Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.L
Meeting Date: August 14, 2024
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Approval of the Parks and Community Events Commission Support of the Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve $3,200 from the Parks and Community Events Commission Fiscal Year 2024- 2025 small events budget to support the mobile spay and neuter clinic at the Cathedral City Library on October 16, 2024.
BACKGROUND:
The Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) continues to provide opportunities to engage the community and provide awareness of resources available here in the city.
PACE is active in initiating, volunteering and supporting community events and related functions.
As part of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget process, PACE was allocated $10,000 per year to fund all or portions of events at the city parks, which may include services and/or materials, or a combination thereof. Any events initiated to receive this funding would be first vetted by PACE and once PACE completed a favorable recommendation, the event would be brought before the City Council for funding approval.
PACE is initiating a new event to engage the community and bring awareness regarding a local issue. The Riverside County Coachella Valley animal shelters are experiencing the worst overcrowding since the pandemic. In response to this issue, PACE is proposing that Cathedral City take action and hold a community event to support the needs of our residents.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 4, 2024, PACE meeting, consideration for a mobile spay and neuter clinic at the Cathedral City Library, adjacent to Patriot Park, was presented by PACE Chair Erin Hyland and Vice Chair Antonio Baciu. This event is to help combat the pet overpopulation crisis in our city and county, decreasing the record breaking 12,000 animals euthanized last year. The Commissioners met with Ivan Herrera, Director of Veterinary Service at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, and Kristen Lehigh with the Cathedral City Library to confirm the event details. Below are details for the proposed event:
Event Date: October 16, 2024.
•Time: 7:00am to 5:00pm.
•Location: Cathedral City Library/Patriot Park parking lot at 33520 Date Palm Drive. •Budget: $3,200
oThe cost covers the surgeons and technicians performing the procedures. •Event Details:
oOpen to dogs and cats as young as 8 weeks.
oUp to 30 animals to be spayed/neutered, free of charge to Cathedral City residents.
oAnimals are dropped off at 7:30am and picked up when texted (2:00 to 4:00 p.m. depending on volume).
oAll animals will be microchipped if not already, free of charge.
If approved, the event will be promoted through the City’s website and included within the fall community mass mailer distributed to all residential properties in Cathedral City.
This PACE item was supported and recommended at the June 4, 2024, PACE meeting, with a budget request of $3,200 for funding from the PACE Small Events budget. The recommendation is now forwarded to the City Council for the $3,200 budget approval.
In summary, PACE is requesting that the City Council approve the funding request of $3,200 from the PACE small events budget for the spay and neuter clinic event.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Cathedral City spay and neuter clinic funding of $3,200 will be funded from the remaining available $6,700 PACE small events budget to be apportioned out of the FY 2024-2025 Parks – PACE community events budget item 100-500-510-511-8200-8201–M03511-OPS- PARKS-M&S.
Funding Recap
PACE FY 24-25 Budget (7/1/24 - 6/30/25) $10,000
Yoga (City Council approved 7/24/2024) $3,200
Howloween Dog Contest (City Council approved 7/24/2024) $100 Available Budget $6,700
Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic (if approved) $3,200
Available Budget for remaining FY 24-25 $3,500
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL F: EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE CITY
Objective: Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options, and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive and well-maintained and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
Action F-6: Promote additional community events and celebrations.
ATTACHMENTS:
None