Vote: held

Item Text

33. GRANT FUNDS FROM MADDIE'S FUND AND BUDGET ADJUSTMENT Approve and accept grant funds for Fiscal Year 2016 from Maddie’s Fund in the amount of $112,000. These restricted funds are to be used for Animal Care and Control to further increase lifesaving and strengthen the sustainability of Animal Care and Control. The grant allows 0% for indirect cost recovery. Maricopa County Animal Care and Control’s (MCACC) indirect rate for FY16 is 11.1%. Unrecoverable indirect costs are estimated to be $12,432, which will be funded from the Animal Control License Shelter Fund (572) Operating (0000) budget. In approving the grant agreement, the Board recognizes the restrictions on funds and authorizes exceptions to Policies Nos. 1908 and 1609 as necessary to comply with grant restrictions Additionally, in accordance with A.R.S. §42-17106(B), authorize the following amendment to the FY 2016 Animal Care and Control (790) Budget: a) Increase the Revenue and expenditure authority in the Animal Care and Control (790) Animal Care and Control Grants Fund (573) Non Recurring Non Project (0001) in the amount of $112,000. All grant monies received will be used for the sole purpose in which to support Animal Care and Control’s implementation of the community ad hoc task force recommendations. Grant Funds may not be used for any purpose, program or other activities than those specified in the award, without the prior written approval of Maddie's Fund. The following items have been identified: 1. The community task force recommended that MCACC provide better signage in MCACC’s adoption locations. Currently, MCACC has no signage to inform customers of the fee schedule for adoptions and other services. MCACC fears that potential adopters may leave due to frustration of not knowing adoption pricing or fee schedules. a. Four (4) 42” LCD monitors with wall mounts – Monitors will be located in the lobbies of the East and West shelters. Adoption pricing, promotions and adoptable animals will be showcased on a rotating basis. Cost includes staff training and installation. $10,500 b. Directional signage at West shelter – In order to assist potential adopters and customers searching for their lost pets, MCACC wants to improve directional signage at the Phoenix location. $3,000 c. Three (3) acrylic sign stands – Stands will be placed in the MCACC‘s lobby shelter locations and off-site adoption center. Adoption specials, pet of the day and other announcements will be placed on each sign stand. Two literature pockets will hold Animal Surrender Questionnaires and Surveys. $1,500 d. Wall mounted acrylic sign stand with brochure holder – Mounted outside of Chi Town (West shelter). This area features timid small breed dogs that have been removed from the general shelter population. Signage is needed to inform potential adopters of dogs available for adoption. $250 2. As a way to increase adoptions by providing self-service tools and information to our customers, MCACC will purchase brochures holders, translation services and printing costs and surface tablets for our customer service staff. a. Two (2) wall mounted literature racks – Racks will be located in the lobbies of the East and West shelter locations and will be used to distribute educational information. Topics include spay/neuter, adoption, services and fees. $500 b. Customer Service “Ambassadors” are new positions added as a result of the task force. These staff members strive to make everyone’s MCACC experience an enjoyable one. MCACC wants each Ambassador to have access to our database, email system and internet so that they can better serve the public. Cost of four MS Surface Tablets plus service: $7,800. c. Translation services – In order to better serve MCACC’s customers, MCACC will provide educational information in Spanish. The cost for this service is $1,000. d. Printing costs – MCACC is fortunate to have several educational comic books in Spanish. This type of literature is well received by the Hispanic community and the comics appeal not just to children, but the entire family. Topics include being a responsible pet owner, importance of spay/neuter and preventing dog bites. The comics are in high demand, but there are not enough resources to print more. MCACC will also distribute this literature at Maricopa County libraries during the summer reading program. $10,000 3. As MCACC works to increase Return to Owner (RTO) rates, MCACC will purchase new microchip scanners. These would replace old and broken scanners at both the East and West shelters, two (2) clinic locations and for use by our Animal Control Officers in the field. $15,500 4. MCACC’s current mobile adoption vehicle fleet consists of one bus and two vans, all of which are hand-me-downs from other governmental agencies. In the hot Phoenix sun the vehicle wraps, which are over ten years old, have burned and faded with many of the sections virtually unreadable and unrecognizable. The unattractive appearance of the vehicles does not present a positive image of MCACC or the animals held within. To improve the look of the vehicles and the perception of the animals they hold there will be new wraps for the entire fleet. While it is difficult to project a measurable outcome for this project, it will result in increased adoptions based on the improved marketability and perception of shelter pets. $16,000 5. Currently, MCACC does not have the funding to provide the animals at our East Valley Animal Care Center (Mesa) with Bordetella vaccines. MCACC is able to provide these vaccines at the Phoenix location, but want to administer them to all the dogs entering our Mesa shelter. This will cut down on the incidents of upper respiratory infections. $18,000 (one year of vaccines) 6. (4) 10’ x 20’ pop-up canopies – Pop-up canopies are needed for mobile adoption events and community-wide spay/neuter and vaccination clinics. Many of MCACC’s events take place in areas with minimal shade and tents will be used to keep customers comfortable. $1,500 7. Three adoption specials during the next 12 months that will feature free microchips with each adoption. MCACC currently charges $25 for microchips and funding would allow us to promote adoptions while at the same time, providing identification for our shelter animals. $16,200 ($5,400 for each promotion) 8. In the next twelve (12) months MCACC will host two (2) adoption events. These events would be a festival-type of event at our East Valley Animal Care Center in Mesa and featuring adoption specials, free microchips (see item #6), and extended shelter hours during the event. $10,000 (C-79-16-036-G-00)

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