[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
LISA MITCHELL, THE VICE CHAIR THROUGH TONIGHT ANYWAY, AND I'M CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT SIX O'CLOCK.AND THIS IS THE AMBULANT VISORY COMMISSION MEETING APRIL 12TH.
AND WE'RE DOING IT VIA TELECONFERENCING.
UM, SO JUST TO REMIND YOU, I GUESS, TOO, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO MUTE JUST SINCE WE ALL HAVE BACKGROUND STUFF GOING ON IN OUR LIVES.
UM, SO FIRST I WOULD NORMALLY WANT TO DO A ROLL CALL OF THE NEW COMMISSIONERS, BUT SINCE WE HAVE ALL THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT SINCE WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER ON THE PHONE TONIGHT, I WOULD LOVE FOR HER TO INTRODUCE HERSELF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HERSELF SO THAT EVERYBODY GETS TO KNOW HER A LOTTA WOULD YOU MIND STARTING US OFF AND UN-MUTING HI.
SO, UM, MY NAME IS LOTTA SMUGGLER AND, UH, I AM THE NEWEST REP FOR DISTRICT ONE FOR, UM, REPRESENTED OR COUNCIL WOMAN, NATASHA HARPER, MADISON.
UM, I LIVED IN DISTRICT ONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW AND, UH, HAVE BEEN AN AVID ANIMAL PERSON.
ALL OF MY LIFE, I RETIRED FROM THE MILITARY IN 2014, BEGAN VOLUNTEERING WITH APA AT THAT POINT.
UM, I THEN TRANSITIONED OVER TO AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND, UH, TEMPORARILY TOOK A JOB AS A AMMO CARE ATTENDANT.
THERE DID THAT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, TRANSITIONED FROM THAT INTO A DOG WALKING POSITION, UM, AND THEN DECIDED THAT NO RETIRED LIFE WAS FOR ME.
AND, UH, WENT BACK TO BEING A VOLUNTEER AND HERE WE ARE 2021 AND I'M ENJOYING RETIREMENT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME TO THE CRAZINESS THAT IS THE COMMISSION.
UM, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY IT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING NEW INPUT FROM A NEW FACE.
IT'S GREAT WITH YOUR GREAT BACKGROUND AS WELL.
AND WE HAVE ONE OTHER NEW COMMISSIONER, YOLANDA RODRIGUEZ PACHECO, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT SHE'S ON THE LINE.
SO IF SHE IS NOT HERE, UH, I AT LEAST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, ARE YOU HERE? NOPE, THAT'S RYAN.
AND A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING IN, UH, I'M ON MY CELL PHONE.
SO IS THAT YOUR LONDA? YEAH, THIS IS YOLANDA.
WELL THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
I HAD SOME TECHNICAL GLITCHES, SO HOPEFULLY I'LL KIND OF FIGURE IT OUT HOW TO JOIN THE OTHER WAY, BUT MY NAME IS YOLANDA RODRIGUEZ, PACHECO AND, UM, UM, UH, UH, I'M UH, REPRESENTING, UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA
AND, UM, UH, I'VE BEEN WORKING IN DOVE SPRINGS AND THE DOVE SPRINGS COMMUNITY, UM, FOR FOUR YEARS NOW.
UM, I'M AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MENDEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL AND, UM, I ALSO WORK WITH A LOT OF, UM, LIKE OTHER ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS AND IN BASTROP COUNTY WITH, UM, BASTROP CATS.
UH, I, I HAVE ONE OF THEIR FOSTERS NOW AND, UM, AND AS WELL AS, UH, THEIR WORK WITH OTHER GROUPS WITH, UM, WITH ANIMALS, UH, IN TERMS OF LIKE, UH, TRYING TO FIND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I, WHEN WORKING WITH MENDEZ, UM, I THINK I'VE TAKEN, UH, QUITE A FEW ANIMALS THAT JUST HAVE COME INTO SCHOOL ARE CALLED, UM, THE CENTER, BUT, UM, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M ON THE BOARD WITH EVERYONE AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO, UH, WORKING.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY NEW FOR ME.
I HAVEN'T REALLY DONE ANYTHING, UM, UH, POLITICAL OR GONE INTO ANY COMMITTEES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING EVERYONE AND WORKING WITH EVERYONE.
AND I THINK YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS, BUT IN CASE YOU DIDN'T, YOU WERE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
FLINT DOES, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO NORMALLY I WOULD JUST KIND OF RATTLE OFF EVERYBODY ELSE'S NAMES, BUT I THINK WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL CALL YOUR NAME AND IF YOU'LL JUST UNMUTE AND SAY WHO YOU WERE APPOINTED BY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR NEW COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THAT'D BE REALLY HELPFUL.
SO THAT'S HOW WE'LL DO ROLL CALL.
UM, SO I WILL START WITH NANCY NAMER.
HI, I'M NANCY NEMER AND I WAS APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT.
I'M DISTRICT SEVEN APPOINTEE, WHICH IS LESLIE POOL'S DISTRICT.
I AM KATIE JARL AND I AM THEIR STEVE ADLER'S APPOINTEE PALMER NINE HOUSE.
HI, I'M PALMER NINE HOUSE AND I'M IN KITCHEN.
UM, THE APPOINTED BY, UH, GREG CASAR DISTRICT FOUR.
[00:05:02]
YEAH.HI, THIS IS RYAN AND I TOO AM, UH, APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY DR.
I WAS APPOINTED BY ALISON ALTER AND DISTRICT 10.
I AM H ELLIS' APPOINTEE, JOANNE NORTON.
HI, I'M JOANNE MARTIN AND I'M PO RENTER IS APPOINTEE.
AND SO WE'VE GOT LOTTA AND YOLANDA AGAIN, WELCOME.
AND WE'LL KEEP MOVING THROUGH THE AGENDA, BUT THANKS A LOT FOR INTRODUCING YOURSELVES AND WELCOME.
UM, AND THE ONE REMINDER I'LL GIVE REALLY QUICKLY IS IF THERE ARE ANY CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS THAT COME UP AS WE TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT ITEMS TONIGHT ON THE AGENDA, JUST IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A CONFLICT SPEAK UP AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TAKE IT THERE, BUT HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET THROUGH IT WITHOUT THAT.
[CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
THE FIRST THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION GENERAL, AND IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT IT'S A THREE MINUTE ALLOTMENT TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ON RE ON ITEMS THAT AREN'T POSTED ON THE AGENDA.SO I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM IN THE ORDER THAT'S IN FRONT OF ME.
UH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME, UH, LET ME START BY ADMITTING THAT I HAVE A CAT AND A, WE ALSO, I HAVE A FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WHO HAS TWO LARGE DOGS AT HER MOM'S HOUSE.
UH, WE'RE FULLY AWARE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I DON'T UNDER SPACE AND WE'RE LOOKING TO GET THEIR ANIMALS OUTSIDE AND EXERCISE AS WELL AS THE RESPONSIBILITY JUST OF BEING A PET OWNER.
UM, BUT DESPITE HAVING TWO LARGE DOGS AROUND ALL THE TIME, MY DAUGHTER STILL SUFFERS FROM ANXIETY WHEN AROUND UNFAMILIAR OFF-LEASH DOG DUE TO A VARIETY OF NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCES IN GENERALLY AT THAT POINT, ASKED TO LEAVE THE PARK BECAUSE HE'S JUST NOT COMFORTABLE.
AND I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OFF-LEASH ACTIVITY IN, ON LEASH DOG AREA, LIKE IN, IN, ON LEASH PARKS.
SO ANYWHERE THAT'S NOT AN OFF-LEASE DOG PARK.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT OFF-LEASE DOG ACTIVITY OUTSIDE OF DESIGNATED SPACES IS DEFINITELY A GROWING PROBLEM.
AND IT'S, UH, IN AUSTIN AND IT'S DEPRIVING A LAW ABIDING PARK USERS OF A PEACEFUL AND COMPLETE PARK EXPERIENCE, UH, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK OF BEING KNOCKED DOWN AND INJURED.
I KNOW PLENTY AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO DON'T USE OUR PARKS BECAUSE OF THAT RISK.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE BIKING AND JOGGING BY THAT GET CHASED AND NIPPED THAT BY DOGS THAT ARE OFF LEASH ILLEGALLY, UM, AND, UH, THESE OWNERS CAN'T STOP THE DOG FROM DOING IT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ON A LEASH.
UH, LIKEWISE WHEN THE DOG IS POOPING FROM 50 YARDS AWAY, THE OWNER RARELY CAN FIND, UH, THE FECES, EVEN IF THEY ARE TRYING TO PICK IT UP.
UM, I SEE PEOPLE STOP PLAYING WITH BALLS, FRISBEES, KITE, AND OTHER ITEMS, UH, AS WELL AS IN THEIR PICNICS EARLY BECAUSE OF DOGS THAT ARE ILLEGALLY OFF LEASH, UM, AS WELL AS DOGS CHASING WILDLIFE AND GENERALLY BARKING AND THINGS THAT THE OWNERS CAN'T STOP THEM FROM DOING WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.
UH, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT LIKE SAY, IF I WANTED TO TAKE MY CAT ON A LEASH IN AN ON LEASH PARK, I CAN'T DO THAT.
AND EXERCISE MY RIGHTS WHEN PEOPLE ARE ILLEGALLY USING THE PARK FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES.
SO THAT WITH THAT IN MIND, AND NOT FEEL LIKE WE EITHER NEED TO MAKE ALL OF AUSTIN ONE GIANT OFF-LEASH CITY WITH NO RULES AT ALL, OR WE NEED TO DESIGNATE OFF-LEASH AREAS AS WE DO, AND ACTUALLY ENFORCE THE LAWS BECAUSE WITHOUT ENFORCEMENT, UM, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BREAK THE LAW AND DEPRIVE OTHERS OF THEIR RIGHTFUL ACCESS TO OUR PARKS.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT ANY RENEWED IN THAT THERE'LL BE A RENEWED INVESTMENT IN SIGNAGE THAT MAKES IT CLEAR WHEN SOMEONE IS IN VIOLATION OF A LAW, MOST PET OWNERS WHEN CONFRONTED WILL CLAIM IGNORANCE, THAT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A PET, UH, AN OFF-LEASH OR AN ON LEASH AREA.
SO I THINK EDUCATION IS PARAMOUNT, UM, IN THE, IN, IN THIS EFFORT, UM, THE SIGNS COULD INCLUDE QR CODES THAT MAKE IT VERY EASY FOR OWNERS TO QUICKLY GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAWS OR WHERE OFF-LEASH PARKS ARE ACTUALLY LOCATED.
AND THEN ONCE SIGNAGE, SIGNAGE IS ESTABLISHED AND THERE'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE IT, UH, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN AGGRESSIVE AND ENFORCEMENT EFFORT, UH, WITH PEOPLE BEING TICKETED OR A HUNDRED DOLLARS, UH, ADDITIONAL TICKETS BEING DOUBLED THE PREVIOUS TICKET AND THAT REGARDLESS OF WHO THE PET IS, IT'S THE HANDLER THAT SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE LAW.
SO IF IT'S WITH A DIFFERENT DOG, EVERY TIME IT'S IRRELEVANT, THE HANDLER GETS THESE, WE LOSE, I THINK WE MIGHT'VE LOST YOU, BUT YOU WERE AT YOUR THREE MINUTES.
SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, THOSE ACTUALLY RELATE TO ITEM THREE B ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
[00:10:01]
WE'LL BEAR THOSE IN MIND AS WE PROCEED WITH THAT ITEM.THE NEXT SPEAKER IS PAT VOSS PRAYAS OKAY.
UM, AM I MUTED OR AM I OKAY? OKAY, THANKS.
SO, UM, AS YOU SAID, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
MY NAME IS PAT
UM, THE WORKING GROUP ON ANIMAL CRUELTY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH ITS OWN AGENDA ONCE IT IS CREATED.
HOWEVER, UM, I DO WANT TO MAKE A FEW SUGGESTIONS AND SHARE A FEW INSIGHTS THAT, UM, WILL EXPLAIN WHY I'M REQUESTING THIS.
UM, I AM LOOKING FOR, UM, COMMUNITY INPUT ON CREW CRUELTY CASES.
SO WE HEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, WHAT THEY SEE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HOW CRUELTY CASES ARE HANDLED.
UM, I'M ALSO LOOKING AT A WORKING GROUP, LOOKING AT DATA ON CRUELTY.
UM, HOW MANY CASES ARE FILED FOR PROSECUTION OF THOSE PROSECUTIONS? HOW MANY ARE, UM, EITHER DEFERRED OR ADJUDICATED? AND IF THERE ARE, DO DICTATED, HOW MANY OF THEM RESULT IN CONVICTIONS AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT? UM, I WOULD ALSO THINK THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD WANT TO LOOK AT THE STATE PENAL CODE 42 OH NINE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY AND SEE IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE STATE PENAL CODE IS, UM, AS STRONG AS IT NEEDS TO BE, OR IF IT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED.
UM, AND IF THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THE CITY COULD, UM, DO SOME THINGS THAT THE STATE PENAL CODE DOESN'T DO, UM, IT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD TO INVITE A REPRESENTATIVE OF APD OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TO EITHER A WORKING GROUP MEETING WHERE EVEN TO ADDRESS THE ENTIRE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON HOW THEY SEE, UH, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON CRUELTY CASES.
AND THIS IS ONE WHERE I WANT TO GIVE, UM, AN EXAMPLE, JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS MANY, MANY TIMES, UM, OVER THE WINTER STORM, THERE WAS A CASE POSTED ON FACEBOOK, ASKING EVERYBODY TO CALL THE TRAVIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT RESPONDED QUICKLY ENOUGH.
UM, I SPOKE TO BOTH THE SHERIFF THAT HANDLED THAT CASE, THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY THAT HANDLED THAT CASE, AS WELL AS THE PERSON WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, INITIALLY GOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ALL UPSET.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WAS ACTUALLY HANDLING THE CASE, BUT THEY WEREN'T TELLING PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE HANDLING IT.
SO EVERYBODY JUST KEPT CALLING AND CALLING AND CALLING.
AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THEN THEY STARTED BEING A LITTLE BIT UPSET WITH THE, WITH THE CALLERS AND THE CALLER STARTED BEING UPSET WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AND IN FACT WAS AN INVESTIGATION AND THERE WAS SOME WORK GOING ON.
SO WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, HE SAID, UM, THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE IT DIFFERENTLY AND SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU SO THAT WE COULD TELL PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TO KEEP CALLING THAT THIS IS GOING ON.
SO CASES SUCH AS THESE COULD BE DISCUSSED IN A WORKING GROUP, BUT I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT'S THE ONLY THING I ALSO WANT WOULD LIKE TO SEE A WORKING GROUP.
I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS I THINK WHEN YOU HIT THREE MINUTES, YOU'RE JUST BEING MUTED.
SO I GUESS, WORD OF ADVICE TO THE, TO THE REST OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO SPEAK, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF, UM, CITY HALL IS DOING THAT FOR AS TIMING AND THEN MUTING CALLERS WHEN THEIR THREE MINUTES IS UP.
I THINK THAT'S, WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS, PAT.
UM, THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KAITLIN.
ARE YOU WITH US KAITLIN? I AM.
MY NAME IS KAITLIN AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO, AS IN FOLLOWING THE PAST PROGRAM ON FACEBOOK AND WANTING TO SAY HOW WONDERFUL I THINK THIS RESOURCES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN EVERY DAY I GET TO WATCH AS FELLOW CITIZENS REACH OUT FOR PET SUPPORT AND IMMEDIATELY GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS GET, UM, TEMPORARY FOSTER HELP AND PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP RAISING FUNDS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, UM, ARE ABLE TO GET COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO SAVE THEIR PETS AND PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.
RE-HOMING THEIR PETS FIND REPLACEMENT AND AUSTIN, OR FIND A PLACE IN AUSTIN SO THAT THOSE ANIMALS DON'T ENTER OUR SHELTER SYSTEM.
KNOWING HOW MANY HELPERS ARE OUT THERE REINFORCES THE COMMUNITY VALUES THAT MAKES AUSTIN SO SPECIAL.
I WANTED TO SAY KUDOS TO APA FOR SPEARHEADING THIS PAGE AND PROVIDING THIS RESOURCE
[00:15:01]
FOR OUR COMMUNITY.ADDITIONALLY, I SAW RECENTLY ON THE NEWS THAT AUSTIN FOOTBALL CLUB HAS NAMED APA SHELTER, DOG IS THEIR OFFICIAL MASCOT FOR OUR NEW SOCCER TEAM.
I THINK THIS IS A REALLY CLEVER WAY TO PROMOTE PET ADOPTION AND FITS IN PERFECTLY WITH OUR VALUES AS A NO-KILL CITY.
I HOPE THIS MISSION WILL CONSIDER DOING SOMETHING TO THANK AUSTIN FOOTBALL CLUB OR TAKING THIS WELCOME MESSAGE TO A BROADER AUDIENCE.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO SUPPORT THE NEW TEAM AND THEIR MASCOT SOON.
THE NEXT SPEAKER WE'VE GOT IS KRISTEN HASSLES.
UM, MY NAME IS KRISTIN HUSSON HOUR BACK.
UM, I AM BACK IN AUSTIN AFTER A BREAK.
I, UM, HAVE SERVED, UH, AS A, UH, A LEADING HIGH-VOLUME OPEN ADMISSION ANIMAL SHELTERS FOR ABOUT THE LAST DECADE.
UM, AND I NOW WORK, UM, AS THE DIRECTOR OF AMERICAN PETS LIVE OVERSEEING THE HUMAN ANIMALS SUPPORT SERVICES PROJECT.
UM, I AM SO PROUD TO BE BACK IN AUSTIN AND SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT PET OWNERS.
I'M HERE TODAY WITH A VERY SIMPLE REQUEST.
UM, AND THAT IS, UH, TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO JOIN THE PAST FACEBOOK PAGE.
UM, THE PAT TEST STANDS FOR POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO SHELTER SURRENDER.
UM, AND AS SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN LEADING GOVERNMENT ANIMAL SHELTERS, UH, FOR, FOR QUITE A LONG TIME, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.
THE BOWL OF THE HUMAN ANIMAL SUPPORT SERVICES PROJECT REALLY IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIVE, UM, THAT EMANATES FROM AUSTIN AND NOW INCLUDES ABOUT A THOUSAND ANIMAL WELFARE PROFESSIONALS.
IT IS JUST TO SAY THAT NOW IN THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY, UM, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER BY PETS AND PEOPLE, AND WE CAN DO BETTER.
UM, JUST TODAY ON THE PAST PAGE, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU, UM, A FEW OF THE SITUATIONS THAT WERE SHARED, UM, SOMEONE HAS TO GET RID OF THEIR DOG BECAUSE IT'S OVER THE WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS OF THE APARTMENT AND THEY WERE REHOMING IT ON THE PAST PAGE, INSTEAD OF TAKING IT TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER, ANOTHER, UH, FAMILY FOUND SOME COMMUNITY KITTENS AND NEEDED TO FIND ACCESS, TO SUPPORT, UM, TO CARE FOR THEM IN LIEU OF SURRENDERING THEM TO THE SHELTER.
UH, ANOTHER FAMILY HAD A DOBERMAN AND A SMALL APARTMENT.
AND INSTEAD OF SURRENDERING THAT DOG, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR PLACEMENT.
UM, ALTERNATIVELY THROUGH PAST, UM, A HOMELESS COUPLE NEWLY HOMELESS HAS TWO CATS AND TWO DOGS AND A FAMILY'S ACTUALLY TAKING THEM IN AND HELPING TO REHOME OR FIND FOSTER FOR THEIR ANIMALS.
UM, THERE, LASTLY, THERE ARE TWO AGING FOLKS WHO NEED TO REHOME THEIR MEDICAL DOGS THAT IS NOT GOING TO THE SHELTER.
AND FINALLY, A COUPLE OF WEB TWO WEEKS UNTIL THEY LOSE THEIR HOUSING AND NEED TO FIND A HOME FOR THEIR DOG, OR IT WILL GO TO THE SHELTER.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE ARE SUPPORTED BY THE PAST PROGRAM.
ALL OF THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT ENTERING THE CITY SHELTER BECAUSE OF PATH LED BY AUSTIN, PETS, ALIVE, THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE.
UM, WE'VE BEEN SEEING IT FOR A YEAR, BUT WE EXPECT TO SEE THE ECONOMIC FALLOUT FROM COVID INCREASING.
SO JUST TO REPEAT MY ASS, PLEASE JOIN THE PAST DAYS, JUST READ FIVE POSTS.
UM, I DON'T GET EMOTIONAL OVER MUCH AFTER DOING THIS WORK THIS LONG, BUT I CAN BARELY READ THAT PAGE WITHOUT, UM, FEELING THAT INTENSE SADNESS AND COMPASSION AND EMPATHY AND A DESIRE TO HELP WHEN I READ THAT PAGE.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS GAIL WATERTOWN.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10, ELLISON ALTAR, AND I HAVE VOLUNTEERED FOR A LOT OF ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS IN MY DAY.
AND I REALLY WONDER CALL OUT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE FOR WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO DURING THE, UH, FAMOUS APOCALYPSE.
UH, THEY HAD A GOAL OF TRANSPORTING A THOUSAND TEXAS PETS TO SAFETY DURING THE WINTER STORMS. SOME OF THEM WENT OUT OF STATE.
UM, THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB AND THEY REALLY MADE AUSTIN LOOK LIKE A LEADER IN OUR STATE.
AND ACTUALLY I THINK IN THE UNITED STATES FOR SAVING INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE CATS AND DOGS THAT WERE AT RISK FOR BEING EUTHANIZED, OR MAYBE YOU LEFT OUT IN THE COLD TO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY FREEZE TO DEATH FROM THE INCREDIBLY HARSH WEATHER.
UM, SO AUSTIN WAS BASICALLY A PITSTOP AND THEY WERE ABLE TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS TO DIFFERENT PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DID THAT FOR A THOUSAND ANIMALS, WHICH IS PRETTY, PRETTY AMAZING.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF AUSTIN PETS ALIVE REALLY MAKES AUSTIN LOOK LIKE, UM, THE PHENOMENAL PLACE THAT IT IS THERE, A LEADER IN THE STATE.
AND I THINK THEY'RE ACTUALLY A LEADER IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.
UM, IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO
[00:20:01]
TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN CATS AND DOGS IN THE SHELTER ITSELF, TAKING CARE OF, UM, I TOOK ONE OF THOSE IN MYSELF AND GOT IT ADOPTED.UM, BUT I THINK THEY JUST DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
AND THE LAST SPEAKER I'VE GOT IS NICOLE CLARK.
UH, MY NAME IS NICOLE CLARK AND I LIVE IN FAR EAST AUSTIN IN PRECINCT ONE.
I LIVE IN, IN THE, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
THAT'S JUST A COUPLE MILES FROM THE VAPE TESLA'S SITE.
UM, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TO ASK THAT YOU FORM A WORKING GROUP TO COLLECT AND STUDY DATA, TO UNDERSTAND.
AND, UM, OUR WORK WITH SPAY NEUTER, UM, IS A CRUCIAL PIECE OF NO KILL IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PETS THAT ARE, UM, STILL INTACT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD CATS.
THEY'RE NOT TRULY PHARAOHS, UM, BUT THEY ARE OFTEN GOING AROUND ON FIXED.
AND LIKE SOMEONE HAD MENTIONED EARLIER WITH, YOU KNOW, KITTENS NEEDING TO BE FIXED.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, THAT IS SUCH AS THE PERCENTAGE OF PETS THAT ARE STAYED IN NEUTER, UH, BEFORE LEAVING THE SHELTER.
UM, DATA SUCH AS, UM, WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY, UM, ARE FUNDING THEIR OWN SPAY NEUTER, OR HOW MANY OF THEM ARE COMING TO USE THE, UH, UH, THE RESOURCES IN AUSTIN AND HOW CAN WE IMPROVE THE WAIT TIME FOR EMANCIPATE APPOINTMENT HAPPEN? WE EXPAND THOSE APPOINTMENTS HAPPENING.
UM, I WORKING GROUP FOR SAYING NEITHER COULD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BRING TOGETHER ALL THE, SAY NEW TO RESOURCES IN THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY AREA, THE SHELTERS, UH, AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY, THAT'S OFFICES, ET CETERA, WITH THE INTENT OF A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL PLAN TO IMPROVE SPAY AND NEUTER.
WE COULD IMPROVE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.
WE COULD WORK TOGETHER AND REDUCE THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF INTACT PETS.
ANOTHER THING TO QUESTION, AND THIS IS FUNDING RESOURCE ALLOCATION TO SPAY AND NEUTER HAS NOT MATCHED THE HUGE POPULATION GROWTH OF AUSTIN AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
HOW CAN SAY NEUTER FUNDING BE IMPROVED, HAS TO BE FUN, SPAY AND NEUTER ACO, AND A MASSIVE PET SO THAT THE CITY AND OTHER HANDABLE SHELTERS IN GROUPS CAN REACH A POINT OF BEING PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE WITH OUR PET POPULATION.
SO PLEASE CONSIDER LOOKING AT OTHER THEATER PROGRAMS TO SEE IF ONE OR A COMBINATION OF THEM WILL WORK TO IMPROVE OUR SPAY-NEUTER IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
THAT'S EVERYBODY THAT I HAD REGISTERED TO SPEAK DURING CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR REGULAR AGENDA NOW.
[1a. Review of minutes from the March 8, 2021, Animal Advisory Commission Meeting]
IS APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE MARCH MEETING THE MARCH 8TH, 2021 MEETING.SO IF EVERYBODY'S LOOK THOSE OVER, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION AND WE CAN TAKE A VOTE MOTION.
WAS THAT MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES? THANKS, NANCY BREAK SECONDS.
ALL IN FAVOR, IF YOU'LL JUST RAISE YOUR HANDS.
ANYBODY AGAINST NO ABSTENTIONS.
MINUTES ARE APPROVED, UNANIMOUS.
[2a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports]
TO ITEM TWO STAFF BRIEFINGS.AND I DON'T KNOW, WHO'S TAKING THAT OVER FIRST.
IF IT'S DON OR JASON OR WHO'S STARTING PLUS A GOOD ANYTHING COMMISSIONERS IT'S JASON DEPUTY CHIEF, I'LL BE KICKED.
I'LL BE STARTING IT OFF AND THEN I'LL KICK IT OVER TO DON.
UM, SO, UH, FOR MARCH, JUST TO GOOD JUMP RIGHT IN THE LIVE OUTCOME PERCENTAGE FOR MARCH WAS 97%.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 957 57 ANIMALS BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO GET 318 ANIMALS ADOPTED AND A TOTAL OF 106 DOGS AND CATS ARE RETURNED TO THE OWNERS EITHER THROUGH OUR RTO PROGRAM OR ARE TO ADOPT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, WE WERE AT THE END OF THE FEBRUARY, WE WERE ABLE TO, UH, MOVE TOWARD ADOPTIONS BY APPOINTMENT, AND THAT CONTINUED THROUGH MARCH.
AND SO, AND DONALD TOUCHED UPON THIS LATER, BUT YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO DOWNGRADE THE CITY TO A TWO STAGE THREE.
AND SO, UM, ALLIE CAN GET TO, RATHER THAN STEAL HIS THUNDER ANIMAL PROTECTION WAS ABLE TO RETURN 96 ANIMALS TO THEIR OWNERS IN THE FIELD DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH.
AND SO THAT DID HELP OUT WITH OVERALL, UH, INTAKE THAT WAS DEFERRED.
UM, WITHIN OUR VOLUNTEER FOSTER INVESTING PROGRAM, WE HAD 56 VOLUNTEERS DONATE 1,263 HOURS TO US.
UM, WE DID HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ADOPTION EVENT WHERE WE HAD A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS ASSIST US AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHICH RESULTED IN 24 ADOPTIONS AND IN JUST TWO HOURS, UM, IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
WE WE'RE, WE'RE SORT OF GAINING THAT MOMENTUM EACH WEEKEND.
UH, WE HAVE A HUNDRED, WE HAVE MORE THAN 210 FAMILIES PROVIDING FOSTER CARE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ABOUT 257 ANIMALS IN FOSTER HOMES AND 180 ANIMALS WERE TRANSFERRED
[00:25:01]
TO, UH, 29 OF OUR RESCUE PARTNERS.UH, VETERINARIANS WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS 118 EMERGENCY CASES.
THEY PERFORMED FOUR ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES AND 20 OTHER SPECIALTY SURGERIES.
UM, WE HAD A TOTAL 205 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES PERFORMED, UM, 484 VET EXAMS AND THREE CRUELTY EXAMS. UM, WITHIN, WE ALSO HAD OUR PRC STAFF WAS ABLE TO HAND OUT 2,700, UH, OVER 2,700 BASIC NECESSITY ITEMS, INCLUDING FOOD BEDS, LEASHES TO FOLKS THAT WERE NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES.
UM, AS WE MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE WE'VE, WE'VE LAUNCHED A DIFFERENT TEXT PROGRAMS, DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES, UH, WITHIN OUR LOST AND FOUND TECHS PROGRAM.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET 211 NEW SUBSCRIBERS AND THE CHAT BOT KEEPS KICKING AWAY ON THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WEBSITE.
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO, TO, UH, START A CONVERSATION WITH IT.
BUT FOR LAST MONTH WE HAD, UH, 16, ALMOST 1700 CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WERE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES, INFORMATION.
THAT'S ABLE TO POINT THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO LOOK BEFORE AND, AND SORT OF NEGATES SENDING AN EMAIL AND THEN, AND THEN WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.
THIS GIVES THEM THAT RESPONSE IMMEDIATELY.
UM, AND ACTUALLY THAT'S ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
[2b. COVID Update]
GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.AND WELCOME TO OUR TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COVID UPDATE.
UM, WHEN THE CITY MOVED BACK TO STAGE THREE, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR ADOPTION APPOINTMENTS PER HOUR, ESPECIALLY OVER THE WEEKENDS WHEN THERE'S LESS STAFF ON SITE, SO WE CAN BRING IN MORE FOLKS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE MAXIMIZING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN AND IS WHEN THE MOVES DOWN, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, UH, IF, YOU KNOW, IF THE CITY OPENS UP BY THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FLING OUR DOORS OPEN AND, UH, GET PEOPLE COMING IN WITHOUT APPOINTMENTS.
BUT WHILE WE DO HAVE APPOINTMENTS, WE, YOU KNOW, DID IMPLEMENT OUR WEIGHT WHILE SOFTWARE THAT'S WORKING VERY WELL.
AND, UH, EVEN TO THE POINT THAT ON OUR PRC, WHEN OWNERS WANT TO SURRENDER, THEY GO TO THE WHITE WILD SOFTWARE AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE A CONSULTATION WITH SOMEONE THAT WILL ACTUALLY WORK WITH THEM ON BOOKING THE APPOINTMENT.
AND I LOOKED THIS AFTERNOON AND YOU COULD HAVE ACTUALLY GOT AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT TODAY.
SO IT'S WORKING REALLY WELL, UH, KEEPING THE WAIT TIME, UH, REALLY DOWN.
UM, ALSO WE ARE IN OUR FINAL STAGES OF ADDING OUR NEW ADOPTIVE PET SOFTWARE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WAY PEOPLE CAN INTERACT WITH US, LOOK AT ANIMALS AND ACTUALLY ADOPT AND PAY FOR THEM ALL ON THEIR OWN.
UH, WE GOT APPROVAL LAST WEEK FROM THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF IT.
AND THE SECURITY PART IS THE WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
AND I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO GO THROUGH.
SO HOPEFULLY THEIR GOAL IS BY THE END OF THE MONTH TO HAVE THAT SOFTWARE UP AND WORKING, WHICH WILL, UH, REALLY CHANGE THE LOOK OF EVERYTHING WHEN YOU'RE GOING OUT ONLINE TO LOOK AT PETS.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S ON OUR AGENDA IS THE SNOWSTORM AFTER ACTION.
I, WHAT I SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY DONE AT THE BEGINNING WAS LET US GO THROUGH EACH A, B, C, D, AND AFTER EACH SUBSECTION, JUST ASK ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE, CAUSE I CAN'T LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND SEE IF PEOPLE WERE RAISING THEIR HANDS.
SO LET ME, LET ME GO BACK AND ASK YOU IF ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS ON A OR B ABOUT MINE, ANYBODY I, I DO.
UM, THEY KNEW THERE, UM, I KNOW THAT SOMEONE MENTIONED I'M KIND OF GLANCING AT THE REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED.
UM, CAN YOU ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE, THE SPACE NEUTER SURGERIES THAT WERE PERFORMED? WERE THOSE JUST PETS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN WITH THE GROUPS THAT WERE LIKE BROUGHT IN OR WERE THOSE JUST COUNTING ALL THE CONTRACTS? UH, LIKE EMANCIPET AND I APOLOGIZE IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.
NO, THESE ARE ANIMALS THAT ARE ON-SITE.
SO THESE WERE EXPAND NEW SURGERIES THAT WERE PERFORMED BY OUR VETERINARIANS.
THESE COULD HAVE BEEN ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED FOR PART OF IT.
ADOPTION WERE PART OF A RETURN TO OWNER WHERE WE, WE ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE, THE, THE PET OWNER TO GET THEIR PET SPAYED OR NEUTERED, IF IT'S INTACT.
UM, YOU KNOW, ALSO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE COMING OUT OF QUARANTINE, WE OFF SAW SORT OF THAT TO THE OWNER.
SO THESE WERE, THESE WERE ANIMALS THAT WERE GETTING SPAYED OR NEUTERED BECAUSE EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
CAN I SEE, PALMER'S GOT HER HAND UP.
UM, JASON, ON THE REPORT, I GUESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
[00:30:01]
WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THE CA THE REPORT THAT HAS THE COMPARISON FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTHS AND THE PREVIOUS YEARS, AND THE BREAKDOWN BETWEEN DOGS AND CATS RIGHT NOW? I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN INDETERMINATE, UH, DETERMINED, DEFINITE DEFINITIVE TIMELINE ON IT.UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH A P H I T ON TRYING TO GET THESE REPORTS CORRECT.
AND UP AND RUNNING ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN, THEIR HANDS ARE TIED UP WITH COVID RESPONSE.
UM, WITH THE PROJECTS THAT DON WAS MENTIONING, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME SUPPORT FROM OUR CORPORATE CTM DEPARTMENT ON TRYING TO SORT OF FACILITATE THOSE REPORTS, GETTING DONE FASTER FOR US AND ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, WE'VE ALSO WORKED, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, CHAMELEON TO SORT OF HELP WITH THOSE REPORTS.
UM, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE, WE'VE SORT OF, UH, CUSTOMIZED REPORTS.
AND SO GETTING BACK TO SORT OF WHAT THE CAN REPORTS THE CHAMELEON OFFERS, UM, ON THEIR SOFTWARE IS, IS SORT OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND THEN CUSTOMIZE IT TO WHAT WE SEE IS NEEDED EITHER MANDATED BY CODE OR WHAT, WHAT WE'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO REPORTING OUT TO THE COMMISSION AND ON AND ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO, SO WITH THE, WITH THE CURRENT, WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, WHAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PROBLEM FOR THE OLD REPORT THAT DOES THE COMPARISON? CAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW TRENDS ON THIS.
I THINK THERE WERE TWO CATEGORIES THAT MENTIONED A COMPARISON TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER ONES DO, NOR DO THEY MENTION BREAK DOWN OF DOGS AND CATS.
SO THAT ONE REPORT THAT WE GOT THAT WE STOPPED GETTING ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WHERE'S THE HANGUP ON THAT ONE REPORT? HONESTLY, IT STAFF, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, TO GO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, WE, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO US AS, UM, AGAIN, HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN TIED UP WITH COVID AND, UM, PREVIOUS TO THAT, THE PERSON THAT WAS DOING IT FOR US ON A REGULAR BASIS, YOU KNOW, UH, LEFT THIS POSITION.
AND SO WITH THEIR HIRING FREEZE AND THEN GETTING SOMEONE ON BOARD, IT'S REALLY FINDING SOMEONE WHO WORKS WITH THESE TYPES OF REPORTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
UM, ONCE SOMEONE WAS IDENTIFIED AND HIRED, THEY SORT OF GOT PULLED AWAY TO WORK ON, ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
SO THAT STARTED THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE BEEN FACING.
I KNOW DON HAS HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE APH DIRECTOR ON SEEING HOW WE CAN SORT OF GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.
UM, YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.
WE HAVE THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I GUESS I'M WONDERING AT THIS POINT, IF THEY KEEP GETTING PULLED OFF AND ACTUALLY THEIR NEW DIRECTIVES THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MORE DATA AND WE'RE LESS DATA JUST WOULD, DO WE NEED TO MAKE A, SEND SOMETHING TO COUNCIL ASKING FOR THEM TO HELP RESOLVE THIS, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M WONDERING BECAUSE THE REPORT THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT WASN'T MANUALLY DONE, I WOULDN'T THINK EACH MONTH.
SO I, WELL, I BELIEVE ME, WE SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATION AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I GOT, JASON DID SAY, I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH THE APH DIRECTOR ON THOSE BIZET POSITION.
COULD IT BE POSSIBLY MOVED BACK TO THE ANIMAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION SIDE, BUT WE, HE DID MENTION THAT WE'RE GETTING, UH, CITY CTM HELP.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, AND THEY'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY ON, AND THEY ACTUALLY SHOWED US SOME DRAFTS.
WE, THE SOFTWARE THAT MICROSOFT HAS THAT POWER BI IT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY INTUITIVE AND IT CAN, IT'S LIKE BIG DASHBOARDS THAT PRODUCE EVERYTHING AND IT SCRUBS OUR DATA AND PRODUCES THE RESULTS IN A INSTANTANEOUS ONLINE FILE, AS WELL AS YOU CAN PRINT THE FILE AND THEY ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW TO TRY TO GET ALL OF OUR REPORTS PUT INTO THAT PROCESS.
AND SO WE CAN JUST SKIP THE PROGRAMMING.
AND, UH, SO THE OFFICE THREE 65, UH, GROUP IS CURRENTLY WORKING TO TRY TO MITIGATE OUR REPORTING ISSUES THOUGH.
SO IF I HAVE A VOLUNTEER THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO IT, COULD I CONNECT Y'ALL? AND SO WE COULD TRY TO GET SOME OF THESE BACK REPORTS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT CTM, I GUESS JASON MIGHT CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION IS I JUST, DON'T SEE, CFTM LETTING SOMEONE OUTSIDE INTO THEIR DATABASE.
WE'D HAVE TO POSE THAT QUESTION TO OUR SORT OF BUSINESS LIAISON THAT WE'D BEEN WORKING WITH FROM, FROM THE CTM MANAGEMENT OFFICE.
UM, JUST, JUST TO SEE HOW THEY FEEL RIGHT NOW, AS DAN WAS MENTIONING, WE DO HAVE THIS TEAM SORT OF WORKING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY WHERE WE GET AWAY FROM THESE CRYSTAL REPORTS AND, AND MORE TOWARD THIS POWER BI FUNCTION THAT THE CITY IS NOW SORT OF MOVING TOWARD WELL, AND I CAN APPRECIATE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THAT COMPLIMENT OR FURTHER CLARIFY, BUT WE NEED TO RECEIVE THE BASICS DURING THE TRANSITION.
[00:35:01]
WHERE I'M FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I CAN'T TELL FROM WHAT WE WERE JUST GIVEN, WHAT IS THIS? ARE WE UP? ARE WE DOWN? WHERE ARE WE? I CAN'T TELL THERE'S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION.I THINK THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WITH QUESTIONS TOO.
SO PALMER, IF YOU, I MEAN, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK WITH MORE QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY THAT HAS A QUESTION.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY REALLY QUICKLY IS I KNOW THAT VOLUNTEERS IN THE PAST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET ACCESS TO STAFF, THINGS THAT WERE MAYBE SENSITIVE, BECAUSE I KNOW OF A COUPLE OF CASES WHERE THAT HAPPENS.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO MAYBE FOLLOW UP ON THAT IDEA, BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A TRUSTED VOLUNTEER THAT YOU CAN VET THOROUGHLY OR WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION.
UM, BUT LET ME, LET ME MOVE ON REAL QUICK TO MONICA BECAUSE SHE WAS WHO I SAW NEXT.
AND THEN RYAN WILL COME AFTER MONICA AND THEN POP OVER.
IF I, IF MY MATH IS CORRECT THIS MONTH, THE FELINE LIBRARY, THESE TRAITS STRUCK TO 93%, IS THAT CORRECT? JASON? UH, MY, MY, UH, JASON'S LOOKING RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT IS GOING TO DROP BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF KITTEN SEASON AND WE SEE A LOT OF THOSE THAT COME IN THAT JUST, UNFORTUNATELY, BY THE TIME WE GET THEM, THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY OUT.
I'M GOING TO ECHO PALMER STATEMENTS THAT HAVING THAT COMPARATIVE DATA IS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CAN LOOK MONTH OVER MONTH AS KITTEN SEASON COMES IN.
AND, AND I GUESS MY CONCERN TOO IS I'M ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OFF THE PUBLIC DATA PORTAL ONLINE.
SO, UM, I THINK I WOULD LOVE TO FIND A WORKAROUND WHERE WE CAN AT LEAST GET THE DATA THAT WE'RE USED TO GETTING IN YEARS PAST, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THAT SHOULD BE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.
UM, LIKE I SAID, I CAN PULL THE LIVE RELEASE RATE BY SPECIES OFF THE DATA PORTAL.
SO, UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST GET THE BARE MINIMUM GOING FOR THESE REPORTS FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES.
AND, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS, THESE POWER BI REPORTS THEY ARE WORKING ON AND THEY HAVE SENT US AN EXAMPLE AND WE WENT BACK AND IT IS THE BASIC STUFF.
FIRST, THE THINGS THAT WE NEED FIRST, UH, ALL THE ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCIL ADDED, THOSE WILL COME AFTERWARDS AFTER THEY GET ALL OUR STANDARD REPORTS READY.
AND MONICA, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SORRY.
I HAD TO DO MATH AND REAL QUICK.
SO I HAVE, YEAH, I CAME UP WITH 93.5% WITH THE NUMBERS THAT I DO HAVE LEADS ME INTO MY SECOND QUESTION, DON, YOU BRING UP, UH, EVERYONE'S FAVORITE SEASON KITTENS SEASON.
UM, THOSE OF US ON THE SHELTERING SIDE, UM, IN THE SKI INDUSTRY, WORRIED ABOUT INCREASED AN INTAKE CATON TAPE THIS YEAR, DUE TO THE PANDEMIC THAT WE LOST SO MUCH TIME IN SPAY AND NEUTER AND OUR COMMUNITY CAT EFFORTS.
SO IF WE LOOK AT HISTORICALLY, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON LAST YEAR IS AN AUSTIN PRE PANDEMIC CAT INTAKE WAS ALREADY ON THE RISE AT, AT THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER.
WHAT KIND OF STRATEGY AND PLANS DO YOU GUYS HAVE IN PLACE AS ANIMAL SERVICES TO COMBAT? NOT ONLY A VERY LIKELY BOOM IN CAT AND KITTEN INTAKE, BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO FACE EVICTION CRISIS AND CAN EXPECT MORE, UM, MORE INTAKE COMING, WHAT KIND OF PLANS OR STRATEGIES ARE YOU THINKING OF OR ROLLING OUT OR WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SEEN RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE VOLUME OF KITTENS COMING IN THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR.
SO OUR VOLUME COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, IT WAS, AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE SEVERE COLD WEATHER THAT WE SAW.
SO I KNOW IT'LL PROBABLY PICK UP LATER ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DID EXPAND OUR KITTEN NURSERY AND HAVE THAT OPEN AND READY.
AND SO THEY ARE MAKING PREPARATIONS.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR, I SAW OUR NEONATAL AND OUR KITTEN FOLKS ARE SETTING UP A MEETING WITH APA AND ALL THEIR NEW FOLKS TO DISCUSS THIS AS A WHOLE GROUP ALSO.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD, UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH, WITH HSI, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM FIRST AND NEUTER FOR COMMUNITY CATS AND JUST GETTING THEM ON THEIR RADAR, JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ALL SHELTERS WERE AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER.
AND SO JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES IN PLACE SO THAT ONCE THOSE ARE AT ONCE INTAKE OF KITTENS, UH, DOES INCREASE THAT ALL OUR, ALL THE PARTNERS THAT ARE, ARE IN PLAY ARE ALL READY FOR IT.
AND, AND DURING THIS PANDEMIC, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SPAY AND NEUTER, UH, AND YOU KNOW, THERE WASN'T THE MASS TRAPPING, BUT WHEN ANIMALS WERE TRAPPED, UH, WE WERE DOING SOME OF THOSE OURSELVES AS WELL AS HS.
AND A LOT OF THEM WERE SENT TO EMANCIPET EMANCIPET HAS, HAS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PANDEMIC.
UM, YOU MENTIONED YOU DO HAVE THE INTAKE NUMBERS YEAR OVER YEAR
[00:40:03]
IN BOTH SPECIES, DON, YOU SAID THE INTAKE GOES DOWN AND I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT YOU DO HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE.LYON HAD HAD GIVEN THOSE TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT SHE SAID THAT THE INTAKE, UH, WAS DOWN THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR.
SO IS IT JUST MANPOWER THAT, THAT WE'RE REALLY LACKING TO GET THAT ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY REPORT? WELL, I, I, WE CAN GIVE YOU SORT OF A, A INTAKE OUTCOME REPORT IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE THE CRYSTAL REPORT THAT YOU'RE NORMALLY USED TO THAT DOES HAVE THE BREAKDOWN IT'S RUNNING REPORTS FROM EACH YEAR OR EACH MONTH FROM ANY SPECIFIC YEAR.
UM, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE CRYSTAL REPORT DOES IS SORT OF PULLS FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT SOURCES TO COMBINE IT INTO ONE REPORT.
SO THE NUMBERS THAT I'M, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE SORT OF VARIOUS REPORTS ALL PULLED TOGETHER.
BECAUSE AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET THAT ONE REPORT.
I WAS LIKE, OH, I'M NOT SURE IF SHE FORGOT THIS.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO, I'M GOING TO GO TO RYAN AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO PALMER AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER HANDS, SO I'M TRYING TO WATCH TO SEE IF OTHER OKAY.
SO RYAN AND THEN PALMER THEN, CORRECT.
UH, MY FIRST QUESTION IS IF SOMEONE CALLED TODAY, UH, HOW LONG WOULD IT BE BEFORE THEY COULD GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADOPT AN ANIMAL THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN? IT COULD POSSIBLY BE TOMORROW BECAUSE IT'S A LIVE SYSTEM.
SO IF SOMEONE CANCELS THAT APPOINTMENT AUTOMATICALLY BECOMES AVAILABLE AND WE'RE SEEN THAT, YEAH.
PUTTING ASIDE CANCELLATIONS, WHAT, WHAT WOULD, UM, WHAT WOULD THAT WEIGHT BE? UM, SO YEAH, IF SOMEONE WERE TO CANCEL AND YOU HAD SELLING CANCELLATIONS, UM, WHAT WOULD THE WEIGHT BE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, ANY SIGN CANCELLATION? I MEAN, I GUESS IT ALL, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR, IF YOU HAD MAYBE A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I THINK WE, WE, WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS UP UNTIL THEN.
SO IF YOU HAD AN APPOINTMENT TWO DAYS FROM NOW AND SOMEONE CANCELED TOMORROW, YOU WOULD GET A NOTIFICATION THAT, OR YOU CONTINUE LOOKING LIKE, HEY, THERE'S AN OPEN SPOT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE IT? AND THEN YOU COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE THAT OR AN INDIVIDUAL COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE THAT SPOT.
SO PUTTING IT BACK, KIRK, WITHOUT CANCELLATIONS, WE'RE ABOUT A WEEK OUT RIGHT NOW.
AND IS THAT THE SAME FOR SURRENDERING? UH, OR WHAT, WHAT, WHAT, AGAIN, PUTTING ASIDE CAMP EARRING, SURRENDERING, YOU HEARD ME MENTIONED WE HAD APPOINTMENTS TODAY, SO YOU COULD HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY.
AND THEN WITH RESPECT TO THE CHAMELEON, UM, CRYSTAL REPORT, UH, IS, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S AN INTERNAL SYSTEM THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY CLICK RUN IN AND HIT THE, AND PRODUCED THE REPORT.
UM, IS THAT THAT NO ONE'S HITTING RUN OR, I MEAN, WHAT, WHAT PREVENTS THE SHELTER FROM HITTING RUN ON THE CRYSTAL REPORT? WHEN THEY UPLOADED SOFTWARE MANY MONTHS AGO, IT DEGRADED THE WHOLE REPORTING SYSTEM AND HAVING SOMEONE THAT CAN REBUILD ALL OF THAT IS THE PROBLEM IT'S NOT, AND IT'S NOT JUST SOMEONE HITTING RUN.
THEY TRIED THAT AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
IT IT'S, THEY'RE ALL DEGRADED.
SO TRYING TO FIX ALL OF THE REPORTS THAT WHEN THEY LOADED THE SOFTWARE, IT SCREWED UP BASICALLY IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET DONE RIGHT NOW.
I WONDER IF FOR YOU, IF I WAS AT, SORRY, THERE'S A LITTLE DELAY.
IT'S LIKE TALKING TO SOMEONE IN FRANCE.
SO WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE IF THE CRYSTAL REPORTS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MESSED UP? I DON'T CARE WHAT FORMAT THE DATA IS RECEIVED IN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA.
CAN WE GET IT HOWEVER IT'S PIECEMEALED TOGETHER? LIKE Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT STUFF THAT'S GIVING YOU THE BREAKDOWN OF DOGS AND CATS Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT STUFF THAT ARE GIVING YOU THE SPECIFICS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO EVEN IF IT'S NOT AN, A PRETTY CRYSTAL REPORT, CAN WE STILL GET THE SAME INFORMATION IN WHATEVER FORMAT YOU HAVE TO PIECEMEAL IT TOGETHER? UM, YEAH, WE CAN TRY TO PUT TOGETHER SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I'M JUST THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IT'S GOING TO BE LOOK MORE LIKE A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, WHERE THAT HAS ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION WITH THE, WHAT THE THREE 65 TEAM FROM CORPORATE CTM IS DOING IS TRYING TO, UM, WELL, ONE AND I SHOULD'VE MENTIONED THIS, AND THEN I APOLOGIZE THERE SINCE, SINCE KRISTA REPORTING IS SORT OF AN ANTIQUATED SORT OF TECHNOLOGY.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO GET US TO POWER BI, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN EXPORT WHATEVER REPORTS, WHATEVER PERCENTAGES ARE NEEDED OVER TIME, BROKEN BY ZIP CODE, BROKEN BY ANIMAL
[00:45:01]
ANIMAL TYPE, SO ON AND SO FORTH.ONCE, ONCE WE'RE ABLE TO GET TO A GOOD SPOT, I THINK Y'ALL WILL LIKE THAT.
BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE COULD SORT OF PUT TOGETHER A REPORT THAT, THAT SHOWS THIS INFORMATION, UH, AND IT GIVES YOU THE TRENDS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND COULD WE GET IT FOR LIKE THE PAST MONTH OR TWO THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS SPECIFICS? I MEAN, IF I I'LL HELP COMPILE IT, IF YOU'RE SENDING IT IN DIFFERENT REPORTS AND STUFF, BUT I MEAN, WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S USABLE RIGHT NOW.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE CAT NUMBER BEING DOWN BECAUSE OF LITERACIES.
AND WE CAN'T SEE ANY OF THIS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, YEAH, I, I THINK ONCE WE CAN PULL THE DIFFERENT REPORTS, UM, IT'S REALLY JUST GOING TO TAKE MANPOWER SORT OF PUTTING IT TOGETHER, PUTTING THE DATA INTO A, INTO AN, A SPREADSHEET PROBABLY THAT WILL THEN SORT OF, WE CAN CREATE GRAPHS, CHARTS, SIM AGAIN, JASON, I'M SORRY.
EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE GRAPHS OR CHARTS, CAN WE JUST GET THE RAW DATA? YEAH, I THINK THAT'S FINE.
IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE THE MANPOWER OF GOING THROUGH EACH, RUNNING EACH REPORT IN CHAMELEON, AND THEN TRANSMITTING THAT DATA TO A SPREADSHEET EVEN, UH, EVEN IF IT'S NOT ORGANIZED.
I MEAN, THE RAW DATA WOULD BE GREAT TO AT LEAST GET LIKE, TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM AND, AND, AND, AND GET MORE INFORMATION FROM THESE ONES.
AND I'M RUNNING INTO MY HEAD SORT OF LIKE THE DIFFERENT REPORTS WE HAVE IN THERE.
WELL, I'LL HAVE TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT.
FIRST THING TOMORROW, WOULD IT HELP IF WE TRY TO ASK COUNCIL FOR SOME HELP ON THIS, GETTING THIS RESOLVED? I MEAN, YEAH.
I THINK ANY ASSISTANCE OR ANYTHING THAT, THAT THE COMMISSION COULD DO IN ITS POWER WOULD, WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED.
UM, LET'S SAY CRAIG, YOU'RE NEXT? AND I SEE JOANNE'S HAND.
UH, YEAH, THIS JUST A BRIEF QUESTION.
UH, ON THE COYOTE REPORT, IT SAID ONE INCIDENT OF ALL THE CODY WITH MAINS CHARGING, TWO APD OFFICERS WHO SHOT AT IT.
I HAVE BEEN TRACKING A COYOTE WITH MAIN JUMP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CONCERNED.
THERE'S BEEN NO PROBLEM, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT DISTRICT THAT WAS IN? UH, UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT, BUT I CAN FIND OUT AND SEND YOU A MESSAGE TOMORROW.
I JUST, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT.
UM, THANKS FOR ALL THE INFORMATION.
UM, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON RESCUE POOLS.
UM, IT SEEMS MONTH AFTER MONTH, WE'RE SEEING DECREASES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS OF MANY OF THE RESCUE PARTNERS, UH, ESPECIALLY THE LARGE RESCUE PARTNERS.
UM, WHY HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY REASON WHY THEY'RE NOT PULLING ANIMALS FROM US? THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD IS BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE FULL, THEY HAVEN'T DURING THE PANDEMIC BEEN ABLE TO MOVE AS MANY ANIMALS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE AS MANY ANIMALS.
WELL, THAT SEEMS A LITTLE ODD WITH, ESPECIALLY LIKE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, THEY SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF ADOPTIONS.
AND I GUESS WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT AT THAT POINT.
SO I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY THAT, BUT I GUESS PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE OF COVID MAYBE WITH THE OTHER SMALLER RESCUES, AREN'T ADOPTING AS MANY ANIMALS FROM THOSE SHELTERS.
[2c. Snowstorm After Action]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO, SEE THE SNOWSTORM AFTER ACTION.UM, THIS IS JUST A REAL BRIEF, UH, ON FOR, UH, WELL WE HAVEN'T YET, OR THE CITY HAS A, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT WHO OVERSEES SORT OF THE CITY'S OVERALL EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
HASN'T YET SET AN AFTER ACTION DEBRIEF YET.
SO WE ARE AT THE READY ONCE THEY DO.
UM, OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS COLLECTED INFO FROM STAFF, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT WERE ABLE TO BE ONSITE FEEDBACK, THINGS THAT WORK, THINGS THAT DIDN'T WORK, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THAT WAY WE CAN BE PARTICIPATORY AND, AND, AND GIVE OUR FEEDBACK, ESPECIALLY FOR ONE OF THOSE, UM, OPERATIONS THAT WERE HUGELY AFFECTED BY IT AS AS MANY CITY DEPARTMENTS WORK.
BUT UNTIL, BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOTHING HAS BEEN SET AT AS SOON AS HOPEFULLY SOMETHING IS SET IN THIS MONTH, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN BRIEF YOU ALL ACCORDINGLY.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM UNDER STAFF BRIEFINGS IS TWO
[Additional Item]
D IT'S AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, QUARTERLY REPORT.JEFFERSON WITH US, I THINK TO ADDRESS THAT.
UM, I AM JUST TRYING TO SEE IF MY
[00:50:01]
CAMERA WILL COME ON.WELL DON'T KNOW IF THAT WORKED OR NOT, BUT, UM, ANYWAY, I WANTED TO GO OVER THE REPORT.
I THINK YOU GUYS ALL HAVE THE REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU, HOPEFULLY THAT, UM, WE SUBMITTED AND I WANTED TO POINT OUT A FEW THINGS ON IT.
ONE IS, UH, THERE IS A PERCENT INTAKE, UM, INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE QUARTER ONE COMPARED TO QUARTER ONE OF 2020.
AND YOU CAN LOOK ON PAGE THREE, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE, UH, COMPARISON BETWEEN THE YEAR, UM, BETWEEN THE QUARTERS AND THE, THE PERCENT OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, UM, INTAKE THAT WE'RE TAKING IN.
AND SO, AND THEN ON PAGE TWO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE TYPE OF ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING IN.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ANIMALS THAT ARE MOST AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA ARE, UM, HAVE A SAFETY NET WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS WE CONTINUE TO, UM, WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT NO ANIMAL WAS EUTHANIZED IN THE CITY UNNECESSARILY.
UM, LET'S SEE, ON PAGE SEVEN, I WANTED TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE SEVEN.
WE HAVE A RECAP OF THE WORK THAT WE DID IN THE COMMUNITY.
ONE THING THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE COVID HAPPENED.
AND, UM, SO FOR THE LAST YEAR ESSENTIALLY, IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A, A BIGGER AND BIGGER NEED FOR US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING TO SERVE CITIZENS THAT NEED HELP WITH, UM, ANIMALS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND AND CAN'T HOLD ON TO OR ANIMALS THAT THEY NEED TO SURRENDER.
AND AREN'T ABLE TO GET INTO AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER WITH THE COVID RESTRICTIONS.
AND SO OUR WORK HAS REALLY, UM, DRASTICALLY INCREASED WITH THE PAST ARE POSITIVE ALTERNATIVES TO SHELTER SURRENDERS PAGE.
WE RECEIVE ABOUT 600 TO 800 CALLS A MONTH.
UM, AND PARTICULARLY DURING THE SNOWSTORM, WE, WE HAD A BIG ONSLAUGHT OF NEEDS THAT WE WERE TRYING TO ADDRESS, UH, JUST BECAUSE THE CITY WAS CLOSED, UM, BECAUSE OF THE COLD.
AND, UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.
WE HAD OVER 2000 PEOPLE SIGN UP TO HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH OUR MUTUAL AID PAGE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD AND SUPPLIES AND, UM, HELP PEOPLE KEEP THEIR ANIMALS WARM.
AND THEN ON PAGE EIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE MAP OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE TOOK IN, UH, TO HELP WITH TEXAS SHELTERS THAT WERE REALLY INUNDATED FROM THE COLD AND THEIR FACILITIES WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP AND MOVED THEM TO OFTEN TEMPORARILY AND THEN OFF TO OTHER LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
AND, UH, ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO, UM, LET'S SEE, I THINK ACTUALLY I THINK THAT'S IT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AS WELL.
UM, SO I SAW A LOT OF HAND FIRST, SO WE'LL LET HER ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND ANYBODY ELSE JUST KINDA CHIME IN, I THINK, AS WE GO.
SO, UM, OH, I THINK WE MIGHT'VE LOST HER FOR A SECOND.
IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF SCREEN IS REFRESHING, SO LET'S GO TO JOANNE AND WE'LL COME BACK TO A LOT OF WHEN SHE REJOINS US.
UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON PAGE SIX, UM, ON YOUR LIVE INTAKE.
UM, THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR, I GUESS, ALL OF APA FOR THE FIRST QUARTER, UM, RELINQUISHED BY OWNER.
UM, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THE RELINQUISHED BY OWNER IS, UH, OWNER SURRENDERS IS THE TRANSLATION TO MUNICIPAL CODE.
SO HAVING, UM, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT THE CITY IS TAKING IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING IN DIRECTLY FROM THEIR OWNERS.
AND WHERE ARE THOSE OWNERS LOCATED? THEY ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE BASED IN AUSTIN.
SO THAT THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY DO IN AUSTIN SINCE COVID STARTED.
AND THEN, AND WHAT PART OF THE WE'RE IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT? IS THAT LOUD? UH, WELL THIS, THE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE IS ITS OWN ORGANIZATION.
UM, THE LICENSE AGREEMENT DOES NOT GOVERN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO MEET THE MINIMUM 3000 HOLES ON FROM AAC PER YEAR.
[00:55:01]
OKAY.WE HAVE BEEN HELPING THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS THAT ARE DIFFERENT DURING COVID.
UM, EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED DURING COVID.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S INTAKE HAS DROPPED BY 8,000 TO ANIMALS, UM, OVER THE LAST YEAR.
AND OUR SUPPORT HAS, UH, REALLY COME IN TO FILL THE GAP IN A WAY THAT I THINK OUR AUSTIN COMMUNITY APPRECIATE.
AND, BUT, BUT THERE'S STILL A LICENSE AGREEMENT, UM, THAT NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED AND COMPLIED WITH, IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? MISS DIRECTOR BLAND IS, IS THE, HAS THE LICENSE AGREEMENT BEEN WAIVED DURING COVID WHEN WE WERE TAKING LESS ANIMALS? UH, NO.
THE LICENSE AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.
UH, WE KNEW OUR INTAKE WAS LESS.
WE KNEW THAT THEY, UH, WOULD, WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY ANIMALS FOR THEM TO TAKE AT THE BEGINNING OF COVID.
UM, I GAVE THEM A 21 DAY WAIVER TO BRING ANIMALS IN, TO PUT ON THEIR CAMPUS, BUT THOSE 21 DAYS, UH, WHICH HAS SINCE EXPIRED.
SO, AND, AND THAT WAS LAST YEAR? YES, IT WAS.
SO BACK TO MY QUESTION, WE HAVE A LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT SAYS THERE'S A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ANIMALS TO TAKE A YEAR AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT SAYS WHERE THOSE ANIMALS CAN COME FROM.
SO IS THAT STILL ENFORCED? HE SAID THE LICENSE AGREEMENT DOES STATE.
THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE GREATER OF 3000 ANIMALS OR 12% OF OUR PREVIOUS YEAR'S INTAKE.
WHAT DOES TRANSFERRED IN FROM AGENCY MEAN? DR.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE SOLE AMAR.
UM, AND SO THIS IS ANIMALS COMING IN FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
WELL, BUT YOU HAVE ANOTHER DOCUMENT HERE THAT SAYS IT, THE OTHER DOCUMENTS, THE NUMBERS DON'T SEEM TO MATCH.
THAT IS, UM, THAT'S ANIMALS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
SO WHAT ARE OTHER AGENCIES I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S IN THE REPORT SHELTER.
SO OTHER SHELTERS AROUND TEXAS, INCLUDING AC.
JEFFERSON, IF, IF, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN ON YOUR PAGE SIX, THAT IS INCLUDING YOUR T LAB FACILITY, AS WELL AS YOUR TARRYTOWN, CORRECT.
UM, THAT IS INCLUDING OUR FOSTER CARE, 80%, 80 TO 90% OF OUR ANIMALS ARE IN FOSTER AT ANY MOMENT.
AND SO, UM, MOST OF THE ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING TRANSFERRED IN FROM ANY AGENCY ARE GOING TO, UM, FOSTER AND THEN THAT IT ALSO INCLUDES ANIMALS THAT ARE AT AUSTIN.
UM, IMMUNEX PERRY COUNTY, ANTON, LIKE, YEAH.
SO I GUESS I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED BY, UM, HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE BEING ADOPTED AND PUT INTO FOSTER FROM OTHER AREAS IN TEXAS, BUT NOT FROM, UH, ON AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO HIT THE TWO TO MEET THE MINIMUM NUMBER.
IT HAS TO AVERAGE ABOUT 250 ANIMALS, AND WE'RE NOT NEAR THAT.
WELL, WE SPEND MOST OF THE ACTUALLY, UH, PROBABLY MORE ANIMALS FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER TO FOSTER THAN, UM, OUR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL.
AND I LIKED THE AGREEMENT JUST TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, YOU SAID THE LICENSE AGREEMENT DOES NOT RESTRICT OUR PARTNERS.
IT IS JUST, JUST A RESTRICTION, UM, AROUND THE USE OF CHILDLIKE.
SO AS LONG AS THE ANIMALS, AREN'T AT TOWN LAKE, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
AND WE ARE WORKING ON, UM, WORKING WITH COUNCIL AND I'VE TALKED TO AN ANIMAL CENTER TO REVISE THE LICENSE AGREEMENT BECAUSE, UH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT DOESN'T FIT THE MODEL THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
AND THAT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN AUSTIN DURING COVID.
AND, AND AS YOU CAN SEE DURING THE SNOWSTORM, WE HAVE A LOT OF, UM, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT OUR CITY IN THE WAYS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING UNTIL COVID IS COMPLETELY OVER AND THEN POST COVID.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S CHANGES THAT NEED TO BE MADE, AND THOSE ARE ACTIVELY, OH, ANOTHER, UH, UH, BUT YOUR LICENSE RUNS OUT PRETTY SOON.
RIGHT? SO, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF LIKE ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO EXTEND, UM, UH, TO EXTEND OUR, UH, LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN
[01:00:01]
IN THE PAST, LIKE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS EXTENSION OR SOMETHING, MOST LIKELY.YES, IT WILL BE ON THE MAY 6TH COUNCIL AGENDA.
REAL ESTATE IS PUT IT ON FOR, UH, ANOTHER RENEWAL.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF.
I WAS GOING TO SEE HOW MUCH MORE YOU HAD, BECAUSE I SEE THAT LOTTA HAS, SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD CONNECTION.
THE, THAT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS, RIGHT? YOU GOT TO LOVE TECHNOLOGY SOMETIMES.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION ON PAGE SIX, WHERE IT SAYS ON THE APA REPORT TRANSFERRED IN FROM AGENCY.
THAT WAS ONE THAT JOANNE ASKS PROBABLY WHEN YOU WERE OFF, BUT, UM, COUNSELORS, SHELTER, JUST SHELTERS, OTHER SHELTERS.
AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN YOUR SUMMARY ON PAGE ONE AND THE, ON THE, UM, ANIMAL AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER REPORT.
UM, THE STATEMENT ON THERE, I DON'T KNOW WHICH PAGES IS, I'M SORRY, IT'S UNDER, UNDER THE VOLUNTEER FOSTER RESCUE PROGRAM PAGE.
IT SAYS THAT, UM, WHEN COMPARED TO MARCH 20, 20 POOLS DECREASED BY 15% FOR APA INCREASED 38% FOR AHS.
UM, AND YOUR SUMMARY STATES THAT YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, SAME MONTHS.
SO WHERE'S THE DISCONNECT ON THAT? IT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF OFTEN ANIMALS CENTERS INTAKE.
AND SO LAST YEAR, UM, HE'LL FEEL, YOU KNOW, THAT THE, UM, SHELTER WAS COMPLETELY OPEN TO INTAKE.
AND SO THERE WAS A LOT MORE ANIMALS COMING IN.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PERCENT DECREASED THERE WAS OVERALL AN INTAKE YEAR TO YEAR FOR OFTEN ANIMAL CENTER, BUT THE INTAKE FOR US FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER OF THEIR INTAKE HAS GONE UP.
SO THESE ARE NOT AN APPLE TO APPLE COMPARISON.
YOU GUYS ARE EACH TALKING TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
ANYTHING ELSE THOUGHT OF, OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR.
YOLANDA, LET ME, LET ME GET BACK TO YOU IN JUST ONE SECOND.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO DO PALMER AND THEN RYAN, AND THEN YOU'LL WANDA.
SO I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I MAY HAVE MISSED THE, IF THERE WAS AN ANSWER ON IT.
SO ON THE CITY'S REPORT, IT SAYS THERE WAS A DECREASE FOR APA.
IS THAT LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF ANIMALS OR IS THAT LOOKING AT THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS BASED ON THE PERCENTAGE OF INTAKE? HOW, HOW IS IT CALCULATED ON THE ANIMAL? THE CITY REPORT? I BELIEVE IT'S NUMBER OF ANIMALS.
AND SO I'LL, I DON'T HAVE THAT REPORT IN FRONT OF ME.
AND SO I CAN'T SEE WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER THAT WAS PULLED FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
SO IT, SO IF IT WAS A DECREASE AND IT'S BASED, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE DATA IS ALL BEING REPORTED AND, AND DISCUSSED IN A SIMILAR FASHION.
IF THE NUMBER THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PULL IS BASED ON INTAKE, THEN WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT NUMBER ON YOUR REPORTING TOO, I WOULD THINK, RIGHT.
BECAUSE IF YOUR INTAKE'S DOWN THEN THEY'RE PULLING WOULD, COULD BE DOWN OR VICE VERSA.
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT PART OF THE REPORT.
SO I'LL VERIFY THAT TOMORROW AND, AND, AND SEND A CLARIFICATION TO THE COMMISSION OR IT'LL COME FROM PROBABLY BELINDA, BUT THANK YOU.
OKAY, RYAN, I'M GOING TO TAKE A, TAKE A, A SWING AT TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE DISTINCTION HERE TO BE.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE IS TAKING A LARGER PORTION OF A SMALLER NUMBER OF INTAKE.
AND SO BOTH OF THOSE STATISTICS COULD BE TRUE THAT THEY'RE TAKING THAT THEIR, UH, THEIR PERCENTAGE OF POLLING IS AS INCREASED YET.
THEIR ALL NUMBERS HAVE DECREASED BECAUSE INTAKE IS SO FAR DOWN THIS YEAR THAT IF THEY, THEY CAN TAKE FEWER ANIMALS, BUT ALSO TAKE A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF INTAKE.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE DISPARITY.
UM, I GUESS I, I, FOR THE SAKE OF COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM
[01:05:01]
THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD, AND, AND I WILL RE I WILL, UM, BACK UP THOSE WHO WANT THE REAL NUMBERS, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING WHEN WE'RE NOT GETTING FULL REPORTS.UM, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF DR.
JEFFERSON STILL THERE, BUT WHAT I HEAR AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE SO EVERYBODY CAN, UH, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT AND ARGUE WITH IT, DON'T ARGUE WITH IT.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT, UM, BECAUSE INTAKE IS SO FAR DOWN RELATIVE TO PRIOR YEARS, UH, THAT THE, THE NEED OR AUSTIN PETS ALIVE HAS ALSO DECLINED SOME IN THAT POLICY AREA, IN THE, IN THE POLICY AREA OF INTAKE, BUT THAT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE HAS, UH, SHIFTED FOCUS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S AGAIN, TAKING A LARGER PERCENTAGE OF INTAKE INSTEAD OF TAKING A SMALLER, RAW NUMBER OF INTAKE THAT IT'S SHIFTING SOME OF ITS FOCUS TO OTHER NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THE PROVISIONS THAT IT MADE DURING THE SNOWPOCALYPSE AND, UM, AND THE, THE PASS PROGRAM AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.
AND AGAIN, JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE IN FULL TRANSPARENCY THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME, AND PLEASE CLARIFY IF I'M WRONG.
THAT THAT NUMBER OF 3000 POLES WILL NOT BE, UM, WILL NOT BE MET THIS YEAR.
AND THAT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE IS, IS, IS HOPING TO ALTER THE LEASE AGREEMENT SO THAT IT CAN RESPOND TO WHAT IT FEELS ARE THE GAPS NOW, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THE GAPS WERE WHEN, UH, WHEN THE LEASE WAS INITIALLY, UH, EXECUTED.
AND I THINK IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT THE LICENSE AGREEMENT WAS SET UP FOR US TO BE A SAFETY NET FOR THE ANIMALS THAT WERE LOSING THEIR LIVES AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND, UM, BACK WHEN THIS ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS DRAFTED, IT, THE, THE NUMBER WAS FAR MORE THAN 3000 ANIMALS WERE LOSING THEIR LIVES EVERY YEAR.
AND SO WE TOOK, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE 3000 OF THOSE AND, AND STILL ONLY GET THE CITY TO AN 89% LIVE RELEASE RATE WHEN WE FIRST SIGNED THIS.
AND SO THAT NUMBER WAS PUT IN PLACE AS A PLACEHOLDER FOR THE AMOUNT OF ANIMALS NEEDED TO GO THROUGH THAT LIFE SAVING SAFETY NET.
AND OVER TIME, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES.
OBVIOUSLY, SINCE THAT AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED, UM, THE CITY BUDGET AND PERSONNEL HAVE GROWN DRAMATICALLY.
IT WAS $6 MILLION BACK IN 2012 WHEN THIS WAS SIGNED AND NOW IT'S $16 MILLION.
AND A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE WERE PROVIDING BACK THEN ARE NOW BEING PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN MEDICAL PROGRAMS, BEHAVIOR PROGRAMS, UM, A LOT OF THE ADOPTION FOSTER PROGRAMS. AND THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE WE CAN DO MORE TOGETHER.
AND SO, UH, IT, AND AS WE'RE HAVING DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY COUNCIL OFFICES, UM, WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THAT THE GAP FILLING IS A REALLY IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF WHAT WE OFFER TO THE CITY IN TERMS OF BENEFIT AND HELPING WITH ANIMALS THAT CAN'T GET DOCTRINE ANIMAL CENTER, WHERE PEOPLE NEED MORE HELP, WHERE PEOPLE NEED, UM, FUNDS RAISED FOR PET DEPOSITS AND, UM, DOCTOR'S VISITS AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FIELDING WITH THAT 600 TO 800 CALLS AND EMAILS A MONTH WITH THE TAX PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD TO HIRE ANOTHER FULL-TIME TASK COORDINATOR TO HELP WITH THE DEMAND.
UM, SINCE WE, SINCE WE, UM, SINCE COVID, AND, UM, WE'RE CONTINUING TO JUST TRY TO FILL THE GAPS TO MAKE SURE OUR COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND THAT THINKING THAT IS IN PLACE AND AT THE SAME TIME, MAKING SURE THAT NO ANIMAL DIES UNNECESSARILY AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
UM, SOMETIMES THAT'S BEYOND OUR CONTROL IF WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE ANIMALS, BUT IT, UM, FOR EVERYONE THAT WE HEAR ABOUT, WE ARE DOING A FULL ASSESSMENT ON WHETHER THEY TRULY ARE AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE OR, UM, OR HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT IS, THAT IS BEYOND SAFER OUR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF REHAB, UM, OR WE'RE TAKING THEM IN.
AND THAT'S WHY THAT BREAKDOWN OF ANIMALS COMING FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ON PAGE, UH, TWO IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
SO I ASSUME THAT'S ALL HE'S GOT.
UM, YEAH, I WAS JUST TRYING TO, TO, UH, EXPLAIN THAT THE ISSUE AS I UNDERSTOOD IT.
UM, AND I, AND ALSO FRANKLY, JUST TO PUT IT ALL OUT THERE, THEN BE REAL CLEAR.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MEET THAT NUMBER AND THAT THEIR POSITION IS THAT THEY'RE FILLING OTHER GAPS AND THAT THEY'RE SERVING THAT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND ULTIMATELY OF COURSE, IT'S UP TO COUNCIL DECIDE, UM, WHAT, WHAT THEY WANT, UM, FROM AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT TRANSPARENCY.
UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO YOUR LAWN AND YOU'RE, AND JUST ONE SECOND, AND I SEE CRAIG'S HAND UP, BUT IT'S 10 AFTER SEVEN AND WE ARE REQUIRED TO ELECT OFFICERS.
[01:10:01]
AFTER YOLANDA'S COMMENT, AND I GUESS CRAIG'S COMMENT, IF YOU CAN KEEP THOSE RELATIVELY BRIEF, IF POSSIBLE, WE NEED TO MOVE INTO THAT.UM, OH, WELL, I'M SEEING A MESSAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAYBE GET UNTIL SEVEN 45.
THEY MIGHT NOT CUT OUR CALL OFF BECAUSE WE'RE LIMITED BY COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO WE CAN JUST MAKE THESE LAST COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND THEN MAYBE MOVE FORWARD TO TOWARD THE ELECTIONS.
THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO IT.
SO WITH THAT YOLANDA, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION OF DR.
I JUST THINK AS, AS A NEW, LIKE A MEMBER, I THINK THE, WHAT EVERYBODY'S SPEAKING OF IN TERMS OF THE DATA AND KIND OF FULLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT, UM, I THINK I VISITED THE SHELTER AND, UM, LAST WEEK, AND I THINK THE, A NUMBER OF, I MEAN, IF WE DO GO BACK IN FACT IN THE SUMMER, I MEAN, I THINK THAT, UM, THERE ARE, I MEAN, I I'D LIKE TO SEE, UM, MORE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT PAGE SEVEN OF EIGHT, UM, LIKE WHERE THIS HELP FOR, FROM ALL THESE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LIKE WHAT AREA, UM, WHAT AREAS WAS THIS? UM, WHAT DISTRICTS, I GUESS, WERE REQUESTING THE, THE HELP, UM, IN, IN THAT ILLUSTRATION WHERE IT HAS, UM, YOU KNOW, 777 PEOPLE DONATED ITEMS LIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, 200 PLUS IT'S JUST LOCALLY.
LIKE, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LIKE A BREAKDOWN OF THAT JUST BY DISTRICT, IF IT'S, UM, AVAILABLE, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
I'M SORRY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND BECAUSE WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE IT, I THINK THAT IT TELLS THE STORY OF OUR CITY.
UM, OVERALL, IF WE CAN REALLY DRILL DOWN INTO ZIP CODES AND DISTRICTS AND, UM, UNDERSTAND THE NEED AND ASSETS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'LL GET IT, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S ON OUR LIST.
UH, YEAH, THIS JUST A COMMENT IS THAT THIS IS, IS A COMPLICATED PROBLEM AND THE DATA THAT'S COMING IN AND PLUS THE CHANGES THAT COVID HAS PUT ON US.
AND I JUST THINK THAT, UM, THE ONE THING I'D JUST LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE ALL DO IS KEEP IN MIND WHAT THE GOAL IS.
THE GOAL IS TO SAVE AS MANY ANIMALS AS WE CAN, AND TO DO THAT THINGS MAY CHANGE AS THE SITUATION CHANGES.
AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO BE, UH, FLEXIBLE IN INTERPRETING THAT AND WORK TOGETHER WITH PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THE SHELTER HAS TO HAVE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I WOULD JUST LET JUST A COMMENT ABOUT IT.
IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS FOR DR.
JEFFERSON WHO I NOW SEE AFTER ALL THAT TIME, NOW I CAN SPEAK HER EFFECTS.
THANKS FOR COMING, UM, THAT ITEM AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS BECAUSE OUR EXTREMELY GRACIOUS TECH SUPPORT PERSON AT CITY HALL IS GIVING US A LITTLE LEEWAY IF WE DON'T QUITE MAKE SEVEN 30, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH OLD BUSINESS BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE US TOO TERRIBLY LONG.
[3a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Comparative Evaluations of Monthly Release Rates]
IS THREE, A UPDATE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS OF MONTHLY RELEASE RATES.I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHOSE ITEM THIS WAS AS MONICA SIGNED IT.
I'M GOING TO REQUEST THAT IT STAY ON UNTIL THESE DATA ISSUES GET DROPPED OFF AND WE GET SOME RESOLUTION AND TRANSPARENCY.
UM, AND THEN ALSO TAKING THE SUB 95% FELINE LIBRARY STRAIGHT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
[3b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action from Working Group on Off-Leash Dogs]
OLD BUSINESS THREE B IS UPDATE, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FROM WORKING GROUP ON OFF-LEASH DOGS.UM, YEAH, TWO REALLY EXCITING THINGS.
UM, SO OUR GROUP, UM, WE DOCUMENTED ALL OF OUR CONCERNS IN A SPREADSHEET AND, UM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR SOLUTIONS BASED ON THE CONCERNS OF THE SPREADSHEET.
AND I APPRECIATE THE CALLER CALLING IN BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME ISSUES HERE THAT I DIDN'T SEE OR THAT WE HADN'T HEARD.
SO, UM, I MET WITH, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND, UM, TO, UH, TALK ABOUT AN APPROACH TO SOME OF THE ISSUES BECAUSE THEY DO INVOLVE, UM, AREAS THAT, UM, THE ANIMAL CENTER IS INVOLVED WITH.
AND ONE OF THEM IS WE FELT THAT, UM, THE WEBSITE IS A GOOD EDUCATIONAL TOOL AND IT'S KIND OF CONFUSING AND OUT OF DATE AND NOT ADDRESSING THE QUESTIONS THAT THE, THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE.
UM, SO, UM, MR. BLAND SAID WE COULD, UH, TAKE A SHOT AT, UM, DOING SOME REVAMPING OF THE, UH, ANIMAL PROTECTION AREA.
SO, UM, THE THREE OF US ON OUR WORKING GROUP, UH, WENT AHEAD
[01:15:01]
AND DID THAT.UM, I COMBINED ALL THE UPDATES AND SENT THEM TO, UM, CONCERNED NASER AND, UM, MS. VANLANDINGHAM, THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEM NOW.
AND, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO NEXT IS, UM, THEN GIVE THEM TO MR. UH, DIRECTOR BLAND LATER THIS WEEK, UM, TO SEE, UH, IF WE HAVE SOME OF OUR INFORMATION CORRECT.
AND HOW WE CAN, UM, GET THOSE CHANGES MADE TO THE CITY WEBSITE.
UM, ONE QUESTION FOR THE COMMISSION.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT, UM, IF WE DO GET THE CHANGES DONE AND MR. UH, DIRECTOR BLIND LOOKS AT HIM AND SAYS, YES, THIS IS CORRECT.
UM, IF YOU ALL WANT TO LOOK AT THEM AND APPROVE THEM FIRST, OR CAN THE CITY JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE WEBSITE? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS THEY WANT TO MAKE ON THAT? I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT THEM AS POSSIBLE IF THAT UP, MAYBE WHEN WE GET THE FINAL, I'LL JUST SEND IT TO THE COMMISSIONER AND IF THAT'S OKAY TO EVERYBODY.
UM, SO I THINK IF WE CAN DO MOST OF IT AND I'LL DEFINITELY HELP IF PEOPLE GO TO THE WEBSITE AND WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, SO IF THEY SEE AN OFF-LEASH DOG, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A PARK, IT'LL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO STEP-BY-STEP AND HOW THE CALL IS HANDLED AND EVERYTHING WHICH PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE SECOND THING THAT'S VERY EXCITING.
UM, A LOT OF, BUT NOT ALL OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED CITY PARKLAND.
AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD WAS ALSO FORMING A WORKING GROUP, UM, TO LOOK AT, UM, AWFULLY STOCK ISSUES AND CITY PARKS.
AND THEY'VE ASKED IF, UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THEM.
WE'RE NOT FORMING A SEPARATE GROUP, THERE'S NO SEPARATE TITLE.
IT SAYS OUR WORKING GROUP NEEDS CERTAIN INFORMATION.
THEIR WORKING GROUP NEEDS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME INFORMATION.
PLUS THEY HAVE MORE CAUSE THEIR PARKS, SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER.
AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE, UM, REALLY GREAT FOR THE CITIZENS TO ALL PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND, UM, TRY TO FIND SOME SOLUTIONS TO THE CONCERNS OF THE CITIZENS.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR LAUNCH MEETING ON THIS COMING FRIDAY AND DIRECTOR MCNEELY IS GOING TO BE PART OF THE WORKING GROUP.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE ONCE THAT REPORT IS RUN BY DON, UH, RATHER THAN IT GOING STRAIGHT TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR UPDATE, IT'LL GET SENT TO US PROBABLY THROUGH, UH, BELINDA, I ASSUME.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY HE, UNLESS WE WANT TO APPROVE IT, HE CAN UPDATE, THEY CAN START THE UPDATES AT THE SAME, AT THE SAME TIME, BUT I CAN SEND IT TO YOU.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO UPDATE FOR? WE CAN WAIT UNTIL THE MAIN MEETING, IF YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT IT AHEAD OF TIME AND VOTE ON IT.
UM, I DON'T THINK IT'S PROBABLY NECESSARY TO DO THAT, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WHATEVER THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO DO.
I THINK JUST BASED ON THE COMMENT THAT I HEARD, I THINK FROM YOLANDA, I THINK MAYBE JUST SENDING IT OUT TO EVERYBODY BEFORE THE CHANGES WERE MADE, THAT WAY EVERYBODY CAN JUST SEE IT.
AND THEN IF ANYBODY MAYBE WANTS TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, THEY CAN, BUT I'M WITH YOU.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL BE NECESSARY.
AND I'LL ALSO, I MEAN, IF IT'S OKAY, I'LL SEND YOU THE SPREADSHEET AND HOW WE TIED EVERYTHING WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO THE SPREADSHEET AND THE CITIZEN CONCERNS.
SO YOU COULD TO SEE WHAT THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE DOING.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR JOANN RYAN? YEAH, IT'S NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION AS A COMMENT.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD, UM, ISSUES IN THE PAST OF THE STAFF BEING REALLY VERY CONCERNED WITH US TAKING ACTIONS, UM, UH, IN OUR CAPACITY AS, UH, ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS, BUT NOT APPROVED BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
SO, UM, I THINK JUST TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S NOT AN ISSUE, THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR EVERYTHING TO KIND OF COME BACK THROUGH THE COMMISSION BEFORE ANYTHING WENT TO STAFF.
I, I, I, I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE ALL SAFER IF WE, IF WE ACT AS A BODY RATHER THAN AS INDIVIDUALS.
UM, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO ANYTHING IN OUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY OUTSIDE OF THE COMMISSION.
UM, AND ON THAT SAME NOTE, I THINK THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE MEETING WITH ANOTHER COMMISSION AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS COMMISSION WITHOUT THIS COMMISSION VOTING ON IT.
UM, I JUST LOOKED AT THE AGENDA.
IT DOES SAY THAT WE CAN PROPOSE SOMETHING ON THAT.
SO MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO THE EXTENT THE CHAIR WILL HEAR IT, MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE, UH, TO APPROVE, UH, JOANNE AND, UM, AND WHOMEVER ELSE IS ON THE, THE ARE WORKING, UH, SUB COMMITTEE, UM, TO WORK WITH THE PARKS RECREATION, UH, WORKING GROUP ON, UH, OFFICE DOG.
BUT AGAIN, ASK THAT ANYTHING BECOME, COME BACK THROUGH US BEFORE IT GOT SENT TO COUNCIL OR SENT TO STAFF, UM, JUST TO KEEP THE, UH, THE LEGALITY OF WE'RE NOT ACTING
[01:20:01]
AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMISSION WITHOUT THE COMMISSION'S APPROVAL.SO THAT WOULD BE MY PROPOSAL THAT THEY BE, UH, THAT WE, WE GIVE THEM OUR, UM, I DUNNO, PERMISSION OR APPROVAL TO WORK WITH THE OTHER WORK GROUPS.
SO LET ME GET ALL THIS STRAIGHT.
SO I MAKE SURE WE DO THE RIGHT THING HERE.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS, RYAN, CAUSE THAT CLARIFIES KIND OF MY MINDSET OF SAYING, YEAH, LET'S AT LEAST RUN IT BACK BY EVERYBODY BEFORE THE POST GETS MADE.
SO THAT WOULD ALLOW US THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU'VE STATED IT MORE CLEARLY.
UM, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A MOTION THEN ESSENTIALLY TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WORK GROUP SHOULD COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY PARKS WORKING GROUP ON THE OFF-LEASH ISSUE.
AND I THINK I SAW CRAIG SECOND THAT IF I'VE STATED IT CORRECTLY AND THAT'S STILL HOW YOU FEEL, LET ME KNOW.
IT'S MY, MY MOTION IS TO APPROVE.
IT'S NOT WHETHER TO APPROVE MY MOTION IS TO APPROVE OUR WORK OR WORKING WITH THE PARKS WORK GROUP.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND CRAIG, I THINK YOU'VE STILL SECONDED.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND VOTE ALL IN FAVOR.
SO THAT YOU NAMED IT WAS LIKE PASSED AND I'LL, UM, WORK WITH RYAN AND BELINDA, IF WE NEED TO CLARIFY ANY OF THAT LANGUAGE SINCE WE DID IT KIND OF QUICKLY.
IF I COULD JUST SAY, UM, SO, SO WITH REGARDS TO THE WEB, TO THE WEBSITE UPDATES, UM, I'D LIKE TO SEND IT, UM, IF, IF A DIRECTOR BLINDS OKAY.
MY PITCH, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT I ADDED A LOT OF NEW FAQ PAGES TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT.
AND THEN WHEN THAT COMES BACK BEFORE THE CHANGES ARE MADE, WELL, I'LL GIVE IT TO EVERYBODY AND WE'LL APPROVE IT AT THE MAY MEETING.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE S WE'RE SAYING.
AND, AND ALSO, UM, AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, APPROVING THE DRY GROUP.
I DID, UM, AS CITY LEGAL, IF WE NEEDED TO HAVE APPROVAL AND THE OPINION CAME BACK.
IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO DO IT, WE SHOULD DO IT.
SO, UM, IT'S GOOD THAT WE DID IT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON, ON THREE B, EXCUSE ME, OLD BUSINESS THREE.
I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT TO MAKE IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TALK WITH PART ON THIS AND IN THE PAST, WE HAVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT JURISDICTION AND, AND YOU KNOW, HOW PART HANDLES THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO ASK BARD, UH, EMAIL US AND WE'LL, WE'LL GET THEM IN THERE SO WE CAN GET GOOD INFORMATION.
[3c. Update, Discussion and Possible Action from Working Group on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin]
ALL RIGHT.THREE C THE UPDATE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION FROM WORKING GROUP ON HOW TO INCREASE MICROCHIPPING IN AUSTIN.
I THINK THIS WAS BEING HEADED UP BY DON AND THAT EDWARD AND GREG WERE INVOLVED IN THAT.
IS THERE ANY UPDATE TONIGHT? CORRECT.
UH, WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANOTHER GROUP MEETING UNTIL WE WERE HOLDING OFF UNTIL THIS PAST SATURDAY.
SO BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER GROUP MEETING SET UP, BUT, UM, LAST THIS PAST SATURDAY, WE HAD OUR FIRST DRIVE THROUGH MICROCHIPPING EVENT.
WE INITIALLY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.
UH, WE PUT APPOINTMENTS OUT THERE.
THEY ALL BOOKED UP VERY QUICKLY.
WE ADDED ANOTHER, UH, RANGE OF APPOINTMENTS.
THEY BOOKED UP VERY QUICKLY AND WE WERE AT CAPACITY.
AND SO WE, WE KNOW THERE'S THE NEED THAT'S OUT THERE.
AND THE DESIRE, WHAT WE DID DETERMINE WAS THAT THEY COULD MICROCHIP WITH FOUR STAFF MEMBERS, UH, 10, EVERY 15 MINUTES.
SO THAT QUADRUPLED WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD DO.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO ABOUT 40 AN HOUR IN PREVIOUS, IN FUTURE EVENTS, WHICH WE PLAN ON STILL DOING.
AND THE ONLY OTHER UPDATE I HAVE THAT, UH, IS WE HAVE OUR MARKETING PERSON WORKING ON PSA'S FOR THE SPANISH RADIO STATIONS.
UM, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE COME OUT YET, BUT BY THE TIME WE HAVE OUR MEETING, WE'LL HAVE SOME DATA FOR THAT.
AND EDWARD CRAIG, ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? OR CAN WE MOVE ON TO OUR ELECTIONS? NOPE.
[4a. Election of Officers]
AND REQUIRED.WE NEED TO DO OUR ELECTIONS FOR NEW OFFICERS.
UM, THE NEW TERMS WILL BEGIN MAY 1ST AND THEY'RE A ONE-YEAR TERM.
SO THEY RUN THROUGH NEXT APRIL 30TH.
AND BASICALLY, I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY ON HERE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS KNOW WE HAVE A CHAIR, A VICE CHAIR AND A PARLIAMENTARIAN.
AND SO I WILL TAKE NOMINATIONS AND THEN WE WILL VOTE ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE TO BASICALLY HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE VOTING IN FAVOR OF SOMEONE WHO'S INTERESTED IN RUNNING.
NANCY'S HAND UP NANCY, GO AHEAD.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE CRAIG NASER FOR PRESIDENT OR FOR CHAIR.
[01:25:01]
VERY GOOD.NOMINATE EDWARD VOTING FOR WHICH POSITION? THE CHAIR.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? GO AHEAD, RYAN.
LISA, I'M GOING TO NOMINATE YOU FOR IT IF YOU'LL, IF YOU'LL CONSIDER IT, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOU MAY NOT, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO, YOU'VE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB TODAY.
SO, UH, IF YOU'LL CONSIDER IT, I'M SURE I'M NOT ALONE IN THINKING YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB TODAY, RYAN.
I REALLY DO, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO DO THIS JOB WELL, SO I WILL POLITELY DECLINE IF I MAY, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ANY OTHER CHAIR NOMINATIONS AND IF NOT, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON THE TWO NOMINEES.
SO I, I, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE IT, THAT I WOULD NOT, UM, BE ABLE TO FULFILL AS MUCH TIME AS I WOULD LIKE WITH, UH, OWNING A SMALL BUSINESS AND WORKING IN VARIOUS NONPROFITS.
BRANDIS, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE RYAN FOR CHAIR.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND VOTE FIRST.
WE WILL VOTE FOR, WELL, WE'LL JUST VOTE FOR BOTH.
ALL IN FAVOR OF CRAIG NASER AS CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE I NEED TO LIKE WRITE EVERYBODY DOWN.
AND YOLANDA, I WANT TO JUST GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
AND THEN ANYBODY IN FAVOR OF RYAN.
AND YOLANDA, DID YOU WANT TO VOTE ON EITHER OF THOSE? UH, YES.
I LIKE TO VOTE FOR CRAIG OR CRAIG.
SO I'M GOING TO READ THIS BACK JUST BECAUSE THIS IS HARD TO DO ON ZOOM.
SO I HAD FOR RYAN, I HAD PALMER, MONICA, DR.
BRANDIS, AND RYAN, DID YOU RAISE HER? I ABSTAINED.
AND THEN FOR CRAIG, I HAVE KATIE, UH, JOANNE, EDWARD YOLANDA, LADA, NANCY, AND CRAIG HAVE THAT RIGHT.
DO I MISS ANYBODY? AND I'M JUST ABSTAINING BECAUSE I'M THE CHAIR AND I CAN, WELL FOR NOW.
SO CRAIG, YOU ARE OUR NEW CHAIR.
AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO VICE CHAIR.
DO I HAVE ANY NOMINATIONS FOR THAT? NOBODY.
HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL HAVE A NOMINATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN NOMINATE YOURSELF, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD DO IT AS GOOD AS JOB AS YOU HAVE TONIGHT, LISA.
IF YOU HAVE A NOMINATION, I'LL NOMINATE JOANNE JUST TO MAKE IT.
ANY OTHER NOMINEES FOR VICE CHAIR AND YOLANDA? I KNOW YOU'RE ON THE PHONE.
DO YOU HAVE A NOMINATION OR NO? UH, NO I DON'T.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A VOTE FOR JOANNE FOR VICE-CHAIR ALL IN FAVOR.
IS IT TOO LATE TO NOMINATE? OH YEAH, SURE.
I WAS TRYING TO GO OFF, MUTE ON MY PHONE AND I'M HERE IN THIS CAFETERIA.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN GO AHEAD.
I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE RYAN FOR VICE CHAIR, BRIAN FOR VICE CHAIR.
ALL IN FAVOR OF JOANNE FOR VICE CHAIR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
AND ALL IN FAVOR OF RYAN FOR VICE CHAIR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS.
AND YOLANDA, WHAT'S YOUR VOTE FOR JOANNA.
[01:30:06]
ALL RIGHT.I GET TO, I GUESS, CAST THE DECIDING VOTE HERE.
AND BECAUSE WE ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE SEVEN FOR THE VOTE, WE NEED THE MAJORITY, I THINK, IS THAT RIGHT? NANCY? ACTUALLY, YOU CAN ANSWER THIS FOR ME.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A, WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE VOTE FOR SOMEONE.
BUT IF IT'S THE MAJORITY, IS IT MAJORITY? OR IS IT SEVEN? IT'S THE MAJORITY.
BUT THAT SEVEN IS THE MAJORITY.
SO THAT THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GOING TO WORK ANYWAY.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT? I WILL VOTE FOR RYAN AS WELL.
SO RYAN, YOU ARE OUR NEW VICE CHAIR.
NOW, NANCY, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REMAINING PARLIAMENTARIAN? I'M FINE WITH IT.
IF SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS TO DO IT, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
I NOMINATED NANCY FOR PARLIAMENTARIAN.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVING THEM? THERE'S A LOT.
UH, ACTUALLY I JUST HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
SO W WHAT IS THE ACTUAL, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN ROLE? WELL, A LOT OF TIMES IT USED TO BE A REALLY WILD ROLE BECAUSE YOU GOT TO SHUT PEOPLE DOWN.
WHEN THERE WERE LENGTHY COMMENTS, YOU BASICALLY JUST KEEP CONTROL OF THE MEETING AND ENFORCE ROBERT RULES.
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER TO BE A SERIOUS ANSWER.
ANY OTHER NUMBERS? I ALSO WOULD WANT TO MENTION THAT THE PARLIAMENTARIAN IS THE PRESIDENT HE'S AS A CHAIR OR THE VICE CHAIR THERE.
THE PARLIAMENTARIAN RUNS A MEETING.
AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT THAT'S THE, THAT'S HOW IT GOES.
IT'S CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, PARLIAMENTARIAN IN TERMS OF RUNNING MEETINGS.
AND IF ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE GONE, IT'S THE MOST SENIOR PERSON ON THE COMMISSION.
SO, WHICH I DON'T, THAT TAKES SOME TIME TO DETERMINE, BUT IN ANY OF IT.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CALL A VOTE FOR NANCY ALL IN FAVOR, NANCY PARLIAMENTARIAN, ANY OPPOSED, AND ANY ABSTENTIONS YOLANDA.
ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU VOTING YES OR NO? OR ABSTAINING? YES.
IT LOOKS LIKE, AND JOANNE, DID YOU VOTE? I'M SORRY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S UNANIMOUS.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE BELINDA, THE INFORMATION SHE NEEDS TO GET TO THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE AT THE CITY.
SO QUICKLY MOVING ON TO FUTURE
[5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
AGENDA ITEMS. UM, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE CARRYING FORWARD THREE, A THROUGH C ON OLD BUSINESS.SO ALL OF THE WORK GROUP INFORMATION.
UM, AND DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY NEW ITEMS PALMER? I SEE YOUR HAND.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, PROPOSE MAKING AN FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO UPDATE THE DISCUSSION AND TAKE POSSIBLE ACTION ON MONTHLY REPORTING OF DATA SECOND.
ANY OTHER ITEMS, JUST FOR CLARITY, TWO PEOPLE CAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE ON AGENDA ITEMS. JUST TWO PEOPLE CAN, UH, ASK FOR THEM.
I THINK I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT WAS THE CASE, BUT I WASN'T SURE.
SO I FIGURED, WELL, IT CAN'T HURT.
SO NOW WE'RE GOOD TO GO FOR SURE.
THIS IS WHY I SHOULD NOT BE CHAIR.
WELL, THAT'S EVERYTHING THAT I THINK BELINDA, SPEAK UP IF YOU NEED OTHER INFO FROM US BEFORE WE HANG UP.
I WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING THEN AT SEVEN 34.