The city of Kent will continue to contract with King County for animal services.
The Kent City Council on June 2 approved a contract extension with the county for two more years through Dec. 31, 2017. The current three-year contract expires the end of this year.
“Our options are very limited,” Councilman Dennis Higgins said at the council’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Committee meeting on May 28. “It’s a responsibility that the city has to provide this service in some way, shape or form. For the city to provide it itself is cost prohibitive, especially in the relationship of the expenditure we’re talking about here to maintain our relationship with King County Regional Animal Services. This is the most cost-effective method we have available to us at this time to be responsible in this area. I support moving forward with this.”
Kent pays between $270,000 to $300,000 per year to the county to provide animal control officers, sheltering and licensing services. Kent is one of 25 cities that contracts with the county for animal services.
City staff continues to meet with other cities to discuss alternatives as partners to set up an animal services program without the county.
“We have worked with our neighboring cities to take a sub-regional approach to animal services,” Parks Director Jeff Watling said to the committee. “I think even with this two-year extension those conversations will continue. I think as a city it’d be prudent to explore and look at other ways we might provide this service. Not knowing what King County may or may not do in the future it’s just a prudent discussion.”
Watling said managing and maintaining a shelter and the costs of that remain a challenge to start up a new animal services program. The county operates its Pet Adoption Center (shelter) in Kent.
“I do think in my workings with King County Regional Animal Services with the changes they’ve been making they are moving in the right direction and continue to move in the right direction,” Watling said.
The city of Auburn broke away from the county and operates its own animal services program. Most other cities contract with the county.
In a related animal services issue, the city of Kent plans to clarify city code to better enforce its leash and scoop laws for pets. The changes would give county animal control officers clearer guidelines to enforce the laws.
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