Baldwin Park tables decision on animal shelter contract; council seeks county presentation and service comparison

Council deliberations on whether to move Baldwin Park’s animal shelter and animal control services from LA County to the Inland Valley Humane Society dominated the meeting’s policy discussion. Captain Hendricks presented a fiscal comparison that estimated roughly $1.35 million in savings over an initial two‑year term and larger projected savings over three years if the city moved to a flat‑rate contract with Inland Valley (roughly $1,085,000 in year one including a $50,000 infrastructure payment, with up to a 5% cap in year two).

Several council members and residents raised service‑access and operational concerns. Angelique Hernandez and other speakers warned that Pomona‑based services could be harder to reach for seniors and people without transportation, and that moving services could increase pet abandonment. Council members cited specific local incidents — including slow county response to dead animals — and asked for data on how often residents personally drop off animals at the county facility.

Nicole Resiani, president and CEO of Inland Valley Humane Society and SPCA, told the council her organization already partners with cities that are 11–17 miles away and stressed web‑based animal search tools, return‑to‑field policies and the ability to dispatch officers to perform same‑day service response. She also said a fully burdened dedicated officer would cost about $125,000 a year and be assigned to patrol the city.

Frank Corvino, deputy director with Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, offered to shorten the county’s six‑month termination notice and to present a formal proposal on Jan. 21. Council directed staff to bring a side‑by‑side comparison of services and costs to the Feb. 4 meeting and voted unanimously to table action until those presentations were complete.

Council members emphasized they would hold any new provider to performance standards and that options to augment service (for example, contracting for a dedicated officer) could be part of a final agreement. The tabled schedule: county presentation Jan. 21, staff comparison report Feb. 4, with the current county contract requiring six months’ termination notice unless otherwise negotiated.