San Diego City Council Committee Meeting on Animal Services and TOT Funding - April 19, 2018

The meeting on April 19, 2018, involved three main agenda items: a library donation matching fund policy, a proposed ballot measure to redirect Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenue for homeless services, and a proposed contract with the San Diego Humane Society for animal services. The committee approved the library policy, sent the TOT measure back to the Rules Committee with no recommendation, and forwarded the Humane Society contract to the full City Council with no recommendation, along with directives for further analysis.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: A motion to approve a new council policy for library donations matching fund, replacing existing policies, passed unanimously. No public speakers.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 2 (TOT measure): No public speakers. Committee members discussed the IBA report and legal implications.
• Item 3 (Humane Society contract): Extensive public testimony was heard. Speakers in favor included employees and volunteers of the San Diego Humane Society, who praised the organization's care, live release rate (94%), and community programs. Speakers in opposition included representatives from the San Diego Rescue Coalition, animal rescue groups, and SEIU, who raised concerns about the contract's lack of a requirement to contact rescues for animals at risk of euthanasia, a live release rate of only 80% (lower than the county's 86%), and the impact on county employees' wages and benefits. Several speakers urged the committee to include the San Diego Rescue Coalition's recommendations.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 (TOT measure): The IBA presented a report analyzing the current use of TOT funds. The proposal would redirect one cent of the four-cent promotional TOT (about $23.3 million) to homeless services. The IBA noted the proposal would not create new revenue but would require reductions elsewhere. The City Attorney advised that using special tax funds for homeless services might require a two-thirds voter approval. A motion was made and seconded to accept the report, return it to the Rules Committee with no recommendation, and request the City Attorney provide a legal opinion on the measure's requirements.
• Item 3 (Humane Society contract): City staff presented the background and details of the proposed 18-month contract with the San Diego Humane Society, valued at approximately $10.95 million in FY2019 plus $1.8 million in one-time costs. The contract includes animal sheltering, field services, and dog licensing. The IBA supported the contract but recommended a six-month review. Extensive discussion followed on contract terms, including live release rates, rescue coordination, and labor peace agreements. Councilmember Gomez moved to forward the item to full council with no recommendation, and to direct the City Attorney to analyze the legality of adding labor peace language to the municipal code. The motion also included a request for a comparison of the current county contract with the proposed contract, and a return to the committee in six months for a review.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1: Approved unanimously.
• Item 2: Motion passed to accept the IBA report and return the measure to the Rules Committee with no recommendation, with a request for a City Attorney legal opinion. Vote: 3-1?
• Item 3: Motion passed (3-1) to forward the item to the full City Council with no recommendation, with additional directives: City Attorney to review labor peace language, staff to provide a comparison of county vs. proposed contract, and a six-month review of the contract's implementation by the committee.