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Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement with Los Angeles County for dog license canvassing for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009, for an amount not to exceed $116,487, and if mutually agreeable with the County and the City Manager, to execute amendments for three one-year extensions. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Health and Human Services (Health Department) is responsible for ensuring that all dogs over the age of four months are licensed with the Animal Care Services Bureau (the Bureau). Licensing ensures that a dog has a current rabies vaccination and promotes responsible pet ownership. Licensing fees also provide an important source of revenue that pays for public safety and enforcement activities. While the Bureau's efforts to educate the public on the dog licensing requirement has met with some success, many residents are still unaware of the requirement or are unwilling to comply, which can pose a threat to public health.
The Bureau budgets and staffs several part-time license canvassers. However, these few canvassers are responsible for a five-city area covering more than 600,000 residents. In addition to the City of Long Beach, the canvassers also dedicate time and energy to the cities of Cerritos, Signal Hill, Seal Beach and Los Alamitos to fulfill the City's contractual obligations for dog license canvassing in these contract cities.
To provide seasonal support to canvassing efforts, the County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control (County) has provided effective dog license canvassing for the City of Long Beach on a contract basis in the past. The Health Department seeks to enter into a one-year agreement with the County for dog license canvassing that may be extended by mutual agreement for three separate, consecutive periods of one year.
Under the proposed agreement, the City of Long Beach agrees to pay Los Angeles County $55.47 per hour for up to 2,100 hours of canvassing work, for a total of $116,487 of seasonal contract work. In return, the County agrees to generate at least that amount of licensing income for the City. To the extent that the County collects more than this amount in licensing revenue, the City will pay 25 percent of excess revenue to the County excluding the hourly rate of $55.47 per hour.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on June 17, 2008 and Budget Officer Victoria Bell on June 19,2008.
SUSTAINABILITY
License enforcement promotes public health and welfare as well as responsible pet ownership. Additionally, the process of license canvassing results in direct contact with the pet owners and provides the opportunity for education about animal care issues.
Currently, there are approximately 180,000 households in the City of Long Beach and 40,000 licensed animals in the City's database.
One important impact is the promotion of spaying and neutering activities, helping to mitigate overpopulation and limit the number of unwanted dogs in the City of Long Beach. Currently, the price to license unaltered animals at $85 per year, is much higher than the price to license an animal that has been spayed or neutered at $18 per year.
This policy encourages spaying and neutering and can lead to a reduction in the use of resources required to impound and care for feral or stray animals.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is requested at the July 22, 2008 meeting in order to begin canvassing in August 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City of Long Beach agrees to pay $116,487 to the County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control for dog license canvassing services from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The City's General Fund is expected to recoup all costs associated with the contract and to receive a net benefit if more than $116,487 is collected by the County through canvassing activities. Sufficient funding has been budgeted in the General Fund (GP 100) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HE) to support this activity.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ronald R. Arias
Director Health and Human Services
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |