REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager Office of Mayor & City Manager BY: ALMA G. TORRES, Interim Director Animal Center Department SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the California for All More People and Pets Together Grant: 1. Authorize the City Manager to accept $156,900 in grant funding from the Regents of the University of California on behalf of its Davis Campus School of Veterinary Medicine on behalf of its Koret Shelter Medicine Program in connection with the California for All Animals statewide animal shelter assistance program for the Animal Center's 'Regreso a Casa' Grant. 2. Authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute the Shelter Services Grant Agreement, for the California for All Animals More People and Pets Together 'Regreso a Casa' Grant. 3. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt the 44th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2023-185 appropriating $156,900 for the Animal Center from the California for All Animals More People and Pets Together 'Regreso a Casa' Grant (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor's Veto). ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends Council approves all actions related to the acceptance of the California for All Animals Shelter Assistance Program More People and Pets Together 'Regreso a Casa' Grant for the Fresno Animal Center. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno Animal Center Department began operations of the animal control services on December 1, 2023. To address the pet overpopulation being experienced in the community, staff submitted a grant application that would assist in providing services that allow people and pets to remain together in neighborhoods experiencing high incidences of pet overpopulation based on data collected. The University of California, Davis Campus, Koret Shelter Program, with funding from the California for All Animals Shelter Assistance Program, notified the City that its grant proposal submitted under the name of "Regreso a Casa" (Return to Home) was awarded to the Fresno Animal Center. An outreach plan will be developed that will designate individuals to walk neighborhoods with high animal related activity such as animals at large and animals hit by cars. The individuals will be providing information regarding licensing, spay neuter, vaccinations, and resources such as leashes, tethering systems, microchips and other services. This program will also allow staff to identify and track what resources are most effective in reducing the homeless pet population. BACKGROUND The City of Fresno Animal Center officially began operation of the animal control mandated services on December 1, 2023. The city is experiencing pet overpopulation of significant proportions. In order to identify and provide resources that are specific to this community's needs, staff submitted an application to the California For all Animals More People and Pets Together grant cycle under the name of "Regreso a Casa" (Return to Home). The number one goal of the animal center is to increase pet reunification, and "Regreso a Casa" (Return to Home) addresses this goal by providing information in multiple languages and resources where the return to home rate for many of the animals is low. With this grant funding, an analysis will be developed that will help the Animal Center identify what resources best work to reconnect pets with their owners and return them to their home in specific disadvantaged neighborhoods that have high incidents of animals at large and animals hit by cars, as well educating residents about responsible pet ownership. The funding will cover staffing utilized to coordinate volunteer efforts to walk these neighborhoods offering resources such as collars, tags, microchips, spay and neuter vouchers, tethering systems, core vaccines and other resources that help keep pets in their homes. Evaluation of services in the identified disadvantaged neighborhoods will then help craft and deploy the resources that were successful throughout the entire city. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Local preference was not considered because accepting grant funds does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered because accepting grant funds does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract. FISCAL IMPACT The acceptance of the grant does not generate an impact to the General Fund. Attachments: Agreement: Shelter Services Agreement with KSMP Resolution: 44th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 202-185