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Animal services seeks revenue‑neutral budget amendment to expand low‑cost spay/neuter services
Summary
Animal services staff told council they can expand spay/neuter services after obtaining a clinic license enabled by recent state regulatory changes; the department asked for a revenue‑neutral budget amendment to add three positions, scale surgery capacity and match reduced clinic fees.
Animal Services director (named in the agenda/transcript as Jessica) told council the department’s lease expired this summer and staff seek council authorization to extend the lease and allow the city manager to execute the agreement. Jessica said the department obtained a clinic license this year under recent state rule changes that allow non‑veterinary government entities to hold a veterinary clinic license.
Jessica said animal services has been working with a local spay/neuter clinic to serve low‑cost clients but the clinic is operating at capacity. Expanding the city’s clinic would allow the department to offer surgery fees that match the partner clinic (roughly one‑half to one‑third the cost of private providers) while remaining revenue neutral. The requested revenue‑neutral budget amendment would add three positions, expand clinic hours and purchase supplies and equipment (including a second surgery suite in existing internal service space) supported in part by donor funding, Jessica said.
Councilmembers responded positively and asked operational questions; staff said details and a draft budget amendment will be presented on the formal agenda for council action the following day.
