Background:
In 2013 a Yolo County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) and UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program study found the Yolo County Animal Shelter to be “inadequate, outdated and compromising the program’s ability to adequately serve the community”. Additionally, it identified the establishment of an animal shelter joint powers agency (JPA) as a means to provide participating jurisdictions with increased control over budget and operational decision making.
In the Fall of 2018 representatives of the County, cities of Davis, Woodland, Winters, and West Sacramento, and UC Davis (“Animal Shelter Working Group”) held two joint meetings to gather information on the status of the Yolo Animal Shelter and determine next steps for action. The recommendation from these meetings was for each jurisdiction’s governing board to approve moving forward with the first phase of JPA development, and to receive a check-in from staff at each transition point in the phases. The suggested phases of JPA development included:
1.) Governance Model: Outlining the charge, scope and governance structure of the JPA, including powers, membership, bylaws and voting structure.
2.) Strategic Planning: JPA Initial Formation/Planning (Develop shared vision, mission, goals, objectives and strategic plan).
3.) JPA Operational Model: This phase assumes the JPA Board successfully completes the Strategic Planning phase, and continues to move forward. Here the JPA would consider operational models, staffing, and program options; allowing for updated financial projections before moving forward to consider facility options.
Once an operational model is agreed upon, additional phases might include:
1.) Shelter Location
2.) Shelter Design
3.) Financing
4.) Budget
5.) Implementation of JPA
On February 26, 2019 the Board received a shelter update and directed staff to move forward with the first phase of developing and implementing a JPA: defining the initial charge, scope and governance structure, including powers, membership, bylaws and voting structure.
On September 19, 2019 the Animal Shelter Working Group met to discuss the governance structure. The County and four cities, in consultation with UC Davis, ultimately agreed to continue to move forward with the initial formation of a JPA that includes “on” and “off-ramps” for agencies to leave the agreement, or buy-in at a later date.
The Animal Shelter Working Group participants agreed that the JPA start as a planning agency only, and that the operational and program options be studied first, before proceeding to consideration of facility options. There are no preconceived plans regarding any type of program model, facility or otherwise.
Yolo Animal Services Planning Agency JPA
It is envisioned that the attached agreement would become effective on the date upon which the cities of Davis, Winters, Woodland and the County have approved it. It is unknown at this time if West Sacramento will join, however, the working group anticipated this uncertainty and felt it important to proceed upon the aforementioned cities joining and to leave on ramps should the City of West Sacramento choose to join at a later time. In addition, UC Davis and Yocha Dehe Tribal government have been provided the JPA and a status update, though it is not anticipated that either will join during the planning phase. Currently, the agreement will be presented to city councils on the following dates:
City of Winters: Approved on February 4th
City of Davis: February 25th
City of Woodland: February 18th or March 3rd
City of West Sacramento: TBD
Staff recommends approval of the attached agreement, furthering the progress of the agencies into Phase II of development: JPA Initial Formation/Planning, including development of shared vision, mission, goals, objectives and strategic planning.
The goal is to conduct an inaugural meeting of the newly formed JPA in Spring 2020. |