DATE: March 24, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate Up to $115,000 from the Edward Michael Nuss Trust to Fund 250 Be Used by the Hayward Animal Services Bureau for the Community Cat Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return Program
RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to accept and appropriate up to $115,000 to Fund 250, the Donation Fund, from the Edward Michael Nuss Trust, for use by the Hayward Animal Services Bureau (HASB) to continue offering subsidized spay and neuter for community cats through HASB’s Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return (TNVR) program.
SUMMARY
The HASB has been named as a beneficiary of a gift from the Edward Michael Nuss Trust (the Trust). Pursuant to the Trust, a bequest with an approximate value of $107,899, shall be distributed to “Hayward Animal Shelter.” The HASB is proposing to use the gi ft for the continued operation of the community cat TNVR program. The HASB plans to place donor recognition on its website as well as TNVR program material to memorialize this generous gift Edward Michael Nuss has bestowed upon the HASB and the animals and community it serves.
FISCAL IMPACT
The gift of approximately $107,899 from the Edward Michael Nuss Trust will allow for the continued operation of the HASB’s Community Cat TNVR program. Receipt of this gift will have no impact on the general fund.
DISCUSSION
The HASB’s Community Cat TNVR program is a cornerstone of our city’s proactive animal welfare strategy. By humanely managing the community cat population, this program serves
as an indispensable tool for maintaining public health, reducing shelter intake, and addressing resident concerns regarding unmanaged feline colonies.
The TNVR model provides a dual benefit to the city:
• Public Health & Safety: Each cat is vaccinated against rabies and other communicable feline diseases, creating a "buffer zone" of immunity within the community.
• Population Control: Sterilization is the only proven method to stabilize and eventually reduce community cat populations over time, preventing the "vacuum effect" where new, unsterilized cats move into an area to replace those removed. • Nuisance Reduction: Fixed cats are quieter and less likely to engage in roaming, spraying, or fighting, reducing the volume of animal -related complaints from residents.
• Reduced kitten intake: Community cats are sterilized preventing the birth of unwanted kittens therefore reducing the number of kittens entering the shelter or left to grow up living on the street.
The HASB began operation of this program in 2014. Under this program, HASB is able to offer subsidized services to community cat caregivers needing spay or neuter assistance, and residents wanting a humane method to help reduce the cat population in their neighborhoods. Thanks to grant funding, HASB was able to offer these services to Hayward residents for free for a period of time in 2025, however grant funds have been exhausted. In 2025, 1 ,084 cats were provided services through HASB’s TNVR program. Without grant funding, program services are again offered to residents with a 50% subsidy funded by donations made specifically for spay and neuter programs. However, current donation levels for this program are low, creating a funding gap.
The allocation of funds from the Edward Michael Nuss Trust is vital to bridging the funding gap ensuring the continued availability of this subsidized program.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
This agenda item will have an economic impact on the residents of Hayward since it will enable HASB to continue to provide subsidized TNVR services to residents wanting to help reduce the cat population in their neighborhoods by trapping community cats for purposes of spaying or neutering, and vaccinating them, prior to being released back into the community they call home.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item supports the following Council Strategic Priorities: Enhances Community Safety & Quality of Life.
PUBLIC CONT ACT
No public contact was made for this item.
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves this resolution, the City will send a copy of the approved Staff Report and Resolution to the Executor of the Trust and the Financial Advisor handling the accounts. The City Manager or designee work with the Executor and Financial Advisor to complete actions to transfer the gift to be used as directed above.
Prepared by: Jennie Comstock, Animal Services Administrator
Recommended by: Bryan Matthews, Chief of Police
Approved by:
_______________________________
Jennifer Ott, City Manager