[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:04]
I'M CRAIG NASER COMMISSION CHAIR CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:04 PM.
THIS IS THE, UH, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING ON AUGUST 8TH, 2022 IN PERSON AND VIA TELECONFERENCING.
UH, WE NEED TO CALL ROLL BECAUSE WE HAVE A MIXTURE OF PEOPLE HERE AND ON LINE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SOUND PALMER, STOLLER, IF YOU'RE HANDY.
WELL, RYAN CLINTON'S HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SOUND ON HIM YET.
LISA MITCHELL SHE'S HERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY SOUND ON HER EITHER.
KATIE JARL I SEE HER NAME THERE.
DO WE HAVE SOUND FOR KATIE? NOPE.
NO SOUND FOR KATIE, BUT SHE'S HERE.
PALMER, NEW HOUSE PALMER IS STILL LISTED WITH AN ATTENDING.
PALMER HAS EMAILED US AND SAID SHE IS LISTED AS AN ATTENDEE, BUT SHE'S NOT AS A PANELIST.
AND THEY'RE, YOU'RE SAYING THEY CAN HEAR EACH OTHER, BUT WE CAN'T HEAR THEM.
LOT OF SMUGGLER HERE, LOUISE HERRERA HERE.
BEATRICE DOES ANXIETIES, BUT I SENT THE, UH, DR.
PAIGE NILSSON HERE AND WE HAVE ONE VACANT.
SO, UH, LET ME REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, REGARDING CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.
UH, YOU SIGNED THIS IF YOU'RE HERE IN PERSON OR IF YOU'RE ONLINE, UM, UH, IF YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND ON EACH AGENDA ITEM.
THEY, THEY CAN'T HEAR AND WE CAN'T HEAR THEM.
A COUPLE OF THEM CAN HEAR ARE A COUPLE OF CAMPS THAT WE NOT PROCEED WITH THE MEETING UNTIL THE SOUND IS FIXED.
CAN WE GET THE SOUND FIXED? SWEET.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE SOUND GOING.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR US? LISA CAN HEAR US.
CAN YOU HEAR US PALMER? THEY CAN HEAR US IF THEY'RE TEXTING, IF THEY CAN HEAR US.
CAN YOU USE COLLARS? CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING? UH CAN'T HEAR HIM SAY SOMETHING.
MR. RYAN, CAN YOU SAY SOMETHING AGAIN? UH, OR BRIAN CLINTON SAY SOMETHING.
RYAN, CAN YOU HEAR US SAY SOMETHING, RYAN? NO, THAT'S CRAZY.
WELL, IF THEY CAN HEAR US, WE, THAT WAS GOOD.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND TRY IT AGAIN.
[00:05:01]
UH, WE, WE COULD GO ON IF THEY CAN ACTUALLY HEAR US, WE COULD GO ON WITH CITIZENS COMMUNICATION WHILE HE'S TRYING TO WORK ON IT.BUT IF THEY CAN'T, IF THEY, IF WE CAN'T GET THE MEETING TOGETHER, THEN WOULDN'T, WE HAVE TO CANCEL THE MEETING IF THEY CAN'T SPEAK TO.
AND SO WE SHOULDN'T GO ON WITH CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
IF YOU CAN CALL UP THERE AND SPEAK ONE MORE TIME.
SAY SOMETHING, RYAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME, RYAN? I DON'T THINK HE CAN HEAR ME NOW.
ANY CHANCE THEY CAN CONNECT MY PHONE? I DON'T KNOW.
UM, PALMER, CAN YOU HEAR ME, KATIE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I DON'T THINK THEY CAN HEAR ME NOW.
CAN YOU HEAR US SPEAK GUYS? WE ACTUALLY, WE CAN, EVEN IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM, WE CAN WAIT UNTIL SIX 30 TO GET A QUORUM.
FARMER CANNOT HEAR ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT YEAH.
NONE OF THEM CAN CAUSE AND HE STARTED A NEW ROOM OR SOMETHING.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THIS ROOM.
I DON'T THINK IT HAS MUCH TO DO WITH THE WORLD.
I LIVE ON HIM BECAUSE I LIVE ON WELL, WELL, YEAH, THEY DON'T USE ZOOM.
IT'S TEAMS. THE CITY ONLY USES TEAMS. ENEMIES.
WE COULD DO IT ON LIFE, BUT WHAT THEY DO, IF THEY HAVE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S WHY THEY DO IT ALL BECAUSE AFTER RECORDING POST MS. KATIE, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES.
WE CAN HEAR YOU KATIE LOUD AND CLEAR.
CAN WE HEAR RYAN TESTING? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR RYAN.
CAN WE RELEASE A HELLO? A LOT.
CAN WE HEAR PALMER? UM, YEAH, YOU NEED TO TURN IT UP PALMER, BUT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 1 of 2)]
CITIZENS COMMUNICATION NEXT.SO THE FIRST ONE WILL BE KAYLA MARIE.
NANCY NEMERS HERE NOW TO NANCY NEMER AND COUNTER.
OH, ARE YOU ALL READY? OKAY, AWESOME.
I WAS A SIX-YEAR VOLUNTEER AND FOSTER AT AAC.
YOU COULD HAVE JUST SHORTENED THAT TO DOG MURDERER IN ORDER TO PAINT JUICE, MOVE UP THE DEATH
[00:10:01]
DATE ON THAT WORTHLESS DOG SHOVEL TIME.THE SAFEST PLACEMENT YOU CAN MAKE FOR THIS DOG IS SIX FEET UNDER THIS DOG IS A MONSTER.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE ALMOST 3000 COMMENTS ON THE JULY, 30TH AAC, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ABOUT A DOG NAMED CHEWY.
WHEN I SAY THAT THIS POST WAS ONE OF THE MOST RECKLESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE THINGS TO COME OUT OF AAC IN QUITE A WHILE.
AND THAT'S SAYING A LOT, IF YOU'RE READING THE POST WITH NO CONTEXT, AS MOST READERS WERE, YOU WOULD ABSOLUTELY.
AND REASONABLY THINK THIS WAS A DOG WHO WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE POST DATED THE CHEWY SCALES FENCES.
HE HAS A BITE HISTORY AND HE HARMS HIMSELF WHEN HE EVEN SEES OR HEARS OTHER DOGS.
THIS POST WAS CLEARLY A GUY'S MEANT TO INCITE OUTRAGE AS WELL AS GAIN SUPPORT FOR KILLING CHEWY.
AND IF THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT, IT SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW A SHELTER SHOULD COMMUNICATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ANYONE WHO WAS A PART OF IT HAS NO BUSINESS IN THIS FIELD, TRULY EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY DISCLOSES THE NECESSARY FACTS THAT STILL MAKES THE DOG RELATABLE AND KNOWABLE.
THIS POST HAD MORE THAN 500 SHARES.
EXCEPT MANY OF THESE SHARES WERE DONE BY ANTI PIT BULL GROUPS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS WHO FOUND PLEASURE IN DEMONIZING CHEWY AND ALL PIT BULL TYPE DOGS.
IT WAS ALSO SHARED ON THE PIT BULL HATE SUB THREAD ON REDDIT, WHICH HAS MORE THAN 10,000 FOLLOWERS.
WHAT THIS POST ACCOMPLISHED WAS TO MAKE CHEWY A DOG THAT HARDLY ANYBODY WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE ADOPTING OR HAVING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, REPUTABLE FORCE FREE RESCUES AND TRAINERS ARE RIGHTLY CONCERNED THAT THE HATRED FROM JEWISH POSTS WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO WORK WITH AAC IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IT COULD OPEN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS TO THE SAME KIND OF ATTACKS IT TRAMPLED ALL OVER.
WHAT LITTLE HOPE REMAINED FOR CHEWY'S LONG TIME ADVOCATES AT TERRIFYINGLY HAS PUT THE SAFETY OF SHELTER, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AT RISK.
THE POSTS SHARED BY AAC JUST BEFORE THIS MEETING TONIGHT STATED THAT CHEWY WILL NOW BE GOING TO RESCUE THIS POST WILL INEVITABLY INVITE THE SAME HATEFUL, VIOLENT COMMENTS AND CONTINUE TO PUT STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AT RISK.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT POST DID FOR THE SPACE CRISIS.
AAC THAT IS TRULY RICH TO REACH ITS TIPPING POINT, WHO IS GOING TO READ THAT POST AND SAY, WELL, SHOULD WE MAY NOT BE THE DOG FOR ME? BUT I STILL THINK THAT AAC IS WHERE I WILL GO TO ADOPT MY NEXT DOG.
THIS POST WAS ALLOWED TO RUN IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I DO NOT KNOW WHO WROTE IT, BUT KELSEY, CLAIRE IS AACS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM MANAGER AND DON BLAND IS HER DIRECT SUPERVISOR.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS POST FALLS SQUARELY ON THESE TWO PEOPLE AFTER ALMOST TWO DAYS OF ALLOWING THIS ANGRY MOB TO HIJACK THE POST KELSEY OR SOMEONE WITH HER AUTHORITY STATED THAT AAC IS NOT ALLOWED TO DELETE COMMENTS OR CLOSE COMMENTING ON ITS POSTS.
ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY EDITING A PUBLIC COMMENTS POSTED ON AN OPEN FORUM IS PERMITTED.
IF THE COMMENTS DIRECTLY PROMOTE OR ADVOCATE VIOLENCE OR THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE, READ THE COMMENTS ON CHEWY'S POSTS.
THERE WAS NO SHORTAGE OF VIOLENCE.
EVERYONE ON THIS COMMISSION AND IN THIS ROOM SHOULD BE OUTRAGED BY THIS POST.
AAC JUST TOOK SEVERAL STEPS BACKWARDS.
THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO TAKE THIS POST HAS DAMAGED THE SHELTER'S REPUTATION AND THE CITY'S REPUTATION.
IT IS DEMORALIZING AND TRAUMATIZING FOR THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS.
IT IS THE DOGS WHO WILL ULTIMATELY PAY THE PRICE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.
I AM A VOLUNTEER FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ON THE CAT PROGRAM.
I AM VERY UPSET THAT I DO A LOTS OF CATS, 14 TO 20 CATS AND A COLONY.
AND I AM GETTING A LOTS OF KITTENS BECAUSE WE HAD A YEAR OF NO, NO TRAPPING.
FALL BACK BEHIND THE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY HAS TURNED ME DOWN ON TAKING KITTENS AND IT HAS UPSET ME BECAUSE I TOOK SOME KITTENS IN THERE TO THEM THAT I DID ON THE SECOND MONDAY OF SEPTEMBER.
SHE HAD JUST HAD HER BABY, DR.
IT WAS A COLONY OF 20 FIXED HER.
AND I RAN HER HER BACK TO HER BABIES.
UM, THE THIRD MONDAY OF, UH, JULY, THE HUMANE SOCIETY REFUSED TO TAKE THE KITTENS.
THEY LIVED UNDER A MOBILE HOME THAT WAS AIR CONDITIONED.
AND THREE OF THE KITTENS HAD, UH, NOT URI, BUT GUMMY EYES AND THE FOURTH KITTEN.
AND THEY SAID, YOU BRING IN TOO MANY KITTENS.
SO THEY WON'T TAKE MY KITTENS.
AND I TOLD HIM I WAS GOING TO GO TO APA AND I GO THERE BECAUSE I KNOW APA DOES PULL FROM OUT OF COUNTY, OUT OF STATE, OUT OF COUNTRY.
AND I THOUGHT THESE KITTENS NEEDED IMMEDIATE HELP AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE THE KITTENS.
I HAD TO TAKE THEM TO OUR CITY SHELTER THERE.
THEY SAT THERE FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE APA WENT AND GOT THEM.
I THINK THAT THE, THE, UH, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE BECAUSE I AM A TRAPPER FOR, UH, FOR OUR CITY.
[00:15:01]
THEY DO PULL KITTENS ONLY FROM THIS CITY SHELTER.THEY DON'T TAKE ANY ADULTS, BUT THEY DO TAKE KITTENS.
AND I BROUGHT HER KITTENS AND THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THEM.
AND IT'S MADE ME NOT WANT TO TRACK THIS MONTH AT ALL, BECAUSE I DO AN AVERAGE OF 30 KITTENS.
I'VE ALREADY DONE ALMOST 180 CATS THIS YEAR ALREADY AND 50 KITTENS.
AND IT'S JUST, I DON'T WANT TO TRAP BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO RUN INTO BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING THERE FOR CATS.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT, I'M NOT A JOJOLA, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE GOING BACK AND DOING JOBS.
I DO THE JOB AND LEAVING TO GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
I'M CALLED ALL THE TIME, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR A MIRACLE OUT OF AUSTIN, PETS ALIVE.
THAT IF I COME THERE, THEY CAN PROVE THAT I DO WORK THROUGH AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, THAT THEY COULD TAKE KITTENS THAT ARE LESS THAN SIX WEEKS OLD.
IT MAKES ME NOT WANT TO TRAP AT ALL.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING FOR AUSTIN PETS ALIVE TO TAKE THE KITTENS BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE, I'VE GOT SOME KITTENS ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER THE 4TH OF JULY AT NINE 30.
THIS READY TO GO? GOOD EVENING, KELLY.
I'M A 12 YEAR VOLUNTEER AND FOSTER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND UH, MANY OF US ARE HERE BEFORE YOU AGAIN TODAY.
NOW THREE MONTHS AFTER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS BEGAN PUBLICLY VOICING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND THREE MONTHS LATER, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS SADLY IN AN EVEN WORSE POSITION THAN BEFORE THE CRISIS WE HAVE ALL BEEN DREADING IS HERE RIGHT NOW AND ESCALATING JAYLEE.
AND THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM SEEMS TO HAVE NO PLANTS IN PLACE, OR AT LEAST NONE THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO THEIR STAKEHOLDERS.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AACS RECENT SOCIAL POSTS WITH LINES OF DOGS AND CRATES ON THE HOT TRUCK PORT.
AND THERE ARE MANY MORE DOGS AND CRATES THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS.
AND THAT'S ON TOP OF THE HUNDREDS OF DOGS AND ACTUAL KENNELS.
THIS SPACE CRISIS HAS BEEN MONTHS.
IF NOT YEARS IN THE MAKING, INSTEAD OF PLANS AND COMMUNICATIONS AND ACTIONS, WE GET NOTHING FROM THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM, NOTHING AT ALL, BUT REPETITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD TO THIS POINT AND ARE CLEARLY NOT WORKING TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.
THE NUMBER OF DRAW DOGS AT AAC CONTINUES TO CLIMB LEAVING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, OVERWORKED AND EXHAUSTED.
AAC IS BARELY MEETING THE MOST BASIC NEEDS OF THE ANIMALS WITH QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHILE QUALITY OF LIFE SUFFERS.
YOU'LL LIKELY HEAR AACS MANAGEMENT TEAM USE THE EXCUSE THAT SHELTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE IN SIMILAR CRISIS.
AND YES, THE SHELTER SYSTEMS IN A POSTPONE COVID WORLD FACE A LOT OF NEW AND DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, BUT AUSTIN PRIDES ITSELF ON ITS INNOVATION AND HAS LONG CLAIM TO BE A LEADER IN NO-KILL.
SO WE NEED TO STOP COMPARING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER TO OTHER SHELTERS AS AN EXCUSE.
THIS IS A LAZY COP-OUT PLAIN AND SIMPLE YET.
SO TYPICAL OF THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM, BLAME OTHERS TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY, BE OKAY WITH THE STATUS QUO.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL FOR PUSHING THROUGH THE AUDIT OF THE ASO, BUT WE CANNOT BAIT THE CRISIS THAT AAC IS DIRE AND THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS AND THE ANIMALS ESPECIALLY NEED HELP.
NOW WE NEED IMMEDIATE STEPS TO ALLEVIATE THE CURRENT SPACE CRISIS BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THE CURRENT CURRENT LEADERSHIP CAN NOT DO IT ON THEIR OWN PRIOR TO REACHING THEIR CURRENT POINT OF CRITICAL MASS.
AND EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO, AAC ASKED FOR AND RECEIVED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP COORDINATED BY THIS COMMISSION.
AFTER RECEIVING A LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS, AAC MANAGEMENT PROMPTLY PUSHED BACK BY SAYING THEY WERE EITHER ALREADY PRACTICING MOST RECOMMENDATIONS OR THE OTHERS WOULD NOT WORK.
THE TRUTH IS AAC HAS PAID LIP SERVICE TO MOST PRACTICES AND EXECUTED ONE OFFS TO THE REST.
REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS SUGGESTED AAC UTILIZE THE MOBILE ADOPTION VEHICLE TO CONDUCT OFFSITE ADOPTIONS FOR CURRENTLY SHELTER DOGS.
WELL, THEY DID, BUT SOMEONE HERE TONIGHT, PLEASE ASK DON BEN BLAND.
HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE TAKEN DOGS FROM THE SHELTER TO A LOCATION UTILIZING THIS VERY EXPENSIVE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
AND THIS IS JUST ONE SMALL EXAMPLE.
IT'S TIME TO REINSTATE THE SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP THIS TIME.
HOWEVER RECOMMENDATIONS NEED TO BE SENT TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE AUDITOR WHO WILL HANDLE THE AUDIT OF AAC.
IT'S TIME TO HOLD DON AND HIS MANAGEMENT TEAM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OR THE LACK THEREOF.
THANK YOU, DAVID, HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME?
[00:20:01]
LOGGING IN LOGGING THEN? YES, CHAIRMAN COMMISSIONERS.I'M AN EIGHT YEAR VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AS A FOLLOWUP TO KELLY'S REMARKS.
THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM BROUGHT UP IN THEIR RESPONSES TO THE SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP.
LAST YEAR, THEY STATED THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AAC SPACE CRISIS BY THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION WORKING GROUP DID NOT ADDRESS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE BOTTLENECK, THE OUTCOMES OF DOGS WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
THIS INCLUDES DOGS WITH A BITE HISTORY LONG-STAY DOGS OF GREATER THAN 180 DAYS OR RETURNED DOGS AS A MEMBER COORDINATOR OF THE ORANGE DOT CREW, THE ALL-VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT WORKS WITH THE BEHAVIOR DOGS.
THIS RESPONSE STOOD OUT TO US IN ALMOST THREE YEARS.
THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS YET TO SHOW THAT THEY WANT TO WORK WITH THIS POPULATION OF DOGS.
THEY SIMPLY WANT TO PASS THEM OFF TO RESCUE PARTNERS.
THIS IS NEITHER FAIR NOR SUSTAINABLE.
THE ALTERNATIVE PLAN SEEMS TO BE KILLING THEM.
THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM HAS DIRECTLY REFUSED TO SUPPORT OR IMPLEMENT ANY TYPE OF PROGRAMMING THAT WOULD HELP THIS POPULATION OF DOGS.
INSTEAD THEY HAVE ACTIVELY HINDERED OR EVEN MOCKED IT.
ONE OF ODI, ONE OF THE ODI COORDINATORS SHARED EMAILS WITH YOU SHOWING HOW THE ORANGE DOT CREW WAS.
ONCE AGAIN, REACHING OUT TO THIS MANAGEMENT TEAMS IN HOPES OF COLLABORATION.
WE EVEN SHARED THAT WE HAD AN ENTIRE WRITTEN PROPOSAL ON WHAT A FREE BEHAVIOR PROGRAM AT AAC COULD LOOK LIKE.
THE MANAGEMENT TEAM WAS DISMISSIVE, DEMANDING, AND HOSTILE.
THEY REFUSED TO EVEN MEET WITH US.
ONE OF THEIR LAST EMAIL STATED AS FOR WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE INTERESTED IN A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROCESS.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR THAT AND ARE NOT MEANT TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF SUPPORT FOR OUR ANIMALS.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOES NOT PROVIDE US WITH THE FUNDING AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THIS KIND OF PROGRAM.
AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE A MAJOR PARTNER THAT OFFERS THAT RESOURCE, WE WILL NOT PROVIDING BE PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THIS.
THEY HAVE ZERO INTEREST IN HELPING THIS POPULATION OF DOGS.
THEY DISMISS FREE HELP FROM STAKEHOLDERS.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR CITY RESOURCES AND THEY JUST WANT TO PAWN OFF THESE PROBLEMS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE DOGS ARE NOT SERIOUS BEHAVIOR CASES AT ALL.
MANY OF THE BEHAVIOR DOGS, EXHIBIT DOGS, EXHIBIT ARE DIRECT RE MANY OF THE BEHAVIORS THESE DOGS IS GIVEN ARE DIRECT RESULT OF THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT.
MANY OF THE DOGS WITH BITE HISTORIES, THEY REFERENCE ARE DUE TO SOMETHING AS MINOR AS NIPPING A FINGER WHILE JUMPING UP TO GRAB A TOY.
YES, THERE ARE MORE SERIOUS CASES, BUT THEY ARE TRULY THE MINORITY.
MANY OF THE LONG STATE DOGS ARE WONDERFUL, EASY AND JUST OVERLOOKED.
IN FACT, THE LONGEST A PHYSICAL DOG PHYSICALLY AT THE SHELTER RIGHT NOW IS NAILA NICOLE.
SHE IS A CHARISMATIC SWEETHEART WITH NO SERIOUS BEHAVIOR HISTORY TO SPEAK OF.
AS OF TODAY, SHE HAS BEEN AT AAC FOR 413 DAYS.
THIS MANAGEMENT TEAM CONTINUES TO SHOW HOW IN-DEPTH THEY ARE LEADING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
WE STRONGLY FEEL THE SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP SHOULD BE REINSTATED AND INCLUDE KEY STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR THE LONG STAY AND BEHAVIOR DOGS.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE HERE EVERY MONTH.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE AT CITY COUNCIL.
WE DON'T WANT TO KEEP WRITING EMAILS, VOICING OUR CONCERNS AFTER CONCERN.
WE WOULD RATHER BE FOCUSING ON OUR EFFORTS ON ACTIVE PROGRAM, BUILDING A COLLABORATION TO BENEFIT ANIMALS, BUT WE CONTINUE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP HERE UNTIL WE SEE REAL MEANINGFUL CHANGE AT AUSTIN AND ALL OF THE CENTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on July 11, 2022.]
SO THAT GOES TO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE ANIMAL VISOR COMMISSION, REGULAR MEETING ON JULY 11TH, 2022.YOU'RE NOT ON, UM, FOR B THERE WAS A SECOND ABSTENTION AND I DO NOT KNOW WHO THAT SECOND ABSTENTION WAS ON THE MINUTES.
I LOOKED AT THE VIDEO AND IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS, BUT WHAT I'M THINKING IS MAYBE THERE WASN'T BECAUSE IF YOU TALK TO EVERYBODY WHO'S ON THE VIDEO AND THEY, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT GOT EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT WAS BESIDES LISA MITCHELL.
DID ANYONE ELSE UPSTATE? YEAH, THIS WAS UH, YES.
IT WAS THE INTERNAL REVIEW AND REPORT.
THE ITEM THAT I HAD WRITTEN THAT I ASKED FOR AN APPROVAL, UH, WE HAD ONE ABSTENTION.
AND I'M SAYING THAT AS THE OTHER PERSON WHO, OKAY, THANK YOU.
I WILL CORRECT THE MINUTES TO NOTE THAT.
SO ALMOST IN TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES WITH THAT CORRECTION, THEY'RE ALL GONE.
SO SOME VIRTUAL SPEAKERS, UH, ON, UH, ON THIS LIST, ON THIS LIST.
[00:25:01]
MINUTES THEN WE'LL GO TO THEM.SO THE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS YOU'LL BE NEXT.
UH, UH, SO DO I HEAR A SECOND? I SECOND WITH THE CORRECTION.
UH, UH, DOES ANYONE OPPOSE, UH, ACCEPTING THESE MINUTES WITH THE CORRECTION? OKAY.
SO THEY PASS UNANIMOUSLY, NOBODY POSTS.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL (Part 2 of 2)]
OKAY.SO NOW LET'S GO TO OUR VIRTUAL SPEAKERS.
UH, AND I'M ASSUMING THESE ARE JUST GENERAL COMMENTS.
SO THE FIRST REGISTERED VIRTUAL SPEAKER IS CRYSTAL NEIL.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU GUYS CAN HEAR ME.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMAN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
UM, I'M CALLING TODAY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN IN REFERENCE TO CALLING 3, 1, 1 IN ANIMAL CONTROL ON JULY 11TH, WHILE IN ROUTE TO WORK ON 38TH AND A HALF STREET, I ENCOUNTERED A VERY EMACIATED AND LETHARGIC CAT WITH A NECK LACK.
I WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD, BUT NOT IN THE VETERINARIAN MEDICINE.
UM, WHEN I POST MY CALL TO THREE, ONE, ONE BASE HAD ANIMAL CONTROL CALLED ME AGAIN.
SO I HAD THE CAT IN MY CAR WITH THE AC GOING AND ULTIMATELY ONCE SPEAKING TO ANIMAL CONTROL, I TOLD THEM OF THE CONDITION OF THE CAT.
AND, UM, THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, THE, THE CAT NOT LIFE THREAT, IT'S NOT LIFE THREATENING.
UM, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME AND GET THE KITTENS, THE CAT.
AND I WAS LIKE, I WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.
THE CAT NEEDED TO HAVE THAT TRINITARIAN CARE OR SOMEONE TO COME AND TEND TO THE CAT.
UM, I AGAIN EXPLAINED THAT THE CAT WAS EMACIATED.
I EXPLAINED THAT THE CAT WAS LETHARGIC, HAD A NECK LAP.
HE WAS VERY FRAIL AND THEN IT'S VERY HOT.
IT IS A HUNDRED AND SOMETHING DEGREES OUTSIDE.
ULTIMATELY THEY REFUSED ME AFTER CALLING 3 1 1.
UM, MY CONCERN IS, IS AS A CITIZEN WHO IS OUT HERE WHO PAYS THEIR TAX DOLLARS TO THE CITY, WHO AGAIN IS, UM, IN MEDICAL CARE.
I KNOW WHAT AN AMAZING CREATIVE CAT LOOKS LIKE.
THEY REFUSE TO LISTEN TO MY CONCERN.
ULTIMATELY I LEFT THE CAT IN MY CAR FOR EIGHT HOURS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWING WHILE I'M SITTING AT MIDTOWN MEDICAL CENTER WORKING.
UM, AGAIN, I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS TO WHAT THE CRITERIA IS TO PICK UP THESE ANIMALS WHEN THEY'RE IN NEED.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, A SAD SITUATION BECAUSE ULTIMATELY I ENDED UP GETTING OFF OF WORK.
I DIDN'T GET HOME UNTIL ALMOST 11:00 PM AFTER DRIVING ALL THE WAY TO AN EMERGENCY VETERINARIAN, I DID ALSO CALL RESCUES AND I ALSO CALLED THE ANIMAL SHELTER WHO REFERRED ME BACK TO 3, 1, 1, AND ANIMAL CONTROL.
SO IT WAS A VICIOUS CYCLE OF NOTHING BEING DONE.
UM, I DID PAY $410 FOR THIS CAT AND THIS CAT DID HAVE TO BE EUTHANIZED.
SO ULTIMATELY HIS INJURIES AND THE WAY THIS CAT WAS RESULTED IN HIS DEATH AND NOTHING WAS DONE WHENEVER I PERSISTENTLY CALLED IN AN EIGHT HOUR STRETCH TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE COME AND HELP THIS CAP.
UM, WE'RE THE ONES OUT HERE WORKING EVERYDAY DAY TO DAY, UM, AND, AND FUNDING THINGS LIKE THIS TO HELP.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE VOLUNTEERS ON TOP OF IT AND PASS WAS VERY, THEY SPOKE TO ME THAT THEY COULDN'T TAKE THE CAT IN WITHOUT ANIMAL CONTROL BRINGING IT IN.
AND THEN AGAIN, IT'S LIKE, I'M STILL STUCK IN THE SAME PLACE BECAUSE ANIMAL CONTROL HAD THE AUDACITY TO TELL ME THAT THIS CAT DID NOT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION.
AND AGAIN, I GUESS MAYBE PEOPLE DO CALL IN THAT IT MAY NOT BE THAT VITAL, BUT WHEN I'M STRESSING TO THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OVER AN EIGHT HOUR PERIOD, IT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE ULTIMATE HAND AND WHETHER OR NOT THESE STRAYS GET, YOU KNOW, TAKEN CARE OF.
UH, LET'S GO ON TO ASK A QUESTION AND, UH, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO COME.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO COMMENT ON NOT A COMMENT.
I KNOW WE'RE NOT WE'RE WE'RE ON CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
WE'RE NOT TO ASK QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT TO PLEAD WITH YOU TO CONTINUE EDUCATING AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
[00:30:01]
AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF THE TOXIC CULTURE AND MISMANAGEMENT AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER UNDER DON LAN DON BLAND STATEMENTS TO YOU AND TO THE MEDIA ARE NOT TRUTHFUL OR ACCURATE.AND MANY OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS BY AAC MANAGEMENT UNDER DON BLAND ARE UNDERMINING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTERING AND MAKING OVERCROWDING WORSE.
HERE ARE EXAMPLES, MANY BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF OPEN DATA BY CHRISTOPHER MCFALL A SOFTWARE ENGINEER, ORIGINAL MEMBER OF APPLE'S RESEARCH GROUP AND A CURRENT UT RESEARCHER IN RESPONDING TO THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE.
DON BLENDS THAT SOME OF THE PROVISIONS WERE NOT TRUE AND REFERRED TO THE CLAIM THAT HE HAS ALIENATED RESCUE PARTNERS.
HE SAID ONLY ONE HAD REFUSED TO SIGN THE NEW AGREEMENT.
IN FACT, BEFORE THE NEW AGREEMENT, AAC HAD 183 ACTIVE RESCUE PARTNERS.
AFTER THE NEW AGREEMENT, IT HAD 127.
I HAVE ALSO DONE A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST FOR THE LIST OF RESCUES.
THAT IS NOTIFIED WHEN A DOG IS IN DANGER OF BEING KILLED FOR BEHAVIOR BEFORE AND AFTER THE NEW AGREEMENT, AAC REFUSES TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.
AACS MANAGERS CLAIMED THAT THE SHELTER WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY IS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE DAY WITH THE FEWEST ADOPTION.
AND ANALYSIS OF OPEN DATA SHOWED THAT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY WERE THE DAYS WITH THE MOST ADOPTIONS.
AND BY CLOSING ON SUNDAYS, AAC LOST OUT ON AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 17 OR 18 DOG ADOPTIONS EACH SUNDAY, DON GLANDS AND OTHER MANAGERS CLAIMED THAT TRANSPORT WOULD HELP WITH OVERCROWDING BY GETTING THE LONG STAY DOGS OUT OF THE SHELTER TO OUT-OF-STATE PARTNERS.
THAT IS NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING.
OPEN DATA SHOW THAT 75% OF THE DOGS TRANSPORTED OUT OF STATE HAVE BEEN IN THE SHELTER LESS THAN A MONTH AND 25% HAVE BEEN THERE LESS THAN A WEEK.
AS OUT OF STATE TRANSPORTS HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED ADOPTIONS HAVE DRAMATICALLY DECREASED TRANSPORT IS CANNIBALIZING, LOCAL ADOPTIONS, EVEN AS THE AUSTIN AREA GROWS IN POPULATION IN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND IN THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL ADOPTERS FOUND BLAND, BLAMED OVERCROWDING ON FINANCIAL AND HOUSING INSECURITY LEADING TO INCREASE THE OWNER.
SURRENDERS OWNER SURRENDERS ARE UP SLIGHTLY, BUT THEY'RE STILL LOWER THAN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
THAT OWNER SURRENDERS ARE TO BLAME FOR OVERCROWDING.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW FALSE STATEMENTS, BUT THEY INDICATE INCOMPETENCE UNTRUTHFULNESS OR BOTH TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CITY MANAGER CONTINUED TO BLINDLY SUPPORT DON LAND, THEY UNDERMINE TRUST IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THOSE ARE ALL THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
MY NAME IS GRACE ARIEL AND I WAS MACY VOLUNTEER FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE POST THAT WAS MADE ABOUT TWO WEEKS, THREE MINUTES.
ISN'T ENOUGH TO TELL YOU MY HEART RATE, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY, UM, FIRST, LET ME START BY NOTING MY DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF AACS VOLUNTEERS HERE.
I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE APPROPRIATE CHANNEL ON AUGUST 1ST REGARDING TO THESE POSTS.
AND TODAY I WAS MADE AWARE THAT MY EMAIL TO LEADERSHIP WAS IN FACT NOT FORWARDED.
AS I HAD ASKED, DESPITE ME BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS, I FOLLOWED VOLUNTEER PROTOCOL TO VOICE MY CONCERNS, AND SOMEHOW IT DIDN'T MAKE IT TO LEADERSHIP UNTIL TODAY.
WHEN I ASKED SPECIFICALLY, IT ALSO MAKES ME CONCERNED FOR HOW MANY OTHER EMAILS FROM VOLUNTEERS WITH THEIR CONCERNS ARE NOT RECEIVED BY LEADERSHIP ONTO THE POST ITSELF IS HARD FOR ME TO SEE HOW AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRULY VALUES ITS VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND RESCUE PARTNERS WOULD ALLOW THE KIND OF VIOLENCE AND CHAOS THAT TRANSPIRED SECTION OF CHOOSE POSTS.
YOU LET THOSE PEOPLE CALL US YOUR NECESSARY SUPPORT SYSTEMS, SOCIOPATH, MONSTERS, IRRESPONSIBLE DISENGAGE WITHIN A HEARTLESS, AMONGST MANY OTHER THINGS.
AAC DID NOT STAND UP FOR AS VOLUNTEERS.
YOU HAVE PLACED BOTH ME AND OUR MOST NEEDED RESCUE PARTNERS DIRECTLY IN THE CROSS HAIRS OF AN ANTI CHEWY MOB THAT YOU CREATED BECAUSE WE ADVOCATED FOR DEWEY, WHICH IS MY JOB AS A VOLUNTEER AND THEIR JOB AS A RESCUE BY CREATING THIS POST AND REFUSING TO MODERATE THE HATEFUL COMMENTS, YOU HAVE MUZZLED HIS GREATEST ADVOCATE.
HOW CAN THIS BE DESIGNED TO SAVE HIM? THIS POST DOES NOT HUMANS FINANCIALLY AT HOME, AND INSTEAD HAS CREATED A TIDE OF ANTI RUSTY PUBLIC SEDIMENT.
THE LONGER THIS POST IS UP THE LONGER THE COMMENTS ARE FESTER WITH VIOLENCE.
THE LESS TRUST THAT I HAVE IN BISHOP'S COMMITMENT TO NO KILL, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE.
SPREAD OF LIES, MISINFORMATION THREATS TOWARDS OUR DOG.
THEY JOKED ABOUT KILLING CHEWY ABOUT KILLING OUT PIT BULLS AND LISTEN TO DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT.
I AM TIRED OF GIVING MY ENTIRE HEART TO THE SHELTER WHEN IT IS UNDONE BY POOR LEADERSHIP.
IF ONLY LOOKING AT THE LAST WEEK OR SO, IT IS GROSS MALPRACTICE THAT BECAUSE OF A SINGLE DECISION PAID BY SHELTER MANAGEMENT, YOUR VOLUNTEERS, YOUR RESCUE CHEWIE AND PIT BULLS AND BEHAVIOR DOGS, THEY'RE ALL UNDER INTENSE, VIOLENT PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
[00:35:01]
WE HAD OVER 2000 PEOPLE CALLING FOR HIS HEAD ON THICK.I DIDN'T DESERVE TO AWFUL COMES ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T DESERVE THE MADE ABOUT HIM, BUT THE BOY, THE POST IS WRITTEN AND IT'S HARD TO BLAME THOSE PEOPLE FOR THINKING POORLY OF ME OR CHEWY.
I ASKED HIM FIRST, BOTH OF HIS POSTS BE REMOVED.
IF THE COMMENTS CAN'T BE TURNED OFF, DESPITE THE CITY OF AUSTIN LAW, STATING THAT THEY CAN, WHEN THERE'S THREAT OF VIOLENCE.
SECOND, I HOPE IF YOU CAN USE THESE FALSE INSANE CRIES FOR HELP FOR THESE DESPERATE DOGS THAT THEY GET VOLUNTEER STAFF INPUT FROM THOSE WHO ACTUALLY KNOW THE DOG AND WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
WHOEVER WROTE THAT POST SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE ANOTHER.
I GENUINELY THREE CHEWY HAS A PLACE IN THIS WORLD.
AND LUCKILY RIGHT NOW HE'S ON HIS WAY TO FINDING IT.
BUT WITH THAT POST AND THOSE COMMENTS, YOU NEARLY REMOVED ALMOST ALL CHANCES FOR HIM TO FIND IT.
EVENTUALLY YOU WILL RUN OF DOGS WITH TRAGIC OR UNPERFECT HISTORIES, AND YOU'LL BE FORCED TO ADMIT TO YOUR PUBLIC THAT YOU HAVE FAILED THEM.
AND YOU MIGHT TRY TO TELL THEM THAT STILL DOESN'T WORK, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TRICKED HIM INTO LETTING YOU FAIL.
I HOPE THAT SOMEDAY SOON CHANGES ARE MADE SO THAT I CAN HAVE FAITH IN OUR SHELTER.
AGAIN, PLEASE, IF THE LIFE OF JULIE ISN'T WORTH CHANGING FORWARD, BUT IT'D BE FOR THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER DOGS THAT WILL SEPARATE THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO ALMOST FAILED TO AND WHO WILL ALL THOSE WHO COME AFTER OUR LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES.
[2. Presentation by Don Bland and/or Jason Garza regarding Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports]
LET'S SEE PRESENTATION ON ANIMAL CENTER AND ANIMAL SERVICES REPORTS.UH, JASON GARDENS, DEPUTY CHIEF FOR JULY.
THE LIVE OUTCOME RATE WAS 96.7%.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 1,240 ANIMALS THAT WERE BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER.
UM, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 681 ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED AND A TOTAL OF 108,000 CATS AND BIRDS ARE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS EITHER THROUGH RETURN TO OWNERS OR THROUGH RTO ADOPTS ONBOARD TACTION RETURNED 26 OWNERS ANIMALS TO, UH, THEIR OWNERS IN THE FIELD.
UH, THEY ALSO IMPOUNDED 182 INJURED ANIMALS AND DELIVERED 103 WILDLIFE ANIMALS TO OUR, OUR WILDLIFE RESCUE PARTNER.
WE HAD 351 VOLUNTEERS DONATE, UH, OVER 5,000 HOURS OF SERVICE IN JULY.
WE HAD 162 ANIMALS THAT WERE DROPPED THAT WERE ADOPTED DIRECTLY FROM FOSTER AS OF AUGUST 2ND, AT 6:55 AM.
THERE WERE 412 ANIMALS IN FOSTER CARE.
197 ANIMALS WERE TRANSFERRED TO 21 IN-STATE AAC RESCUE PARTNERS.
UM, AND $65 WERE TRANSPORTED TO 10.
OUR VETS PERFORMED, UH, OVER 1,100 EXAMS. THEY SPADED NEUTERED 617 ANIMALS.
UM, WE ALSO HAD 86 CATS THAT WENT THROUGH THE COMMUNITY CATS PROGRAM.
THE TNR AND EMANCIPATE PERFORMED 439 ANIMALS OWNED ANIMAL PETS AND OWN PETS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND NOW I'LL KICK IT OVER TO DON, TO OVERSTAFFING AND OTHER GOOD, THANK YOU, JASON.
UM, FOR THE MONTH OF JULY, WE HAD SIX, UH, EMPLOYEES OUT WITH COVID AND THAT RANGED, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM SEVEN TO, YOU CAN TAKE 40 TO 80 HOURS DEPENDING ON.
SO I DON'T KNOW HAD MANY TOTAL HOURS ON THAT, BUT IT WAS SIX EMPLOYEES THAT WERE OUT.
WE HAVE 12 REGULAR POSITIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED YET.
FIVE OF THOSE ARE IN PROCESS AND WE HAVE 15 TEMPORARY POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED AND THAT CLOSES ON EIGHT 19 TO GET FILLED.
UM, I'M GOING TO GO ON DOWN TO THE NEXT AND TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNICATIONS.
UH, WE HAD FIVE EVENTS LAST MONTH FOR THEM WERE OFFSITE AND ONE WAS OFFSITE ONSITE WHEN WE STAYED OPEN, UH, TO ADOPT.
AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE NUMBERS IN YOUR REPORTS.
UH, WE DID HAVE 104 POSTS ON EACH OF OUR PLATFORMS, UH, FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.
AND YOU SEE THE BREAKDOWN IN THAT, AND AS PLATFORMS ARE INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, AND I DO WANT TO ASK IF COMMISSIONER NORTON COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE ON, UH, THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT THEY'RE RUNNING CURRENTLY AND THE RESPONSE THAT THEY'VE GOT FROM THAT.
UM, YEAH, I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF, UM, WHO POST AND SEND VIDEOS AND PHOTOS AND NOTES, UM, TO HELP GET PETS ADOPTED, UM, TO KEEP EVERYTHING UP AND OUT OF PETS.
AND ALSO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT YOU MENTIONED.
UM, THERE IS A CAT TEAM AND A DOG TEAM WHO HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, MEDIA.
UM, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN OUT OF HELPING WITH THE MEDIA, UH, FOR AWHILE, BUT CAME BACK AND WAS REALLY SURPRISED BY THE NUMBERS.
UM, WE'RE GETTING A LOT MORE VIEWS IN THE LAST, UM, IN, IT WAS 28 DAYS.
[00:40:01]
ON OUR DOGS.I'M A DOG I POSTED YESTERDAY, HAD 3,720 VIEWS TODAY.
UM, AND WE'VE ADDED 253 SUBSCRIBERS TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
AND SO I THINK I HOPE THIS LEADS TO ADOPTIONS, BUT IT AT LEAST GETTING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER OUT THERE MORE.
UM, AND, UH, IT'S ON THE VIDEO AND GETTING OUR, UM, UH, PETS OUT THERE MORE.
SO, UM, IT'S A REALLY JOINT EFFORT BY EVERYONE AT THE SHELTER AND, UH, IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE REPORT HERE.
UM, DIRECTOR MULLIN ON APRIL'S REPORT, YOU GUYS WITH THE NUMBER OF SPAY AND NEUTERS REPORTED, 99% OF AVAILABLE DOGS WERE SPAYED AND NEUTERED IN MAZE.
YOU REPORTED 93% SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
UM, THE PAST TWO MONTHS YOU HAVEN'T REPORTED THAT.
IS THERE A REASON WHY? NO, THERE SHOULDN'T BE, YEAH, IT HASN'T BEEN ON EITHER REPORT, BUT IT'S PRETTY BASED ON HERE RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ON THE ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT.
IT'S USUALLY ON THE SAME LINE WITH THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT WERE SPAYED AND NEUTERED.
SO UNDERLINED REPORT, THAT'S NOT REQUIRED.
SO WE HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S NOT REQUIRED.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF DOGS THAT ARE RE OR ANIMALS.
UM, ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORT, YOU HAD, LET ME SEE HERE WHERE ACCORDING TO THIS, YOU HAD 108 DOGS, CATS, BIRDS RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS, ACCORDING TO YOUR REPORT, 58 WERE RETURNED IN TACT.
SO THAT'S OVER 50% OF THE ANIMALS BEING RETURNED TO OWNERS ARE BEING RETURNED INTACT.
IS THERE ANY EFFORT AT ALL BEING MADE TO SEE IF THEY WANT THOSE ANIMALS SPAYED OR NEUTERED? YES.
WE TRY TO GET FOLKS TO, TO, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER SPAYING AND NEUTERING THEIR PET.
UM, WE'LL WAIVE FEES IF NEED BE, JUST OFFER THEM SOME SORT OF INCENTIVE FOR IT.
UH, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK INTO DEFINITELY THE DETAIL OF IT, BUT I WOULD ALSO THINK A MAJORITY OF THESE ARE PROBABLY THEIR FIRST IMPOUND.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL USUALLY TRY TO BRING UP THE ORDINANCE WITH THE SECOND INBOUND TONE.
BUT USUALLY IF IT'S, IT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, ANECDOTALLY JUST LOOKING AT DATA LIKE, OH, IT'S THEIR FIRST ENCOUNTER.
WE LET THEM KNOW AND TRY TO INCENTIVIZE LIKE, HEY, AND EVEN LIKE THROWING PRICE-WISE, HEY, THIS IS A $300 VALUE.
YOU'RE GETTING YOU TO DO IT FOR FREE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, THOSE THAT I KNOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE ENCOUNTERED WITH SECOND IMPOUND, YOU KNOW, IT'S TRYING TO GET THEM TO DO IT, BUT THEN ALSO TRYING TO GET SORT OF THAT, THAT, THAT MEDICAL SIGN-OFF BEFORE WE CAN ACTUALLY MOVE FORWARD ON WHICH I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY IN OTHER MEETINGS.
UM, MY FINAL QUESTION IS, UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO WE ASKED WHAT WAS THE WAIT TIME FOR OWNER SURRENDER APPOINTMENTS? HAS THAT IMPROVED? IT WAS AT THREE WEEKS.
WHAT IS IT NOW THEY KNOW HER BE OCTOBER 4TH, HIT HER.
SHE'LL BE BRED AGAIN, BY THAT TIME I WAS HELPING THE RESOURCE CENTER THESE WEEK, AS WE, SORRY, ON THE DATE, I THINK WAS AUGUST 17 OR SO, OR AUGUST 18.
AND I AM TALKING TO US ABOUT FOR LESS THAN LESS THAN 10 DAYS, TWO WEEKS, WEEK AND A HALF.
SO IT'S, SO THE OWNER'S RUNNER APPOINTMENT TIME IS DROPPED.
I HAVE, I, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES.
UM, THIS WAS, I THINK, UH, ABOUT THREE MEETINGS AGO, I, THAT GO THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF THE MONTHLY REPORT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCREPANCY, AT LEAST WHAT YOU SHOWED.
AND I WAS WONDERING, WHERE ARE YOU WITH THAT? I WAS STILL ASKING STAFF CAUSE YES, WE HAD THAT FOLLOW-UP MEETING, UM, WHERE IT'S NOT SHOWING THOSE SMALL PERCENTAGES OF ANIMALS.
SO YES, THERE'S LIKE ONE OR TWO ANIMALS WHERE YOU DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE YOU ON POWER BI, YOU HAVE TO CLICK IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I CAN'T PUT THOSE OUT RIGHT NOW IN THE WAY THE REPORTING.
SO I'VE ASKED THE IT PERSON LIKE, CAN WE SOME WAY HIGHLIGHT THAT AS MORE SO THAT WAY THEY'RE MORE PREVALENT IN THE PIE CHART.
SO THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITIONAL ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING
[00:45:01]
COUNTED WITHIN THE INTAKE OR ADOPTION, AT LEAST THAT BREAKDOWN, THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION, BUT ALSO PROMPT THE CONVERSATION WAS THAT THE REPORT IN GENERAL, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT GIVES, IT SHOWS THAT IT'S, IT DOESN'T SHOW TO THE PUBLIC THAT TRANSPARENCY.IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO READ AND YOU AND I TALK AND I EXPLAIN IT MAKES SENSE, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT GOOD REPORTING AND FOR, UH, A PUBLIC.
UM, AND, UM, IT'S HARD TO MAKE DECISIONS WITH THIS IS IT SORT OF FEELS LIKE WE'RE GETTING INFORMATION THAT JUST SHOOT IT OUT TO SAY, HEY, WE GIVE YOU THIS, BUT THIS IS NOT GOOD.
I SPENT MY SATURDAY OR SUNDAY BEFORE THE MEETING WRITING DOWN AND LOOKING AT TRENDS AND THE COMMISSION IS A VOLUNTEER ROLE AND I DO THIS BECAUSE I LOVE ANIMALS AND IS HERE TO HELP NOT TO BE AFRAID.
IT'S JUST, THIS REALLY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT PARADING YOU.
AND I THINK WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION I'VE DONE WITH THIS AGREE WITH YOU.
AND THEN I NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH THE IT PERSON.
CAUSE I KNOW AT A MEETING OR TWO AGO, WE MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REACH OUT TO Y'ALL TO SORT OF SEE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS THEY CAN BE.
UM, I HAVE A MEETING WITH THEM THIS FRIDAY, SO I'LL, I'LL TOUCH BASE.
LIKE WHEN IS THAT EMAIL GOING TO GO OUT? JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK FROM ME.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S REACHED OUT TO YOU ALL.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT, JASON, MY LAST COMMENT HERE, JUST LOOKING WHAT I HAVE THE PAST THREE MONTHS LOOKING.
AND LIKE I SAID, HANDWRITTEN, AND WHEN I HAVE TIME TO PUT IN A SPREADSHEET, UH, WHEN YOU TAKE THAT, LOOK AT THE INTAKE FOR 2022, THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND YOU COMPARE IT TO 2021, THE INTAKE IT'S LOWER.
AND UM, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAGE CRISIS.
I KNOW THAT IT'S MUCH MORE COMPLEX THAT THOSE SIMPLE NUMBERS, THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, AND ARE THERE TO UNDERSTAND THERE, YOU HAVE TO OFFER MORE THAN JUST GIVE US A REPORT LINE BY LINE AT THE BEGINNING SUMMARY.
IT'S VERY, UM, YOU JUST GET ONE NUMBER AND KNOW, UM, UH, FRAME OF WHAT IT'S GOING ALL AROUND OR TRENDING.
IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S NOT TRANSPARENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, I SAW THIS POST ABOUT CHEWY AND I MUST SAY I WAS KIND OF FLABBERGASTED.
I MANAGE FACEBOOK PAGES AND LISTS, AND I KNOW IT WAS VERY EASY TO LIMIT COMMENTS, STOP COMMENTS, REMOVE.
I MEAN, ALL THAT STUFF IS VERY EASY TO DO AND THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS YOU CAN DO IT.
AND SO I GOT A COPY OF THE RULES THAT YOU USE BECAUSE I WAS TOLD, I TALKED TO, UH, UM, UH, THE CITY ASSIST THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THERE'S RULES THAT YOU FOLLOW.
AND I GOT A COPY OF THOSE RULES AND THE RULES CLEARLY SAY A COMMENT OR MENTION THIS, THAT VIOLENT, VIOLENT COMMENTS ARE TAKEN DOWN.
AND IT DID CLEARLY SEEM TO ME THAT SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS WERE VIOLENT.
AND I JUST WONDER HOW THOSE RULES ARE BEING INTERPRETED BECAUSE I JUST, I, I CAN'T KINDA CONNECT THAT IN MY HEAD.
IS IT, COULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO ME? I'LL EXPLAIN THIS AND MAYBE THAT LITTLE MATE, SOME MORE CLARIFICATION FOR YOU.
UH, WE REACHED OUT TO CORPORATE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE FOR THE CITY AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE POSTS AND THE COMMENTS WE WERE GETTING AND ASKED FOR DIRECTION AND THEY TOLD US TO LEAVE IT UP AND LET IT GO.
WHO, WHO DID YOU TALK TO? I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHO KELSEY SPOKE WITH BECAUSE, CAUSE I WOULD LIKE, I WOULD LIKE THE NAME OF THAT PERSON BECAUSE I MEAN, I AGREE.
I THINK THIS DAMAGES, THE SHELTER,
[00:50:01]
ITS REPUTATION.I THINK IT DAMAGES THE REPUTATION OF THE COMMISSION.
ALTHOUGH THAT DOESN'T MATTER THAT MUCH.
I MEAN, WE'RE VOLUNTEERS EVERYTHING, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DO ALL THIS STUFF FOR FREE AND, AND SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.
I MEAN, I SPENT HOURS ON THAT ANSWERING CALLS AND ANSWERING EMAILS AND YOU KNOW, SO IT, I THINK IT MATTERS ANNA.
AND I UNDERSTAND IF, IF YOU'RE TOLD THAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
I MEAN, I, I GET THAT SO HIERARCHY THAT WORKS, BUT THERE'S SOMEONE WHO MADE THE DECISION.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE IF YOU COULD GET THEIR NAME AND EVERYTHING AND EMAIL IT TO ME, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OH, GO AHEAD.
IF YOU, ANYBODY ON, ON THE, ON YES.
UM, CHAIR, WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THAT WHEN YOU GET THAT INFORMATION, WILL THAT GO TO THE WHOLE COMMISSION? UH, YEAH.
COULD, COULD YOU SEND THAT TO THE, ALL THE COMMISSIONERS? CAUSE I THINK WE ALL FEEL, FEEL, FEEL THAT A LOT OF QUIET, WE ALL GOT EMAILS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I, I JUST HAVE TO SAY, I MEAN, AFTER HEARING SOME OF THESE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN HEARING THE SHELTER REPORT, I FEEL LIKE THIS IS JUST COMPLETELY SURREAL.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A WHOLE SET OF COMMENTS COMING IN FROM THE PUBLIC THAT DON'T AT ALL MATCH WHAT WE'RE HEARING IN THESE REPORTS AND, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE HIT THE SAVE RATE, DOESN'T SHOW THE WHOLE PICTURE AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT B IT WAS SAYING EARLIER.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE THIS JUST DOESN'T MATCH UP AND WE NEED CONTEXT.
SO TO THE EXTENT WE CAN GET THAT INTO I'D SURE.
UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, THE LETTER WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GOING TO GET, UM, ON, UH, WHETHER OR NOT THE SHELTER COULD S COULD SPARE NEUTER ON SECOND ALVIN FELT THE, UM, CONSENT OF THE OWNER.
MY RECOLLECTION FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS WAS THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT, UH, THE STATE BOARD HAD SENT, UM, A, UH, A LETTER INDICATING THAT THE SHELTER WOULD NOT DO THAT.
UM, THE LETTER THAT WAS CIRCULATED TO US IS NOT FROM THE STATE BOARD.
THE STATE BOARD IS THE TEXAS ORDER THAT ARRAYS MEDICAL EXAMINERS, UH, THE LETTER THAT, OR THE INFORMATION THAT WAS WE WERE PROVIDED WAS FROM THE TEXAS BETTER VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS NOT A STATE BOARD IS OCCUPATIONAL, UM, ASSOCIATION.
AND SO I WANTED TO JUST GET CLARITY WHETHER THE STATE BOARD EVER, UM, PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO THE, UH, SHELTER ON REGARDING SPARING IT AROUND SECOND IMPOUND.
THE ONLY ONE THAT WEIGHED IN WAS THE INFORMATION THAT YOU RECEIVED.
SO THERE IS NO LETTER FROM THE STATE BOARD, IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT.
THE SECOND, UH, FOLLOW UP ON THAT IS THAT, UM, WE HAD ASKED FOR MULTIPLE ERRORS ON THIS COMMISSION.
IT ASKED FOR THE LETTER FROM STATE BOARD.
UM, I UNDERSTAND NOW IT WAS NOT FROM THE STATE BOARD.
IT WAS FROM, UH, MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
UM, MY QUESTION IS, UH, IN THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT TO US AND SAID, HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE, UH, TVMA.
UM, I DON'T KNOW, WAS THAT A MISTAKE? AND IT WAS, IT WASN'T THE SUMMARY, WAS IT BECAUSE WE HAD ASKED FOR THE LETTER AND A SUMMARY OF A LETTER IS NOT THE SAME THING AS A LETTER.
SO, UM, CAN SOMEONE PROVIDE CLARITY ON WHETHER THAT WAS PERHAPS A MISTAKE BY SAYING THIS IS A SUMMARY OF THE INFORMATION? I THINK THE MISTAKE WAS MADE, THERE WAS A LETTER, IT WAS AN EMAIL AND WE TOOK THE CONTENTS OF THAT EMAIL AND FORWARDED THAT IN OUR EMAIL TO YOU.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR, I THINK WHAT WAS REQUESTED WAS THE CORRESPONDENCE, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET THE ACTUAL CORRESPONDENCE RATHER THAN SUMMARY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE? SURE.
IT JUST, IS IT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT IT WENT TO? YOU KNOW, IT, IT, WE, WE TOOK THE CONTENTS AND PULLED IT OUT, PUT IT IN YOUR EMAIL.
YES, IT'LL BE THE SAME, BUT WE'LL SEND IT TO YOU.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES.
IS THIS THE LETTER FROM THE, UM, TEXAS, UH, THAT REFERENCES THE STATE BOARD RULES? IS THAT THE
[00:55:01]
LETTER? YES.I E UH, YES, UH, COMMISSIONER HANSEN.
UM, I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SEVERAL, UH, TAKE SEVERAL VISITS TO AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND, UM, MOSTLY TO HELP GET CHEWY WHO IS SUCH A FREAKING AWESOME DOG.
I JUST WANT TO SAY HE'S SO COOL.
AND HE STILL NEEDS A PERMANENT HOME TO HELP GET HIM OUT.
IF YOU HAVEN'T MET HIM, YOU SHOULD.
UM, SO I WAS THERE AND I ATTEMPTED TO FOSTER A COUPLE OF DOGS.
I ATTEMPTED TO TAKE A ONE DOG ON A FOSTER OUTING, WHICH I THOUGHT AAC DID USE TO.
AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER DOING FOSTER OUTINGS DUE TO SHORT STOPPING.
UM, AND I ALSO TRIED TO FOSTER, THERE WAS FRANKLY, LOOKED LIKE HE WAS GOING TO DIE IN THIS KIND OF ALL.
HE HAD FECES ALL OVER HIM AND IT LOOKED REALLY BAD.
AND I ASKED TO FOSTER HIM AND WAS TOLD, UH, THAT DOGS WITH A UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION OR A SUSPECT UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FOSTER.
UM, AND THAT HE WASN'T ELIGIBLE.
AND I WENT UP TO THE FRONT AND ALSO ASK ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER WHO JUST SIMPLY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO HELP ME FIND OUT.
UM, I THINK CLASSIC CANINES CAME THROUGH AND GOT THIS DOG, SO THIS GOD, SO THAT'S GREAT.
UH, BUT IT DID MAKE ME WONDER, UM, ARE WE, UH, IS IT TRUE THAT, THAT, UM, DOGS ARE NOT ABLE TO BE FOSTERED IF THEY HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES OR IS IT ALSO TRUE THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING SHORT-TERM FOSTER ANYMORE? I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, OUR FOSTER RESCUE MANAGER TO COME UP AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AS US, PLEASE.
UM, FOR THE FOSTERING OF SICK ANIMALS, THAT THE QUESTION WE ARE ALLOWING FOSTER FOR THAT JUST GOES THROUGH, DEPENDING ON IF YOU'RE ALREADY A FOSTER ONBOARD OR NOT.
UM, AND THEN FOR OUTINGS, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU ARE A VETTED VOLUNTEER.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING FOSTER OUTINGS, IT'S VETTED VOLUNTEER OUTINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM.
UM, I'M NOT SURE WHO YOU SPOKE TO WHEN YOU WERE AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, BUT I CAN TALK TO YOU OFFLINE AND WE CAN CLEAR UP ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN REGARDS TO THE ASSISTANCE YOU RECEIVED THERE.
SO DO YOU ALL ALLOW DOGS WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION TO GO TO FOSTER HOMES JUST DEPENDING IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS? YES.
UM, I JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
I, UM, ALSO WENT TO THE INTAKE AREA, WHICH WAS ALSO PET SUPPORT, WHICH WAS LITERALLY BARRICADED, LIKE BARRICADED.
LIKE YOU COULDN'T GET TO THE DOOR.
UM, AND I FOUND A VERY NICE COUPLE OF WAVING, UM, FRANTICALLY AT THE DOOR.
THEY HAD A PET WITH THEM AND WERE ENDED UP SITTING OUTSIDE AND BANGING ON THE DOOR AND WAVING ON IT.
AND SOMEONE FINALLY CAME OUT, UM, TO HELP HER, BUT POINT OF ORDER, POINT OF ORDER, YES.
ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, UM, PROHIBITS LONG, DRAWN OUT ANECDOTES, EVEN IF IT LEADS TO A QUESTION, UM, I'M GOING TO ALLOW THIS.
SO, UH, MY QUESTION IS, IS I KNOW THE PET SUPPORT CENTER IS STILL CLOSED SUNDAY AND MONDAY OR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AND INTAKE IS CLOSED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
AND THERE'S A SIGN OUTSIDE THAT SAYS, CALL 3, 1, 1 FOR STRAYS.
AND THEN I THINK THAT ADOPTION IS STILL CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, BUT CAN YOU CONFIRM WHAT SERVICES ARE OPEN? AND IF THE, IF THE INTAKER IS ACTUALLY BARRICADED ROUTINELY, WHY THE AREA, THE DOORS REMAIN LOCKED? BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THERE BECAUSE WE WERE HAVING PEOPLE, TOO MANY PEOPLE COME IN TO THE BUILDING AND HAVING DOG FIGHTS AND, UH, ISSUES WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR DOGS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
AND WE ALSO HAD OPENING THE DOOR, SHOVING A DOG IN AND RUNNING OFF.
SO THAT'S WHY WE, UH, GO OUT AND HELP THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
AND WHEN IT'S THEIR TURN, WE'LL ASK THEM TO COME IN AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THEM.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD A PROBLEM TOO, WHEN PEOPLE, WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THERE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT MIGHT BE HAVING DIFFICULTIES, AND IT MIGHT BE A TOUGH SITUATION FOR THEM.
AND WE'RE HAVING THOSE PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE LISTENING.
UH, THEY, IT MADE THEM FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
SO THERE ARE THREE OFFICES IN THAT AREA THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR PRIVATE COUNSELING OR THOSE NOT BEING UTILIZED.
[01:00:01]
YOU KNOW, AND WE HAVE PEOPLE IN THERE THAT ARE DOING THE OUTREACH TO CALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NEEDING THE ASSISTANCE, UH, THAT ARE ARRANGING THE OWNER SURRENDERS AND TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.AND I THINK YOU HEARD, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, LOUIE SAY THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY OVER THERE ASSISTING, AND THEY WORK IN THESE OFFICES AS WELL.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATORS DID.
AND I JUST I'M REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO KNOW ARE THEY MEANT TO JUST STAND OUTSIDE THE BARRICADE AND WAY THAT THEY NEED HELP? CAUSE THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF HOW THEY WOULD GET SERVICES AND THEY WERE LIKE BANGING AND WAVING ACROSS THE BARRICADE AT ONE POINT, HOW, HOW IS THAT SUPPOSED TO WORK FOR THE PUBLIC? WELL, AND I CAN'T SAY THAT IT'S HAPPENING NOW, BUT THERE WAS A DOORBELL OUT THERE, BUT THERE ALSO IS.
STEP-BY-STEP ON, HERE'S YOUR FIRST STEP.
YOU COMPLETE THIS FORM AND YOU KNOW, THERE WERE, STEP-BY-STEPS ON WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TODAY AND YOU CAN GET ASSISTANCE.
UM, AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION IS THAT I ASKED IF I COULD BE, I USED TO BE A VOLUNTEER AND FOSTER, BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
AND I ASKED, UM, IF I COULD BE, UH, REINSTATED AND WAS TOLD, I'D HAVE TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK AND WAIT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS FOR THAT CHECK TO COME BACK AND THEN SCHEDULE A, AN INTRO SESSION.
AND THAT UP UNTIL THAT POINT, I WASN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO GET, UM, DOGS IN AND OUT OF KENNELS MYSELF, WHICH IS REALLY CHALLENGING, CAUSE THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYONE AROUND TO HELP.
SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IF, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE VOLUNTEER NUMBERS, I SAW VERY FEW VOLUNTEERS THERE AND THE ONES I DID SEE SAID THAT THEY HAD WAITED MONTHS TO GET IN.
WHAT IS THE, IS THERE ANY EFFORT TO SPEED THAT UP, GIVEN THAT THE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS IS SO MASSIVE AND SOMEBODY LIKE ME JUST WANTS TO HELP.
AND UH, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP, BUT, UM, IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF BARRIERS AND CERTAINLY NOT AN INVITING, UM, IT WAS NOT A WELCOMING FEELING.
I GOT TRYING TO VOLUNTEER, WELL, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW CITY PROTOCOL AND WE HAVE TO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPTION WITH THAT.
AND, UH, THOSE ARE TAKING QUITE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME.
UH, WE HAD FIVE VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS, UH, LAST MONTH.
UH, IT'S MAKING A LITTLE MORE, UH, WHEN WE ONLY HAVE ONE ROOM INSTEAD OF HAVING COUPLE OF ROOMS, UH, BUT WE HAVE INCREASED, UM, THE ORIENTATIONS AND TRYING TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE THROUGH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE BUILD THE ROOM TO CAPACITY AND THEN WE HAVE TO CUT IT OFF.
SO, UH, HOPEFULLY THAT CAN GET, UH, PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE ABLE TO HELP CAUSE IT REALLY IS NEEDED.
UM, IT WAS REALLY A SAD STATE AT THE SHELTER WHEN I WAS THERE LAST WEEK, I GET YOUR APPLICATION FILLED OUT AND GET IN LINE AND WE'LL MAKE SURE IT GETS HAPPENS, CHAIRMAN, UH, JOANNE, UM, UNDER THE RULES.
AM I ALLOWED TO MAYBE CLARIFY A COUPLE POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER HAMILTON BROUGHT UP THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THIS IS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ASK.
THEY PRESENT STUFF AND WE ASK PEOPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT, OKAY.
ABOUT, UH, OTHERWISE IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE HAVE TO GO TO.
UM, IT'S STILL TRUE THAT UM, THE PUBLIC CAN WATCH GREEN DOT DOGS ANYTIME FROM 11 UNTIL SEVEN WHEN WE'RE OPEN.
AND THAT INCLUDES MOST OF THE CREDIT DOGS.
SO WHILE VOLUNTEERS ARE WAITING FOR THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND SUCH THAT IT'S JUST A CITY THING, UM, THERE IS THAT ABILITY TO COME IN AND WALK GREEN.DOCS.
AND, UM, AND IT'S STILL TRUE FOR MEDICAL FOSTERS, UM, THAT IF THERE IS A NEED FOR MEDICAL FOSTER, IT SENT OUT FROM THE FOSTER TEAM TO THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE CURRENT, UM, FOSTERS TO SEE IF THEY CAN TAKE MEDICAL DOGS.
EVERYBODY HAS TO GO ONCE, SO, OKAY.
DOES ANYBODY WHO HASN'T SAID ANYTHING OR ASKED ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
SO LET'S GO TO PAGE AND THEN GO TO, UM, THANK YOU DIRECTOR.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YARDS THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE BARRICADED PET RESOURCE CENTER DOORS ARE FROM THE BIG, MAIN EIGHT DOUBLE ATRIUM DOORS THAT ARE OPEN? HOW MANY YARDS SEPARATE THOSE TWO DOORWAYS? MAYBE 25, 25 YARDS.
THANK YOU SO QUICK, QUICK QUESTION.
I'M NOT SURE THAT'S THIS QUESTION.
THIS FOR THIS ACTION OR LATER ON IT'S RELATED TO, UH, THE BUDGET
[01:05:02]
AND THE STAFFING.WELL YOU CAN ASK HIM NOW CAUSE WE TALK ABOUT STAFFING.
SO I REVIEWED THE BUDGET AND THAT'S EXCELLENT THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING THOSE SIX FTES FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THE BUDGET IN 2020 1, 22, THE BUDGET WAS 415 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.
AND FOR NEXT YEAR IS SIX MORE PEOPLE.
AND THEN I'M LOOKING HERE AT THE EXPENDITURE BY PROGRAM AND I SEE SUPPORT SERVICES, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT THERE IT'S HIGHER FOR 115 PEOPLE.
AND THEN FOR 20 22, 23, THE SUPPORT SERVICES, THE EXPENDITURE BUDGET, IT'S LESS AND WE'RE ADDING SIX, SIX PEOPLE.
SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, AM I LOOKING AT THIS INCORRECTLY? AND THAT'S WHAT PAGE 2 0 8, 2 0 9 FROM THIS LEAD SPOT YET? UH, I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THOSE BUDGET DOLLARS THAT WERE PUT IN THERE WERE FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM AND THEY GOT MOVED TO THAT PROGRAM THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN.
SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT PROGRAM THAT WAS, BUT IT WAS REALLOCATED.
AND, UH, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET THAT WE SENT, Y'ALL THOSE ITEMS, UH, WE ASKED FOR A LOT MORE STAFF THAN THAT SIX, BUT THAT WAS JUST ALL THAT WE RECEIVED.
UM, YEAH, DON'T MY OTHER LAST QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET WAS SHY.
I WAS REALLY CURIOUS ABOUT, I SAW HERE A LINE ITEM THAT SAID REVENUE CHANGES AND DECREASED IN PROJECTED REVENUE FROM TRAVIS COUNTY COUNTY RELATED TO INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF PROVISION.
WHAT IS THAT ABOUT? WHERE, WHY AREN'T THEY TAKING THAT OUT FROM IT'S REVENUE, UH, FROM TAKING THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE COUNTY ARE GETTING FROM THE COUNTY.
IT SHOWS HERE DECREASE IN PROJECTED REVENUE FROM TRAVIS COUNTY BY 220,000, WHICH IS ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE FEES THAT WE WOULD BE COLLECTING ON THEIR BEHALF THAT WE'RE NOT COLLECTING.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN DOING FREE ADOPTIONS AND, UH, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND IN RETURN AND RETURN TO OWNER FEES.
SO YOU'RE NOT COLLECTING, I GUESS I'M NOT CLEAR WHY WE'RE NOT COLLECTING GETTING THAT MONEY IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT COLLECTING IT FROM THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING FROM TRAVIS COUNTY.
SO, AND YOU'RE PROJECTING THAT, UM, CLOSE TO AROUND $220,000, YOU'LL BE GIVEN THAT SERVICE TO TRAVIS COUNTY AT NO CHARGE.
THAT'S, WE'RE NOT CHARGING THOSE CITIZENS.
AND SO THOSE FUNDS WOULD GO TO TRAVIS COUNTY IN, IN THE BUDGET, BUT THEY'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT COLLECTING THEM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT TO, UH, SO I GUESS I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I, I GUESS WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS THAT YOU'RE OFFERING THAT SERVICE, BUT YOU'RE NOT CHARGING, CORRECT.
UH, WHEN YOU, AS A CITIZEN, YOU LIVE IN, OUTSIDE IN TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT IN AN UNINCORPORATED AREA AND YOU, YOUR DOG IS AT OUR SHELTER AND IT'S GOING TO COST YOU $175 TO PICK IT BACK UP AND WE'RE WAIVING THOSE FEES.
SO TRAVIS COUNTY IS NOT GETTING THOSE FINES.
UH, WE ARE, WE'RE WAIVING THOSE FEES BECAUSE WE WANT THOSE DOGS OUT OF THE SHELTER.
WE DON'T WANT TO PUT UP A BARRIER TO THEM SAY, OH, I CAN'T AFFORD THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE WAIVING THOSE FEES AND THOSE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE PROJECTED.
SO YOU PROTECT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT, UH, GET ADOPTED BY PEOPLE FROM SAYING THAT ARE NOT FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE KNOW HOW MANY COME IN FROM THE UNINCORPORATED HE HAS BEEN.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING THE 20, YOU'RE PROTECTING 220,000.
SO I GUESS FOR LA THIS YEAR, YOU GUYS HAD ULTIMATE PROTECTION LIKE THAT, CORRECT? YES.
WE KNOW WE, YOU KNOW, FROM HISTORIC THE BUDGET OFFICE, WE'LL PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAVE NOT COLLECTED
[01:10:01]
AND THEY PROJECTED, IT'S GOING TO BE THIS MUCH FOR THIS YEAR.WE'LL KEEP GOING THAT DIRECTION.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING YOU BET.
UH, ANY OTHER, UH, JOANNE, SORRY, THE SECOND ROUND.
I JUST HAD TWO MORE FOSTER QUESTIONS.
UM, IS IT TRUE THAT DOGS WITH UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS CAN GO TO FOSTER SUCH AS THE ONE I HAD TWO WEEKS AGO, I GUESS THEY DO.
AND IS IT TRUE THAT SHORT-TERM FOSTERS ARE STILL ALLOWED BASED ON NEEDS SUCH AS THE ONE I'M PICKING UP AT NINE O'CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING? YES, WE DO.
AND, UH, YOU CAN FOSTER AND BE FAST-TRACKED AS A FOSTER, UH, WHEN WE HAVE RUN MANY PRO ADOPTION OR PROGRAM EVENTS WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND PICK SOMETHING AND WALK OUT WITH IT THE SAME DAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON, OKAY, WELL, LET'S MOVE ALONG THEN TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, UH,
[3. Presentation by Don Bland regarding AAC Staffing and Services]
PRESENT, UH, TATION BY DON BLAND REGARD.YOU DID THE ACC STAFFING AND SERVICES ALREADY? YES.
UH, A C PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
SO, UH, ONTO DISCUSSION ITEMS,
[5. Presentation by Parliamentarian regarding Roberts Rules of Order]
ITEM FIVE PRESENTATION BY PARLIN TIERING REGARDING ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A NEW PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UM, WE'RE STILL PRACTICING OUR RULES.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE GOAL IS THAT WE'RE NOT FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT THINGS SHOULD BE DIRECTED.
SO, UM, WE DIDN'T CALL OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE, BUT WHEN WE'RE PURPOSELY ANTAGONIZING ONE ANOTHER, UM, THAT IS AGAIN, ROBERTSVILLE IS THE GOAL IS TO DO BUSINESS AND CONDUCT BUSINESS.
UM, AND EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIR, UM, NOT TO OTHER PEOPLE.
SO, UH, QUESTIONS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIR.
AND THAT'S ALL, ALL WE'LL SAY FOR TONIGHT, NEXT MEETING, I'M GOING TO BRING A WRITTEN DOCUMENT, UM, WHICH IS PART OF WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN PROVIDES AND THEN SOME SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION.
SO WE'LL ALL SHARE THAT JUST SO EVERYBODY HAS IT IN FRONT OF THEM.
[6. Presentation by Austin Pets Alive! regarding APA! Quarterly Report]
PRESENTATION BY AUSTIN PETS ALIVE REGARDING THE APA QUARTERLY REPORT.MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BILL BROWN.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF LIFE SAVING OPERATIONS AND AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
UM, I'M ELLEN JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
AND JUST HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AFTER STEPHANIE GETS THE REPORT.
UH, SO WE PROVIDED OUR JULY MONTHLY REPORT.
I'M NOT GOING TO READ IT WORD FOR WORD THAT DOESN'T SEEM NECESSARY, BUT WE'LL POINT OUT A COUPLE NUMBERS AND THEN WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS OR THE JUNE REPORT IS WELL, UM, I REALIZE YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT SINCE WE MISSED LAST MONTH'S MEETING, UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT'VE COME UP THEN AS WELL.
SO, UM, THIS FIRST PAGE JUST SHOWS KIND OF A BREAKDOWN OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE TRANSFERRED FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IN THE MONTH OF JULY, UM, INCLUDING ANY NUMBER, ANY ANIMALS WE TOOK IN FROM THROUGH OUR PAST PROGRAM, UM, WHICH MAY HAVE OTHERWISE GONE TO AAC, HAD WE NOT TAKEN THEM IN.
UM, AND SO IF THERE'S ANY CLARIFICATION'S NEEDED ON THAT, UM, OR HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT WE, THAT ALSO INCLUDES, UM, ALL ANIMALS BORN AND CARE TO THE, TO ANY PREGNANT ANIMALS THAT WE TOOK FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AT ANY POINT, NOT SPECIFICALLY IN JULY, BUT THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT WERE BORN IN JULY.
UH, THE SECOND PAGE, UM, THE FIRST SET OF NUMBERS, THERE HAS OUR COMBINATION STATISTICS, UM, BETWEEN AUSTIN PETS, ALIVE AND ASA ANIMAL CENTER.
UM, SO TOTAL INTAKE, TOTAL SPAN, NEUTERS, UM, TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS AND FOSTER AND ADOPTIONS PROCESSED AS WELL.
UH, THE NEXT TWO SETS OF NUMBERS SHOW THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR INTAKES FROM AAC, SORRY, THE NUMBER OF INTAKES FROM AAC AS A PERCENTAGE OF AACS OVERALL INTAKE.
UM, AND THIS IS A NUMBER THAT IS WRITTEN INTO THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, WHICH IS WHY WE INCLUDE IT HERE.
SO I BELIEVE IT'S 12% WRITTEN.
WE HAVE TO TAKE AT LEAST 12% OF ASTA ANIMAL CENTERS INTAKE FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
UM, AND SO WE SHOW THAT HERE, BUT WE ALSO SHOW THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR JUST TO HAVE THAT AS A COMPARISON.
SO, UM, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'RE ABOVE THAT 12% IN, IN BOTH YEARS HERE, THE NEXT SECTION HAS A BREAKDOWN OF THE SURVIVAL RATES.
UM, AND THAT ACTUALLY IS A TYPO THAT SHOULD SAY JUNE.
SO WE USE THIS SECTION TO SHOW THE ANIMALS, THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE PULLED,
[01:15:01]
MEDICAL ANIMALS THAT WE PULLED IN THE PRIOR MONTH.SO THIS GIVES YOU AT LEAST A 30 DAY LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT STATUS.
SO YOU CAN SEE OF ALL THE MEDICAL ANIMALS THAT WE PULLED IN JUNE.
UM, I, OH, YOUR SAYS JUNE, I CHANGED IT AND THEN CHANGED IT BACK.
ONCE I REALIZED, UM, THAT IS, WAS THEIR CURRENT STATUS AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT.
SO ALMOST 80% OF THOSE ANIMALS ARE STILL ALIVE IN OUR PROGRAM SOMEWHERE.
AND THEN THE LAST PAGE IS OUR SHELTER, ANIMALS COUNT REPORT.
THIS IS, UM, REQUIRED THROUGH THE LICENSE AGREEMENT AS WELL.
AND SO THIS SHOWS ALL OF OUR, UM, INTAKES AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MONTH OF JULY AS WELL.
AND I'M HAPPY TO CLARIFY, UM, OR EXPLAIN ANY OF THOSE NUMBERS FURTHER IF NEEDED.
COMMISSIONER ZANE, I'M ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
SO, UM, UM, WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW THERE'S THE PAST PROGRAM.
I ALSO, UM, I HEARD EARLIER ONE OF THE GUEST SPEAKERS, UH, SHE MENTIONED SHE BROUGHT IN THE KITTENS AND APA SAID, NO, AND I HAVE TO GO TO, UM, THE PERSON HAD TO GO TO AAC.
HASN'T THAT ALWAYS BEEN THE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE CITY? CORRECT.
SO IT NOW APA DOESN'T TAKE STRAYS DIRECTLY.
NOT, NOT TYPICALLY, NO IN LIKE DIRE MEDICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OR SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S AFTER HOURS OR MAYBE HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO AC WE WILL, BUT THAT'S VERY RARE.
GENERALLY WE DIRECT ALL STRAYS TO AUSTIN ANIMALS.
THEY MAY THEN COME BACK TO US.
UM, BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO KITTENS AND NEONATAL KITTENS, BUT, BUT YEAH, WE WANT THEM TO GO THROUGH THAT.
SO THEY ASKED THE ARRANGEMENT, CORRECT? IT HAS NEVER BEEN DIFFERENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER? SMUG.
UM, SO I HAVE A QUESTION ON YOUR INTAKE TOTALS HERE.
SO, UM, 172 ANIMALS FROM AAC CAN EVEN GIVING YOU THE 34 THAT WILL WARN AND CARE THAT CAME FROM PREGNANT ANIMALS, MACY 172.
UM, YOUR INTAKE SHOWS YOU TOOK IN 1063 ANIMALS.
SO THOSE OTHER 891 ANIMALS WHERE THEY FROM THE FIVE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, UH, SOMEWHERE FROM THE FIVE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND SOME MIGHT'VE BEEN FROM OTHER COUNTIES IN TEXAS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THAT EXACT BREAKDOWN IN HERE.
OH, WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THE ANIMAL BORN AND CARE WAS 59, NOT 30, CORRECT? NO.
SO THE WAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS BECAUSE THIS GOT COMBINED, SO BOTTLE BABIES MIGHT BE, THEY WERE NEONATES WHEN THEY CAME TO US OR THEY WERE BORN AND CARED TO A MOTHER THAT CAME TO US.
THEY GOT COMBINED IN THIS NUMBER.
SO I PULLED, I SORT OF BACKED IT BACK OUT TO MAKE THE TOTAL BORN IN CARE NUMBER.
THE TOTAL BORN IN CARE NUMBER WAS 34.
AND SO YEAH, 16 OF THOSE WERE DOGS AND 18 OF THOSE WERE KITTENS.
AND THEN, UM, I KNOW THE, UM, I BELIEVE THE AGREEMENT SAYS FIVE BEHAVIOR DOGS PER MONTH, CORRECT.
WERE THERE, WERE THERE MORE DOGS THAT, THAT AAC HAD REQUESTED THAT YOU TAKE? THERE WERE SO FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW, WE'VE HAD A PRETTY LONG RUNNING LIST OF 10 OR MORE DOGS THAT ARE IN EVALUATION.
UM, AND SO WE OFFICIALLY PULLED FOUR OF THESE DOGS.
WE HAVE ONE IN EVAL RIGHT NOW.
AND SO IT KIND OF CROSSED OVER FROM JUNE OR JULY AND AUGUST.
DOES THAT MEAN IT'S AT HE'S AT APA BEING EMAILED RIGHT NOW CREDITS WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT WE PULLED OVER FOR EVAL IN JULY WHO THEN HAD A BITE.
AND SO HE HAD TO GO BACK TO AAC FOR BITE QUARANTINE BEFORE HE COULD COME BACK TO FINISH HIS EVAL.
SO THERE ARE A COUPLE IN PROCESS AND THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER THAT WE BROUGHT OVER FOR EVIL, BUT THEN DECLINED IN SETBACK.
SO THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS A POLL.
AND THEN, SO YOUR, YOUR PERCENTAGE IS MORE THAN THE 12% IN THE AGREEMENT.
UM, AND THE AGREEMENT USED TO SAY 12% OR 3000 MONTHLY MINIMUM, WHICHEVER WAS HIGHER.
RIGHT? I BELIEVE POSSESS THE WORDING.
IT'S WHAT IT USED TO SAY, REX.
SO THIS IS 1,603 ANIMALS LESS THAN WHAT YOUR AGREEMENT ORIGINALLY WAS FOR.
WELL, THIS IS FISCAL YEAR THROUGH NOW, BUT YES, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN 3000 TOTAL FOR THE YEAR.
[01:20:01]
PUSHER FOR, UH, TO MAKE THESE VERY, VERY LONG, ANY CHANCE JOEL CAN SEND ME OR SEND US, UH, LIKE A KIND OF SOP, HOW YOU EVALUATE DOCS AT APA.MAYBE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER WITH A PAC AND BEGIN TO FIGURE OUT ALMOST LIKE THE SAME ROUTINE THAT DON'T WORK TWICE AND DOUBLE.
AND MY OTHER QUESTION IS IT'S A KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS THE PERSON COULD DO THIS EVALUATION OR HOW WE S SO I'M ON THE EVALUATION.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE OUR BEHAVIOR TEAMS WORK PRETTY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
SO WE DO ALWAYS SHARE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.
UM, WE ALSO WILL TRY TO START EVALUATIONS AT AUSSIE ANIMAL CENTER AS POSSIBLE.
I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME STAFF MEMBERS GO AND MEET DOGS AHEAD OF THEM COMING OVER SO WE CAN START, UM, RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM IN ADVANCE.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE, UH, ANY LIKE VETERINARY BEHAVIOR CENTER STAFF, UM, OR, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME, UM, CPDT TRAINERS AND WE HAVE A LARGE BEHAVIOR TEAM, UM, WHOSE ENTIRE JOB IS TO JUST EVALUATE AND WRITE TRAINING PLANS AND WORK ON BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION FOR DOGS IN SHELTER AND IN FOSTER.
AND THE LAST QUESTION IN THAT TOPIC DID Y'ALL CONSIDER EUTHANASIA IN SOME OF THE DOGS, OR DO YOU RETURN TO THE AAC AND YOU MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION TO THE AAC? UM, TYPICALLY IF WE ARE RECOMMENDING EUTHANASIA, WE WILL DO THE EUTHANASIA.
UM, WE DO NOTIFY AAC THAT THAT'S OUR DECISION AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECLAIM A DOG IF WE'VE, IF WE'VE PULLED IT ALREADY.
UM, BUT ONLY IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A DOG MIGHT BE TOO DANGEROUS TO TRANSPORT BACK AFTER BY QUARANTINE OR SOMETHING, WOULD WE LEAVE THEM AT AAC FOR EUTHANASIA? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
COMMISSIONER SMUGGLER, COMMISSIONER NORM.
UM, IN MAY YOU PULLED TWO BEHAVIOR DOGS, HAVE THE FIVE REQUIRED AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND I NOTICED IN JUNE AND JULY, YOU DIDN'T MAKE UP FOR THOSE THREE THAT ARE MISSING.
UM, IS THAT PLANNED TO TAKE MORE ANIMALS TO MAKE UP THE FIVE THAT'S REQUIRED IN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR A MONTH? YEAH, WE DEFINITELY TRY TO MAKE UP, UM, IN THE SURROUNDING MONTHS, IF WE CAN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRICKY CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THE DOGS THAT ARE GOING ON INTENTION AND DOGS BEING REMOVED FROM ATTENTION, UM, CHANGING PRIORITIES ON A SEA SIDE, UM, CAPACITY ON OUR SIDE AND ON THEIR SIDE.
SO THE IT'S KIND OF AN ONGOING CONVERSATION AND NEGOTIATION AS FAR AS WHO CAN COME OVER FIRST AND WHAT THE CAPACITY IS, BUT WE DEFINITELY, UM, TRY OUR BEST OR WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER AS MANY OF THOSE DOGS AS WE CAN.
UM, THE ISSUE THAT WE RUN INTO A LOT IS THE HARDEST OF THE HARDEST DOGS OR WHAT GETS PUT ON ATTENTION TO US.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR CAPACITY TO, TO EVALUATE AND, AND SAFELY WORK WITH THOSE DOGS IS, IS ONLY SO MUCH, BUT YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BRING 800 OTHER ANIMALS IN THAT AREN'T FROM AAC AND EVALUATE THEM AND TAKE THEM IN.
WE DO TAKE IN A LOT OF ANIMALS FROM OTHER AREAS.
YES, THEY'RE NOT THE, THEY DON'T HAVE THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR, UH, ISSUES OR TAKE UP THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT MOST OF THESE DOGS DO.
UM, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIVE PULLING ANIMALS IN THE NUMBER, YOU HAVE THE 10 63, UM, FROM THE FIVE COUNTIES.
SO YOU HAVE PULLED FROM THE MUNICIPAL SHELTERS IN THE FIVE COUNTIES IN THIS MONTH.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT BREAKDOWN IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I CAN PRETTY MUCH PROMISE THAT WE HAVE IS IT, YOU CAN SEND US THAT AS A FOLLOWUP AND WHICH ONES YOU DID.
THANK YOU FOR THAT BREAKDOWN OF INTAKE FOUR OR FIVE, THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
UM, SO WHEN YOU, UM, AND JUST BECAUSE I TRIED TO ADD UP SOME NUMBERS ONCE AND THEY DIDN'T ADD UP, IT COULD BE ME, UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR, YOU'RE REPORTING OCTOBER 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, THE SAME AS THE CITY NOW.
CAUSE SOMETIMES IT SEEMED LIKE CALENDAR YEAR AND I THINK WE WERE OUT OF SYNC A LITTLE BIT, SO IT'S BETTER TO BE IN SYNC.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT SO MUCH.
UM, SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER FROM AAC, ARE YOU INCLUDING THE BORN AND CARE IN WHICH WELL, WHEN YOU SAY INTAKE, SAY OF PRIOR YOUR FISCAL YEAR TO DATE A APA INTAKE FROM AAC FISCAL YEAR 22, AND IT SAYS 1397, DOES THAT INCLUDE BOURNE AND CARE? OR IS THAT JUST THOSE THAT HAVE AN, A NUMBER FROM, I DO BELIEVE THAT INCLUDES BORN AND CARE.
WELL, I'M CONFUSED BY THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS THAT AEC COUNTS IN ANIMAL FOR OUTCOME.
BLAND, THEN DO YOU GO BACK AND SAY, OKAY, NOW THESE 58
[01:25:01]
ANIMALS ARE BORN IN CARE.SO NOW I'M GOING TO INCREASE OUR INTAKE BY 58, BECAUSE THEN OTHERWISE THESE TWO NUMBERS ARE OUT OF SYNC.
SO THEY ARE AT A SYNC BUTTON, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THEY, THEY INTAKE THESE NUMBERS.
YOU'RE NOT HAVING AN OUTCOME FOR THOSE NUMBERS FOR THAT NUMBER.
SO HOW DO WE FIX THIS MEAN, IT SEEMS THAT IT SEEMS THE LICENSE AGREEMENT IS ACTUAL ANIMALS TRANSFERRED FROM AEC, WHICH WOULD BE AN ANIMAL WITH AN, A NUMBER.
AND IT'S TRANSFERRED IN, THEY'RE BORN IN YOUR CARE.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY NUMBERS, SO THEY REALLY SHOULDN'T COUNT.
WE CAN TAKE THAT OUT OF THIS CALCULATION GOING FORWARD AND JUST INCLUDE IT HERE BECAUSE PRESUMABLY THOSE ANIMALS WOULD BE BORN AT AAC.
SO IT IS, WE COULD INCLUDE IT WHERE WE INCLUDE OUR PAST INTAKES, PERHAPS, WELL AEC OR ANOTHER RECIPE PARTNER WHO TOOK IT OR SOMETHING ELSE.
SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT, BUT YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE THE SAME BECAUSE AEC IS NOT GETTING FOR TAKING THOSE FOR THE OUTCOMES OF THOSE ANIMALS.
I JUST HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION.
NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE STAFF THERE, BUT, UM, I HAD EMAILED THIS EARLIER.
UM, DO WE NO LONGER RECEIVE THE QUARTERLY REPORT FROM APA? ARE WE FROM NOW ON THIS IS IT, WE JUST GET A MONTHLY REPORT EVERY MONTH.
THERE IS NO MORE QUARTERLY REPORT.
WAS THAT A RE PRIME IT FROM THE AGREEMENT OR TH TH WE, THE AGREEMENT IS THAT WE GET A QUARTERLY REPORT, BUT THEN WHAT? NOPE.
THE WORDING SAYS QUARTERLY STATUS BRIEFING.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE AGREEMENT SAYS.
SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO RECEIVE THE QUARTERLY STATUS BRIEFING THAT WAS DUE IN JULY? WE'RE HERE RIGHT NOW.
SO IS THAT WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT, RIGHT? OH, NO.
I THINK WHAT, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE FOR Y'ALL IS WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE THE STATUS BRIEFING IN HERE, UM, ALMOST MONTHLY TO COMMUNICATE, WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND SO WE FELT LIKE WE WERE, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
AND I JUST, I JUST WANT TO GET CLARIFICATION, YOU KNOW, SO THAT I DON'T KEEP THINKING THERE'S A QUARTERLY REPORT COMING AND THERE'S NOT CAUSE IT'S CAUSE YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH I ASKED AND I DIDN'T REALLY GET AN ANSWER SO THAT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, I I'M FINE WITH THIS.
I THINK THAT WE GET, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION, IT WOULD JUST BE A REITERATION ON THE QUARTERLY BASIS AND WE DON'T NEED TO WASTE THAT TIME.
WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS TO MOVE ON AND DISCUSS.
SO IF WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO THIS MONTHLY ONE, THEN THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANTED TO CONFIRM AND VERIFY.
THAT, THAT WAS, THAT WAS MY IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE GETTING OKAY.
UH, YES, NORTH AND JORDAN, I WOULD AGREE WITH MR. MS. SMITH THAT, UM, THE MONTHLY IS FINE.
AS LONG AS SOMEONE FROM APA HERE IS FOR QUESTIONS AND IT'S NOT JUST SUBMITTED TO US.
SO IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THE, THE AGREEMENT REQUIRES US TO DO A STATUS BRIEFING MONTHLY, I MEAN, QUARTERLY.
BUT TO SUBMIT IN WRITING A MONTHLY REPORT.
SO YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO BE YOUR QUARTERLY FOR QUESTIONS W WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO COME A LOT MORE OFTEN TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN, BUT LAST MONTH WE MISSED IT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT EXTREME HEAT.
UM, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, WHERE WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE HERE IN PERSON.
SO I DON'T WANT TO, I'M HAPPY TO TRY.
THEN LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
UM, ACTUALLY, UH, THESE ARE THE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BY THE WAY.
[14. Discussion and Possible Action on the reconsideration of Austin City Code section 3-1-26 (D), Notice to Rescue Organization, regarding an animal exhibiting visible signs of pregnancy]
I WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 14 NEXT.AND THE REASON I'M I THINK WE SHOULD DO THAT IS WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE WAITING ON THE PHONE AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE NICE TO, SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 14 AS THE CONDUCT MOTION TO HARRIS SECOND I'LL SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.
DOES ANYBODY OPPOSE TO MOVING ITEM 14 NEXT? SO THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
SO WE GO TO ITEM 14, WHICH IS A DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE RECONSIDERATION OF AUSTIN CITY CODE, SECTION THREE DASH ONE DASH 26 D, WHICH IS THE NOTICE TO RESCUE ORGANIZATION REGARDING ANIMAL EXHIBITING, VISIBLE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY.
UM, THIS IS A WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRIEF, UH, D DO
[01:30:01]
YOU HAVE A MOTION? OKAY.UH, COULD, COULD WE HAVE THE MOTION FIRST? YEAH, THERE WE GO.
WE SEND A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO REPEAL AUSTIN CITY CODE 3, 1 26, SUBSECTION D.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
SO THE IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED.
SO NOW IS DISCUSSION AND WE WILL START WITH, UH, UM, UH, DR.
UM, CAN WE DO THAT POWERPOINT? YEAH.
SO THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN NAZER, BEFORE I BEGIN, LET ME JUST SHARE THAT THE DISPLAY IS A SLIDE SHOW, HOPEFULLY OF PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I TOOK OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS.
AND CAN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION MOVE OUTSIDE PLEASE? SORRY.
UM, THAT I TOOK OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS IN THE SHELTER.
THE MAJORITY OF THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN ON A SINGLE DAY, TUESDAY, AUGUST 2ND.
THERE ARE A FEW FROM OTHER DAYS WITHIN A WEEK OF THAT DATE, BUT THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THIS IS A SAMPLE OF ALL THE PUPPIES AND KITTENS AT THE SHELTER AT ONE TIME WITHIN ONE WEEK, NOT OVER A LONG SPAN OF TIME, AND THIS IS NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ALL THE PUPPIES AND KITTENS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE SHELTER.
AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WERE 115 PUPPIES, SIX MONTHS OLD OR YOUNGER AT THE SHELTER ITSELF WITH 41 ADDITIONAL PUPPIES AND FOSTER THAT WERE ALSO SIX MONTHS OLD OR YOUNGER.
AND TODAY THERE ARE 158 KITTENS AT THE SHELTER AND ANOTHER 191 FOSTER.
BUT EVEN THOUGH THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE JUST A SAMPLE, I STILL THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT VISUAL.
WE SEND RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL TO REPEAL AUSTIN CITY CODE 3, 1 26, SUBSECTION D.
SO WHAT IS IT? AUSTIN CITY CODE 3, 1 26, WHICH IS TITLED NOTICE TO RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS MANDATES IN SUBSECTION D THAT THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER CANNOT STAY ANY QUOTE, VISIBLY PREGNANT, UNQUOTE, CAT OR DOG BEFORE THEY SHELTERED NOTIFIES IN WRITING THE PERSON WHO PRESENTED THE ANIMAL TO THE SHELTER AND ALL THE ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE SAID THEY WANT TO BE NOTIFIED IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MUNICIPAL SHELTERS THEN REQUIRED TO TURN OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE ANIMAL TO EITHER THE PRESENTER OR THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION WHO WILL THEN ALLOW THE ANIMAL TO GO INTO LABOR AND ATTEND AN ATTEMPT TO GIVE BIRTH.
LET ME JUST SAY THAT AS A CONTRACT RELIEF VETERINARIAN AT THE SHELTER, I NEVER PERFORMED SPAYS AND NEUTERS AT AAC.
I MANAGE EMERGENCY CASES AND MEDICAL CASES IN THE SHELTER, AS WELL AS IN FOSTER.
AND I WOULD NEVER HAVE ANY ROLE IN DECIDING IF A PARTICULAR ANIMAL IS TO BE SPAYED OR NOT.
SINCE THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, WE HAVE NEARLY THREE YEARS OF REAL WORLD EVIDENCE ABOUT WHAT THIS ORDINANCE HAS MEANT IN PRACTICE.
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD WANT.
FOR EXAMPLE, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NO KILL INITIATIVE IN AUSTIN HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY CATS AND THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEM.
THIS HAPPENS IN LARGE PART THROUGH THE TNR AND SNR PROGRAMS AT THE SHELTER, THE TNR OR TRAP NEUTER RETURN PROGRAM IS ONE WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN REQUEST ASSISTANCE TO TRAP FERAL CATS AND AAC COORDINATES A DEDICATED GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL GO TRACK THE CATS WHO ARE THEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY.
AND THEN THOSE CATS ARE RETURNED TO WHERE THEY WERE TRAPPED.
THIS IS A VERY POPULAR PROGRAM AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY 300 OUTSTANDING REQUESTS FOR HELP.
TRAPPING SNR IS THE SHELTER NEUTER RETURN PROGRAM.
HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC IS A HUGE HELP IN THAT THEY BRING THE STRAY CATS IN THEMSELVES, HELPING OUT OUR OVERBURDENED TRAPPING TEAM.
AND THESE CATS ARE IMPOUNDED INTO THE SHELTER GIVEN IN A NUMBER.
THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM THE STRAY HOLD ORDINANCE AND CAN BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AS LONG AS THEY ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH.
AND THEN THEY ARE RETURNED TO WHERE THEY WERE FOUND.
HOWEVER, I AM AWARE OF A CASE FROM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE A PARENT AND CHILD WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR COLONY OF CATS WERE ABLE TO BRING IN THREE OF THE BELOVED CATS FROM THEIR COLONY TO THE SHELTER, HOPING TO HAVE THEM SPAYED AND THEN RETURNED TO THEIR COLONY, WHERE THEY COULD CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER AND CARE FOR THEM.
HOWEVER, TWO OF THE CATS THEY BROUGHT IN WERE VISIBLY PREGNANT AND A THIRD WAS LACTATING.
SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ORDINANCE, THE PRESENTER WAS CALLED BACK AND TOLD THAT THE SHELTER COULD NOT STAY THE PREGNANT CATS AS THE PRESENTER HAD HOPED.
INSTEAD, THE OPTIONS WERE TO COME BACK AND GET THE CATS THEMSELVES, OR OWNERSHIP OF THE CATS WOULD BE TURNED OVER TO APA WHO WOULD KEEP THEM WHILE THEY WENT THROUGH LABOR GAVE BIRTH.
WE IN DENNY SURVIVING KITTENS, THEN POTENTIALLY WE INTO SECOND LITTER OF KITTENS
[01:35:01]
PLACED ON THEM.AND THEN AFTER WEEKS TO MONTHS OF THESE CATS BEING AWAY FROM THEIR CAREGIVERS AND GOING THROUGH SUCH MAJOR LIFE EVENTS WITH STRANGERS, POSSIBLY THESE PRESENTERS MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THEIR CATS BACK.
THIS SCENARIO IS NOT WHAT THESE PEOPLE HAD IN MIND WHEN THEY DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING OF TRAPPING THESE CATS AND BRINGING THEM TO THEIR PUBLIC SHELTER, WHERE THEY SHOULD EXPECT TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
THEY DID NOT WANT THE CATS OF THEIR COLONY TO BE HAVING KITTENS.
AND THEY CERTAINLY DID NOT WANT TO LOSE CUSTODY OF THE CATS WHILE THEY DID SO.
SO THEY CAME BACK TO THE SHELTER AND RETRIEVED ALL THREE CATS DENIED IMPORTANT SERVICES.
THEY SHOULD RIGHTLY EXPECT FROM THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER, EVEN IF THEY HAD INTENDED TO SPEND THEIR OWN FINANCIAL AND TIME RESOURCES, GETTING THESE CATS SPAYED SOMEWHERE ELSE, THIS WAS LIKELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM.
EMANCIPATE IS BOOKED OUT FOR WEEKS TO MONTHS, AND I HEAR THE SAME IS TRUE OF PRIVATE CLINICS.
THIS TIMELINE IS BEYOND THE GESTATION PERIODS OF CATS.
THIS IS HOW THIS ORDINANCE FINDS A WAY TO ANGER, BOTH FERAL, COLONY CARETAKERS, AND PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT FERAL CAT IMPACT ON OUR NATIVE ECOLOGY IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
IT IS THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS.
AND SADLY, THE SCENARIO IS FAR FROM RARE.
SENDING A PREGNANT ANIMAL TO RESCUE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A HAPPY ENDING RECENTLY.
AND SNR FERAL CAT WAS TAKEN FROM AAC BY A RESCUE ORGANIZATION, WENT THROUGH EARLY LABOR, POSSIBLY FROM THE STRESS OF HER SITUATION AND GAVE BIRTH TO ALL DEAD KITTENS.
WAS THIS THE BEST THING FOR THIS CAT OR WOULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER TO SPAY HER AND GET HER BACK HOME QUICKLY WITHOUT MAINTAINING HER IN A STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HER PREMATURE LABOR AND ANOTHER SAD STORY? I HAVE HEARD OF A CASE OF A DOG BEING SENT BY A RESCUE ORGANIZATION TO A FOSTER HOME WHERE DESPITE THE FOSTER DESPERATELY SEEKING CARE FROM THE RESCUE ORGANIZATION, WHEN THIS DOG WHO WAS NURSING, HER PUPPIES STARTED TO SHOW CONCERNING SIGNS.
THE DOG DEVELOPED AT CLAMP SIA SEIZURES AND DIED WITHOUT APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE, LIKE PEOPLE, DOGS, AND CATS GOING THROUGH LABOR BIRTH AND NURSING CAN EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC HEALTH ISSUES.
AND IF A FOSTER PROGRAM IS NOT SET UP TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THESE ISSUES, WHICH CAN BE EXTREMELY RESOURCE INTENSIVE ANIMALS WILL AND DO SUFFER AND DIE RECENTLY, RELATEDLY, EXCUSE ME, A MAJORITY OF WELL-KNOWN ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT RECOMMEND HAVING THIS KIND OF LAW RESTRICTING THE SPAY OF PREGNANT ANIMALS.
IN FACT, I COULD NOT FIND ONE THAT DID RECOMMEND IT OTHER THAN PRESUMABLY APA, EVEN BEST FRIENDS, ANIMAL SOCIETY, THE LARGEST ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH IS DEVOTED TO MAKING THE ENTIRE NATION, NO KILL WILL STAY PREGNANT AND SEPARATELY.
THEY RECOMMEND ALWAYS STAYING PREGNANT, FERAL CATS.
AS THEY ASSERT FERAL MOTHERS ARE LIKELY TO IGNORE KITTENS BORN INTO, INTO THE THREAT.
EXCUSE ME, FERAL MOTHERS ARE LIKELY TO IGNORE OR KILL KITTENS BORN INTO THE THREATENING CAPTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS ORDINANCE COMBINED WITH AUSTIN CITY CODE 3, 1 21, SUBSECTION C, WHICH ALSO REMOVES MEDICAL DISCRETION FROM VETERINARIANS AND MANDATES THE VACCINATION OF ALL APPROPRIATELY AGED IMPOUNDED ANIMALS CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE SHELTER POSSIBLY DAMAGES THE PREGNANCY AND THEN IS FORCED TO HAVE THE ANIMAL CONTINUE.
THE PREGNANCY, THIS VACCINATION ORDINANCE REFERENCES THE ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER, VETERINARIANS GUIDELINES, WHICH STATES PREGNANCY AND MILD ILLNESS ARE NOT CONTRAINDICATIONS TO ADMINISTERING CORE VACCINES BECAUSE THE RISKS FROM VERY LIMP PATHOGENS WILL BE FAR GREATER THAN THE RELATIVELY LOW RISK OF PROBLEMS POSED BY VACCINATION.
HOWEVER, IT IS CLEAR THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GIVEN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE, THAT THE ASSOCIATIONS RECOMMENDATION TO SPAY AND NEUTER ALL ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WILL ALSO BE FOLLOWED IN THAT CASE.
YES, THE RISK OF VACCINATING A PREGNANT ANIMAL IS LOW BECAUSE THE EFFECT OF VACCINATION ON THE FETUSES IS NOT REALLY A CONSIDERATION.
THE ASSOCIATION NOTES, QUOTE, DOGS AND CATS WHO ARE PREGNANT CAN BE SAFELY SPADE.
IN MOST CASES, UNQUOTE AND QUOTE, ALLOWING SHELTER, ANIMALS TO BREED IS UNACCEPTABLE.
UNQUOTE MODIFIED LIVE VIRUS VACCINES, WHICH IS THE TYPE OF VACCINE WE USE FOR EVERYTHING EXCEPT RABIES AND BORDATELLA CARRIES RISKS FOR FETUSES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE FELINE DOES TEMPER MODIFIED LIVE VIRUS, VACCINE IN CATS IS KNOWN TO CAUSE HYDROGEN AND SEPHORA LEE AND CEREBELLAR HYPOPLASIA AND KITTENS.
WE DEFINITELY SEE THIS SYNDROME AND KITTENS IN THE SHELTER.
AND I WONDER HOW OFTEN WE OURSELVES
[01:40:01]
HAVE CAUSED IT AS A RESULT OF THESE ORDINANCES IN VACCINES FOR VETERINARIANS PUBLISHED IN 2021 BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, IT IS NOTED THAT VACCINES CONTAINING KILLED GRAM NEGATIVE BACTERIA, SUCH AS BORDATELLA OR KENNEL COUGH VACCINE VACCINE MAY CAUSE REACTIONS QUOTE, SUFFICIENT TO PROVOKE EARLY EMBRYONIC DEATHS IN PREGNANT FEMALES.ONE SUCH INSTANCE MAY HAVE HAPPENED AT THE SHELTER ON FRIDAY.
A DOG THAT HAD BEEN CONFISCATED FROM A HOARDING SITUATION WAS IMPOUNDED AT THE SHELTER AND WAS VACCINATED WITH CORE VACCINES EXCEPT FOR RABIES PER STATE LAW, BECAUSE THE DOG WAS GOING RABIES, QUARANTINE.
NO ONE WAS AWARE SHE WAS PREGNANT.
AND ON FRIDAY MORNING, SHE WAS FOUND HAVING GIVEN BIRTH TO TWO DEAD PUPPIES AND ONE MORE ABUNDANT PUPPY.
AFTER GOING INTO EARLY LABOR, LET ME BE CLEAR.
I FULLY SUPPORT SAVING THE LIVES OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS.
I'VE BEEN PROUD OF MY OWN EFFORTS AND GRATEFUL FOR THE RESOURCES TO TAKE EXTREME MEASURES, TO SAVE KITTENS AND PUPPIES.
AND MY WORK AS A CONTRACT VETERINARIAN AT THE SHELTER.
I'D LOVE TO SHOW YOU MY EXAMPLE OF STRUDEL, UM, BUT SAVING THE LIVES OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS IS DIFFERENT FROM BEING FORCED TO ALLOW PREGNANCIES, TO PROCEED THROUGH LABOR AND BIRTH WITHOUT APPLYING INDIVIDUAL DISCRETION TO EACH SCENARIO.
WELL, I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MANY STAKEHOLDERS, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE SHELTER.
I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH THE SHELTER MANAGEMENT ABOUT WHETHER THEY WOULD IN FACT CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THEY DEAL WITH PREGNANT ANIMALS, BUT THAT SHOULD BE UP TO THEM.
ALL I'M ARGUING HERE IS THAT THIS ORDINANCE DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR CITY CODE BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS OF IT BEING THERE AT MINIMUM, IT DESERVES THE THOROUGH, THOROUGH DEBATE AND VETTING.
IT NEVER GOT BEFORE IT WAS CODIFIED AND I'LL RESERVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
NELSON, DO WE HAVE, UH, ANYBODY WHO'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT? UH, W WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR ROBERT'S RULES SAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS.
WAS THERE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS TOPIC? OH, YES.
LET'S DO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS HERE, RIGHT? THERE'S SOMEONE BACK THERE.
SO WHY DON'T YOU COME UP HERE NOW? LET'S HAVE SHELLY LEAVE HIM.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK COMMAND.
AS I THINK ALL OF YOU PROBABLY KNOW BY NOW I'M A CURRENT CAT VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEM 14.
I WISH I COULD DO THIS WITHOUT MY GLASSES.
I'M GOING TO TRY WHEN I STARTED SPEAKING HERE THREE YEARS AGO, I DON'T THINK I NEEDED READERS.
SO I HAPPILY WEAR THE BADGE OF CRAZY CAT LADY.
I HAVE THREE CATS OF MY OWN, ALL RESCUES.
I ALWAYS KEEP DRY AND WET CAT FOOD IN THE BACK OF MY CAR, JUST IN CASE MUCH TO MY HUSBAND, SUGAR IN, I HAVE OWNED A BUSINESS WITH A RESIDENT CAT.
AND AS I'M TELLING YOU MANY TIMES, I VOLUNTEER A LOT OF HOURS FOR THE CATS AND
I ALSO FEED A SMALL COLONY OF CATS IN EAST AUSTIN.
ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN TNR THROUGH AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTERS, AMAZING COMMUNITY CATS PROGRAM.
THIS PART OF BEING A CRAZY CAT LADY IS BY FAR THE HARDEST FOR ME EVERY MORNING.
WHEN I DRIVE TO FEED MY COLONY, I SAY A PRAYER HOPING THEY'RE ALL, OKAY, IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
I LOST THE FIRST TWO CATS EVER TNR IN LESS THAN NINE MONTHS.
THE OTHER, I FOUND DEAD ON THE LOT.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
ONE OF MY CURRENT COLONY CATS WAS LIMPING WITH A WOUND ON HIS BAT PAW.
NOW I'M TRYING TO NAVIGATE GETTING HIM MEDICAL CARE, WHICH IS A PROCESS FOR A FERAL CAT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMEONE WITH A FULL-TIME JOB.
IN ADDITION TO THE SMALL COLONY, I PAY FOR ALL THE FOOD FOR ANOTHER COLONY.
I STARTED FEEDING DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THANKFULLY, SOMEONE ELSE'S HELPING ACTUALLY FEED THE CATS.
I DESCRIBED THIS BACKGROUNDS TO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T TAKE MY RECONSIDERATION OF THIS ORDINANCE LIGHTLY HAD LOVED CATS, BUT I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT CONTINUE ON THIS PATH.
WE STRUGGLED TO TAKE CARE OF THE ANIMALS ALREADY IN OUR CARE, WHETHER THEY ARE AT THE SHELTER, OR IF THEY LIVE IN AN OUTDOOR COLONY, WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LIGHT ME SPEND OUR TIME AND MONEY OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
NIELSEN SAID, THE FERAL CATS AND THE PREGNANT ONES, BRINGING THEM IN, I ACTUALLY HAD THAT HAPPEN AND THE CAT WAS NOT RETURNED.
IT WENT TO APA AND WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE, TO THE PLACE WHERE I FED HIM.
AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD GUILT ABOUT THAT.
SO FOR THESE REASONS, I ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THIS ORDINANCE.
[01:45:01]
TO DO.UH, THE NEXT PERSON IS CHELSEA KOTARA CUT.
SO IT'S MISSING, YOU KNOW, COUPLE OF THOUSAND.
UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS CHELSEA COACHELLA.
I'VE FOSTERED THROUGH AAC AND I MANAGE AND PROVIDE CARE FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNITY CAT COLONIES.
THIS ORDINANCE HURTS ALL OF US, BOTH THOSE OF US WHO CARE ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES.
AND I THINK THE BEST WAY I CAN ILLUSTRATE THIS IS BY LAYING OUT TO YOU.
MY TYPICAL MONDAY IN THE MORNING, MY HUSBAND AND I DRIVE TO ROUND ROCK TO A MOBILE HOME PARK TO BE COMMUNITY CATS THERE.
AT ONE TIME, THERE WERE HUNDREDS.
YES, HUNDREDS OF FERAL CATS OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS, VOLUNTEERS, TNR, AND BROUGHT THE POPULATION UNDER CONTROL.
WE'RE NOW DOWN TO MAYBE 20 CATS THERE DUE TO THE SHORT LIFE SPAN, TYPICAL OF CATS LIVING OUTDOORS.
THIS ROUTE TAKES US ABOUT 45 MINUTES.
AND THEN WE HEAD BACK DOWN
AFTER THAT WE COME HOME WHERE WE TEND TO A COLONY OF 13 NOW LIVING IN A PERMANENT STRUCTURE IN OUR BACKYARD, BUT WHO USED TO RESIDE IN THE SAME AREA OF SOUTH AUSTIN AS THE TWO CATS WE JUST FED THESE 13 WERE EVICTED AS IT WERE WHEN A LARGE CORPORATION PURCHASED THE VACANT LOT.
THEY HAD CALLED HOME FOR YEARS.
FOUR YEARS AGO, THIS COLONY OF 13 WAS SYSTEMATICALLY TNR BY MYSELF AND A TRAPPING PARTNER.
WE FOUND 10 KITTENS THAT HAVE BEEN BORN IN THE COLONY.
MY HUSBAND AND I FOSTERED ALL OF THEM THROUGH AAC FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.
AFTER THAT, THE COLONY WAS FED EVERY DAY BY DIFFERENT VOLUNTEER WITH FOOD PAID FOR OUT OF ALL OF OUR OWN POCKETS AND THINGS WERE RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
WHEN THAT PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED, I WAS TOLD WE WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE LOT OR BE ALLOWED TO FEED THERE.
AND I HAD TWO WEEKS TO ROOD LAKE, EXCUSE ME, TO RELOCATE THE CATS OR WHAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PLAN WAS AFTER THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHATEVER IT WAS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS FOR THESE CATS WHO DEPENDED ON US.
SO EXACTLY SIX WEEKS TO THE DAY AFTER MY OWN HYSTERECTOMY, I STARTED RE TRAPPING THE CATS TO BRING THEM TO MY HOME.
WHILE MY HUSBAND WORKED TO BUILD THEM A PERMANENT STRUCTURE IN OUR BACKYARD.
SO AFTER TENDING TO THE BACKYARD COLONY, AND WE TAKE CARE OF OUR SIX INDOOR CATS, FOUR OF THOSE WERE PART OF THE LITTER OF KITTENS THAT WE FOUND AT THE SOUTH AUSTIN COLONY.
ANOTHER ONE OF OUR INDOOR CATS WAS AN INJURED FARRELL FROM THE ROUNDROCK COLONY THAT HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY A DOG.
THE LAST WAS FOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF A CAR IN A PARKING STRUCTURE DOWNTOWN.
WHEN HE WAS A KITTEN, I CANNOT HANDLE MORE CATS, BUT THEY KEEP SHOWING UP TRAPPERS RESCUERS.
THE SHELTER CAN NOT HANDLE MORE CATS, BUT THEY KEEP SHOWING UP.
THERE ARE TOO FEW OF US TO EVER BE ABLE TO CATCH UP, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS MORE AND MORE ANIMALS BEING BORN AND NEEDING CARE.
HOWEVER, WE DO ALL OF THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT'S ALSO THE EXPENSIVE TIME CONSUMING, EMOTIONALLY DRAINING, AND SOMETIMES ABSOLUTELY SOUL CRUSHING THING TO DO.
IT'S UP TO HUMANS TO CARE FOR IT.
BORN TO FERAL CAT, MOTHERS, OR PUPPIES BORN IN FOSTER HOMES.
THEY EXIST BECAUSE OF HUMANS, PERIOD, SPAYING AND NEUTERING IS ONE OF THE MOST HUMANE OPTIONS HUMANS CAN PROVIDE FOR THESE CATS.
IF A FERAL CAT IS PREGNANT AT THE TIME OF SPAY, IT'S BEST TO TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY PREGNANCY IS OFTEN STRESSFUL ON CATS, WHO AREN'T ALWAYS FINDING ADEQUATE NUTRITION TO SUPPORT A PREGNANCY, NOT TO MENTION THE FEAR AND STRESS OF A FERAL CAT BEING CONFINED IN A SPACE WITH HUMANS FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH AND CARE FOR KITTENS UNTIL THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH FOR FOSTER OR ADOPTION.
IF YOUR CATS MEANS HEALTHIER, COLONIES, THE WILDLIFE FACES FEWER FEELING PREDATORS AND CAREGIVERS.
AREN'T FURTHER STRESSED FROM CARING FOR MORE CATS.
THERE IS AN OPTION TO PROMOTE MORE HUMANE TREATMENT OF CATS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN SHOULD SUPPORT IT BY RESCINDING THIS ORDINANCE.
SO DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS FROM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION AND MY QUESTION IS WHO OWNS A FERAL CAT? DOES ANYBODY HAVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO THAT BY LAW? BY LAW, BY LAW IS IF THE ANIMAL LEADS AT YOUR HOME OR YOU FEED THEM IS YOURS, BUT, BUT EXACTLY WITH FERAL CATS, IT'S THAT THESE LAW IT'S ON GRAY.
IF ANYONE CONTROLS SHOW UP TO ONE PROPERTY AND SEEN A DOG OUTSIDE, AND THE PERSON SAY, I AM FEEDING THESE DOG, THIS IS YOUR DOG, BUT WITH A FERAL CAT COLONY, IT'S ON GRACE AND I, AND I, AND, UH, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DRAW ANY FI BECAUSE WE WANT THESE KINDS OF VOLUNTEERS FEEDING THAT CAT.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, I CAN SAY A NAME OF A VOLUNTEER WHO EATS AROUND HERE THAT I HELD TWO YEARS AGO.
WE HAD RICHARD VICKERY FIX SOME CATS.
AND THAT CAT WAS UNDER THE NAME WITH A PROGRAM.
LIKE SOME OF THESE CARDS GO BACK TO PHONE NUMBERS OF THE PEOPLE WHO FEED AND TAKE CARE OF THESE SCANS, THESE COLONIES.
[01:50:01]
WOULD BE IF, IF THESE PEOPLE OWN THESE CATS, WHY IS THE CITY SPAYING AND NEUTERING THEIR ANIMALS AT REQUEST? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY COULD BRING IN THEIR ANIMALS, SAY HERE, SPAY NEUTER IT.I MEAN, TNR AND SNR IS A HUGE PART OF THE NO KILL INITIATIVE.
AND YOU, BUT YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE SAYING YOU, YOU WANT IT RESCINDED BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY'RE ACTUALLY OWN NO, I'M, I'M NOT, NO, I'M NOT SAYING I WANT TO RESEND IT.
I'M JUST ASKING SOME QUESTIONS, QUITE A HARDER POINT OF ORDER.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE ENGAGING IN BACK AND FORTH ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER.
SO THOSE WERE QUESTIONS I HAD JUST TO GET THE INFORMATION, UH, ANY OTHER, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES.
I APPRECIATE, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION, DR.
NIELSEN, AND ALSO THE TWO SPEAKERS.
UM, MY QUESTION IS I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND, HOW DID THE ORDINANCE CAM ABOUT, AND I'M SURE THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND IT.
SO, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT I'M NOT, I'M SURE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GET IT HERE.
UH, WELL, NO, I THINK, I THINK WE COULD ASK THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE ORDINANCE, WHO IS HERE.
AND I ALSO, I STUDIED THIS AND I HAVEN'T YET.
WELL, YOU'VE HAD, YOU'VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK.
UM, UH, THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE ORDINANCE, ARE THEY PRESENT AT THE MEETING? RYAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF, OF THIS ORDINANCE AND HOW IT CAME TO BE? I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN GIVE A HISTORY OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF POINTS TO MAKE.
I'LL TRY TO GET THE HISTORY OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT, UM, THE FIRST IS THAT YOU ASKED THE, WHAT THE, WHO A FERAL CAT BELONGS TO.
AND, AND, UM, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS SAID IT BELONGS TO, IF YOU FEED IT, IT'S YOURS UNDER STATE LAW FATHER, THERE IS NO SUCH STATE LAW.
UH, THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
UM, THERE IS NEITHER A, UH, STATUTE NOR A, UM, COMMON LAW WILL THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT, UH, SAY STATES THAT IF YOU FEED AN ANIMAL, IT'S YOURS.
UM, MY, MY, MY GUESTS HAVING NOT LOOKED INTO IT, UH, IS THAT, UH, OWNERSHIP OF AN ANIMAL AS A MATTER OF INTENT.
AND SO IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE ANY ONE RULE THAT WOULD GOVERN EVERY CASE THAT PROBABLY ARE COLONIES, THAT THE CARETAKER BELIEVES THAT THEY OWN THE ANIMALS THEY'RE REGISTERING THEM IN THEIR NAMES.
UM, IF THEY'RE IN AREAS WITH LICENSING, THEY'RE LICENSING IN THEIR NAMES, UH, CASE, I THINK THAT THE LAW WOULD LIKELY SAY THAT IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY OWN THEM AND THEY'RE, UH, ACTING AS IF THEY OWN THEM, THEN, UM, THEY'RE PROBABLY OTHER SITUATIONS, UH, LIKE THE GUINEAS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE, UM, SOMEONE MIGHT BE HELPING THE COLONY, BUT HAS NO INTENT TO OWN THEM THEMSELVES.
IN WHICH CASE IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO PROVE AS A MATTER OF LAW THAT THEIR OWN POINT OF ORDER IT'S, IT IS ACTUALLY IN A TITLE THREE ANIMAL.
UM, THAT'S NOT A POINT OF ORDER PLEASE.
DO YOU HAVE, DO YOU ALSO HAVE ANY HISTORY ON THIS ONE? YES.
I MEAN, WELL, I MEAN, YES AND NO.
SO THE, THE RESCUE ACCESS PROVISION, UM, WAS A PROVISION THAT, UM, WAS BROUGHT FORTH, UH, TO PROTECT ANIMALS THAT, UH, ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS OR RESCUE GROUPS WERE WILLING TO SAVE.
UM, IT WASN'T REALLY NEEDED FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE, UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NOCO PROGRAM, THE SHELTER, UM, WITH ABSOLUTELY, UH, SENDING ANYTHING TO RESCUE THAT THE RESCUES MEANT.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, WE DID AROUND, YOU KNOW, A FEW YEARS AGO THAT ALL OF THESE WERE ENACTED WAS ATTEMPT TO CODIFY.
UM, THEY NEED, UH, THE EXISTING PRACTICES SO THAT, UM, IT WOULDN'T MATTER WHAT TO THE LEADERSHIP WAS IN THE FUTURE, UH, THAT THE NO KILL POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT THE SHELTER WAS EMPLOYING WOULD STAY THE PRACTICES AND THE POLICIES THAT DIDN'T, UH, THAT THE SHELTER WAS EMPLOYING AT THAT TIME.
[01:55:01]
FOR, UH, FOR THESE, UM, FOR THAT ORDINANCE AND, AND FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR WITHIN THE ORDINANCE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, AROUND THE SAME TIME, UH, THERE WAS A PREGNANT CAT, UH, THAT OUR, SORRY, OUR PREGNANT DOG, UH, THAT WAS A LATE TERM, UH, BAY, UH, AND THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND IT WAS NOT, UM, IT WAS OFFERED TO APA, APA RESPONDED YES.THAT THEY WANTED TO, UM, AND THE DOG WAS SPAYED ANYWAY.
UM, THE COMMUNITY WAS OUTRAGED OVER THIS.
UM, IT, IT ISN'T, UH, IT, AS I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, UH, AS IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, MY MULTIPLE THAT MARION'S, THAT THE SPACE OF A PREGNANT FEMALE MEANS THAT YOU, UH, CUT OUT THE SACK.
YOU EITHER ALLOW TO SUFFOCATE, UM, FOR LACK OF OXYGEN WITHIN THE FACT, OR YOU INDIVIDUALLY, UH, PROVIDE, UM, AN ANGEL, UH, UH, TO EACH INDIVIDUAL, UH, BABY, UH, PUPPY OR KITTEN.
UM, THE COMMUNITY WAS OUTRAGED BY THAT WHEN IT HAPPENED, UH, WHEN YOU HAD, WAS A PART OF THE, UM, STATUTE OR ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED ON PART WHERE, AND THERE'S DEPARTMENTS TO, TO THAT.
UM, SO, AND I DO THINK THAT, UM, EUTHANIZING AN INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS SHOULD BE COUNTED AS EUTHANIZING JOANNA.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE CHANGED THAT THE ACCOUNTING FOR THE NUMBERS, IF WE'RE GOING TO, UH, SPADE PREGNANT FEMALES, UM, I AM, UH, WHEN, WHEN YOU SHOW THOSE PICTURES OF PUPPIES AND KITTENS, I WAS, I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THEM.
UM, I AM SO PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE PUPPIES AND KITTENS AVAILABLE TO OUR DOCTORS IN AUSTIN.
WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF ALMOST, UH, IN THE COUNTY, I THINK ALMOST 2 MILLION PEOPLE.
UM, AND THERE'S, UH, AN INCREDIBLE INSATIABLE DEMAND FOR PUPPIES AND KITTENS PERSONALLY.
SO GLAD TO SEE THAT THEY ARE ALIVE, UM, AND THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO, UH, BE ONE OF THOSE KITTENS THAT GOES INTO A LOVING HOME AND SOMEONE I'M GOING TO BUY FROM A BREEDER, UM, WHICH I THINK, UH, NEGATIVELY IMPACTS, UH, THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND ANIMAL WELFARE IN GENERAL.
UM, A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS WERE MADE.
ONE OF THEM WAS THAT A PARENT CHILD BROUGHT IN THREE CATS FROM A COLONY.
UM, AND ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE, THEY WERE CALLED BACK THE ORDINANCE DOESN'T REQUIRE SOMEBODY TO CALL BACK, OR THEY GO TO A RESCUE AND SPLIT THE PART OF THE PERSON TO BE CALLED BACK BEFORE THEY WERE, UM, PAID.
SO, UH, AND THAT IS IF THE, IF THIS ANIMAL WAS SURRENDERED, WHICH I ASSUME IT WAS THAT IT WAS SURRENDERED TO THE ANIMAL WHEN AN ANIMAL IS SURRENDERED TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER, UM, THEY BECOME, UH, THE, UH, PROPERTY OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
AND THEY DON'T WHEN THEY SURRENDER THE ANIMAL, THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE ANIMAL SHELTER IS THE OWNER OF THE ANIMAL.
THEN THAT PERSON DOESN'T GET TO CALL THE SHOTS ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE GIVEN OUT THEIR, THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS TO THAT ANIMAL.
AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY AS A COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK, UM, UM, CORRECTLY THOUGH HAVE DETERMINED THAT WHEN THERE IS A PERSON IS WILLING TO SAVE AN ANIMAL AND A PERSON OR A RESCUE GROUP WHO IS READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO SAVE ANY ANIMAL THAT, UM, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO SO.
AND SO I AM, UM, I'M VERY, UH, HAPPY.
I THINK THIS HAS WORKED, UM, ACCORDING TO PLAN, AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT WE, AS THE COMMUNITY HAVE VALUED, UH, LIVES OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT HAVE COME INTO THE SHELTER.
AND I'M SO PROUD THAT WE HAVE RESCUE GROUP THAT ARE WILLING TO SAVE, UM, NOT ONLY, UH, THE, THE ANIMALS IN UTERO, BUT THE PREGNANT MOMS AS WELL.
UM, IF A PREGNANT DOG WAS SPADE, UH, AS A RESULT OF, UH, PASSING THIS, UH, IT WOULD ENHANCE OUR SPACE CRISIS BECAUSE THAT PREGNANT DOG WOULD NO LONGER BE SENT TO APA.
IT WOULD STAY AT THE SHELTER AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ADULT DOG AT THE SHELTER, UM, TAKING UP SPACE UNNECESSARILY, UM, BECAUSE IT'S PREGNANT AND APA BELIEVES IN SAVING THE LIVES OF THOSE, UM, IN UTERO PUPPIES AND KITTENS, AND THAT ANIMAL GETS REMOVED FROM THE SHELTER.
UM, IT WAS, IT WAS SAID THAT, UH, THAT BEST FRIENDS OPPOSES THIS.
[02:00:01]
BEST FRIENDS STATEMENT.HOLD ON, I'VE READ IT SEVERAL TIMES.
AND I THINK I READ IT AT THE TIME, OH, SHOOT.
SO THIS IS WHAT SOMEONE'S FORWARDED TO US.
UM, THAT'S FRIENDS BELIEVED THIS BELIEVES THAT IDEALLY ANIMALS DETERMINED TO BE PREGNANT, SHOULD BE PLACED IN FOSTER CARE, THROUGH SHELTER, VOLUNTEER NETWORKS OR RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS UNTIL THE OFFSPRING ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED FLEX FOR ADOPTION.
AND THAT'S MY POSITION TOO, THAT IDEALLY A ANIMALS DETERMINED TO BE PREGNANT SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE FOSTER CARE OR, OR THROUGH A RESCUE GROUP AS IT, UH, UNTIL THE OFFSPRING ARE OLD ENOUGH TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AND PLACED FOR ADOPTION.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY POSITION THAT IF WE HAVE A PLACE WHERE A DEMO CAN GO, THEN THAT RESCUE ORGANIZATION, OR A PERSON THAT WORKED HERE FOR IT, UM, WE SHOULDN'T BE KILLING IT.
AND SO, UH, I'M PROUD OF THE ORDINANCE AND I WOULD OPPOSE REPEALING IT.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER CLINTON, DOES ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.
WE'LL HAVE COMMISSIONER NORTON.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER NASER, UM, COMMISSIONER NELSON, THANK YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THIS UP, UM, IS I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO LEARN.
UM, THANK YOU TO THE SPEAKERS, UM, YOUR COMPASSION AND YOUR LOVE FOR THE ANIMALS THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF AND VOLUNTEER WITH AND, UM, THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE, AND AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE THEM, YOU STILL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.
I'M REALLY SHOWS, AND I KNOW HOW HARD IT MUST BE.
UM, SO I GUESS MY QUESTION TO DR.
NELSON IS, UM, REGARDING THE STATE LAW.
SO THERE IS NO STATE LAW ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE OWNERSHIP AND SUCH, BUT THE FARRELL.
CAN I ASK HER THAT? UH, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND TOO WHAT THE CITY LAW IS, UH, IT RIGHT HERE.
SO WHAT DOES THE CITY LAW SAY? SO THE CITY LAW, WHICH IS PART OF THE ORDINANCE THAT RYAN CLINTON HELPED PASS, BUT I GUESS HE FORGOT ABOUT IT'S UNDER IT'S.
POINT OF ORDER, IT'S UNDER DEFINITION, UH, POINT OF BORDER.
UM, I MOVE THAT WE POSTPONE CONSIDERATE PROPOSAL ON THIS MATTER UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MEETING.
UM, THIS WAS INTRODUCED LAST MINUTE IN THE AGENDA AND I DO NOT.
AND COMMISSIONER NELSON DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL HERSELF.
UM, AND, UH, NO, NO, THAT IS A LEGITIMATE, A LEGITIMATE, UH, UH, MOTION IS A PRIVILEGED MOTION TO POSTPONE SECOND THERE, THERE'S THERE A SECOND.
SO WHAT, THIS IS POSTPONING TO A TIME CERTAIN, WHICH IS NEXT MEETING.
UM, THERE ARE QUESTIONS HERE THAT WE I'M GETTING TO ANSWERS ON, LIKE WHO OWNS THE ANIMAL.
UH, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT THERE IS A WHOLE OTHER SIDE TO THIS, WHICH YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT I'M A LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE AUSTIN HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY.
AND BECAUSE I DO SUPPORT TNR AND SNR, UH, IT'S JUST PUT IT THIS WAY.
I'M ALSO A PAST PRESIDENT OF AN AUDUBON SOCIETY AND HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT TNR AND ESTAR HUGELY CONTROVERSIAL.
AND SO THE QUESTION OF WHO OWNS THE ANIMALS BECOMES IMPORTANT.
AND I ALSO THINK ANOTHER THING THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS WHAT ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT COME IN THAT AREN'T FERAL THAT GETTING RID OF THIS SECTION WOULD THEN SUBJECT THEM TO, UH, TO, UH, LATE TERM SPAY NEUTER.
SO WE GOT A FIRST AND A SECOND, SO, UH, UH, LET'S VOTE ON, UH, POSTPONING THE ORDINANCE.
SO HOW MANY WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE MY MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS MATTER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING IS POSTPONE THIS TILL THE NEXT MEETING? UM, HOW, UH, HOW MANY ARE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING IT TO THE NEXT MEETING? SO THAT'S 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, RYAN.
OKAY, SO THAT'S SIX, SO IT'S NOT POSTPONED, SO,
[02:05:01]
HUH? FROZEN.I'LL GO CASE SOMEONE NEEDS TO TEXT RYAN.
SO, SO, ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP GOING ON WITH THIS.
SO LET'S, UH, WHO DO WE HAVE? WE HAD, WE HAVE A, THE LAST WEEK WE HAD A QUESTION OF CITY ORDINANCE ABOUT WHO OWNS A FERAL CAT OWNER MEANS CAN EVERYBODY'S YEAH.
THIS IS THE CITY ORDINANCE THAT I FIND ONLINE AT THE CITY OF HOLSTEIN WEBSITE.
OWNER MEANS A PERSON WHO OWNS FEEDS KEEPS MAINTAINS OR HARBORS AN ANIMAL, OR WHO KNOLLY ALLOWS AN ANIMAL TO REMAIN ON THE PERSON'S PROPERTY.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF DEFINITION OF A FERAL CAT COLONY.
THOSE ARE THE DEFINITION OF OLDER.
SO, BUT, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, PEOPLE FEED BIRDS, FEED PEOPLE, FEED WILD BIRDS.
WE NEED TO CLARIFY THAT EATS, UH, OH MY GOD.
WELL, WE GOTTA, WE GOTTA HAVE THE LAW HERE.
I MEAN, I MEAN, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, THAT WE'RE TAUGHT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LEGAL ISSUE HERE, WHICH IS WHY IT MIGHT BE NICE.
UH, SO TH THIS IS A MOTION TO END THE DEBATE.
SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON IT YET.
WHAT LET'S LET'S UH, LET'S HAVE EVERY PERSON GIVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK ONCE AND THEN, OKAY.
SO, UM, I UNDERST I AM, I LOVE CATS, BUT I AM NOT A CAT VOLUNTEER.
I DO NOT WORK WITH THE FERAL CAT COMMUNITY OR TRAPPERS ON IT.
UM, SO I TAKE IN HIGH REGARD, THE COMMENTS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT DO HOWEVER, REPEALING, THIS DOES NOT JUST AFFECT THE FERAL CAT COLONIES.
I HAVE FOSTERED MANY PREGNANT DOGS FOR AAC.
I WOULD AT LEAST 99% OF NINE PUPPIES.
AND ONE LETTER, ONE WAS STILL BORN IS AS A RESULT OF THEM GETTING IMMUNIZATIONS DURING PREGNANCY.
I DON'T KNOW I'VE HAD MANY OTHER DOGS.
I HAVE FOSTERED THAT HAD BEEN PREGNANT, THAT IF AT ALL LIVE BIRTHS, UM, WITH NO ISSUES.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANY DATA TO, AND I JUST, I NEED, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT ARE, WHAT IS THE DATA THAT SUPPORTS THIS IS IT.
AND IT'S SUCH A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR DOG PEOPLE AND THE FERAL CAT PEOPLE.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE FERAL CAT PEOPLE WANTING TO SPAY THESE PREGNANT ANIMALS.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE MORE KITTENS OUT THERE THAT ARE THEN GOING TO POSSIBLY BECOME PREGNANT AND KEEP PROPAGATING.
UM, IT MAKES SENSE FOR A FERAL COLONY.
I DON'T THINK A FERAL COLONY IS OWNED BY THE PERSON THAT FEEDS IT.
THE FEDERAL COLLEEN DOESN'T LIVE ON THEIR PROPERTY.
IT'S IN OTHER AREAS, THEY SIMPLY GO AND PROVIDE FOOD.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IT MEETS THE DEFINITION OF OWNERSHIP THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER HER JUST GAVE OUT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DEFINITION, YOU SAID ON THEIR PROPERTY, UM, AND THESE FERAL COLONIES ARE NOT ON THEIR PROPERTY.
SO I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT MAKES THEM OWNERS.
UM, SO YEAH, I JUST, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW WITH THIS.
UM, BUT I DO WANT TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO PUT OUT THERE.
I JUST, I WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION, UH, ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO THIS.
YOU GUYS, WE WANT EVERYBODY TO SPEAK ONCE.
I HAD LIKE MORE THAN ONE QUESTION AND THEN WE HAD ALL THE LITTLE RUCKUS, SO, BUT THAT'S FINE.
I MEAN, IF WE CAN, ARE WE GOING? LET'S GET, LET'S GET EVERYBODY YOU SPOKEN ON IT.
I SAID, MY AGE, YOU HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO, DO YOU WANT TO SAY, OH YEAH.
YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING MORE ON THIS? UH, THIS FEELS LIKE, UM, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THE, THE SHELTER IS IN CRISIS.
UM, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MORE NEED FOR DISCUSSION.
THIS IS A LONGSTANDING POLICY IT'S WORKED AND IT IS FUNDAMENTAL
[02:10:01]
TO AUSTIN BEING THE LARGEST SAFE CITY FOR ANIMALS IN THE COUNTRY.UM, I REALLY THINK THAT I DON'T EVEN THINK WE SHOULD CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
UH, THIS IS THE HEART OF NO-KILL AND I THINK WE JUST NEED TO CALL IT TO A BOAT.
SO I WILL RETURN TO MY EMOTION TO CALL THIS COVID.
UH, AS, UH, COMMISSIONER JARL.
WHY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY COMMISSIONER NAMER? COMMISSIONER MITCHELL.
SO EVERYBODY'S SPOKEN ON THIS, SO, UM, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO POSTPONE IT, SO LET'S CALL IT FOR A VOTE POINT OF ORDER.
AND I THINK YOU SECOND, LOUIE SECOND EDIT.
UH, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY ASK QUESTIONS AND DIDN'T, AND JUST MADE A COMMENT TO BE FAIR TO THIS.
UH, CAUSE I KNOW, UH, COMMISSIONER NORTON REALLY DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT IT AND NEITHER DID COMMISSIONER HERRERA.
SO WHY DON'T WE LET THEM COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE? SO GO AHEAD.
UM, JUST ONE MORE CLERK, CLARIFYING QUESTION, REMOVING THIS DOESN'T MEAN AAC IS GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY SPAY EVERY ANIMAL, BUT AAC WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THAT ANIMAL.
UM, MUCH LIKE YOU DO WITH HUMANS.
UM, AND IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE BETTER TO TERMINATE IT, TO SPAY THE ANIMAL, THEY CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE THIS TIES THEIR HANDS.
IS THAT CORRECT? AND INTERPRETATIONS CORRECT.
IT JUST REMOVES A MEDICAL DISCRETION IS WHAT THE LAW DOES AND THAT'S OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW, BUT I RAN FOR 11 YEARS, THE SPARE NOODLE PROGRAM WITH EMANCIPATE ONTO LAST APRIL WITH NO NOTICE, MY SUPERVISOR JUST SENT ME.
YOU ARE NOT RUNNING THIS PROGRAM ANYMORE.
MAYBE IN THAT 11 YEARS, I REFER 20,000 ANIMALS TO EMANCIPATE TO A MOBILE CLINICS AND TO THE CLINIC, MAYBE 1000 OF THAT ANIMALS WAS PREGNANT.
I, I FEEL SORRY, BUT I FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE I CAN SEE DOGS AT THE SHELTER AND CATS OF THE SHELTER WHO CAN GET ADOPTED, UH, BY LOCATION, BY CULTURE.
WE ARE VERY AFRAID ABOUT EUTHANASIA WHEN WE DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THAT.
I THINK I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE WORD IN ENGLISH AND, AND SORRY.
ENGLISH IS NOT MY FIRST LANGUAGE.
UH, I THINK WE CAN GIVE THE LUXURY RIGHT NOW TO HAVE MORE POCKETS OF THE SHELTER AND MORE KITTENS AT THE SHELTER.
I THINK WE ARE ON CAPACITY TO SPARE NOODLE AND TAKE CARE OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.
UH, I CLARIFY WITH ONE, UH, BEHAVIOR, VETERINARIAN AND AGGRESSION CAN BE DEVELOPED TWO WEEKS BEFORE THEY BORN.
AND WHEN DOGS AND CATS DON'T HAVE THE BEST OF THE MEDIA AS FOSTERS TO RAISE THESE POPPIES AND THESE KITTENS FOR 12 WEEKS IT'S ANIMALS THAT WILL LATER, WE ARE GOING TO SEE AT THE SHELTER.
WE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AS THE DOGS THAT WE HAVE ON THE CIRO'S ON THE ARTS, WE CAN IDENTIFY VERY EASILY THAT THESE DOGS, THEY DIDN'T LEARN THE RIGHT BY THE INNOVATION, THE RIGHT SOCIALIZATION.
LET'S GO TO PLAY AS A TEAM BECAUSE ALL WE WANT IT'S TO SAVE ANIMALS, RIGHT? I THINK ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND HERE, WE WANT TO SAVE THEM ALREADY.
WE HAVE TOO MANY WHY WE DON'T PLAY AS A TEAM.
LET'S GO TO MODIFY THESE LAW AND LET'S GO TO EXPAND OR PROGRAMS FOR A SPAY OR NEUTER.
WE HAVE FANTASTIC PARTNERS ARE AS AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AS HUMANE SOCIETY.
AS EMANCIPATE, WE CAN PLAY AS A TEAM AND HAVE MORE OF THESE 12 YEARS AGO, I PULLED SOME VETERINARIANS FROM CANADA TO CANCUN AND WE DO 1000 SPARE NEUTERS PER WEEK.
WE CAN PLAY AS A TEAM IN THE CITY IF EVERYBODY, UH, HELP US.
AND WE BEGIN TO DO TO HAVE MORE SPARE NUMEROUS EMANCIPATE IT'S IN A BIG SHOCK RIGHT NOW, CLINICS ARE CLOSED.
THE HEALTH OF THE DAYS, MOBILE CLINICS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
THESE YEAR Y'ALL CAN COME TO THE SHELTER AND
[02:15:01]
YOU ALL ARE GOING TO SEE MORE, UH, KITTENS AND PUPPIES THAN EVER.LET'S GO TO MAKE, WE HAVE RESPONSIBLE IF ALREADY, SORRY FOR THESE.
IF ALREADY SOMEBODY TAKE THE RIGHT OF A WOMAN, LET'S GO TO GIVE THAT RIGHT BACK.
SO THAT'S, EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK AND WE HAVE MORE, MORE, YES.
SO, UM, IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND UM, I HEARD SMUG BUDDHA.
I, I FEEL I NEED MORE INFORMATION AND I CAN SAY ONE THING, I JUST COME IN HERE AND SAY REPEAL IT RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO REPEAL IT.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE BECAUSE, UH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH ABSOLUTE.
AND I, I HEARD ABOUT THAT SITUATION ABOUT THE, THE DIFFERENT THINGS I HEARD ABOUT THE, THE COLONY THOUGHT, THE CATS AND I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY TERRIBLE.
AND I ALSO HEARD ABOUT THE, THAT I APA, WHO WAS A MATURE DOG.
AND YOU KNOW, AT THAT LAST SECOND, I GUESS THAT, UH, THEY SPAYED AND THE POOR ANIMAL POPPIES THIGHED AND, UM, I, AND I KNOW THAT AN ORDINANCE, WE HAVE THIS ORDINANCE TYPICALLY BECAUSE, UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A, A LOT OF TRAVEL IN THE ANIMAL SPACE HERE.
AND IT'S VERY OBVIOUS HERE IN THE COMMISSION BECAUSE IT'S, I MEAN, AS A CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND EVEN AT THE WORLD, WE, AUSTIN HAS BEEN DOING EXCELLENT, BUT RIGHT NOW IS TOTAL CHAOS.
AND YOU HAVE THIS ORDINANCES SOMETIMES BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT TO GUIDE BECAUSE THERE'S THIS DISRUPTION WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS.
AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
IT'S WE'RE GOING TO EXTREMES RIGHT NOW.
I CANNOT SUPPORT REPEALING THE ORDINANCE.
EVERYBODY HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK OUT, SAY, OH, NANCY, NOT COMMISSIONER NAMER.
I, I FEEL EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING, AND I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE FERAL CAT PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM.
BUT TO REPEAL THIS ORDINANCE IS GOING TO AFFECT PROBABLY 75% MORE ANIMALS THAN FERAL CATS.
IT'S GOING TO AFFECT EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO THE SHELTER.
THIS IS THE BASIS OF NO KILL REPEALING.
THIS ORDINANCE IS FLYING IN THE FACE OF NO KILL.
AND I CAN'T HELP, BUT FEEL THAT THIS IS A KNEE JERK REACTION FROM THE PARTIES AND INCLUDING AUSTIN ANIMAL SHELTER, TO TRY AND REDUCE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS WHOLE OVERCROWDING SITUATION, WHICH IS IN AND OF ITSELF.
AS SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP EARLIER, LESS CROWDED THAN LESS INTAKE THAN IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS PAST THAT THEY JUST AREN'T ABLE TO MANAGE.
SO I DO NOT THINK THAT WE SHOULD FLY IN THE FACE OF NO KILL.
IF WE WANT TO STAY A NO KILL CITY, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE FERAL CAT SITUATION IS VERY SAD.
IT'S A VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THIS SITUATION.
JEFFERSON SITTING BACK THERE, I KNOW SHE KNOWS THAT WE SAVE ALL OF THESE ANIMALS.
WE DID THE BEST WE CAN, AND SHE GIVES THEM APA, GIVES THEM THE BEST THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.
AND I DON'T SEE WHY THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE, BUT FOR THE ASS AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THEIR OWN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
AND SO I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST REPEALING THIS ORDINANCE.
EVERYBODY'S SPOKE ONCE EVERY EVERYBODY HAS, HAS, HAS, HAS, HAS SPOKEN ADD THE COMMENT.
SO WE'RE CALLING THE VOTE POINT OF ORDER.
[02:20:01]
YES.ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER FOR DEBATE.
THE PERSON BRINGING THE MOTION GETS 10 MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING AND 10 MINUTES AT THE END OF DEBATE.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS AS THE PERSON WE, WE HAVE E EVERYBODY GETS 10 MINUTES.
EACH, NOT EVERYBODY DID GET GOT 10 MINUTES.
EACH, THE ONLY PERSON WHO GOT 10 MINUTES EACH WAS YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE GOT TO SPEAK.
AND IF WE DON'T MOVE ON, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, I SUPPOSE IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS LEGALLY, WE CAN VOTE ABOUT, MAKE, MAKE A VOTE ABOUT LIMITING THE DEBATE.
SO WHERE, SO EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
YOU'VE GOTTEN TO SPEAK MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.
I BELIEVE I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT I WOULD HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER.
PLEASE STOP INTERRUPTING THE CHAIR.
I ASKING HER NOT TO INTERRUPT YOU.
UM, WHERE, WHERE WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS.
SO, UH, LET'S HAVE A VOTE, UH, CALL THE QUESTION.
ARE YOU LIMITING DEBATE ON THIS? UH, YEAH.
ONCE WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, I SAID LESS EVERYBODY SPEAK ONCE.
AND YOU ALL RIGHT, PLEASE STOP HERE.
HOW MANY, UH, UH, SUPPORT THE MOTION, WHICH WAS TO REPEAL? UM, WHAT'S THE NUMBER 3, 1 20 63 DASH ONE DASH 26 D THE MOTION WAS TO REPEAL THAT THAT'S THE MOTION.
HOW MANY VOTES TO REPEAL THAT? OKAY, SO THERE'S THREE, FOUR.
YOU'RE VOTING TO REPEAL THE MOTION.
CAN WE CALL OUT THE NAMES? OKAY.
SO AS COMMISSIONER SPECULA, COMMISSIONER HERRERA, COMMISSIONER NORTON, AND COMMISSIONER NELSON.
AND ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSE REPEALING THE ORDINANCE, AND THAT INCLUDES COMMISSIONER NAZER, COMMISSIONER HASSON COMMISSIONER
SO LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[7. Discussion and Possible Action on AAC Monthly Reporting of Data]
OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON ACC, MONTHLY REPORTING OF DATA.WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT AND THE, UH, REPORT OF THE, UH, UH, OF THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY.
[8. Discussion and Possible Action on Transferring Austin Animal Center Animals to Other Communities]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON TRANSFERRING US ANIMAL CENTER ANIMALS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.WE, WE HEARD SOME, WE HEARD SOMETHING ABOUT THIS FROM THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? OKAY.
[9. Discussion and Possible Action on the Austin Animal Center Space Crisis and Recommendations from the Space Crisis Working Group]
DISCUSS WHAT? NO ACTION.NUMBER NINE DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SPACE CRISIS, A RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP.
UH, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT? WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE, UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD A MEETING OF THAT YET, SO, OKAY.
[10. Discussion and Possible Action on Austin Animal Center Staffing Request for FY 23]
POSSIBLE ACTION.I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, UM, UH, IF THE RESPONSE TO THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST HAD EVER BEEN DELIVERED TO, UH, UH, WORKING GROUP.
OH, UH, THE SPONSOR OF, TO WHAT, UH, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE WORKING GROUP HAD TO FILL OUT AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST TO GET, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED, UH, STAFF ABOUT, UH, THE BUDGET.
THAT, THAT YES, THAT RECORDS REQUEST WAS EVER RESPONDED TO.
YES, I GOT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, BUT LET'S BRING THAT UP UNDER, UH, UH, THE NEXT QUESTION DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ACTUAL S STAFFING REQUESTS.
CAUSE I D THAT WAS ASKED THROUGH THAT WORKING GROUP, BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT MORE CLEARLY STATES THAT.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 10 DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, STAFFING
[02:25:01]
REQUESTS FOR F UH, FOR, UH, FOR, UH, FISCAL YEAR 23, 20 23.AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN, UH, THE P I R INFORMATION.
SO, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF MORE INFORMATION THAN THAT.
AND I WENT TO, UM, UM, UH, MY, UH, UH, WHAT DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, BUDGET MEETING.
THEY HA, UH, MY COUNCIL MEMBER HAD A BUDGET MEETING FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, AND WE HAD SOME PEOPLE FROM, UH, AUSTIN FINANCIAL THERE.
AND WHAT I WAS TOLD IS THAT, UH, WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVE RELEASED THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET ITSELF, AND THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO THE SHELTER'S GOING TO GET.
AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT WHAT SHE REQUESTED CAUSE IT'S HOW THEY MADE THE SAUSAGE.
SO, UH, AND, AND, AND, UH, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND TOLD US THAT THEY'RE GETTING FOUR FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG WITH THIS, BUT THOSE COMMUNITIES, UH, ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THEIR TITLE IS CUSTOMER SERVICE CUSTOMER AND TO APO OFFICERS AND THE APO OFFICERS ARE PARTIALLY FUNDED IS WHAT I REMEMBER SEEING IT.
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT? PARDON? YEAH, IT SAYS THE APS, I DON'T, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS EXACTLY, BUT IT SAID PARTIALLY FUNDED.
SO TWO APS ARE PARTIALLY FUNDED.
AND SO THIS IS, I'M GLAD WE GOT SOMETHING, BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED AT WHAT WE GOT.
AND THE, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THIS COMMISSION HAD NO INPUT ON WHAT WE GOT.
AND I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.
AND SO I ASKED AND WHAT I WAS TOLD AND WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS IS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH.
THE COMMISSION IS, IS THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INPUT INTO THE, UH, UH, UH, THE BUDGET REQUESTS.
NOW BETWEEN JANUARY, MARCH, WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
WE DIDN'T, WE WEREN'T ASKED TO DO THAT.
UM, UH, W W THAT JERRY MARCH JUST WENT BY AND WE HAD NO INPUT.
AND THEN WHEN WE ASKED FOR W UH, DIRECT THE DIRECTORS PROPOSAL, AND WE HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THAT INFORMATION FOR WHATEVER REASON, WHO WE, WE WEREN'T TOLD HOW WE COULD GET THAT UNTIL IT WAS ACTUALLY TOO LATE TO GET IT, WHICH MEANS THIS COMMISSION HAD VIRTUALLY NO INPUT.
UH, AND, AND THAT THERE WAS A SYSTEM SET UP FOR US TO HAVE INPUT, WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND THIS IS, AND I DON'T WANT TO POINT ANY FINGERS, UH, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEXT YEAR WE NEED TO ALL KEEP IN MIND AND WE NEED TO ALL, UH, MUCH MORE CAREFULLY FOLLOW HOW THE CITY WANTS TO DO IT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD YES, UH, THE CITY DEFINITELY WANTS THE INPUT OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, UM, COMMISSIONER MAGILLA REQUESTED A BUDGET WORKING GROUP, AND THIS COMMISSION DID NOT APPROVE IT.
BUT THAT, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHETHER THE ITEM CAME UP BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH, AND WE GOT TO DISCUSS IT AT D WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP.
WE DON'T HAVE, THERE'S NO REC REQUIREMENT TO HAVE BUDGET WORKING GROUP.
WE JUST HAVE AN ITEM COME UP AND WE SAY FOR DISCUSSION, AND MAYBE WE DON'T TAKE THE FIRST TIME WE TALK, EVERYBODY COME NEXT TIME FOR WHAT YOU THINK.
AND WE, WE CO WE COME UP WITH A PROPOSAL.
SO I, YES, UH, WE DID NOT HAVE A WORKING GROUP AND I VOTED FOR THE WORKING GROUP, BUT WE DID NOT HAVE A WORKING GROUP, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WATER OVER THE DAM.
THAT'S LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED? SO WE MOVE ON AND I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT MOVING ON.
WELL, I MOVE ON HOW WE SHOULD MOVE ON.
SORRY, SORRY TO NOT ALLOW YOU TO MOVE ON QUITE YET.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT TWO THINGS.
ONE IS THAT, UM, WE DID ASK THE SPACE, UH, WHEN THAT, WHEN THAT MOTION CAME UP, WE, WE VOTED TO ASK THE SPACE, UH, WORKING GROUP TO HAVE TO BRING PROPOSALS FOR THE BUDGET.
SO WE DID IN FACT, ASK A WORKING GROUP TO LOOK INTO IT.
[02:30:01]
THE WORKING GROUP IS THE ONE THAT ASKED FOR THE INFORMATION AND WAS TOLD BY STAFF THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, THAT IT WAS PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.SO THEN AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHEN THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OVER THE ANIMAL SHELTER PRESENTED, WE ASKED, HOW DO WE GET THAT INFORMATION? AND WE WERE TOLD YOU HAVE TO PAY OUR, YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT IN A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST.
AND AS SOON AS YOU DO IT WILL BE TURNED AROUND VERY QUICKLY.
AND THE REASON I ASKED FOR, FOR WHETHER THAT INFORMATION HAD BEEN PROVIDED IS BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A GROWTH LAB FOR COOPERATION AND TRANSPARENCY OUT OF THE SHELTER.
WE CAN'T GET BASIC BUDGET INFORMATION.
UH, WE, AGAIN, WE COULDN'T HAVE VOTED ON IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE IT.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE BACKUP MATERIALS TO KNOW WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED, HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST AND WITH ON SEQUENCES.
UM, I PERSONALLY WISHED THAT WE HAD, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LIKED FOR US TO VOTE, TO MAKE ALL OF THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS PERMANENT FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND I THINK THAT WE HEARD VERY CLEARLY FROM STAFF AND FROM THE VOLUNTEERS THAT IT WAS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO, TO FILL, UH, TEMP POSITIONS.
I WISH THAT WE HAD, UM, WEIGHED IN ON THAT, BUT AGAIN, THIS COMMISSION CONTINUES TO ASK FOR INFORMATION, THE INFORMATION AND CONTINUES TO BE WITHHELD FROM US.
AND WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS, UH, WITH A, UH, WITH A SHELTER, UM, THAT ISN'T TRANSPARENT AND IT CONTINUES TO, UM, SET UP ROADBLOCKS FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MEET COMPLETE PARTICIPANT.
UH, ANY MORE COMMENTS ON THIS? CAUSE THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO BE ACTION.
SO LET'S GO ON TO 11 DISCUSSION
[11. Discussion and Possible Action on Hold Period Ordinance]
POSSIBLE ACTION ON HOLD PERIOD.[12. Discussion and Possible Action on Inclusion of Animal Services in the City of Austin next Five-Year Strategic Plan]
DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON INCLUSION OF ANIMAL SERVICES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.NEXT FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN.
NOW THIS IS, UH, I GUESS, IMPORTANT ISSUE.
IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN, IT DOESN'T MENTION HANDLE SERVICES AT ALL.
AND I THINK I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREE WITH THAT.
SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET SOME INPUT INTO THAT? SO WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO, UH, I MEAN, THE QUESTION, YEAH, GO AHEAD, JASON, IF YOU GOT SOME, SO I REACHED OUT TO FINANCIAL SERVICES, THEY'RE MANAGING THE SD 28 PROCESS, UH, WHEN IT STARTS GETTING THAT REFRESHER THEY'VE MET WITH CEO'S, JUST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE OVERALL GUIDANCE OR TO GET OVERALL GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE OVERALL FRAMEWORK FOR SD 28 WILL BE.
I ASKED THEM, LIKE, WHAT WOULD THEY NEED FROM THE COMMISSION? IT'S PRETTY MUCH AGAIN, I'M OPENING IT UP, BUT LIKE, WHAT WOULD, I THINK EVEN JUST, YOU KNOW, NOT TO, NOT TO PRECLUDE HER OR, BUT JUST SOME SORT OF, UH, UM, INCLUSION INTO THE NEXT SIDE OF AERATION OF THE FINANCIAL FIVE-YEAR PLAN WOULD BE HELPFUL.
LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL SERVICES ISN'T MENTIONED AT ALL, AND AS IT RELATES TO THE OVERALL BUDGET WITH THE OUTCOMES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE SD 23, WE ARE PUT IN DIFFERENT POCKETS OF WHERE, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT'S SAFETY PART OF ITS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO AT LEAST TO BE IN THE DISCUSSION, I MEAN, THAT'S UP TO Y'ALL'S PURVIEW OF WHAT YOU WOULD EITHER RECOMMEND TO, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL, OR IF IT'S, IF IT'S EVEN AN ACTION, YOU KNOW, TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SAYING, HEY, WE, WE REALLY WOULD, YOU KNOW, ASK THAT, YOU KNOW, AND NOT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT TOO, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO MAKE SURE FROM AT LEAST FROM THE, THE, UH, BODY THAT PROVIDES POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO, TO COUNSEL, I MEAN, TO BE IN THAT PART OF DISCUSSION, UM, YEAH, AGAIN, I'M SORT OF STILL LEARNING THAT, THAT'S WHAT I GOT FROM FINANCIAL SERVICES AND YEAH, YEAH.
THEY, THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE GUIDANCE THEY GAVE ME, WHICH DAMN.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT I, I DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE COUNCIL'S, UM, AUDIT RECOMMENDATION INCLUDED, UH, A REQUEST THAT ANIMAL SERVICES BE CONSIDERED THAT, UM, COUNSEL LIKE US, UH, CAN'T REALLY JUST DIRECT STAFFED TO DO SOMETHING.
AND SO, UM, UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING STRONGER AND STRONGER THAN THAT.
I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT A MOTION IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO RECOMMEND THAT WE, UH, SUPPORT IT.
BUT, UM, I THINK THE COUNCIL HAS AS THAT, UH, ONE THING WE COULD DO, I,
[02:35:01]
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THE MESSAGE COULD GO, SHOULD GO TO THE CITY MANAGER, UH, OR WE COULD WRITE IT TO THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER YOU THINK WOULD BE BETTER TO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER.WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK THE OVERALL OFFICE, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, I THINK JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN A COPY TO THE CFO.
SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS, UM, I CAN WRITE UP A BRIEF STATEMENT AND WE CAN PRESENT IT AT THE COMMISSION IN A MONTH AND WE CAN ALL LOOK AT IT AND TINKER WITH IT AND HAS THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT EVER INCLUDED.
AND IT'S THE TREE STRATEGIC PLANS SEPARATELY AT ALL IN THE PAST NEIGHBOR? WELL, IT, IT, YEAH, IT'S, IT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, BUT NOT, NOT IN THE PAST, LIKE IT'S AN ENTITY.
AND IT'S KIND OF CRAZY BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS WHAT A THOUSAND PAGES IS 900 AND SOME PAGES AND IT'S, IT'S GOT, IT'S GOT A NICE SPOT IN THE BUDGET.
SO YOU THINK IF IT'S GOT A SPOT IN THE BUDGET, IT MIGHT WANT TO BE IN THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO I THINK WE GOT D DOES EVERYBODY AGREE WITH THAT WAY OF DEALING AT WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AND, AND I'LL WRITE SOMETHING UP AND, OR, AND IF YOU, IF YOU FEEL THE URGE RIGHTS THAT WE CAN PUT IT, PASTE IT TOGETHER NEXT TIME.
UM, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON 3, 1, 1.
UH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST BUDGET HEARING WITH THE COUNCIL IS AUGUST 17TH.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE BUDGET, HEARING SOMETHING LIKE COMMISSIONER CLINTON HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL THAT YOU TAKE ALL THE PERMIT TEMPORARIES AND MAKE THEM PERMANENT THAT STILL CAN BE DONE FROM, FROM THIS GROUP.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST DAY OF THE BUDGET LAST YEAR, THE PARKS BOARD CAME TO THE COUNCIL AND ON THE FLOOR AS FAR 20 PARK RANGERS.
AND BY THE END OF THE SESSION, THEY HIM 10.
SO IT CAN STILL BE ASKED FAR IN PERSON THE DAY OF THE FIRST COUNCIL HEARING.
AND I KNOW THAT'S TRUE, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT IF, IF THEY WERE GOING TO GO ON THE FLOOR AND ASK FOR 20 PARK RANGERS, THEY HAD TALKED TO THREE OR FOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE THEN.
I MEAN, KNOWING FOR THAT TO HAVE ANY CHANCE TO HAPPEN, THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
UM, SO I DON'T, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS, IS COMMISSIONERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR APPOINTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS POINT, BECAUSE THAT IS TRUE.
IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE THE 11TH IS WHEN THEY START SLICING AND DICING.
AND IF WE'VE PROVIDE EVERYBODY WHAT THEY HAVE.
AND SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, YOU'D CALL UP YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU FEEL, WHAT YOU LIKE ABOUT ALSO, I DIDN'T MENTION THIS, BUT IF YOU READ IT, IT'S ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SPAIN NEW THERE, WHICH IS PRETTY GOOD, 102,000.
SO, UM, SO WE CAN DO THAT, UH, NOW DISCUSSION
[13. Discussion and Possible Action on 311 Flow Charts and Information]
POSSIBLE ACTION ON 3, 1, 1 FLOW CHARTS AND INFORMATION.UH, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING WE WANT TO SAY ON THIS? OKAY.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
A FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, OH, YES.SINCE, UM, THERE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN SOME CONFUSION LAST MONTH AND THE ITEM I REQUESTED TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA THIS MONTH.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US HAVE SOME DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE COOLING CENTERS, SOME KIND OF A DESIGNATION FOR THOSE OF OUR, UM, UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS THAT WHEN THEY NEED TO COOL OFF, THEY CAN KEEP THEIR PETS WITH THEM TO COOL OFF BECAUSE CHANCES ARE THE PETS NEED TO COOL OFF AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE.
AND I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S ON THERE.
RYAN RYAN, RYAN DID COMMISSIONER CLINTON.
UH, I HAVE A SOMETHING I WANT TO PUT ON HERE TOO, WHICH, UH, IT'S, UH, BUILDING CODE,
[02:40:01]
BUILDING CODE CHANGES FOR BIRDS.AND WHAT HAPPENED IS, UH, AT THE SUGGESTION OF DR.
NELSON, UH, I LOOKED UP BUILDING CODES FOR BIRDS AND THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY HAS A BUILDING CODE FOR BIRDS WHEN YOU BUILD FOR BIRDS AND HOW YOU BUILD BUILDINGS AND DOWNTOWN AND THE GLASS AND EVERYTHING USED, WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY NEW YORK CITY.
MY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER HAS SAID THAT SHE WOULD LOVE TO SPONSOR IT.
I CAN SEND THAT TO YOU AND WE CAN PUT THAT ON THERE.
AND THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION WE MAKE.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER SURPRISING ITEM.
SO, UH, NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON ACC, MONTHLY REPORTING OF DATA.
DO WE STILL WANT THAT ON THERE? YES, I THINK WE SHOULD.
SO THAT'S STILL ON THEIR DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON TRANSFERRING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ANIMALS TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.
YES, I THINK WE SHOULD STILL KEEP THAT ON THERE TO ALSO, SO RYAN AND I ARE, ARE BOTH, UH, UM, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SPACE, CRISIS RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, I TH SH LET'S TAKE OFF THIS SPACE, CRISIS WORKING GROUP.
LET'S JUST TAKE THAT OFF THERE.
AND LET'S PUT DISCUSSION POSTS TO ACTION ON THE OSS ANIMAL CENTER SPACE CRISIS.
UH, ANY CHANCE I CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT.
LET, LET'S GO OVER THAT OUT AFTER I'M DONE WITH THIS, YOU, THAT HAPPENS.
UH, WE CAN TAKE NUMBER 10 OFF BECAUSE THAT'LL ALL BE DONE.
UH, LET'S KEEP A DISCUSSION POST ACTION, ACTUAL THE WHOLE PERIOD ORDINANCE.
DO YOU WANT ANYBODY STILL WANT THAT ON THERE? OKAY.
UH, DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON INCLUSION OF ANIMAL SERVICES IN THE CITY OF OSS.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT ON THERE BECAUSE I WANT TO WRITE SOME AND DISCUSSION POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE 3, 1, 1 FLOW CHARTS.
SHOULD WE KEEP THAT ON THERE OR NOT? OKAY.
NOW THOSE ARE THE ITEMS WE HAVE.
IF, IF YOU COME UP WITH ITEM HERE, YOU JUST NEEDS A FIRST AND A SECOND.
ESSENTIALLY, IF IT HAPPENS DURING THE MONTH, IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM YOU WANT TO PUT ON THERE, THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DO IS, IS GET YOUR COMPADRE, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND IT, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER, WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF TIMES I'LL SECOND STUFF, EVEN, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE, I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS THINGS AT LEAST.
AND THEN WHAT YOU DO IS, UH, BUT YOU WANT TO DO THAT A WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING.
WE WANT TO GET THIS TO BELINDA A WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING, BECAUSE ALL KINDS OF CRAZY THINGS CAN HAPPEN THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THEY HAPPEN.
AND SHE HAS TO GET IT THROUGH AUSTIN LEGAL AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAVE TO GO DOWN THERE.
AND MY JOB ON THAT, APPROVING THE BUDGET OR APPROVING THE AGENDA FROM EVERYTHING I GET IT'S MINISTERIAL, I'M LIKE, LIKE PENCE, YOU KNOW? SO TWO PEOPLE DO IT.
HE GETS ON THERE AND IT GETS DONE IS SO IS THAT CLEAR WITH EVERYONE? YOU KNOW, AND I MIGHT HAVE AN OPINION AND I MIGHT TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT AND EVERYTHING, BUT IF TWO PEOPLE ARE IT'S ON THERE, IT'S ON THERE.
ANY OTHER, UH, AGENDA ITEMS OR ANYTHING? OKAY.
I WANT TO ADD, UM, AGENDA ITEM.
YOU CAN JUST, UH, CREATE A GROUP FOR AN, A SPAY AND NEUTER COALITION OR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CTO OF
SO HOW DO WE PUT THAT? CREATE A WORKING GROUP, A WORKING GROUP DISCUSSION PALPATES WE'LL ACTION ON CREATING A WORKING GROUP FOR SPAIN SPAY-NEUTER THERE LET'S PUT THAT.
WITH ALL THE CITY PARTNERS W NEUTER AND AN EXTENDED PARTNERSHIPS.
AND I'LL SECOND CRAIG'S AS WELL.
CAUSE I DON'T THINK WE, YOU GOT A SECOND TO YOUR BIRD BUILDING CODE.
UH, SO ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY, WELL, DO I, UH, OUR GENDER IS OVER, SO WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.