Kirkland and King County Growling at Each Other Over Animal Control

Kirkland has gotten into a cat and dog fight with King County -- guinea pigs are involved in the friendly fracas as well -- with the city council recently approving a move toward the city taking on its own animal control services.

King County has provided animal control services for many years for Kirkland and several other cities, but in 2009, after discovering it was subsidizing them to varying levels, the county moved to shift more of the cost to the cities. In 2010, it revised its Inter-Local Agreement with the cities, dividing the county into four districts, each with its own cost formula.

But Kirkland and other other municipalities say the arrangement penalizes cities with relatively low costs, like Kirkland, and creates uncertainty in the budgeting process, since costs are estimated annually and then adjusted later with actual costs.

“There’s no stability or predictability,” says Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett, coincidentally a former interim county executive who wrestled with the issue in 2009. “The other thing is, you can’t reduce services. We asked them for that, different levels of services. We don’t need the level of service of some south county cities.”

The city continues to negotiate with the county, but in the meantime has studied the costs of taking on its own critter services, which would invovle hiring one animal control agent and buying and outfitting a truck, at a start-up cost of about $98,000.

And city staff figures Kirkland could provide the same level of service, or better, at lower costs.

Lorrie McKay, city intergovernmental relations manager, told the council at its March 20 meeting that Kirkland paid the county $8,600 last year and will owe an estimated $3,800 this year and $12,300 in 2013. But staff estimates show Kirkland would likely make money if it takes on animal control itself -- possibly up to $17,600 in 2013. The revenue would come, as it does now, from pet license sales.

While some might be surprised any city would take on added services during a recession -- at the very time it is studying service levels in regard to the upcoming 2013-14 budget -- council members seemed eager to move forward.

“To me, it’s disturbing how much we’re paying for animal services,” said Councilmember Penny Sweet. “I think we have an opportunity to be a model. This feels like something we can do pretty effectively here in Kirkland.”

Councilmember Toby Nixon went even further, saying he would vote immediately for the city to assume its own animal control services.

“The bottom line is, our proposal actually cuts costs,” City Manager Triplett said later. “It isn't growing government. It does add a position. There is still a possibility we will stick with the county.”

If the city takes on animal services, the control agent would operate under the Kirkland Police Department, using the same NORCOM dispatch system police use. A temporary holding facility would also have to be created, with longer-term animal care being provided through contracts with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society and the Seattle Humane Society, which operate shelters in Lynnwood and Bellevue respectively.

The council voted unanimously to accept city staff’s recommendation to move forward with planning to take over animal control, but to continue negotiating with the county. It was also noted at the council meeting that its move would add bargaining leverage for the city in its negotiations with the county.

The final decision will have to be made and delivered to the county by May 1, and if the city takes over animal control, it would do so beginning Jan. 1.

And the guinea pigs? Barely holding back chuckles, Intergovernmental Relations Manager McKay used as an example of high county costs the case of a Kirkland resident who last summer complained to the county that three escaped guinea pigs were roaming her property. A county animal control agent responded, captured two of the rogue rodents and took them to a shelter -- at a total cost of $2,500.

Before breaking into a full-on laugh, McKay added: “The third guinea pig remains at large.”