[Call to Order]
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PALMER SIX IS EDWARD SEVEN IS GREG EIGHT IS DOCTOR DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE HERE.
NINE IS LISA 10 IS MONICA CORRECT.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GO STRAIGHT TO SPEAKERS AND HERE'S THE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE 30 SPEAKERS, SO EVERYBODY TAKES THREE MINUTES.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME.
WE WON'T HAVE ANY QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH STAFF AND WE WON'T HAVE ANY TIME FOR ANY DISCUSSION.
WE DO HAVE THE OPTION TO VOTE AND LIMIT SPEAKERS TO ONE MINUTE.
I THINK PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THREE MINUTES.
IF THEY WANT TO USE THREE MINUTES, WE SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO USE THREE MINUTES.
SO SPEAKERS IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO YOU.
IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN SPEAK IN 30 SECONDS OR MINUTES, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU FEEL LIKE MAYBE YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEAK AND THAT'S HELPFUL TOO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN THROUGH ALL 30 AND THEN AT THE END, WHATEVER TIME IS LEFT, THEN WE CAN, UH, THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF AND HIS STAFF HERE ON VIDEO.
OR ARE THEY JUST ON PHONE OR IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ACTUALLY NO ONE CALLED IN ON THE STAFF LINE ACTUALLY.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S HOPE THAT CHANGES BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE THE CONDUIT BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND STAFF AND THE STAFF'S NOT HERE.
SO, UM, REAL QUICKLY, LIKE I SAID, YOU'RE ON MUTE UNLESS YOU'RE SPEAKING, UM, DECORUM, YOU KNOW, RESPECT OTHER SPEAKERS, RESPECT STAFF, RESPECT, UH, COMMISSION.
NO, UH NAME-CALLING AND WHATNOT.
WE NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
UM, SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO TO START, WE'RE GOING TO SPEAK OKAY.
ON ITEM TWO, B CHILDREN TAKE POLICIES AND I APOLOGIZE.
I'M GOING TO BUTCHER PEOPLE'S NAMES.
SO JUST, JUST KNOW THAT AND I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE PEGGY.
I KICK FOLLOWED BY KATHERINE SHAMBLY.
I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER FOR 13 YEARS.
I'M OPPOSED TO, AND I AM SO WORRIED ABOUT THE PROPOSALS OR FURTHER LIMIT INTAKE OF ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER.
I'LL ADDRESS THREE MAIN POINTS FOR USING ANIMALS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE FULLY IN PLACE IS A RECIPE FOR HEARTBREAK AND DISASTER, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE WHEN A SCARED STRAY DOG IS HURT OR KILLED, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE WHEN A SCARED STRAY POTENTIALLY AND VACCINATED DOG HURTS OR KILLS ANOTHER ANIMAL OR BITES A PERSON.
I THINK THE SHELTER IS CERTAINLY MORALLY RESPONSIBLE AND THE CITY IS OPENING ITSELF TO LIABILITY.
SECOND, THIS HAS AN UNFAIR BURDEN ON NEIGHBORHOODS THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING TAXES FOR THE SHELTER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHELTERING ANIMALS.
HOW CAN OUR SHELTER CALL ITSELF? BUT IT IS TURNING AWAY AND NOT COMPREHENSIVELY GUY ON THE INJURY ILLNESS AND LOTS OF EMPIRE.
I BELIEVE THE SHELTER NEEDS MORE RESOURCES.
I SEE GREAT VALUE AND EXPANDING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
IT'S IMPOSE A HUGE NEW RESPONSIBILITY ON INDIVIDUALS
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WITHOUT THE TRUE PUBLIC INPUT IS NO WAY TO GET REAL HUMANE CHANGE OR COMMUNITY SUPPORT.THANKS TO THE CHANCE TO TESTIFY.
UM, MY NAME IS KATHERINE
MY NAME IS KATHERINE CHAMBLEE AND I CURRENTLY AM A VOLUNTEER FOSTER AND HAVE BEEN FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
I DID ABOUT 20 DOGS IN 19, AND AS IT CAME THROUGH IN DAKOTA, THERE WERE LITERALLY SO MANY PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING THE PASTOR FOR AUSTIN PETS ALIVE THAT TOOK MONTHS.
SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FOSTER AND TO ME, AND I WROTE DOWN NUMBERS THAT MADE, THERE WAS 560 TAKES THEM TO FOSTER, BUT IF THERE'S 270 MILLION FOR THE YEAR ACQUIRE INTO AUSTIN, SINCE KOBE, THERE WERE 1,360 DOGS INTO FOSTER HOMES SINCE 3000 FOSTER APPS.
WELL, INITIALLY WHAT I THOUGHT WAS, WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.
WE'RE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB HERE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE NAME IS AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HAD THIS BIG PIECE OF PROPERTY ON CITY LAND TAX EVENTS FOR MINORS OR TAX FREE.
AND, UM, BUT MY, MY ASSUMPTION CERTAINLY INCORRECT IS THAT OFTEN IN BOWLS, BARS BEING TAKEN CARE OF, BUT THAT'S WHAT I WAS PULLING FROM OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
IT WAS BECAUSE ALSO THE ANIMALS WELL TAKEN CARE OF, UM, AND LONG STORY SHORT, THAT DEFINITELY IS NOT THE CASE.
I'VE ALSO BEEN ON OFTEN LAWSUITS ON WHICH, BUT ANY ON THE FACEBOOK FOR ANY OF YOU WILL KNOW THAT HAVEN'T BELIEVING WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
AND THE JOB THAT THESE VOLUNTEERS ON AUSTIN'S HOUSE AND FOUND PACKS HAVE BEEN DOING TO INTAKE ANIMALS FROM AUSTIN.
YOU REALLY SHOULD READ IT BECAUSE IT'S BECOME CRAZINESS.
I'VE TAKEN TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE BASICALLY THE PERSON SIMPLY COULDN'T FIND ANYONE AT ANY SHELTER, CERTAINLY ABOUT THE ANIMAL SHELTER THAT WOULD TAKE THEM IN.
AND I THINK THAT THE IDEA OF NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY SHELTERS IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN ANIMALS, EITHER THEIR PHONES AND WHATNOT, TAKING THEM OUTSIDE PETS, BUT THEY JUST CAN'T DO IT.
JUST NOT, IT JUST CAN'T DO THAT.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THOSE OF US LIKE MYSELF THAT HAS A 15 YEAR OLD, I CANNOT TAKE IN AN EMAIL THAT HASN'T BEEN BAD BECAUSE I KNEW THE ANIMAL WAS BETTER AND IT BROUGHT IT BACK.
AT SOME POINT, MY WOULDN'T BE AT RISK.
YOU KNOW, I COULD KEEP THEM SEPARATED.
WELL, NO, IT WAS AWESOME SPENDING, TAKING WEEKS TO EAT.
IF YOU GOT A CALL BACK, I KNOW ONE OF THE GIRLS, AT LEAST ONE NEVER EVEN GOT A RETURN RESPONSE FROM AT THE SHELTER, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT ANIMAL.
IF YOU WANT TO GET BUTTONED OR IF YOU'RE HAVE PROTECTION, YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATED.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT INVOLVES STREET THAT HASN'T TURNED IS CONTAGIOUS DISEASE.
AND I THINK FOR ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS REALLY PUT A BURDEN ON THE CITIZENS AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL CITIZENS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING WHERE THE INUNDATION FROM OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN.
SORRY, I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
I WAS LETTING HIM KNOW THAT THAT WAS THE TIME THREE MINUTES.
NEXT JUST JEAN WHO BROOKS FELLOW BY TERRY HACKWORTH.
ANNABETH EMANATE YOUR DOG VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF CLASSIC TO SEE NEW DADS ADVOCACY.
I'M SPEAKING TO THE CHANGE CONTROL MECHANISMS USED BY THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER INTAKE SERVICING AFFECTING THE SCOPE OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY BOARD AS DEFINED BY SECTION TWO DASH ONE DASH ONE OH TWO OF THE CITY CODE IN 2019 AND 2020 NUMEROUS CHANGES WERE MADE THAT IF NOT PASSED
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THROUGH THE ADVISORY BOARD, INCLUDING CONSIDERATION FOR SERVICES BEING CALLED CERTIFIED AS NON ESSENTIAL DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS EFFECTING HOLIDAY CLOSURES WITH INTAKE OPERATIONS CONSIDERATION FOR HOW ESSENTIAL AND NON ESSENTIAL SERVICES WERE DETERMINED DURING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS OF THE MAYORS EMERGENCY STAY AT HOME, STAY SAFE, ORDER TO ZERO TWO, ZERO THREE TO FOUR PASSENGERS OR A SEVEN SECTION SIX D CHANGES DURING HIGH INTAKE AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS THAT PUT THE RAID OR SUSPENDED STRAIGHT INTAKE, AN OWNER SURRENDER INTAKE SERVICE AND CHANGES TO THE SERVICING OF THREE, ONE, ONE TICKETS CLOSING TICKETS WITHOUT SATISFYING THIS GRADED PURPOSE AND REFERRING THEM TO NEW ONLY VIEWED SERVICE PROCESSES, SUCH AS INTERNAL APPOINTMENT SYSTEMS THAT HAVE NO PUBLIC DISABILITY AS A VOLUNTEER AND AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE.I RELY ON THE ADVISORY BOARD TO EXERCISE ITS SCOPE AS DEFINED BY THE CITY CODE, WHICH ALSO PERMITS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
I AM REQUESTING CONSIDERATION EACH MONTH.
AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SERVICE REPORT SHOULD INCLUDE A SECTION OF ANY SPECIAL SERVICING CHANGES THAT WERE UNDERWAY THAT MONTH.
I'M ALSO REQUESTING AN AGENDA ITEM, BE ADDED TO REGULAR MEETINGS TO CHECK POINT INTAKE, SERVICING CHANGES THAT ARE STILL UNDERWAY AND TO SERVE AS A PLACE HOLDER FOR ANY PROPOSED SERVICE CHANGES I'M REVIEWED BY THE BOARD.
I WILL POINT OUT THAT, UH, DON BLAND HAS JOINED THE CALL.
WE HAVE NOW HAVE TERRY HACKWORTH FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF SMUGGLER.
I AM THE MANAGING PARTNER AT VETERINARY SURGICAL SOLUTIONS.
AND NOW OUR SURGERY CENTER, WHICH OPENED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I WORKED WITH ANIMAL TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH DR.
SIDNEY, HER TEAM AT THE SHELTER.
AND AT THE TIME OVER 125 RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, DOCTORS CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLINICS, NEW PARTNERS, WHO SHE HAS HERE AT THE SHELTER.
AND I SPENT OVER A WEEK, I SPENT A WEEK 75 PEOPLE DEDICATED TO ANIMAL WELFARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS DOCTORS AND PRIVATE PRACTICE, EMERGENCY MEDICINE, THEIR SENIOR STAFF RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS AND STAFFING THAT TRAVIS BASHED UP AND WILLIAMSON COUNTY SHELTERS WHO HAPPENED TO BE FRIENDS AT THE SHELTER, HAD A POLICY IN PLACE IN JUGGLING COVET.
WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.
MY MOVEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE A VACATION THE NEXT WEEK.
WHAT WE DID INSTEAD WAS SPEND THE WEEK, THE WAY WE DID BUSINESS, WE'VE INVESTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TECHNOLOGY TO ALLOW FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DOCUMENTS AND TELEMEDICINE.
AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS GREATER.
HOWEVER, OUR TEAM HASN'T MISSED A SINGLE DAY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE SIGNED UP FOR.
WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ALL SERVICES TO OUR CLIENTS AND THEIR PETS.
WE'VE ALSO PROVIDED THEM WITH A $15,000.
INCREASE TO CLIENTS, HAVE LOST JOBS AND INCOME AS A RESULT OF PANDEMIC AGAIN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE NEVER STOPPED WORKING WITH OUR LESBIAN PARTNERS WHO HAVE NOT STOPPED TAKING INJURED ANIMALS THAT MAY DELANEY HAS MONEY TO HELP THEM, THAT THEIR DONATIONS ARE DOWN GREAT LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, CONTINUING TO DO WHAT THEY DO AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING UP EVERY DAY TO KEEP THE COMMITMENT TO ANIMALS.
THEY SEE THE SHELTER AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND ARE EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AS TO CONTINUE THE EXCUSES GIVEN TO NOT SO, AND IT'S PETS FOR MONTHS THAT TOOK US A COUPLE OF DAYS PRIOR TO THE SHUTDOWN AND WE'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO TAKE.
NOW THEY CAN REALLY TAKE INJURED ANIMALS.
THAT'S NOT PROVIDING SURGICAL SERVICES.
WHAT HAPPENING TO ANIMALS ARE THEY JUST IN KENNELS? WHO'S TAKING CARE OF THEM MANY YEARS AGO TO BE MADE BY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, NOT VETERINARIAN IN A PRIVATE PRACTICE.
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THAT'S A VIOLATION OF TEXAS LAW AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE SHELTER IT'S WAY PAST TIME FOR THE MAYOR, THE CITY MANAGER, HE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE SHOP IS BEING RUN.THAT SHOWS THE ELEMENT OF TAXES AND US TAXPAYERS WHO PAY FOR ITS EXISTENCE.
I GIVE HIM IN PRIVATE AND URBAN INVITATION TO SPEAK WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SPENT DECADES, DECADES IN THIS CITY DEVOTED TO HIM.
THEY WANT TO HELP YOU DESPERATELY, BUT THEY DON'T HIRE.
NEXT UP IS MEGHILLA FOLLOWED BY JOANNE MILLENNIA.
DO WE HAVE LOTTA
MY NAME IS ROGER SMITH AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TODAY TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION, TO CHANGE IT.
OPEN INTAKE POLICY AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND THE PILOTS HUMANE ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES TASK PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT PRESENT THE OLD MODEL FROM BEING ABLE TO BE RE-INSTITUTED POST COVID-19 BARCLAY AMA SAME TO THAT OLD MODEL MENTIONED IN THE HALF.
PILOT IS OPEN INTAKE WHILE THE CURRENT DIRECTOR HAS NOW STATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE TO THE OLD MODEL COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.
AND THAT IS HE IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE HALF PIRATE.
THE DOCUMENTS OF SERVICE INDICATING THAT LIMITED INTAKE IS WHAT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM IS CITED SURVEYS AND DATA COLLECTED TO SUPPORT THIS LINDA'S BOTTOM, BUT THEY ARE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES WITH THE DATA STATED THAT THERE WASN'T 50% RETURN RATE WHEN AN ANIMAL WAS KEPT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE IT WAS FOUND AS OPPOSED TO AN 18% OF THE CLAIM, RIGHT? IF THAT ANIMAL WAS BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER, IF 50% RETURN RATE SEEMS TO BE FROM A SURVEY CONDUCTED PRE COVID-19 WITH AROUND 200 RESPONDENTS.
NOW THAT 2% COMES FROM ACTUAL INTAKE AND RETURN NUMBERS FROM 29 ARE NOT TO EACH OTHER.
ONE IS SURVEY DATA, AND ONE IS RAW NUMERICAL DATA, APPLES AND ORANGES WITHOUT IDENTIFYING DETAILS ON HOW THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED.
IT IS MISLEADING TO COMPARE THOSE TWO DATA SETS.
WHAT WAS THE TIME PERIOD? THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED WITH A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN PERSON ONLINE OVER THE PHONE, WAS IT CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH SPANISH.
SO THERE WASN'T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION THAT UTILIZES AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER INTAKE.
THEN THE COMPARISON IS INVALID SKEWED.
THAT'S THIS MOVING THE PUBLIC WITH THESE DATA SETS.
THERE ARE CHANGES THAT COULD BE MADE AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, BUT IN COKE BY TURNING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY INTO, AS A SHELTER AS RECOMMENDED IN THE HALF PILOT AND SHELTERING ONLY SICK, INJURED, AGGRESSIVE, ABANDONED, OR ON THE EMERGENCY ANIMALS AS RECOMMENDED IN THE COMMUNITY BASED ATTENTION INITIATIVE, I'LL ASK THE ANIMAL CENTER.
I SUPPORT BEFORE ANY CHANGES TO POLICY MARRIED.
I BELIEVE THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY SHOULD BE GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO WEIGH IN WITH THEIR PAYMENTS.
AND THOSE OPINIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY BOTH THE AUSTIN AREA LEADERSHIP AND THIS COMMISSION WITH THE FORMATION OF A BROKER TO DETERMINE THE BEST WAY FORWARD AS TAX PAYING CITIZENS.
WE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY FROM OUR LOCAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY OPINION.
AND I APOLOGIZE FOR SWITCHING YOUR NAME.
WE FOLLOWED BY STEPHANIE TEMPERATURE.
UM, I AM DEFINITELY AGAINST HAVING CLOSED INTAKE.
I'M GOING TO GO BACKWARDS HERE.
UM, I THINK THE SOLUTION IS TO KEEP THE SHELTER FINDING AND MAINTAINING A GREAT WILLING FOSTER POOL.
THEY'VE STARTED TO DO THAT AND IT NEEDS TO CONTINUE, UM, AND PUT AS MANY STAFF MEMBERS INTO THAT AS POSSIBLE.
UM, MY ISSUE WITH HALF THE HALF THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT, UM, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TRANSPARENT AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT
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OF ROOM FOR GRAY AREA.IS THERE A MONETARY GAIN HERE? LIKE WILL STAFF MEMBERS BE TREATED POORLY FOR TURNING AWAY ANIMALS, WILL MANAGEMENT HAVE LESS RESPONSIBILITY? I THINK THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SPOKEN ABOUT, NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT.
UM, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PUSH FOR TURNING AWAY ANIMALS.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BEING SPOKEN ABOUT AND IT'S JUST, WE ALL HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE ANIMALS AND FOR THE HUMANS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, ON ANOTHER NOTE WHILE THEY NOTE, BUT WE ALSO STRUGGLE HAVING MANAGEMENT WHO CAN SUPPORT STAFF AND KEEP MORALE UP.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HAVING A HEALTHY SHELTER, A GREAT FOSTER POOL, A GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO THEY WILL ACTUALLY COME IN AND ADOPT OUR PETS, UM, WHICH WILL HELP US IMMENSELY.
WE CAN'T SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAX PAYING THE COMMUNITY HAS ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT, AND THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO ASK OF THEM AT THIS TIME, IN MY OPINION.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
TIMKO FOLLOWED BY KAYLA MARIE.
I'M ACTUALLY CALLING FROM DALLAS, TEXAS.
I'M IN KAYSERI COMMISSION AND FOUNDER OF JUST SAVED THE DOG.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
AND I WANT TO PREFACE MY REMARKS BY STATING THAT WHAT I SAY REPRESENTS MY OWN OPINIONS AND EXPERIENCE AND NOT THAT OF THE DALLAS PFIZER COMMISSION.
AND I'M GOING TO KEEP MY REMARKS REALLY CONCISE AND STRICTLY BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS ON THE FRONTLINES OF DALLAS'S LOOSEN STRAY DOG CRISIS, I'M GOING TO REFRAIN FROM GETTING ANY ADVICE, RATHER, I HOPE TO GIVE YOU FACTS ABOUT THE LONGTERM CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO INTAKE.
SO TO UNDERSTAND THE DALLAS 9,000 LEASE AND STRAY DOGS FACES WITH ANDY ON A 15% INCREASE IN DOG BASE, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE HISTORY.
DALLAS HAS STRUGGLED WITH LOOSENED DOG.
WE CAN STRAIGHT OFF CALL HIM SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS AND THE METHOD FOR DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN TO ALTERNATELY, IGNORE THE PROBLEM OR ROUNDUP DOGS AND EUTHANIZE THEM ON THAT MOST RECENT CRISIS THAT WHICH BEGAN BEING DOCUMENTED IN 2016 OCCURRED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN THE SOUTHERN SECTOR OF THE CITY AND MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND CAME ABOUT THROUGH A COMBINATION OF FACTORS, ONE OF LONG ESTABLISHED CITY PRACTICE OF NOT PICKING UP A NO TRAPPING TEAMS TO A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCE THREE, FRANKLY, A HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATORY UNDER SERVICE IN MINORITY NEIGHBORHOODS.
ISN'T THAT CITIZENS IN SOUTHERN DALLAS WOULDN'T CALL FOR STRAIGHT OFF ASSISTANCE AND SPIT THE CITY SYSTEMIC
AND SO CITIZENS SINCE THEY STOPPED CALLING AND THEREFORE DATA WAS NEVER COLLECTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2014, GENTRIFICATION SWEPT INTO PREVIOUS IN MY MORNING HABIT AREAS OF FEMININE DALLAS AND A FULL SCALE PUSHED BY THE NEW RESIDENTS WE CAN, DESPITE BEING PRESENTED WITH DATA, VIDEO STORIES.
IF WE STARS NUMBERS ON DOG BITES, A POLICE ON THE UNITED STATES, POSTAL SERVICE ABANDONED DOG, DEAD DOG COUNSEL CONTINUED TO IGNORE THE PROBLEMS UNTIL MAY, 2016
IN ADDITION TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARDS DOES NOT PICKED UP FROM MORE LIKELY TO BE HIT BY CARS OR INJURED AND NEVER TREATED
IN GENERAL, THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ATTITUDES CREATED FURTHER PROBLEMS WHEN WE BECAME TRYING TO HELP THEM.
THESE NEIGHBORHOODS PROVIDE ADEQUATE CARE FOR THEIR ANIMALS, OR EVEN WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS OF NEIGHBORHOODS WITH, WITH STRAY DOGS, UM, THAT A STUDY OF AN AREA OF ONE HALF MILE BY ONE HALF MILE IN KAYLA MARIE.
YOU'RE UP FOLLOW UP, FOLLOWED BY HIT.
MY NAME IS KAYLA MARIE AND I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE ORANGE.FOOD.
THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH THE MOST CHALLENGING DOGS AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT MANAGING THE COVID PANDEMIC IS ENTIRELY NEW TERRITORY FOR EVERYONE, BUT IN A TIME OF CRISIS, THAT IS WHEN YOU OVER COMMUNICATE TO YOUR STAKEHOLDERS, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE QHC, WHICH YOU ARE ATTACHING TO SUPPORT AND USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND TO GROW.
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THIS IS A TIME WHEN A REAL LEADER IS NEEDED.I SEE LED BY DON BLAND HAS COMPLETELY MISSED THE MARK ON MULTIPLE LEVELS AND IS THE ANIMALS WHO SUFFER INTAKE IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES CURRENTLY PLAGUING MS. ALTER THE ORANGE.GROUP POSTED ABOUT DOM BRAND NEW SHELTER MODELS FOR AAP THAT INVOLVES CONTINUING THE EXTREMELY LIMITED INTAKE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE PANDEMIC AS A LONGTERM MEANS OF OPERATION.
WHEN PRESS ON THIS LAND SAY THAT THIS WAS NOTHING MORE THAN THINKING OUT LOUD ON PAPER.
AND IT'S LIKE HE NEVER WENT PAST HIS DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
WHEN IN FACT HE SENT YOU THE INWARD BY THIS MISSION PROMOTING THIS VERY IDEA.
AND THAT'S WHERE A VIDEO OF A STAFF MEMBER SHOWING A REFUSAL TO TAKE IN A STRAY DOG, MADE THE SOCIAL MEDIA AROUND.
BRIAN TOLD THE PUBLIC THAT THIS WAS A ONE OFFICE STATE BY SINGLE EMPLOYEES.
HOWEVER, SEVERAL OTHER EMPLOYEES BOTH PAST AND PRESENT AND CLEAN THE EMPLOYEE IN THE VIDEO HAS STATED PUBLICLY THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
WHAT YOU WILL LIKELY HEAR DON BLAM SAY THIS MORNING IS THAT ITS CODE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
INTAKE WILL RETURN AS IT WAS PRE CODED.
THE CASE I THINK IS UNREALISTIC AND WRONG.
THE THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN.
AND SHOULD I TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY? WE'LL PROBABLY ALSO HEAR HIM TALK STATISTICS THAT ARE COMPLETELY SKEWED AND DID THEY FALSE SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT, BUT WHAT CONTINUES TO NOT BE ADDRESSED OR THE URGENT NEEDS OF THE SHELTER FROM INTAKE AND BEYOND? HOW WILL WE HELP EDUCATE AND WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE INTAKE AND ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP? HOW WILL WE REACH ALL THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN AUSTIN? HOW WILL HE ENGAGE AND BUILD AND GROW THE FOSTER NETWORK? HOW WILL WE ENSURE THE ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER WILL BE PROPERLY CARED FOR? THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF TALK AND CONFUSION ABOUT THE COST PROGRAM LED BY AMERICAN PETS ALIVE AT APA.
THERE ARE MANY COMPONENTS ABOUT HEARTS THAT WE FEEL COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR AAC AND SPECIFICALLY FOR HELPING TO REDUCE INTAKE.
THESE PROGRAMS THAT REQUIRE TREMENDOUS FUNDING, SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT, DESPITE BEING INVITED, AAC DECLINED.
SHE WOULD JUST PLAY IN HOT WITH DON BLAND STATING IN ESSENCE, AAC IS ALREADY IMPLEMENTING MANY ASPECTS OF HOS AND IT'S TIMING IS JUST NOT RIGHT FOR AAC.
HE WAS IMPLEMENTING WITH ADAM'S WITH ANY SUCCESS.
WHEN I HAD THE SHELTER FROM QUANTITY OVERCROWDED SINCE 2017, CURRENT LEADERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MONTHS TO COMMUNICATE PLAN INNOVATE AND START A NEW PATH FORWARD.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A PRODUCTIVE FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ERRORS.
AND THEN DON BLAND TRYING TO COVER UP HIS INCOMPETENCE AND FAILURES BY SLIGHT OUTLINES FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IS GOING TO GO AWAY.
AND GLENN HAS CLEARLY LOST THE CONFIDENCE OF ITS STAFF AND THE REST COMMUNITY THAT SURROUND AND SUPPORT AAC.
HE CANNOT RUN EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT THE SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE AND THE PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF FREE HOURS, THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF FREE WORK AND COUNTLESS DOLLARS.
AND THEY ARE TURNING AWAY IN DROVES BECAUSE DON BLAND IS ALLOWING THE CITY SHELTER TO CRUMBLE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
AND THEN JUNE 22ND, THE THIRD, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, BUT AAC WILL CONTINUE TO ASSIST ANIMALS WHO NEEDED CARE AND INSURANCE FROM DON BLAND.
AFTER WE'VE SEEN HIS COMPLETE LACK OF LEADERSHIP, HIS NEW LIST, WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU, THE ANIMALS LIKE THIS MISSION, TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AND SAY AC LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ITS ABILITY TO ME, BUT WE'VE OFFERED TO HELP BEFORE.
THANK YOU, HEATHER NEWBIE, EUROPE FOLLOWED BY CECILIA RIAA.
I'M A VOLUNTEER AND FOSTER FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND SEVERAL SMALL DOG RESCUES.
I AM STRONGLY AGAINST LIMITED INTAKE FOR AN URBAN POPULATION OF 2 MILLION.
AS YOU KNOW, HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE TITLE 10 CHAPTER EIGHT, 23, ANIMAL SHELTERS DEFINES ANIMAL SHELTER AS A FACILITY THAT KEEPS OR LEGALLY IN POUNDS, STRAY, HOMELESS OR UNWANTED ANIMALS.
IT DOESN'T SAY SOME OF THE ANIMALS AND IT DOESN'T CAP THE NUMBER OF INTAKES.
SO THE SHELTER CAN IMPROVE ITS PRE COVID-19 OPERATIONS, BUT RATHER THAN ASK THE COMMUNITY FOR INPUT, THEY HAVE INSTRUCTED US TO BEAR THE BURDEN.
IT AC HAS SHOWN ABSOLUTE DISREGARD FOR EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY POLICIES THAT DEFINE AND DETERMINE THE VITAL IT IS DESERVED TO SERVE.
TRAVIS COUNTY IS 2019 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT STATES.
AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ACCEPTS EVERY TRAVIS COUNTY LOST ANIMAL DELIVERED BY ANIMAL CONTROL, BROUGHT IN AND DROPPED OFF BY RESIDENTS.
CURRENT DAILY OPERATIONS POLICY STATES WHEN NO CHIP IS PRESENT AND APO IMPOUNDS AND TRANSPORTS THE ANIMAL TO AAC FOR PROCESSING PROCEDURE DOES NOT CALL FOR PLACING EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BACK ON THE FINDER OR FOR LEADING THE ANIMAL ON THE STREET.
IF HE TOOK IT UPON ITSELF TO CHANGES WITHOUT CONSIDERING CITY LIABILITY IN CITY CODE, TITLE THREE, AND THE REGULATIONS, THE WORD OWNER IS REFERENCED 95 TIMES YET AS OF TWO WEEKS AGO, DON GLAND STATED THE CITY OF AUSTIN LEGAL DEPARTMENT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEFINITION OF OWNERSHIP IN JULY, 2019, MARK FLOAT TOLD CBS NEWS THAT
[00:30:01]
DOGGONE DOG ATTACKS HAPPENED ALMOST DAILY AND OFTEN IT DOES.THE REASONING TELLS US MORE DOGS LEFT TO ROME WILL RESULT IN MORE ATTACKS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR STRAY ANIMAL SAFETY.
MARK ALSO SPOKE AT YOUR JANUARY 13TH, 2020 MEETING AND SAID, WE LEAD THE NATION AND LADIES RIGHT HERE IN AUSTIN.
THEN ON JUNE 27TH, 2020 AMERICAN PENALIZE SAID THAT PARDOT IS ON THE RISE IN AUSTIN WITH THREE TO 10 NEW CASES DAILY.
WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE HERE FROM A DISEASE CONTROL STANDPOINT? I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT UNTIL THERE IS A SAFER, MORE FUNCTIONAL LAW ABIDING SOLUTION, THE SHELTER SHOULD MAINTAIN ALL THE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE INTERIM.
I SUGGEST USING THEM THE AVAILABLE ASSISTANCE VIA APA TO GET THE COMMUNITY AND BREAK APA CAN STOP INTAKE OF ANIMALS OUTSIDE TRAVIS COUNTY UNTIL OUR COMPLIANCE SOLUTION FOR OUR OWN CITY SHELTER HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED OFTEN VALUES.
IT'S NO KILL STATUS, BUT IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE INTACCT STRAYS OVERPOPULATE CREATING A MUCH LARGER PROBLEM THAN WE HAVE NOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, I'M A WASTE TO NOT HAVE ANY TIME LEFT.
CECILIA RYAN, YOU'RE UP FOLLOWED BY CHELSEA FOR YA.
I'M JUST CALLING IN BECAUSE I OPPOSED THIS IDEA OF LIMITING INTAKE.
I LIVE IN THE CITY ATJ AND I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO TRY TO HELP ANIMALS.
UM, I LIVE RIGHT ON FARM ROAD NINE 69, WHICH IS THE NEW FEEDER ROAD HERE INTO AUSTIN, WHERE THEY BOMBARDED US WITH THOUSANDS OF HOMES BEING BUILT OUT HERE.
SO IT'S BECOME MY JOB TO RESCUE THESE ANIMALS.
DAILY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE BRINGING THEIR ANIMALS OUT HERE AND DUMPING THEM ONTO THE HIGHWAYS AND ONTO THEIR PEOPLE'S YARDS OUT HERE, BECAUSE WE LOOK LIKE WE'RE IN A WOODED AREAS.
I'VE PERSONALLY TAKEN IN OVER 12 ANIMALS IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
I'M RUNNING A MAKESHIFT SHELTER IN MY OWN HOME.
AND I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO DO THAT.
THE NEIGHBORS OUT HERE POST THE ANIMALS THAT THEY FIND ALMOST 24 SEVEN ON NEXT DOOR WEBSITES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT, BUT THE MINUTE THAT THEY POST THEM, THEY IMMEDIATELY SAY, I CAN'T KEEP THIS ANIMAL.
YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T TAKE IT IN, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T CLAIM IT, I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
I, EVERY TIME I COME OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, WHICH CARS ARE GONE 60 MILES AN HOUR NOW BECAUSE THE STEADY HAS BOMBARDED US IN GENTRIFIED AUSTIN, I HAVE TO SCOOP UP DEAD CATS, DOGS, AND ESPECIALLY THE WILDLIFE OUT HERE THAT IS BEING OBLITERATED BY THIS UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH THAT HAS, HAS NO CONTROLS WHATSOEVER AND NO NOTHING IN PLACE FOR ANY ANIMAL HUMAN OR ANY WILD ANIMAL PERIOD.
UM, I'VE REACHED OUT TO MAYOR ADLER WHEN THE SHELTER APA FLOODED, YOU KNOW, DURING THE, UH, THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND HE DIDN'T EVEN ANSWER ME ON TWITTER.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN WE'RE TAKING IN ALL THESE BILLIONAIRES, LIKE OFFERING TESLA AND COMPANIES, ALL THESE HIGH TECH COMPANIES, I JUST GOT OFF OF A TWO WEEK FIGHT WITH THE OVERNIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE'RE OFFERING $68 MILLION FOR BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK TO COME AND BUILD A FACTORY OUT HERE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN.
UM, WHY ARE WE GIVING OUR TAX MONEY TO BILLIONAIRES OUR TAX MONEY THAT WE'VE PLACED INTO THIS? AND THEN THERE'S NO CONSIDERATION FOR THESE ANIMALS OUT HERE OR THE WILDLIFE THREE, ONE, ONE DOES NOT WORK.
I HAD TO RESCUE A DOG OR TRIED TO RESCUE A DOG 10 TIMES ONE IN ONE DAY WITH SHERIFFS COMING OUT, THEY COULDN'T CATCH THE DOG.
IT WAS RUNNING RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY, DAZED AND CONFUSED.
THEY ENTERED MY CASE AND THERE WAS NEVER A RESPONSE, NEVER A FOLLOWUP, NOTHING HAPPENED.
THIS IS WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT ON THE BORDERS OF AUSTIN.
I HAD BEEN AN AUSTIN RESIDENT FOR OVER 60 YEARS, THIS TOWN AND THE POLICIES AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE ARE AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE AND AN INJUSTICE TO NOT ONLY THE ANIMALS, BUT ANIMAL LOVERS OUT HERE WHO ARE HAVING TO DO THE JOB BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE OUR CITY COUNCIL AND ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE BRINGING THIS GROSS, DON'T EVER CONSIDER ANYTHING BUT MONEY AROUND HERE.
AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY I'M FED UP.
I'M FED UP AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO START STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AROUND HERE.
IT'S JUST NOT WORKING ANYMORE.
AND THAT INCLUDES MAYOR ADLER.
CHELSEA EUROPE FOLLOWED BY SANDY WIRES.
ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO THEM FOR VOLUNTEERS AND
[00:35:01]
THEN THE EQUIPMENT LAMB'S RESPONSE TO OUR CONCERNS ABOUT POLICY CHANGES TO PARAPHRASE.WELL, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT, BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THE TUBE IS BEING CONSIDERED AND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OF CHANNELS OR OPPORTUNITY FOR INPUT AND DISCUSSION, FOR LACK OF A GOOD EFFORT TO INCLUDE ANYONE FROM THE FAST REAL BOUNCER GROUP IS BEYOND CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TIME OF CRISIS AND UNCERTAINTY WE'RE ENDED WITH TEAM, BUT A LOT OF MANY WHO ARE ON THE PAYROLL IN THEIR TIME AND HEARTS FOR ANIMALS TO BE SHUT OUT THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT'S JUST THE APARTMENT.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP HAS TO DO THE WORK OF BOSTON.
YOU'RE UP FOLLOWED BY MARY ELLEN MILLER.
IF YOU MIGHT BE MUTED, ANDY WIRES, ARE YOU THERE? MARY ELLEN MILLER? ARE YOU THERE? YEAH.
UM, IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO HEAR SOME OF THESE STIRS THAT JUST HEARD HIM ON THE LINE.
UM, BUT I'M JUST CALLING TO URGE THE SHELTER TO POLLUTE, NOT CHANGE THE INTAKE POLICY.
UM, I HAVE A TEST THAT WAS RECOVERED BY THE DANIMAL CENTER AND I'M SURE HE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE HE HAVE BEEN IGNORED AND LEFT ON THE STREETS OF BOSTON.
I WOULD ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION TO PICTURE YOUR DOG WHO INADVERTENTLY WAS LOST, WOULD YOU WANT TO HEAR AN AAC EMPLOYEE TELLING RESIDENTS WHO SEE YOUR LAST DOG JUST TO WALK AWAY AND LEAVE IT WHERE THEY FOUND IT, ANIMALS PAY THE PRICE WHEN SUCH CLOSED DOOR OR EVEN RESTRICTED ADMISSION POLICIES ARE PUT IN PLACE.
ANIMALS CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES OR CANNOT MAKE CHOICES TO WHERE THEY END UP.
OUR PETS DEPEND ON US TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
WE CANNOT TURN OUR BACKS ON THEM.
THINK ABOUT THIS IN 2011, WHEN THE NEW AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER OPEN, THE POPULATION OF BOSTON WAS 828,006 94.
AUSTIN HAS GROWN TO 2,053,000 PEOPLE IN MARCH, 2020.
AUSTIN WAS RANKED THE FOURTH, FOURTH, HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH PESTS WITHIN MAJOR US METRO AREAS AT 56, 17% BASED ON AUSTIN'S CURRENT POPULATION THAT EQUATES TO 1 MILLION, 150, 3,170 PETS LIVING IN HOMES WITH THIS ENORMOUS INCREASE IN CURRENT AAC IS INADEQUATE BOWS IN SPACE AND STAFF TO ACCOMMODATE AUSTIN LOS HOMELESS ANIMALS.
INSTEAD OF CUTTING BACK SERVICES, AC SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS.
PLEASE MAKE DECISIONS EXTRA AND UNWANTED PETS AS YOU WOULD WANT YOUR OWN PET TO BE TREATED, REALIZE THAT THE POLICY THAT MR BLAND WANTS TO IMPLEMENT OR IRRESPONSIBLE AND UNCOMPASSIONATE IGNORING THE PROBLEM WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY.
OUR TAX MONEY HAS TO BE USED FOR ALL THE GOOD OF ALL.
AUSTINITES INCLUDING LAWSON, STRAY LOST OR HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS.
UM, AND AGAIN, THANKS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
I REALLY WOULD JUST LIKE TO, UH, I'M AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE I'D LIKE TO REINFORCE, UM, ALL OF THE, UH, REALLY IMPORTANT POINTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY, UM, BY EVERY SPEAKER WHO'S WHO HAS GONE BEFORE ME.
UM, I I'M OBVIOUSLY OPPOSED TO ANY CHANGE IN, UM, THAT, UH, INTAKE POLICY.
I BELIEVE ALL THREE ANIMALS SHOULD BE TAKEN IN, ESPECIALLY NOW DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WHEN, UH, PEOPLE ARE REALLY BEING SQUEEZED TO THEM.
I MISS THEM, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE ARE ABANDONING THEIR PETS BEFORE, UM, IT COULD, YOU KNOW, MORE LIKELY TO INCREASE NOW.
UM, BUT PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED SUCH AS MYSELF.
UM, AND SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED, UH, NOT EVERYONE BEING ABLE TO TAKE IN AN ANIMAL IF THEY HAPPEN TO FIND A STRAIGHT UP I'M THAT INCLUDES ME.
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THE FEES WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE.UM, UH, AS WELL AS, UM, UH, THE SPEAKER FROM DALLAS MENTIONED, UM, IF THERE'S A, UH, INCREASE IN, IN STREET ANIMALS, IS THAT CHANCE FOR INCREASING ALUMNUS AMONGST THEM? I HAD A SCARE WHEN I WAS BIT BY A DOG SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.
UH, I HAD A SCAN, NOT KNOWING IF, UM, THAT DOC HAD HAD ITS RABIES SHOT.
AND, AND THEN I CAME TO FIND OUT LATER JUST HOW COST PROHIBITIVE OF THE RABIES VACCINE OF, UH, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, UH, SOMETHING I COULDN'T AFFORD.
SO THERE'S, THAT'S ANOTHER POINT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT OUR MOVE IT NOW TO GIVE YOU TIME TO THE DISCUSSION.
BEVERLY LUNA FOLLOWED BY RAPHAEL.
HI, THIS IS SEVERALLY I'M WITH AUSTIN LAWSON BOUND PET.
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ON THE PART OF SOME MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THIS IDEA THAT ACS AND THREE, ONE, ONE ARE TELLING PEOPLE TO RELEASE DOGS INTO COMMUNITY IS MADE UP.
I CAN TELL YOU IT HAPPENED TO ME PERSONALLY.
I WAS TOLD TO TAKE AN 80 POUNDS 85 POUND PIT BULL BACK TO WHERE I FOUND IT IN A MILLION DOLLAR BUS NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T BELONG.
WE SEE DAY IN, DAY OUT THAT HAPPENING.
I DO BELIEVE DON BLAND DOES NOT HAVE THAT POLICY ANYMORE.
THAT IT IS NOT GETTING THROUGH TO THREE, ONE, ONE, AND IT IS NOT GETTING THROUGH HIS STAFF.
AND WE WERE FINDING DOGS THAT ARE LITERALLY STARVING TO DEATH.
WE HAVE DOGS THAT WITHIN THREE HOURS OF SOMEONE FROM AAC OR THREE, ONE, ONE TELLING THEM TO LET THE DOGS GO ARE FOUND DEAD IN THE ROAD.
UM, VARIOUS, SOME MAJOR DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT DON BLAND IS TELLING HIS STAFF TO DO AND TO DO, AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
AND IF YOU WANT EXAMPLE, SO WORKING WITH TONS OF EXAMPLES AND TONS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN GIVE YOU TESTIMONY AS TO THEY WERE TOLD TO DO THIS.
THANK YOU, RAPHAEL FOLLOWED BY SHELLY LIEBERMAN.
YEAH, JUST HAVE SOME QUICK COMMENTS.
I THINK ALL THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS WE'VE MADE SOME GOOD COMMENTS.
MAYBE WITH DON, UH, BEHIND ALL OF THE POOR ANIMALS, BUT I'M GOING TO FIND OUT AND FIND OUT IF IT'S A, JUST A POLICYMAKER OR IF HE DIDN'T RECEIVE AN ORDER FROM SOMEONE ELSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOTTA BE SOME REASON MODEL.
THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS COURSE, A PROBATE EXCUSE.
THIS IS JUST A VERY POOR EXCUSE.
YOU KNOW, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, THIS IS A TIME TO DO SOMETHING.
AUSTIN'S A PROGRESSIVE CITY AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A PERSON WHO'S LOOKING OUT FOR THE ANIMALS WHO'S IN CHARGE.
AND SO I'M JUST GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.
AND MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CHANGES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS GOES A HIGHER THAN HIM UP IN THE CITY COUNSELOR ISSUES, OR I'M NOT SURE, BUT I'M GOING TO FIND OUT BECAUSE I JUST FEEL THAT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY IS SETTLING BEFORE IT MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS A VERY POOR POLICY FOR EVERYBODY, FOR ANIMALS AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I'VE JUST MADE MY SHORT BECAUSE I LIVE OTHER SPEAKERS SPEAK FOR ME.
YOU'RE UP FOLLOWED BY RONA DISTANCE BELL.
I AM, OR AT LEAST WAS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT AACS INTAKE POLICY FOR SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS.
THEY HAVE STATED THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE IN SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS.
IN THEORY, I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES.
THE SHELTER HAS THIS RESPONSIBILITY, BUT IN PRACTICE, WHAT DO THEY REALLY MEAN WHEN THEY SAY SICK AND INJURED AND MOST PARTICULARLY CATS, THEIR WEBSITE STATES.
AND I QUOTE, IF YOU SEE A CAT THAT IS SICK OR INJURED, LETHARGIC, LIMPING BADLY APPEARS DEHYDRATED, OR HE MAY C8.
IT HAS SOME HIT BY A CAR OR HAS OPEN WOUNDS OR STORES CALL THREE, ONE, ONE FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION.
ANIMAL PROTECTION WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO HIGH PRIORITY CALLS, WHICH INCLUDES THE CAN AND YOUR ANIMALS.
THAT'S THE END OF THE QUOTE FROM THE WEBSITE YET, SINCE THE SHELTER IS CLOSED IN MARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE THE APO BASICALLY SAID A CAT WAS NOT SICK ENOUGH.
AND ONE CASE THE FOUNDER CALLED THREE, ONE, ONE ABOUT A CAT THAT SHE FOUND IT WAS SKIN AND BONES.
THE JPO SAID BECAUSE THE CAT WAS MOVING AND NOT BLEEDING.
SHE WOULD NOT TAKE HIM IN WHICH IS IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH WHAT THEIR OWN WEBSITE SAID.
TWO DAYS LATER, THERE APPEARS TO BE INCONSISTENCY AMONG THE APS AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED SICK AND INJURED SHELTER.
[00:45:01]
GIVE THEM BETTER DIRECTION.SO THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, PERHAPS THEY CAN MAKE SURE ALL APS KNOW HOW THEIR OWN WEBSITE DOES FIND SICK AND INJURED TO THE PUBLIC.
AS YOU DISCUSSED AAC STRAIGHT AND POLICY, PLEASE MAKE IT CLEAR TO AAC AND ITS APS THAT STICKING INTER ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY CATS REMAIN HIGH PRIORITY CALLS.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I HAD A LITTLE DOG NAMED DUSTY, A NUMBER OF YEARS BACK WHO GOT OUT OF MY HOUSE.
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, HE WAS TAKEN BY SOMEONE TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WHO THEN SCANNED THEM FOR CHIP AND CALLED ME.
I HAD NO IDEA MY DAD WAS EVEN MISSING BECAUSE I WASN'T HOME.
I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND RETRIEVED MY DOG AND HAVING FOR MANY BOYS, HE HAD BEEN LEFT TO WANDER THE STREETS.
THERE WAS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY THE CAR, EATEN BY A COYOTE OR SUFFERED FROM OTHER UNSPEAKABLE ENDS.
BEFORE I EVEN KNEW THAT DAY, I HAVE A DOG NAMED DOMINO WHO WAS ADOPTED FROM THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AT THE AGE OF TWO AND 10 WAS FOUND, WANDERING THE STREETS AND TAKEN TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER DID WAS SCAN FOR A CHIP.
NO ONE WANTED HIM BACK RATHER THAN BEING LEFT ON THE STREETS WHERE HE WAS ALREADY IN RATHER POOR SHAPE.
HE IS NOW LIVING A VERY HAPPY LIFE.
LOST AN ANIMAL CENTER, SERVES A FUNCTION FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO KEEP OUR PETS ANIMALS OFF THE STREET, WHICH ALSO KEEPS OUR PETS SAFE TO PREVENT DISEASE.
BY KEEPING THESE ANIMALS OFF THE STREET TO PREVENT DOG BITES BY KEEPING ANIMALS OFF THE STREET, TO TELL THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S UP TO THEM TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS, THAT THEY CANNOT BRING THEM TO THE SHELTER THAT IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANIMALS WILL BE, THEY SHOULD TAKE THEM INTO THEIR OWN HOMES, PROVIDE FOOD, PROVIDE MEDICINE, PROVIDE CARE WHILE THEY TRY TO SEARCH FOR AN OWNER IS UNREASONABLE AND IRRESPONSIBLE.
WHEN I FIND A LOST DOG AND I TAKE IT TO A VET PRIVATE STAND FOR A CHIP, I'M HANDED THE CHECK NUMBER AND THE NUMBER OF THE CHIP REGISTRY SO THAT I CAN CALL THE CHIP REGISTRY, WHICH I DO OR NOT.
BUT THE CHICK REGISTRY WILL CONTACT THE OWNER.
I AM NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE OWNER.
I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THAT PERSON IS EVER GOING TO CONTACT ME WHETHER THEY WANT THEIR JOB, BUT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR DOG BACK OR WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
I'M FORTUNATE IN BEING IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO BRING A DOG HOME AND FULL BOND TO THEM FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT I KIND OF HOLD ON TO THEM.
AND DEFINITELY I KNOW MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY FOR CATS BRING A DOG HOME AT ALL BECAUSE THEIR OWN PETS MAY BE NOT PET FRIENDLY.
THEY MAY HAVE CHILDREN IN THE HOME AND READ ABOUT THAT.
OR MAYBE THEY ARE VISITORS TO OUR CITY WHO DO IT MAY SEEM AND PICK UP A STRAY DOG AND THEN SHOW UP A SHELTER.
AND THEY'RE TOLD TO TAKE THE DOG BACK TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOW DOES THAT REFLECT ON OFTEN IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, THIS IS A COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE INTAKE POLICY THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BEEN IMPLEMENTED DURING COVID-19.
THAT WAS AN EXCUSE AND IT WAS IRRESPONSIBLE IRRESPONSIBLE.
NOW IT WILL BE IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS NOT THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
WE LOVE AND CARE FOR ANIMALS AND OUR CITY SHELTER, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY OUR TAXES, NEEDS TO BE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN THEY ARE DOING NOW.
YOU'RE UP FOLLOWED BY JUBILEE.
THEY KNOW YOU THERE ABOUT JULIE.
JULIE, ARE YOU THERE FROM HERE? OKAY, GO AHEAD PLEASE.
A FORMER MEMBER OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AND CURRENTLY I'M STILL RESIDING IN MY HOUSE IN DISTRICT NINE.
[00:50:01]
I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR BETTER SERVICES FOR SHELTER ANIMALS SINCE 1998 TWO.UM, I AM HERE NOT TO SPEAK TO THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE OF OPEN INTAKE.
I OF COURSE, SUPPORT OPEN INTAKE AND I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT THE SPEAKERS HAVE SAID.
UM, EVERYONE HAS GIVEN VERY GOOD ANECDOTAL INFORMATION.
I'M TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION VOTING ON ANYTHING TODAY.
I HOPE YOU DON'T VOTE BECAUSE YOU NEED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ON NEXT ADVISORY COMMISSION THAT IS SEND THE ITEMS THAT THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT.
I THINK IF YOU HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM, TAKE ALL THE INFORMATION, WE'LL PROCESS IT AND COME BACK, READY TO VOTE AT THE NEXT MONTH, WE'LL BE DOING THE COMMUNITY.
YOU'LL BE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
SPEND TIME RESEARCHING, ANALYZING, SPEAKING TO PEOPLE, TAKING ALL THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU'VE HEARD AND COME BACK WITH AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU POST NEXT MEETING.
AND I ALSO REQUEST THAT WHEN YOU POST IT, YOU GIVE US, UM, THE SAME THING WITH CITY COUNCIL.
WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON SOMETHING, YOU POST WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, GO AHEAD AND DRAFT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON AND POSTED AT THE SAME DEADLINE THAT YOU POST THE AGENDA ITEM.
AND I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER IT.
ALICE BIGS FOLLOWED BY LAURA SANCHEZ.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, IT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE WAY TO MANAGE OUR TAXES AND OPENS THE CITY UP TO POTENTIAL LIABILITY.
THE SHELTERS THAT IS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AND IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE TO PUT PEOPLE, UM, WITH BIG HEARTS IN CHARGE OF SICK AND INJURED ANIMALS WITH LITTLE OR NO EDUCATION.
AND IT IS A PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD.
THE DATASETS ARE NOT CLEAR AND HAVE COMPARISONS AND ARE MISLEADING.
UM, I THINK OFTEN RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE TIME TO REACT AND WITH THE TRANSPARENCY OF DATA, PRETTY MUCH WHAT ALL THE CREDIT ASSESSORS HAVE SAID BEFORE ME AND I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT I'M OPPOSED TO THIS THE CHANGES AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO OPPOSITE AS YOU SPEAK
LAURA SANCHEZ FOLLOWED BY RITA CROSS.
MY NAME IS RITA CROSS RESIDENT AS CITIZEN ADVOCATES FOR ANIMALS.
I AM A CITIZEN OF LAKE TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE TOPIC OF MY COMMENTS TODAY CONCERNS THE INTAKE CENTER OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
THIS CITY HAS BEEN KNOWN OVER THE YEARS AS A TRUE ANIMAL WELFARE SHIT.
WE CAN ALL BE PROUD THAT REPUTATION FOR HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS IS KNOWN BY MANY HERE AND FAR AND GIVES AUSTIN THE GOOD REPUTATION IS ENJOYED OVER MANY YEARS.
HOWEVER, THERE SEEMS TO BE EVIDENCE OF A CHANGE WHEREBY HOMELESS ANIMALS WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM THE OPEN INTAKE CENTER OF THE PAST.
I UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY INJURED, SICK OR AGGRESSIVE PET COULD BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CENTER TO GET HELP.
THIS SURELY CANNOT BE THE CASE.
HEALTHY ANIMALS WILL BE INJURED WITH PICKLES BY OTHER ANIMALS OR USED BY BOUGIE MIGHT INFLICT HARM ON THEM.
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF REASONS WHY THEY WOULD NOT BLACKIE FIND THEIR WAY BACK HOME WITH HIM.
SO SUCH A SUCH A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE IN FAIRNESS TO ALL INCLUDING THE STRAY ANIMALS.
[00:55:01]
THE PLAN TO AN OPEN INTAKE MUST NOT.COMMUNITY INCURRED IS NECESSARY AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE BEFORE ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE.
ONCE THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY BOARD HAS YOUR INFORMATION.
ONE HAND, THEN I BELIEVE AN EDUCATED AND FAIR DECISION CAN BE MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OUR HOMELESS ANIMALS IN AUSTIN.
ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS TO KNOCK AN AUSTIN CITY ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROTECT ALL HOMELESS ANIMALS, NOT JUST THOSE INJURED CHICKS.
IF WE TRULY CARE ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE, THERE WOULD BE HOPEFULLY A MAJORITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WOULD VOTE FOR THE ORDINANCE WHEREBY THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WOULD OFFER OPEN INTAKE FOR THE ANIMALS OF THE SUIT.
I THANK YOU KINDLY YOUR TIME, YOUR SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
JULIE MARTINSON FOLLOWED BY SANDRA MUELLER.
HI, THIS IS SANDRA MALA DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M OPPOSED TO THIS CLOSURE OF INTAKE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.
SO AS YOU KNOW, CLOSING OR MANAGING INTAKE IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION TO RELEASING ANIMALS TO THE STREETS.
THE CITY MUST ASSIST HEALTHY ANIMALS, THAT CAN'T BE HELPED BY CITIZENS.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THREE ONE, ONE HAS BEEN GIVING INCORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING SICK AND INJURED ANIMAL.
PLEASE ALSO CORRECT THIS DURING THIS PANORAMIC APA ON JEFFERSON AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS HALF MODEL OF ANIMAL SHELTERING.
IT'S AUSTIN ALREADY PROVIDES COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES LIKE FENCING, MICROCHIPS FOOD BABIES CLINICS HAS OVER A HUNDRED RESCUE PARTNERS AND GROUPS LIKE A MASSIVE PET ALS P TRAPPERS, AND NEXT DOOR.
PLEASE ADVISE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO PARTICIPATE.
I'M INTERESTED IN SEEING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THIS HOUSE MODEL ALONG WITH NON-BIASED PUBLICLY AVAILABLE DATA, INCLUDING DEMOGRAPHICS BEFORE ANY ATTEMPTS TO CHANGE CITY OR STATE LAW
UM, THE HALF MILE SEEMS TO BE BASED ON TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE IS ASSUMPTION THAT CITIZENS WANTS TO FOSTER ANIMALS AND DEFINITELY INTO A FOUND ANIMALS SURVEY REGARDING NUMBER ONE BEST FRIEND'S RECENT PET POINT.
DATA SHOWS THAT THE REST OF FOSTER IN APRIL DUE TO COVID WAS NEARLY A BLIP AND THAT FOSTER STARTS RETURNED TO NORMAL OR LOWER AFTERWARDS.
ALSO FOSTER ANIMALS ARE STARTING TO BE RETURNED AND YOU, THE SURVEY IS A VERY SMALL SAMPLE SIZE AND I HOPE EXPANDED DATA WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OTHER PROBLEMS THAT COME TO MIND ARE, IS THE CITY OF AUSTIN LIABLE FOR GOOD SAMARITANS WHO ARE BITTEN OR FIND THEMSELVES IN OWNERSHIP DISPUTES.
ANOTHER PROBLEM IS STATE LAW PROHIBITS MEDICAL CARE FOR ANIMALS NOT OWNED BY THE SHELTER UPON INTAKE AT AAC.
ANIMALS ARE CHECKED FOR SPAY-NEUTER GIVE THEM VACCINES AND PREVENTATIVES FOR FLEA.
TICK HEARTWORM, CINDI WORMS DOGS ARE TESTED FOR HEART ROOM.
CATS ARE TESTED FOR FELV AND FIV.
HOW WILL CITIZENS KNOW IF AN ANIMAL IS HEALTHY OR HANDLE ALL OF THIS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE PREGNANCIES AND PUPPIES AND KITTENS? WHERE IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE MONEY? MEANWHILE, I'LL JOIN THIS.
COVID APA CONTINUES TO PULL HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS FROM HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY, CLEARLY TAKING FOSTER HOMES FROM AUSTIN STRAND ANIMALS.
SINCE 2012, APA HAS TAKEN LESS THAN 20% OF THE ANIMALS FROM AAC ALL WHILE USING TAXPAYER LAND FOR FREE AND GETTING HALF OF THE
I SUGGEST APA IMMEDIATELY INCREASED THEIR ASSISTANCE TO AAC REGARDING FOSTER HOMES AND COLLECT DATA TO PROVE THEIR MODEL.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN COVE IS GOING TO END HERE IN AUSTIN, SO LET'S BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMISSION, AAC STAFF AND THE ADVOCATES WITH THE BIG VOICES.
STEPHANIE, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I AM.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN LOSS AND DOWN PAT, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CREATED IN JANUARY, 2016 AT THE REQUEST OF FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF AWESOME ANIMAL SERVICES, CHRISTIAN ALABBAR AND, AND I'M WE'VE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SHELTER AND TAKE BY THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS ANNUALLY.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO CHANGES IN AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER INTAKE, ACCORDING TO AN EMAIL FROM ATA BOARD MEMBER, RUSTY TALLY TAMIR, STEVE ADLER,
[01:00:01]
REGARDING REGARDING HAT APA, HIS NEW PROPOSED MODEL FOR ANIMAL SHELTERING NATIONALLY, WHICH WAS DATED MAY 17.AND I QUOTE THE CITY OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER DIRECTOR.
DON BLAND IS ON BOARD AND WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE INITIAL DISCUSSIONS OF AUSTIN AS LUDA.
UNFORTUNATELY, BLAND LED IT S KNOWS IF THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER IS NOT WANTING TO BE A PART OF THE PILOT PUBLICLY, BUT INSTEAD OF BEHIND THE SCENES, UNFORTUNATELY THIS CONTINUING BEHIND THE SCENES IS EXACTLY WHAT I ASSUME.
I'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF CALLS ON OUR 800 NUMBER FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
MANY OF WHOM WERE IN TEARS BECAUSE THEY FOUND ANIMALS COULD NOT KEEP THEM.
AND AT THE CONTACTING THREE, ONE, ONE ANIMAL CONTROL AND OR AAC SUMMIT, THEY HAD NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO.
IN SOME CASES, BERKELEY, ONE, ONE REPRESENTATIVE AND ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS INSPECTED PEOPLE WITH AGGRESSIVE DOGS THAT THEY HAD FOUND TO JUST RELEASE THEM ONTO THE STREET.
UNQUESTIONABLE BEINGS ARE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, NOT TO MENTION I'M TOO BURDENED AND TREMENDOUS EMOTIONAL STRESS ON INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
MANY PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS MUNICIPAL ANIMAL SHELTERS, WHICH ARE PAID FOR, WITH OUR TAXES EXISTS.
IN FACT, ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT, ANIMAL SHELTERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE AT THE ONSET OF COVID AWESOME.
OFTENTIMES THAT'S UP TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FOSTERS ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WILLING OR ABLE TO DO LONG TERM I'M LIKE ABC AND ACA.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE PHONES OR MANPOWER TO TAKE OVER THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
SO FAR TOO, THE RISKS TO THE HUMAN AND ANIMAL LIFE, NOT TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF DRIVERS ATTEMPTING TO AVOID STRAY ANIMALS IN THE ROADWAY.
I CAN TELL THE LIE HAS THE MOST TO GAIN FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER NO LONGER IN TAKING THOSE DOWN ANIMALS AS THEIR INITIAL PURPOSE WAS SUPPORT ANIMALS FROM AAC IN ORDER TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR AUSTIN.
NOW THAT THE FOCUS IS TURNED TO PROMOTING A NATIONAL AGENDA, NOT HAVING TO PULL UNCLAIMED PET FROM A SHELTER IS PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL TO THEM.
I JUST FREES UP THE RESOURCES FOR ENDEAVORS OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, I AM OPPOSED TO THE SHELTER ALTERING INTAKE PROCEDURES FOR NUMBERS, PROCEDURES FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ADDRESS WITH YOU IN THREE MINUTES OR LESS.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONCURRING BECAUSE ALL OF THE POLICE BEING MADE BY THOSE OF US SPEAKING TODAY WITHOUT COMMUNITY INPUT, BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ANY CHANGES TO SHELTER INTAKE POLICY AND NOT CALL REGARDING SHELTER INTAKE TODAY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU, STEPHANIE BILL GROW.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
UM, I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY ADDRESS THE MIXING OF THE HAAS PROJECT OR THE IT'S SHORT FOR HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
UM, THAT PILOT PROJECT AND THE AAC INTAKE POLICY.
UM, JUST FOR SOME BACKGROUND HOSTAGE, MEETUP OF 30 TOP GOVERNMENT ANIMAL SHELTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
UM, IT'S BEING FUNDED BY SEVEN, UM, DIFFERENT LARGE ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ANIMAL WELFARE LEADERS INVOLVED, UM, IN OVER 30 WORKING GROUPS CURRENTLY WHO ARE HAVING DISCUSSIONS ALMOST DAILY, UM, TO ADDRESS THE FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES THAT EXIST IN THE PRE COVID ANIMAL SULTRY, UM, COST ESSENTIALLY CAME ABOUT BECAUSE SHELTERS ARE DECREASED IN THE PAST CITY EVERYWHERE BECAUSE OF THE COVEN HUMAN HEALTH HAZARD.
I'M HOPING TO MEASURABLY SOLVE THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS THAT LEAD TO CROWDED SHELTERS WHILE MEN CAN STAY AND THE SEPARATION OF ANIMALS FROM THEIR HOMES, AS FAR AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, IF HE'S NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES OR IN FRONT OF THE SCENES, CLEARLY, UM, IF AEC DOESN'T ACT IMMEDIATELY TO BE PART OF THAT EVOLUTION IN ANIMAL SERVICES, THE CURRENT PROBLEMS THEY FACE WILL EXPONENTIALLY GROW BECAUSE OF THREE THINGS.
ONE COVERT RESTRICTIONS WILL CONTINUE POTENTIALLY FOR YEARS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE ON MANY SHELTERS.
POSSIBLY WE CAN EXPECT TWO TO THREE TIMES THE INTAKE OF ANIMAL SINCE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING ISSUES ARE DRIVING OWNERS TO UNDER INTAKE.
SO THE ANIMAL SHELTERING IS CHANGING.
AND IF AUSTIN IS NOT PART OF THAT, THEY WILL BE LEFT BEHIND.
POS IS STRONGLY RELATED TO THE CURRENT HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS WELL TO REIMAGINE LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE ANIMAL SERVICES, WHICH BEGAN BY BEING RUN BY THE POLICE IS ALSO PEOPLE NEEDED IN AN EQUITY BETWEEN THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS.
HAAS IS THE REIMAGINATION OF ANIMAL SERVICES TO REALLOCATE FUNDS, TO SOCIAL SERVICES TYPE OF SUPPORT WHILE THE PERCEIVED AAC POLICY OF JUST IGNORING ANIMAL COMPLAINTS.
IT'S MORE LIKE ENTIRELY DEFENDING ANIMAL SERVICES.
BOSTON WOULD LOOK LIKE WHAT SOUNDS A MEMBER OF GREG'S BAR IS CHAMPIONING THIS WEEK WITH DRIVES THROUGH COBRA TESTING,
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GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE MOST COVID.IT WAS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THOSE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS OR THOSE EXPERIENCING THE HIGHEST INTAKE INTO THE SHELTER.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO TAKE UP AN ITEM ON HAAS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
WRAPS UP THE SPEAKERS UP COMMISSIONERS
[Item 1]
VERY QUICKLY.WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM OUR FEBRUARY MEETING.
AND JOANNE BELINDA WAS ASKING IF YOU REMEMBERED, IF YOU WERE THE SECOND TO APPROVE THE JANUARY MINUTES, DO YOU KNOW? DO YOU REMEMBER? OKAY, SO QUICKLY, WILL SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO, OKAY.
LET'S GO WITH CRAIG MAKING THE MOTION AND MONICA SECOND AND UH, WE NEED, WE NEED VERBAL RESPONSE.
SO JUST EVERYBODY UNMUTE AND ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[Item 2A]
UH, AND I PUT ELECTION OF OFFICERS ON HERE CAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT BACK IN APRIL.ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS NOT CURRENTLY SERVING AS AN OFFICER WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR ANY OF THOSE POSITIONS REAL QUICK? OKAY.
LISA AND NANCY, ARE YOU WILLING TO CONTINUE A CHAIR? I'M CHAIR.
NANCY IS PARLIAMENTARIAN SPEED.
AND THEN GO THROUGH, I GUESS, FEBRUARY.
IS THERE A TIME LIMIT FOR YOU BEING CHAIR? I UNDERSTAND.
LIKE, DO YOU HAVE TO, I DON'T HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
I'M NOT SURE IF I'VE REACHED IT YET.
UM, BUT THE TERM LIMIT DOESN'T APPLY.
IF I GET, IF EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S LIKE A TWO THIRDS, MAJORITY OR SOMETHING, I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I'M WILLING TO DO IT TO FINISH OUT THIS OTHER TERM.
BUT MY COUNCIL MEMBER IS LEAVING COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY AND I'M GOING WITH HER.
SO I'M GETTING OFF THE COMMISSION IN FEBRUARY.
BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT ME TO CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, I'LL BE HAPPY.
SO ANY, UM, WE CAN EITHER MAKE A, OH, WE CAN MAKE SEPARATE MOTIONS OR MAKE ONE MOTION.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO JUST KEEP THE CURRENT.
OFFICERS ARE WILLING TO SERVE.
DID WE VOTE ON THAT? ALL RIGHT.
ANY, ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS OR ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
WE'LL JUST CONTINUE THE WAY IT IS FOR NOW.
[Items 2B & 3]
SO NOW WE'RE ON ITEM TWO B.AND DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR DO YOU WANT US TO GO STRAIGHT TO QUESTION?
UM, STATEMENT I WANT TO MAKE IS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE WHEN WE WERE TOLD BY THE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL CITY LEADERSHIP TO CLOSE IN ON MARCH 16TH.
UM, THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE OUT OF CONTROL OF IT.
AND WE HAD TO ELIMINATE ALL PUBLIC VOLUNTEERS WERE CONSIDERED PUBLIC DURING THAT TIME, THOSE FIRST 77 DAYS, WE, THERE WAS A MIGRATION.
UH, WE STARTED WITH NOT TAKING ANYTHING EXCEPT SICK AND INJURED IN THE FIELD.
AND WE SLOWLY MIGRATED TO HANDLE THE SITUATION.
IN THOSE 77 DAYS, WE TOOK IN 858 ANIMALS ON JUNE 1ST, WE OPENED UP BY APPOINTMENT AND CHANGE THE POLICY TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO COME IN.
IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, WE TOOK IN 783 ANIMALS AND WE ONLY GOT OUT 595.
WE STARTED WITH CURBSIDE ADOPTIONS AND FOUND THAT WE HAD SOME SUCCESS.
AND SO WE INCREASED TO IN SHELTER ADOPTIONS, AND WE SCHEDULED FOR APPOINTMENTS UP ON OUR, WE CANNOT GET PEOPLE TO COME IN FOR THOSE FOUR POINTS.
UH, SO WE ARE LOSING GROUND FAST.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOST IS, UM, BASED ON
[01:10:01]
EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC COMING IN, THEY FELT UNSAFE.SO WE HAD HAD, UM, 2,672 HOURS THAT PEOPLE HAD TAKEN OFF, UH, THAT THE CITY'S ALLOWED THEM TO COVID SICK TIME.
SO IT'S JUST LIMIT THEIR EXPOSURE.
THAT'S 334 DAYS THAT THEY'VE TAKEN OFF.
IF YOU LOOK AT EIGHT HOURS A DAY AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE ONES THAT HAD FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, THAT'S TAKEN OFF AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN NORMAL, SICK TIME AND VACATION ON TOP OF THE COVID STUFF, WE MISSED 11,540 HOURS.
SINCE THIS CLOSED THE EMPLOYEES, WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
AND THE, SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE, I GUESS YOU MIGHT SAY THEY'RE FEARFUL OF BEING AROUND PUBLIC.
SO WE LOST STAFF BECAUSE OF THAT ALSO.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST.
WE CAN KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS THAT, YOU KNOW, NEED OUR HELP.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT HAVE I LEFT? ANYTHING OUT GUYS? YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN, UH, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WE HAVE GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS TO THREE, ONE, ONE, AND KEEP GIVING THEM THE SAME INSTRUCTIONS.
AND FOR SOME REASON THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING TO THREE, ONE, ONE PEOPLE, WE, YOU KNOW, UH, ANIMAL PROTECTION IS CONTINUALLY TALKING WITH THEM.
AND SO, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE AS THEIR WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS AND WHAT THEY'RE BEING TOLD TO PEOPLE IS NOT CONSISTENT.
THAT WAS RECENT INTERACTION THAT WE HAVEN'T DOING ONE VISITATION, BUT TO SEND A MASS EMAIL OUT TO ALL THREE, ONE, ONE PASTORS LIKE ADVICE TO MUDDY DOG LOOSE, I THINK TELLING THEM THAT, NOT A THING.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE RECOMMEND TO DO.
THAT'S NOT AT ALL, BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT WE'VE MET WITH ALL OF OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY'RE AWARE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE THAT'S TO ENSURE THAT YOU'RE NOT TELLING THE PUBLIC AT ALL.
AND THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING AND WE TALK IT UP AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE, UH, AND I THINK, OKAY, MANI CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THAT IF SHE NEEDS TO.
BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE PUT NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL PROGRAMS IN THOSE DISADVANTAGED AREAS WHERE WE WERE GETTING THE MOST STRAIGHTEN ANIMALS.
AND IT MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE THAT THEY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF STRAY ANIMALS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS NOW THEY NEED TO GO INTO BECAUSE MOST PROGRAMS IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS OF STRAYS COMING FROM THOSE AREAS STATEMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO BUILD ON DON LANDS, WHAT HE WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WHEN THEY PUT THE PERMANENT PROGRAM FOR TWO DIFFERENT, HEY, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? THIS IS MARK FLOWED.
WHEN SPEAKING, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTAKE REDUCTION, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO START AT THE END OF MARCH WAS THAT I HAD A PROGRAM THAT WAS TARGETED INTAKE REDUCTION WAS THE NAME OF IT.
AND I HAD A COMPLETE PLAN LAID OUT.
I HAD PRESENTED IT TO THE LEADERSHIP IN THE SHELTER, AND THIS WAS TO GO INTO A HIGH END TECH NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE, TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO TO HELP THEM.
UM, THIS WAS OUT IN THE SPAIN, NEUTER, FENCING, MICROCHIPPING, TAGGING, WHATEVER IT MIGHT NEED TO GET, TO GET THEM, TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS HOME AND TO KEEP THEIR ANIMALS OR GET THEM BACK TO THEM.
THIS ALL CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT WITH COVID AS DID OUR 70 MICROCHIP STANDARDS PLACED IN FIRE STATIONS AND REC CENTERS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING DURING THIS TIME.
WE ARE WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY AT TRYING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO TAKE IN A NUMBER OF ANIMALS.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE YOU HERE.
SO DAWN, DAWN, JASON, JASON, REBECCA.
DAVID, CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION I ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW IS COULD THEY MAYBE TURN THE VIDEO ON SO WE CAN KIND OF FOLLOW WHO'S SPEAKING, IT'S HARD ON THIS PLATFORM, SO IT'D BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD SEE WHO'S SPEAKING.
[01:15:01]
YEAH.THEY MAY BE ON THE PHONE ON, I DON'T KNOW.
DAWN, ARE YOU ON THE PHONE? ARE YOU ON VIDEO? YEAH, WE ARE ON COMPUTER.
SO, SO LISA, WHY DON'T YOU START WITH QUESTIONS AS VICE CHAIR? YOU SAID YOU HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS, CORRECT? ONCE YOU START.
I ONLY HAVE A COUPLE CAUSE I WANT TO LET OTHER PEOPLE ASK THEIR QUESTIONS, BUT I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEN THE ANSWER IS THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION THEN BETWEEN WHAT STAFF WAS DIRECTED TO DO AND WHAT THE VIDEO SHOWS OF THE AAC STAFF MEMBER TELLING SOMEBODY JUST TO TAKE THE DOG BACK TO WHERE THEY FOUND THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
IN ADDITION TO THE, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT ALL THIS? SO I'M JUST KINDA CURIOUS.
WHAT'S WHAT IS BEING TOLD TO STAFF MEMBERS? SO YES, THEY'RE THERE INITIALLY THAT WAS MENTIONING WHEN WE WEREN'T CLEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, IF DIRECTION WASN'T, THE ANIMAL WAS HEALTHY ENOUGH, WE'RE ABLE TO FIND A NEIGHBORHOOD TO CUT BACK OFF.
ONCE WE FOUND OUT WAS LIKE, THAT'S NOT A VIABLE OPTION.
HE THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF, BUT STILL HAVING THAT, HE SORT OF HAD A DEEP I'M LIKE, WHY IS THIS STILL BEING A THING? WE WERE HEARING IT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SOME OF THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE BROUGHT IT UP THAT, HEY, YOU'RE STILL HAVING THREE WOMEN TELL PEOPLE TO LIKE, SO WHAT, OKAY, WE'RE HERE.
I MEAN, I JUST, I DON'T WANT TO DRAG IT OUT.
I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WORDS ARE BEING TOLD TO THEM, BUT LET'S MOVE ON TO SOMEBODY WHO HAS MORE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE 13 MINUTES LEFT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT, JASON.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN DIFFERENT TIMES WITH COVID AND A LOT'S BEEN CHANGING, BUT FROM WHAT I JUST HEARD ON THE COMMUNICATION OF WHERE YOU ARE AND WHAT THE POLICY IS, AND WHAT'S BEING DONE, THAT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT.
COULD YOU POST OR SHARE ON THE WEBSITE, WHAT THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE AT ANY GIVEN TIME TO THREE, ONE, ONE.
SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE INSTRUCTING PEOPLE TO DO.
THAT'S WHY I HAD TO FIND OUT WHERE THERE'S MISCOMMUNICATION.
MY MIND IS BASICALLY THE POST THAT DOESN'T LEAVE THE TOP, LIKE THE FIRST METHOD AND THEN LIKE DATE AND TIME, IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES, CAN YOU LIKE THEN TIMESTAMP WHEN THE CHANGES ARE JUST SO IT CAN BE FOLLOWED SINCE, SINCE THINGS ARE MOVING, WE CAN SEE ANYBODY COULD LOG ON, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THREE, ONE, ONE IS SAYING IT'S, IT'S IT'S FRONT AND CENTER ON THE WEBSITE OF WHAT'S BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THREE, ONE, ONE ON EMAIL, LETTING THEM KNOW WE HAVEN'T DOCUMENTED.
THIS IS THE CHANGE, YOU KNOW, TO ALSO HAVEN'T DOWN.
AYE, BECAUSE IT WAS GOING, GO AHEAD.
UM, SO THANK YOU TO THOSE STAFF.
UM, I KNOW IT'S BEEN TRYING TO HAVE TO REDO PROCEDURES AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE CALLED IN AND SHARED YOUR COMMENTS WITH US.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME, UM, HOW THE AAC BUDGET IS BEING AFFECTED BY COVID OR, AND THE CLOSERS? I I'M HEARING THAT BOTH THE BUDGET'S GOING TO BE CUT AND THAT THERE'S A HIRING FREEZE.
IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT THE SHELTER? YEAH, THERE IS A HIRING FREEZE AND WE HAVE HAD EMPTY POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN ON WHEN WE SUBMITTED THEM.
SO YES, THERE IS A HIRING FREEZE.
UH, I THINK OF ALL THOSE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE SENT SO FAR, IT'S THE ONLY ONE THAT'S BEEN TURNED DOWN.
[01:20:03]
THE, UM, I KNOW THAT TOMORROW, UH, VOLUNTEERS ARE STARTING TODAY, VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE SHELTER, TO WALK DOGS ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS IN THE MORNING.UM, I KNOW THAT IT'S A CAPACITY LIMIT OF HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN HAVE AT THE SHELTER AT ONE TIME.
UM, CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE'S ANY PLAN IN PLACE TO TRY TO, UM, GET PEOPLE THERE ARE VOLUNTEERS THERE IN THE EVENING SAY FROM SEVEN TO NINE 30 WHEN THE, UM, CUSTOMER SERVICE GROUP HAS LEFT.
UH, SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
AND ALSO THEIR ADLER HAS BEEN ON, UM, TALKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE ANOTHER 35 DAY LOCKDOWN.
WOULD THAT AFFECT VOLUNTEERS COMING INTO THE SHELTER? OKAY.
WELL, WE HAVE BEEN, WE WERE PUSHED BACK 28 DAYS FROM OUR ORIGINAL INCEPTION OF STARTING THE REINTEGRATION PLAN.
WE, SO WHEN THE VOLUNTEERS STARTED COMING IN TODAY, WE SHOULD HAVE, IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THE CITY PLAN, WE WOULD HAVE POSTPONED THAT ANOTHER 28 DAYS.
BUT WE KNOW WITH OUR STAFF SHORTAGE AND WITH, UH, LESS ANIMALS LEAVING, THEN YOU'RE COMING IN, WE NEEDED THE ASSISTANCE.
SO WE START, WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ALLOWING THE VOLUNTEERS TO COME IN.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW IT WORKS, SEE WHERE WE NEED PEOPLE.
WE WANT EVERYBODY BACK AS SOON AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, BUT WE'RE LIMITED ON HOW MANY WE CAN GET BACK AND KEEP THE STAFF SITE ALL SET.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT THAT BALANCING ACT, TRY TO CONTINUE TO GET VOLUNTEERS BACK IN WHEN WE CAN AND HOW WE CAN WORK WITH THEM AND STILL KEEP OUR STAFF.
SAY, UM, MY LAST QUESTION, UM, REGARDING THE PASS PROGRAM THAT HAS COME UP, UM, OKAY.
CITY LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING YOURSELF, MR. BLAND, I'M ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, SHORTER AND MAYOR ADLER HAVE ALL BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.
AND YET PUT DECISION STANDS BY THE CITY LEADERSHIP THAT AC IS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM.
UM, CAN YOU JUST GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHY? WELL, UM, I WAS NOT, I WAS ON VACATION FOR A FEW DAYS LAST WEEK AND I KNOW THAT JASON WITH THE CITY MANAGER SPOKE WITH SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE JUST CHANGING POLICY TOO.
KEEP OUR STAFF SAFE DURING COVID LOOK AT THE OKAY.
SO CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT THIS TIME TRYING TO MAKE ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE? SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON.
AND TO ADD FURTHER THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, WE ARE DOING FREE PHOBIC, BUT AGAIN, WE WERE JUST GETTING SOME, SOME INITIAL DATA.
I THINK IF WE WERE TO MAKE ANY SORT OF PERMANENT CHANGES TO THAT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, UM, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANTED TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD SOLIDIFIED DATA THAT WE COULD THEN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, WHAT WE'VE SEEN, GET THEIR FEEDBACK BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE ANY PERMANENT CHANGES TO IT.
SO, UM, IT'S MORE ALONG THOSE LINES, THE INITIAL DATA WE SAW THOSE SHOW WHAT WE SAW, BUT AGAIN, HOW CAN WE STOP, YOU KNOW, GETTING MORE DATA FROM THAT DATA WE'RE HITTING SPECIFIC TARGET AREAS.
THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE A MORE WELL INFORMED DECISION THAT WE COULD SHARE.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING OUR QUESTION TODAY AND FOR, UH, ATTENDING THIS MEETING.
UM, SO I DID WANT TO ASK IN THAT SPECIFIC VIDEO THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN REFERENCING, UH, THAT WAS MAKING ROUNDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE WAS A, YOU KNOW, A STATEMENT MADE BY THE EMPLOYEE, BY THE STAFF, UH, STATING THAT THE ANIMALS WERE NOT BEING CARED FOR PROPERLY THERE.
UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE, YOU HAVE BEEN TAKING, UH, INJURED ANIMALS.
HOW ARE THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE REQUIRING SURGERY, UH, BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND, OR ARE SURGERIES BEING PUT OFF? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CONTRACT FOR OUTSIDE VETERINARY SPECIALISTS THAT COME IN, UM, AND I HOLD IT, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GOING TO THE SPECIFIC VETERINARIANS HAVE NOT BEEN GOING TO THAT CLINICS TO ASSIST.
SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT IS A AAC DOING, UH, TO ENSURE THAT THOSE ANIMALS ARE BEING CARED FOR PROPERLY? UH, WHEN, WHEN LIKE HOSPITALS WERE TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, ELIMINATE ALL IN, ON A CENTRAL SURGERIES, WE STOPPED, UH, SPAIN.
WELL, WE ONLY HAD, WHEN WE CLOSED, WE HAD 25 ANIMALS THAT WERE IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WEREN'T SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
[01:25:01]
SO WE STOPPED SPAYING AND NEUTERING BECAUSE WE WEREN'T ADOPTING AT THAT POINT.AND WHEN THEY, AND WE CONTINUED TO DO OUR FULL MEDICAL STAFF WAS HERE, THEY SPLIT THEIR TIME BETWEEN TWO SHIFTS.
SO THAT ONE TEAM, IF THEY WERE EXPOSED TO THE OTHER TEAM WOULD STILL BE HEALTHY.
AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THOSE SURGERIES INTERNALLY.
WE HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF THOSE ANIMALS AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AS SOON AS WE STARTED DOING MORE ADOPTIONS FROM FOSTER AND WE COULD GET ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED, WE STARTED SCHEDULING THOSE IN ALL SET.
SO OUR, OUR MEDICAL TEAM HAS COMPLETELY, UH, BEEN HERE IN FULL FORCE WORKING THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
UM, I WAS, UM, I'VE BEEN BOOTED OUT OF MY PICKIER TWO TIMES NOW.
UM, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, UM, I, I DO HAVE A LOT OF COMMENTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME TO MAKE THEM ALL, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW I GOT BOOTED OUT AND, UM, I, UH, JUST, JUST SO YOU KNOW,
I WILL HAVE TO MAKE THE COMMENTS, UH, NEXT TIME, CAUSE I KNOW WE ONLY HAVE FOUR MINUTES, BUT, UM, UH, I THANK YOU.
ANYBODY ELSE WITH A QUICK QUESTION? YEAH, I THINK I HAVE A COUPLE OF JUST, I JUST WANT TO ESTABLISH FACTS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE, UM, UH, THE FACTS THEMSELVES ARE, ARE UP FOR DEBATE AND HOPEFULLY THEY WON'T, THEY SHOULDN'T BE ASKED TO ANSWER THESE QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THESE ARE UPSET JUST TO BE CLEAR.
THE CURRENT POLICY, THERE IS NO CURRENT POLICY AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
THE TILT TELL, TELL PEOPLE TO LET STRAYS GO OR TO CLOSE STRAIGHT INTAKE.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT IS NOT THE CURRENT POLICY AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND THEN THERE IS NO PROPOSAL TO CLOSE STRAIGHT INTAKE OR TO INFORM STAFF OR THREE, ONE, ONE TO TELL PEOPLE TO LET STRAITS GO.
THERE'S NO SUCH PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE.
AND ALSO NO COMMUNICATIONS TO THREE, ONE, ONE TO TELL THEM, TO TELL PEOPLE TO LET SPRAYS GO JUST THE OPPOSITE.
AND THEN ALSO, I THINK DON, YOU SAID IN THE MEMO, BUT AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED ON THE LINES.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT AAC IS NOT CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN THE PILOT PROGRAM FOR HAAS IN FORMALLY OR INFORMALLY BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND I THINK YOU ALSO SAID IT IN YOUR MEMO, BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THE HAAS DOES NOT SUPPORT AS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF IT DOES NOT SUPPORT LIMITING INTAKE OR CLOSING STRING INTAKE OR TELLING PEOPLE TO LET THEIR PETTICOATS THAT'S GO.
EVERYTHING THAT I'VE SEEN HAS, UH, THEY HAVE NOT SAID ANYTHING ABOUT ELIMINATING INTAKE WHEN NEEDED.
I JUST WANT TO GET THOSE HACKS OUT SO THAT HOPEFULLY IF PEOPLE ARE LISTENING STILL THAT THEY HEARD THEM.
UM, MAY I MAKE ONE COMMENT? UM, UH, SINCE IT'S A SHORT COMMENT, SINCE WE HAVE TWO MINUTES, I NEED TWO MINUTES TO WRAP UP.
I'LL MAKE MY COMMENTS NEXT TIME THEN.
JUST IN GAINING QUICKLY, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUGGEST, UM, AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU CAN ALWAYS EMAIL TO TWO COUNCIL, TWO COMMISSION MEMBERS CAN PUT ANY AGENDA ITEM.
UM, AND SPEAKING TO THAT, I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO SCHEDULE A REGULAR AUGUST MEETING.
MY OTHER TWO CHOICES WERE 8:00 AM.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THAT.
I THINK THEY'RE BECOMING LESS A HARDER FIND, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
I DO ANTICIPATE THAT THIS HOS ITEM WILL BE AN AGENDA ITEM AT SOME POINT, PROBABLY PROBABLY IN, IN AUGUST.
SO, UM, EVERYONE SHOULD, UH, LOOK AT THE MATERIAL THAT YOU RECEIVED AND TRY TO BONE UP ON IT AGAIN.
CAUSE I, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL NEW TO ME TOO.
AND I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO IT'S ALL ABOUT, BUT I DO ANTICIPATE AT, UH, YOU KNOW, AN AGENDA ITEM AND I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF DISCUSSION.
SO IT PROBABLY SOME MORE LIKELY WILL BE, BUT IT WILL BE LISTED VERY CLEARLY.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT, UH, WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO, UH, JUST CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR A MEETING CALLED SOMETIME, HOPEFULLY IN EARLY AUGUST AND WE HAVE, WELL, WE STILL HAVE THE OLD AGENDA ITEMS WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND, UH, SPEAKERS PROBABLY SHOULD ANTICIPATE US LIMITING TO ONE MINUTE SO WE CAN HAVE MORE TIME FOR DELIBERATIONS, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT GOING IN AND THEN EVERYBODY CAN PLAN.
[01:30:01]
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY SHOWING UP.UH, AND SPEAKING AND STAFF, TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING, NOT DUMB.