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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet City Council - 05/08/2025 Cityof Corpus Christi 1201 Leopard Street Corpus Christi,TX 78401 cctexas.com Meeting Agenda Final-revised City Council Workshop Thursday, May 8,2025 10:00 AM Council Chambers FY 2026 Council Budget Goal Setting Session and Animal Care Services Assessment Briefing Public Notice: ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA ARE FOR COUNCILS INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AND NO PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE SOLICITED. A. Mayor Paulette Guajardo to call the meeting to order. B. City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta to call the roll of the required Charter Officers C. FY 2026 Budget Goal Setting Session (10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) 1. 25-0639 FY 2026 Budget Goal Setting sponsors: Office of Management and Budget D. Recess for Lunch: The City Council will take a lunch at approximately 12:30 p.m. E. Animal Care Services Assessment Briefing (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.) 2. 25-0640 Presentation on the Animal Care Services Assessment sponsors: Animal Care Services F. Adjournment City of Corpus Christi Page 1 Printed on 5/5/2025 se GO � O� A H /NCOOPOR AGENDA MEMORANDUM 1852 City Council Workshop of May 8, 2025 DATE: May 8, 2025 TO: Peter Zanoni, City Manager FROM: Amy Cowley, Director of Management & Budget Amyc1 @cctexas.com 361-826-3792 FY 2026 Budget Goal Setting Workshop STAFF PRESENTER(S): Name Title/Position Department 1. Amy Cowley Director of Management & Budget Management & Budget 2. Mike Markle Police Chief Police Department 3. Brandon Wade Fire Chief Fire Department 4. Ernesto De La Garza Public Works Director Public Works 5. Robert Dodd Parks & Recreation Director Parks & Recreation 6. Michael Dice Development Services Director Code Compliance 7. Philip Aldridge Interim Solid Waste Director Solid Waste 8. Laura Garcia Library Director Library 9. Drew Molly CCW Chief Operating Officer CCW 10. Heather Hurlbert Assistant City Manager City Manager's Office BACKGROUND: On April 29, 2025 the City Council was presented with a briefing on the General Fund Forecast which currently shows a gap of$7 million between our revenues and expenses. We discussed the options to address this gap as (1) increase revenues, (2) decrease expenses, or (3) a combination of both. The Budget Goal Setting Workshop is intended to provide the City Council with information to facilitate a consensus for the top budget priorities in FY 2026. The budget priorities will provide the framework for the development of a balanced proposed budget. On July 29, 2025 the City Manager will recommend a proposed budget to City Council for the fiscal year starting on October 1, 2025. August will be dedicated to collecting feedback from the community and City Council through community input sessions and City Council budget workshops. Any changes made to the budget based on feedback received will be incorporated and delivered to City Council on September 2 for the first reading of the budget. The second reading of the FY 2026 Budget is scheduled for September 9, 2025. LIST OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: PowerPoint �vs c! 0 o� U NCORPOR 11 AGENDA MEMORANDUM 1852 City Council Workshop of May 8, 2025 DATE: May 1, 2025 TO: Peter Zanoni, City Manager FROM: Kathleen Chapa, Director of Animal Care Services Kathleen B(u)cctexas.com 361-826-3046 Citygate Operational Assessment City Council Workshop CONSUTANT PRESENTER(S): Name Title/Position Organization 1. Jan Glick Project Manager/ Animal Citygate Associates Services Specialist STAFF PRESENTER(S): Name Title/Position Department 1. Kathleen Chapa Director Animal Care Services 2. Cynthia Martinez Assistant Director of Animal Care Services Operations BACKGROUND: In September 2023, the City Council approved a contract with Citygate Associates to comprehensively assess the Animal Care Services Department's operations. This assessment aimed to identify issues that may limit the effectiveness of operations and administration within the department. Citygate Associates began the assessment in October 2023 and provided ACS with a draft report in November 2024. The contract has been extended through December 2025 to allow Citygate Associates to support ACS in implementing its recommendations. The assessment examined the efficiency of ACS business models in terms of policies, procedures, workflows, and animal flow across all ACS divisions, including, but not limited to, Administration, Field Operations, Investigations, Kennels, Live Release, and the Veterinary Clinic. Key focus areas also included the length of stay, care capacity, and euthanasia policies. Jan Glick of Citygate Associates conducted the ACS assessment. Jan has over 40 years of experience in the animal welfare field, including positions as the director of county animal services operations and the director of a humane society. She has also collaborated with state animal welfare organizations in California and Colorado. Citygate Associates, headquartered in Folsom, California, has operated since 1990 and has completed over 600 consulting engagements nationwide. For over twenty years, it has provided nationwide operational analyses and shelter assessments for local governments. LIST OF SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: Citygate Operational Assessment Presentation mmmohhhhhh., bkhlceac 'k rm ANIMAL CARE SERVICES CITYGATE ASSESM ENT yy I Presentation Objectives • Overview of Citygate Associates o Project Scope • Overview of Animal Care Services Department o Department Background o Department Divisions • Citygate Key Findings and Recommendations o Key Findings o Key Staffing Recommendations o Facility Upgrade Recommendations • Implementation Plan • Questions and Answers rM C I T Y G A T E Citvqate Associates Citygate Associates r, C I T Y G A T E Citygate Associates has been in operation since 1990 and has completed over 600 consulting engagements. For more than twenty years, it has provided operational analyses and shelter assessments for local governments nationwide. Specialized expertise in animal care Serve only local government clients Many animal care reviews, including all aspects of operations, staffing, stakeholder engagement, facilities, and finance Diversity of retired executive-level officials •Exceptional accomplishments in their fields Committed to public service Citygate Associates r, C I T Y G A T E Corpus Christi Animal Care Services Assessment 7C1ty,.te7Pre.,de!nt7 A t ' .j Project Manager,Animal * Services Specialist Glick,MS aR Animal Services Specialist Animal Services and Planning Specialist Fiscal Specialist Jan E. Glick MS, Project Manager and Animal Services Specialist a Over 43 years in management of animal welfare organizations, public and private ', - Expertise in leading full-service agencies, managing spay/neuter clinics fiscal g 9 �� management, facility needs, and all aspects of providing animal services in a public setting Has led many animal services projects and reviews for Citygate, including policies, operations, feasibility studies, and fee analyses • Experience working at both the local and state level in animal welfare Susan Feingold Animal Services Specialist ROM& r • Over 25 years experience in animal welfare • Director of multiple public agencies C • Over 15 years performing animal services evaluations • Focus on increasing Live Release Rate, efficiencies, best practices, operations, and shelter design as it relates to functions Has performed numerous animal care and control assessments for Citygate collaboratively and independently Citygate Assessment Timeline • City Manager Requested Assessment and Funding for Assessment in FY 2024 • Council Approval on September 19, 2023 • Initial Citygate Contract term: October 1 , 2023, to April 30, 2024 • Project kick-off October 17, 2023 • Citygate on-site December 6-8, 2023, and May 20-24, 2024 • Report development October 23 through September 2024 (11 months) • Director appointed in May 2024 • Mid-project check in April 2024 • Citygate on-site February 19-20, 2025 to support implementation • Contract Extension: December 31 , 2025 Timeline - September 2023 to December 2025 Citygate Assessment Timeline Sep-23 Dec-23 Mar-24 Jul-24 Oct-24 Jan-25 May-25 Aug-25 Nov-25 Dec-25 City Manager Requested Citygate Assessment Council Approved Assessment Budget - Initial Contract Term Contract Extension for Additional Scope Project Kick Off - Report Development First Site Visit Interim Director Appointed - Mid-Project Check - Director Appointed - Second Site Visit Implementation Site Visit Citygate Assessment Project Scope • Align the department with national best practices • Evaluate the facility, workflow, and animal flow for efficiency and effectiveness • Assess departmental culture and communication • Analyze staffing, job titles, and compensation • Review operational policies and procedures • Analyze historical operational data for accuracy • Analyze marketing and community outreach • Make recommendations for improvements to city staff ceaq rM C I T Y G A T E /r Animal Care Services b° w Hours of Operation Facility Hours • Monday — Saturday °°°Aka ; - • 8:00 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. . _ Adoption & Free Microchipping 17 1 64 • Monday — Saturday f: • 1 :00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Field Operations • Monday — Sunday — • 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. On call 24 hours mF Kennel Operations ` • Monday — Sunday — • 7:30 a.m. — 5:30 p.m. Animal Care Services Timeline • Originated as a division of the Health District • Transferred to the Police Department in 2012 • Transferred to Neighborhood Services in 2021 • Stand alone department in June 2023 (Vector Control transferred to Health District in 2024) Prior to 2012 2021 2023 2012 gsT[-NUE PublicHealth ~ CORPUS CHRI5T5 rlCxEAL'RO1S Gnao 000 sFnvl[F ACS Adopted Budget History FY 2020 - FY 2025 Animal Care Services Budget History $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 $0 FY 2020 Adopted Budget FY 2021 Adpoted Budget FY 2022 Adopted Budget FY 2023 Adopted Budget FY 2024 Adpoted Budget FY 2025 Adopted Budget $3,347,590 $3,260,597 $4,136,164 $4,271,526 $5,081,708 $5,009,972 33 FTE 42 FTE 42 FTE 47 FTE 57 FTE 57 FTE ACS Facility (2626 Holly Road) Built in 2004 • Facility consists of: • 3 Kennel Buildings • Maintenance/Storage Building f • Laundry and Storage • Administrative Building ACS Facility Buildings • Dog Kennel 3 • • • Kennels Cat Kennel Maintenance & � "-� � ` Storage Building r J! Kennels, _ Laundry&Storage isolation area Dog Kennel 2 ' s i Y Maintenance • • Dog * Administration Kennel 1 Building P Laundry • Storage • • Administrative Building 16 .` �. • t R• i rM Now CL*aq •.� '� � ,l' Y. '+� r • irrrM ♦ .w�.. h Animal Care Services � ifl r ,. Department Divisions "��, I;Not", r 17 ACS Organizational Chart (57 budgeted Animal tare Services Organizational Chart ���' 57 Full Time EmploVees Veterinarian Director assistant Director of Operations Veterinary Clinic Lead ACS Program Manager Sr.Management administrative Communi Relations assistant tY HR Business Partner Support II Spacialisi veterieanr pseiscarn (z pas'itionsl ACS Fieltl Supervisor Atlmin Support/ pCS Shelter Supervisoe Dispatcher Administrative Support I f�Poshmnal Kennel Technician Live Release Ei Officer Lead [d Posm nsl Filled:Currently Pnlm'IC S+eaOS icr Contracted rive (t t e Rd�se Consulbnt Vacant: 10 slim iin 18 Customer Care (4 FTEs) • First point of contact for residents entering the shelter • Customer Service • Adoptions • Licensing y • Public records 1 m Field Operations (22 FTEs) • Enforce City ordinances regarding pet ownership and care ► • Respond to urgent calls about , abandoned, sick, or aggressive animals • Conduct bite investigations AT ALL C' • Handle cruelty complaints - • Oversee the rabies control ram ro p g -- Kennel Operations (13 FTEs) • Provide essential care for all animals at ACS • Animal intakes, cleaning kennels, µ feeding the animals, and enriching the - lives of our shelter pets , _ • Assist with adoptions, lost and found services, and microchipping Live Release (4 FTEs) & 1 Contract Consultant • Facilitate adoptions and managing the foster home program . e • Collaborate with rescue partners and overseeing transfers • Coordinate the volunteer program '� ! • Conduct behavior assessments eyriM.: • Provide animal enrichment -- -- - �_A Veterinary Clinic (4 FTEs) • Provide medical care for all sheltered animals • Vaccinations • Deworming • Spay/neuter surgeries �' a • Treatment of sick or injured animals l 1 Ceaqur rM R 1� ?o w, Cit)(gate Key Findings & Recommendations �A-Ac K kl r' - 7,w k1 66 24 Overall Assessment • Citygate assessment offers insights for improvements and aligns ACS with best practices • Workplace culture improvements will support success • Increase focus on education and community outreach • Changes require time, commitment, resources, and a multi-year approach • All improvements are interconnected and impact each other's success, highlighting the importance of a cohesive approach • Implementation of recommendations will increase the Live Release Rate Key Findings • Additional staffing will require budget allocations • Facility is outdated and has insufficient office and kennel space; improvements will require budget allocations • Existing Policies and Procedures need updating to align with best practices • New policies need to be written and added • Staff training program needs to meet industry standards • Statistical reporting needs to be revised to be accurate, credible, and usable Citygate Recommendations by Category Citygate Recommendations �. E= Number of Category Recommendations SOP's 64 Operations 56 Staffing 27 Website 8 Facility 6 Culture 5 Statistical Reporting 4 Total 170 ■SOF •Operations ■Staffing •Website ■Facility •Cunure ■Statistical Reporting Recommendation Status CompleteNumber of Category Recommendations Progress . . SOP's 64 3 26 35 Operations 56 5 19 32 Staffing 27 3 2 22 Website 8 0 2 6 Facility 6 0 0 6 Culture 5 1 2 2 Statistical Reporting 4 0 2 2 Total 170(100%) 12(7%) 53(31%) 105(62%) Key Recommendations by Program Areas 1 . General Operations 2. Shelter Operations 3. Field Operations 4. Veterinary Program 5. Adoption 6. Foster Program 7. Rescue Partners 8. Social Media, Website, & Marketing 9. Euthanasia 10. Proactive Programs General Operations • Open hours should be increased • Calls should go to shelter through phone tree • SOPs need revision and expansion • Statistical reporting needs to be standardized • Registration must include rabies vaccination as required by law • Efficiencies in all operations need improvement • Website needs restructuring and updating Shelter Operations • Intake process needs to be streamlined • Pathway planning should be implemented and begin at intake • Feeding procedures should follow best practices • Cleaning SOPs need updating and compliance • Enrichment should be provided for all animals • Implement training to ensure consistency in operations • Five Freedoms not currently being fully provided 1 . Freedom from hunger and thirst 2. Freedom from discomfort 3. Freedom from pain, injury, and disease 4. Freedom to express normal behavior 5. Freedom from fear and distress Field Operations • Update Field Procedures Manual and use for training • Have Dispatchers assign and track field activities • Develop and utilize reports to track field activities, including response time, number of calls by officer, priorities, etc. • Develop a method to ensure priority calls are handled timely • Fill vacancies and train all new staff efficiently, scheduled for five 8-hour shifts until fully staff and trained Veterinary Program • Develop veterinary health care protocols and follow them • Ensure prompt and necessary care and isolate sick animals • Conduct daily medical rounds • Increase in house spay/neuter surgeries and minimize release of unaltered animals • Develop inventory system for medical supplies • Utilize partner resources to maximize veterinary care • Hire an additional Veterinarian position to cover weekends Adoptions • Increase focus on good customer service • Adoption Counselors should be designated and work with adopters from start to finish • Adoption polices need to be expanded • Volunteers should be assisting the adoption process • Designate adoption area near kennels • Pre-payment for stray adoptions should be discontinued Foster Program • Add position and designate a Foster Coordinator • Greatly expand the foster program • Implement active solicitation of foster homes • Provide support for foster homes • Train new foster providers • Update foster policies Social Media, Website, & Marketing • Increase posts of adoptable animals with high quality photos and marketing friendly descriptions • Update the website so Lost & Found and Adoption links go directly to CCACS animals instead of a search by zip code • Community Relations Specialist should be familiar with adoptable animals and respond to questions/comments about adoption of pets but not respond to critics as this may exacerbate the situation • Discontinue posting statistics on Facebook daily and, instead, post an accurate monthly summary on the CCACS website Euthanasia • Create new policy that includes a clear policy statement and a clear process for decision making • Discontinue using "length of stay" as a reason, hold animals as long as space allows, and record reason "space" if euthanized • Ensure animals receive intake vaccines and prompt veterinary care • Improve cleaning and disinfection to prevent euthanasia due to illness • Reconcile controlled drug logs on a schedule as required by law • Ensure a Veterinarian authorizes emergency medical euthanasia prior to an Animal Care Officer euthanizing the animal Proactive Programs • Proactive programs, like off-site adoptions or community events, can be very valuable • CCACS currently does not have the infrastructure to support most proactive programs • Free microchipping recommended for scheduled hours based on available staff, not on a drop-in basis • Develop a more targeted free Spay Neuter program in partnership with a non- profit to reduce overpopulation Citygate Priority Recommendations • Hire experienced Assistant Director of Operations (Completed) • Review mission and goals and renew commitment to serving animal welfare needs (In progress) • Establish Veterinary performance measures to increase standard of care and decrease length of stay (In progress) • Complete revision and implementation of updated Standard Operating Procedures (In progress) \1► C I T Y G A T E 1y a Additional Staffing g Needs r Recommended Additional Staffing Needs Cost _� a-< Position* Current Need Total Estimate a Dispatcher 1 1 2 $55,920 s �h r Veterinarian (Part-Time) 0 1 1 $70,000 l- Community & Education Outreach Supervisor 0 1 1 $71,229 / Kennel Technician 13 5 18 $235,256 ,. Animal Control Officer 17 3 20 $172,715 Animal Care Supervisor 2 1 3 $71,229 Behaviorist 0 1 1 $49,960 Administrative Support 1 3 2 5 $99,921 Total 36 15 51 $826,230 - *Only recommended positions listed (includes salaries and benefits) Recommended Reclassifications • Volunteer Coordinator Recommended for developing and Position Title Reclassification Current Estimate Increase implementing a structured Live Release Volunteer $55,385 $67,726 $12,341 volunteer program Coordinator Coordinator Live Release Adoption Counselor $55,385 $67,726 $12,341 Coordinator • Adoption Counselor for full weekly Live Release Adoption Counselor $55,385 $67,726 $12,341 coverage and peak-hour support Coordinator Live Release Rescue/Foster Coordinator Coordinator $55,385 $67,726 $12,341 • Rescue/Foster coordinator to Total $49,364 manage the shelter population and (Includes salaries and benefits) enhance the foster program Increased Staffing Impacts • Increasing facility space is necessary 7 Staffing• alone is not a complete p solution _ r r PET 0 • Additional staffing will affect all shelter E�RYOURPETS areas and increase the need for IMALSEGISTER l (EEP YOUR PET II materials and equipment r- BH-IT'S THE LAW I THE BEACH) ""- Ceaq 055 Facility Upgrade Mai Pef����.��� ern !i�®�oRecommendations �'�'1 J S�• Jir�r�l �dt����� 7 ♦�11���.alA�n.�l, r as Facility Assessment (New Construction) • Additional animal holding areas needed 0 20-36 dog kennels — new building with climate control (wily increase total kennel capacity to 138 —154) o Minimum of 18 cat cages — - -' -' initially a trailer, Catter - - • f Building later ,fill o Additional cat isolation Facility Assessment (Enhancements) • Air Conditioning in Kennel Buildings • Dedicated Adoption Counseling Area (Completed) • Expand Meet-and-Greet Areas (In Progress) • Separate Public Animal Turn-In Area (In Progress) • Dispatch Area Near Animal Control Officer Area • Volunteer Coordinator Office • Remodel Current Feral Cat Room Air Conditioning in KennelBuildings u �; >,.�..., ... ,_ 0 ® 1 tt9ttaa �, a.l( u,'•• ••� .. i � I F. i a � 1 a =` tlJli4utttae I — i � 1 � 1 it r ._ W/•tdj4 4 ata: , ��� `� �'I a 1 �•iSilJtaa I I. as i Air conditioning helps maintain animal health and reduces stress during hot weather. 47 Provide adoption advice, prepare adopters for pet ownership, and review medical history. 48 q „ Expand Meet-and-Greet Areas Allows potential adopters to interact with animals and increase adoption success F49 __ Reduces the risk of multiple animals interacting in the same space at the same time 50 Ccaq rM C I T Y G A T E ENIAYNBEIpM1f O9 L9 � . Implementation Plan AnimalGreSernces Animal Care Services Implementation Plan • Majority of recommendations relate to internal operations including policies and procedures • Citygate and ACS have developed a 5-year phased plan due to budget constraints with majority of recommendations accomplished in FY 2025 and FY 2026 Implementation Timetin Fiscal Year FY 2025 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 Number Expected Complete 65 26 79 Total 170 Animal Care Services Implementation Plan Continued • Implementation plan includes budget needs in areas of staffing, facility upgrades, and new construction • 28 of the 170 recommendations require City Council consideration 0 22 staffing related recommendations (some new, some reclassifications) 0 6 facility upgrades � A let 4t..f­,�o .1 1 4 . _ i,t,r �l a ► IMF- - lip w- 4 { Closing r Closing • Citygate continues working with ACS to implement the recommendations over a multi-year period • Progress is being made as leadership works to update Policies and Procedures and provides ongoing staff training and support • Citygate commends the City for its commitment to improving Animal Care Services • Assessment reflects a "moment in time" • Report provides a comprehensive assessment of ACS and will act as a roadmap for future operations CL*aq �^,M- C I T�T E V Thank You