Davenport, Humane Society negotiate transition as nonprofit signals it will end long-term contract

Davenport Mayor Jason Gordon and city council members met with officials from the Humane Society in a work session to address a dispute over contract costs and to plan for a possible transition of animal control and sheltering services ahead of the current contract's June 30 expiration.

The Humane Society's executive director, Erica Gun, told the council the organization has provided a Feb. 4 offer for services past June 30 and that a March 20 response from the city arrived only recently. Gun said the Society's board has concluded there is effectively "0% chance" the long‑term contractual relationship will continue and that the organization is focused on a "responsible transition" that is fully funded and safe for animals and the public.

Why it matters: Davenport would need to build or contract new animal control and shelter capacity quickly if the Society ends services. Council members said constituents expect clear accounting for large increases in the Society's requested reimbursement — figures discussed in the meeting included an earlier three‑year contract in the neighborhood of $391,000 and the Humane Society's stated full cost of roughly $1.23 million per year.

Council members pressed the Humane Society for backup documentation and a line‑by‑line explanation of how the nonprofit arrived at its figures. "We need to see how you come up with those numbers," Alderwoman Jasmine Newton said, saying spreadsheets and summaries provided to date did not reconcile with the amounts presented. The Society responded that it has provided audited financial statements, intake and calls‑for‑service data and has engaged an outside consultant to help translate its accounting to municipal procurement expectations.

On operational details, the Society described its approach to cost allocation: remove nonprofit mission programs from the budget, allocate shared building and utility costs proportionally, and distribute remaining operating costs by the percentage of animals and calls for service attributed to each jurisdiction. The Society also said it does not charge the city for maintenance of the single vehicle the city provides, although the Society operates additional vehicles necessary to deliver services.

Negotiations and proposed short-term terms: Council members publicly discussed a bridge arrangement — extending services through Dec. 31 (a six‑month extension) and continuing month‑to‑month thereafter at approximately $100,000 per month with a suggested 60‑day cancellation notice. A council member summarized the public offer as about $650,000 for six months, then month‑to‑month at roughly $100,000. Gun said the Society's most recent offer is similar and that the board would need to confirm details.

Next steps: The parties agreed to reconvene and the Humane Society said it would confirm internal discussions on April 10 and provide a final response by April 17. Council members said staff should work on the city's capabilities and procurement options — including an RFP for shelter operations or the city taking over animal control while contracting shelter services — if the Society does not continue long term.

Transition risks and workforce issues: Participants noted time pressures for recruiting and retaining animal control staff during any multi‑month transition. A presenter at the meeting, Katie Barnett, cautioned that a drawn‑out timeline risks losing experienced officers who may seek other jobs, undermining public safety.

The meeting closed with both sides saying they want to avoid service gaps and to cooperate on a transition plan; no formal decision or vote was taken during the session. The Humane Society will notify the council of its board's decision and any final terms by the agreed deadline.