Agenda Item Wording:
title
Grant to waive/lower pet adoption fees: Authorize the acceptance of $95,000 grant from California For All Animals to reduce or waive return to home fees for pets in the shelter and authorize the City Manager to execute the California For All Animals grant agreement.
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Deadline for Action: 1/16/2024
Submitting Department: Community Services
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Candace Harrington, 559-713-4682, candace.harrington@visalia.city <mailto:candace.harrington@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
That Council authorizes the acceptance of a $95,000 grant from California For All Animals to create a pilot program reducing/ fully subsidizing return to home fees including the purchase of tags and collars to gift to adopted or return to home pets; and authorizes the City Manager to execute the grant agreement.
Background Discussion:
Animal Services staff were presented with an opportunity to apply for a California For All Animals Grant. The application submitted by staff requested a total of $95,000, which was divided between a request for $2,000 to purchase 200 collars and $3,000 to purchase 200 tags. The remaining $90,000 would go towards the pilot program of reducing/ fully subsidized return to home fees for approximately 250 pets.
The City was notified of the award for the proposed program of reduced/ waived return to home fees on December 8th. A copy of the required grant agreement is provided as Attachment A to this item.
Proposed Use of Grant Funds:
This grant would be used to purchase roughly 200 collars and 200 tags to give as a gift for each pet adopted or returned to home until the tags and collars run out. This will help with identifying and connecting owned animals back to their family before coming back to the shelter. Additionally, the $90,000 remaining would be used to reduce return to home fees by at least $300 for each pet being returned to home in the City of Visalia. If there are grant funds left over, funds will be allocated to return to home fees for owners living outside the City of Visalia.
Fiscal Impact:
The grant to the City of Visalia for reduced or waived return to home fees will cover the return to home cost of up to 250 animals being reunited with their owners. The additional purchase of collars and tags as gifts to 200 animals adopted or returned to home. The operation of this program would use current City staff and would not result in any material increase in cost to the Animal Services Fund. No General Fund money is requested for this program.
Prior Council Action: None
Other: N/A
Alternatives: To refuse the $95,000 grant, and forgo the opportunity to increase the number of animals able to be reunited with their owners who had previously been unable to pay the return to home fees
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Move that Council authorizes the acceptance of a $95,000 grant from California For All Animals for the reduced/ fully subsidized fees for 250 animals and purchase collars and tags as gifts for 200 animals adopted or reclaimed.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: None