DATE: February 10, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with the Regents of the University of California
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Regents of the University of California for the animal shelter assistance grant effective upon execution through December 31, 2026 ($0).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the County, through its Department of Public Health (Department), to utilize the grant funding previously paid under County Agreement # 24-325 from the Regents of the University of California’s Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine (UC Davis) to build capacity to perform spay and neuter services in the existing exam room at the County animal shelter. Although the animal shelter is located in District 1, this item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no viable alternative actions. If the Board does not approve the recommended action, the County will not be able to utilize awarded grant funds in the amount of $200,000 to build capacity at the County’s animal shelter and improve access to spay and neuter services in the County and thus would have to return the funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The grant award ($200,000) was received in FY 2024-25; there will be no additional funding between parties in relation to the recommended MOU. The grant was non-competitive, and the County is not required to provide match funding. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department’s Org 5620 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget and will be included in the FY 2026-27 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 allotted for space to construct an exam room in the North building on the property (“Building 3”) with the intent to provide in-house veterinary services. To build a surgical suite to include 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 November 9, 2023, Department staff submitted an application for the grant opportunity. 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 then, the County entered into an agreement with the Kirkland Foundation for a low-cost spay and neuter pilot project. 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 June 18, 2024, the Board approved acceptance of the grant funds and the funding was received in FY 2024-25. 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. Procurement of the necessary equipment and supplies was delayed due to discussion of construction of a surgical suite at the animal shelter.
If approved by the Board, the already-received grant funds will be used to 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. The space allotted for a surgical suite does not currently meet State requirements to provide spay and neuter services. The Department will work with the County Administrative Office to evaluate any other funding opportunities to commence construction of the surgical suite.
The recommended MOU ($0) with UC Davis includes mutual indemnification contract language that has been reviewed and approved by both Counsel and Risk Management.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #63, June 18, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - MOU with the Regents of the University of California
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald W. Alexander