A local group soon will provide animal control services in Auburn.

The Auburn City Council unanimously approved the animal control services contract with the Auburn Valley Humane Society’s (AVHS) on Monday night.

The City’s Municipal Services committee recommended that the full City Council approve the contract. The AVHS – a group of area veterinarians and board members – has been working to secure a deal in partnership with the City.

The agreement is for seven years, with an option to renew. The AVHS’ contract takes effect Jan. 1, 2013, one day after the current contract expires with King County.

“It’s a win, win situation,” said City Councilmember John Partridge, who worked closely on the project for 1½ years. “Not only are we going to have service at the rate we can afford, it helps guarantee other things we like to do. … And one of the important things is all the veterinarians are right behind this program.”

King County discouraged the City from going with the AVHS’ option, but had little to offer, Partridge said.

King County’s critique took aim at AVHS cost figures and tried to argue it could do the job cheaper, but down the line, from tenant improvements to building maintenance, City officials weren’t impressed.

The AVHS insists it can do a better, cost-effective job, running an animal shelter right here and offering better services than residents now get.

As part of the deal, the City will provide an animal control officer and a building for the shelter into the contract with AVHS. By having control of its own officer and many things that go along with that, the City figures it can recoup its initial $1.1 million investment and startup costs within two to three years.

The agreement calls for AVHS to operate the shelter in a City-owned building on A Street Southeast, which the City will lease to the non-profit for $1 dollar. The City will provide up to $417,000 toward the completion of tenant improvements there.

The shelter’s capacity will be 50 animals per day. If there are more, AVHS has agreed to work to reduce the population through adoption, foster care, other humane societies or other appropriate means.