Submitted By: Danielle Phillips
presenter
Presentation By: Ken Whitehead
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Department: Public Works
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
title
Approve a ten-year Interlocal Agreement between Marion County, Florida, and the City of Ocala for the provision of continued animal control services within the limits of the city with an expenditure amount for FY22/23 of $502,700
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence.
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
In 2009, the City of Ocala entered an interlocal agreement with Marion County for the transfer of animal control services to Marion County. This agreement included an obligation of the City to provide additional funding, personnel, and equipment to the County during the transition for the initial years of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Marion County and the City of Ocala recognize circumstances have changed since the 2009 agreement and now desire to enter a new interlocal agreement to further define the level of service and address operational and funding issues.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The new agreement stipulates animal control services provided by the County within the limits of the City should be the same services that the County provides elsewhere in their service area. The County is responsible for determining the response priorities for all calls and any immediate threat to public safety will always take priority. The County currently follows a prioritization schedule and will continue to do so when taking calls within City limits. The City will pay 10% of the County’s expenses for FY20/21 which totaled $188,656, as shown in the table below.
|
Payment Due Date |
Audited Expenses Fiscal Year |
City of Ocala Share |
|
30 days from agreement |
FY20/21 ($1,886,551.13) |
10% ($188,655.11) |
|
4/1/2024 |
FY21/22 |
10% |
|
4/1/2025 |
FY22/23 |
10% |
|
4/1/2026 |
FY23/24 |
10% |
|
4/1/2027 |
FY24/25 |
10% |
|
4/1/2028 |
FY25/26 |
10% |
Additionally, the City and County understand, acknowledge, and agree that there will be two animal control officer positions solely and exclusively dedicated to the provision of animal control services within the City limits only and not be utilized by the County for any other areas in Marion County (i.e., enhanced animal control services).
The City will compensate the County for enhanced animal control which includes all salary, benefit, and operational costs associated with two animal control officers which for this fiscal year is $86,708 per officer; or a total of $173,416 and the cost for equipment is $70,314 per officer; or a total of $140,628. The cost for the first fiscal year for the employees and equipment totals $314,044 which will be utilized by the County for the startup costs associated with the employees providing the animal control services to the City of Ocala. The amount of annual compensation paid by the City to the County for the provision of enhanced animal control services in subsequent years will be based upon the County approved budget for that year less the unexpended amount prepaid by the City the prior year.
The County will provide enhanced animal control services when vacancies occur within the County’s Animal Control Services department. The County will strive to fill the positions which are dedicated to the provision of enhanced animal control services for the City prior to filling any other vacant positions. In order to provide proper training, balance the on-call rotation and after-hours service the County may change officers dedicated to the City on a quarterly basis.
The initial term of this agreement is 10 years with two additional five-year terms upon written consent between the parties.
Either party may terminate this agreement for convenience upon the provision of 18 months advance written notice of their intent to so terminate; provided however that no termination of this Agreement for convenience shall be effective prior to September 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$150,000 is currently budgeted in account 001-012-210-512-51-81010. $352,700 will be transferred from General Fund Reserve for Contingencies to fund the balance of the agreement in 001-012-210-512-51-81010. An accompanying budget resolution is provided on the consent portion of this agenda.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A. Agreements between the City and local governmental entities are exempted from formal competitive solicitation requirements under Procurement Policy No. PRO-070.
LEGAL REVIEW:
This Agreement has been reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Adopt with Changes
• Table
• Deny