To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tina Rivera, 707-565-4774; Brian Whipple, 707-565-7101
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Sonoma County Animal Services Veterinarian Services Agreement
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Health Services, or designee, to execute an agreement with Catherine Marie McKenzie, DVM, to provide veterinarian services in the County’s animal shelter through June 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $539,435, including $87,815 in fiscal year 2022-2023.
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Animal Services (SCAS), which is administered within the Department of Health Services (hereinafter, DHS or “the Department”), operates a shelter that takes in over 2,500 animals annually, primarily dogs and cats. SCAS must provide appropriate veterinary care for every animal taken in at the shelter. Additionally, every dog and cat is spayed or neutered before being adopted out.
Sonoma County does not have a job classification for staff veterinarian, resulting in the need to contract for veterinarian services. Veterinary care for animals at the Sonoma County animal shelter has been provided through contracted services for approximately thirty years. Based on the results of a recent competitive solicitation, which yielded only one proposal, this item requests approval to enter into a new agreement with the current contracted veterinarian, Catherine Marie McKenzie, DVM, for the continuation of services through June 30, 2026.
Discussion:
Sonoma County Animal Services operates a shelter that takes in over 2,500 animals annually, primarily dogs and cats. SCAS must provide appropriate veterinary care for every animal taken in at the shelter. Additionally, every dog and cat is spayed or neutered before being adopted out.
SCAS does not have a veterinarian on staff and therefore contracts for veterinary care services for animals in its care. On September 2, 2022, the Department issued a request for proposals (RFP) inviting proposals for veterinary services to be provided at the County animal shelter. Consistent with the competitive procurement process, the RFP was posted on the County Purchasing website. The RFP was also posted on the DHS website and emailed to local veterinarians, clinics, and the Redwood Empire Veterinary Medical Association.
One proposal was received, from Dr. Catherine McKenzie, who is currently under contract to provide veterinarian services at the shelter. The proposal was evaluated based on criteria established prior to release of the RFP, including demonstrated ability and experience in diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, infectious disease prevention, and high volume spay/neuter surgery. Based on the competitive procurement proposal evaluation, the Department recommends that the Board approve a veterinary services contract with Catherine Marie McKenzie, DVM, for the continuation of veterinary services through June 30, 2026.
Dr. McKenzie is paid on a per-hours basis. Dr. McKenzie’s contracted rate in the contract that ended November 30, 2022 was $87.50 per hour. Dr. McKenzie’s proposed new rate is $96.50 per hour, which is an increase of $9.00 per hourly or 9.33 percent. Average current hourly pay rate in California for shelter veterinarians is $100 per hour. Based on the rate comparison, Dr. McKenzie’s rate is reasonable.
Dr. McKenzie has provided veterinary care at the animal shelter since 2014, first as a subcontractor and then directly through services contracts since 2016. Dr. McKenzie’s current contract expires on November 30, 2022. Dr. McKenzie’s new contract will be backdated to start December 1, 2022 to prevent any gap of services at the animal shelter.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
On June 11, 2019 the Board approved an agreement with Catherine McKenzie, DVM to provide veterinary services in the County animal shelter for the period July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 in an amount not to exceed $409,500.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY 23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$86,500 |
$150,540 |
$150,540 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$1,315 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$87,815 |
$150,540 |
$150,540 |
|
Funding Sources |
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|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$87,815 |
$150,540 |
$150,540 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$87,815 |
$150,540 |
$150,540 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Funding for this agreement is from user fees and charges based on the Board approved fee schedule, and from revenue agreements with partner cities for the County to provide animal services. The FY 22-23 budget includes $86,500 for this agreement. If needed, appropriations in the amount of $1,315 for FY 22-23 will be added during third-quarter consolidated budget adjustments, for a total of $87,815 in FY 22-23. Appropriations of $150,540 will be included in the Department’s budget annually for FY 23-24 through FY 25-26 for the proposed agreement with Dr. McKenzie.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Agreement with Catherine Marie McKenzie, DVM
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None