14. SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC UPDATE – September 14th MEETING Disposition MISE A JOUR SUR LA CLINIQUE DE
STERILISATION ANIMALE – SUITE À DONNER À |
That Council approve the following:
a) Authority
be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to
relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with
funding to an upset limit of $450,000.00 to cover retrofit and moving costs.
b) Staff
pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset the capital expenditure
identified in a).
c) Staff report back to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee
and Council in early 2007 with a proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule that
focuses on the overriding importance of an affordable service that will be
attractive to the public and enhance the reduction of unwanted pet population
and reducing the need for expanded pound services.
For the information of Council
The Emergency and Protective
Services Committee approved the following directions to staff:
d) Staff
investigate what other large Ontario municipalities have done with respect to
spay/neuter clinics including the nature of any special legislation that may
have been required.
e) Staff
investigate what constraints or permits exist in the Municipal Act or the act creating the City of Ottawa which would
affect Ottawa’s ability to operate a spay/neuter clinic through a separate
agency.
COMITÉ
DES SERVICES DE PROTECTION ET D’URGENCE RECOMMENDATIONS ET LE Comité des services organisationnels ET DU
DéVELOPPEMENT éCONOMIQUE (Recommendation a seulement)
Que le Conseil municipal approuve pour approbation :
a) Que le Directeur municipal adjoint des Services communautaires et de protection soit mandaté pour transférer la clinique de stérilisation animale de la Ville d’Ottawa dans une installation adéquate, grâce à des fonds limités à 450 000 $ pour couvrir les coûts de mise aux normes et de déménagement;
b) Que le personnel recherche des possibilités de parrainage afin d’aider à compenser les dépenses en capital désignée en a);
c) Que le personnel soumette au Comité des services de protection et
d’urgence et au Conseil, au début de 2007, un rapport qui renferme, au sujet de
la Clinique de stérilisation, un projet de tarification mettant l’accent sur
l’importance primordiale d’offrir un service abordable qui soit attrayant pour la population, qui favorise la réduction du nombre d’animaux
domestiques non désirés et qui permette de diminuer la nécessité d’accroître
les services de fourrière.
À TITRE D’INFORMATION AU CONSEIL
Le Comité des
services de protection et d'urgence a approuvé les directives suivantes adressées au personnel :
d) Que le personnel vérifie les mesures que les autres grandes
municipalités de l’Ontario ont prises au sujet des cliniques de stérilisation,
ainsi que la nature des mesures réglementaires spéciales pouvant être requises.
e)
Que le personnel vérifie les
contraintes ou permis prévus par la Loi
sur les municipalités ou la loi ayant créé la Ville d’Ottawa qui pourraient
influer sur la capacité de la Ville d’Ottawa d’assurer l’exploitation d’une
clinique de stérilisation par l’intermédiaire d’un organisme distinct.
1. Deputy City
Manager, Community and Protective Services revised report dated
9 October 2006
(ACS2006-CPS-BYL-0043).
2. Extract of Draft Minutes, 12 October 2006 (Emergency and Protective Services Committee).
3. Extract of Draft Minute, 17 October 2006
(Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee).
Report to/Rapport au:
Emergency and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services de protection et
d'urgence
and /
et
Corporate
Services and Economic Development Committee
Comité des services organisationnels
et du développement économique
and Council / et au Conseil
9 October 2006 / le 9 octobre 2006
Submitted by/Soumis par: Steve Kanellakos, Deputy City
Manager /
Directeur municipal adjoint,
Community and Protective Services /
Services communautaires et de protection
By-law Services / Services des
règlements municipaux
(613) 580-2424 x25536,
susan.jones@ottawa.ca
SUBJECT: |
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC UPDATE – September 14th MEETING
Disposition |
|
|
OBJET : |
MISE A JOUR SUR LA
CLINIQUE DE STERILISATION ANIMALE – SUITE À DONNER À LA RÉUNION DU 14
SEPTEMBRE |
REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
That the Emergency
and Protective Services Committee and the Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee recommend that Council approve the following:
a) authority
be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to
relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with
funding to an upset limit of $450,000.00 to cover retrofit and moving costs;
and that,
That the Emergency and Protective Services Committee recommend that
Council approve the following:
b) staff
pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset the capital expenditure
identified in a); and that,
c) staff
report back to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee and Council
early in 2007 with a proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule which will allow
it to operate on a cost recovery basis, including recovery of facility leasing
costs.
RECOMMANDATION DU
RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services de protection et d’urgence et le Comité des services généraux et du
développement économique recommandent ce qui suit au
Conseil pour approbation:
a) que le Directeur municipal adjoint des Services communautaires et de protection soit mandaté pour transférer la clinique de stérilisation animale de la Ville d’Ottawa dans une installation adéquate, grâce à des fonds limités à 450 000 $ pour couvrir les coûts de mise aux normes et de déménagement;
Que le Comité des services de protection et d’urgence recommande ce qui suit au Conseil pour approbation:
b) que le personnel recherche des possibilités de parrainage afin d’aider à compenser les dépenses en capital désignée en a);
c) que le personnel propose au Comité des services de protection et d'urgence et au Conseil, au début de 2007, une grille tarifaire des coûts liés à la clinique de stérilisation animale lui permettant de fonctionner sur une base de recouvrement des coûts, y compris la récupération des coûts de location de l’installation.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ottawa’s Spay/Neuter Clinic is presently operating out of an 1835 square foot location located at 1851 Merivale Road. The City negotiated a three-year lease for the site in 2003 when the former Bayview facility was scheduled for demolition. Other than $4,800.00 annually for utilities, the leasing arrangement represents no cost to the City. The three-year lease contains an option to renew annually for up to five years subject to a clause that provides that either party may terminate the lease with six months written notice. On May 1, 2006, the landlord provided six months written notice of its intention to terminate the lease agreement effective October 31, 2006, with the option of continuing on a month-to-month basis until December 31, 2006. This announcement was unexpected. The City has identified $1.25 million in the 2007 capital budget but was hoping to extend the lease at the current location to allow time for the planning of the new facility.
At its meeting of September 14th, the
Emergency and Protective Services Committee received for information a staff
report which outlined the status of the Spay/Neuter Clinic and a number of
options for continuing the services it provides, and directed staff to pursue
with the current landlord the possibility of an extension of the lease beyond
December 31, 2006 and to report back to Committee with the results of the
aforementioned discussions, as well as any other options for the delivery of
the Spay/Neuter Clinic services.
Staff approached the current landlord without
success, save for the offer of the donation of all the fixtures that the Clinic
has been using at this site. With that
avenue closed, staff is currently investigating the possibility of relocating
the Clinic, on a temporary basis, to the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre
facility.
Should that avenue also fail however, the only
feasible and reliable option to continue the Spay/Neuter Clinic services,
without or with minimal interruption, would involve a lease arrangement.
Capital funding for retrofitting is required but,
staff will pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset those costs. Staff will report back with a proposed
Clinic fee schedule, which will incorporate facility leasing costs, with a view
to operating the Clinic on a cost-recovery basis in accordance with previous
Council direction.
RÉSUMÉ
La clinique de stérilisation animale de la
Ville d’Ottawa dispense actuellement ses services dans des locaux d’une
superficie de 1 835 pieds carrés situés au 1851, chemin Merivale. La Ville
a négocié un bail de trois ans en 2003, époque à laquelle l’ancienne
installation de Bayview devait être démolie. Exception faite des frais annuels
de 4 800 $ pour les services publics, le bail n’entraîne aucun coût
pour la Ville. Il comporte une option de reconduction pour des périodes d’un an
(jusqu’à un maximum de cinq ans), chacune des parties pouvant résilier le bail
à la condition d’en aviser l’autre partie par écrit six mois à l’avance. Le 1er
mai 2006, le propriétaire a donné avis par écrit de son intention de résilier
le bail le 31 octobre 2006, tout en offrant la possibilité de le
reconduire de mois en mois jusqu’au 31 décembre 2006. Cette situation
n’était pas prévue. La Ville a réservé 1,25 million de dollars pour la clinique
dans le budget des immobilisations pour 2007, mais elle espérait pouvoir
reconduire le bail pour l’installation actuelle afin d’avoir le temps de
planifier la nouvelle installation.
Lors de sa réunion du 14 septembre, le Comité des services de
protection et d'urgence s’est vu remettre, à titre informatif, un rapport
précisant le statut de la clinique de stérilisation animale et mentionnant
un certain nombre d’options relatives à la poursuite de son exploitation. Le
Comité a demandé au personnel d’examiner avec le propriétaire actuel la
possibilité de prolonger le bail au-delà du 31 décembre 2006 et de rendre
compte des résultats de ces discussions ainsi que de toute autre option de
prestation de services à la clinique de stérilisation animale.
Des membres du personnel se sont entretenus sans succès avec le
propriétaire actuel, à l’exception de l’offre de don de tous les accessoires
fixes utilisés sur place par la clinique. Cette option étant donc écartée, le
personnel envisage de transférer temporairement la clinique à l’Ottawa-Carleton
Wildlife Centre. Si cette option devait également s’avérer inapplicable, la
seule possibilité réalisable et fiable d’offrir des services à la clinique de
stérilisation animale sans fermeture ou sans longue interruption consisterait à
passer un accord de location.
Des fonds pour dépenses de capital servant à la mise aux normes sont
requis mais le personnel recherchera des possibilités de parrainage afin
d’aider à compenser ces coûts. Le personnel proposera une grille tarifaire des
coûts liés à la clinique, qui tiendra compte des coûts de location de
l’installation, en vue d’exploiter la clinique sur une base de recouvrement des
coûts, conformément à une demande antérieure du Conseil.
BACKGROUND
The City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic was established in 1978 with a Council-approved mandate of making pet sterilization services more accessible to and affordable for pet owners who might not otherwise have their pets spayed/neutered, thereby encouraging the sterilization of the optimum number of cats and dogs.
The overall objective is to reduce the unwanted pet population, thereby reducing the need for care and shelter for homeless animals, the euthanasia rate and hence, the costs of animal care and control, which are borne by the municipality. The Spay/Neuter Clinic provides pet sterilization services at fees that are approximately 50%-60% of those charged by the local private industry. Additional information concerning the policy mandate and operation of the Clinic can be found in report ACS2006-CPS-BYL-0031 (ref. September 14, 2006 EPS Committee).
The Clinic had been operating from a facility located at 95 Bayview Road since its establishment in 1978 and the facility was slated for demolition by late 2003. In July 2003 therefore, City Council considered an Emergency and Protective Services staff report concerning the status of the Spay/Neuter Clinic and directed and authorized staff to:
· decommission and vacate the Bayview location by November 30th, 2003;
· continue the services provided by the Spay/Neuter Clinic on the same cost-recovery basis at an alternate location;
· continue to investigate alternate locations and to conclude negotiations to lease a facility and to execute any required documentation in accordance with the provisions of the Delegation of Authority By-law 2001-12, as amended, provided that costs for retrofitting and leasing be identified in the existing budget and that such lease not exceed a 3-year term with an annual 1-year renewal requirement, and subject to a report back to the appropriate Committee and Council in the event that such arrangements cannot be made.
Following the foregoing direction of Council, staff identified the 1835 square foot location at 1851 Merivale Road and negotiated a three-year lease, with the option to renew annually for up to five years. A clause, which provides that either party may terminate the lease with six months written notice is also part of the lease agreement. Other than $4,800.00 annually for utilities, the leasing arrangement represents no cost to the City. On May 1, 2006, the landlord provided six months written notice of its intention to terminate the lease agreement effective October 31, 2006, with the option of continuing on a month-to-month basis until December 31, 2006. This announcement was unexpected.
At its meeting of September 14, 2006 and after hearing from a number of delegations, the Emergency and Protective Services Committee (EPSC) received for information a staff report which outlined the status of the Spay/Neuter Clinic as well as a number of options being investigated with a view to continuing the services provided by the Clinic, including city-owned buildings/properties as well as leased facilities, along with cost estimates. At that time, EPSC approved the following motion:
WHEREAS,
the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic was established in 1978 to provide
accessible and affordable dog and cat sterilization services with a view to:
encouraging pet spaying/neutering; reducing the population of pets in need of
care and shelter, as well as the euthanasia rate; and, ultimately, reducing the
costs of animal care and control which are borne by the municipality;
AND
WHEREAS, the Clinic operation was housed at 95 Bayview Road until 2003, when,
as a result of the requirement to demolish the Bayview Road site, staff
reported to Council with alternate service delivery options for consideration;
AND
WHEREAS, during the 2003 discussions concerning the Clinic, Council recognized
the valuable service provided to the public by the Clinic and re-affirmed its
desire to continue those services on a cost-recovery basis, directing staff to
continue to investigate alternate locations and to conclude negotiations to
lease a facility;
AND WHEREAS, following the foregoing direction of Council, staff
identified the 1835 square foot location at 1851 Merivale Road at which the
Clinic is currently located, and negotiated a three-year lease, with the option
to renew annually for up to five years and with a provision that either party
may terminate the lease with six months written notice, all at no cost to the
City other than $4,800.00 annually for utilities;
AND
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2006, the landlord provided six months written notice of its
intention to terminate the lease agreement effective October 31, 2006, with the
option of continuing on a month-to-month basis until December 31, 2006;
AND
WHEREAS, in light of the timing of the landlord’s unexpected announcement as
well as the results of staff’s preliminary work to date with respect to options
for service delivery, there are clearly insufficient time and resources to
fully identify, review and implement any such options by year’s end;
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to:
1.
pursue with the
current landlord the possibility of an extension of the lease beyond December
31, 2006, the negotiation of which may include the offer of payment of leasing
costs, and may result in an increase in spay/neuter clinic fees to offset any
expenditure related to lease costs, in accordance with Council’s previous
direction to continue the services of the Spay/Neuter Clinic on a cost-recovery
basis; and,
2.
report back to
Committee with the results of the aforementioned discussions, as well as any
other options for the delivery of the Spay/Neuter Clinic services, including
costs, as necessary.
DISCUSSION
In accordance with the September
14 EPSC direction, staff approached the current landlord with respect to the
possibility of extending the lease beyond December 31, 2006. The written portion of the submission to the
landlord included a copy of the staff report (ref. ACS2006-CPS-BYL-0031), the September 14th
EPSC motion, and recent local print media coverage of the issue. On October 6th, staff received
written confirmation from the landlord that, most regrettably, such an
extension cannot be granted since it would conflict with a planned
schedule for the construction of an expanded service at that location. The landlord did however indicate that all
the fixtures that the Spay/Neuter Clinic has been using at this site, valued at
approximately $35,000, would be donated to the City should it be of use at
another location.
With the elimination of the foregoing avenue, and given
time and budget constraints, another similar existing facility would be the
ideal option. Staff is currently aware
of one other facility that would likely require limited investment for purposes
of retrofitting for the Spay/Neuter Clinic – the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife
Centre (OCWC). The OCWC, which had been
providing wildlife rehabilitation services from a building located at Nortel
Networks Carling Campus, discontinued providing those services a few years ago.
That building, which included veterinary facilities, is likely to be suitable
to house the Clinic operation and would seem to be a reasonable and prudent
option, particularly given that, when it was built in the early 1990’s,
significant public funds from all levels of government, in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars, were invested in its construction.
Worthy of note is that, although the OCWC is no longer
involved in wildlife rehabilitation, it is now engaged in supporting wildlife
through public awareness and education.
The OCWC provides: public education and outreach through school programs
and community presentations and events; public awareness through various
written materials and communication vehicles such as community newspapers; and
public policy strategies through involvement with other stakeholder organizations
working on behalf of progressive environmental goals. On that basis, there may be implications with respect to the
delivery of its services if the Spay/Neuter Clinic were collocated with it.
Nortel Networks, the landlord of the OCWC and also a
financial contributor towards the building itself, has indicated that it would
have no issues with the City’s Clinic being temporarily located at that
site. Staff has met with the President
of the OCWC who has committed to taking the matter before the Board of Directors. Information with respect to the
compensation, if any, that the OCWC may desire or to logistical concerns it may
have is not yet available in any detail.
Should this option come to fruition and given the
anticipated limited investment required, the Clinic could still ultimately be
housed with the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) and the Municipal Animal Shelter
(MAS) – operated on the City’s behalf by the OHS under a purchase of service
agreement – as part of a public-private partnership with the OHS, which has a
mandate complementary to that of the City and plans to build a new facility in
2008-2009. This is the best and most
prudent option to secure the long-term future of the Spay/Neuter Clinic.
Leasing Arrangement
Should negotiations with the OCWC fail and to comply with the direction to staff to continue the services provided by the Clinic without or with minimal interruption, the only feasible and reliable option would involve a lease arrangement. The Real Property and Asset Management Branch advises that annual leasing costs for retail space range from $25.00 to $40.00 per square foot representing a total annual cost, based on 2,000 square feet, ranging from $50,000 to $80,000, and for industrial space from $12.00 to $17.00 per square foot, representing a total annual cost from $24,000 to $34,000.
It is expected that industrial space would be pursued. In the likely event that a potential facility does not meet the layout requirements, fit-up related to the relocation would also be required, the one-time capital cost of which would be in the range of approximately $450,000.
There is currently no capital funding in the 2006 budget for fit-up purposes, nor are there operating dollars identified for the purpose of leasing. Capital funding for retrofitting is therefore required but, staff will pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset those costs. Staff will also report back with a proposed Clinic fee schedule, which will incorporate facility leasing costs with a view to operating the Clinic on a cost-recovery basis, in accordance with previous Council direction.
Given the considerable investment involved in the adoption
and implementation of the leasing option however, the potential public-private
partnership with the OHS with respect to the inclusion of the Spay/Neuter
Clinic, along with the OHS and the MAS in a comprehensive animal facility,
would essentially be eliminated.
If Council does not approve the staff recommendation, there
will be no alternative but to suspend the services provided by the Spay/Neuter
Clinic pending Council consideration of $1.25 million identified in the 2007
capital budget for this purpose.
CONSULTATION
Corporate
A copy of the report has been forwarded to Corporate Services’ Real Property Asset Management Branch, Legal Services Branch, Financial Services, and Human Resources.
External Agencies
The various agencies that made presentations on this subject to the EPSC on September 14th were notified of the Committee meeting at which this report would be considered. Those agencies include the Animal Defence League of Canada, the Cat Rescue Network, Friends of Abandoned Pets, the National Capital Coalition for People and Dogs, and the Ottawa Humane Society.
Public
There is no statutory requirement to notify the public with respect to the status of the Spay/Neuter Clinic. A notice advertising the date and time of the meeting at which the report will be discussed has however appeared in the dailies, in accordance with relevant City policy.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There is no budget identified in 2006 to fund the capital costs associated with the relocation of the Spay/Neuter Clinic. It is therefore recommended that funding, to an upset limit of $450,000 to cover retrofit and moving costs, be identified in the City Wide Capital Reserve Fund.
DISPOSITION
Community and Protective Services’ By-law Services, in consultation with other applicable Branches/Departments, to lead the implementation of the direction of Council.
Spay/Neuter
Clinic - Disposition of SeptEMBER 14 Meeting
Clinique de
stérilisation animale - Suite à donner à la réunion du 14 septembre
ACS2006-CPS-BYL-0043
Moved by Councillor G. Hunter:
That the Emergency and Protective Services
Committee approve the addition of this item for consideration by the Committee
at today’s meeting pursuant to Section 81(3) of the Procedure By-law (being
By-law no. 2005-431).
CARRIED
Susan Jones, Director of By-law Services, Community and Protective Services (CPS) provided an overview of the departmental report and an update on the status of negotiations. She indicated that the current landlord confirmed to the City on October 5, 2006 that the lease could not be extended past the end of the year. Pursuant to the direction given at the last meeting, staff pursued other avenues, including the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Center (OCWC), which previously housed a veterinary facility within the building. Ms. Jones indicated that she met with Donna DuBreuil, President of the OCWC, to pursue the opportunity to acquire space, even on a short-term basis, without having to invest significant money and retrofit costs. A written response from the OCWC indicating support for the spay/neuter program, but declining to provide space in order to focus on education and outreach programs, was circulated to the Committee and is held on file with the City Clerk. Ms. Jones presented the report recommendations and noted that Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee approval is also required in order to fund one-time retrofit costs in 2006. She indicated staff would be returning to Committee and Council in early 2007.
Councillor McRae expressed disappointment and questioned if there was any opportunity, instead of leveraging money, to retrofit a building to temporarily use a subsidized private system in which veterinarians could perform the service. Ms. Jones replied that this option could be investigated further, but could be more costly. She also indicated that the retrofit costs would likely be less than the amount identified in the report, as the landlord will be giving the City the veterinary equipment from the current location. She added that if a leased building is found and retrofitted, Council would determine during the 2007 budget process if funds were required for a new City-owned building.
In
response to further questions from Councillor McRae, Ms. Jones indicated the City has passed one of
the most progressive animal care and control by-laws in the country and
currently spends $750,000 annually for animal shelter and pound costs.
Councillor Little emphasized the
importance of affordability and presented a motion, replacing report
recommendation (c):
“That staff report back to the
Emergency and Protective Services Committee and Council in early 2007 with a
proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule that focuses on the overriding
importance of an affordable service that will be attractive to the public and
enhance the reduction of unwanted pet population and reducing the need for
expanded pound services.”
Candice O’Connell, National Capital Coalition for People and Dogs, reaffirmed support to find an appropriate home for the spay/neuter clinic. She voiced disappointment regarding the decision of the Wildlife Center, but she commended City staff for their strong efforts to find a facility. Ms. O’Connell stated time is running out and the clinic is now seriously at risk of a service interruption or an extended shut down, which could have grave consequences in terms of a spontaneous increase in unwanted pets. She asked that the Committee proceed with an allocation of funds to lease an appropriate facility and ensure that the low cost spay/neuter service continues with little or no interruption. In reply to Councillor Little, Ms. O’Connell indicated she would support his motion as it relates to providing an affordable service.
Rob
McCulloch, Ottawa Humane Society (OHS), voiced concern with disruption of
service and reinforced the OHS’ support. He explained that, in the past
30 years, the clinic has played an essential part in reducing Ottawa’s unwanted
animal population, which has decreased over this period from 18,000 to
11,000. Mr. McCulloch explained that
the OHS would take into consideration the integration of the spay/neuter clinic
within its planned new shelter facility.
In response to questions from Councillor Legendre, the delegation stated
the OHS supports this clinic, but is not involved in the operation or funding. Ms. Jones clarified that the City operates
the clinic through power granted through special legislation adopted in the
1970s.
Louise Hindle, Founder and
Coordinator of the Cat Rescue Network, began by commenting that cost recovery should
be revisited to take into account people on very limited incomes and small
rescuers that care for a large numbers of animals. Ms. Hindell called for more community input and she suggested a
mobile spay/neuter clinic could be an option.
Ms. Hindell suggested that the
notion to ultimately house the clinic with the OHS be carefully considered,
expressing concerns with respect to location, timing and completion. In response to questions from Councillor
Legendre, Ms. Hindle explained her concerns with OHS policies with respect to
feral cats, specifically testing for contagious diseases and euthanization.
In response to questions posed by
Councillor Legendre, Ms. Jones confirmed this service is provided with no cost
to the taxpayer. She indicated that
veterinarians were approached with respect to a subsidized chit service,
similar to the one operated by the OHS, and were not interested. Councillor Legendre questioned whether cost
recovery could be achieved at the same level of fees due to the costs
associated with a new location.
In reply to questions from
Councillor Legendre, Anne Peck, Legal Counsel, Corporate Services, indicated
the authority to operate a clinic was established in 1976 through special
legislation, which allowed the former City of Ottawa to establish a by-law to
provide for a spay/neuter clinic at either no cost to the client or with certain
fees. In 1979, an amendment was adopted
to allow the City to advertise the services.
She noted the legislation allows the City to establish a spay/neuter
clinic and does not provide for alternative mechanisms to provide this service,
but the Municipal Act would have to
be examined to determine if the City could do so. With respect to other municipalities and benchmarking, staff
agreed to investigate if other municipalities sought such powers and how
services are provided.
Councillor Harder expressed her
disappointment regarding the letter received from the OCWC. She questioned whether the Board’s decision
was related to a cut in City funding a few years ago. In response to questions from Councillor Harder, Ms. Jones
confirmed that the OCWC received $150,000 from the Region, $175,000 from the
Ministry of Natural Resources and $200,000 from a federal funding program to
build the facility, with the former City of Nepean waiving development charges.
In response to further questions
from Councillor McRae, Ms. Jones indicated she was unaware if capital dollars
were invested in the OCWC facility since amalgamation. She noted that if the City did move in,
there would be a possibility of providing an additional revenue stream for the
centre. Chair Deans suggested staff
continue the dialogue with Ms. DuBreuil and the OCWC, expressing the
Committee’s disappointment and asking to reconsider in the best interests of
animal welfare.
Councillor McRae concurred with
Chair Deans’ request and commented on cost recovery in light of the motion put
forth by Councillor Little. In
response, Ms. Jones explained that fees range depending on several variables
(i.e. cat/dog, weight/size, male/female).
She noted the clinic’s fees are 50-60% less expensive than regular
veterinarian prices. In reply to
further questions from the Councillor, Ms. Jones indicated the fit-up would be
a one-time capital investment to retrofit the facility. Leasing costs are to be determined and staff
will return to Committee and Council in the early 2007 to identify options.
Councillor Hunter suggested
abandoning the request for temporary accommodation at the OCWC in order to
focus on other options, as the centre is out of the way. He recommended that the centre be located
within the urban boundary with visibility and frontage.
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That Staff investigate what other large Ontario municipalities
have done with respect to spay/neuter clinics including the nature of any
special legislation that may have been required.
CARRIED
Moved by Councillor J. Legendre:
That staff investigate what constraints
or permits exist in the Municipal Act
or the act creating the City of Ottawa, which would affect Ottawa’s ability to
operate a spay/neuter clinic through a separate agency.
Carried
Moved by Councillor S. Little:
That report recommendation c) be
replaced with the following:
That staff
report back to the Emergency and Protective Services Committee and Council in
early 2007 with a proposed Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule that focuses on the
overriding importance of an affordable service that will be attractive to the
public and enhance the reduction of unwanted pet population and reducing the
need for expanded pound services.
CARRIED
That the Emergency and
Protective Services Committee and the Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee recommend that Council approve the following:
a) Authority
be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to
relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with
funding to an upset limit of $450,000.00 to cover retrofit and moving costs.
b) Staff
pursue sponsorship opportunities to help offset the capital expenditure
identified in a).
c) Staff report back to the Emergency and
Protective Services Committee and Council in early 2007 with a proposed
Spay/Neuter Clinic fee schedule that focuses on the overriding importance of an
affordable service that will be attractive to the public and enhance the
reduction of unwanted pet population and reducing the need for expanded pound
services.
d) Staff
investigate what other large Ontario municipalities have done with respect to
spay/neuter clinics including the nature of any special legislation that may
have been required.
e) Staff
investigate what constraints or permits exist in the Municipal Act or the act creating the City of Ottawa which would
affect Ottawa’s ability to operate a spay/neuter clinic through a separate
agency.
CARRIED as amended, with Councillor J. Legendre dissenting on recommendation (a).
SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC UPDATE – September 14th MEETING
Disposition
MISE A JOUR SUR LA CLINIQUE DE
STERILISATION ANIMALE – SUITE À DONNER À LA RÉUNION DU 14 SEPTEMBRE
acs2006-CPS-BYL-0043 CITY WIDE
Moved by Councillor R. Jellett
That the Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee approve the addition of this item for consideration by
the Committee at today’s meeting pursuant to Section 81(3) of the Procedure
By-law (being By-law no. 2005-431).
CARRIED
Mayor Chiarelli advised the Committee the original staff report incorrectly indicated that all three of the recommendations contained therein required Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee consideration, when in fact only recommendation a) needed CSEDC approval. He pointed out a revised report had been issued and distributed to Councillors.
The Mayor also noted this report was considered by Emergency and Protective Services Committee at their meeting of 12 October 2006 and members had received a copy of the memo from EPS Committee Coordinator, setting out that Committee’s disposition of this matter (held on file with the City Clerk).
The
following written documentation was distributed to all members of Council and
is held on file with the City Clerk:
· Letter from Candice O’Connell, Chairperson, National Capital Coalition for People and Dogs dated 16 October 2006;
· Letter from Donna DuBreuil on behalf of the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre dated 11 October 2006;
· Letter from Susan Jones, Director, By-law Services to Donna DuBreuil, Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre, dated 16 October 2006;
· Letter from Donna DuBreuil on behalf of the Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre dated 16 October 2006;
· Letter from Susan Jones, Director, By-law Services to Donna DuBreuil, Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre, dated 17 October 2006.
That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend
that Council approve:
a) authority
be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of Community and Protective Services to
relocate the City of Ottawa Spay/Neuter Clinic to a suitable facility, with
funding to an upset limit of $450,000.00 to cover retrofit and moving costs;
and that,
CARRIED