HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/12/1983 Meeting
M I NUT E S
e City Council Work Session
Treehouse Restaurant
September 12, 1983
5 p.m.
PRESENT: Betty Smith, Chair; Dick Hansen, John Ball, Mark Lindberg, Cynthia
Wooten, Councilors; Mike Gleason, City Manager; Barbara Bellamy,
Public Information Director; Pat Lynch, Council Administrator; Karen
Goldman, Assistant City Recorder; Dr. Ann Samsel 1 , staff veterinarian,
Eugene Spay and Neuter Clinic; Dr. DuWayne Penfold, Eugene veterinarian;
Warren Wong, Finance Director; Fred Webb, KUGN; Mark Matassa, Don
Bischoff, Henny Willis, Register-Guard; members of the general public.
Councilor Smith opened the meeting with a brief comment on the procedure at
council work session meetings that allows for informal input and discussion of
issues on the agenda.
I. SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC
Councilor Lindberg began the presentation with a brief chronological history
of the City of Eugene's involvement in the clinic from 1976 to 1981. Although
e the City first entered the business in 1977, it was not until 1980 that they
totally took over operation of the program. He continued by stating that the
purpose of clinic operation was to decrease pet over-population, to prevent
potential community health problems by providing innoculations, and to help
stabilize expenditures by reducing the pet population.
Dr. Samsel 1 , staff veterinarian at the Spay and Neuter Clinic located in the
Animal Regulatory Agency shelter, reported on activities at the clinic. She
began by explaining the daily schedule that consisted of surgeries in the
morning, and vaccinations and surgical consulting in the afternoon. Using flip
charts, Dr. Samsell explained clinic caseloads in surgeries and vaccinations for
a three-year period. She noted that there had been a 22 percent drop in surgeries
performed from 1980-81 to both 1982 and 1983, as well as a drop in vaccinations.
In referring to budget figures, she noted that there had been a drop in both
revenue and expenditures; the expenditure reduction was explained by a reduction
in staff. The revenue of $106,784 for 1983 consisted of approximately $55,000
from surgeries and $52,000 from vaccinations. To monitor the effects of spay/
neuter programs, Dr. Samsell compared statistics of five (out of a total of 34)
publicly operated animal control agencies, including Eugene, that included the
number of animals handled and surgeries performed. There was a significant drop
in the number of animals handled by regulatory agencies from 1980 to 1982 in
those cities having a public spay/neuter program. Figures from the Lane County
Animal Regulatory Agency showed a 50 percent drop in animals admitted and
euthanized in the same two-year period. Dr. Samsell concluded that the impact
of the spay/neuter program in this area was evident by the reduction in animal
control business.
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MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 1
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.
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MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 2
In the ensuing discussion, Councilor Hansen questioned if the City's need to be
e in the spay/neuter business had changed since its involvement in 1978, and
suggested a current evaluation be made. He stated that if the private sector
could provide this service, the City should consider this alternative and work
with the veterinarians on a proposal. Mr. Gleason explained that the City
became involved in animal control because of excessive citizen complaints. He
said that these complaints have dropped off phenomenally in the last few years
as a result of the spay/neuter program, and, therefore, he was in favor of
keeping the current system intact. Councilor Lindberg expressed a need to
develop a reliable data system to measure the positive effects of animal control.
Councilor Ball raised a question regarding what public health concerns had
motivated the City to become involved in the vaccination business, and noted the
significantly large amount of $52,000 generated from vaccinations. There was
extensive discussion regarding this income, with Dr. Penfold asserting that most
of the vaccinations, with the exception of rabies, were for animal health rather
than public health. Dr. Samsell clarified that the majority of vaccinations
were for rabies, a major public health concern, (approximately $30,000). In
addition, she felt that it would be medically unprofessional not to offer
vaccines to maintain healthy animals for adoption. Dr. Penfold agreed that the
health of adoptive animals was important, but disagreed strongly with the open
clinic that offered vaccines for non-adoptive animals at a lower rate than
veterinarians could offer.
Councilor Lindberg observed that if a comparison were made of declining Eugene
businesses because of the poor economy, there would be several in addition to
e those in the animal health care business. He cited evidence from a recent
journal of the American Veterinary Association that inferred' that a community
the size of Eugene could only support six and one-half veterinary businesses.
Extensive discussion took place regarding a change in City policy on spay/neuter
services, with the decision reached that there was not enough information to
make a recommendation at this point. It was suggested that a data base be
developed to determine what impact the current program was having on the pet
population, ascertain the number of veterinarians going out of business, and
determine the effects of the City's program on local veterinary businesses.
This information would help formulate a decision on what role the public or
private sector should play in animal control and health care.
In summary, Councilor Smith recommended another opportunity be provided for the
council to review this issue and make a decision. With new information, the
council would be in a better position to recommend maintaining or changing
the current program. Councilor Wooten clarified that the information needed
should include: 1) data to tie the public spay/neuter program into the enforce-
ment program, 2) more specific information on vaccination and cost comparisons
of those vaccinations, and 3) a survey of the income levels of clientele using
the clinic. Councilor Ball asked that the statistics in a letter from Dr.
Cochrane, provided in the packet by Dr. Penfold, be checked for accuracy.
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MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 3
In closing, Councilor Smith thanked the members of the public for attending, and
e encouraged them to contact councilors personally if they had further input.
Councilor Lindberg commented that it may take from several months to a year to
compile some of the information requested. However, Councilor Hansen suggested
that existing data be used to expedite a decision on this subject matter due to
the community concerns that were expressed at this meeting. Council or Smi th
requested that staff dvise when a data base could be available so that another
meeting could be h d for further discussion on this matter. The meeting
was adj ne.
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MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 12, 1983 Page 4
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