TITLE
RESOLUTION APPROVING EXECUTION OF SUB-LEASE WITH HUMANE SOCIETY OF GREATER MIAMI/ADOPT-A-PET TO OPERATE VETERINARY CLINIC AT SOUTH DADE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO EXERCISE CANCELLATION PROVISIONS CONTAINED THEREIN

BODY
WHEREAS, there is an overpopulation of companion animals in Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, the Humane Society Of Greater Miami/Adopt-A-Pet, Inc. (the �HSGM�) is a registered Florida non-profit corporation, organized for, among others, the purposes of caring for shelter animals and reducing the animal overpopulation problem; and
WHEREAS, the COUNTY, through its Animal Services Department, is in the first year of a three-year lease for a modular space unit (the �Unit�) to operate a veterinary clinic at the South Dade Government Center; and
WHEREAS, the Animal Services Department does not have the financial resources to continue to operate the clinic during the remaining term of the lease and the Unit will not be used for County purposes; and
WHEREAS, the HSGM has requested to sub-lease the Unit to operate a veterinary clinic to provide low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations and other preventive care to the pets of Miami-Dade County residents on a not-for profit basis,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board approves a sub-lease with the Humane Society Of Greater Miami/Adopt-A-Pet, Inc. (the �HSGM�), in substantially the form attached hereto and made a part hereof, which provides the HSGM with the use of the modular space unit located at the South Dade Government Center for a 2-year term renewable for two 1-year terms for a rent of $1.00 per year; and authorizes the County Mayor or designee to exercise the cancellation provisions contained therein.

HEADER
Date:



To: Honorable Chairman Bruno A. Barreiro
and Members, Board of County Commissioners



From: George M. Burgess
County Manager



Subject: Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with the Humane Society of Greater Miami to Operate Spay/Neuter Clinic

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Scope
This agreement will allow HSGM to utilize the County�s Spay/Neuter Clinic facility for $1 per year in order to continue providing low-cost veterinary preventive care services countywide. HSGM will provide some additional services for preventive care that the Animal Services Department is unable to provide. At this time, Animal Services provides free spay/neuter services and low-cost rabies vaccines at the Spay/Neuter Clinic five days per week. HSGM will have sufficient staffing to provide some expanded services such as low-cost spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, heartworm and fecal tests. Qualified constituents who provide proof of federal income assistance will be able to receive free services. The level of service provided to the community will remain consistent with the standards set by Miami-Dade County.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The adopted FY2007-08 budget includes projections for the Animal Services department to enter into an agreement whereby the leased property at 10700 SW 211 Street would be used by the HSGM to provide low cost spay/neuter and preventive veterinary care services. Currently, Animal Services operates the clinic five days a week with four full time staff that include one Veterinarian, one Veterinary Technician and two Customer Service staff.

With the approval of this agreement, those four staff persons will be transferred to the main animal shelter at 7401 NW 74 Street�in order to assist the department in operations there. This will alleviate a percentage of overtime in the clinic, decrease the need for contract veterinarians and provide much needed staff in the customer service area of the main shelter. The HSGM will incur the operational costs associated with these services as per the agreement attached. As part of the FY 2007/08 budget, Animal Services will continue to make the lease payments on the property of $24,000 per year.

Track Record/Monitor
This is the first time that such partnership is being implemented. The HSGM, in existence since 1936, operates a successful shelter and a low cost clinic in Palmetto Bay providing spay/neuter surgery and preventive care. The Executive Director of the Humane Society of Greater Miami will be responsible for the contract, with oversight by the Animal Services department.

MANAGER'S BACKGROUND
In FY 2006/07, Animal Services handled over 34,000 pets. This overpopulation crisis, unfortunately not unique to our community, can best be addressed through low cost, high volume spay/neuter programs. Since no one specific organization or Miami-Dade County department can solve this overwhelming problem on its own, the department is working on forming partnerships to more effectively address this crisis while simultaneously being fiscally responsible. The approval of this agreement will allow for these critical services to continue being offered to the community.

The agreement is for a period of two years, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods.




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Assistant County Manager