Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 5.C
Meeting Date: March 26, 2025
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Approval of Funding from the Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Events Budget for a Second Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve $3,000 from the Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) Fiscal Year 2024-2025 PACE events budget to fund a portion of the second Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Cathedral City Library on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and an additional thirty (30) large dogs at the Riverside County Animal Shelter.
BACKGROUND:
The Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) continues to create opportunities to engage with the community and provide awareness of the city’s parks and public resources.
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 it sponsors and or participates in within the city. This may include services and/or materials, or a combination thereof. Any event initiated to receive PACE funding is first vetted by PACE and once PACE completes a favorable recommendation, the event’s budget request is subsequently brought before the City Council for approval.
DISCUSSION:
With respect to the above background, PACE has and continues to engage the community on a local animal issue. Currently, the Coachella Valley Animal Campus is experiencing the worst dog and cat overcrowding situation since the Covid pandemic. PACE is taking action and is proposing to offer a second Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic in April 2025. The first Mobile Clinic was held on October 16, 2024, in the parking lot of the Cathedral City Library.
This first event was very successful and appreciated by the city residents.
At the March 4, 2025, PACE meeting, consideration for a second Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Cathedral City Library, located adjacent to Patriot Park was presented by PACE Chair Erin Hyland and Vice Chair Antonio Baciu (PACE staff report attached). This event is to assist in combatting the pet overpopulation crisis in our city and county and to decrease the record breaking 12,000 animals euthanized last year.
The Chair and Vice Chair met with Ivan Herrera, Director of Veterinary Service at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, and Kristen Lehigh, Branch Manager of the Cathedral City Library, to confirm the event details as follows:
Event Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Cathedral City Library Parking Lot at 33520 Date Palm Drive adjacent to Patriot Park.
Event Details: Open to dogs and cats as young as 8 weeks and below 20 pounds. • 30 animals to be spayed/neutered, free of charge to Cathedral City residents. • Animals are dropped off at 7:30am and picked up when texted (2-4pm depending on volume).
• All animals will be microchipped, if not already, free of charge.
New and added to this second event, the County of Riverside Supervisors Office (Fourth District – Supervisor V. Manuel Perez) has agreed to fund the spaying or neutering of an additional 30 large dogs. Large dogs are ones which exceed the threshold of 20 pounds or less for mobile clinic spay or neuter services. The large dogs would be spayed or neutered at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus in Thousand Palms. The Coachella Valley Animal Campus would require confirmation that the 30 large dogs belong to residents of Cathedral City.
The total cost to spay and neuter 60 Cathedral City animals is $6,000. This cost covers the surgeons and technicians performing the procedures. County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’s office has agreed to fund half the cost of the program ($3,000) (email affirmation from the County Supervisor’s office attached). The Coachella Valley Animal Campus will invoice the County Supervisor’s office and the City of Cathedral City directly for their agreed upon amounts of $3,000 each, respectfully.
PACE approved support for this event at its March 4, 2025 meeting and recommended this item be forwarded to the City Council for approval of the $3,000 in funding from the remaining balance of $3,500 in the PACE events budget.
AVAILABLE FUNDING RECAP
PACE FY 24-25 Budget (7/1/24 – 6/30/25) $10,000
Yoga in the Park $3,200
Howl-O-Ween Dog Contest Panorama Park $100
Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic - October 2024 $3,200
Mobile Spay and Neuter Clinic - April 2025 $3,000
Remaining Available Funds FY 24/25 Budget $500
FISCAL IMPACT:
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT
CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME or
ONGOING
2024-2025 Mobile Spay &
Neuter Clinic
100-500-510-
511-8300-8301 MO3511 $3,000 One Time
2024-2025 Total $3,000
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:
1. Riverside County Email
2. Mobile Spay & Neuter PACE Staff Report and Photos