DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Grant Application and Agreement with the Regents of the University of California
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively approve and authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of a grant application to the Regents of the University of California’s Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine for animal shelter assistance grant funds ($200,000);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with the Regents of the University of California for the animal shelter assistance grant effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, total not to exceed $200,000; and
3. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to be the signatory on behalf of the Board of Supervisors on associated grant agreement documents, expenditure forms and reports.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will authorize the retroactive submission of a grant application to the Regents of the University of California’s Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine (UC Davis) for grant funds to expand spay and neuter services in the County. It should be noted that the Department of Public Health (Department) learned of this grant opportunity on October 26, 2023. To meet the grant application deadline of November 9, 2023, the Department submitted the application on November 9, 2023 contingent upon your Board’s approval.
Approval of the second recommended action will allow the County, through the Department, to utilize the grant funding to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies to perform spay and neuter services in the existing exam room at the County animal shelter and subsidize existing spay and neuter services.
Approval of the third recommended action will allow the Department of Public Health Director, or designee, to submit required grant items and reports, excluding budget or contract amendments, on behalf of the County. Although the animal shelter is located in District 1, this item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If your Board does not approve the recommended actions, the County will not be able to utilize awarded grant funds to improve access to spay and neuter services in the County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The grant award will provide $200,000 from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 (FY 2024-25). The grant is non-competitive, and the County is not required to provide matching funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues will be included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2024-25 Recommended Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department currently oversees the County’s animal control program, which includes operations at the County’s animal shelter located at 1510 W. Dan Ronquillo Drive in Fresno, California. When the animal shelter site was constructed, County staff had the foresight to include an exam room in the North building on the property (“Building 3”) with the intent to provide in-house veterinary services. To provide veterinary medicine, including spay and neuter services, the exam room in Building 3 must meet the requirements outlined in Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 2030 - Minimum Standards - Fixed Veterinary Premises.
On October 26, 2023, Department staff received notification from UC Davis regarding the grant opportunity and submitted the application on November 9, 2023. At the time of submission, the application proposed funding a low-cost spay and neuter pilot project and subsidizing the spay and neuter costs incurred by the County’s animal control services vendor, Fresno Humane Animal Services (FHAS), for the shelter population. Since November 9, 2023, the County has entered into an agreement with the Kirkland Foundation for a low-cost spay and neuter pilot project, and the Department is working with the County Administrative Office to identify any gaps in funding provided to FHAS. UC Davis is amenable to how the County decides to spend the grant funding, so long as the efforts support spay and neuter services.
On February 14, 2024, UC Davis notified the Department of the grant award and requested information to complete the grant agreement. The Department received the first draft of the grant agreement on February 16, 2024, and returned it to UC Davis with edits. The revised agreement was sent to the Department on March 7, 2024. Additional clarification regarding the agreement language was requested from UC Davis and the final piece of information was provided on May 21, 2024. During this time, Department staff met internally and consulted with industry experts to determine the most effective and sustainable use of funds, considering current resources, industrywide challenges, and local needs.
The recommended revenue agreement varies from County standard language in that the County agrees to indemnify, defend, and save harmless UC Davis; the County agrees to waive all claims and recourse against UC Davis for all matters, except when caused by or the result of negligent or intentional acts or omissions, connected with or incident to this recommended agreement.
If approved by your Board, grant funds will be used to subsidizing existing spay and neuter services, purchase the equipment and supplies necessary to comply with Section 2030 of the California Code of Regulations and secure a premise permit to provide veterinary medicine at the County animal shelter. Construction costs are not an allowable cost under this grant; therefore, the Department will explore other grants and funding options for any construction costs. Currently, the Department is aware of one project that involves constructing a wall in the exam room pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Section 2030(g)(1), which is required to perform spay and neuter services.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #69, November 28, 2023
BAI #7, October 22, 2019
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Grant Application
On file with Clerk - Agreement with the Regents of the University of California
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander, Jr.