The Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee recommended forwarding a budget amendment to the full commission to fund up to $250,000 for two retrofitted shipping-container units to expand the city-run Kiddie Campus trap-neuter-vaccinate-release (TNVR) program.

Program leaders described overcrowding at the current Kiddie Campus facility after a new full-time trapper greatly increased intake. Staff described makeshift holding areas — including a tarp-covered platform and indoor rooms being used as temporary wards — and said containers would provide climate-controlled, separable recovery spaces to reduce disease transmission and improve animal welfare. The proposed configuration included one container for cage/holding space and a second container with a restroom and a small kitchen/sink for treatment tasks.

Asset Management and Parks staff reviewed costs and identified a range of one-time expenses: approximately $25,000 for a basic retrofitted 40-by-8-foot container and $35,000 for a container with a kitchen and bathroom; delivery, leveling and ramp/sidewalk work; electrical and plumbing hookups; and architectural/permit costs. Staff estimated a total not-to-exceed budget of $225,000–$250,000 and ongoing utility and upkeep expenses of about $1,000–$2,500 per year. Program partners and volunteers also indicated financial and volunteer support.

Committee members asked whether other city-owned spaces were available; staff said Anchor Shops vacancies had been considered but were not available, and that the containers were intentionally portable so the program could relocate with minimal disruption. Commissioner Rosengonzales and others emphasized the program’s success and urged speedy implementation. The committee voted to refer a favorable recommendation to the commission and to request a budget amendment funded from the sanitation fund reserves (staff noted the sanitation fund has a declining but positive reserve balance and that this is a one-time expense).