY 2022 the bureau had six full‑time license inspectors but those positions were reallocated; licensing tasks were then distributed among remaining staff and compliance and revenue declined. DocuPet was presented as a vendor‑hosted, no‑cost solution to the city that automates renewal notices, allows online purchases and mail fulfillment of license tags, and can increase licensing revenues according to vendor experience (staff cited upgrades in other jurisdictions of up to 17%). The vendor also offered to waive startup fees and to provide a 20% donation of customizable tag proceeds back to the city shelter.
Parks staff said walk‑in licensing will remain available and that the contract would be for one year with up to four optional one‑year renewals at the city manager's discretion. Because the action is a contract for a service typically performed by city employees, staff presented required Proposition L findings that a private vendor can perform the work efficiently and at lower cost and that the contract is not detrimental to the public interest. The council read the Prop L ordinance on first reading and voted to proceed; final adoption (second reading) and execution of the contract will be handled at the next regular council meeting.
Council members asked about local vendor opportunities and the length of automatic renewal. Staff said they would monitor performance annually and that the one‑year plus renewals structure allows staff to report back and consider alternative local providers if viable options emerge.
