DATE: November 14, 2023
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Acting Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate $5,000 in Grant Funding from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Under the California for All Animals Open Arms Challenge Grant for Use by the Hayward Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau
RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to accept and appropriate a total of $5000 in grant funding from the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Koret Shelter Medicine Program’s (UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program) California for All Animals grant program for use by the Hayward Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau.
SUMMARY
The Hayward Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau is being awarded $5,000 in grant funding from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program as part of their California for All Animals Open Arms Challenge Grant. The purpose of the grant is to implement programs and processes that are inclusive of all areas and members of our community. The awarded funds will be used to translate animal services’ material related to services provided, resources, and events into other languages so the City can be more inclusive of all areas and demographics in the Hayward community.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Hayward Police Department’s Animal Services Bureau applied for and has been awarded $5,000 in grant funding from the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program as part of their California for All Animals Open Arms Challenge Grant. The goal of the grant is to create programs and processes that are welcoming and inclusive of all members of our community.
In 2015, Hayward was ranked the third most ethno-racially and linguistically diverse city in America. According to the US Census Bureau, 2022 data reflected 40% of the community being Hispanic or Latino and 30% Asian or other Pacific Islander. With the awarded funding, staff will work with professional translation service vendors to translate our commonly distributed and requested materials into Spanish and Chinese to be more inclusive of the needs of our diverse community. Material translated would include but is not limited to, resources for pet care and responsible pet ownership, municipal ordinances related to animal care and dangerous animals, and marketing of special events.
Ensuring that all members of our community have access to services and resources in a language that they can understand will help keep the human and animal members of our community safe and may lead to increased shelter pet adoptions.
FISCAL IMPACT
Acceptance of the California for All Animals grant will have no impact on the General Fund.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
The California for All Animals grant would support the Enhance Community Safety & Quality of Life priority outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap although it does not fit into a specific project.
NEXT STEPS
If Council adopts the attached resolution, staff will appropriate the funding into the Police Department’s budget and administer the grant per the terms and conditions of the University of California and Koret Shelter Medicine Program’s California for All Animals grant agreement.
Prepared by: Jennie Comstock, Animal Services Administrator Recommended by: Jennie Comstock, Animal Services Administrator Bryan Matthews, Acting Chief of Police
Approved by:
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Kelly McAdoo, City Manager