Animal services pact ordinance on tap

The first step in City Manager Nick Marano’s plan to farm out animal services oversight by contract goes before the Carson City Board of Supervisors Thursday.

It’s in the form of an ordinance allowing the city still to handle animal services, but authorizing it “to contract out animal services with a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals incorporated under Nevada revised statutes.” Because it’s an ordinance, the board will take two cracks at it. But initial approval Thursday would signal an eventual pact is virtually certain.

Marano weeks ago, at the time Cindy Hannah exited her role as animal services manager under the city’s Health and Human Services Department, said he wanted to contract the function out and bring in a “no kill” policy outfit to oversee the animal shelter. Also handled would be the unit’s other aspects, such as permits and dealing with stray dogs and cats in the community.

A pertinent part of the ordinance language was altered slightly so the draft ordinance says: “Animal Services may collect from the public any costs, charges, or fees necessary to perform the requirements of this chapter pursuant to a fee schedule, or contract with a society, approved by the Board of Supervisors.” The ordinance then shows the fee schedule as struck, inserting instead just the word: “Reserved.”

At the time Marano signaled his intent, he said preliminary talks meant the contract would be handled within the city’s animal services budget of about $750,000 this year. He also has said jobs elsewhere in city government for current animal services employees have been identified when time comes for a change.

Other items on the Thursday agenda include a memorandum of understanding between city government and the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter regarding emergency shelters in case of a disaster, refunding of bonds to restructure debt for sewers and the V&T Railway, and another to authorize acquisition of a strip of land on Lompa Lane for extension of a linear path called the Freeway Multi-Use Pathway.

The board meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Carson City Community Center’s Sierra Room and the agenda includes no provision for a lunch break.