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Supervisors debate grand‑jury follow‑up on OC Animal Care staffing; board asks for clearer language and continued review
Summary
Board members debated follow‑up responses to grand‑jury recommendations on OC Animal Care staffing. Supervisors asked staff to remove a sentence stating current staffing levels were "sufficient," reflecting that staffing is a moving target; staff said a broader review and budgeting process will address positions.
The board considered combined follow‑up responses to multiple grand‑jury reports, including two recommendations that asked the county to review and, if needed, increase staffing at OC Animal Care. Supervisors debated a sentence in staff’s follow‑up that concluded "the current staffing levels are sufficient."
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento proposed removing the concluding clause to avoid implying a fixed, optimal staffing level while the department continues ongoing reviews. He said staffing needs are a moving target and requested the sentence be struck from the follow‑up responses. Supervisor Katrina Foley seconded the amendment.
Monica Schmidt, director of OC Animal Care, told the board that staffing and volunteer support were part of a multifaceted review and that the shelter recorded nearly 400 volunteers in the first six months of the year—equivalent to about 15.7 full‑time positions in that quarter—and that the department is coordinating with Human Resources on classifications.
The board debated whether the follow‑up should reflect a point‑in‑time conclusion to satisfy the grand jury or be more open‑ended to reflect ongoing work. The amendment to remove the sentence passed on a 3–2 vote; later procedural motions resulted in the board taking the final recorded action on the responses in subsequent votes, with staff indicating the strategic financial planning and budgeting cycle would be used to consider any new positions.
Outcome: Board approved the follow‑up responses after debate; supervisors directed continued review of staffing levels through the strategic financial planning and budget processes.
