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General Services and Public Health Departments apprising the Board of Supervisors on the progress of the Comic Relief Project, including its associated costs; recommending Chairman be authorized to sign Donation Agreement 613-PHD0507 with Comic Relief, Inc. accepting the donation in the amount of $154, 466 for a term to expire June 30, 2011, upon final approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, for the housing and adoption services of abandoned dogs and cats, resulting from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; and further recommending Acting Director of General Services be authorized to sign Change Order No. 1 for Construction Project 04-15.
FUNDING: Donation from Comic Relief
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Total Estimated Cost$ 155,000 Funding Budgeted$ New Funding$ 155,000 Savings$ Other$ Total Funding Available$ 155,000Change To Net County Cost$ 0
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: County will receive $155,000 from Comic Relief. There is no net County cost.
Background: For over 20 years, the mission of Comic Relief, Inc. has been to unite the comedy community behind some of societys most relevant causes and pressing needs. With its new initiative, Comic Relief WILD, the organization will assist in the ongoing effort to foster animals abandoned during Hurricane Katrina and help support animal rescue operations in times of natural and man made disasters worldwide. Comic Relief desires to establish a relationship with El Dorado County in order to assist Comic Relief in meeting its goals. In order to accomplish this, Comic Relief and the County will enter into the attached agreement outlining the mutually agreed upon details of the relationship.
Comic Relief will arrange for the transport of cats and dogs from a shelter in New Orleans (TBD) to the El Dorado County Animal Shelter (SLT Shelter), located in Meyers. Comic Relief will cover all transportation costs. Only animals suitable for adoption will be transferred to the SLT Shelter, and only one animal at a time would be sent to the SLT Shelter, so as not to disturb the day-to-day workings of the SLT Shelter. It will be Comic Reliefs responsibility to see that each animal is spayed, micro-chipped, and medically evaluated by a veterinarian in New Orleans before the animal is transported. Once in Tahoe, if the animal is deemed unadoptable or unacceptable by SLT Shelter staff, it will be sent back to the shelter in New Orleans. Comic Relief will be responsible for the cost of sending the animal back.
Comic Relief would cover all expenses associated with the medical care of the animal incurred in transit and at the SLT Shelter. Katrina animals would be adopted out thru the normal adoption process employed by the SLT Shelter; the County will impose and retain all associated and appropriate adoption fees minus fees for costs covered by Comic Relief.
Comic Relief will employ staff to work out of a designated office at the SLT Shelter to help coordinate the adoption process, which will also include utilizing Comic Reliefs positive public image to interface with local and national media bringing attention to the continual plight of the Katrina animals. Such awareness will also benefit animals already housed at El Dorado County Animal Shelters, as the campaign will attract the public to come in and view all the animals housed in the facilities. The Comic Relief employee will also develop fundraising ideas to help support animal rescue operations in times of natural and man made disasters worldwide. El Dorado County will not be liable for actions by the staff person who will remain an employee of Comic Relief.
The Comic Relief employee would be housed in a designated office at the SLT Shelter. It will be Comic Reliefs responsibility to provide telephone, fax machine, computer, copy machine, desk and chairs, file cabinets, etc. The County will provide this space for Comic Reliefs staff for four years. After that time, Comic Relief and the County can discuss future arrangements.
Comic Reliefs Board of Directors on May 17, 2007 approved a donation of $155,000 to be made to the County for use specifically to update its kennel for the arrival of Hurricane Katrina animals, as well as local El Dorado County animals. These figures include the office construction cost. The funds will be used primarily to remove a large concrete block in the interior of the facility that sits under the kennel area and to fully rebuild the kennels to a more efficient design and layout than in the current plans. The current funding for the project does not include this work, only a remodeling of the existing kennels. A change order to the current contract will cost $104,106. The remaining portion of the donation ($ 50,894) will be used the upgrade the kennel dividers.
Reason for Recommendation: This partnership between Comic Relief and El Dorado County will be an example of how a unit of local government and a non-profit agency can work together effectively to improve services offered to distressed and displaced animals in need of a new and loving home.
Action to be taken following Board approval: Chair to sign three (3) copies of attached agreement; Board Clerks Office to return two (2) copies to Public Health; Public Health to distribute as appropriate; General Services to return with a budget amendment and issue change order.
Contact: Dan Buffalo
Concurrences: