HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 11-05 REPORT TO
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Report Number: CS 11-05
Date: January 26, 2005
From:
Bruce Taylor, AMCT, CMM
City Clerk
Subject:
- PAW Animal Services 2004 Activity Report
- Notice of Termination of PAW Agreement
Recommendation:
1. That the PAW Animal Services 2004 Activity Report as set out in PAW
Treasurer's Report 2-05 be received for information.
That the letter from the Town of Whitby dated December 14, 2004 advising of a
resolution passed by the Council of the Town of Whitby giving notice of the
termination of the current animal services agreements effective December 31,
2005 be received for information.
That the appropriate officials of the City of Pickering be authorized to take the
necessary actions to give effect thereto.
Executive Summary:
The purpose of this Report is to advise Council of the 2004 PAW Activity Report and to
advise Council of a resolution passed by Whitby Council to give notice of termination of
the current animal services agreements effective December 31, 2005.
Financial Implications: Not applicable
Background:
Please be advised that the PAW Joint Animal Services Committee passed the following
motion at its meeting of January 11, 2005:
That the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby (PAW) Animal Services 2004
Activity Report be received as information.
Report CS 11-05
PAW Animal Services
Janua~ 26,2005
Page 2
2. That the PAW Committee commend the efforts of the public
and the local animal rescue organizations in assisting the animal
services staff achieve a "no kill" status for a third successive year;
and,
That a copy of Treasurer's Report, Item 2-05, be forwarded to
the Councils of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby for their
information.
Attached hereto is a copy of PAW Treasurer's Report 2-05 for your information.
At its meeting of December 13, 2004, the Council of the Town of Whitby passed the
following resolution:
That the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering be advised that the
Town of Whitby desires to negotiate a new joint animal services
arrangement; and
That the Town of Whitby give written notice of the termination of the
current animal services agreements effective December 31st, 2005.
Attached hereto for your information is a letter from the Town of Whitby providing the
written notice of termination as noted in the above resolution.
Attachments:
1. PAW Treasurer's Report 2-05
2. Letter from the Town of Whitby giving notice of termination of PAW agreements
Prepared By:
Bruce Taylor
City Clerk
Approved I Endorsed By:
Gillis A. Paterson
Director, Corporate Services & Treasurer
Attachments
Copy: Chief Administrative Officer
Report CS 11-05
PAW Animal Services
January 26, 2005
Page 3
TREASURER'S REPORT TO THE PI'CKEILTNG- A,1AX-
WHITBY 3OZNT ANZMAL SERV/CES COMMITTEE
I'TEM 2-05
3anuary11,2005
Subject:
PickeringrAjax-Whitby Animal Services 2004 Activity Report'
Recommendation:
That the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby (PAW) Animal Services 2004 Activity
Report be received as information;
That the PAW Committee commend the efforts of the public and the
local animal rescue organizations in assisting the animal services staff
achieve a "no kill" status for a third successive year; and,
That a copy of Treasurer's Report, Item 2-05, be forwarded to the
Councils of Ajax, Pickering and Whitby for their informaUon.
Oriqin:
As the attached activity report indicates, pAw can' boast that for'the third
successive year no adoptable pets had to be euthanised. With the assistance
of the general public and the local animal rescUe organizations PAW was
successful in finding a home for every adoptable pet taken in at the Animal
Services Centre in 2004.
Analysis:
The adoption success of PAW is in no small measure attribUtable to a number
of initiatives introduced by the PAW Committee to,
· promoteand develop responsible pet 'ownership; and,
· adopt out as many homeless animals as possible.
The initiatives include,
customer service training and development for the animal services
staffto equip them with the skills and. knowledge reqUired to provide
'quality animal services;
the development of an animal services website to better promote and
publicize'animal services available to the citizens of the three
communities;
an advertising program to promote the importance of responsible pet
ownership, publicize the plight of homeless pets, find good, loving
homes for unwanted pets and seek the public's assistance in
'combatting pet overpopulaUon;
exploring new ways and means of improving communication and
working relationships with local'pet fanciers such as veterinarians, pet
store owners, animal shelter operators, rescue groups, etc., to find
good, loving homes for homeless pets and to promote responsible pet
oWnership; and,
establishing a pet foster program to increase the chances that animals
at the Animal Services Centre find good homes.
i
Treasurer's Report, Item 2-05 (Continued)
i/-o %
These' iniUatives have resulted in PAW achieving a "no kill" status the last
three years. With the invaluable help and'assistance of the general public
and local animal rescue groups, PAW has been able to find a .home for
every homeless, adoptable pet taken in.
Alternatives:
N/A
Existinq Policy:
N/^
· Financial Considerations:
N/^
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Telephone
905-665-$803
Toronto
905-686-2621
Fax
905-686-7005
~ ~ ~A~?,, ~Ei~'~' - ' WHITBT
In the Regional Municipality of Durham
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
e~.~N~75 Rossland Road East
Whltby, Ontario
~,~ Canada
' ~*~IN 2M8
%
December 14, 2004~
File: ~-2160 (Animal Se~ices)
Clerk's Division
Corporate Services Department
Pickering Civic Complex
One The Esplanade
PJckering, Ontario
L1V 6K7
Attention: Bruce Taylor, City Clerk
Re: Pickerinq-Ajax-Whitby (PAW) Animal Services
2005 will mark the 20th anniversary of Whitby's reciprocal animal services arrangement
with the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering. Whitby Town Council believes it is timely
to review the arrangement.
At a meeting held on December ~13th, 2004, Whitby Town Council passed the following
resolution:
That the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering be advised that
the Town of Whitby desires to negotiate a new joint animal
services arrangement; and,
That the Town of Whitby give written notice of the termination
of the current animal services agreements effective December
31st, 2005.
Background information is contained in Corporate Services Director's Report, Item 22-04,
a copy of which is enclosed.
-2-
Notice is accordingly hereby given that the animal services agreements dated December
3:[st, 1985, between the Town of Whitby and the City of Pickering and the Town of Ajax
shall terminate on December 3:Lst, 2005.
As indicated, Whitby wishes to negotiate a new joint animal services arrangement. The
founding premise that by working together Ajax, Pickering and Whitby are able to offer
animal services of the highest quality and the most effective delivery possible with the
resources that are available applies equally as well today.
DGM/Icr
Donald~/~
Dire~rate Services/Clerk
CORPORATE SERVZCES DTRECTOR'S REPORT TO OPERATTONS COMMITrEE
TI'EM 22-04
December 6, 2004
Subject:
Pickering-Ajax-Whitby (P.A.W.) Animal Services
Recommendation:
~.. That the Town of Ajax and the City of Picketing be advised that the
" Town of WhitbY desires to negotiate .a new joint animal services
arrangement; and,
2. That the Town of Whitby give written notice of the termination of the
current animal services agreements effective December 31~, 2005.
Oriqin:
Analysis:
Next year will mark the 20t~ anniversary of Whitby's reciprocal animal
services arrangement with the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering.
It is timely to review and update the joint animal services arrangement to
best position the municipalities to continue to provide cost effective animal
services to the citizens of their communities.
Background
In 1985 Ajax, Pickering and Whitby collaborated to assume joint
responsibility for animal services. The services had previously been provided
under contract by the Ontario Humane Society. By agreement, the Town of
Whitby assumed responsibility for the provision of pound-keeper and animal
control officer services for the three municipalities. In return, Ajax and
Picketing agreed to pay their per capita share of the operating costs. It was
agreed that capital costs would be shared equally. Also, a joint board of
management known as the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby .loint Animal Services
Committee, composed of a councillor from each of the three municipalities,
was established to manage the operation of the joint service, including the
maintenance and operation of the animal services centre in Whitby and the
administration of the service contract.
The agreement was based on the premise that by acting together in a
collaborative way, the three municipalities would be best positioned to offer
animal services of the highest quality and the most effective delivery possible
within the resources that were available.
Over the years, the economies of scale have benefited each of the
municipalities. The reciprocal animal services arrangement has served the
municipalities well.
Corporate Services Director's Report, Item 22-04 (Con't) "
/I-
It is timely to review the terms and conditions of the animal services
agreements to ensure the three municipalities are well positioned to continue
to provide cost effective services to an ever increasing urban population.
There are a number of areas that should be reviewed.
For example, under the current arrangements neither Ajax nor Pickering
share any of the associated overhead costs of running the animal services
operation. In the early days, PAW's mandate was simple and straight
forward i.e. to control domestic animals and wildlife. Over the years, PAW's
mandate has developed into a multi-faceted animal service providing
everything from cat and dog control to public education in dealing with
wildlife, the regulation and control of exotic animals, and the promotion of
responsible pet ownership. Ajax and Pickering have increasingly relied on
Whitby to take the lead in the development, delivery and administration of
animal services programs and operations. While Ajax and Pickering have
played an important contributing role in the area of policy development, it
has been left to Whitby to administer and manage the day to day animal
services operations and programs.
While there is general agreement that each of the municipalities is better
served by having the responsibility for the delivery and administration of
animal services vested in one municipality, Whitby is finding it necessary to
devote an ever increasing amount of time and effort in providing the
necessary administrative support services in areas such as finance, human
resources, information technology, administration, marketing and promotion,
legal, and technical services.
The overhead costs associated with these administrative services are
significant. Conservatively speaking, it is estimated that they amount to
between six and eight percent of PAW's operating budget, or, in other words,
between $45,000.00 and $60,000.00 annually. Under the current contractual
arrangements, Ajax and Pickering do not share these costs. They are borne
solely by the Town of Whitby.
Another contractual area that needs to be addressed is the termination
provisions contained in the current animal services agreements. The
agreements simply provide that the animal services contract may be
terminated on December 31~ in any year by any one of the municipalities
upon six months written notice. On termination, Whitby is required to pay
to each of Ajax and Pickering one third of the value of the animal services
premises including buildings, equipment and related appurtenances. There
is no requirement on the part of either Ajax or Pickering to assist Whitby in
the placement of animal services employees that might be displaced as a
result of the termination of the contract. As the municipalities continue to
grow in population and as PAW continues to provide ever increasing levels
of service, there will be a need for Whitby to hire additional staff. The
termination provisions of the current agreements need to be revisited to
better protect Whitby's interests and the interests of its employees.
Also, the whole concept of the management and control of the animal service
and what particular role the Pickering-Ajax-Whitby Joint Animal Services
Committee should play in the future requires examination.
These are but a few of the areas that need to be reviewed and updated.
Corporate Services' Director;s Report, item 22-04 (Con't)
Conclusions
The founding premise that by working together Ajax, Pickering and Whitby
were able to offer animal services of the highest quality and the most
effective delivery possible with the resources that are available applies
equally as well today. However, the working arrangement that was
negotiated nearly twenty years ago is out of date and needs to be revisited.
It is therefore recommended that Ajax and Pickering be advised that Whitby
desires to negotiate a "new deal". :In order to best position the Town of
Whitby going into the negotiations, Whitby should give written notice of the
termination of the current animal services agreements effective December
31~t, 2005.
Existinq Policy:
Refer to Analysis
Alternatives:
N/A
Financial Considerations:
Refer to Analysis