The Palo Alto City Council on Monday (Aug. 27) green lighted $3.4 million for improvements to Palo Alto Animal Services, one of several contractual terms requested by the nonprofit organization poised to assume operations of the shelter, which serves partner cities Los Altos and Los Altos Hills.
Eight members of the nine-member council voted in favor of finalizing the city’s agreement with Pets In Need of Redwood City; Councilman Adrian Fine was absent.
City Manager James Keene referred to the council’s vote as “a huge step” in alleviating uncertainty about Animal Services’ future.
“It’s a clear statement from the governing body here that you want us to be able to move forward,” Keene said.
In addition to approving $3.4 million for capital improvements to Animal Services, the council agreed to terms allowing Pets In Need to operate the East Bayshore Road shelter as a no-kill facility and to expand the site by potentially using adjacent property.
“The fact that they allocated or approved the allocation of the full $3.4 million, that is fantastic. I didn’t expect that. I’m real pleased,” said Al Mollica, Pets In Need executive director. “Now it’s just a matter of working out, finalizing the agreement so that we can actually start operating the shelter.”
City staff members and Pets In Need representatives are scheduled to meet Aug. 31 to iron out remaining contract terms, including the details of the property lease and Pets In Need’s liability limitations should anyone become injured on site.
Community Services Director Rob de Geus told council members he hopes to provide them with a finalized contract this fall so that Pets In Need may begin operating in January.
Palo Alto Animal Services has struggled to remain financially solvent since 2012, the year partner city Mountain View withdrew its contract and the $500,000 annually it paid for services and opted instead to partner with Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority.
