HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2025 0416 CC REG ITEM 10GCITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
of April 16, 2025
ACTION APPROVED STAFF
RECOMMENDATIONS.
BY A. Hurtado.
G. Consider Amendment No. 1 Exercising a One Year Extension between the City of
Moorpark and the County of Ventura and Service Level Request Form for Animal
Services for Fiscal Year 2025/26. Staff Recommendation: 1) Approve Amendment
No. 1 with Ventura County Animal Services Agreement, subject to final language
approval of the City Manager and City Attorney and authorize the City Manager to
sign the Agreement; and 2) Authorize the City Manager to sign the Service Level
Request forms. (Staff: Daniel Kim, City Engineer/Public Works Director)
Item: 10.G.
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Daniel Kim, City Engineer/Public Works Director
BY: Igor Leontiy, Management Analyst
DATE: 04/16/2025 Regular Meeting
SUBJECT: Consider Amendment No. 1 Exercising a One Year Extension between
the City of Moorpark and the County of Ventura and Service Level
Request Form for Animal Services for Fiscal Year 2025/26
SUMMARY
The City’s current agreement with Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) expires
June 30, 2025. Staff is recommending that the City Council approve Amendment No. 1
to extend the agreement for an additional year and authorize the City Manager to execute
both the Amendment and sign the VCAS service level request.
BACKGROUND
Since 1984, the City of Moorpark has contracted with VCAS to provide animal shelter and
field services, license processing, and related services for residents. The current VCAS
animal care budget is determined by allocating the cost of providing services amongst all
of the participating cities which include Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme,
Simi Valley, Ventura, and the unincorporated County of Ventura, using a weighted three
(3) calendar year average of the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage. The percentage
formula and a sample calculation are shown on page 2 of the attached Service Level
Request. The three-year weighted average is calculated so that 50% of the rate is based
on the City’s previous calendar year pro rata animal intake percentage relative to the
usage by other cities and unincorporated areas of Ventura County, 25% of the rate is
based on the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage from two (2) years prior and 25%
of the rate is based on the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage from three (3) years
prior.
For the upcoming fiscal year (FY), VCAS’s animal care budget follows the following three-
year fixed-rate schedule:
Item: 10.G.
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Table 1.
Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) Three-Year Fixed-Rate Budget
with Projected Costs to the City of Moorpark
Fiscal Year VCAS Budget Moorpark’s Budget
FY 2022/23 $6,741,010.13 $182,910.84
FY 2023/24 $7,078,060.63 $194,167.04
FY 2024/25 $7,431,963.67 $200,514.00 (Projected)
FY 2025/26 $7,803,561.85 (Amendment No.1) $228,364.36 (Projected)
DISCUSSION
In 2022, the City and VCAS entered into a new three-year professional services
agreement, with the option for two additional one-year extensions. Pursuant to the
agreement, the City and VCAS must both approve a Service Level Request annually.
The City is currently in the final year of the agreement. Staff recommends approving a
one-year extension of the agreement, ensuring uninterrupted services through June 30,
2026.
Amendment No. 1 will allow VCAS to continue providing animal shelter and field services,
license processing, and related services for residents of the City for an additional year.
Following a recent leadership change at VCAS, the new director has requested that all
contracting jurisdictions exercise the first one-year extension option. This extension will
provide continuity of services while also allowing the director time to assess operations
before entering negotiations for a renewal of the contract terms.
For the current FY 2024/25, the City budgeted $200,514.00 and has been invoiced
$100,689.16 to date. It is important to note that the City has not yet received the last two
quarterly bills for the fiscal year. As such, to date, the City has only paid for services
provided in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year (through December 31, 2024).
Given the current expenditure, staff anticipates the budgeted cost for this fiscal year will
most likely be reached.
For VCAS to continue providing the same level of service in FY 2025/26 to the City, the
County estimates that the net cost will be $228,364.36. This reflects an increase from
prior years due to an increased demand for animal services in Moorpark, as reflected in
the City's rising three-year weighted average share of total countywide animal intakes
(increasing from 2.46% in FY 2024/25 to 2.65% in FY 2025/26). Additionally, field service
hourly rates among VCAS staff will increase from $130 per hour to $145 per hour in FY
2025/26.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Amendment No. 1 to extend the
agreement for an additional year. Doing so will ensure there will be no disruption in
service to residents, and all existing animal shelter and field services will continue under
the extended agreement.
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Page 3
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as it does
not constitute a project, as defined by Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
Therefore, no environmental review is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2025/26 VCAS Service Level Request is estimated to cost $228,364.36, based
on the following expenses detailed in Table 2 below:
Table 2:
Projected FY 2025/26 VCAS Agreement Costs
Service Description Expense
Animal Care Services $ 207,166.36
License Processing* $ 16,848.00
Field Services** $ 4,350.00
Total $ 228,364.36
*Assumes 2,808 licenses processed at $6/license
** 130 hours (maximum of emergency field services at $90/hour)
The draft FY 2025/26 Budget includes $230,000 (expense line 1000-441-P0001-51000)
for the VCAS Agreement. The draft FY 2025/26 Budget also includes $105,000 (revenue
line 1000-441-P0001-41050) for animal license revenues. The projected net expenditure
to the City for FY 2025/26 is $122,914.36. There are no proposed changes to animal
license rates chat this time.
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE
This action does not support a current strategic directive.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve Amendment No. 1 with Ventura County Animal Services Agreement,
subject to final language approval of the City Manager and City Attorney and
authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement; and
2.Authorize the City Manager to sign the Service Level Request forms.
Attachment 1: Animal Services Agreement Amendment No.1
Attachment 2: FY 2025/26 Service Level Request
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AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO ANIMAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF VENTURA AND CITY OF MOORPARK
This Amendment No. 1 to the Animal Services Agreement (“AGREEMENT”) is made by
and between the COUNTY OF VENTURA and the CITY OF MOORPARK (collectively
“PARTIES”).
Section 6.1 is amended to state as follows:
6.1 Unless sooner terminated as provided for herein, this Agreement shall be effective
July 1, 2022, and shall remain in effect until June 30, 2026.
All other terms of the AGREEMENT between the PARTIES remain the same.
CITY OF MOORPARK COUNTY OF VENTURA
Signature: _____________________ Signature: ___________________
Troy Brown, City Manager Animal Services Director
Date: _________________________ Date: ________________________
ATTEST:
Signature: _____________________
Ky Spangler, City Clerk
Date: _________________________
ATTACHMENT 1
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ATTACHMENT A TO COUNTY-CITY ANIMAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
COUNTY OF VENTURA
AND
CITY OF MOORPARK
FY 25-26 SERVICE LEVEL REQUEST
PART ONE: AVAILABLE SERVICES AND APPLICABLE BILLING
RATES AND CREDITS
A.Animal Care Services
At the election of the City, the County shall provide the following services:
1.Shelter Services
As may be required, the County shall provide animal care services to the City for
all animals originating within the boundaries of the City (whether picked up in the City or
dropped off at the County’s animal shelter) when there is a stray/abandoned animal,
adoption return, confiscation, cruelty abuse or neglect investigation, or injured wildlife.
The County will accept animals surrendered by their owners dependent upon shelter
capacity. For animals originating in the City and impounded, the County shall provide the
following animal care services: sheltering, boarding, animal adoptions, foster care
coordination, veterinary care and treatment, bite quarantine, euthanasia services, and
disposal of deceased animals. Impounded animals will be vaccinated and provided
necessary care, food and shelter in accordance with the provisions of state law. The
animal’s picture will be posted on the Ventura County Animal Services Division’s (“Animal
Services”) website as soon as practicable to assist the City’s residents in reclaiming a
missing pet. The County will also provide, based upon availability of funding and
resources, owner requested euthanasia, TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) surgeries for
community cats, and Pet Retention programming. These services will not result in the
animal being impounded to the shelter. The County, in its sole and exclusive discretion,
shall determine the public and non-public hours of operation and the staffing of the County
animal shelters.
The owner or person entitled to the custody of any animal originating within the
boundaries of the City and impounded at a County animal shelter can redeem such
ATTACHMENT 2
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animal by paying applicable fees according to the rates and fees approved by the
County Board of Supervisors accruing up to the time of such redemption.
The City shall be charged for its proportion of the total County animal care service costs
incurred during the fiscal year identified above as set forth below. The County shall bill
the City on a quarterly basis for animal care services based on a weighted three (3)
calendar year average of the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage, as follows:
The three (3) year weighted average will be calculated so that fifty percent (50%)
of the rate is based on the City’s previous calendar year pro rata animal intake
percentage relative to the usage by other cities and unincorporated areas of
Ventura County, twenty-five percent (25%) of the rate is based on the City’s pro
rata animal intake percentage from two (2) years prior and twenty-five percent
(25%) of the rate is based on the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage from
three (3) years prior, illustrated as follows:
Example:
Hypothetical animal care budget: $6,027,354
Camarillo: (10.4% * .50) + (9.9% * .25) + (10.4% * .25) = 10.3%
Future year cost = 10.3% of $6,027,354 = $620,817
Payments of $155,204 made quarterly which will be reduced by any licensing
revenue
2018 INTAKE 2017 INTAKE 2016 INTAKE FUTURE YEAR WEIGHTED AVG
Camarillo 1174 10.4% 1223 9.9% 1109 10.4% 10.3%
Fillmore 198 1.7% 320 2.6% 192 1.8% 2.0%
Moorpark 283 2.5% 245 2.0% 321 3.0% 2.5%
Ojai 44 0.4% 109 0.9% 50 0.5% 0.5%
Oxnard 4112 36.3% 4196 34.1% 3947 37.2% 36.0%
Port Hueneme 409 3.6% 432 3.5% 470 4.4% 3.8%
Simi Valley 1360 12.0% 1363 11.1% 1306 12.3% 11.8%
Ventura 1249 11.0% 1555 12.6% 1253 11.8% 11.6%
County 2494 22.0% 2864 23.3% 1971 18.5% 21.5%
Total Intake 11323 100.0% 12307 100.0% 10619 100.0% 100.0%
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The animal care budget will be allocated among the participating cities and the County
based on the weighted three (3) calendar year animal intake percentage formula
described above. For FY 2025-2026, the County’s animal care budget shall follow the
following one (1) year fixed-rate schedule:
$7,803,561.85 for fiscal year 2025-2026
In addition to the animal care formula charged to the participating cities, in the event
of any animal intake at a County animal shelter originating from the City due to any
law enforcement request, pending court case (including, but not limited to, a criminal
case, a petition for writ of mandate under Code of Civil Procedure section 1085 or
1094.5, and a petition for hearing regarding whether a dog is potentially dangerous or
vicious under Food and Agriculture Code section 31621, or related provisions of City
Ordinance), or a court stay, which results in a County shelter stay of more than fifteen
(15) days, the County shall also charge the City for animal care services according to
the rates and fees approved by the County Board of Supervisors for each day that
each such animal receives animal care services, and any fees have not been paid by
the dog owner within 30 days of the County’s invoice for services being mailed to the
dog owner.
2.Petitions for Hearing to Determine Dogs to be Potentially Dangerous or
Vicious
For any dog impounded to the shelter, the Animal Services Director may bring
petitions for hearing to determine dogs residing within the jurisdictional limits of the
City to be potentially dangerous or vicious under state law and/or City Ordinance
Code. In connection with such petitions, the City shall pay the County according to
the rates and fees approved by the County Board of Supervisors for County employee
time expended (including but not limited to, investigation, the attendance at hearing of
County employees; legal services performed by the Office of County Counsel; and
any services provided by an administrative hearing officer). If the County retains the
services of an administrative hearing officer who is not a County employee, the City
agrees to reimburse the County at the administrative hearing officer’s customary
hourly rate. If the dog owner appeals any determination that a dog is potentially
dangerous or vicious, the City shall pay the County according to the rates and fees
approved by the County Board of Supervisors for the attendance at the appeal hearing
of County employees and the legal services performed by the Office of County
Counsel in connection with such an appeal.
3. Rabies Suppression Record Management
The County shall provide the City with rabies control activity reporting as required by
State Law.
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B.Field Services
At the election of the City, the County shall provide the City with the following field services
consistent with County Ordinance and State Law.
For City Ordinance Code provisions that are consistent with County Ordinance Code and
State law, animal control officers may issue citations (administrative or notice to appear)
for violations observed by animal control officers while in the field (and including, but not
limited to, citations issued for: failure to license, barking dog nuisance, failure to vaccinate,
violation of leash laws, violation of mandatory spay/neuter, violation of animal nuisance
orders, and breeding of animals without required permits). The City will be solely
responsible for collection of the citation amounts and processing of any administrative
appeals from these citations issued by animal control officers in the field except for
barking dog nuisance citations which may be handled by the County. The County will not
be responsible for collections or processing administrative appeals from citations issued
in the field and/or citations in which the animal owner is provided notice to appear in court
except for barking dog nuisance citations which may be handled by the County.
The County will provide, consistent with County Ordinance and State Law, response and
investigation of reported animal bite and intimate contact cases to establish that there is
compliance with state-mandated quarantine procedures. This includes a follow-up to
verify the health of the animal after quarantine. Shelter quarantine will be at the discretion
of the County.
The County shall charge the City according to the rates and fees approved by the County
Board of Supervisors for County employee time expended in providing field services. The
City shall identify a budgeted amount for field services per fiscal year, as well as the
average budgeted level of hours of service that the City authorizes the County to provide
per week. The County shall notify the City in writing on a quarterly basis regarding actual
hours expended for field services to the City, to enable the City to make the determination
of whether the City wishes to authorize in writing a higher budgeted annual amount for
field services that are not state-mandated. The County will provide the City state-
mandated field services, and the City agrees to pay the County’s costs for all state-
mandated field services, whether or not the City’s budgeted amount or hours for field
services have been exceeded. The County shall be under no obligation to provide the
City with any non-state-mandated field services in excess of the City’s budgeted cost and
hours, in the absence of prior written City authorization to do so.
The County will issue barking dog citations to owners of dogs residing within the
jurisdictional limits of the City upon the required showing being made under City
ordinance regarding the existence of a barking nuisance. The County shall charge the
City according to the rates and fees approved by the County Board of Supervisors for
County employee time expended in reviewing and responding to complaints regarding
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barking dog nuisances in the jurisdictional limits of the City, regardless of whether a
barking nuisance citation is ultimately issued. Once a citation is issued, the dog owner
will be responsible for paying the County’s standard fee for any administrative review of
a citation, as well as paying any required hearing deposit to request an administrative
hearing to contest the citation, unless the dog owner establishes to the County the dog
owner’s financial inability to pay, in which case, the City shall reimburse the County
according to the rates and fees approved by the County Board of Supervisors for County
employees providing services based on the time expended per hearing; and if the County
retains the services of an administrative hearing officer who is not a County employee,
the City agrees to reimburse the County for hearing officer services rendered at the
administrative hearing officer’s customary hourly rate.
In the event the City declines to have the County perform field services and transports an
animal the shelter for care, the City shall be responsible for:
(i)Scanning animals for an existing microchip and making all efforts to reunite
a lost animal with its owner based on any microchip information prior to
transporting that animal to a County shelter;
(ii)Making all efforts to use information available from any animal’s personal
ID tag or a pet license to reunite a lost animal with its owner prior to
transporting that animal to a County shelter;
(iii)Vaccinating an animal with current standard vaccinations provided by
Animal Services after an animal has been transported to a County shelter;
and
(iv)Taking a digital photograph of an animal and loading the digital photograph
and other pertinent animal information onto Animal Services’ computer
information system for tracking animals subject to impoundment after an
animal has been transported to a County shelter.
C.Administrative Services
1.Animal License Processing per License
At the election of the City, the County and/or the County’s vendor shall provide the
City with animal license processing services at the annual fiscal year cost of six
dollars ($6.00) per applicable cat or dog license for each animal within the
boundaries of the City. The County and/or the County’s vendor shall mail license
renewal notices to the animal owner of record; and when the renewal and payment
are received, the County will process licenses. If the County and/or the County’s
vendor provides online web-licensing, it shall provide such web-licensing at no
additional cost to the City. Licenses will be required before the County will release
an animal to a resident of the City. The City animal license fees that the County
and/or the County’s vendor collects (less the amount of the County’s license
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processing fee of six dollars ($6.00)) will be credited to the City quarterly in arrears
against the amount that the City owes the County under the parties’ animal
services agreement.
2.Automated Administrative Citation Processing
At the election of the City, and consistent with City Ordinance Code provisions, the
County and/or the County’s vendor shall provide the City with an automated
citation service for citations related to licensing, vaccination, (and, if applicable,
mandatory spay/neuter) issued to animal owners within the boundaries of the City.
If the County reaches a determination, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that it
no longer desires to provide an automated citation service to the City (either
directly by the County or through the County’s vendor), the County shall provide
the City with sixty (60) days’ prior written notice before ceasing to provide such
services.
The County and/or the County’s vendor will provide the following automated
citation processing service to the City contingent upon the City’s reimbursement of
actual County costs incurred, and including, but not limited to:
a.actual costs charged to the County by the County’s General Services
Agency for mailing and processing of citations and the cost of one (1) hour
per month for the services of a Field Services Manager/Citations Clerk):
generate auto citations in Chameleon software; send files to the General
Services Agency for processing; receive and review auto citation files from
the General Services Agency to ensure accuracy; send reviewed and
completed files to the General Services Agency for processing and mailing
to animal owners; receive and store finalized PDF file from the General
Services Agency; generate email notification to the City’s staff with PDF
files for further collection and appeals; receive, through a Supervising
Animal Control Officer, communication from City staff regarding citizen
appeals when necessary; and receive updates from the City regarding
customer data to be updated, with the County updating data in Chameleon
software; or
b.actual costs charged to the County by the County’s vendor for mailing and
processing of citations and issuing any required licenses; generating email
notifications to the City’s staff with PDF files for further collections and
appeals; receiving communication from City staff regarding citizen appeals
when necessary; and receiving updates from the City regarding customer
data to be updated.
To the extent that such services are not provided by the County and/or the
County’s vendor, the County will not be responsible for collections or processing
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administrative appeals from automated citations. The City will be solely
responsible for collections and for processing any administrative appeals once
automated citations are issued to animal owners.
PART TWO: SPECIFIC SERVICE REQUESTS AND APPROVALS
The County will provide the City with the services authorized below:
Animal Care Services:
X The City authorizes the County to provide animal care services for animals
originating within the boundaries of the City during fiscal year 25-26 according to
the terms and conditions set forth in Part One of this Agreement. The budgeted
cost of animal care services for the City will be $207,166.36 for fiscal year 25-26.
In addition to the budgeted amount, as more fully set forth in Part One above, the
City will also pay the County, according to rates and fees approved by the County
Board of Supervisors for: (1) animal care services associated with County shelter
stays of more than fifteen (15) days (as further detailed in the last paragraph of
Part 1, Section A.1.; (2) for County employee time expended in connection with
petitions brought by the Director of Animal Services to determine whether dogs
residing in the jurisdictional limits of the City are potentially dangerous or vicious,
and (3) for County employee time expended in connection with any appeals from
such determinations. In addition, if an administrative hearing officer is not a County
employee, the City agrees to reimburse the County’s costs for administrative
hearing officer time at the administrative hearing officer’s customary hourly rate.
Consistent with Section 8.3 of the parties’ Animal Services Agreement, the County
shall credit the City with revenues paid by City residents toward amounts owed by
the City for services provided.
Field Services:
□The City authorizes the County to provide budgeted field services during fiscal year
25-26 of _____________________________; with field services budgeted at
_________ hours per week, to be provided by the County to the City, according to
the terms and conditions set forth in Part One. If it appears that the City may
exceed its budgeted cost and hours for field services: (i) the County will continue
to provide additional state-mandated services to the City, and the City agrees to
pay for those additional state-mandated services according to the rates and fees
approved by the County Board of Supervisors, and (ii) the County will only provide
further field services that are not state-mandated to the City upon receipt of City
written approval for such services, and the City agrees to pay for all such services
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authorized in writing by City personnel. The City hereby agrees to the County’s
enforcement of the City’s municipal code provisions in providing field services.
X The City authorizes the County to provide field services only for emergency calls
(requests for an animal services officer by law enforcement or fire personnel,
aggressive animal at large threatening the public, wild animal at large in City area,
livestock at large and in sight, stray animal bite with the animal at large or confined
by a non-owner) at a not to exceed amount of 30 hours for the fiscal year. This
level of service is intended to provide emergency response on an as-needed basis
from the County on behalf of a City that employs its own field services when
requested by the City and the County is able to respond. The City hereby agrees
to the County’s enforcement of the City’s municipal code provisions in providing
field services.
X For any dog not impounded to the shelter, but residing within the jurisdictional limits
of the City, the City authorizes the County to conduct potentially dangerous or
vicious dog investigations and the Animal Services Director to bring petitions for
hearing to determine dogs under state law and/or City Ordinance Code. The City
shall request the assistance of the County for any animals that are not impounded
to the shelter. In connection with such investigations and petitions, the City shall
pay the County according to the rates and fees approved by the County Board of
Supervisors for County employee time expended (including but not limited to,
investigation, the attendance at hearing of County employees; legal services
performed by the Office of County Counsel; and any services provided by an
administrative hearing officer). If the County retains the services of an
administrative hearing officer who is not a County employee, the City agrees to
reimburse the County at the administrative hearing officer’s customary hourly rate.
If the dog owner appeals any determination that a dog is potentially dangerous or
vicious, the City shall pay the County according to the rates and fees approved by
the County Board of Supervisors for the attendance at the appeal hearing of
County employees and the legal services performed by the Office of County
Counsel in connection with such an appeal.
□ The City declines to have the County provide field services.
Animal License Processing:
X The City authorizes the County and/or the County’s vendor to provide animal
license processing services for the City during fiscal year 25-26 according to the
terms and conditions set forth in Part One.
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□The City has adopted the license fees set forth in Animal Services’ approved
schedule of rates and fees.
X The City has adopted the following license fees that differ from the license fees
set forth in the Ventura County Animal Services approved schedule of rates and
fees:
Specify:
Altered: 12 month rate is $30; 24 month rate is $60: 36 month rate is $90.
Unaltered: 12 month rate is $105; 24 month rate is $210: 36 month rate is $315.
Senior (55+): 12 month rate is $15; 24 month rate is $30, 36 month rate is $45
Current City license fees were adopted by the City on September 9, 2024.
□The City declines to have the County provide animal license processing.
Automated Citation Service:
□The City authorizes the County and/or the County’s vendor to provide automated
citation processing services for the City during fiscal year 25-26 according to the
terms and conditions set forth in Part One.
X The City declines to have the County and/or the County’s vendor provide
automated citation processing services.
CITY OF MOORPARK COUNTY OF VENTURA
Signature:____________________ Signature:____________________
Troy Brown, City Manager Director of Animal Services
Date:________________________ Date:________________________
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