Consent 1.B.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 01/25/2016
- TITLE
- Animal Shelter Operating Agreement with Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter, Inc.
- PRESENTED BY:
- Brent Brooks
- Department:
- Legal
Presentation:
PROBLEM/ISSUE STATEMENT
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 previous agreement was renewed in December 2013, the Agreement provisions included a two year option to renew by mutual agreement of the parties and that option is the subject of this agenda item. The Agreement approving the renewal, retroactive to July 1, 2015, is attached. If the Agreement is approved, City Animal Control and YVAS will continue to share the shelter at 1735 monad Road. The City will retain ownership of the building and grounds, although the Agreement 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 will stay with the facility should the City ever take it back. YVAS will maintain the facility and grounds except for areas of the shelter occupied by Animal Control. The two entities will share utility costs. YVAS will 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 will 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 will be held for 72 hours and animals released by their owners will be held for 24 hours before they may be adopted. YVAS will continue to maintain a web site and a lost pet hotline. City Animal Control will 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 will be turned over to YVAS for handling .Open hours at the shelter have been changed slightly for more efficient operation on Saturdays and Sundays, closing at 5 p.m. rather than 6 p.m. as in the past.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYZED
The City Council may:
- Approve the Agreement, extending it to July 1, 2017;
- Defer action on the Agreement to obtain more information from YVAS or City Staff; or
- Disapprove the Agreement and instruct staff to resume operating the shelter, either temporarily while a new RFP is issued or permanently.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Agreement for July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, is proposed to be $274,267.00; for July 1, 2016, through July 1, 2017, it is proposed to be $274, 267.00 adjusted by the 2015 Annual CPI-Urban for the Western Region. The Animal Control Division staff estimates it would require 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,
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve extending the Agreement with YVAS through July 1, 2017.