Without ample time to explore alternative options, most members of the Lompoc City Council felt obligated to accept a new five-year contract with the city’s current animal services provider, Santa Barbara County.
The City Council’s decision to sign the contract on June 21 wasn’t unanimous, and all five members expressed their mutual frustration with continuing the partnership.
“I think we’re being blackmailed with substandard services, and we don’t have anything else to lean on unless we go around and do our homework there,” Councilmember Victor Vega said during the City Council’s June 21 meeting. “We’re going to continue with substandard services because we don’t have the facilities or the infrastructure, or even have any kind of agreements with other service providers.”
During its May 17 meeting, the council questioned the projected annual rates included in the county’s multi-year proposal. The estimated cost for county-provided animal services during the 2022-23 fiscal year is $347,260, which is expected to increase 1.6 to 4.1 percent each year over the next five years.
Without an operational animal shelter in Lompoc, Councilmember Dirk Starbuck argued that the city shouldn’t have to pay “roughly $30,000 a month” for animal services that residents have to drive to Santa Maria for.
City staff was directed to return with information on alternative animal service options. Erin Keller, Lompoc’s Senior Administrative Analyst, discussed alternatives during the June 21 meeting, but explained that each route would take about one to two years for the city to transition into.
Councilmember Gilda Cordova used air quotes to express her frustration with the options presented and criticized city staff for not looking into the issue sooner.
“I don’t look at these options as options because we’re given these ‘options’ on the last meeting in June when we are a week and a half away from having to make a decision on this and having to sign a five-year contract,” Cordova said. “My position on this is I’m more frustrated about the conversation than the lack of services from the county, because we spent the first half of the year on minimal council agendas, not much was being presented to the council, and yet we’re told today that we need to make a decision and provide direction.”
Before voting on whether or not to accept the county’s five-year contract, Lompoc City Attorney Jeff Malawy warned council members that if the city doesn’t “enter into the agreement with the county, then we’re not going to have the animal services that are required by law starting on July 1.”
“We’re caught over a barrel to sign this and not lose service that we do have, but I think it’s important that we not lose service while we figure this out,” Mayor Jenelle Osborne said. “I disagree with how the county has handled this and I disagree with the service level we’re getting, but I think what we have been provided tonight is a window. … We know that we have five years to come up with another plan. Hopefully, we can do it within a year or two.”
The Lompoc City Council agreed to accept the new contract, after a 4-1 vote, with Cordova dissenting.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 7, 2022.