At its October 14, 2020 meeting, the City Commission approved a referral to the Neighborhoods and Quality of Life Committee (NQLC) to discuss a motion made by the Animal Welfare Committee (AWFC) at its September 22, 2020 meeting.

The AWFC motion urged the City Commission to endorse the usage of a vacant building formerly occupied by a division of the Parking Department located at 8128 Collins Avenue, for the purposes of trap, neuter, vaccinate, and rescue/release (TNVR) activities as well as for a potential adoption center by SoBe Cats, its partners, Saving Sage, and other interested non-profits.

This request is consistent with a previous referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC), where the AWFC requested the City to identify a potential adoption facility site for TNVR services, and consider granting a five-year minimum lease commitment for this purpose, which could include cost sharing for maintenance and building repairs as a consideration. 

The AWFC believes this will add other benefits to the area as this would create a functioning facility, which would complement the recent activation of the West Lots with the skate park as well as the nearby dog parks in North Shore Park.

At its November 6, 2020 meeting, the NQLC discussed the potential use of a vacant City building located at 8128 Collins Avenue for TNVR services.  A presentation was facilitated by the AWFC Chair, followed by discussions from Public Works staff.  Inquiries from Committee members were brought up including the building's  current zoning: GU (Government Use), whether it would trigger the need for a referendum; and should a lease agreement be granted, would it impede a future redevelopment opportunity.  It was shared by Public Works staff that it would not trigger a referendum, and that the terms of the lease agreement could be further tailored to meet the City's needs.  A motion was made to bring the item back to Committee to further discuss the TNVR program and building usage; explore alternate locations if available; gather public feedback as a way to ensure everyone is onboard; and to provide any future fiscal impact to upkeep the building.

Last year's AWFC motion with regards to a pet adoption facility entailed the potential purchase of a 2,000 square feet building located on 71st Street, which could also possibly be used as an TNVR facility.  The building, formerly used as a dentist office, was on sale for $750,000, of which $375,000 would be contributed by a private donor.  Budgets for Fiscal Year 2019 had already been allocated and the consideration to purchase any pet adoption facility would have required a capital budget amendment as well as a funding source to be identified.  The sale never materialized.  Direction was provided to explore other possibilities.

TNVR services have been conducted at a trailer leased by the City.  The annual lease of the trailer ended on September 30, 2020, and the location for services transitioned to  a couple of rooms in the City owned vacant building at 8128 Collins Avenue.   

The total FY21 budget for TNVR services is: $34,000 representing the City's support of the program.  Last year, the trailer lease cost $14,000 of the budgeted amount.  Reallocating a portion of that cost to cover utilities and other incidental costs of the building seemed prudent to dedicate as much of the remaining budget to the program.  Currently, since 2012, only about a third of the City's 15,000 feral cats have been spayed or neutered to prevent the population from exploding; thus proving the need to secure the additional funding required to perform the spay/neuter surgeries, thereby keeping the cat population under control.

The 8128 Collins Avenue building had been previously considered for inclusion into the North Beach Yard project.  However, that project never materialized and currently there are no immediate plans for the building or the site.

Having TNVR services held at this facility would not require the City to Amend its Comprehensive Plan, nor a referendum.  Uses of the 8128 Collins Avenue "The Kitty Campus" would consist of the following:

1. Facilitate the City’s TNVR Program. 
2. TNVR Staging: Cats are typically trapped at night or very early in the morning, during hours when surgery locations are closed.  The Kitty Campus would act as a staging location to house the cats until the surgery locations are open.
3. TNVR Tools.  The inventory of TNVR tools would be housed at The Kitty Campus, to include traps that are loaned to residents and trappers, sheets to cover traps, and trap cleaning equipment.
4. TNVR Events.  Trapping events with Miami Dade Animal Services (MDAS) throughout the year, MDAS would bring their Mobile Animal Clinic (MAC) truck to the beach.  Surgeries would be held inside the MAC truck and under MDAS purview.  It is important to note that spay and neuter surgeries would NOT take place inside The Kitty Campus.  All surgeries would take place at a participating veterinarian offices, Miami Dade Animal Services, Humane Society, and other participating agencies. 
5. Adoption! A key focus of The Kitty Campus is to help get adoptable community cats off the beach and into loving homes.   In order to accomplish this effort, cats need to be quarantined for two weeks, given certain medications, be microchipped, etc. The quarantine period would be handled in one of the rooms at The Kitty Campus.  The team of non-profits associated with The Kitty Campus would be responsible for payments towards vetting (estimated at $10,000 a month).
6.  Socialization.  There would be a cat socialization room where cats can meet and play with prospective adopters.

Should the Committee consider the AWFC's request and recommend the approval of an initial one (1) year term lease agreement, the Administration would then take the item to the full Commission for approval to grant the use of this building pursuant to all applicable regulations in Chapter 142 of the Land Development Regulations of the City Code.