City Likely to Renew Animal Service Pact

For a year, they have thought of straying from the folks who capture the city’s strays.

But on Monday, Simi Valley City Council members are expected to renew their contract with Ventura County’s Animal Regulation Department, at a cost not to exceed $265,000 for the fiscal year.

The action is expected to close Simi Valley’s animal regulation debate--at least for a year.

Convinced they could get better service at a lower cost, Simi Valley officials had flirted with the idea of switching to Los Angeles County’s animal regulators. But Los Angeles County could not deliver promised savings while still caring for strays, licensing dogs, trapping wild animals and operating a part-time shelter in Simi Valley.

Thus, the council’s apparent about-face.

It is difficult to predict exactly how much Simi Valley will spend this year with Ventura County, but it very likely will be less than was budgeted, according to a report prepared by the city’s community services staff.

Ventura County animal regulators anticipate that Simi Valley will pay about $242,000 by year’s end. Last year’s animal regulation price tag was about $227,000.

Meantime, local city managers, including Simi Valley’s Mike Sedell, are still meeting with county officials in hopes of getting more service at a lower cost.