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RESOLUTION NO. 2017-086 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING REQUIREMENT, APPROVING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AND DR. VANESSA FLORES, VMD FOR RELIEF VETERINARY SERVICES AT THE CHULA VISTA ANIMAL CARE FACILITY, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT AND UP TO THREE ONE-YEAR EXTENSIONS
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
The Animal Care Facility seeks the City Council’s permission to waive the competitive bidding requirement, to approve an Agreement with Dr. Vanessa Flores, VMD for relief veterinary services at the Facility, and to authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement and up to three one-year extensions.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
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Environmental Determination
Staff has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the proposed activity is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a physical change to the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060( c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus no environment review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The Chula Vista Animal Care Facility engages veterinarians as contractors to provide relief veterinary services. Services include checking animals for illness or injury, treating or supervising treatment, performing surgery as needed, and performing a large number of spay/neuter operations. Relief veterinarians provide the Facility with full coverage.
The veterinary staff also ensures that the Facility complies with State law requiring that adopted animals be spayed or neutered before leaving the Facility. Additionally, the Facility is able to offer weekly clinics providing no-cost spay and neuter surgeries to low-income residents of Chula Vista, National City and Lemon Grove. These clinics, which reduce the number of unwanted animals admitted into shelters, have been very successful and are booked more than a month in advance.
The Facility averages more than 2,000 in-house surgeries per year, including spay/neuter, orthopedic, soft-tissue and dental. Outsourcing these surgeries would cost the City more than $275,000 per year. On average, 50 to 60 surgeries are scheduled weekly. This is a high volume when compared to private shelters and private veterinary practices. Accordingly, unique skills and abilities are required of veterinarians to practice effectively in a public shelter setting.
Dr. Vanessa Flores, VMD is a 2006 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. This University awards a Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) degree, which is equivalent to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree awarded by all other U.S. veterinary schools. Dr. Flores has been an effective part of the Facility’s veterinary team since 2009. Dr. Flores has a unique working knowledge and performance capabilities of the Facility’s procedures, policies and staff as a result of her work with the City that would be difficult to replace. As such, staff is asking the Council to waive the competitive bidding requirement for an Agreement to continue the City’s relationship with Dr. Flores.
The City Council most recently approved an Agreement for Dr. Flores’ veterinary services on July 28, 2015 in Resolution 2015-184. That Agreement authorized the City Manager to execute one-year extensions through June 30, 2017. The term of the Agreement now before the Council is two years, July 1, 2017-June 30, 2019, with up to three one-year extensions with the City Manager’s approval.
The amount authorized by the Agreement is up to $35,000 per fiscal year. Funding for the Agreement is currently budgeted in the Facility’s budget for FY 2017-18. Future allocations will be considered as part of the normal annual budget process.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decisions contemplated by this action and has determined that the decision is not site specific. Consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to the decisions. Staff is not independently aware and has not been informed by any City Council member of any other fact that might constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. This action supports the Healthy Community goal by staffing with the Animal Care Facility with an experienced and effective veterinarian, ensuring that the Facility has full coverage, meets standards of care for its animals, complies with applicable State and Federal laws, and is able to provide no-cost spay and neuter services to low-income constituents.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the resolution results in no net fiscal year impact to the General Fund. These funds are currently budgeted in the Animal Care Facility budget for FY 2017-18.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the resolution results in no new ongoing fiscal impact to the General Fund. Future allocations for these costs will be considered as part of the normal budget process.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement
Staff Contact: Amanda Mills, Animal Care Facility Administrator