09/12/1983 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Warren Wong, City Finance Director, reported on the financial aspects of clinic operations. The clinic is part of the Finance Division, within the Admini- strative Services Department, and is budgeted from the General Fund. The Finance Department has tried to set clinic fees at a rate that would cover direct costs of the clinic. The direct costs include salaries, supplies, equipment, and rent. Indirect costs for administrative overhead expenses, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, are not charged to the clinic. While the clinic operated at a loss last year, this year's budget is projected to balance. Dr. Penfold, a Eugene veterinarian in private practice, highlighted contents and issues as contained in an informational packet that had been prepared on behalf of the Lane County Veterinary Medical Association and distributed to councilors. He explained that his presentation was in response to Councilor Obie's suggestion at a budget meeting in May, 1983, for additional background. In a comparison of "yellow page" listings from 1978 and 1982, he maintained that there had been no significant change in the number of veterinarians in the area in rebuttal to Councilor Lindberg's prior statement about significant growth of veterinarians in the area. He marked sections of the "yellow pages" to illustrate the amount of closure of veterinary practices and hospitals, and referred to several letters from veterinarians who had closed their practices and left town. Proposals from the veterinary community involved their willingness to consider performing spays and neuters at the same fees charged by the City's clinic, with fee-setting being done by a committee of veterinarians, the Humane Society, and council members. It was also suggested that some provision be made for low-cost surgeries based on income. While Dr. Penfold questioned increased City e contributions to dog-control activities, Mr. Gleason clarified that, in actuality, $40,000 less would be spent this year and $90,000 less would have been budgeted had Springfield and Lane County been able to contribute their usual share. Dr. Penfold questioned the public health significance of the vaccinations for FVRC, DHLP, and Parvo. In concluding, Dr. Penfold stated that the three-year historical period was an insufficient period of time to assess the effects of the clinic.s program and indicated his disappointment at being unable to obtain records prior to 1978. At the conclusion of the presentations, the meeting was opened for questions and discussion. In response to Councilor Wooten's question on "typical fees" for spays and neuters, Dr. Penfold said that while there was a wide fee range among individual veterinarians, he estimated that 50 percent of the veterinarians and most of the hospitals performed those surgeries at reduced rates. In addition, anyone, regardless of income, could obtain a certificate from the Greenhill Humane Society for reduced rates for surgery at his or her own veterinarian. Councilor Wooten suggested that staff obtain information on the income level of users of the City's spay/neuter cl i ni c to determi ne the potenti al of the. cl i ni c serving exclusively low-income people. -- MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 2