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APPROVE MOTION TO EXECUTE A THREE-MONTH AGREEMENT WITH ANIMAL BALANCE FOR STOCKTON ANIMAL SHELTER SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES IN A TOTAL NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $126,000
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Approve findings which support and justify an exception to the competitive bidding process pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070(A)(3), where the City held a competitive Request for Proposals.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-month contract between the City of Stockton (City) and Animal Balance for the Stockton Animal Shelter’s (SAS) spay and neuter services in an amount not to exceed $126,000 (Attachment A).
It is further recommended that the City Manager, or designee, be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
Animal Balance will partner with Stockton Animal Services to support high-volume spay and neuter clinics designed to alter approximately 200 pets across three clinic events. Their team will provide the medical leadership, surgical expertise, and clinic logistics needed to run efficient, humane, and community-centered events. Working alongside Stockton Animal Services staff and volunteers, Animal Balance will help establish a streamlined process for intake, anesthesia, surgery, and recovery, prioritizing safety and best practices. This partnership will expand access to essential spay and neuter services for local pet owners, reduce accidental litters, and directly support efforts to decrease shelter intake and improve overall animal welfare outcomes in Stockton.
If approved, Animal Balance will perform three (3) high-volume, high-quality clinics, with a minimum of 200 spay/neuters over three clinic events, impacting the City’s current overpopulation crisis.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton continues to face a persistent pet overpopulation crisis, with stray animal intakes regularly exceeding shelter capacity. Limited access to affordable and timely veterinary care, particularly spay and neuter services, remains one of the primary drivers of this challenge. Without sufficient prevention, unplanned litters continue to enter the community, increasing the number of stray animals and placing ongoing pressure on shelter operations. This situation also prolongs the length of stay for animals and complicates the City’s efforts to comply with state health and safety requirements related to medical care and sheltering.
To address these conditions, Stockton Animal Services requires access to high-volume, high-quality spay and neuter capacity that exceeds what its standard operations can provide. The community continues to express strong support for reducing shelter intake, improving humane outcomes, and expanding access to essential veterinary services. These priorities align with the City’s mission to reduce the unwanted pet population and enhance service delivery to residents.
Without contracting with Animal Balance, the shelter will remain unable to resolve its current backlog of sterilization surgeries, resulting in continued overcrowding, extended stays, and ongoing reproduction among unaltered animals. Local veterinary providers and mobile units cannot meet the volume or turnaround times required to stabilize intake levels. Delays in securing the necessary service capacity would further strain limited resources and negatively affect animal welfare, operational efficiency, and community trust.
Present Situation
On October 30, 2025, the City issued Request for Proposals (PUR 26-015) to perform spay and neuter services for a total of 200 animals across three clinic events. Each clinic event will be conducted over a three day weekend, Friday through Sunday.
On November 20, 2025, the City received the following proposal (Attachment B):
|
Company |
Location |
Cost |
|
Animal Balance |
Portland, OR |
$126,000 |
A committee comprised of the Stockton Police Department (SPD), Animal Services, and Strategic Operations evaluated the proposal based on Qualifications, Professional Experience, Industry Expertise, and Capacity. Animal Balance met or exceeded all requirements and was determined to be a fully qualified vendor. The vendor is familiar with high-quality, high-volume clinic processes and procedures and will bring industry subject-matter experts to conduct the clinic spays and neuters.
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt a motion to award an agreement to Animal Balance for $126,000 to conduct the requested spay and neuter clinics.
Findings
Stockton Municipal Code Section 3.68.070(A)(3) states that the City Council may approve findings that support and justify an exception to the competitive bidding process.
The following findings support and justify an exception:
1. The City does not currently have adequate staff capacity to manage the workload associated with high-volume spay and neuter services. As a result, SPD is requesting to contract with a firm that has the personnel, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to complete a minimum of 200 spay and neuter procedures over three clinic events.
2. The Request for Proposals process is appropriate for this service contract and was conducted through an open and competitive solicitation in compliance with procurement requirements. Proposals were evaluated on qualifications, experience, expertise, and cost to identify the best value vendor that can provide high-quality services for the City.
3. Contracting with an experienced provider will also ensure that Stockton Animal Shelter staff and volunteers receive training on all aspects of clinic operations, strengthening internal capacity and enhancing long-term service delivery.
4. The City requires a firm with extensive experience performing high-volume, high-quality spay and neuter procedures to ensure safe, efficient, and consistent outcomes for the community.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The proposed cost of this contract shall not exceed $126,000. Funding for these additional services is included in the FY 2025-26 Police Department’s Animal Shelter General Fund budget.
Attachment A - Animal Balance Master Services Agreement
Attachment B - Cost Proposal