At its regularly scheduled meeting on March 24^th the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) approved a motion to add language to Section 6.1 of its Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement executed by the Member Agencies in June and July of 2000 (hereafter "Agreement" or "JPA"). The specific language in the amendment states that Member Agencies must "obtain approval of their allocated proportional share of the budget prior to the Authority Board’s approval of the fiscal year budget or any proportional shares during the course of the fiscal year." This means that the SVACA Directors representing the participating cities in SVACA must get approval from their respective City Councils for any new budget proposal, whether it is at the beginning of a fiscal year or any time during the fiscal year where such proposal results in a budget increase.

Although the Sunnyvale City Council voted to withdraw from the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (SVACA) at its March 25^th meeting, the City remains an active and participating SVACA Member Agency until the effective date of its withdrawal on June 30, 2003. City Council members Fowler and Risch represent the City of Sunnyvale on the SVACA Board.

Due to the ongoing concern regarding revenues and costs for member cities, SVACA Board members have become increasingly sensitive regarding fiscal matters. An additional concern is that an objection by the city council of a SVACA city concerning allocated costs approved by the SVACA Board could cause a delay in the JPA stipulated budget development timetable while it is being revised.

Program Outcome Statement: Control animal disease and vicious animals, minimize animal nuisances, and promote the humane treatment of animals.

SDP 45301: Contribute to public health and safety as related to animal control issues concerning vicious, injured, and stray animals.

The SVACA Board of Directors held a regularly scheduled meeting on March 24, 2003. During the meeting Member Agencies discussed a concern about the ability to move a budget proposal through the SVACA review and approval process without delay, if the City Council of a Member Agency objects to its share of an increased allocated cost. At the conclusion of a discussion regarding this issue a motion was approved calling for a change in the Joint Powers Agreement regarding SVACA’s budget approval and modification processes. It was concluded that wider discussions of financial obligations should involve the member City Councils. As a result, a proposed amendment to the JPA was approved unanimously by the SVACA Board of Directors.

Member Agencies are being asked to amend Section 6.1 of the Agreement by inserting the following language as a second paragraph in that Section: