TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Long Beach Animal Care Services’ Strategic Plan. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In 2017, the City Auditor retained the services of JVR Shelter Strategies (JVR), a management consulting firm specializing in large open-intake municipal animal shelters including the City of Irvine and County of Orange, to review the operations of the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (Department) Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) shelter. This review was in response to growing concern regarding the management of the LBACS shelter and to determine what operation efforts might be enhanced to bring about desired outcomes for shelter animals. The review was conducted over two phases. Phase One focused on LBACS shelter operations and Phase Two focused on shelter staffing and resources. Nearly 200 recommendations were made based on these reviews.
In 2018, Mayor Robert Garcia convened the Mayor’s Animal Care Visioning Task Force (Task Force) represented by various stakeholders including animal rescue organizations, shelter volunteers, and animal advocates. This 20-member Task Force would help establish a mission and vision for LBACS. The Task Force met monthly in a public forum to discuss what kind of shelter LBACS would become and would be led by the recommendations made by the audit as well as their collective expertise and input from the public and staff.
In 2019, the Department hired JVR to lead the strategic planning efforts. Based on their previous experience learning about the LBACS operations through their work with the City Auditor’s Office, the Department felt JVR was well positioned to guide this process. JVR consulted with the Adisa Group, a company specializing in organizational strategy, managing systemic change, action planning, and leadership development. The team from Adisa was made up of well-respected animal welfare professionals with track records of success in bringing about systemic change in shelters...
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