TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Libby Bretthauer, Finance Director
Toni Page, Revenue Services Supervisor
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Safe & Happy Fund Donation Program for Local Animal Welfare Programs (No Budget Impact) (Finance Director Bretthauer).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approving the initiation of a Safe & Happy Fund Donation Program to raise funds for the care of lost, sick and/or injured animals within the City.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no cost to the City for participating in the Safe and Happy Fund Program. All donations are voluntary, and funds generated will be directed to City-approved animal welfare activities.
BACKGROUND:
The City recently began partnering with DocuPet for its pet licensing services. In addition to licensing administration, DocuPet offers a Safe and Happy Fund that enables pet owners to make voluntary donations at the time of license purchase and renewal. These donations are directed towards local animal welfare programs, including but not limited to:
• Lost pet recovery and reunification efforts
• Public education on responsible pet ownership
• Animal rescue and care initiatives
• Community pet support programs
The program is already successfully implemented in various municipalities including Bellflower, Downey, Lakewood, Montebello, Paramount, South Gate, and Torrance, providing supplemental funding for animal-related services without additional cost to the City.
DISCUSSION:
The Safe & Happy Fund is an opportunity for the City of Manhattan Beach to collect and pass on donations to local animal organizations or shelters. If the City opts into the donation program, residents will have the option to make a voluntary donation at the end of their animal license renewal or application process. Additionally, the City’s animal license vendor, DocuPet, will contribute twenty percent (20%) of the revenue generated from the sale of designer pet tags to the Fund.
The City Council has the discretion to designate one or more donation recipients to receive the donated funds, which would be paid out annually after approval by the City Council. After evaluating the criteria, staff identified potential recipients, which include The Lovejoy Foundation and/or the Marine Mammal Care Center:
The Lovejoy Foundation
• Headquarters: 1121 West Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301 (EIN 46-2767859)
• Overview: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization founded by Erin Lovejoy, based in Inglewood, CA established in 2010 and has been tax exempt since 2014. Operates with a team of volunteers and some paid staff. The Lovejoy Foundation partners with the City and is a well-known rescue organization among the residents and the general community. Their primary focus is animal rescue and rehabilitation, mainly for street dogs, by removing them from overcrowded shelters and preventing intake into high-kill facilities. They offer comprehensive vet care, low-cost vaccinations, behavior assessments, and tailored behavioral support. In addition to puppy socialization, basic obedience, and both group and one-on-one classes using positive reinforcement, they emphasize education and compassionate care and also host weekend adoption events.
• Transparency: Moderate - Website (lovejoyfoundation.org) outlines mission, adoption process and contact information; financials less public but accessible via IRS Form 990.
• Effectiveness: High - The Lovejoy Foundation has saved 15,000 animals. They understand the importance of spaying and neutering in order to reduce pet overpopulation and promoting responsible pet ownership. They aim to address the root causes of animal homelessness and contribute to creating a more sustainable and humane community for animals and humans alike.
• Alignment: Strongly aligns with Manhattan Beach’s licensing goals by placing rescued dogs in responsible, licensed homes, enhancing local pet welfare and reducing strays.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~15,000 followers; Instagram: ~16,700 followers.
The Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC)
• Headquarters: 3601 S. Gaffey Street Suite #8, San Pedro, CA 90731 (EIN 47-5249182)
• Overview: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization based in San Pedro, CA, officially established in 1992 and has been tax exempt since 2016. The current President/CEO is John Warner. They operate with a team of volunteers and paid staff. The MMCC plays a critical role in ocean stewardship and emergency wildlife response across LA County. Operating year round, it combines comprehensive medical care with community education, supported by both public grants and private donations.
• Transparency: High - Website (marinemammalcare.org) outlines mission, and rescue efforts on their 2023 Impact Report. Financial statements and tax returns are publicly available, ensuring accountability.
• Effectiveness: High - The MMCC treats 250 - 500 animals yearly - over 10,000 since 1992. Responds to 750 - 1,000 distress reports per year and receives approximately 4,000 hotline calls annually. They have a robust volunteer engagement with 285 volunteers contributing a total of 26,550 hours in 2023. Their organization continues to advance its mission of inspiring ocean conservation through marine animal rescue, rehabilitation, education and research despite growing environmental threats like algal toxins.
• Alignment: Aligns with Manhattan Beach’s animal welfare goals through animal rescue and rehabilitation promoting safe beaches, which supports the City’s Animal Control’s mission on public health and safety.
• Social Media: Facebook: ~63,000 followers; Instagram: ~71,500 followers.
The donation fund distribution would be an annual activity under the DocuPet service agreement. Before funds are dispersed, staff will return to City Council with the amount of funds received for the previous year and seek City Council direction on the specific allocation to Safe & Happy Fund Partner(s).
By participating in the Safe and Happy Fund, the City can:
• Provide residents with an easy, voluntary means of supporting animal welfare, which is also tax deductible;
• Increase funding for animal services initiatives without impacting the General Fund budget; and
• Strengthen community engagement in responsible pet ownership and animal care.
Donations are collected and managed by DocuPet, with one hundred percent (100%) of proceeds allocated to the City’s approved Safe & Happy Fund Partner(s). The City will retain discretion over how these funds are distributed locally. Implementation will require minimal administrative effort, as DocuPet manages the donation collection, reporting and disbursement process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it consists of an administrative activity of government that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. PowerPoint Presentation