16 September 22, 2026
Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Long Beach
California
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement and any necessary documents including any amendments, with Friends of Long Beach Animals, of Long Beach, CA, to accept grant funding for the establishment of one full- time Public Health Associate I-II (Outcomes (Foster/Rescue) Coordinator) position at Long Beach Animal Care Services, in an amount not to exceed $80,000 annually, for a total amount not to exceed $240,000, upon the start date of the position through the completion of the three-year employment period. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) offers several programs that support live shelter outcomes including return-to-owner, shelter, neuter, and return for community cats, and rescue and foster placements. The rescue and foster programs alone assist with placing 2,000 animals annually. These placements are critical to support the City of Long Beach’s (City) Compassion Saves model, which is focused on providing quality care and increasing positive outcomes for all treatable animals. Foster and rescue placements are especially important for underage, sick, injured, behaviorally challenged, and long-term shelter animals, providing them with opportunities outside the shelter to improve their chances of adoption and reduce euthanasia.
LBACS is currently budgeted for one full-time Public Health Associate I-II (Outcomes (Foster/Rescue) Coordinator) position. This position is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with local and regional rescue partners, coordinating medical clearance, transport, and administrative processing for foster and rescue-bound animals, providing support, resources, and guidance to the foster volunteer network, and actively marketing “hard to place” animals to specialized rescues. As shelter capacity is limited and demand for foster and rescue services continues to grow, additional staffing dedicated to these programs is essential to increasing positive outcomes for animals in the City’s care.
Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the number of shelter and unhoused community animals in Long Beach and the surrounding shelter service areas. Since 1989, FOLBA has partnered with LBACS, local rescue organizations, and other community partners to improve animal welfare by sponsoring the spay and neutering of more than 18,000 animals, helping prevent pet overpopulation, and reducing the number of animals entering shelters. FOLBA also promotes pet adoptions through LBACS Parks, Recreation and Marine
2760 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 570-3100
Honorable Mayor and City Council
September 22, 2026
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and local rescue organizations, assisting in the adoption of more than 500 animals, and providing financial assistance to offset adoption costs.
To further support LBACS' lifesaving programs, FOLBA has committed grant funding to establish a second full-time Public Health Associate I-II (Outcomes (Foster/Rescue) Coordinator) position for a three-year period. Under the proposed agreement, FOLBA will provide up to $80,000 annually, for a total amount not to exceed $240,000, upon the start date through the completion of the three-year employment period.
Adding a second Public Health Associate I-II (Outcomes (Foster/Rescue) Coordinator) will expand FOLBA and LBACS’s goals of increasing live outcomes, reducing euthanasia rates, and enhancing overall shelter operations. Under the agreement, LBACS will provide FOLBA with monthly impact reports highlighting successful foster and rescue placements and annual reports summarizing program outcomes, including foster and rescue placement statistics and other performance metrics demonstrating the impact of the position. During the three-year grant period, LBACS will evaluate the program’s effectiveness and advocate to the City of Long Beach for permanent funding for the position through the City's annual budget process.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Millicent Usoro on August 26, 2026, and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 2, 2026.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to enter into contracts is requested on September 22, 2026, to ensure agreements are in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The annual contract amount will not exceed $80,000 annually, or a total of $240,000 over the three-year grant term, and the grant does not have a match requirement. Funding for the Public Health Associate I-II (Outcomes (Foster/Rescue) Coordinator) position will be deposited in the Long Beach Animal Care Trust Account in the General Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen P. Scott
Director
Parks, Recreation and Marine