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Madera forms city–county ad hoc committee after county signals possible termination of animal services
Summary
Facing rising shelter costs and a county warning that it may terminate animal-control services absent an agreement, the council approved an ad hoc committee of city leaders to negotiate with Madera County and discussed possible revenue measures and contingency plans including building local capacity.
The Madera City Council on May 6 authorized a city–county ad hoc committee to negotiate the future of animal-control services after the county indicated it may terminate the current 2018 services agreement if a new agreement is not reached by the end of the fiscal year.
City Manager Rodriguez told the council that under the 2018 agreement the county manages the animal shelter while the city provides two animal-control officers and equipment. Rodriguez said the county has at times been at capacity and has declined some intakes and has told the city it will provide 180 days’ notice to terminate the agreement if no deal is reached by the fiscal-year end.
"The county has also indicated that if an agreement is not reached between the city and the county by the end of this fiscal year ... they intend to ... provide the city 180 days to fully terminate the agreement," City Manager Rodriguez said.
Staff reported rising veterinary and operational costs and cited figures presented in the staff packet: the city’s cost for services was about $157,000 in 2021 and about $181,000 in the current fiscal year. Councilmembers cited a citizen-drafted county sales-tax proposal that would add 0.25 percentage points to the sales tax to fund a countywide shelter and noted concerns about per‑pet costs, governance and the measure’s perpetuity.
Councilmembers requested better data on shelter intakes and cost shares and discussed parallel planning should negotiations fail, including evaluating options to build local capacity. The council nominated and appointed Mayor Gallegos, Councilmember Rodriguez and Mayor Pro Tem Zechariah to serve on the city ad hoc committee and authorized staff participation; the motion passed unanimously.
What happens next: The ad hoc committee will meet with county representatives; staff will supply intake and cost data and report back to the council.
