DEPARTMENT: Animal Care Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Davis, Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement for animal care services with Lackland and Fort Sam Houston Air Force Bases
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the execution of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish the terms and conditions under which the City will provide animal care services to Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston. Proposed MOA would result in the impoundment of up to 60 additional pets annually and the collection of approximately $13,400 in additional revenue annually.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Animal Care Services (ACS) was approached by representatives from Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston in March 2014 requesting assistance with an issue of stray animal population on their bases. While Lackland and Fort Sam Houston have the capacity to pick up stray pets, they do not have the facilities or the capacity to provide housing, medical, or live release services for these animals.
Because the two Bases are not located within the City boundaries, animal care services are currently not provided by the City within the bases and require a city council approved agreement. After discussions with the Lackland/Fort Sam Houston, ACS is willing to provide animal care services under the following conditions:
1. Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston would be responsible for catching and humanely trapping stray pets and then delivering them to the ACS 151 facility during normal business hours
2. ACS would accept up to 3 pets a day, but no more than 60 pets per year from Lackland and Fort Sam Houston combined.
3. Lackland/Fort Sam Houston would pay ACS $227 for every pet they bring to the ACS facility (the per-animal cost for providing food, housing, medical services and final disposition of a pet at ACS).
4. An additional fee in the amount of $140 would be charged if an animal is brought to ACS when the facility is not open for general public intake services.
The proposed agreement is for a one (1) year period starting April 1, 2014 and includes all stipulations described above. The contract also allows for two (2) one-year renewal periods following the completion of the original agreement in March 2015.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the approval of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston for animal care services within the borders of the two bases effective April 1, 2014. In accordance with this agreement, the following conditions would be applied:
1. Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston would be responsible for catching and humanely trapping stray pets and then delivering them to the ACS 151 facility during normal business hours
2. ACS would accept up to 3 pets per day and up to 60 pets per year from Lackland Air Force Base and Fort Sam Houston combined.
3. Lackland/Fort Sam Houston would pay ACS $227 for every pet they bring to the ACS facility (the per-animal cost for providing food, housing, medical services and final disposition of a pet at ACS).
4. An additional fee in the amount of $140 would be charged if an animal is brought to ACS when the facility is not open for general public intake services.
If approved, the agreement would be for a one-year period and would allow for 2 one-year renewal options.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should this Memorandum of Agreement not be approved, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston would be required to identify and partner with another organization to provide the animal care services they need for the stray pets they impound. If not approved, the city would also see a decrease in revenue of approximately $13,400.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the Air Force agrees to pay City a fee of two hundred twenty five dollars ($227.00) per animal brought to ACS and an additional one hundred forty dollars ($140.00) for those animals brought to ACS when the facility is not open for general public intake services. It is anticipated that the City would receive approximately $13,400 in annual revenue deposited to the General Fund if approved.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a Memorandum of Agreement with Lackland and Fort Sam Houston to provide animal care services for those pets brought to ACS by the Bases starting April 1, 2014.