HomeMy WebLinkAbout13. Approve MOU w-Southeast Area Animal Control Authority for the Mayor's Choice Pet Adoption ProgLIUME W �•
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: VANIAH DE ROJAS, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
DATE: JUNE 25, 2019
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SEAACA FOR THE "MAYOR'S
CHOICE" PET ADOPTION PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
That the City' Council authorize the City Manager to sign a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) with the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority (SEAACA) for the "Mayor's Choice"
pet adoption program and appropriate $2,000 from the General Fund to support the program,:
In 1976, the City entered into a joint powers agreement, creating the Southeast Area Animal
Control Authority (SEAACA) for the purpose of providing animal control services. SEAACA
provides animal control services for fourteen (14) cities in southeast Los Angeles County and
northeast Orange County.
In 2014, SEAACA's Board of Commissioners approved the "Pets for Troops" program. Through
this initiative, SEAACA adopts pets to Veterans or active duty military, and offsets 50 percent of
the full adoption fees to residents in cities served by SEAACA. The pets are spayed/neutered,
micro -chipped, and receive initial vaccinations.
Due to the City's commitment to its military residents and at the request of Mayor Rick
Rodriguez, the Downey City Council on April 11, 2017 approved a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the City of Downey and SEAACA in a joint effort to provide
comfort and/or therapy pets to Downey residents who are active duty or retired military,
completely free of charge. Through this MOU, SEAACA continues to offset 50 percent of the
adoption fees and the City offsets the remaining 50 percent. Additionally, the City covers
training costs that are provided by Petco for military residents.
At the request of Mayor Rodriguez, it is being recommended that a new program, the "Mayor's
Choice" pet adoption program be implemented to augment the "Pets for Troops" program. The
goal of the program is to enhance adoptions by finding forever homes for pets that are at
SEAACA. The Mayor will visit SEAACA once a month, select a dog as the "Mayor's Choice",
and promote the dog for adoption through social media and other means.
THE "MAYOR'S CHOICE" PET ADOPTION PROGRAM
JUNE 25, 2019
PAGE 2
City staff developed the attache etween e ty o owney an or e
• Choice" •-' adoption program where SEAACA will offset 50 percent • adoption fees
and the City of Downey will offset the remaining 50 percent. Additionally, the City will purchase
dog tags for the •: Choice" •
Quality of Life, Safety, and Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
The "Mayor's Choice" pet adoption program will cost the City approximately $2,000 per year.
This includes the • for adoption fees and dog tags, and will •- appropriated in account 10-4-
1250-0700.
N
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
CITY OF DOWNEY
AND
SOUT
This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is entered into on this 25 th day of
june, 2019 by and between the City of Downey, a municipal corporation and charter city
located at 11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241 ("City") and the Southeast
Area Animal Control Authority, a joint powers authority formed pursuant to the laws of
the State of California, located at 9777 Seaaca Street, Downey, CA 90241 ("SEAACA").
WHEREAS, SEAACA is a joint powers allthority whose membership comprises
the cities of Downey, Pico Rivera, Norwalk, Paramount, Montebello, Bell Gardens,
South El Monte, and Santa Fe Springs and which provides contract services to
Bellflower� Buena Park, La Palma, Lakewood, South Gate and Vernon; and
WHEREASi SEAACA operates an animal care center at 9777 Seaaca Street,
WHEREAS, a significant number of animals that are impounded or surrendered
at SEAACA are not returned to their prior owners, and become available for adoption or
other disposition as provided by law; and
WHEREAS, it is the goal of SEAAcA to place as many of such animals as
possible into safe, responsible, loving homes; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, SEAACA approved a program� "Pets for Troops" wherein
SEAACA makes available to retired veterans or active military residing in any of the
fourteen cities served by SEAACA pet adoptions wherein SEAACA offsets 50 percent
of the cost of the adoption fees which includes the cost of spay/neuter services, initial
vaccinations and micro -chipping; and
WHEREAS, on April 11, 2017, the City entered into a Memorandum of
provide comfort and/or therapy pets to Downey residents who are active duty or retired
military, completely free of charge; and
WHEREAS, in the 2017 MOU, SEAACA offsets 50 percent of the adoption fees
?nd the City offsets the remaining 50 percent along with training costs, and
H
WHEREAS 'the City Wishes to augment the "Pets for Troops" program through
the •, • - pet adoption program with th- goal o enhancing adoptions by
offsetsfinding forever homes for Pets that are at SEAACA; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to enter into a MOU With SEAACA Wherein SEAACA
1 percent of the cost of the adoption fees, • the cost of
remainingspay/neuter services, initial vaccinations and micro -chipping; and the City will offset the
50 percent of o •n fees forDowney - •- who adopt pet through
the • • - pet adoption • ••
t t t shall process all adoptions •' by residentswho resin
Downey under the "Mayor's Choice" program.
ide
2. All animals adopted by Downey residents shall be spayed or neutered� If
it is determined by a licensed Veterinarian that it is appropriate to delay the surgery, a
aSpay/Neuter deposit will be collected • t t t the surgery will be
scheduled SEAACA t • - deposit - -' •after• -compliance With
California Food & Agricultural Code Section 30503. All animals will receive appropriate
initial vaccinations and be micro -chipped before an animal is released to the Downey
dent.
3. The adoption feess - • - spay/neutered services,
vaccinations and micro -chipping shall be paid as follows for pets adopted by residents
who reside in Downey: (1) SEAACA shall discount 50% of the adoption fees to
Downey residents; and (2) City shall pay the remaining 50% of the adoption fees to
SEAACA. t Y
quarterly basis (March, June, September and December) each calendar year.
5. SEAACA shall obtain a written release/indemnification from each Downey
resident adopting an animal under the "Mayor's Choice" pet adoption program wherein
the adopter accepts the animal "as is", assumes all risks and responsibilities associated
with the ownership including bites, and fully and completely releases, indemnifies and
holds harmless, SEAACA and City, and their respective directors, officers, officials,
volunteers and employees ("Representatives") from any and all claims, causes of action
or liability of any sort or nature, including liability for death, bodily injury and property
damage, whether or not caused directly or indirectly by the active or passive negligence
of SEAACA, City or their respective representatives, or directly or indirectly arising out
FN
of or in connection with the adoption, care, ownership, maintenance, temperament or
co-iditio-t of tWe a-timA.
6. City and SEAACA are each self-insured against all claims or injuries to
persons or property arising from the activities contemplated herein: CITY liability
insurance coverage is provided by the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority
(ICRMA) and SEAACA liability coverage is provided by California JPIA (Cal-JPIA).
7. The term of this Agreement shall commence on June 25, 2019 and shall
continue until or unless terminated in writing as provided in this MOU.
8. This Agreement may be terminated by either party With or Without cause,
upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. Each Party shall pay its portion of
any adoption fees as described herein through the effective date of termination of this
MOU.
9. Any notices, bills, invoices or reports required by this MOU shall b
deemed received on: (1) the date if delivered by hand, facsimile, E-mail or overnig
courier service during SEAACA's or CITY's regular business hours; or (2) on the thi r
business day following deposit in the United States mail if delivered by mail, postag
prepaid, to the addresses listed below (or such other addresses as the parties ma 31
from time to time designate in writing):
TO CITY: City of Downey
11111 Brookshire Avenue
Downey, CA 90241
Attn: City Manager
TO CONSULTANT* SEAACA
9777 Seaaca Street
Downey, CA 90241
ATTN: Denise Woodside, Executive Director
10. At the time of invoice, SEAACA shall provide copies of the proof of City of
Downey residency; proof of military status and a copy of the adoption application which
will include a summary of costs.
11. SEAACA shall not assign, transfer, convey, pledge or otherwise dispose
of its rights or obligations hereunder without prior Written consent of CITY.
3
By:
City Manager
City Clerk
"SEAACA"
,■
soy:
Denise Woodside, Executive Director
Legal Counsel