Item Number: {{item.number}}
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: December 19, 2023
Submitted By:
Jorge Duran, Code Enforcement Official
Subject:
Extension of Sunset Date for Certain Temporary Fee and Penalty Waivers For Animal Care and Control Pursuant to Section 7.04.055 of Chapter 7.04, Title 7 of the Victorville Municipal Code
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council adopt Resolution No. 23-102, extending the sunset date of certain temporary fee and penalty waivers associated with the licensing and impoundment of dogs and cats in the city to June 30, 2024, pursuant to Section 7.04.055 of Chapter 7.04, Title 7 of the Victorville Municipal Code.
Fiscal Impact:
Due to the proposed extension for fee waivers, a continued decrease in revenues is expected through June 30, 2024, and the FY 2023/2024 budget will be updated accordingly during the mid-year review. Except as specifically called out as a fee waiver or temporary suspension, Animal Care and Control fees will adhere to the City-Wide Comprehensive User Fee Study under Resolution No. 22-055 approved by the City Council on June 7, 2022, or as updated by subsequent Council resolution.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Goal B: Public Safety in that it allows continued focus on animal services and the proposed extension of the sunset date for temporary fee and penalty waivers will continue helping to increase animal licensing and microchipping, facilitate animal reunification with pet owners and allow more time to implement plans for a City animal shelter to meet community needs.
Background:
On April 1, 2023, the City of Victorville (“City”) was served with a notice from the City’s long time contact animal shelter provider, Victor Valley Animal Protection League (“VVAPL”), advising of their intent to permanently terminate animal shelter services 3 4
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effective April 30, 2023. On average, VVAPL processed 5,000-6,000 stray, seized, or relinquished cats/dogs annually and provided adoption services to all Victor Valley residents, including processing licensing, spay/neuter, and shelter veterinarian services for adopted animals residing within the City of Victorville.
As a result, the Animal Care and Control Division of the City’s Code Compliance Department established a temporary animal shelter and pet adoption center at existing facilities to prioritize the care of animals, ensure a safe work environment for City staff and expand public outreach efforts to promote the adoption of animals.
Concurrently, staff began to identify long-term solutions for a permanent animal shelter.
A facility has been identified, and staff is working to finalize a lease with the Victor Valley Union High School District to establish an animal shelter at the old Mavericks School site located on E Street.
On June 6, 2023, the City Council adopted Urgency Ordinance 2439 and Ordinance 2440 to temporarily suspend certain animal licensing and shelter impound fees to incentivize animal owners to license, vaccinate, microchip, and reclaim their stray cats and dogs and ease economic hardship. These measures were taken to help avoid over-crowding and unhealthy conditions from developing in the City’s temporary animal shelter and permit lost pets to be more quickly reunited with their owners, which helps reduce the length of shelter stays. To manage limited animals shelter capacity, the Ordinance also provided flexibility to manage the available kennel space at the emergency animal shelter by suspending the mandatory pick up of unwanted animals. Staff have provided residents with alternative options to rehome unwanted pets through online animal shelter and rescue services.
Though the adoption of the urgency Ordinance 2439 made changes effective immediately, Ordinance No. 2440 (Attachment B) was also adopted to revise and codify the following sections of the VMC: 7.04.050(9), 7.04.060, 7.04.065, 7.04.100, 7.04.130,
7.04.140, 7.04.150, 7.04.160, 7.04.280, 7.04.290, 7.04.300, 7.05.040, 7.05.050,
7.05.060, 7.05.110, 7.05.120, and add a new Section 7.04.055 to Title 7 to establish an animal license fee waiver for newly licensed dogs willing to be microchipped. Section
7.04.055 of Chapter 7.04, Title 7 of the VMC allows the City Council to extend the fee and penalty waivers beyond December 31, 2023, by ordinance or resolution.
Discussion:
Following the adoption of Ordinance No. 2440 in June 2023, Animal Care and Control staff have continued to explore alternative animal shelter options and made additional operational changes to accommodate the operation of the emergency animal shelter within the City’s auxiliary equipment and processing facility located at 14154 Palmdale Road (pictures included as Attachment C). Staff also established an animal adoption center operated from the Animal Care and Control Office located at 14206 Amargosa Rd. (pictures included as Attachment D). The City has also added Animal Shelter Technicians to assist with animal care and facility cleaning operations at both facilities. The three part- time Animal Shelter Technicians were brought in through a temporary employment 3 4
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agency (ICR, Inc), have prior animal shelter experience, and are acquainted with our City’s field operations. The Animal Shelter Technicians are assigned to clean the kennels and care for the animals, including feeding and walking of the animals to ensure the animals receive exercise.
The temporary animal shelter facility on Palmdale Rd contains 64 dog kennels and 15 catteries along with needed sanitation supplies, equipment, pet food, blankets and pet beds to support a temporary operation and ensure the wellbeing of animals sheltered at this facility. This facility can accommodate up to 105 animals allowing for smaller animals to be kenneled together subject to acquaintance or good temperament.
The temporary animal adoption facility on Amargosa contains 20 dog kennels and 6 catteries and is equally equipped to support our adoption operation. 12 of the 20 dog kennels contain their own above ground drainage and plumbing system for ease of cleaning and the remaining 8 kennels are sanitized and maintained daily by staff. The animal adoption area is open to the public during work week hours of 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Additionally, Animal Care and Control staff partner with local retailers such as The Home Depot and the Farmer’s Market located at Victor Valley College to host off-site adoption events, all of the which have been highly successful and drawn attention to our Pet Adoption Center on Amargosa.
The following are year-to-date statistics through December 1, 2023:
• 155 animals have been adopted.
• 96 animals have been relocated to 21 rescues.
• 39 adoption events have been held.
• Over 900 animals have been microchipped.
• 3,685 dog licenses have been issued.
• The average number of animals in our care at any given time is 75.
Animal Care and Control staff are working with City Building and Facilities staff to establish a site plan to repurpose the old Mavericks school site on E street. Plans include repurposing the existing administrative building to support field operations, establish animal quarantine and isolation areas for vicious animals consisting of approximately 30 kennels, the development of a veterinarian and grooming suite and laundry areas. The modular class rooms will be utilized as administrative shelter and adoption operations, shelter and care for cats, allow for Trap Neuter and Release programs (TNR) and storage for pet food and shelter supplies. Staff are also evaluating the addition of a large, air- conditioned, metal building that could provide approximately 100 indoor kennels in addition to exterior kennels and a designated area to shelter equestrian animals. The site will also maintain most of the grass areas to be designated as pet bonding areas.
City staff are recommending the adoption of Resolution 23-102 (Attachment A) to extend the sunset date of certain temporary fee and penalty waivers associated with the licensing and impoundment of dogs and cats in the city to June 30, 2024. Doing so will facilitate the continued care and intake of animals at the City’s emergency animal shelter and will 3 4
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provide Animal Care and Control staff with needed flexibility to continue with temporary animal shelter and adoption operations until the long-term facility is operational.
Staff remain available for any questions or comments the City Council may have.
Attachments: A. Resolution 23-102
B. Adopted Ordinance Nos. 2439 and 2440
C. Pictures of the Temporary Animal Shelter
D. Pictures of the Temporary Animal Adoption Center