Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Make findings pursuant to Section 3.13.030 (B) of the El Dorado County Ordinance Chapter 3.13, Contracting Out, that the Animal Services Hearing Officer services performed by Nastich Law require specialty skills and qualifications not expressly identified in County classifications are involved in the performance of the work;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 10369 with Nastich Law, with a not to exceed amount of $3,465, and for the retroactive term of one year from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026;
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute amendments relating to Agreement 10369, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, which do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the Agreement; and
4) Authorize the HHSA Director, or the Chief Assistant Director, to execute programmatic, administrative, and fiscal documents relating to Agreement 10369.
FUNDING: 100% General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 597.1, HHSA Animal Services (AS) Officers are authorized to seize or impound an animal based on a reasonable belief that prompt action is required to protect the health or safety of the animal or health and safety of others. AS shall provide the owner or keeper of the animal, if known, an opportunity for a post-seizure administrative hearing to determine the validity of the seizure or impoundment, or both and may authorize a hearing officer from an outside agency to conduct these administrative hearings.
The County, through its Planning and Building Department (PABD), had an agreement with Nastich Law during August 2025, at which time HHSA AS staff were notified that animal hearing officer services were needed in South Lake Tahoe. Without recognizing that HHSA AS could not utilize the PABD contract for the required services, AS received services from Nastich Law in August 2025 to conduct a post-seizure administrative hearing. After receiving services, HHSA submitted the invoice to PABD for payment and AS discovered that the post-seizure administrative hearing was not within the approved scope of services through the Nastich Law contract with PABD for code enforcement legal services.
Consequently, HHSA is recommending the Board approve Agreement 10369 with a retroactive start date of August 1, 2025 as this would allow HHSA to pay for the services rendered by Nastich Law in August 2025.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve this contract, HHSA AS would not be able to pay the outstanding invoice totaling $3,465 for services rendered from August 26 - 31, 2025.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Approved by County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Sufficient appropriations were included in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget and 2026-27 budget request.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on one original Agreement for Services 10369.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency