12-20-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM: Chris Heineman, City Administrator DATE: December 20, 2023 RE: 2023 Animal Humane Society Contract for Impound Services ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED Approve the 2024 Letter of Understanding for Impound Housing Services with the Animal Humane Society. BACKGROUND In February 2022, the City of St. Paul notified the seven Ramsey County contract cities that they were no longer to provide contracted housing for their impounded animals due to budget constraints and low staffing. The contract cities also had to change impound services in 2018 when the veterinary clinic that had been used for many years chose to no longer provide this service. It is always very difficult to find another option for this service but the Ramsey County Animal Control Officer was able to secure a new contract with the Animal Humane Society and the contract cites began using them in April 2022. They currently have three locations available to take in animals: Woodbury, Coon Rapids and Golden Valley. The new contract language is very similar to the previous contract, and most pricing will have about a 5% increase from current costs for the standard hold fee, but a few other fees are increasing significantly. For example, the DOA fee to cover staff and cremation costs when deceased animals are brought in is increasing from $40 to $75, and the mandated hold/quarantine of at least 5 days is increasing from $428 to $630 (this is usually associated with a rabies quarantine after a bite). RECOMMENDATION Approve the 2024 Letter of Understanding for Impound Housing Services with the Animal Humane Society.