Jan 11, 2021 Animal Advisory Commission

[00:00:02]

DOES THE ANIMAL ADVISOR COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING FOR JANUARY 11TH, 2021.

UM, I'LL DO A QUICK ROLL CALL.

I'M HERE, GREG.

NASER HERE.

JOANNE NORTON'S HERE HAD WORKED FOR US.

IS HERE 80 JOURNAL'S HERE.

HEY, KATIE NANCY NAMER HERE.

I MEAN, UH, MONICA FRIENDONE, UM, I KNOW THAT PALMER AND LISA ARE UNABLE TO MAKE IT.

THE OTHER PEOPLE WILL, WILL.

UH, UH, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT SIX OH TWO.

UH, WE HAVE NO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION,

[1a. Review of minutes from December 17, 2020, Special Called Meeting]

AND, UH, WE WILL, UH, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING.

ALL RIGHT.

MOTION BY KATIE.

SECOND BY PLAN.

ANY DISCUSSION, ANY CORRECTIONS? IF NONE, JUST EVERYBODY SAY AYE, PLEASE.

AYE.

MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO.

[2a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports]

DO WE HAVE STAFF ON THE CALL? YOU HAVE DON HERE.

UH, JASON'S OUT TONIGHT, SO IT'LL JUST BE ME.

OKAY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YEAH.

SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

UM, IF YOU'LL NOTICE IN OUR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER REPORTS, UH, THERE'S A BLANK PAGE.

AND THEN ON THE LAST PAGE WHERE IT GIVES THE DOG AND THE CAT LIVE RELEASE RIGHTS, THE TOTAL IS MISSING, UH, THAT IS THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING ON IT TO GET IT TO PRINT CORRECTLY, BUT IN NOVEMBER, THE OVERALL WAS 96.4%.

AND IN DECEMBER IT WAS 98.8.

AND, UM, WE ARE EXCITED BECAUSE, UM, CHRIS HAS BEEN HIRED TO WORK IN AP H A I T REPLACING OUR RYAN THAT DID SO MUCH WORK FOR US.

AND HE'S ON BOARD NOW AND HE'S PICKING UP THE SPEED REALLY QUICKLY.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO GET A LOT OF THESE THINGS, UH, SOLVED AND GET OUR REPORTS GENERATING THE WAY THEY NEED TO AND HAVE SOME SUPPORT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD DURING COVID.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY, I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO GO OVER, BUT DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REPORTS THAT THEY WERE SENT FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER? OKAY.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT ON, UH, DECEMBER THE 22ND, WE FINALLY GOT THE COUNTY ILI SIGNED.

SO WE, THAT WAS, THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON THAT SINCE I ARRIVED.

SO, YOU KNOW, 17 MONTHS HERE, WE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT.

SO WE FINALLY GOT IT SIGNED.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, UM, GOING ON JUST TO KIND OF KEEP YOU UP THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE DID MEET IN DECEMBER AND HAAS WAS ON THEIR AGENDA AND THEY HAD DISCUSSION.

THEY WANTED TO HAVE SOME MORE DISCUSSION AND I PUT IT BACK ON THEIR AGENDA FOR JANUARY THE BULL HOOK AND THE DECLAW CAT CHANGES THAT Y'ALL HAD RECOMMENDED AND PUSHED THE COUNCIL.

UH, WE WERE ASKED TO PUT THAT ON THE FEBRUARY 18TH AGENDA TO GIVE LEGAL ENOUGH TIME TO DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GET DONE BEFORE IT WENT TO COUNCIL.

SO THAT SHOULD BE ON THE FEBRUARY 18TH COUNCIL AGENDA.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT WAS SOME OF THE THINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, CHANGES THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

AND ONE OF THEM, WE MENTIONED LAST TIME WAS OUR, OUR CHAT BOT THAT WE ADDED TO OUR WEBSITE.

AND, UH, SINCE ITS INCEPTION, 3,800 PEOPLE HAVE USED THE CHAT FUNCTION, UH, WITH CONVERSATIONS TOTALLING OVER 4693% OF THOSE INQUIRIES WERE RESOLVED WITHOUT SOMEONE HAVING TO ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THEM ON THE PHONE A LITTLE OVER 37% OF THE CONVERSATIONS WERE ABOUT THE ADOPTION PROCESS AND THE REST RANGE FROM EVERYWHERE FROM, YOU KNOW, OUR LOCATION, UH, FOSTER AND ANIMAL PROTECTION.

SO EACH MONTH WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASE, UH, IN THE TREND AND WE'RE MAKING CHANGES ACCORDINGLY.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT, UM, WE'RE WE JUST DID IS WE PUT ON OUR LOST AND FOUND TEXT.

SO IF YOU FIND AN ANIMAL OR YOU LOST AN ANIMAL, YOU CAN TEXT, UH, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE AND IT WILL GIVE YOU PERTINENT INFORMATION, GIVE YOU LINKS.

IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN GET REALLY QUICKLY WITHOUT ACTUALLY TALKING TO A HUMAN AND WALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

[00:05:01]

WE'RE ACTUALLY LOGGING IN TO DO A TEST TOMORROW.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL BE ADDING TO OUR, OUR BUCKET OF TOOLS.

AND WE'RE ALSO INVESTIGATING, LOST MY DOG AND LOST MY KIDDIE WEBSITES, UH, HOME TO HOME.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES THAT HAVE LITTLE OR NO COSTS THAT WE'RE ADDING TO OUR WEBSITE.

ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP AN ANIMAL GET HOME WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

SO THOSE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

UH, LET'S SEE SOMETHING ELSE.

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION, UM, WE HAVE SOME VOLUNTEERS THAT WE KNOW THAT GOING TO VIRTUAL ADOPTIONS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MORE INFORMATION WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE.

THE, SO THERE'S A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT, UH, HAVE FORMED A LITTLE GROUP CALLED CHAMELEON CLUB THAT ARE HELPING EXPAND.

THEY'RE PUTTING VIDEOS TOGETHER, UH, PICTURES, BIOS MORE INFORMATION SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE THIS UPFRONT BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE TO TALK WITH A PERSON.

AND I WANT TO THANK THOSE PEOPLE FOR HELPING AND STEPPING OUT AND DOING THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, IT WAS OUR CHANGES, UH, SINCE STAGE FIVE.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WENT TO VIRTUAL ADOPTIONS AND WE SCALED BACK OUR APPOINTMENTS.

WE WANT, WE, WE PUT ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE TO, UH, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE THEY COME ON CAMPUS.

UH, IF WE CAN GO OUT TO THEM AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEM COME ON CAMPUS, THAT'S IDEAL.

UH, WE, WE HAVE STILL, EVEN THOUGH WE SAY WE SET UP FIVE APPOINTMENTS, WE'RE TAKING IN 2020 TO THE 26, 24 19, THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE TAKING ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO WE'RE STILL TAKING THEM LOTS OF ANIMALS.

AND, UM, WE'RE STILL OUR, OUR VIRTUAL ADOPTIONS ARE PICKING UP AND SINCE THEY DON'T PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT GIVING THEM THAT CHOICE WHEN WE GAVE THEM A CHOICE.

PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT TO DO VIRTUAL.

THEY WANTED TO COME IN, BUT SINCE WE'RE DOING VIRTUAL AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, THEY CAN'T COME IN, IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

SO WE'RE KIND OF STAYING NECK AND NECK AND, UH, GETTING OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN GET IN.

SO WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL RIGHT NOW WITH THAT.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT IT SEEMS TO BE GOING REALLY WELL RIGHT NOW.

AND ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? WELL, I'LL SAY THAT I DIDN'T, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO VIRTUAL MEETINGS EITHER, AND THAT SEEMED TO BE WORKING OUT, BUT I, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, GO AND GETTING BACK TO IN PERSON MEETINGS.

SO HOPEFULLY OPTIONS GO.

AND IF ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ANYBODY.

OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE, DAWN? NO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT WE CAN OPEN OUR DOORS UP AND LET EVERYBODY COME ON IN.

OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

[3a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Proposed Revisions to the City’s Vicious Dog Ordinance]

FIRST IS THE, UH, REVISIONS TO THE CITY'S VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE.

JOANNE.

UM, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A STATUS OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT.

UM, A COUPLE OF ISSUES WERE RAISED AT THE LAST MEETING AND, UM, ONE OF THEM WAS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS FOR KEEPING A VICIOUS DOG IN THE CITY, UM, UNDER SECTION C.

SO I REVIEWED A LOT OF, UM, LAWS IN DIFFERENT CITIES THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND, UM, KIND OF CAME UP WITH A LIST OF A FEW THAT I THOUGHT COULD WORK.

UM, AND, UM, COMMISSIONER CLINTON WAS, UM, VERY GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME AND COMMENTS AND WE WORKED ON THEM AND WE CAME UP WITH A DOABLE LIST ON THIS DOCUMENT.

UM, SO, UM, I COULD EITHER GO THROUGH THEM OR SINCE WE'RE, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WAIT ON A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.

YOU COULD JUST READ THEM IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THEM, OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER, TO ANSWER THEM.

UM, DOES ANYBODY READ THEM IN HAVE QUESTION? UM, OKAY.

UM, I THINK RYAN DOES JOANNE.

NO, I, I, I'M SORRY.

I, I THOUGHT YOU WERE WRAPPING UP.

SO I RAISE MY HAND.

I'LL JUST SAY IT ANALYSIS AND THEN I'LL STOP TALKING.

UM, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HOW MUCH WORK YOU'VE PUT IN ON THIS JOANNE AND, UM, HOW MUCH YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO EVERYBODY.

I MEAN, YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH AND I SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS ON THIS.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, RYAN.

UM, ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP WAS, UM, WAS THE, DID THE VICIOUS DOG ORDINANCE HAVE ANY CON ON CONFLICT WITH, UM, ANY STATE LAWS AND, UM, UH, I LOOKED

[00:10:01]

AND THERE IS SOMETHING REGARDING DANGEROUS DOG ON THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

SO AT THIS POINT, UM, WE WANT TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT INTER-GOVERNMENT OVER RELATIONS MEANT, UM, UH, TALKS ABOUT AND THE THIRD THING, AND I THINK THIS WAS REALLY GOOD.

UM, I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND THEN KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT IT, BUT, UM, MR. CLINTON BROUGHT UP THAT, UM, WE, WE SHOULD HAVE AN APPEAL PROCESS IN THE ORDINANCE.

UM, AFTER A HEARING, UM, THERE IS ONE WITH THE DANGEROUS DOG STATUTE WHERE, UM, IF THE HEARING OFFICER DETERMINES THE DOG IS, UM, UH, DANGEROUS, UM, THEY CAN, THEY HAVE 14 DAYS TO APPEAL AND IT'S APPEALED AT MUNICIPAL COURT.

SO, UM, MR. BLAND IS GOING TO TALK WITH MO UH, MUNICIPAL COURT TO SEE IF THEY CAN HANDLE ANY APPEALS FOR VICIOUS DOG, WHICH IS, COULD BE, THERE'S ONLY A FEW OF THESE HEARINGS A YEAR OR SO.

IT PROBABLY ISN'T THAT MANY, BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE ANSWERS TO THE STATE LAW, THE LEGISLATION AND, UM, MUNICIPAL COURTS PARTICIPATION, UM, FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

ANY QUESTIONS.

WELL, THANK YOU, JOANNA.

I THINK WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.

UM, SO WE'LL MOVE,

[3b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Increase in Cats Euthanized or Dying in Care]

THAT IS ME.

UM, FOR, UM, DONNA, IF YOU WOULD, UM, YOU GUYS WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SEND ME THE, THE NEW EUTHANASIA SOP, UM, THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING UNDER LATELY, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SENDING IT OVER, UH, BELINDA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.

THERE APPEAR TO BE SOME CHANGES ON IT THAT, UM, I'VE NOTICED IN A, KIND OF A SCRUTINY OF THE EUTHANASIA DATA AS WELL.

IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, DON, BEFORE YOUR TIME AT AAC, THE EUTHANASIA SOP WAS CHANGED SINCE LAST TIME COMMISSION TAKE, TOOK A GOOD LOOK AT IT TO INCLUDE, UM, CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS LIKE SPINAL FRACTURE OR DECREASED HEART RATE, WHICH QUALIFY FOR A EUTHANASIA DECISION, UM, AUTOMATICALLY.

AND AS I LOOK AT, IF I LOOK AT YOUR DECEMBER LIVE RELEASE RATE OR, OR AAC ANIMAL REPORT, UM, IT LOOKS LIKE OUR CA LIVE RELEASE RATE KEEPS GOING DOWN EVERY YEAR, DESPITE ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT'S GOING ON.

SO I'M KIND OF TAKING A DEEP LOOK AT SOME OF THAT DATA AND WONDERING WHY OUR, OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR CATS JUST KEEPS GOING DOWN AS WE WORK HARDER AND HARDER HERE.

AND THAT I HAVE CONCERNS OVER THAT EUTHANASIA SOP, INCLUDING MEDICAL CONDITIONS LIKE SPINAL FRACTURE, DECREASING HEART RATE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY FALL UNDER THE ORDINANCE OF IRREMEDIABLY SUFFERING.

AND SO IF I LOOKED AT OUR HARD DATA, I FOUND THAT IN THE, THERE WERE 11 CATS, EUTHANIZED, UM, RECENTLY FOR SPINAL FRACTURE AND OUR, UH, THE MEDICAL TEAM AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE HAD NOTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN NINE OF THEM THAT WOULD HAVE PULLED THEM.

AND SO I HAVE SOME, A LITTLE BIT OF CONCERNS, AND MAYBE YOU CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON, UM, THE SOP AND HOW YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

CAUSE I KNOW IT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME, DON, IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS AT ALL ON WHY THOSE CONDITIONS MIGHT BE LAID OUT THERE SEPARATELY IN SOP, EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FALL UNDER THE QUALITY, THE, THE DEFINITION OF IRREMEDIABLY SUFFERING, SUFFERING AS PROVIDED BY THE ORDINANCE.

WELL, COMMISSIONER BRENDA, I'M GOING TO, UH, I GUESS MY NUMBER IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN YOURS, I GUESS, BECAUSE I LOOK BACK AT THE NUMBER OF CATS KITTENS IN NEONATAL THAT WE EUTHANIZED IN DECEMBER.

AND THAT WAS ONLY FOUR.

YES, NOVEMBER WAS HIGHER AT 12, BUT I LOOKED AT, I ADDED UP OVER 2020 VERSUS 19 AND 18, AND WE HEARD LESS IN 20 THAN WE WERE IN 19 AND 18, BUT I HAVE DR.

LUND IS HERE AND, UH, SHE'S, YOU KNOW, OUR HEAD VETERINARIAN AND SHE IS I'M LET HER TALK AND ANSWER SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

YEAH.

AND FIRST OF ALL, I APOLOGIZE, I'M LOOKING AT THE NOVEMBER LIVE RELEASE RATE REPORT THAT YOU JUST SENT WHERE I'M LOOKING AT 2018, WE HAD 99 TO 20 1996 FOR 20, 20, 95, SIX.

YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT'S KIND OF GOING DOWN EVERY YEAR.

AND AGAIN, CERTAINLY THIS, THESE ARE THINGS BEFORE YOUR TIME, I'M JUST TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO WHY THAT IS AND WHAT WE CAN, UM, WHAT WE CAN DO BETTER.

SURE.

IT'S SOUNDING GOOD.

AND, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, COVID AND TAKING LESS ANIMALS THAT DOES SKEW THE STATISTICS SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT DR.

LEN, UM, I WOULD SAY, YEAH, IN MY STATISTICS, I HAVE IT'S OVER THE LAST FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER ARRIVED.

OUTCOME RATE FOR CATS IS 97.4%.

[00:15:01]

I WILL SAY BECAUSE OF COVID WE DECREASED THE NUMBER OF OVERALL CATS.

SO WE WERE JUST GETTING EMERGENCIES.

AND, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, SO WE WERE GETTING MORE EMERGENCIES AND LESS HEALTHY STRAYS IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, FOR SURE, DURING COVID, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT OUR DATA IS GOING TO BE VERY SKEWED.

I'M LOOKING AT THE REPORT THAT, THAT, THAT WAS ATTACHED TO OUR DOCUMENTS TODAY, WHERE YOU CAN SEE OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE FOR CATS GOING DOWN EVERY YEAR, UM, RIGHT ON THE RE ON EACH FIVE OF THE REPORT THAT YOU GUYS UPLOADED TODAY.

SO THAT'S KINDA WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.

UM, AND THEN, BUT DR.

LON MAYBE, UM, GOSH, KNOWS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON THERE.

UM, IF I COULD PICK YOUR BRAIN, I WOULD, I WOULD CERTAINLY LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK ON IT.

A LOT OF THESE CATS THAT ARE NOT HAVING ALIVE OUTCOMES SEEM TO BE BEING EUTHANIZED AT THE EDC.

AND SO I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO IF THEY FOLLOW THE SAME EUTHANASIA, SOP, THAT, THAT YOU WOULD FOLLOW IN HOUSE AS THE, AS THE AAC, CHIEF VETERINARIAN, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS THE CASE.

IS THAT TRUE? THAT THERE, THEIR EUTHANASIA GUIDELINES ARE THE SAME AS YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW AS A DVM AT AAC? NO, THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE THEIR OWN VETS AND THEY GET THEIR EMERGENCY ROOM VETS AND THEY GET TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS.

THEY DO KNOW WE GIVE THEM GUIDELINES ABOUT WHAT WE WILL TREAT AND WHAT WE WON'T.

UM, AND SO, UH, AND THEY TYPICALLY DO MOST ANYWAY.

YES, THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T HAVE TO FALL.

THEY ARE NOT CITY OF BOSTON EMPLOYEES.

SO THEY DO NOT FOLLOW OUR GUIDELINES.

OUR SOP, I GIVE THEM GUIDELINES TO GO BY, OKAY, I'M NOT A LAWYER.

SO I'M, MAYBE I GOT TO HATE TO ALWAYS DRAG RYAN INTO THINGS.

BUT HOW DOES THAT WORK WHEN IT'S, WHEN IT IS TECHNICALLY A CITY OWNED ANIMAL, THESE ARE NOT CITY OWNED ANIMALS, YET SOME OF THESE ARE BROUGHT IN BY THE OWNER AND THEY'RE DECIDING WHAT TO DO.

AND SO OWNERSHIP IS ALWAYS IN QUESTION.

A LOT OF THESE LATELY HAVE BEEN OWNER SURRENDERED LATER.

AND IN THE PROCESS, IS THAT NOT AN ANIMAL THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS LIABILITY TO? NO, WE DO NOT HAVE LIABILITY TO THE OWNER.

AND MANY OF THEM, THE OWNERS HAVE REQUESTED YOUTH TOO.

YEAH.

IF IT'S A STRAY ANIMAL, WHAT IT DOESN'T RYAN, I'M SORRY.

CAN I PICK ON YOU, RYAN? WOULD THAT NOT FALL UNDER ORDINANCE UNDERSTAND, UH, COMMISSIONER THAT THESE, SOME OF THESE ANIMALS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BROUGHT IN BY A CITIZEN THAT THEY'VE SEEN IT, HE HIT BY A CAR AND THEY MAKE A DECISION BEFORE IT'S EVER TRANSFERRED TO US.

THE ONLY REASON IT GETS TRANSFERRED TO US AFTERWARDS IS SO THAT WE CAN PAY THE BILL.

OKAY.

DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT.

IF YEAH.

YOU HAD, YOU HAD ASKED AND I, UM, IT'S, THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH AT SOME POINT THAT WE HAVEN'T DEALT WITH, WHICH IS THAT, UM, WHAT ARE, WHAT RULES APPLY TO A CONTRACTOR WHO IS OPERATING AS AN AGENT OF CONTRACTUAL AGENT OF THE CITY, UH, WITH RESPECT TO ANIMALS, THEY'RE SENDING US THE BILL.

SO THEY'RE DOING IT ON OUR BEHALF.

UM, AND THEN, UH, WHAT RULES APPLY TO THEM? IT'S BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FROM ANY NON-LEGAL, BUT FROM A, FROM, UH, JUST THE WAY THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S RIGHT.

BUT THAT, THAT, THE WAY THAT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE IS THAT THEY HAD FREE REIN TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANTED AT THE EMERGENCY THAT, THAT WE WERE PAYING FOR WITH OUR MONEY.

UM, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO OR THAT WE SHOULDN'T GET INVOLVED.

BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT HAS BEEN THE NORMAL WAY THAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE WHEN I'M TAKING A STEP BACK.

I, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT ANIMALS.

I, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

UM, MONICA, IF THERE ARE ANIMALS, IF THERE ARE CATS THAT ARE IN AUSTIN, ANIMAL CENTERS, CUSTODY, LET'S PUT THE PRIVATE BET ASIDE FOR THE MOMENT.

BUT IF THEY'RE IN AUSTIN, ANIMALS CENTERS CUSTODY, AND THEY DON'T MEET THE ORDINANCE DEFINITION OF IRREMEDIABLE SUFFERING, WHICH IS AN ANIMAL WHO HAS CORE OR GRAVE PROGNOSIS FOR BEING ALIVE, BEING ABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT SEVERE UNREMITTING PHYSICAL PAIN, EVEN WITH COMPREHENSIVE PROMPTS AND NECESSARY VETERINARY CARE THAN IT IS, IF THEY DO NOT MEET THAT DEFINITION, WHICH IS A VERY STRICT DEFINITION AND VERY HEIGHTENED DEFINITION, THEN THEY HAVE TO BE OFFERED TO NONPROFITS

[00:20:01]

SO I WOULD BE CONCERNED, UH, AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION AND I, ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE A YEAR OR TWO AGO NOW WAS THAT, UH, THE CITY'S DUTIES TO US GIVEN TO US INCLUDE REPORTING BACK IF THE CITY IS NOT, UH, IF THE CITY SHELTER IS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ORDINANCES.

AND SO, UM, TO ME, THAT IS A VERY HEIGHTENED CONCERN, WHICH IS WHAT, WHAT ARE OUR, OUR VETS DOING? ARE THEY COMPLIANT WITH THE ORDINANCE, UM, WITH RESPECT TO THE EMERGENCY FUND? I THINK IT'S A MUCH HARDER LEGAL CALL AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS.

UM, BUT CERTAINLY, UH, IT THAT'S A POLICY DECISION.

THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT I THINK THAT THIS COMMISSION SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL ON WHETHER OR NOT WE EXPECT OUR, UM, THE PRIVATE VETERINARIANS WHO WE ARE PAYING TO DO PERFORM A CITY SERVICE TO, TO ACT CONSISTENTLY WITH THE CITY'S, UM, MORAL MANDATE, UH, THAT WE HAVE PLACED INTO OUR ORDINANCES.

I'M SORRY IF THAT DIDN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT'S MY BEST SHOT AT IT.

YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR ARTICULATING THAT.

SO WELL, RYAN, THAT'S EXACTLY MY CONCERN.

UM, THE OTHER QUESTION, AND MAYBE SOMEONE WHO HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS LONGER THAN I HAVE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THIS, WHAT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE RFP PROCESS WAS IN PLACE.

WHEN WE SELECTED OUR ECE PROVIDER, THAT'S CONTRACTED THROUGH THE CITY, HOW DID WE COME ABOUT SELECTING THE ECM? WAS IT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW AND HAVE FEEDBACK ON, OR HOW DID THAT PROCESS COME ABOUT? IT WAS NOT NO OTHER, UH, EMERGENCY CLINIC WANTED TO DO BUSINESS WITH THE CITY.

THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE, THEY'RE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN THAT WANTED TO DO IT BECAUSE THE CITY IS SLOW TO PAY ON OUR BILLS.

AND IT'S A LOT OF, THEY GIVE US A DISCOUNT.

WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND IS NOT TECHNICALLY A CONTRACT AND THEY, UH, IT'S SORT OF A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT.

AND THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD DO IT.

WE USED TO HAVE TWO OTHERS AND THEY CEASED WORKING WITH US.

IT'S, IT'S A LOT OF ANIMALS WE SEE, THEY SEE ABOUT 70 EMERGENCIES A MONTH FOR US.

AND SO, UM, IT'S A LOT, IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR THEM.

SO, UM, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT.

IT SOUNDS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN AND THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE, I GUESS I'M KIND OF WONDERING, AND DAVID, MAYBE YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON WHAT IS EVEN THE COMMISSION'S JOB IN EXAMINING THIS ABOUT WHAT THE, WHAT IS, ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE GOING INTO, WE'VE BEEN HIT BY COVID AND WE'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLE BUDGET CUTS AND WHATNOT.

WHAT IS THE CITY PAYING FOR THESE, THIS CONTRACTOR? DID THE PUBLIC HAVE FEEDBACK AND FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON, ON HOW THAT MONEY IS, WHO THE CONTRACTOR IS AND ARE THEY MEETING THOSE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY? UM, IS, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A PRETTY BIG SPIDERWEB HERE, BUT I KNOW I DEFINITELY HAVE CONCERNS THAT RYAN ARTICULATED FAR BETTER THAN I HAVE, UM, ABOUT SOME OF THE OUTCOMES OF CATS THERE THAT I HAVE CONCERNS MIGHT NOT MEET THAT IRREMEDIABLY SUFFERING DEFINITION.

WELL, WHAT I'M HEARING IS A MULTITUDE OF QUESTIONS, LITTLE ANSWERS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THIS WORKED OUT EITHER ON A, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE ZOOM BETWEEN SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF OR A WORK GROUP, IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN WORK OUT ALL THE ANSWERS, YOU KNOW, IN A TWO HOUR MEETING.

UM, SO DO YOU GUYS WANT TO AGREE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU RYAN AND PALMER OR WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, GET WITH DAWN AND DR.

LONDON HASH, SOME OF THIS STUFF OUT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BRING STUFF TO THE COMMISSION OR, OR DO YOU WANT TO DO A FORMAL WORK GROUP? YOU KNOW, I'D BE THRILLED WITH INFORMAL IF, UM, IF, IF COMMISSIONER CLINTON AND DON AND, AND THE STAFF ARE HA I MEAN, I DON'T NEED TO MAKE ANYTHING ANY MORE FORMAL THAN IT NEEDS TO BE.

UM, CAN I SAY SOMETHING? I THINK ABOUT A YEAR AGO, DR.

BEARDSLEY WROTE A LETTER TO YOU GUYS.

AND, UH, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY WERE GETTING QUESTIONED ABOUT THEIR TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.

AND SHE WROTE AN, A LETTER SAYING THAT IF, IF Y'ALL DIDN'T RESPECT THEIR OPINIONS AND STUFF, THEY WOULD PULL OUT OF OUR AGREEMENT.

AND THEN THE CITY WOULD BE LEFT WITH NOBODY TO TRANSPORT THESE ANIMALS TO CAUSE THIS ISI AT NIGHT, WHEN WE ARE CLOSED, IT IS THE SAFETY NET FOR STRAYS THAT GET HIT BY A CAR THAT GOOD SAM SPRING IN.

AND THEN THE ACO IS THAT PICK UP ANIMALS THAT ARE INJURED.

IT'S THE SAFETY NET.

AND THEY WILL, THEY DO NOT NEED OUR BUSINESS.

THEY WILL PULL THE PLUG ON THAT AND WE WILL HAVE NO BACKUP FOR WHAT HAPPENS AND THESE ANIMALS, INSTEAD OF US WORRYING ABOUT A FEW THAT YOU DISAGREE WITH,

[00:25:01]

I REMEMBER GETTING THAT LETTER AND I BELIEVE WE REACHED OUT TO THEM AND ASKED THEM TO COME SPEAK TO OUR MEETING.

AND WE NEVER HEARD BACK ABOUT IF I'M CORRECT.

I HEARD BACK FROM HER AND SHE DID NOT WANT TO COME SPEAK.

I, I MEAN, I'M TELLING YOU, THESE PEOPLE ARE BOARDED IN EMERGENCY MEDICINE.

AND I FIND IT REALLY, UH, PERPLEXING THAT SOME LAY PERSON IS QUESTIONING THESE PEOPLE, INCLUDING OUR VETS THAT HAVE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ADDED TOGETHER THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREER TO SAVING ANIMALS LIVES AND PREVENTING SUFFERING.

AND THEN YOU COME IN AND SAY THAT WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOBS CORRECTLY.

IT'S BASICALLY OFFENSIVE.

WELL, THAT'S BASICALLY THE GUARD GUY.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

UM, YOU KNOW, THE VET ASSOCIATION THAT FAVORS DECLAWED CATS AS THE SAME THING, AND THAT THEY KNOW BETTER THAN WE DO.

WELL, LET ME ADD SOMETHING ELSE.

JUST FYI.

UH, THIS CITY, THE STATE, OUR OATH, THE VET BOARD ALL HAVE FLAWS AND CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT GIVES VETERINARIANS THE RIGHT TO EUTHANIZE ANIMALS.

IF THEY FEEL THEY'RE ARE SUFFERING AND WE HAVE NOT VIOLATED THAT AND NEITHER HAVE THE EMERGENCY VETS.

AND I THINK IT'S SHORTSIGHTED OF YOU TO CRITICIZE US AND INCITE ILL WILL BETWEEN PARTNERS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TRUSTING EACH OTHER AND AGREEING, TRYING TO BUILD BRIDGES INSTEAD OF BUILDING ANIMOSITY, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES LIKE THESE, THAT WE'RE ALL LIVING THROUGH, YOU WOULD THINK WE WOULD LISTEN TO THE TRUTH AND TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER.

ALL I'M SUGGESTING AS A CONVERSATION.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER A, UH, UH, DISADVANTAGE OR, OR, OR DISRESPECT IN HAVING A CONVERSATION NOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I'M SUGGESTING THERE IS NOT.

AND I AGREE TO A CONVERSATION.

IT JUST GETS OLD GETTING ACCUSED OF EUTHANIZING ANIMALS THAT I'VE SPENT MY LIFE TRYING TO SAVE.

OKAY.

UM, I'M CERTAINLY NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, BUT I'M JUST SUGGESTING, UH, CONVERSATIONS THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO RESOLVE SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOOD ANSWERS TO HONEST QUESTIONS.

I SAY, UH, LET'S DO IT.

AND, AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO GO IN, UM, WITH OPEN MINDS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, BE FRIENDLY AND JUST HAVE A, HAVE A GOOD POT.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S WHAT DR.

LINDA, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED MANY, MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, AND THAT IS ALL I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT I MAY NOT KNOW.

IT MAY BE THAT I'M ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARE STUPID, AND IT'S JUST PART OF MY JOB AS A COMMISSIONER.

AND IT WAS ALSO AN ANIMAL ADVOCATE TO UNDERSTAND.

UM, AND SO ABSOLUTELY NO OFFENSES IS, IS MADE.

IT'S ME TRYING TO DO MY JOB, UM, SERVING AS A COMMISSIONER AND SERVING AS AN ADVOCATE FOR CAS TO DO THE VERY BEST THAT I CAN.

AND THAT IS ALL I'M TRYING TO DO AS WELL.

AND I WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND ALL OF YOUR EXPERTISE ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUALLY STRIVE TO DO BETTER.

OKAY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY.

SO, UH, SO WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA MOVE THREE A AND THREE B TO FEBRUARY.

CORRECT.

SO IF YOU'VE TAKEN NOTE OF THAT, UM, ARE WE GOOD MOVING ON THEN? OKAY.

[3c. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Potential Violation of City Code of Ordinances]

AND THEN WE CAN EVEN ROLL THEM INTO ONE, IF YOU, IF IT'S EASIER FOR BLENDER TO KEEP TRACK OF, BUT AT THE SAME EXACT SAME CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE JUST WRAPPED UP.

WELL, I WOULD LOVE IT IF THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT THE DISCUSSION.

I MEAN, I, I JUST HATE SEEING EVEN AN AGENDA ITEM WITH THAT TITLE.

IT UPSETS ME.

SO I'D RATHER NOT, I MEAN, WE CAN KEEP IT ON THE AGENDA IF YOU WANT.

I MEAN, IF YOU COULD JUST HAVE THE DISCRETION UNDER THE, UM, IF THAT MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR EVERYONE, SINCE IT'S ALL RELATIVELY THE SAME TOPIC ANYWAY.

OKAY.

I SUGGEST DOING THAT AND KEEP IN THREE A AND THREE B AND STRIKING C ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT ITEM? NOTHING FOR ME.

[4a. Discussion and Possible Action on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin]

OKAY.

NEW BUSINESS, UH, DISCUSSION AND ALSO ACTION ON HOW TO INCREASE MICROCHIPPING AND THE CITY OF BOSTON.

I KNOW DONALD WOULD LIKE TO FORM

[00:30:01]

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY ALL WE HAVE TO DO ON THIS ITEM FOR NOW.

AND THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHO WANTS TO, I KNOW HE HAS SOME STAFF MEMBERS, UM, ABOUT IT.

YES.

UH, I DID, UH, WANT THAT BROUGHT UP SO THAT WE COULD FORM A GROUP AND WORK ON THAT.

AND I, YOU KNOW, PUT MYSELF OUT THERE THAT I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO SHARE IT.

AND IF ANYONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE ON IT, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL AND WE'LL GET SOMETHING GOING AND SEE IF WE CAN GET MORE ANIMALS MICROCHIPPED AND GET THEM HOME.

OKAY.

BRIAN, I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD, UH, BEYOND THAT, IF YOU CAN.

I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY AND EVERYTHING, UH, I'M PRETTY UNAVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER FEBRUARY 2ND, UH, IN WHICH I WILL PROBABLY CRASH AND SLEEP FOR 48 HOUR PERIOD.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, I WILL RISE AGAIN FROM THE ASHES AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST A WARNING AHEAD OF TIME AND I'M HAPPY TO.

OKAY, WELL, UH, HOPE THAT SOME OF YOU GUYS WILL EMAIL DON AND, AND, AND GET ON THAT, UH, WORK GROUP.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT ONE,

[4b. Discussion and Possible Action on Rescue Sales Tax Bill]

UH, THIS ONE'S PRETTY SIMPLE.

UH, I, UH, SENT IT IN FOR BACKUP MATERIALS IN CASE ANYBODY HAS, UM, NOT HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT REAL SIMPLE.

UM, UH, WE LEARNED, UH, SOME OF US IN THE RESCUE COMMUNITY LEARNED LAST YEAR THAT THE COMPTROLLER, UM, WAS READING TEXAS LAW TO SUCH THAT, TO REACH THE CONCLUSION THAT RESCUE GROUPS NEEDED TO BE PAYING SALES TAX ON ALL ON EVERY ADOPTION.

UM, AND, UH, THAT THEY CAME DOWN PRETTY HARD ON A COUPLE OF RESCUE GROUPS AS THAT WEREN'T PAYING SALES TAXES ON THEIR ADOPTIONS.

AND, UM, THAT WAS, THERE WAS A GENERAL DISAGREEMENT OVER WHETHER OR NOT THAT WAS A CORRECT READING OF THE STATE LAW.

UM, BUT TO, UH, TO TRY TO MAKE IT A LOT MORE SIMPLE SO THAT WE WEREN'T FIGHTING OVER WHAT THE LAW WAS.

UH, THERE ARE THERE'S, UM, UH, AN EFFORT FROM FRANKLY, LOTS OF PEOPLE IT IS, IS I THINK THIS BILL IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO GET, UM, EVEN IN A SESSION THAT IS GOING TO BE A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SESSION TO GET ANYTHING PASSED.

UM, BUT IT HAS BEEN, UM, REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE BOARD.

UH, PEOPLE THINK THAT PROBABLY NOT A VERY GOOD POLICY FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS TO BE FORCING RESCUE GROUPS, TO CHARGE SALES TAX ON ADOPTIONS.

SO, UH, THE BILL SENATE BILL ONE 97 HAS BEEN PROPOSED, WHICH BASICALLY MAKES IT CLEAR THAT NON-PROFIT ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO EXCLUDED FROM SALES TAX OR ADOPTIONS OF ANIMALS.

AND, UM, MY REQUEST FROM THIS GROUP IS THAT THEY SIMPLY, UH, BOOM, I MOVED THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TIME FOR ME TO MOVE YET, BUT WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS MOVE THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PLACE SUPPORT, UH, SENTINEL ONE 97 AND ANY SIMILAR BILLS ON THEIR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

THAT'S IT.

SECOND, ANYBODY A SECOND.

OKAY.

UH, WE'LL GO WITH MONICA.

SO RYAN MOTION, OR LIKE A SECOND FURTHER DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR.

RAISE YOUR HAND UNANIMOUS PASSES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, RYAN.

UM,

[4c. Discussion and Possible Action on Handling of Feral Hogs in the City of Austin]

I'LL HAND IT OVER TO CRAIG.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

I BROUGHT THIS UP JUST BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS, UM, PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

CAN I KNOW MAYBE A LOT OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT.

WE HAD A, A FERAL HOG INSTANT LAST FALL, AND I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS THROUGH VARIOUS SOURCES, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE, I LIKE TO ASK IF DON BLAND, UH, THERE MAY BE SOME DETAILS WE DIDN'T HEAR.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF DON BLAND COULD GIVE US A LITTLE BRIEF RUNDOWN ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

IT WAS IN THE LAKEWOOD, UH, DIVISION WHERE ONE OF OUR APLS GOT ATTACKED BY A FERAL HOG.

I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NORMALLY RESPOND TO THAT WILDLIFE

[00:35:01]

IT WAS IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD AND, UH, IT WAS ACTING VERY AGGRESSIVE.

ALL HE DID WAS OPEN THE GATE AND MOVED OUT OF THE WAY HE WAS NOT TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE IT OR DO ANYTHING.

HE WAS MOVING OUT OF A WAY, OPENED THE GATE, MOVE OUT WELL AND LET IT GO OUT AND RUN AWAY.

UH, WHEN IT CAME OUT THE GATE, IT CHARGED HIM AND CHASED HIM DOWN.

SO, UH, THAT IS HOW THAT HAPPENED.

UH, NORMALLY YOU JUST MOVE OPEN THE GATE AND THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, GO OUT ON THEIR OWN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE INSTRUCT PEOPLE TO DO.

UH, WE DO HAVE SOMEONE WITH US ON THE PHONE THAT CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.

AS YOU SAW THE FERAL HOG PROGRAM THAT, UH, AUSTIN WATER, UH, DOES, UH, THEY SENT YOU SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT AND SHE'S ON THE PHONE WHEN SHE CAN ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS, BUT, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WHEN SOMEONE HAS RACCOONS IN THEIR BACKYARD, UNLESS THEY'RE SHOWING SIGNS THAT THEY MIGHT BE RABID OR THEY'RE SICK OR INJURED, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AND DEAL WITH THOSE, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WILDLIFE, YOU KNOW, JUST SHOOT THEM AWAY.

SO WE, WE HAVE NOT CHANGED OUR STANCE ON THE WAY WE DEAL WITH, UH, ANY HOGS OR WHAT.

YEAH.

UH, OKAY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DON ON THAT? RYAN, GO AHEAD.

I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW MANY DO WE SEE? HOW MANY DOES, HOW MANY INTERACTIONS DOES ANIMAL CONTROL HAVE WITH FERAL HAWKS AT THIS POINT? VERY FEW, BECAUSE WE NORMALLY DON'T GO OUT ON THE CALLS.

WE WOULD TELL PEOPLE IF THEY WERE IN THEIR BACKYARD TO, UH, YOU KNOW, OPEN THE GATE AND LET THEM GO OUT ON THEIR OWN, UH, DON'T TRY TO INTERACT WITH THEM.

SO THAT'S NOT A CALL THAT WE TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE WENT ON.

ARE YOU WANTING ANY KIND OF FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ACTION OR WAS THIS JUST INFORMATIONAL? NO, I JUST, I WANTED, I JUST WANTED TO HEAR ABOUT IT FROM, UH, OTHER THAN A SECONDHAND SOURCE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE NEWS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GIVES YOU ACCURATE INFORMATION, SO, UH, BUT ALSO AS SHERRY'S ON THE PHONE, CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'M CURIOUS IS TO HOW A FERAL HOG ENDED UP IN THE LAKEWAY SUBDIVISION.

I WONDER IF SHERRY COULD FILL US IN ON THAT.

IS SHERRY STILL ON THE PHONE? HELLO? YES.

HELLO.

THERE YOU GO.

HI.

HI.

YES, I'M SURE HE COOL.

UM, K U H L I'M THE DIVISION MANAGER FOR THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION DIVISION FOR AUSTIN WATER.

AND THAT INCLUDES THE CUNYS CANYON LAND PRESERVE AND ALSO THE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LAND THAT THE CITY PURCHASES WITH BOND MONEY TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY AND BARTON SPRING.

UM, FERAL HOGS ARE AN ISSUE FOR US, UNFORTUNATELY, AN INVASIVE SPECIES, UM, THAT CAUSES A LOT OF ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE.

UM, AND ALSO OF COURSE IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND WE, UM, WE HAVE A TRAPPING CONTROL PROGRAM AND THEY, UH, IN THAT PARTICULAR INSTANCE THAT I BELIEVE THAT THE THOUGHT WAS THAT SOMEONE HAD CUT THE FEN.

WE HAVE, UM, GAME BENTS AROUND A LOT OF OUR PROPERTIES TO HELP KEEP THE PARK EVENT ON OUR PROPERTY.

AND I BELIEVE SOMEBODY HAD MAYBE CUT THE FENCE AND THEN IT GOT INTO THIS PERSON'S YARD AND THEN IT WAS TRAPPED IN THE YARD, WHICH IS NEVER A GOOD SITUATION, YOU KNOW, TO TRAP A WILD ANIMALS.

SO, UM, THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO TRY TO JUST GET IT OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE YARD.

UM, AND WE DO ALSO WORK EXTENSIVELY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AROUND ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES ON JUST EDUCATION MATERIALS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO, HOW CAN THEY DISCOURAGE HOGS? UM, SOMETIMES THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO FOOD THAT THEY PUT OUT FOR DEER OR TO WATER.

UM, IT CAN EVEN BE ATTRACTED THOUGH TO IRRIGATION WATER IF IT'S IN A DROUGHT.

SO WE WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO CONTROL THEM THAT UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE JUST, UM, A DIFFICULT INVASIVE SPECIES TO CONTROL.

UH, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS FOR SHERRY SHE'S? UH, IF YOU READ HER STATEMENT, SHE'S SET OUT A VERY GOOD STATEMENT.

DID PEOPLE GET TO READ THAT? DID EVERYBODY GET TO READ THEM? OKAY.

UH, BECAUSE, AND ONE OF THE REASONS I BROUGHT THIS UP IS, UM,

[00:40:01]

AND IN 2019, THERE WAS A WOMAN IN HOUSTON WHO GOT KILLED BY FERAL HAWK.

UH, AND YOU CAN LOOK UP THE REPORT.

IT WAS NEAR THE ANT WHACK, A WILDLIFE PRESERVE, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, NEAR WILDLIFE PRESERVE, I MEAN, SHE WAS KILLED AND PARTLY EATEN.

AND WE HAVE, I KNOW WE HAVE FERAL HOG PROBLEMS IN AND, UH, IN AND AROUND AUSTIN AND OUR WILD AREAS.

AND I KNOW THAT THEIR NUMBERS, WHAT I'VE HEARD IS THEIR NUMBERS ARE GROWING.

UH, AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT COYOTES YEARS AGO, WHERE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF A COYOTE EVER KILLING A HUMAN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT, SINCE ANY RECORDS HAVE BEEN KEPT AND THE CITY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT.

AND NOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE AT APO WAS INJURED AND, YOU KNOW, WITH A FERAL HOG.

AND I, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO AT LEAST TALK ABOUT IT OR LOOK INTO IT.

AND SO I HAVE A SUGGESTION.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THE PEOPLE, AUSTIN CITIZENS, CUTTING HOLES IN THE CHAIN LINK FENCES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP TO PROTECT THEM.

I THINK THAT'S LIKE IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THAT'S THE BIG REASON.

AND THERE IS A COMMITTEE IT'S THE POINTS CAN LAND PRESERVE COMMITTEE.

AND ALL THAT COMMITTEE IS MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, LESLIE POOLE, AND ALSO BRIDGET SHEA, THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, CAUSE IT'S, UH, AN INTER UH, GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE.

AND I WOULD PROPOSE THAT THE BIG THING IS HOW, HOW ARE PEOPLE BEING INFORMED THAT THIS IS A DANGER, YOU KNOW, CAUSE IT IS A DANGER AND I DON'T WANT TO BE SITTING HERE OR SOMEWHERE OR ANYWHERE TALKING ABOUT SOME FERAL HOG, KILLING A CHILD OR KILLING A CITIZEN.

I JUST, THAT, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME BECAUSE GOODNESS KNOWS WHAT COULD COME OUT OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT VERY GOOD POLICY ACTUALLY.

SO I HAVE A, UH, A PROPOSAL I'D LIKE TO MAKE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PRO PROSE THAT THE ASANA VISOR COMMISSION RECOMMEND THAT VAL CONEYS CAN LAND PRESERVED COMMITTEE TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO INFORM THE PUBLIC LIVING AROUND THE BACONIAN CAVEMAN PRESERVE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVE FENCING, BOTH TO THE PRESERVE AND TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, PRIMARILY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF WILD HOGS ON THE BACK HONIES CANYON LAND PRESERVE.

I THINK MAYBE THAT'S A START STARTING A PUBLIC CONVERSATION.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THIS IS EDUCATION, THIS IS JUST EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT POSSIBLE DANGERS.

AND I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, WHAT WE CAN DO.

AND THAT'S THE BEST THING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP.

SO THAT'S MY PROPOSAL.

OR IF SOMEONE HAS A BETTER IDEA, THAT WOULD BE FUN.

SO, WELL, I THINK NORMALLY WE'RE LIMITED TO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, UM, ON OCCASION WE'VE AUTHORIZED THE CHAIR OR SOMEONE ELSE TO WRITE A LETTER COMMENDATION OR A LETTER OF SUPPORT THAT MAYBE WE COULD AUTHORIZE CRAIG TO WRITE A LETTER ON THE BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, ENCOURAGING HIM TO DO THIS.

I'M NOT SURE WE COULD A RECOMMENDATION.

IT WOULDN'T GO TO COUNCIL OR COMMISSION FOR THAT SOUND LIKE ANYTHING WE COULD DO.

THAT WOULD BE FINE WITH ME.

I JUST WANT TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO THAT COMMITTEE.

THAT'S AN INTER-GOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE BETWEEN THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONER'S COURT.

AND THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE ON THAT.

BUT JUST TO MY, MY IDEA IS JUST TO GET A CONVERSATION STARTED TO MAYBE PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

I MEAN, WE LOST AN APO WHEN WE WERE VERY LOW ON THEM FOR A WEEK OR SO, YOU KNOW, AND I'M SURE IT HURT.

SO, YOU KNOW, UH, WHATEVER THE COMMISSION WANTS TO DO THERE.

WELL, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GIVE CRAIG THE AUTHORITY TO WRITE SAID LETTER TO THIS COMMITTEE, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE THAT MOTION.

OH, SURE.

MOTION BY RYAN SECOND BY JOANNE AND THE DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR.

RAISE YOUR HANDS PLEASE.

OKAY,

[5. Future Agenda Items]

UM, THAT TAKES US TO INTO ITEMS. SO IF I'M CORRECT REMOVING FROM OLD BUSINESS, REMOVING

[00:45:01]

CRAIG, DO YOU NEED ANY OTHER ACTION ON THAT? OKAY.

SO THAT'LL GO AWAY.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS TIME? AND YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING THEM UP LATER WITH A SECOND? I THINK I MIGHT HAVE ONE, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.

SO I MAY ASK WE'LL END AT A LATER DATE.

UM, BUT I JUST, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT MAYBE NOT EVERYBODY KNEW THAT, UH, UH, I'M ABOUT TO GO OFF THE COMMISSION.

UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER FORCES NOW THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IN MY, UH, MY TERM EX OFFICIALLY EXPIRED ON JANUARY 7TH, BARELY HOLDING OVER FOR 60 DAYS, UH, OR BILL, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOUR POINT.

THAT'S A POINT PART OF THE PLACEMENT.

AND I'M HOPING THAT I CAN YEAH.

ALL ITEMS THROUGH BEFORE I, BEFORE I GO.

BUT I THINK THAT REGARDLESS OF FEBRUARY, WE WILL BE MY LAST MEETING.

SO I'M HOPING THAT, UH, I CAN GET AN AGENDA ITEM ON THERE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR I LEAVE.

UH, SO I'LL, I'LL ASK BELINDA AND SEE HAVING TO DO WORK THAT, UM, BUT ANYWAY, UM, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THEN I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT WEEK, GREAT MONTH.

THIS IS SOME CRAZY TIMES WE'RE LIVING IN AND THINGS WERE REALLY LOOK REALLY BAD SOMETIMES, BUT ALWAYS BE IN EVERYBODY'S FACE.