The Billings Animal Shelter has been operated since 2008 by agreement with Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, Inc. (YVAS), a 501(c)(3) independent contractor that was selected through a request for proposals (RFP). When the original agreement was renewed in September 2011, the provisions included allowing an additional 2-year renewal option. The agreement approving the renewal, retroactive to July 1, 2013, is attached. If the agreement is approved, City Animal Control and YVAS would continue to share the shelter at 1735 Monad Rd. The City would retain ownership of the building and grounds, although the contract contains an option for the City to consider a proposal for YVAS to purchase the facility at its appraised value at each renewal. YVAS has added outdoor pens and other improvements that would stay with the facility should the City ever take it back. YVAS would maintain the facility and grounds, except for areas of the shelter occupied by Animal Control. The two entities would share utility costs. YVAS would be required to accept all animals presented to it by City Animal Control or by residents of the City of Billings. At its option, YVAS also would be able to accept animals from other sources such as Laurel, depending on available space and other issues. YVAS's main goals are to evaluate, neuter and find adoptive homes for lost or relinquished animals that are healthy and meet minimum temperament and health requirements. Strays would be held for 72 hours and animals released by their owners would be held for 24 hours before they may be adopted. The organization would continue to maintain a web site and a lost pet hotline. City Animal Control would provide the public safety functions of collecting live and dead animals, investigating animal attacks and abuse, and euthanizing animals when necessary. All live animals collected by the Animal Control would be turned over to YVAS for handling. Open hours at the shelter have been changed slightly for more efficient operation on Sundays to close at 5 p.m. rather than 6 p.m., as in the past.

The Council may:

• Approve the agreement, extending it through July 1, 2016;
• Defer action on the agreement to obtain more information from YVAS or City staff; or
• Deny approval of the agreement, and instruct staff to resume operating the shelter, either temporarily while a new RFP is issued or permanently.

The agreement through June 30, 2103 cost $248,000 plus an increase equivalent to the adjusted corollary to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), all inclusive index. That amount turned out to be $12,000, which was paid in November 2014. The agreement for July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, is proposed to be $260,552; for July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2105, it is proposed to be $260,552 adjusted by the 2013 Annual CPI-Urban for the Western Region. The Animal Control Division staff estimates it would take approximately $308,000 to add three office staff and three shelter staff to maintain the current hours of operation and service at the shelter, plus operating and maintenance costs.

Staff recommends that the Council approve extending the agreement with YVAS through July 1, 2016.