TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents, including any subsequent amendments, with the Regents of the University of California, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $25,000, for the period of January 13, 2023, through January 12, 2024; and
Increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $25,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On January 5, 2023, Long Beach Animal Cares Services’ (LBACS) grant application for the Regents of the University of California, on behalf of Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine’s Koret Shelter Medicine Program (Koret), was approved. LBACS was awarded $25,000 to provide 250 vouchers for spay and neuter services. Funding for the grant is in connection with the State’s California for All Animals animal shelter assistance program.
In the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 budget, the State specified funding for a statewide Animal Shelter Assistance Program to be administered by Koret, as the “California for All Animals” program. The program partners Koret with animal shelters to provide training and resources to meet the State’s no-euthanasia goal for healthy or treatable animals. In September 2022, California for All Animals issued a Request for Proposals to increase capacity for spay and neuter services beyond what already exists in the state. Municipal animal shelters, private animal shelters with municipal contracts, and private shelters were eligible to respond.
The Long Beach Municipal (LBMC) 6.16.085 prohibits unaltered dogs and cats (except for those identified as exempt under the LBMC). Due to the number of unaltered pets and the limited number of staff to perform in-house spay and neuter procedures, LBACS partners with local veterinary clinics to provide services through payment vouchers. Currently, there are 19 local veterinary clinics participating in the low cost spay and neuter voucher program. Vouchers are issued to residents and authorized local animal rescues in Long Beach and the contract cities LBACS services. After a procedure is performed, the participating veterinary clinic submits the used voucher to LBACS for payment. This grant will help LBACS reduce the pet and shelter population by making up to 250 additional vouchers available for spay and neuter services.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on January 18, 2023 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on January 20, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on February 7, 2023, to receive and expend grant funding by January 12, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive grant funding in the amount of $25,000 for spay and neuter vouchers. An appropriation increase is requested in the amount of $25,000 in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, offset by grant revenue. This grant has no required match or in-kind service mandate. 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
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER