Committee accepts $14.22 million animal-services grant, orders annual CAO reporting on staffing costs

The Arts, Parks, Libraries and Community Enrichment Committee on June 23 approved the City’s acceptance of a $14,220,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Best Friends Animal Society to expand animal-care and community support services.

The committee approved the recommendation from the Chief Executive Office with added instructions that the City Administrative Officer (CAO) report annually to City Council on funding allocated, spent and projected to cover salaries for 19 Animal Care Technician positions and identify suggestions for cost savings to avoid a general-fund impact.

Why it matters: Committee members said the grant could reduce shelter length-of-stay and improve humane care if the department can hire and fund the positions without creating an ongoing budget gap. Several members said they wanted regular oversight to track whether grant-funded positions were sustainable once the grant ends.

The Department of Animal Services said the 23 grant-funded positions would allow staff to pursue best practices at the shelters and expand diversion and adoption programming, which the department expects to reduce liabilities and operating costs over time. "With less animals in care, we can provide better care for the animals that we do have," said Ramirez, assistant general manager for Animal Services.

The City Administrative Officer, Jacqueline Reyes, told the committee the department currently lacks administrative capacity to absorb all oversight tasks tied to the grant and that an initial projection showed a potential overspend of roughly $2.26 million over three years to maintain all positions. Reyes said savings identified in other classifications could lower the overspend to about $1.55 million and that any additional ongoing funding would require Council approval through the annual budget process. "We did recommend that the Department work with the grantors to make amendments," Reyes said.

Committee members pressed officials on invoice timing and the grant’s reimbursement structure. The CAO noted the grant requires quarterly invoicing and an annual true-up; if positions begin before funds are secured, the city could face a refund obligation to the grantors. The committee therefore directed staff to coordinate with grantors and to seek any necessary Council approvals before creating ongoing general-fund obligations.

The vote: The item was approved as amended; Council Member Hernandez recorded a yes vote, Council Member Nazarian was absent.

Next steps: The CAO’s annual report will return to Council-level oversight and the department will work with grant administrators on any contract amendments and staffing timelines.

Funding and details: The item authorizes acceptance of $14.22 million to be used for staffing and programmatic activities defined in the grant agreement; the record notes a projected 12-month administrative funding need of about $319,955 to support two recommended administrative positions (management analyst and accounting clerk), but the grant itself does not cover administrative office supplies or overhead.

The committee also directed staff to identify cost-saving strategies and to present any requests for additional Council authority or appropriation through the annual budget process.