Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
PRESENTATION BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL AND CONSIDERATION OF IMPLEMENTING A LOW COST REGISTRATION AND VACCINATION CLINIC (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
Since 1968, the City of Carson has maintained an agreement with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control. Within the agreement the City has a yearly option to host a low cost pet registration and vaccination clinic with the assistance of the Animal Care and Control Staff. From the period of August 1998 through August 2007, the City hosted the clinic in honor of the late John D. Calas. The City elected to discontinue hosting the clinic due to budgetary concerns.
Staff was asked to consider reinstating the low cost pet registration and vaccination clinic and is now seeking Council direction in possibly hosting the clinic once again in honor of John D. Calas or under a different or modified title. Based upon current costs for staff overtime and equipment, it is estimated the cost to provide this clinic to all Carson residents is $5,129. Funds were not budgeted for this expense.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
CONSIDER and DISCUSS.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE the following actions:
1. DISCUSS whether to reinstate the low cost pet registration and vaccination clinic.
2. If Council desires to reinstate the low cost pet registration and vaccination clinic, consider whether or not to attach a formal name to the event.
3. DIRECT staff to prepare a budget amendment resolution to add $5,129 to the FY17-18 budget after it has been adopted. The funding source will be the undesignated, unreserved General Fund balance.
IV. BACKGROUND
The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control is one of the largest and most progressive animal control agencies in the United States. There are seven animal care centers serving the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and 47 contract cities with a combined total population of over 3 million residents. The Department covers more than 3,400 square miles of cities, deserts, beaches, and mountains; from the Antelope Valley in the north to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the south, as far east as the border of San Bernardino County, and west to Thousand Oaks. The Department provides animal control and rescue services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In Fiscal year 2016/2017 there were 7,757 animals which were provided care and services for in the Carson Animal Facility alone. Of these pets, 4,447 were adopted to new owners, 3 placed in foster care, 33 returned to nature and 592 returned to their original owners while the remaining 2,682 pets were euthanized at the facility.
The City and the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control have worked together via contract since the City’s incorporation in 1968. Within the contract agreement, each year the City can choose to facilitate a low cost pet vaccination clinic with the assistance of the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control staff. Historically, this clinic was held in honor of and called the “John D. Calas Memorial Vaccination Clinic” and constituents could register their pets and get the required vaccination shots such as distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza at a reduced rate. Although the clinic is offered at a low cost to residents, there is a cost to host the clinic by the City of approximately $5129. This cost is kept down because there are many volunteers from organizations such as the Carson Women’s Club, The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Explorers Unit and local Boys and Girls Scout Troops which significantly reduces the overall costs of hosting the event.
All of the clinics hosted by the City in the past were held in August, on a Thursday from 6:30p.m. - 11:30p.m., and utilized the entire City Hall Parking lot. Each year the average turnout for dogs and cats being registered and or vaccinated topped more than 800 pets. However, staff is recommending that if the City Council desires to reinstate the low cost registration and vaccination clinic, that it be done in late 2017 or early 2018 based upon scheduling and coordination needs with Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control staff. A representative from the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control Department will be at the meeting to provide statistics and discuss pet adoption opportunities.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
As these funds were not included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget, If this item is approved, staff will bring a consent item before the City Council in July or August to allocate $5129.00 to the approved Fiscal Year 2017/18 budget.
The costs break down as follows:
City Staff Overtime (Public Works Staff - 2 people for setting up and maintaining the generator and portable lights, Public Safety Staff - 12 people to assist with registration and crowd control, Community Center Staff - 2 people for the setup and break down of the tents, chairs and tables) - $3690
Large Canopy tents (4) - $700
Tables (10) - $120
Chairs (20) - $19
Outdoor Generator (1) - $60
Portable Light Units (2) - $60
Memorial Vaccination Banner (1) - $300
Port-a-Potty (his and hers) (2) - $180
VI. EXHIBITS
None.
Prepared by: Ken Mckay - Public Safety Manager