TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a contract, and any necessary documents including any necessary subsequent amendments, with the Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society, of Boulder, CO, to partner with Long Beach Animal Care Services to take cats and kittens into its care directly from Long Beach Animal Care Services for the purpose of rehoming, providing spay/neuter education to adopters, and arranging for routine and other necessary medical care services to cats and kittens transferred into their care, for an annual contract amount not to exceed $50,000, from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025, with two optional five-year renewals, at the discretion of the City Manager. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Helen Sanders Cat Protection and Welfare Society (CatPAWS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2010 to address the problem of abandoned and stray felines and unwanted litters of kittens by providing spay/neuter education, offering vouchers, and taking in cats, focusing on those in public shelters. CatPAWS takes felines from Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) and cares for them to help reduce overpopulation at the shelter, often covering medical issues and surgeries at their own expense.
For over a decade, CatPAWS has been a primary partner and supporter of lifesaving work at LBACS in several capacities and has operated as a rescue organization that has saved thousands of cats entrusted to LBACS, including over 700 cats and kittens since 2017, and an additional 1,200 cats and kittens while under a previous partnership that established the Long Beach Little Paws Project Kitten Nursery.
The new partnership will assist CatPAWS with certain mandatory expenses related to the care for cats and kittens taken into their care from LBACS, enabling both CatPAWS and LBACS to expand their capacity so more animals may be helped at the shelter and in the community.
In addition to saving lives through the rescue of shelter cats and kittens, education, and medical care, CatPAWS’ past support of LBACS has included:
• Commission and donation of a $145,000 specially equipped Adoption Van to enable LBACS to go into the community and conduct adoptions outside of the shelter location
• $100,000 in startup funding, equipment, and operational expenses for the Long Beach Little Paws Kitten Nursery which has saved over 1,200 cats and kittens.
• Donation of $50,000 to hire a Foster Program Coordinator.
• Payment of $2,500 for a mobile housing unit to lodge dozens of cats and kittens while the shelter managed an outbreak of a deadly feline virus, sparing over 400 cats and kittens from needless euthanasia.
• Paid $10,000 for offsite boarding at an Anaheim vet clinic for cats with ringworm which would have otherwise been euthanized.
• Initiated the DIY Kitten Care Program, donating kitten care kits to the shelter that, in turn, are provided to members of the public who bring in kittens they have found and would otherwise relinquished. Through
these kits, hundreds of kittens have been diverted from the shelter, saving space, lives, and City of Long Beach (City) funds to provide for their care. To date, approximately 300 having been provided to LBACS.
The proposed contract will contain the following major provisions:
• Term: Five-years from January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2025.
• Options to Renew: The City Manager, or designee, may renew the agreement upon approval by all parties for two (2), five-year terms through December 31, 2035.
• Project: CatPAWS will accept felines from LBACS as capacity permits and provide mandatory and routine care for them prior to adoption.
• Standard of Care: CatPAWS will use and maintain standards compatible with the Association of Shelter Veterinarian's Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters for the housing and care of the felines.
• Record-Keeping and Reporting: CatPAWS will maintain detailed records for all felines cared for by CatPAWS and allow LBACS to inspect such records immediately upon request. The CatPAWS records must include at a minimum, LBACS ID number assigned by LBACS, a picture and description of each feline, medical records, and outcomes (i.e., transferred to another rescue, sent to foster family, adopted, died, etc.). On a quarterly basis ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31, CatPAWS will provide a report to LBACS showing the number of LBACS-provided felines cared for and their outcomes. CatPAWS and LBACS will each appoint a representative(s) with appropriate knowledge and decision-making authority to attend meetings as needed.
• LBACS Payment to CatPAWS: LBACS will compensate CatPAWS $100 per spay or neuter certificate provided for each feline taken from the LBACS to be reimbursed for expenses. LBACS will not reimburse CatPAWS for any other expenses related to the care of felines in the care of CatPAWS (i.e., feline care, rent, insurance, utilities, equipment, staff costs, etc.) beyond $100 per feline. No additional fees will be charged by LBACS to CatPAWS, nor CatPAWS to LBACS. CatPAWS will bill LBACS by the 15th of the month for the previous month of service. Should LBACS funding not be available, LBACS will attempt to identify additional funding to continue to pay for the felines’ care throughout the term of the contract. Should funding not be available, and/or no additional funding is identified, LBACS reserves the right to discontinue services contract upon 30-days written notice.
• Publicity: Where possible, LBACS will assist CatPAWS with the promotion, marketing, adoption, and placement of felines to facilitate their continued care and/or adoption. CatPAWS and LBACS will not use the other party's name, marks, or logos in any advertising, promotional material, press release, publication, public announcements, or through other media, whether written or oral, without the prior written consent of the other parties.
• Permits: CatPAWS will be responsible for obtaining and paying for all required City permits, and any other permits that may be required for their operations.
• Notice of Cancellation: The contract is binding; however, any party may cancel the contract with a 30-day advance written notice to the other party.
• Insurance: CatPAWS will provide insurance coverage as required and approved by the City's Risk Manager.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on December 21, 2021 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on January 31, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 15, 2022, to allow the execution of the contract in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
Under the agreement, the City’s total annual cost related to the care of felines will not exceed $50,000. The cost is currently unbudgeted. The Department will return to the City Council with a request for appropriation to support actual expenditures, offset by Animal Care Donation trust revenues. Administrative costs, including publicity, are anticipated to be minimal and will be funded within the Department's current resources. If needed, LBACS and CatPAWS will seek additional funding to continue spay/neuter services and education in subsequent years. This recommendation has no staffing impacts 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,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER