Council reviews proposed changes to animal shelter contract; staff to return clean copy for consent agenda

Courtney, executive director of APAWS (spelled in the meeting as the organization operating the local shelter), presented proposed amendments to the city contract that governs animal impoundment services.

Courtney requested two changes: first, that the contract explicitly cover up to two animals per impoundment case at the existing $5,000-per-case cap and charge a daily rate for additional animals; second, that the shelter’s covered impoundment period be reduced from 30 days to 14 days, citing the Association for Shelter Veterinarians’ guidance that stays longer than 14 days can lead to behavioral and physical decline.

Courtney said the shelter typically keeps about seven dogs in capacity and that more than two animals impounded from a single incident could strain resources. She said the request mirrors a similar ask made to the county contract and that she had not yet received a county response.

Council members voiced general support for the proposed language and asked staff to work with Courtney and Betsy Joe to finalize a clean draft to return on the consent agenda at a future meeting. No formal vote to amend the contract was held; the council directed staff to place the revised, clean contract document on the consent agenda for a subsequent meeting.

Courtney thanked the council for the 3% contract raise previously approved and for hearing the proposed contract clarifications. Councilmembers did not specify the prospective effective date or the exact daily rate for additional animals; those details were not finalized in the meeting record.

The discussion was conducted as a business agenda item; council consensus was to have staff incorporate the changes and place the revised contract on an upcoming consent agenda for formal approval.