To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Nolan Sullivan, 707-565-4774; Amelyn Olson, 707-565-2696
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Second District
Title:
Title
Sonoma County Animal Services Agreement to provide Animal Control and Licensing Services to the City of Petaluma
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute an agreement with the City of Petaluma, which include nonstandard indemnification language, to provide animal control field services and animal licensing for the period of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, for an initial annual amount of $505,375, with the option to renew for up to two one-year terms through June 30, 2029.
B) Authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute modifications to the agreement in this Board Item which do not significantly change the scopes of service including amendments to extend the agreement within the authorized renewal terms; adjust service levels; modify payment or reimbursement methodologies; and adjust annual compensation as necessary to maintain full cost recovery, subject approval by County Counsel.
C) Adopt a budget Resolution adjusting the Department of Health Services FY 2026-2027 appropriations and estimated revenues by $505,375 for services provided under the Agreement with the City of Petaluma to provide Animal Control Field Services and Animal Licensing Support. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Animal Services (SCAS), a program within the Department of Health Services (Department), requests Board authority to execute a revenue-generating agreement that will expand regional animal control and licensing services within Sonoma County. The proposed agreement would be with the City of Petaluma to provide field services and animal licensing.
The agreement will generate approximately $505,375 in FY 2026-2027 revenue and is structured using a full cost recovery methodology intended to recover the County's direct and indirect costs associated with providing services. The agreement leverages SCAS's existing expertise in governmental animal control, rabies control, emergency response, licensing, and public health enforcement while expanding regional collaboration and promoting consistent service delivery throughout Sonoma County.
SCAS will contract directly with the City to provide animal control field services and licensing. Sheltering and related animal care services will be provided by the Humane Society of Sonoma County under a separate agreement with City of Petaluma.
The proposed agreement supports the Department's strategic goal of providing efficient, coordinated, and high-quality public health and animal welfare services while resulting in no Net County Cost.
Labor representatives were provided notice on March 24, 2026, regarding the Department’s intentions to enter into this agreement and no objection has been received.
Discussion:
Sonoma County Animal Services provides animal control services within the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County and currently contracts with several incorporated jurisdictions to provide municipal animal services. SCAS delivers governmental animal control functions including field response, rabies control, animal bite investigations, cruelty and neglect investigations, dangerous animal enforcement, emergency response, disaster response coordination, and animal licensing.
The Department continues to pursue regional partnerships that leverage existing County expertise and infrastructure while providing participating jurisdictions with professional, efficient, and consistent animal services on a full cost recovery basis.
The proposed agreement will further expand SCAS's municipal service portfolio and strengthen regional coordination among local governments and animal welfare partners.
City of Petaluma Agreement
The City of Petaluma issued a competitive Request for Proposals seeking comprehensive animal services beginning September 1, 2026. The Humane Society of Sonoma County submitted a proposal identifying Sonoma County Animal Services as its subcontractor for governmental animal control functions. Following that process, the City determined that governmental animal control field services and animal licensing would be provided directly by Sonoma County Animal Services through an agreement between the City and County.
Under the proposed agreement, SCAS will provide:
• Animal control field response and enforcement
• Animal licensing services
• Rabies control and quarantine activities
• Animal bite investigations
• Cruelty and neglect investigations
• Dangerous animal investigations
• Emergency and after-hours response
• Disaster preparedness and response
• Coordination with law enforcement and emergency responders
• Community education and proactive patrol activities
The proposed contract provides annual revenue of $505,375, for the initial term based upon a full cost recovery methodology that includes personnel, employee benefits, equipment, training, administrative support, and applicable indirect costs. Prior to each optional renewal term, the County and City will evaluate compensation necessary to maintain full cost recovery based on projected costs and applicable licensing revenue.
Nonstandard Indemnification Language
The proposed agreement contain the following added language to the nonstandard indemnification clause:
“Contractor[City name] agrees to accept all responsibility for loss or damage to any person or entity, including County, and to indemnify, hold harmless, and release County, its officers, agents, and employees from and against any actions, claims, damages, liabilities, disabilities, or expenses that may be asserted by any person or entity, including Contractor[City name], that arise out of, pertain to, or relate to Contractor's[City name]’s or its agents', employees', contractors', subcontractors', or invitees' performance or obligations under this Agreement. Contractor, including against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or expenses arising out of or related to conditions within the [City name], City-owned property, City ordinances, or actions taken by SCAS in the lawful performance of duties under this Agreement. [City name] agrees to provide a complete defense for any claim or action brought against County based upon a claim relating to such Contractor's[City name]'s or its agents', employees', contractors', subcontractors', or invitees' performance or obligations under this Agreement. Contractor's[City name]'s obligations under this Article apply whether or not there is concurrent or contributory negligence on County's part, but to the extent required by law, excluding liability due to County's conduct. County shall have the right to select its legal counsel at Contractor's[City name]'s expense, subject to Contractor's[City name]'s approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification obligation is not limited in any way by any limitation on the amount or type of damages or compensation payable to or for Contractor[City name] or its agents under workers' compensation acts, disability benefits acts, or other employee benefit acts.”
Benefits of Regional Partnerships
The proposed agreement continues the Department's strategy of expanding regional municipal animal services through collaborative partnerships.
Regional agreements:
• Promote consistent animal control service levels throughout Sonoma County.
• Strengthen public health through coordinated rabies control and animal bite investigations.
• Improve emergency preparedness and disaster response capabilities.
• Leverage existing County infrastructure and expertise while monitoring staffing capacity and service levels as regional services expand.
• Expand regional collaboration among local governments and nonprofit animal welfare organizations.
• Recover the full cost of providing services without increasing Net County Cost.
SCAS anticipates providing the services under the proposed agreement with existing staffing. As this agreement is implemented, SCAS will monitor workload, call volume, response times, service levels, and geographic coverage to evaluate the impact of the expanded regional service model. This information will be used to assess staffing and operational needs and to help ensure that expansion of contracted services does not adversely affect service levels in existing service areas.
The Town of Windsor is currently finalizing a separate municipal animal services agreement under existing delegated authority. The City of Healdsburg agreement remains active through 2027. The City of Cloverdale is also working with the County on a municipal animal services agreement, with terms still under negotiation and anticipated to return to the Board separately. Together with the proposed Petaluma agreement, these partnerships position Sonoma County Animal Services as a regional provider of governmental animal control services while maintaining consistent service standards across participating jurisdictions.
The proposed agreement has been reviewed by County Counsel, Risk Management, and the Department of Health Services and include appropriate provisions regarding insurance and allocation of risk.
Strategic Plan:
None
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On April 7, 2026, the Board authorized the Director of Health Services, to negotiate and execute short term agreements with the City of Petaluma and the Town of Windsor, on a full cost-recovery basis as needed to address immediate service gap, subject to review and approval as to form by County Counsel and the County Executive or designee, for the Department of Health Services to provide animal control field services and animal licensing from April 1, 2026 (Windsor) and April 7, 2026 (Petaluma) through June 30, 2026, with an option to extend for up to a year, if mutually agreed upon and approved by the County Executive or designee, and County Counsel. The total estimated revenue from the proposed agreements for this period is $119,129, based on full cost recovery for services provided.
On December 12, 2024, the Board authorized the Director of the Department of Health Services to execute an agreement with the Humane Society of Sonoma County for the County of Sonoma to provide animal control field services and animal licensing for the City of Healdsburg for the term of January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027, resulting in revenue to the Department of Health Services in the amount of $342,000.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$505,375 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$505,375 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$505,375 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$505,375 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Adoption of this item will increase the FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget by $505,375. The County of Sonoma Animal Services agreement with the City of Petaluma is expected to generate approximately $505,375 in annual revenue to offset personnel and operating costs incurred in delivering the services.
The City of Petaluma agreement is structured using a full cost recovery methodology and is expected to generate approximately $505,375 to recover the direct and indirect costs associated with providing services.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Budget Resolution
Attachment 2 - Draft agreement with City of Petaluma
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None