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APPROVE MOTION TO EXECUTE A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION TO THE STANDARD AGREEMENT WITH HARD LUCK ANIMAL WELFARE ADVOCATES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3,969,675 (CITY-WIDE)
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 5 to the standard agreement with Hard Luck Animal Welfare Advocates (HLAWA), extending the agreement by one (1) year and authorizing the addition of four (4) new positions to the contract, at a cost not to exceed$3,969,675.
2. It is further recommended that the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to make any and all expenditures and appropriations on behalf of the City as appropriate and necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
HLAWA has provided essential veterinarian services to the Stockton Animal Shelter since 2023 through an existing contract with the City. Because the City does not have an allocated full-time veterinarian position, this partnership has been critical to maintaining animal health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and supporting the Shelter’s significant improvements in Live Release outcomes. The current contract expires on June 30, 2026. The City entered into a contract with HLAWA, which includes an initial three-year period with two (2) one-year extension options for a total potential term not to exceed five (5) years. The proposed extension will be the first extension per the terms of the contract. (Attachments A-F)
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton continues to experience a persistent pet overpopulation crisis, with stray intakes regularly exceeding shelter capacity. Limited access to affordable and timely veterinary care, especially spay/neuter services, remains a major driver of unwanted litters and the growing stray population. This strain on shelter operations increases animal length of stay and challenges the City’s ability to meet State Health and Safety Code requirements for adequate medical care and housing.
To further expand community access to services and strengthen overall shelter operations, the City has purchased a second satellite Animal Wellness Clinic and Resource Center. This new facility will increase veterinary capacity, support community outreach efforts, and provide enhanced care for sheltered animals. It will also offer an off-site adoption center that creates a calmer environment for both animals and prospective adopters, improving placement success and reducing intake pressures at the main shelter.
To effectively operate this new location as a true community resource center, additional staffing is required under the existing HLAWA contract. These positions are essential to expanding preventative and support-based services that help keep pets with their families, reduce unnecessary shelter intake, and provide the type of accessible animal care resources the community has continued to request. With increased demand for assistance related to pet retention, foster support, medical care coordination, and community outreach programs, adequate staffing is necessary to ensure the City can fully utilize this facility as a proactive resource rather than solely a reactive sheltering operation. Council approval of funding will allow the City to expand these critical services while continuing to provide humane, high-quality care for animals and meaningful support to the community.
Present Situation
There is continued public support for addressing the ongoing pet overpopulation crisis, reducing shelter intakes, and ensuring humane care for animals in the City’s custody. The City of Stockton Animal Services and HLAWA share a mission to reduce unwanted pet populations and expand community resources. Increasing HLAWA’s contract to include staffing for the City’s satellite animal resource center will enhance services by improving access to veterinary care, expanding community outreach, and operating an off-site adoption location.
These services will help reduce shelter intake by addressing core causes of overpopulation, such as limited access to spay and neuter services, while also increasing adoptions through a calmer, more accessible off-site location. Expanding these efforts will help the City continue meeting its legal obligations under State Health and Safety codes.
On June 20, 2023, Council approved motion 2023-06-20-1208 authorizing a three-year contract between the City of Stockton and HLAWA for veterinary services at the Animal Shelter which included an option for two (2) one-year extensions. Amendment No. 1, approved on October 26, 2023, added three (3) contractor personnel positions. Amendment No. 2, approved on August 19, 2024, added one (1) additional contractor personnel position. On September 23, 2025, Council approved motion 2025-09-23-1214 authorizing Amendment No. 3, adding twelve (12) additional contractor personnel positions for the third year of the agreement. Amendment No. 4 added funding to the contract to align with contractor personnel costs. A summary of contract totals to date is as follows:
|
Original Contract Years 1-3 |
$ 4,970,704 |
|
Amendment #1 |
$ 506,251 |
|
Amendment #2 |
$ 88,000 |
|
Amendment #3 |
$ 789,389 |
|
Amendment #4 |
$ 440,000 |
|
Contract Total |
$ 6,794,344 |
Proposed Amendment No. 5 adds four (4) new positions to the contract: Director of Marketing & Finance, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Registered Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Technician.
The addition of one DVM position through the existing HLAWA contract is necessary to support the operation of the Fremont Street Pet Wellness and Adoption Center as a community veterinary resource facility. This position would provide medical oversight for preventative care programs, community wellness services, vaccination clinics, and minor medical treatment for community-owned animals. The DVM would also support outreach operations throughout Stockton by helping bring veterinary resources directly into underserved neighborhoods where access to affordable veterinary care remains limited. Expanding access to veterinary medicine is critical to helping pet owners address medical concerns before they escalate into emergency situations that may ultimately result in shelter intake or owner surrender. Additional Veterinary Technician positions will support these efforts as well and support day-to-day operations at both Animal Shelter facilities.
To support the continued expansion and long-term sustainability of these programs and positions, the addition of a Director of Marketing and Finance position for Hard Luck Animal Welfare Advocates is also requested as part of this amendment. As operations and staffing continue to grow, including veterinary services, community outreach, and rescue support operations, a dedicated Director of Marketing and Finance would help ensure effective budgeting, grant oversight, financial compliance, and long-term financial sustainability for these expanding community-focused services.
These positions are essential to fully utilizing the Fremont Street Pet Wellness and Adoption Center as the type of community resource center residents have continued to request. Stockton Animal Services has continued transitioning toward a prevention- focused model centered on community support, pet retention, and accessibility to care. Without adequate staffing dedicated specifically to veterinary medicine and outreach services, the Department’s ability to expand these programs and sustain long-term community impact will remain limited.
It is critical to ensure medical services are provided to animals at all times. Without providing adequate medical care, the vast improvements made to the Shelter’s Live Release Rate over the years would suffer. The 2025 Live Release Rate finished the year at 79 percent and there is continued public support to increase the Live Release Rate into future years. However, the humane care services for animals, such as staffing and equipment, will need to be provided and updated to sustain the outcomes at the Shelter. This service support must be balanced with the available funds to operate the Shelter. The City’s Long Range Financial Plan does not support the addition of full-time positions currently. It is critical for the City to continue the partnership with HLAWA to continue providing these life-saving efforts to animals in shelter and in the community. Extending this contract will allow the City and HLAWA to continue its outreach efforts and services provided to the community.
In addition to these operational improvements, the expansion of services through the new Animal Wellness Clinic has created substantial opportunities for increased revenue and cost recovery. The clinic will offer more than forty (40) fee-based services, including vaccinations, microchipping, diagnostic testing, wellness examinations, medications and supplies, and an extensive spay/neuter program with fees. The new fees associated with the Animal Wellness Clinic are included in the FY 2026-27 Budget Request and will be implemented following adoption of the City’s annual budget. These revenues will directly support medical operations, reduce general-fund impact, and improve the shelter’s long-term sustainability.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The proposed cost of this amendment to exercise a one-year extension is an annual cost of $3,969,675, with a total contract amount of $10,764,019. Funding for this one-year contract extension is included in the proposed FY 2026-27 Police Department’s Animal Shelter Special Services General Fund budget and the Other Special Revenue Fund, Pet Overpopulation Program fund balance.
If approved, the fees proposed in the FY 2026-27 Budget Request for the Animal Wellness Clinic will generate revenues in the Other Special Revenue Fund, Pet Overpopulation Program. Revenue receipts in this fund will offset the HLAWA contract expenditures.
Attachment A - Amendment 5 - HLAWA Standard Agreement
Attachment B -HLAWA Standard Agreement
Attachment C - Amendment 1 - HLAWA Standard Agreement
Attachment D - Amendment 2 - HLAWA Standard Agreement
Attachment E - Amendment 3 - HLAWA Standard Agreement
Attachment F - Amendment 4 - HLAWA Standard Agreement