PURPOSE:

This report is in response to Councilman Dave Golonski�s request to staff to update the City Council on the capital improvement needs of the Shelter.  The Burbank Animal Shelter has done an excellent job of protecting our residents from dangerous animals and making a large number of animals available for adoption to the public.  It is the Shelter�s mission to ensure the safest and healthiest adoptions by providing for the physical and emotional well-being of our animals.  In order to fulfill this mission, some changes need to be made to the Shelter facility to accommodate the care of our animals, particularly our cats.

BACKGROUND:

The existing facility was opened in December of 1990.  At the time, it was a state-of-the-art facility in a seemingly ideal location, however, changes in traffic flow, area congestion, and animal care technology, have created some areas of concern that need to be addressed. 

Fred DeLange retired as Animal Shelter Superintendent in December of 2001.  We were unable to find a suitable replacement until the decision was made to appoint Lieutenant Bruce Speirs to oversee the Shelter on May of 2003.  He has worked very closely with Public Works to address the building needs of the shelter.  With a budget of $170,000, many things have been done to upgrade the building.  These projects include a new heating and air conditioning system to replace a worn out evaporation unit and floor heating system, upgraded electrical panels, new lighting, plumbing upgrades, paint, new floor coverings, a new roof, and many general repairs that have been identified.  They will soon be painting the exterior of the Shelter.

ANALYSIS: 

There are two major problems that have been identified:

• Traffic problems caused by two-way traffic on Victory Place, compounded by the success of the Empire Center, make entering and exiting the Shelter facility difficult, and almost impossible during the holidays.  There is a right turn only sign for vehicles exiting the Shelter and traffic backs up into the parking lot.  The traffic makes it difficult for Animal Control Officers to respond to regular and emergency calls in a timely manner.  Citizens complain that the Shelter is too difficult to get to.  The only entry into the Shelter is from northbound Victory Place and citizens are concerned that traffic is so fast that they are afraid to slow down and make a right turn for fear of being rear-ended.  Left turns into the parking lot are not permitted.

• The current design of the Shelter provides for only one general population cat room and one cat hospital.  There is no observation area and cats already housed at the Shelter are at risk for viruses and other illnesses from new arrivals that may be sick when they are placed directly into the general population. 

Last spring, the Shelter suffered an outbreak of feline distemper, resulting in the loss of a number of cats.  This is a severe, highly contagious, viral disease.  This disease, as well as many others, is spread by contact with contaminated items such as food bowls, water dishes, clothing, hands, bedding, and litter boxes.  It is a hardy virus, resistant to many common disinfectants.  Currently, the cats at the Shelter are housed in open air kennels that, unfortunately, increase the likelihood of disease transmittal through the open air ventilation.  Visitors also touch and play with the cats despite posted warnings to the contrary. 

The current design of the Shelter does not support the daily arrival of kittens during kitten season (roughly April � September).  Due to a lack of space, kittens are housed in a hallway and are susceptible to illness and disease due to inadequate cat ventilation systems and public access.  The Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter (VBAS) have been sponsoring a Kitten Foster Program to reduce this risk.  We are also taking immediate steps to address this concern on the eve of a new cat season by purchasing disposable litter trays, hand sanitizers and dispensers, and a more efficient disinfectant, to help reduce the spread of disease.

We have met with Public Works and are examining the following solutions:

Phase 1:          Mitigate the traffic issues

We propose to keep the existing driveway, making it an entrance only.  An exit only lane would be created at the north end of the property to direct traffic out of the shelter into its own northbound lane on Victory Place at approximately the location where northbound Victory Place becomes two lanes.  This would ease the congestion created when employees and patrons are unable to exit the Shelter due to traffic.  Changes to the existing landscape and new signage would be required. 

Reconstruction, including relocating existing art work, excavation of the new 13 foot wide exit drive, and installation of base and paving, should be completed in 4 to 6 weeks.

Phase 2:          Create a healthier environment for the cats

We propose remodeling the existing cat room into two separate rooms, one for a �staff only� accessible maternity area and the other an area for cats available for adoption.  The current cat hospital area would remain structurally unchanged and would still be used as such. The old dog quarantine room, which is unused due to drainage problems, would be remodeled and an additional room would be constructed within the existing Service building to allow for two more cat rooms to be used as an observation room and a feral cat area.  New Plexiglas kennels would be installed in each of the cat rooms as well as 100% air exchange ventilation systems.  These upgrades will greatly reduce the spread of cat disease.

Based on a mid-March starting date, the construction project should take 9 to 12 weeks to complete.

LONG RANGE FORECAST

There is another concern that may impact the current location of the Shelter.  We have received information that there are plans to move the railroad bridge adjacent to the Shelter.  Though this project is believed to be at least 10 years away, it would possibly have a great impact on the location of the Shelter.

FISCAL IMPACT:      

Estimate for traffic mitigation              $10.000          

Cost estimate for construction            $90,000

Cost of kennels is approximately        $60,000

Total  $160,000

Funding for this project was not included as part of the FY 2003/04 budget.  Staff is recommending an amendment to the FY 2003/04 budget appropriating $160,000 from account 370.CP01A.70020.0000.00000 (Holding-Capital Project Contingency) to account 370.PD04A.7005.0000.13702 (Public Improvements-Animal Shelter Rehab).

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above budget amendment and proposed resolution to fund the improvements to the Shelter.

THOMAS HOEFEL

Chief of Police

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