REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ALMA G. TORRES, Director
Fresno Animal Center
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the First Amendment to the Service Agreement with Animal Balance, a California Public Benefit Nonprofit Corporation, increasing the contract amount by $42,000 for a total amount of $126,000 for the primary purpose of community spay and neuter surgical services at the Fresno Animal Center, and extending the term to July 12, 2026
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that Council approve and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to enter into the First Amendment to the Agreement between the City of Fresno (City) and Animal Balance, a California Public Benefit Nonprofit Corporation, for the primary purpose of community spay and neuter surgeries at the Fresno Animal Center. This would allow for additional cat and dog sterilization surgeries at the Fresno Animal Center. Approval of this amendment would allow for Animal Balance to conduct an additional clinic. Increasing the contract amount by $42,000 for a total amount of $126,000 and extending the term to July 12, 2026.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On January 26, 2026, the City Manager approved the Service Agreement with Animal Balance to provide cat and dog sterilization surgeries at the Fresno Animal Center, the agreement is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026. Through approval of this action Council will authorize for one additional clinic to be covered and increase the contract amount by $42,000, to $126,000, and extend the expiration date to July 12, 2026.
BACKGROUND
Animal Balance is a California Public Benefit Nonprofit and focuses on providing high quality high volume spay and neuter sterilization surgeries to communities that are grappling with the inability to hire veterinary staff due to the national veterinary staffing shortage being experienced in the United States. Since 2023, Animal Balance has performed 6,454 surgeries serving the City of Fresno. Animal Balance provides out of area veterinarians and veterinary staff to performs 200 spays and neuters over the course of three days at the Fresno Animal Center. These surgeries serve the general public, residents who may have received notices of violations or citations by providing low or fee waived correction options, animals that do not require immediate intake and animals who may be at-risk of euthanasia. Additionally, the clinics will also start collaborative work with the County of Fresno as animals may cross jurisdictionally boundaries.
On January 26, 2026, the City Manager approved a service agreement for $84,000. Council’s approval of this First Amendment to the service agreement will increase the total value from $84,000 to $126,000 and extend the term to July 12, 2026. This extension and increase will allow Animal Balance and the Fresno Animal Center to provide three clinics to serve an additional 600 pets.
Since December 17, 2023, Animal Balance has sterilized over 6,454 pets making a significant difference in the animal overpopulation of the city. The additional clinics are scheduled for February 13-15, 2026; April 17-19, 2026; and July 10-12, 2026.
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 FY2026 Amended Budget to fund this increase.
Attachments:
First Amendment to Service Agreement
Service Agreement