TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and any necessary documents, with The Fix Project, dba Fix Long Beach, a nonprofit organization, to partner with the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, for Mobile Community Spay/Neuter Clinics, in an annual amount not to exceed $22,500, from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2022, with annual renewal options through April 30, 2025; and
Increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $22,500, offset by funds reserved for spay and neutering purposes. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
The Fix Project, operating as Fix Long Beach (Fix), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing pet overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats (pets), that are euthanized at animal shelters, by providing free and donation-based spay/neuter services for pets owned by area residents. Beyond helping to reduce shelter populations, pets that are altered tend to live longer and may have reduced risk of cancer and other serious health problems. Additionally, altered male cats tend not to spray, and altered dogs tend not to roam away from home to find a mate. Since 2013, over 8,000 pets have been altered through Fix helping to reduce the number of unwanted pets in local animal shelters.
Since October 1, 2015, the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) requires all dogs over six months and cats over four months to be spayed or neutered (LBMC 6.16.085). Any unaltered dog whose owner has had a valid license issued prior to October 1, 2015 is exempt from being altered if the license has been kept current since that time, with other exemptions that may apply.
To continue to offer vital and required spay/neutering of pets, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) is requesting to enter into an agreement (Agreement), to partner with Fix, to allow them to provide mobile spay/neuter clinics (Clinics) at Long Beach parks, with the goal to spay/neuter 50 pets at each Clinic. PRM will reimburse Fix no more than $22,500 per year, or as funding is available, in the PRM Animal Care Services trust accounts to be used for spay/neuter surgeries only.
The PRM’s partnership with Fix is one aspect of the City Council adopted Compassion Saves model, where “we ensure Compassion Saves by helping the public and animals in the community through outreach, education, guidance, and support services. We protect shelter animals by creating a nurturing environment with enrichment and innovative programs designed to facilitate community engagement. We inspire the community to provide animal stewardship that is responsible, informed, and compassionate.”
The proposed partnership Agreement will contain the following provisions that pertain to Fix:
• Fix Personnel: Fix will contract with consultants and vendors (Agents), provide staff, and obtain all volunteers and sponsors to provide Clinics.
• Equipment and Supplies: Fix will provide all equipment and supplies to conduct the Clinics.
• Spay/Neuter Appointments: Fix will arrange, in advance, Clinic-day public appointments for free and donation-based spay/neuter surgeries and other services for pets owned by area residents.
• Clinics: Fix may host a maximum of 18 annual public spay/neuter Clinics in Long Beach parks each year. Fix will notify the PRM Animal Care Services Bureau (ACS), in writing, with a minimum of one month notice in advance of each Clinic.
• Park Permits: Fix will obtain park permits to reserve a park as approved in advance by PRM.
• Fees: Fix will provide all public Clinics at no cost to the public. At the Clinics, Fix will be allowed to solicit and accept donations to help cover Fix Clinic costs.
• Pet-Owner Contact Information: Fix will provide PRM with all pet owner names and contact information for each altered pet, as well as proof of spay/neuter services and, if applicable, proof of rabies certificate and other vaccination information.
• Invoice: Fix will submit an invoice to PRM within 30 days of each Clinic for the $25 reimbursement by PRM for each spay/neuter surgery. PRM will provide reimbursement to Fix for spay/neuter surgeries only and will not reimburse Fix for any vaccinations or other services, not to exceed a total of $22,500 per year (18 Clinics, 50 maximum surgeries per Clinics, $25 per surgery).
• Partnership: Fix will include PRM as a partner in all Fix media, such as advertising, website, social media, and publications for the Clinics, as approved in advance and in writing by PRM.
• Insurance: Fix and its Agents will provide and maintain insurance as required and approved in advance by the City’s Risk Manager.
In exchange for providing a free and donation-based public service, the Agreement will contain the following provisions that pertain to PRM:
• Park Fees: PRM will waive all park reservation fees for Clinics held outdoors in City parks.
• Park Restrooms: In the event park freestanding restrooms are not available or for Clinics that may attract very large attendance, PRM will provide one staff person per Clinic, at no charge to Fix, to open community center restrooms during non-City staffed hours.
• Inspection: PRM, through its ACS Bureau, will have the right to inspect all Clinics.
• Payment to Fix: PRM will provide a maximum of $25 to Fix per spay/neuter surgery, as long as there is a sufficient balance in the ACS Bureau Trust Fund. PRM will not provide reimbursement for pet exams, vaccinations, microchipping, nail-clipping, or any other type of treatment or service.
• Outreach Services: PRM may partner with Fix, at the PRM’s discretion, at Clinics to provide community pet outreach services, such as, but not limited to, hosting information tables, showcasing animals for adoption, or provide any other shelter-related public services as determined by PRM.
• Donations and Sponsorships: PRM understands that Fix is a nonprofit organization and will solicit individuals, corporations, and foundations for donations and sponsorships to help underwrite Fix’s expenses to hold the Clinics.
Other Agreement terms:
• Term and Options to Renew: May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2022, with annual options to renew, should PRM funding be available, through April 30, 2025.
• Termination: Either party reserves the right to terminate the Agreement upon 30 days advance written notice to the other party to the Agreement.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Arturo D. Sanchez on March 25, 2020 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on March 29, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 21, 2020, to allow the execution of the Agreement in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total annual cost of the agreement will not exceed $22,500. An appropriation increase is requested in the amount of $22,500 in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, offset by funds reserved for spay and neutering purposes. Additional operating costs associated with this agreement are unknown at this time and will depend on the use, frequency, and site used during the Fix Clinics. These costs potentially include staff time required if community centers are needed, as well as waivers for fees used to recover costs associated with park reservations. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
STEPHEN P. SCOTT
INTERIM DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
ACTING CITY MANAGER