DATE: June 4, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Amendment I to Agreement with the Kirkland Foundation
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Amendment I to Agreement with the Kirkland Foundation to modify the scope of services, effective upon execution with no change to the term of November 28, 2023 to November 27, 2025, or compensation maximum of $508,800.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will modify the eligibility requirements in the Agreement and scope of services to allow the Kirkland Foundation to continue operating a low-cost spay and neuter pilot program to cat and dog owners residing in unincorporated areas as well as incorporated areas of the County. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the low-cost spay and neuter pilot program will continue to only serve residents of the unincorporated areas of the County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There’s no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. There is no change in the maximum compensation of $508,800. Sufficient appropriations are included in the County Administrative Office Interest and Miscellaneous Expenditures Org 2540 FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and will be included within future budget requests for the term of the agreement.
DISCUSSION:
On November 28, 2023, your Board approved Agreement A-23-645 with the Kirkland Foundation to pilot a low-cost spay and neuter pilot program, including rabies vaccinations, for residents of unincorporated areas of the County. On April 2, 2024, the program started its soft launch by offering two to three spay appointments and 15 neuter appointments per day for cats. Due to an error on the registration website, eight applicants were able to schedule appointments on March 29, 2024 and April 1, 2024, which were honored. From March 29, 2024 through May 10, 2024, 90 owned cats and 18 community cats have been spayed or neutered, with 101 (94%) of them receiving rabies vaccines. Rabies vaccines were not provided if the cat was already vaccinated, not old enough, or it was deemed unsafe due to other health conditions. The Department of Public Health is working closely with the Kirkland Foundation to begin offering these services for dogs by June 30, 2024.
Of the 108 program participants, 26% are residents of the unincorporated areas of the County. The remaining 74% are comprised of residents of incorporated rural and incorporated metropolitan areas of the County. Program utilization to date highlights the need for low-cost spay, neuter and rabies vaccination services across the County.
In addition to community cats and County shelter animals, the recommended Amendment allows the program to serve any cat and/or dog owner residing in Fresno County. Requests for service will be prioritized in the following manner:
1. Residents of unincorporated areas and community cats found in these areas
2. County shelter animals
3. Residents of incorporated rural cities and community cats found in these areas
4. Residents of incorporated metropolitan cities and community cats found in these areas
Program and County staff will continue to collect valuable data to determine effectiveness, develop efficiencies and inform strategies to sustainably support low-cost spay, neuter and rabies vaccination services in the future.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #69, November 28, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement with Kirkland Foundation
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander, Jr.