REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ALMA G. TORRES, Director
Animal Center Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the service agreement with 24/7 Pet Vets, a California Corporation, in the amount of $150,000 for a total contract amount of $450,000 for emergency veterinary services at the Fresno Animal Center. Does not extend the date of this agreement which expires on June 30, 2025.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the attached First Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Fresno (City) and 24/7 Pet Vets, a California Corporation, in the amount of $150,000 for a total contract amount of $450,000 for the emergency veterinary services agreement. This would allow for continued emergency and/or after-hours veterinary medical care as required by Penal Code 597.1(c)(1) to injured dogs and cats found without their owner in the City of Fresno. This amendment does not extend the date of the agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Animal Center is mandated by state law to provide emergency veterinary care for injured animals found without their owner per California Penal Code 597.1(c)(1). On June 27, 2024, Council approved a $300,000 services agreement with 24/7 Pet Vets to meet this mandate. Due to a higher than anticipated service demand and prior-year costs carryover, the initial approved spending authority has been fully expended. Approval of the First Amendment will allow for the service agreement to increase by $150,000 to $450,000 and allow continued emergency care when the Animal Center is closed or when veterinary staff is not available. This agreement is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2025.
BACKGROUND
As the Department responsible for the state mandated animal control, the Animal Center is required by Penal Code 597.1(c)(1) to provide emergency veterinary care to all injured domestic animals found without their owners within City of Fresno jurisdiction.
On June 27, 2024 Council approved an agreement with 24/7 Pet Vets in an amount not to exceed $300,000 to fulfill this mandate. However, due to the timing of the contract approval, $144,000 in services provided during Fiscal Year 2024 were carried over and applied to the original $300,000 services agreement spending authority approved by Council. As a result, nearly half of the original contract was expended to cover prior year services. In addition, the usage not only reflects the timing of the invoicing but also a higher volume of injured animals requiring emergency veterinary services outside of Animal Center Department’s operating hours during Fiscal Year 2025.
Approval of this First Amendment to the agreement will ensure that injured animals found within city limits can continue to receive emergency veterinary care during hours when the Animal Center is closed and allow the Department to meet this state mandate. The service provider will evaluate each case and either provide humane outcomes or stabilize and keep animals comfortable until they can be transferred to the Animal Center for continued care. The agreement is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not implicated because this item does not involve public contracting or bidding with the City of Fresno.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient appropriations exist in the Animal Center Department’s FY2025 Amended Budget to fund this increase.
Attachments:
First Amendment to Service Agreement
Service Agreement