Community
Costa Mesa seeks new animal-services provider under revised terms
The city's new solicitation drops several requirements from its previous contract, while Costa Mesa's animal-services advisory committee did not formally review the proposal before it was issued.
Costa Mesa is seeking a permanent provider to shelter stray animals, arrange veterinary care and work with police animal-control officers under a three- to five-year agreement beginning January 1. The bidding window closed September 30, according to original reporting by the Daily Pilot.
Requirements changed after prior contract ended
The solicitation no longer requires a shelter inside Costa Mesa, a round-the-clock on-site caretaker or in-house veterinary services. Instead, a provider may operate within 15 miles of the city and use a separate veterinary provider within five miles of its office. The city ended a $480,000-a-year contract with Priceless Pet Rescue in June after citing noncompliance, then hired Westminster Adoption Group and Services under a temporary agreement worth about $576,000 a year through December 31.
Advisory panel seeks a larger role
Costa Mesa Animal Services Committee Chair Cara Stewart told the Daily Pilot that members discussed the bid invitation but did not formally review it before city staff issued it September 1. She said the advisory group wants to be more involved and would like the city to consider a provider closer than Westminster. The city had not announced a selection when the report was published October 2.
Read the original reporting: Los Angeles Times / Daily Pilot →