Animal Shelter Blog: Negotiations with City Continue; Gala Auction Features Unique Items

Constructive meeting with city

We had a constructive exchange with the City of Alameda Thursday, Oct. 13 and resolved some important issues. The city moved toward more equitable funding with an offer to meet our proposed $300,000 in city funding — but only for the first year of the contract and by drawing on funds that had been donated to the shelter by community members who wanted them used to provide special care for the animals, not to pay ongoing expenses. The city’s was offer $220,000 annually in subsequent years, which is over $1 million less than we need to operate the shelter effectively over the life of the 15-year agreement.

These and other important issues still need to be resolved. City Manager John Russo said the city is in discussions with the Hayward animal shelter as an alternative to the FAAS plan with an annual fee of $250,000 to accept Alameda animals on the table. Russo asked us to accept the contract by next Friday, Oct. 21. The Steering Committee will review the offer and respond next week.

Town Hall set for Oct. 17

Meanwhile, Steering Committee chair Tom Cushing will review the whole proposal and get input from FAAS supporters at a Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 at Michaan’s Auction House Theater, West Essex and Saratoga, Alameda Point. A public show of support for an adequately-funded shelter will send an important message to city leaders. Please plan to attend and bring friends and family. Information about what you can do to help resolve this issue will be discussed at the meeting.

Lunch with Billy Beane to be auctioned at gala

Lunch with legendary Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane and a five-day stay in a private condo at Lake Tahoe are among the unique items that will be available at live and silent auctions at “After the Ball,” the FAAS fundraising gala Thursday, Oct. 27 at Rock Wall Winery.

The private lunch with Beane, whose career was immortalized in the bestseller Moneyball and in the hit movie starring Brad Pitt, should help raise critically needed funds. People unable to attend in person, can place a proxy bid on this one-of-a-kind item by call FAAS Board Member John Lipp at (510) 332-7911.

Also up for auction will be two tickets to a Sharks game, four field-level tickets to an Oakland A’s game that include a visit to batting practice on the field with the players, signed copies of the book “Eight of Pentacles” by local author Eloise Hill and jewelry, pet-themed gift baskets and other items. Guests may also purchase one of 100 glasses of special wine, one of which has a three-quarter carat emerald clear cut diamond inside valued at $2,000.

The event starts at 7 p.m. following the 6:30 p.m. pre-event VIP reception and features tasting of a variety of wines from Rock Wall and other wineries, hors d’oeuvres from Angela’s Bistro and special guest appearances by mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and jazz vocalist Natasha Miller. General admission is $75 and $125 VIP passes allow entry to a pre-event reception and select wine-tasting one half hour before the event begins. Tickets are available online at www.aftertheball.org or www.faas.bbnow.org, by calling FAAS at (800) 871-9012 ext. 372172# or emailing faas909@gmail.com. More information about the organization is available at  www.faas.bbnow.org