King County’s late, late entry into the animal services contract game, on the very cusp of the City’s voting last month on a contract with a group of local veterinarians, failed to set a single pair of official ears a-tingle Monday.
Indeed, after weighing King County’s vague alternative to Auburn Valley Humane Society’s (AVHS) detailed proposal and finding corresponding details sorely wanting, members of the City’s Municipal Services committee didn’t even bother to hide a palpable sense of underwhelm.
“Seems like more of a critique of AVHS than a proposal of their own,” Auburn Councilwoman Sue Singer groused of King County. “… I know they haven’t changed my mind.”
Committee members recommended that the full Auburn City Council approve the animal services contract with AVHS when the Council meets again at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 19 at Auburn City Hall.
King County’s critique took aim at AVHS cost figures and tried to argue it could do the job cheaper, but down the line, from tenant improvements to building maintenance, City officials weren’t impressed.
“We have thought this out very well,” Brenda Heineman human resources manager for the City of Auburn, said. She returned to that phrase time after time.
King County had been expected to unveil a formal written proposal at a staff meeting Tuesday, but it dashed those expectations.
“They didn’t provide anything written,” Heineman said Tuesday afternoon. “I guess they just expected to convince us of the merits of their ideas by talking to us.”
Auburn’s contract with King County expires in 2012.
Members of the Auburn Valley Humane Society insist they can the job for fewer dollars than King County, running an animal shelter right here and offering better service than residents now get.
The City of Auburn will throw both an animal control officer and a building for that shelter into the proposed contract with AVHS. By having control of their own animal control officer and many things that go along with that, the City figures it can recoup its initial $1.1 million investment and start-up costs within two to three years.
The proposed contract calls for the nonprofit AVHS to be ready when the present contract expires.
When the City entered into the animal control contract with King County in June 2010, it gave up its dedicated animal control officer and costs shot up. Auburn City Councilman John Partridge asked area veterinarians for ideas.
The agreement since hammered out calls for AVHS to operate the shelter in a city-owned building on A Street Southeast, which the City will lease to the non-profit for $1 dollar. The City will provide up to $417,000 toward the completion of tenant improvements there.
The shelter’s capacity will be 50 animals per day. If there are more, AVHS has agreed to work to reduce the population through adoption, foster care, other humane societies or other appropriate means.
The agreement is for seven years, with the right to extend another seven years, starting in 2012.
If AVHS does not raise $176,000 on its own in start-up costs, the City will advance it up to $176,000. Starting in the third year, the City will deduct money advanced for start-up costs against future fees paid to AVHS.
The City will provide animal control services and pay an animal control officer $80,196 annually, answering a common concern — that animal control officers are spread extremely thin under the county contract. The county officer responsible for Auburn now covers a 300-square-mile area, extending east from Federal Way to the county line.
The agreement calls for the City to pay $240,000 per year to AVHS in quarterly payments, with any increases based on the consumer price index, with a maximum increase of 3-percent per year for the following year. The City will sell pet licenses within city limits, and AVHS will receive 100-percent of the licensing fees collected.
The shelter will be open to the public 24 hours per week. Hours will be added as staffing and budget permits.
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Cost comparison with King County
2012: King County — $572,837; AVHS, $1,137,253 (includes start up costs)
2013: King County — $694,820; AVHS, $453,891
2014: King County — $799,408; AVHS, $451,343
