HOLLISTER
Hollister City Council members have approved an updated contract with the county for animal control services to replace an agreement officials say was outdated.
The city already had provided animal control services to the county – the old contract was drawn up in 1980 – but officials recognized some areas that needed fine-tuning. City Manager Clint Quilter noted that the city has “always provided animal control services to the county.”
Council members unanimously approved the new agreement at Tuesday’s meeting.
Police Capt. Bob Brooks pointed to the pay structure between the city and county for such calls as needing some refining. He said police officials did a study – looking at the number of calls and time spent between the city and county – to figure the appropriate amount each agency should pay.
“The study looked at calls, time served,” Brooks said.
From that study, the city established that the county will have to pay, at most, 55 percent of the cost for such animal control responses and the city will make up the remaining 45 percent.
Another area he pointed to in the update is how the county now must provide its own sworn officers for cases requiring deputies in the county. Previously, this was not in the agreement.
The contract is necessary because the county does not provide its own animal control or shelter services to residents who live in unincorporated parts of the county. San Juan Bautista, not included in this resolution, does not have an agreement for animal services with the city.
The resolution calls for a five-year contract that will is retroactive to July 1, 2008.
