Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Animal Shelter Services Agreement with the East Bay SPCA
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff requests that the City Council review, approve, and authorize the City Manager to execute a new animal shelter services agreement with the East Bay SPCA, for an 18-month time frame as the current contract with SPCA is set to expire on 12/31/2021.
BACKGROUND
Attached for City Council review is the new animal sheltering service agreement between the East Bay SPCA and the City of San Leandro, which began January 1, 2021. The Police Department currently utilizes the SPCA to provide quality animal sheltering services as part of its core service delivery to the community. The Police Department has utilized the SPCA this year (2021) and has experienced a good working relationship with them.
The City of Fremont-who manages the Tri-City Shelter-notified the City in late July of 2020 its intent to terminate the current agreement to provide animal sheltering services due to capacity issues. Like many animal shelters, volume of service coupled with limited capacity to shelter the volume of animals across all four cities drove the decision to cancel service. In August 2020, staff began a countywide survey of alternative animal shelters. Staff used the most recent service call volume logged at the City of Fremont’s shelter as a baseline for comparison to other shelters and to establish costs. The Police Department’s Animal Control unit surveyed the following animal shelters as possible alternatives: Berkeley, Hayward, Alameda (City), Alameda County, and the East Bay SPCA (Oakland). All but the East Bay SPCA declined based on capacity issues. The East Bay SPCA used the current service delivery data from Fremont to generate the cost of similar services at their shelter. The attached draft agreement would be used to finalize the agreement if City Council approves staff to proceed with finalizing the agreement.
The East Bay SPCA agreement was set for one year as a trial period to ensure the terms of service will work for both organizations. The Tri-City Shelter cost the City $81,661 in Fiscal Year 2020, which was approximately $20,000 lower than its prior three-year average of $102,138. The Police Department previously budgeted $81,661 for animal shelter services. The East Bay SPCA had a not to exceed value of $290,000, which required Council to increase appropriations by $208,339 to fully fund the agreement in 2021.
The SPCA keeps track (as well as SLPD staff for a cross reference) the number of animals which are brought to shelter. There was a significant increase in animals brought to the SPCA in 2021. Staff feels this number has gone up significantly because of the proximity of the SPCA compared to the previous shelter. The total number of animals that were brought to the SPCA up to 12/15/2021 were approximately 244 animals. This number reflects animals brought in for an 11-month period, as the parties were not in a signed contract until February 3rd, 2021.
The SPCA allotted 250-300 animals for San Leandro for the contracted amount of $290,000 dollars. Staff has asked for the SPCA to accept an 18-month contract, so it works into San Leandro’s Fiscal Year budget cycle. For this reason, Staff request an increase in funds that would total a not to exceed value of $435,000 dollars for the 18-month period.
PRIOR ACIONS ???????>???? (Scott will fill this in)
• Resolution No. 2005-095: Joint Powers Authority for Animal Shelter Services
• Resolution No. 2018-101: Tri-City Shelters Agreement for Animal Shelter Services
Fiscal Impact and Budget Authority
This General Fund project will cost $435,000, which requires increasing the FY2021-2022 Adopted Budget by $145,000 and FY2022-23 Adopted Budget by $79,000 in Account 010-21-001-5120. There will be no off-setting revenues for this project. Staff will also adjust the remaining $211,000 from Account 010-22-001-5890 (“Miscellaneous”).
ATTACHMENTS
• East Bay SPCA Animal Shelter Service Agreement (current)
• East Bay SPCA Animal Shelter Service Agreement (proposed)
PREPARED BY: Lt. Brian Anthony, Patrol Division Watch Commander