[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:03]
CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6 0 2.
THIS IS ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING DECEMBER 12TH, 2022.
UH, I'M GONNA CALL ROLL CRAIG NAZER.
UH, KRISTEN HASSEN PRESENT IS HERE ON VIDEO.
RYAN, CAN HE HEAR US? MAYBE HE CAN'T HEAR US YET.
RYAN, CAN YOU HEAR US OKAY? CAN YOU PUT IN THE CHAT? I DON'T KNOW.
RYAN, WHAT DO WE DO? WELL, I MEAN, WE CAN SEE HIM, SO I THINK WE CAN CHECK IN AT MINUTES.
ALL COMMISSIONERS, UH, IF ANYONE THINKS THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST TO THE AGENDA ITEM, UM,
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ROCHELLE VICARY.
I'M COMING HERE AGAIN FOR THE FIFTH MONTH, IT SEEMS LIKE ON THE SPADE AND NEUTER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT, HA HAS ANYBODY DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT? UM, THE, UH, WILLIAMSON COUNTY IS OVERLOADED.
OUR SHELTER IS OVERLOADED, AND WE NEED TO GET SOME SPADE AND NEUTER DONE SO WE CAN STOP THE OVERLOADING AND OUR ANIMALS ARE SUFFERING.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEE ANYBODY, ANY RESULTS THAT WE'RE GETTING DONE LAST MONTH I PLEADED WITH, BECAUSE I HAD A NEIGHBOR WITH A DOG.
HE WASN'T THERE WHENEVER I WENT THERE THAT TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
ANDREA, UH, GOT ME A VOUCHER AND I GOT THAT DOG DONE ON FRIDAY.
I SEE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP.
AND E PET IS DOWN TO APRIL NOW WITH VOUCHERS AND A MEMBER.
I SUGGESTED LAST MONTH IF WE COULD GET SOME OF THE VETS IN TOWN THAT WOULD DO FIVE A WEEK.
IT COULD BE FIVE MALES, I DON'T CARE.
BUT PART MALES AND PART FEMALES ON VOUCHERS.
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
YOU KNOW, I, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST A CITIZEN.
I HELP WITH THE CATS, BUT I CAN'T HELP WITH THE DOGS.
BUT I SEE PEOPLE WHEN I GO TRAPPING AT THEIR HOUSES THAT HAVE DOGS.
I WAS ASKED TODAY OVER THERE OFF OF ROMBERG LANE, LOUISE KNOWS THAT MOBILE HOME PARK OVER THERE IS LOADED WITH CATS AND THEY GOT DOGS.
AND SOMEBODY ASKED ME ABOUT A DOG TODAY.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING, BECAUSE BY MY CALCULATION, APA HAS PULLED IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, AND NOVEMBER, OVER 2000 ANIMALS.
THAT'S 2000 OF OUR ANIMALS AND OUR SHELTER THAT DOES NOT GET DR.
AND THEY GO ON TV AND SAY THEY'RE THEIR ONLY PERSON THAT DOES PARVO DOGS.
RIGHT, BECAUSE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY HAS PARVO DOGS AND THEY DO PARVO DOGS.
AND I'M HAPPY THEY'RE GETTING THE DOGS HEALTHY AND GETTING THEM WHERE THEY CAN BE ADOPTED.
AND I, I, I SAW Y'ALL TAKE CARE OF ELEPHANTS.
I SAW YOU TAKE CARE OF PEACOCKS AND OTHER THINGS, CUZ I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS OFF AND ON SINCE DAVID WAS HERE, BUT I, NOBODY DOES MUCH ABOUT THE SPADE AND NEUTER.
AND SO I'M ASKING IF Y'ALL CAN DO SOMETHING.
[00:05:01]
AUTHORITY.YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE FOR THE ANIMALS, NOT THE OUTTA COUNTY ANIMALS.
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME, SOME HELP WITH THIS SPADE AND NEUTER FOR THE, FOR THE DOGS BECAUSE THE, THE HUMANE SOCIETY STEPPED UP AND IS DOING THE CATS AND, AND SO I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
MAYBE LOUISE COULD GO TO SOME OF THESE VETS IN TOWN.
HE, HE'S WORKING WITH THE SHELTER.
UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NOW, UH, WORKING GROUP ON SPAY NEUTER AND THEY'RE GONNA GIVE A REPORT TODAY.
UH, THE NEXT, UH, SPEAKER IS MISTY VALENTI.
EVERYONE WROTE EVERYTHING DOWN SO I WOULDN'T FORGET.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER AND A CITIZEN OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
YOU WILL HEAR US TALK ABOUT A VALUE.
WE HAVE NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
AND IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT I COME TO YOU TONIGHT.
LAST WEEK, I AGAIN WROTE AN EMAIL TO DON BLAND REGARDING THE NUMBER OF INTAKES WE ARE RECEIVING FROM AUSTIN.
I WROTE SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2021, I HAVE REPORTED INCIDENTS OF AUSTIN CITIZENS REACHING OUT TO THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER FOR AID.
MY STAFF HAVE ANSWERED THESE PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, OFFERING THE RESOURCES FOR THE CITIZEN'S NEEDS.
WE HAVE HOUSED ANIMALS FROM THE AUSTIN JURISDICTION DUE TO INITIAL FALSE INFORMATION GIVEN OR BECAUSE SERVICES WERE DENIED DURING A DIRE NEED.
WE NOW HAVE INDIVIDUALS SHOWING UP AT OUR DOOR FOR HELP WITHOUT EVEN CONTACTING AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER FIRST, BECAUSE THE REPUTATION IS THAT THEIR NEEDS WILL NOT BE MET.
COMPARED TO THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, WE ARE A MODEST SHELTER WITH A MODEST BUDGET.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE A SUPPORTIVE ORGANIZATION FOR THE ANIMALS AND CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I URGE YOU TO OPEN YOUR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY, BUT I ALSO KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THIS DOES NOT MEAN TO JUST OPEN THE DOORS WITHOUT ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR HELP.
WE HAVE INITIATED PROGRAMS THAT AID IN REUNIONS BETWEEN FAMILIES AND DOGS.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE PROGRAMS WITH YOU.
I KNOW WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES AND WE ALL NEED TO TRY NEW THINGS TO SAVE LIVES AFTER ALL THIS TIME.
I ALSO KNOW THAT SHUTTING DOWN SERVICES MAY SEEM LIKE IT IS LIFESAVING IN YOUR CITY, BUT IS JUST PUTTING THE BURDEN AND RISK OF EUTHANASIA ELSEWHERE.
HE BEGAN HIS RESPONSE WITH MISTY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT CLOSED, BUT HAVE RESTRICTED INTAKE.
WE HAVE NEVER FULL SHUT DOWN SERVICES LIKE THEY DID BACK IN 2016.
WE CONTINUE AS WE ALWAYS HAVE, WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC TO KEEP PETS IN THE HOMES WHERE THEY'RE LOVED AND CARED FOR.
WITH SUCH A DISMISSIVE RESPONSE.
I KNOW AUSTIN IS A DOG LOVING COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THEY'RE USING OUR SERVICES BECAUSE THEY WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE DOG, BUT THIS LOVE IS UNINTENTIONALLY HARMING OUR SHELTER, ENDANGERING THE ANIMALS WE HAVE PROMISED TO SERVE AND BREAKING OUR STAFF.
MY ASK IS FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER TO START SERVING THE COMMUNITY AGAIN.
WHEN YOU DO, I PREDICT THE COMMUNITY WILL RESPOND BY HELPING WITH YOUR NEEDS.
A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP CANNOT BE ONE-SIDED.
IT MUST BE SUPPORTIVE AND RELIABLE.
THE CHOICE TO SERVE IS YOURS ALONE.
HOWEVER, THE IMPACT OF YOUR CHOICE WILL BE FELT FOR MILES.
UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS AMBER ROLAND.
I'M AMBER ROLAND FROM DISTRICT ONE.
THE DYNAMICS OF THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WERE FASCINATING TO WATCH COMMISSION MEMBERS AND A GUEST EXTOL THE IMPORTANCE OF OBTAINING, REVIEWING, AND UNDERSTANDING GOOD DATA TO INFORM POLICY.
AND THEN THEY PROMPTLY VOTED DOWN A MEASURE TO FORM A SUBCOMMITTEE TO HELP THE COMMISSION DO JUST THAT.
[00:10:01]
THIS COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY RELY ON WHAT I CALL A SET OF EASY ASSUMPTIONS TO GAIN SUPPORT.ONE THAT EVERYONE LOVES AND WANTS PETS.
TWO, THAT A HIGH LIVE RELEASE RATE IS EVIDENCE OF A GOOD SHELTER OR EVEN A GOOD COMMUNITY.
AND THREE, THAT ONLY HORRIBLE PEOPLE WOULD EVER THINK IT WAS RIGHT TO KILL A SHELTER PET.
BUT THESE EASY ASSUMPTIONS DON'T HOLD UP IN THE FACE OF REAL RES RESEARCH OR REAL LIFE EXTREME.
NO-KILL ADVOCATES HAVE LEANED ON NON-SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND EVEN ON HEARSAY AND RUMORS FOR OVER A DECADE IN ORDER TO GET FUNDING VOLUNTEERS AND WHAT THEY WANT WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY, THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY STAY, SAY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN, VERY FEW PEOPLE WILL ASK WHICH STUDIES EXACTLY.
EVEN FEWER WILL ACTUALLY READ ANY STUDIES.
IF THEY'RE PROVIDED, THEY'VE REPEATEDLY PRE PRESENTED UNPROVEN THEORIES AND WISHFUL THINKING AS FACT AND THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT.
BECAUSE AN AUDIENCE OF PET LOVING PEOPLE HAS STRONG CONFIRMATION BIAS.
THEY WANT TO BELIEVE THAT NO KILL IS POSSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE.
WHO WOULDN'T? IT'S EASY TO ASSUME THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HOMES THAT WANT TO ADOPT DOGS, BUT IT'S NOT TRUE.
AS HAS BEEN CLAIMED THAT VALID STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF POTENTIAL HOMES FOR THE DOGS.
THEY MOST HAVE, THEY MOSTLY HAVE AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
DATA WE DO HAVE SHOWS VERY CLEARLY THAT OUR SHELTERS ARE NOT OVERPOPULATED WITH YORKIES POODLES, BORDER COLLIES OR GOLDEN RETRIEVERS SELECTIVE INTAKE.
ADOPTION SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS LIKE APA HAVE LONG BEEN IMPORTING PETS FROM OUTSIDE TRAVIS COUNTY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT EXTERNAL SOURCES OF BREED EVIDENT AND BABY DOGS THAT CAN STILL BE FOUND READILY IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NOT HAD STRONG SPAY NEUTER AND OTHER INTAKE PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN PLACE.
IN MY OPINION, MORE RESEARCH ISN'T NEEDED ON THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF HOMES THAT WOULD LIKE A DOG AND MANY WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HELP ONE IN NEED.
BUT MOST DO NOT WANT A LARGE POSSIBLE PIT BULL MIX WITH AN UNKNOWN HISTORY THAT ACTS ROWDY AT THE SHELTER.
I'D APPRECIATE IT IF THIS COMMISSION COULD FOCUS ON WHAT CAN REALISTICALLY BE DONE ABOUT THAT PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM OF MISMATCHED SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR DOGS, AND PERHAPS THE PROBLEMS OF MITIGATING PREEXISTING BREED BIAS AND NEGATIVE FIRST IMPRESSIONS THAT CAN HAPPEN AT THE SHELTER.
I'D ALSO APPRECIATE MORE CONSIDERATION OF HOW THE NO-KILL THAT EVERYONE INSISTS UPON CAN BE MAINTAINED HUMANELY WHILE STILL MEETING THE BASIC NEEDS OF THE MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED BY THE LAST SPEAKER.
THE NEED FOR A FUNCTIONAL MUNICIPAL SHELTER THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP HUMANELY WHEN THEY HAVE AN ANIMAL PROBLEM.
I ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION AND OR ANIMAL SERVICES STAFF TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN UT MASTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR MUNICIPAL RESEARCH THAT CAN HELP CITY DEPARTMENTS GET REAL VALID DATA TO INFORM PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT.
AND THEN START PLANNING NOW TO FUND RESEARCH THROUGH NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET THAT COULD INFORM OPERATIONS AND POLICIES.
UH, THE FOURTH SPEAKER, OUR LAST SPEAKER IS PAT VALS.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND, AND THANKS, UM, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, I AM HERE TO FIRST THANK, UH, YOU CHAIR NASER FOR PUTTING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR, UH, BRIEFING FROM WILDLIFE OFFICERS.
I, I DID MAKE A REQUEST FOR AN AGENDA ITEM ON THAT, AND I THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO HAVE IT BE A, A BRIEFING.
UM, AN ADDITIONAL REQUEST I HAVE IS THAT SINCE YOU CAN'T REALLY DISCUSS IT DURING A BRIEFING, I GUESS YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS, BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE IT AS AN AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU STILL PUT AN AGENDA ITEM FOR NEXT MONTH TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT WILDLIFE SERVICES.
UM, MY SECOND REQUEST IS, OH, MY, MY SECOND THING TO THANK YOU ABOUT IS, UM, UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON, YOU PUT SOMETHING ON RULES SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE.
I WOULD ASK THAT, UM, WHAT YOU CONSIDER HAVING A RULE THAT THIS COMMISSION FOLLOWS CITY COUNCIL RULES FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING.
AND IF CITY COUNCIL WERE TO CHANGE IT AND, AND REVERT TO LETTING PEOPLE SPEAK ON EVERY ITEM LIKE YOU USED, WE USED TO BE ABLE TO, I WOULD ASK YOU TO DO THAT.
UM, AND I WOULD A ALSO, UH, I HAVE SEEN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ASK QUESTIONS WHEN PEOPLE SPEAK.
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A LONG DISCUSSION, DEBATE AN ISSUE, BUT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY THINGS.
AND I THINK AT ONE MEETING, SOMEONE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING AND I THINK THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
CITY COUNCIL DOES IT ALL THE TIME.
AND THIRD, I WANNA JUST QUICKLY, UH, THANK COMMISSIONER FOR, UH, AND, AND COMMISSIONERS MAGULA, I HOPE I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME RIGHT, UM, THAT YOU HAVE, UH, CREATED A WORKING GROUP AND THAT YOU'LL BE GIVING AN UPDATE AND THAT, UM, WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON SPAIN NEUTER.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE THREE THINGS.
UM, I HAVE A REQUEST THAT NEXT MONTH YOU HAVE AN ITEM ON INTAKE AND WHETHER INTAKE SHOULD, UH, BE OPEN
[00:15:01]
INTAKE.AGAIN, THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION NEVER DISCUSSED A POLICY ON INTAKE.
INTAKE JUST STARTED BEING RESTRICTED.
AND IN FACT, IF YOU GO BACK SEVERAL BUDGETS, YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, A BIG SENTENCE AT THE TOP, AUSTIN IS THE SOMETHING OR OTHER OPEN INTAKE ANIMAL SHELTER.
AUSTIN IS THE LARGEST OPEN INTAKE ANIMAL SHELTER OF THAT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND, AND THERE WERE DOCUMENTS THAT SAID WE WERE OPEN INTAKE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE STARTED TO BE SIGNS ALL OVER THE SHELTER THAT WERE NO LONGER OPEN INTAKE.
AND THERE WAS NO POLICY DECISION MADE ON THAT.
AND I WOULD LIKE AUSTIN TO, UM, START, START HAVING ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETINGS THAT DISCUSS THE, THE REVERTING TO OPEN INTAKE.
UM, AND I, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA AND I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO, UM, TAKE AS MUCH COMMUNITY AND PUT AS POSSIBLE.
ONE MINOR THING, IF I STILL HAVE MORE TIME, IS CHEN NAZER, WOULD YOU PLEASE ALWAYS ANNOUNCE THE VOTES, BOTH WHO WAS FOR, WHO WAS AGAINST, MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HEARS THAT YOU, YOU DO SOMETIMES MENTION A FEW NAMES, BUT I CAN'T ALWAYS GET ALL OF THEM.
UH, THE NAMES AND THE VOTES OCCUR ARE, ARE LISTED IN THE MINUTES AND WE'LL TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT GETS CLEARLY ANNOUNCED.
CUZ I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
AND, AND IF YOU WERE TO SEE HOW THE MAYOR DOES IT, THE MAYOR ALWAYS SAYS.
UH, SO THAT IS ALL THE, UM, CITIZEN'S COMMUNICATION.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE? I DON'T THINK SO.
CAN WE CHECK IN WITH VICE CHAIR CLINTON REAL QUICK? SEE IF HE CAN SEE IF WE CAN HEAR HIM.
UH, RYAN, CAN YOU HEAR US? YEAH, I'M, I CAN HEAR HIM.
[1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on November 14, 2022.]
UM, APPROVAL OF MINUTES, THE MINUTES ARE HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE.DO I HEAR A SECOND? UH, COMMISSIONER JARL.
UH, COMMISSIONER NORTON SECONDS.
UH, ANY DISCUSSION? UH, THEN, UH, HOW DOES ANYBODY OPPOSE ACCEPTING THESE MINUTES OR ABSTAIN? THEN? IT'S UNANIMOUS.
[2. Staff briefing by new wildlife Officers in the Animal Service Center regarding scope of work.]
UH, STAFF BRIEFING BY THE NEW WILDLIFE OFFICERS IN THE ANIMAL SERVICE CENTER REGARDING SCOPE OF WORK.DO, ARE THEY HERE TONIGHT? MM-HMM.
THEY SHOULD BE ATTENDING VIRTUALLY.
WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND, AND GIVE US A REPORT THERE.
UH, I'M, I'M THE CITY OF AUSTIN WILDLIFE OFFICER.
HELLO, I'M GREG LONNIE, RICHARD FROM THE TRAVIS COUNTY SIDE OF THE WILDLIFE SERVICES.
UH, SO, UH, WHY DON'T YOU TELL WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE WANTED TO HEAR WAS, UH, UH, THE SCOPE OF YOUR PROGRAM, WHAT YOU DO ESSENTIALLY, UH, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, THE SERVICES YOU GIVE TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
SO WE DID HAVE A PRESENTATION MADE FOR Y'ALL.
IF, IF SOMEBODY IN IT IS OVER THERE TO PUT IT OFF FOR Y'ALL AND WE CAN START TALKING AND THROUGH THE SLIDES.
DO WE HAVE THAT? WE MIGHT NOT.
I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING, SO UNLESS IT WAS DROPPED IN THAT FOLDER, BUT YOU CAN SEND IT OVER TO ME RIGHT NOW AND I CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
SEND IT TO STEPHANIE DOT HALL.
WHERE DO WE NEED TO SEND IT TO? SEND IT TO STEPHANIE DOT HALL.
WE'RE GONNA GET ONE OF THE MANAGER TO SEND IT TO YOU REAL QUICK.
UH, SO WE CAN JUST, UH, START AND GIVE A LITTLE OVERLAY ON, UH, SCOPE FOR Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE, THAT WAY THERE'S NO, UH, DOWNTIME.
SO FOR RIGHT NOW, BOTH ME AND EMORY STARTED TAKING CALLS AT IN, UH, JUNE OF 2022.
WE WERE TRAINING UP, UH, WHEN WE FIRST CAME ALONG.
THE CALL ONLY WAS, UH, THERE WAS CALLS IN THE BOX FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.
UH, MOST CALLS THAT WERE WITH A PRIORITY, ONE OR HIGHER WEREN'T GETTING, UH, UH, RESPONDED TO WITHIN THE DAY.
THEY WERE GETTING, UH, DONE WITHIN THE WEEK.
UH, NOW THAT WE'VE COME ON, ON THE RESPONSE TIMES DONE FROM ALL THE WAY UP TO THREE PLUS HOURS, DOWN TO HALF AN HOUR.
[00:20:01]
NOW WE'RE, UH, FOCUSING ON OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COEXIST WITH COYOTES AND THE WILDLIFE THAT THE NATIVE WILDLIFE IN T UH, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE LIKE TO DO IS MOST OF OUR CALL VOLUME IS CALLED FROM THREE ONE ELEVEN.UH, WILL ANSWER THE CALL, UH, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, WE'LL COME OUT AND DO A YARD AUDIT OR A SITE VISIT.
UH, WE'LL EDUCATE THE RESIDENTS ON WHAT'S, UH, BRINGING THE WILDLIFE TO THEIR RE RESIDENCY.
WE WILL GIVE 'EM A REPORT ON TO REMOVE IT.
IF THERE'S FENCES BROKEN, WE'LL TELL 'EM THEY NEED TO REPAIR IT.
UH, ALSO BRING IN ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED TO HELP 'EM OUT EDUCATIONAL WISE.
UH, THE FIRST THING ME AND EMORY LIKE TO DO IS GO THROUGH ALL THE OUTREACH.
WE WENT TO ALL THE HOAS FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY REACHED OUT TO THEM, LET 'EM KNOW THAT WE'RE THE NEW WILDLIFE OFFICERS, AND THAT WOULD BE DIRECTLY, THEY COULD REPORT TO US.
UM, WE'VE BEEN EDUCATING SCHOOLS AND DOING EVENTS.
THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS AUSTIN CITY ZOO.
HAD A NICE, UH, AT HOME, UH, KIDS THAT WERE SCHOOL AT HOME, THERE WAS ABOUT 495 OF THEM.
WE HAD A PRESENTATION FOR THEM.
THERE WAS NOTHING BUT NICE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL FOR 'EM.
WE HAD A, A STUFFED CO TO GIVE 'EM A ACTUAL VISUAL ON WHAT A CO WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THE, THE BEHAVIOR OF IT.
UH, SO WE'RE ALSO, UH, WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ON A LOT OF, UH, WILDLIFE, UH, THAT'S NOT NATIVE.
I E LIKE FLOW CONSTRICTED, UH, FANCY RABBITS.
WE'LL HAVE TO COME IDENTIFY 'EM FOR THAT.
WE ACTUALLY WILL COME AND PICK IT UP AND TRY TO RE HOME SINCE THEY'RE NOT NATIVE WILDLIFE FOR, UH, ANYTHING ELSE.
UH, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE DO IS A LOT OF, UH, BOXES IN, UH, AUSTIN TEND TO STAND UNDER PEOPLE PORCHES.
WE GIVE 'EM A HUMANE, UH, SOURCES TO PRETTY MUCH PICK 'EM OUT AND GET 'EM GONE.
THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT BEING BOTHERED.
OUR THREAT, WE'LL HAVE TO DO REG'S EXPOSURE REPORTS.
SO IF ANY OF THE WILDLIFE COMES IN CONTACT WITH RECORD RESIDENT, WE'LL HAVE TO GO OUT THERE, GET A REPORT, PICK THE ANIMAL.
UH, WE ALSO PICK UP WILD INJURED ANIMALS IN THE CITY COUNTY.
SO IF ANYTHING'S INJURED AND JUST LOOK AT HURT, WE'LL COME AND PICK IT UP.
TAKE IT TO AWESOME WILDLIFE RESCUE, WHICH CAN PARTNER UP WITH, WE'LL RE REHABILITATE THE ANIMAL AND, UH, RELEASE IT ON A ACRE OF A HUNDRED PLUS ACRES.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING THEMES THAT WE GET TO DO FOR OUR JOB.
SO MAINLY IT'S PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COEXISTING WITH WILDLIFE.
UH, RIGHT NOW IN THE COUNTY SIDE, I'M WORKING WITH LOUIS FERRERA, THE SPANISH OUTREACH FOR FIELD SERVICES.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE SPANISH, UH, COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW ABOUT ALL THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
UH, ANDREA'S WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR THE CITY.
AND THEN CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, ONCE WE HAVE IT ALL FINISHED AND WHATNOT, WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE A WILDLIFE ORDINANCE FOR Y'ALL FOR NO HEATING WILDLIFE AT ALL.
UM, SO ONCE THAT IS ALL DONE, WE WILL TO SHOW Y'ALL AT, UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WHETHER IS A PRESENTATION? OH, THERE IS A PRESENTATION.
UM, SO AGAIN, UH, I'M EMORY, THE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN WILDLIFE OFFICER, AND THEN WE HAVE THE COUNTY, UH, WILDLIFE OFFICER.
AND THEN, UM, NEXT, OH, SO, UH, THE CITY OF BOSTON, WE DO NOT REMOVE OR RELOCATE ANY HEALTHY NEED OF WILDLIFE.
IF THEY ARE SICK, INJURED, OR ORPHANED, YOU CAN REPORT TO THREE 11 AND WE WILL COME AND PICK UP THAT ANIMAL.
AND, UM, SO WE TRY TO WORK WITH RESIDENTS TO, CAN MAINLY RESOLVE CONFLICT, UM, RATHER THAN CONTACTING A PEST CONTROL, UM, WE USE EFFECTIVE BASED METHODS AND JUST TRY TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
AND THEN THE WILDLIFE ORDINANCES FOR CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, SO WHEN IT COMES TO HUNTING AND TRAPPING, A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWING KNOWINGLY SHOOT, KILL, OR HUNT A WILD ANIMAL.
AND THEN ANY TRAP THAT CAN HARM AN INJUR OR THAT CAN HARM A TRAPPED ANIMAL OR PERSON, UH, CAN ALSO NOT BE USED.
AND THEN A PERSON MAY NOT DISCHARGE A FIREARM IN CITY LIMITS.
AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO DEER, UM, IF A PERSON IS INTENTIONALLY FEEDS DEER OR MAKES FOOD AVAILABLE, IT BECOMES AN EFFECTS.
SO OUR MAIN ROLE IS TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL RANGE EXPOSURE, WHICH RESIDENTS IN THE COURSE OF WILDLIFE.
WE IDENTIFY NON-NATIVE SPECIES FOR REHOMING AT THE SHELTER,
[00:25:01]
ASSIST SICK AND INJUR WILDLIFE.MOST, UH, WILDLIFE ENDS UP GOING TO AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE.
IF PRESIDENTS TRAP, UH, WILDLIFE IN THE COUNTY, AND THEY'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S SHOWING SIGNS OF RABIES, BUT OUR SACRED NEUROLOGICAL WILL COME OUT, ASSESS THE BEHAVIOR, AND TAKE THE ANIMAL READY TO GO.
WE WANT THE PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CONFLICT.
WE SUGGEST METHODS FOR DOMAIN EXCLUSIONS, I E GETTING BOXES IN THE BACK OF A PORCH.
WE ENCOURAGE THE ANIMAL TO MOVE ON ITS OWN.
MOST SNAKES PEOPLE WILL CALL ON, BUT IF THEY'RE OUTSIDE, THEY'RE EVENTUALLY JUST GONNA MOVE ON.
WE OFFER TAILORED SOLUTIONS DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF SITUATION.
A LOT OF, UH, PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT, UH, JUST POSSUMS AND, UH, ARMADILLOS TEARING UP THEIR, THEIR GARDENS, THAT BIG ONE THAT WILL COME OUT AND, UH, HELP ASSESS THE SITUATION.
WE ALSO UTILIZE GAME CAMERAS, SITE VISITS, YARD AUDITS AND IDENTIFICATION.
TO HELP IDENTIFICATION, WE PROVIDE PRESENTATIONS, EDUCATION, AND OUTREACH TO PUBLIC.
UH, TRAVIS COUNTY TEMPORARILY.
CONTRACT FOR WILDLIFE OFFICERS STARTED IN JANUARY, 2018 AND BECAME PERMANENT IN 2019.
THE STAFF FOR 2022 AS A, I FIRST SAID THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS OVER THREE HOURS LEFT.
WE GOT IT DOWN TO HALF AN HOUR.
SINCE JUNE, 2022, WE'VE PROVIDED 354 HOURS OF OUTREACH.
THAT'S YARD AUDITS, SITE VISITS, PUBLIC EDUCATION PRESENTATION.
THE SCHOOL SCHOOLS, UM, THE CITY OF BOSTON DOES NOT TRACK ALL WILDLIFE, SO THEY ONLY CHECK THE CO.
SO THEY HAVE OFFICERS FILLED AT 489 COUNTY CALLS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER OF 2022.
THE COUNTY ACTUALLY, UH, TRACKS ALL WILDLIFE.
SO OFFICER IN THE COUNTY SIDE FILLED 624 WILDLIFE CALLS, AND THOSE TALL 504 WOULD ESCALATED, WHICH NEEDED TO BE RESPOND TO QUICKER.
NEXT, LASTLY, SO EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION.
MOST OF OUR INFIELD EDUCATION COMES FROM THE HOTLINE, THE 3 1 1.
PEOPLE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS THAT COMES TO OUR BOXES.
THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS WE DO.
EMAILS, WE'VE ALREADY EMAILED THE HOAS AND SCHOOLS, SO WE'LL GET RANDOM EMAILS FROM HOAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WILDLIFE OR IF WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WILDLIFE.
YARD LIGHTS AND SIDE VISITS USUALLY, USUALLY COME FROM THE THREE ONE CALLS, AND THAT'S JUST TELLING THE PEOPLE WHAT'S IN THEIR YARDS OR SITES THAT BRING THE WILDLIFE COME IN AND RAVAGE THEIR, THEIR BACKYARDS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CANVASING.
IF THERE'S A WILD INJURED ANIMAL AND IT'S STILL MOBILE, WE CANVAS NEIGHBORHOOD TO TRY TO FIND AND GET IT WHERE YOU CAN GO FOR A PUBLIC OUTREACH.
PRESENTATIONS ARE OUR MAIN THINGS.
WE DO PRESENTATIONS FOR SCHOOLS, HOAS, ANYBODY THAT DOES 'EM.
I'VE DONE JUST Q AND A FOR A GROUP OF THREE OR FOUR ADULTS THAT JUST HAD A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS.
EVENTS, JUST LIKE THE AUSTIN CITY ZOO WALTON WILL SEND OUT NEWSLETTERS, BUT ANY INFORMATION WE HAVE, WILDLIFE TO ANY CERTAIN, UH, ZIP CODE THAT NEEDS THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND MAIL.
SO, UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EDUCATIONAL TOPICS WE'LL GO OVER WITH RESIDENTS.
SO IF WE NEED TO GO OVER ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, ECOLOGY, DIFFERENT PAINTING METHODS THEY CAN USE, IF THEY HAVE ANY ATTRACT THAT ARE IN THEIR YARDS THAT'S BRINGING WILDLIFE IN PET SAFETY, IF THEY HAVE PETS, IF THEY HAVE WILDLIFE DEN IN THEIR YARD, WE CAN GO OUT AND PROVIDE THOSE, UH, METHODS.
UM, SPRINGTIME IS A BIG TIME FOR CALLS BECAUSE THAT'S A BABY SEASON IS AROUND.
UM, WE GET LOTS OF CALLS ABOUT, UH, CHILDREN'S SAFETY AS WELL.
AND THEN, UM, RUBY'S PREVENTION AND OF COURSE COEXISTENCE.
SO THE CITY OF AUSTIN COYOTE POLICY IN 2014, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A COYOTE MANAGEMENT POLICY.
THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AND CONVENE TREATMENT.
UM, THAT'S JUST WITH US CO-EXISTING AND WE WORK TOWARDS NON-LEGAL MANAGEMENT.
UM, THAT'S WHEN WE COME IN WITH, UH, PROVIDING THOSE DIFFERENT KINDS OF METHODS WHEN DEALING WITH WILDLIFE.
UM, THE ENTIRE POLICY IS BASED OFF OF COYOTE POLICY AND ALL THE CURRENT RESEARCH AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT HAZING METHODS WILL WORK WHEN TRYING TO EXCLUDE COYOTES FROM THE AREA.
AND THEN COYOTES DO NOT RESPOND LIKE MOST THESE, UH, LIKE MOST SPECIESS LIKE WOLVES OR DEER, WE'VE TRIED POPULATION CONTROL FOR THE LAST 150 YEARS.
THERE ARE NO APEX PREDATORS TO COYOTE THE SIZE OF HUMANS.
UM, WE ALREADY KILL ABOUT 500,000 A YEAR BECAUSE THERE IS NO SEASON OR BAD LIMIT.
AND WE WOULD HAVE TO ACTIVELY KILL 75% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION EACH YEAR FOR AT LEAST 50 YEARS TO EAT THE DENSE.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'LL COMPENSATE FOR POPULATION REDUCTION.
SO THEY'LL START HAVING LARGER
[00:30:01]
L SIZES ON RECORD.COYOTE HAD UP TO 16 PUPS AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEIR, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE, SOME OF THE POPULATION WAS KILLED OFF.
UM, SO ALL THOSE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE.
PUPS WILL BREED AT AN EARLIER RATE AT EARLIER AGE, AND THEN PUPS HAVE A HER HIGHER SURVIVAL RATE BECAUSE OF THOSE RESOURCE.
SO FROM JANUARY TO MARCH, UH, MOST CALORIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAKE.
THIS IS WHEN WE'LL HAVE A BUNCH OF CALLS WHERE THEY'RE JUST OUT AND ABOUT DURING THE DAY, DURING THE AFTERNOON FROM DAWN, BUT APRIL TO JUNE, THAT'S THE BIRTHING THE PUPS.
SO WE WON'T GET AS MANY CALLS.
BUT THEN TOWARDS THE END OF JULY AND UH, SEPTEMBER, THE P ARE MERGING.
BUT REALLY IT'S NOT TILL NOVEMBER IS WHEN THE P GET KICKED OUT, WHEN MOST OF THE CALLS COME.
CAUSE NOW ALL THE COUNTIES ARE STARTING TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR THEIR OWN SPACE.
WHY ARE THEY HERE? THEY'RE ACTUALLY NEGATIVE.
AND JUST HOW HENRY SAID THEY HAVE NO, UH, PREDATOR BESIDES US.
THERE'S TONS OF HABITAT FRAGMENTS IN AUSTIN, SO THEY'RE ALL OVER AUSTIN.
YOU SAW WE HAVE A COUNTY MAP THAT TRACKS ALL THE COUNTY ACTIVITY AND THEY'RE ALMOST ANYWHERE YOU CAN THINK OF.
THEY'RE RELIABLE FOOD SOURCES ALL OVER AUSTIN.
THEY HAVE RODENTS, EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY THEY'LL COME TO THE BACKYARD.
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT SECURE THEIR TRASH RECYCLE OR COMPOST FILES.
THIS IS A BIG RESOURCE FOR FISH CASTING COYOTES OUT IN SOUTH.
ALSO, PEOPLE TEND TO FEED WILDCAT OR JUST WILD ANIMALS OUT OUTDOORS CAT COLONIES.
THIS IS A BIG, UH, BRINGS NOT ONLY THE FOOD SOURCE, BUT ALSO THE ACTUAL FOOD SOURCE IN THE CAT FOR THE COYOTES.
UH, DIRTY BARBECUE DRILLS, SAME THING.
IT COULD BE LEFTOVERS THAT THE COYOTES ARE JUST THE SMELL ALONE.
FRUIT, NUTS, TREES, 40% OF A COY DIET IS PRETTY MUCH THE FRUIT NUTS.
YOU'LL SEE THE CAT ALL THE TIME WITH FRUIT AND BERRIES AND BREATH PILES THAT ATTRACT LIKE ROD INTO SNAKES WHERE THE COYO CAN JUST HAVE ANOTHER, UH, FOOD SOURCE TO BRING THEM ON ON.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO COYOTES, WE TRY TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO FEED THEM.
SO THAT'S MAINTAINING EYE CONTACT.
THE HANDS OF THE KNEE AIR SCREAMING AND YELLING BURNS ROCKFORD, TENNIS FALLS IN THE DIRECTION UP RESIDENTS BANG COTTON PANTS.
I HAD A WOMAN THERE WAS A PARENTING BACKYARD.
SHE TEAR WATER HOSE AND SPRAYED WATER AT IT.
IT ENFORCING THOSE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF PRIORITIES BEING AROUND YOU AND IN YOUR AREA.
SO THE NEXT TIME THEY SEE YOU, THEY'RE GONNA BE LIKE, I DON'T WANNA BE AROUND YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA PRESS TENNIS BALLS AT ME.
AND NO ANIMAL REALLY WANTS TO DEAL WITH THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
UM, SO AGAIN, HOW WHAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT IS THAT WE REALLY TRY TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF WILD, WILD OF WHY WILDLIFE IS COMING INTO YOUR AREA.
NORMALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON.
UM, AND LIKE WE SAID, YOU'LL PERFORM LIFE VISIT.
SO THAT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, IF WE NEED TO GO TO A PARK AND CANVAS, PARK, UH, YARD ON GOING SPECIFICALLY TO A HOUSE AND THEN GAME CAMERAS AND, UM, WE ALSO TRY TO JUST TRY TO GIVE SUGGESTIONS TAILORED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A ONES SIZE FITS ALL WHEN IT COMES TO D DETECT OF WILDLIFE.
AND THEN, UM, OF COURSE WHEN WILDLIFE IS SITTING, WE TRY TO PROVIDE HUMANE FREE AND EFFECTIVE EXCLUSION PRACTICES.
UM, THAT CAN HOPEFULLY WORK RATHER THAN CONTACTING A COMPANY.
LIKE, AND THEN WHEN THE CALL THREE 11, IF YOU SEE ANY WILDLIFE THAT IS SICK OR INJURED DISPLAYING NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS SUCH AS STAGGERING HEAD SHAKING, WALKING IN CIRCLES, DISPLAYING ANY ACTIVITY THAT CONCERNS YOU, AND THEN NOT AS RESPONSIVE TO ASSERTIVE LEAVE.
SO THAT'S ADEN, YOU KNOW, YOUR THIRD KIND OF FAULT AT THE COYOTE IN THE COYOTE IS STANDING IT'S GROUND THAT'S GONNA BE NOT RESPONSIVE TO CERTIFI HAZING.
UM, AND THEN LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WITH THE TAILORED SOLUTION, WE CAN HELP WITH SOCKS, HOTS OUR FOODS, ARMADILLOS BOXES, AND THEN, UM, JUST ANY OTHER IDENTIFICA UH, IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE SENDING PICTURES OF SNAKES THEY NEED IDENTIFIED.
I'VE GOTTEN PICTURES OF WILDLIFE SCAT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WILDLIFE PRODUCED IT.
UM, SO JUST SORT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THAT WAS KINDA ALL THAT WE HAD.
SO ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNED, YEAH, FEEL FREE TO ASK.
UH, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE WE'VE, UH, SIGNED UP, IF WE'VE PARTNERED WITH YOU, WHICH IS THE WILDLIFE INFORMATION NETWORK, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THIS SITE.
WE'VE, UH, SET UP GANG CAMERAS THROUGHOUT A LOT OF PARTS IN AUSTIN AND THE CITY TO GET TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE NATURAL WILDLIFE AND ITS NATURAL HABITAT.
AND THOSE WERE ACTUALLY HOOKED UP ON THE, UH, SITE PRETTY SOON.
[00:35:01]
HAVE A QUESTION.THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND I, I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THE THREE ONE ONE CALL WHEN IT, WHEN I, UH, RESIDENT CALLS, CALLS 3 1 1 AND ASK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT THE PRINT SPECIES, IS IT, DO THEY GIVE YOU THE CITIZEN I CAN RESPONSE OR THEY PUT, PUT THEM IN CONTACT WITH YOU? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YOU WERE KIND OF GOING IN AND OUT.
UM, YOU, UH, REPEAT THE QUESTION.
WHEN A CITIZEN CALLED THREE 11 AND THEY'RE CALLING ABOUT ONE OF THE SPECIES THAT YOU MENTIONED, DOES THREE 11 HAVE A CAN RESPONSE OR THEY DO, THEY PUT THE CITIZEN IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH YOU? UH, THREE WITH US.
UM, SO IT'LL BASICALLY COME INTO MINOR SPOTS AND THEN WE'LL GIVE THAT RESIDENT A CALL AND WE'LL JUST KIND OF GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, UM, IN THAT SITUATION.
AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THOSE TAYLOR SOLUTIONS SOLUTION.
THE QUE YEAH, I I WAS GONNA ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CONFLICT MATRIX THAT WE DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE COMMISSION WHEN THIS PASSED? THAT WAS GIVEN TO THREE 11 CONFLICT, SORRY, THREE 11.
UH, WHEN WE PASSED, UM, WHEN THE COMMISSION WORKED ON THE COYOTE ORDINANCE, PART OF THEIR, THERE WAS A CONFLICT MATRIX THAT WAS DEVELOPED AND GIVEN TO THREE 11 AT THE TIME TO HELP THEM ANSWER SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS.
UH, I'M NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THAT.
UM, BUT YOU REMEMBER, I REMEMBER IT THREE 11 THAT SOMETIMES INFORMATION THEY RECEIVE CORRECT ARREST, UM, WHICH IS WHY ME RED, LIKE TO TALK TO THEM, UM, UH, LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE RESIDENTS OURSELVES.
WE HAD A WHOLE WORKING GROUP ON IT.
YEAH, WE, UH, WHAT IT WAS WAS, SO THREE 11 COULD GIVE THEM INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEVEL OF, OF, OF RISK AND, BUT THE THING IS, IF YOU ARE ANSWERING CALLS QUICKLY AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING DIRECTLY IN TOUCH WITH YOU, THAT IS ACTUALLY, IN MY OPINION, PREFERABLE
I'M JUST THINKING LIKE LATE AT NIGHT IF SOMEBODY'S CALLING AND THEY'RE WORRIED AND THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH TO AN OFFICER THAT'S AT NINE, NINE OR 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AND THEY HEAR A COYOTE HOWLING AND THEY WANNA KNOW IF THEY SHOULD GO SHOOT IT.
WELL THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT OF THE MATRIX WAS THEN SO THAT THEY COULD REFER TO THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
WHAT HAPPENS IF LIKE, CALLS COME IN LATE AT NIGHT? SO THERE'S ACTUALLY AN OVERNIGHT OFFICER THAT RESPONDS TO ALL EMERGENCY CALLS AND EVEN AT NIGHT FROM 12 TO FIVE TO 12 TO SEVEN, THERE'S A PAGER.
SO IN ANY DIRE SITUATION THAT THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY GET CALLED AND WILL COME OUT.
SO ALL APOS ARE TRAINED TO HAVE A WILDLIFE CALL, BUT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WILL BE ON, UH, CALL THAT THAT WEEK AND THAT'S WHO WILL BE RESPONDING TO THOSE.
UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SUPERVISOR TO GET A MATRIX, UH, DECISION GRID TO THREE 11 TO MAKE IT EASIER JUST FOR THEIR INFORMATION ALONE.
BUT YES, THERE'S SOMEBODY ALWAYS COVERING THE CITY AT, AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
UH, SO WHAT KIND OF CALL WILL THEY PUT THROUGH TO THAT OFFICER LATE AT NIGHT? I MEAN, SO ANYTHING TO DO WITH RANDY'S EXPOSURE WOULD BE A PRIORITY ONE CALL AND THEY'D HAVE TO GO OUT TO IT.
IF IT, THE THING THAT THEY WOULDN'T GO OUT TO IS YOU JUST CALLED AND SAID THERE WAS A SNAKE IN THE BACKYARD.
THEY, THAT WOULD NOT BE A PRIORITY.
UH, IT WOULD BE MAINLY A RAYMOND'S EXPOSURE OR IF IT WAS AN INJURED ANIMAL THAT WAS LIKE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE, HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET IT.
SO IF THEY CALLED UP LIKE CO'S HOWLING, UH, THEY WOULD PROBABLY SE THEY'D PROBABLY LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR YOU.
YOU, YOU'D RESPOND IN THE MORNING? YES, SIR.
YEAH, WELL I, WELL JUST TO THE POINT AGAIN THOUGH, CUZ I THINK ONE OF THEM JUST SAID SOMETHING ABOUT DEVELOPING A MATRIX.
I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT ONE WAS DEVELOPED
SO THERE IS ONE OUT THERE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL Y YEAH.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT FERAL HOGS.
HAVE YOU HAD TO RESPOND TO ANY CALLS ABOUT FERAL HOGS? WE HAVE IN THE PAST HAD APOS INJURED ONE APO INJURED BY FERAL HOGS.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO, UM, WHAT, WHAT YOU HAVE PLANNED OR IF
[00:40:01]
ANYTHING'S HAPPENED IN THAT, ON THAT, UH, SUBJECT.SO THAT SUBJECT IS BEING TALKED TO WITH MANAGEMENT RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS A BIG, UH, FUTURE CONCERN FOR WILDLIFE.
UH, RIGHT NOW IT DID APL DO NOT RESPOND TO FER BECAUSE HOW BIG THEY ARE AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS ARE THE EQUIPMENT TO TRACK OUR REMOVE THEM.
BUT IF AUSTIN WATER SHED IS, UH, HAS A PROGRAM WITH IT, THEN WE'RE GONNA START, UH, TRYING TO GET WITH THEM AND TRY TO BEAR SOMETHING THAT THEY GOT, UH, OKAY.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE NICO HOWARD AND THE BALCON CAN LAND PRESERVE PROBABLY, CUZ I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT.
CUZ THAT'S WHERE WHAT I HEAR MOST OF THE FERAL HOGS ARE IN THE PRES PRESERVE OR THERE'S SOME THAT ARE SEEN IN EAST AUSTIN TOO.
BUT, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GET ON TOP OF BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM THAT'S, THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME SOON.
AND CAN YOU GET OUTTA HAND REAL QUICK? YES, IT CAN.
MORE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TEXAS.
AN INFINITELY NUMBER, LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE KILLED IN TEXAS BY HOGS COMPARED TO COYOTES.
AND I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, THEY THINK AT LEAST ONE I KNOW OF HAS BEEN KILLED BY HOGS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, QUESTION FOR Y'ALL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
DID Y'ALL IDENTIFY THE ZIP CODES WITH MORE CALLS ALREADY FOR WILDLIFE? SAY THAT AGAIN? SO WHAT CALLED, DID, DID Y'ALL IDENTIFY WHICH ZIP CODES HA HAVE THE HIGHER CALLS FOR WILDLIFE OR IT'S PRACTICALLY ALL THE CITY WITH COYOTES.
I I KNOW WHICH, IT'S THIS OUT THERE MORE PREVALENT IN, UM, THERE'S A 7 8, 7 45 AREA.
NO, I, I I ASK THIS BECAUSE WE AS COMMISSIONERS, WE CAN, WE CAN TALK AND, AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND THE WAYS TO HELP MORE, UH, WITH THE CONTACTS THAT WE KNOW AND MAYBE CITY COUNCIL TO, TO MAKE MORE AWARENESS AND, AND, AND HAVE A MUCH BETTER APPROACH WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE OFFICERS OF WILDLIFE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT I'M ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
I LIVE FAR FROM THE SHELTER, BUT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN DO USEFUL WORK BY RESPONDING WITH REAL INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO PEOPLE KNOW, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON AND, UH, WILDLIFE CALLS WILL BE A PART OF THAT.
IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO, IF YOU EVER GENERATE A MAP TO SEE A MAP MAYBE OF TRAVIS COUNTY WHERE THE MOST COYOTE CALLS ARE COMING FROM.
I YOU ACTUALLY DO HAVE HALF OF THAT.
WELL, IF YOU COULD SHARE IT WITH US, THAT WOULD BE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR EVERYBODY ON THE COMMISSION TO KNOW.
YEAH, JUST SO WE KNOW, UH, BECAUSE YOU CAN BE PREPARED TO, UH, UH, ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CALL FROM MY DISTRICT AND WANNA, YOU KNOW, LIKE I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF COYOTES IN WALNUT CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK CUZ I HEAR 'EM, BUT HOW DOES THAT COMPARE WITH ANYWHERE ELSE? I HAVE NO IDEA.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OH, YES.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND I DID ACTUALLY PLACE A CALL LIKE A WEEK AGO SUNDAY IN THE EVENING ABOUT A WILDLIFE THING.
AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED THAT I GOT CALLED BACK SO QUICKLY IT TURNED OUT TO NOT BE A THING, BUT, UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE EVEN ON THE WEEKEND THAT WE HAD SOMEBODY AVAILABLE.
SO IT WAS GOOD AND I FELT BETTER ABOUT THIS SITUATION EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A RAT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[3. Overview of monthly report provided by the Animal Service Center.]
WE HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORT PROVIDED BY THE ANIMAL SERVICE CENTER.WE HAVE HAD THE REPORT POSTED.
UH, WE, UH, UH, OUR, THE CLERK'S OFFICES REQUESTED QUESTIONS ON THAT REPORT, AND THOSE QUESTIONS RESPONDED TO A LOT OF THEM ANYWAY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? AND I THINK THERE IS STAFF VIRTUAL AS WELL THAT CAN ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.
SO THERE IS SOMEONE ON STAFF VIRTUALLY.
WHO WOULD THAT BE? DO WE KNOW? I THINK IT'S DON.
I JUST DIDN'T SEE HIM IN THE, IN THE ROOM AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE TOGETHER, SO I JUST, OKAY.
I, BUT I THINK DAWN'S ON THE LINE.
SO, UH, UH, LET'S, UH, DO YOU WANNA GIVE A REPORT OR DO YOU WANNA JUST START ASKING YOU
[00:45:01]
QUESTIONS? UH, UH, DO YOU HAVE THE REPORT? UH, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS SENT IN LIGHT THAT WAS LEFT OFF OF THIS, UH, WAS OUR, UH, EMPLOYEE COUNT MEMBERS.UH, OUR HR COORDINATOR RETIRED AND WERE HAVING AN INTERIM AND THERE WAS, WE FELL THROUGH THE GAPS.
SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF IT, IT GOT EMAILED OVER TO YOU PRIOR TO THE MEETING, BUT, UM, OUR PERMANENT POSITIONS, WE HAVE 17 OPENINGS.
UH, RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY, UH, THERE'S A, AN ACTIVE POSTING FOR A VETERINARIAN.
UH, THERE'S, WE'RE WAITING ON ONE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE PROVIDE US WITH THE START DATE.
AND WE'RE WAITING ON A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, BUT POSITIONS TO BE RECLASSIFIED.
AND THEN ALL THE REST ARE, UH, IN PROCESS IN TERMS OF, UH, THEY'RE EITHER IN INTERVIEWS OR, UH, WAITING ON BACKGROUND CHECKS.
SO THAT'S AN UPDATE ON OUR PERMANENT, WE HAVE 24 PART-TIME TEMPORARY PHYSICIANS, UH, 11 ARE OPEN AND 13 ARE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF BEING, YOU KNOW, THROUGH A INTERVIEW, BACKGROUND CHECK, BEING IN THE HIRING PROCESS.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONERS, I WAS ABLE TO GET THAT UPLOADED.
SO IT IS IN THE BACKUP, BUT IT JUST GOT POSTED THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? UH, UH, FOR, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND? YES, GO AHEAD.
SO, UH, I, LOOK, I WENT ONLINE AND WAS ABLE TO PRINT YOUR VACANT POSITIONS, UM, AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON HERE FOR THE BEHAVIOR TEAM.
AND I KNOW THAT ASHLEY NEALS, THE BEHAVIOR TEAM SUPERVISOR RESIGNED.
IS THAT POSITION NOT BEING FILLED OR IS THAT ONE OF THE ONES YOU WERE RELOCATING? UH, NO, THAT POSITION, UH, IS IN PROCESS OF INTERVIEWS.
SO IT, IT IS JUST MISSING FROM THE SH THE, WHAT YOU SUBMITTED.
I, I LET YOU LO I LOST YOU ON THE LAST PART.
SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN? IS THAT THE POSITION IN PROGRESS? ANIMAL HEALTH TECHNICIAN? IS THAT THE BEHAVIOR TEAM SUPERVISOR? NO, IT WOULD BE AN ENRICHMENT SUPERVISOR.
UH, SO, UH, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT POSITION IS CLOSED AND THEY'RE ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING FOR THAT.
THEY HAD INTERVIEWS LAST WEEK.
SO, SO THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOR THE POSITIONS IN PROGRESS? I WOULD ASSUME SO.
I CAN, I LOOK AT THE SAME THING THAT I WAS GIVEN FROM THE HR INTERIM, SO, ALL RIGHT.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE CENTER IS, EVERYTHING'S CONTRACTING DECREASING, SO IF THE ORGANIZATION IS SHRINKING, UM, I'LL BE HAPPY TO SHARE.
I MEAN, THE NUMBERS ARE FROM, FROM YOUR, FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
UM, I PUT THEM IN SPREADSHEET AND I, I WAS JUST SURPRISED TO SEE HOW SPAY NEUTERED, IT CONTINUES TO GO DOWN WHEN WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT SPAY NEUTERED.
UM, RIGHT NOW THE LOWEST FOR NOVE NOVEMBER 360 2, BUT THE WHOLE YEAR IT'S GOING DOWN ALSO FOR ANIMAL VACCINATIONS.
AND WHY IS THAT HAPPENING? OH, WITH LESS ANIMALS COMING IN, WE SHOULD BE VACCINATING LESS ANIMALS.
UH, THAT WOULD BE MY INITIAL REACTION ON THAT.
UH, I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SOME GUESTS TALKING ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTERING IN THE COMMUNITY.
THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SPAY AND NEUTERING HERE INTERNALLY.
UH, WE CONTRACT OUT, UH, OR COMMUNITY SPAY AND NEUTERING.
AND SO THOSE NUMBERS AREN'T REFLECTED ON THIS REPORT.
THAT IS SPAIN NEUTERING INTERNALLY.
UH, I, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE
[00:50:01]
THERE, BUT, UH, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO, I'LL, I'LL SEND, I PUT THIS IN, LIKE I SAID, ON A TABLE.I'LL, I'LL SHARE WITH CRAIG, CRAIG, ANSWER AND THE CHAIRMAN AND STEPHANIE.
AND, UM, YOU DO HAVE THE SAME BUDGET, CORRECT? CORRECT.
BUT EVERY, YOU, YOU'RE, I MEAN, THE SERVICES ARE REALLY DECREASING OVERALL, SO YOU MUST BE UNDER BUDGET.
WE HAVE FINISHED EVERY YEAR UNDER SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER BUDGET, YES.
WE'LL, WE'LL REACH OUT, UH, TO YOU, UH, OFF THE RECORD.
WE'LL GET JASON TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT YOU PROVIDE AND, AND WE'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU A BETTER DETAIL ON WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND AN EXPLANATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH EVERYONE.
IT, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SPAY NEUTER.
AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS WE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE A GROUP, A WORKING GROUP NOW, AND JUST TO HELP US GET A HANDLE ON THAT.
BECAUSE IF THERE'S A LOT OF SPAY NEUTER GOING OUT ON, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, COULD CHANGE THE THING SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND WE, WE DID GET WORD LAST WEEK THAT, UH, OUR EMANCIPATE THAT WAS DOING OUR MOBILE, THAT THEY HAVE RAMPED BACKED UP WITH VETERINARIANS AND THAT, UM, THEY ARE LOOKING TO START MOBILIZING AGAIN REAL SOON.
SO THAT IS, IS VERY HOPEFUL AND THAT THAT WILL HELP US.
UH, I HEARD SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER THAT REACHING OUT TO THESE CLINICS TO SEE IF THEY WERE DOING SPAY NEUTER FOR US, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT.
UH, WE ONLY HAD ONE TAKER AND, UH, FOR A LARGE FEMALE DOG THAT WON $900.
SO, UH, THAT WAS NOT GONNA WORK.
BUT, UH, WE ARE HAVING, UH, DIFFICULTY OPPORTUNITY GETTING SPAY NEERS DONE WITH OUR VOUCHERS.
IT'S TAKING QUITE A BIT OF TIME.
WELL, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THIS ON THE WORKING GROUP, I THINK.
UM, BUT THAT IS A, A SIGNIFICANT THING THAT, THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT.
I KNOW WE HAVE MORE MONEY COMING UP NEXT YEAR FOR SPAY NEUTER.
UH, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, WHICH IS, UM, IT'S ABOUT MICROCHIPS.
AND, UH, WHAT I HAVE HEARD, AND YOU KNOW, THIS I JUST HEAR, IS THAT, UH, WHEN PEOPLE GET MICROCHIPS THROUGH THE, UH, SHELTER, THE AUTOMATIC THING IS TO NOT GIVE OUT THE NUMBER TO ANYBODY WHO FINDS THE ANIMAL.
SO SOMEONE FINDS THE ANIMAL, THEY GET IT SCANNED, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY GOT THE ANIMAL, THEY KNOW THE NUMBER, THEY SEND IT TO YOU, UH, BUT THE NUMBER WILL NOT BE HANDED OUT TO THEM.
UH, SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO CONTACT THE PERSON.
UH, BUT THE, THE THING IS THAT IF THAT IS JUST THE DEFAULT STANDARD WITHOUT SOMEONE TALKING TO THE PERSON OF THE MICROCHIP, LIKE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT THAT NUMBER GIVEN OUT TO WHOEVER FINDS THE ANIMAL.
AND THAT THE, THE, THE, THE SITUATION THAT I'VE HEARD IS, UH, THAT, THAT MIGHT BETTER HELP SAY PEOPLE IN, UH, UH, AUSTIN LOST TO FOUND PETS, YOU KNOW, TO PICK UP AN ANIMAL TO GET THE MICROCHIP.
IT MIGHT HELP THOSE ANIMALS GET BACK TO PEOPLE QUICKER WITHOUT INVOLVING THE SHELTER AT ALL.
AND I JUST WONDERED WHAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE VERACITY OF ANYTHING I SAID OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON ON THAT, UH, UH, ISSUE.
IF YOU AS, UH, FINDER STAND AN DOWN FOR A MICROCHIP, CAN YOU CALL MICROCHIP COMPANY? THE MICROCHIP COMPANY IS GOING TO NOT GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION WITHOUT TALKING TO THE OWNER FIRST.
THEY'LL CONTACT THE OWNER, UM, AND THEN PUT THEM IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
ALTHOUGH THERE'S SOME NEW MICROCHIPS THAT ARE COMING OUT THAT HAVE A QR CODE ON THE TAG, AND, UH, IT, IT'S A TAG THAT THEY CAN WEAR AND IT GIVES THE DIRECT INFORMATION OF THE OWNER.
BUT THAT IS A SEPARATE SERVICE.
IT'S ACTUALLY A TAG THAT'S, IT'S A NEW PROCESS THAT'S COMING OUT AND IT'S,
[00:55:01]
UH, COST PROHIBITED FOR SHELTER, OF COURSE, AT THIS TIME.BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THE TECHNOLOGY, I THINK IS, IS MAKING CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE'RE FOLLOWING, IF, IF SOMEONE CALLS CONTACTS US, WE'LL CONTACT THE PET OWNER TO CONNECT THEM.
WE JUST DON'T GIVE THEM THEIR INFORMATION CORRECTLY.
UH, DO SOME, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS.
DO SOME MICROCHIP COMPANIES ALLOW YOU TO SELECT WHETHER THAT INFORMATION IS GIVEN OUT OR NOT? IS THAT, DOES ANYONE KNOW? SO THEY DO.
UM, BECAUSE THE ONLY, THE, THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE SAYING THAT IF PEOPLE HAD A CHOICE, AND I I, THERE'S SOME LIABILITY, THERE MAY BE A LIABILITY ISSUE HERE THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF TOO.
I, I UNDERSTAND THAT IF SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE A CHOICE, UM, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD TAKE THAT CHOICE.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WITH STABLE FAMILIES, THEY DON'T THINK A LOVED ONE IS GONNA HOLD THE DOG RANSOM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT MIGHT ENABLE THEM TO GET THEIR ANIMAL BACK MORE QUICKLY AND MORE EASILY.
IS THAT SOMETHING THE SHELTER COULD DO? OR IS ARE THERE SOMETHING LEGALLY UH, PROHIBITIVE WITH DOING THAT? YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT MICROCHIP PROVIDERS OUT THERE.
I'D HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE IF SOME OF THEM DO IT AND SOME DON'T.
UH, I'M NOT AWARE THAT WE HAVE THAT OPTION IN OURS.
UH, CAUSE IT AUTOMATICALLY LOADS UP.
I'D HAVE TO CHECK IN FAMILIAR AND SEE.
I JUST, I WAS ASKING THAT QUESTION BECAUSE IT CAME UP, UH, IN A COUPLE CONVERSATIONS OVER THE PAST MONTH.
SO ANYWAY, UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, UH, UNDER DISCUSSION ITEMS, UH,
[4. Presentation of the Monthly Report by Austin Pets Alive!]
UH, NUMBER FOUR, PRESENTATION MONTHLY REPORT, BOSTON PETS LIVE.IT'S NEIL HAY, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT AUSTIN PETS.
ELI, UH, NOT MY CALL, I PROMISE
UM, WE HAVE THE REPORT THAT'S BEEN TABLED AND WAS CIRCULATED THERE FOR INFORMATION.
UM, I'LL JUST PICK OUT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FOR EVERYONE.
UM, CONTINUE TO BE IN LINE WITH OUR IN POOLING ANIMALS IN LINE WITH OUR CONTRACT.
UM, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS, UM, WE'VE POOLED 62 LARGE BEHAVIOR DOGS, WHICH INCLUDED EIGHT LAST MONTH.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY 11 BEHAVIOR DOGS CAME OVER TO APA FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER LAST MONTH, EIGHT LARGE, UM, ONE SMALL AND TWO WHO ARE STILL IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS.
UM, BUT OUR RECORD SHOWS 62 ANIMALS FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
CAN A COUPLE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS I'LL PULL OUT.
UM, BOTTLE BABY KITTEN SEASON CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE COMING TO AN END ONLY, I THINK THERE'S 20, UM, 22 BOTTLE BABIES, UM, SENT TO AUSTIN PETS LIVE LAST MONTH.
AND THERE WERE 84 ADDITIONAL PANU KITTENS THAT WE HELPED AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER RESCUE.
UM, HUNDRED AND NINE PARVO POPS FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
UM, JUST PUTTING THOSE TOGETHER CUZ OF THE PANEL AND PARVO COMMONALITY.
UM, THE OTHER KIND OF HIGHLIGHTED PULLOUT THAT'S NOT REALLY IN HERE, BUT JUST STRONG COOPERATION WITH THE CENTER OVER THE LAST MONTH ON THE JOINT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CAMPAIGN AND ALSO IN THE LAST WEEK WITH THE PLACEMENT, UM, UM, ISSUE, WHICH DOESN'T REALLY FALL INTO OUR, ANY OF OUR REMITS, BUT, UM, WAS GOOD TO WORK WITH THE CENTER ON FINDING HUMANE PLACEMENT FOR ROOSTERS THAT HAD COME IN THROUGH.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ROOSTERS.
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN, THEY'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF PUBLICITY OF, YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO THE RADIO
UM, THE I ARE THERE ROOSTERS AN AGGRESSIVE PROBLEM WITH HANDLING THEM? UM, THESE, UM, THESE PARTICULAR ROOSTERS? YES.
ARE THEY BIG, UM, FULL SIZED ADULTS.
UH, CUZ I HAVE A LITTLE BIT EXPERIENCE WITH ROOSTERS IN THE PAST.
HAVE YOU CLIPPED THEIR SPURS? YOU'RE NOW ASKING A TECHNICAL QUESTION AND I'M NOT CAPABLE OF ANSWERING.
CUZ I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S LISTENING, BUT I'VE BEEN HEARING THE REPORTS AND I, YEARS AGO HAD A, A ROOSTER WHO WAS UH, LITTLE BIT OUT OF CONTROL AND UH, WHAT I FOUND OUT IS, FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEVER WEAR RED AROUND THEM.
IF YOU WEAR RED AROUND THEM, THEY WILL ATTA THAT, THAT'S THE RED COMB.
[01:00:01]
THAT'S KIND OF LIKE FIRST DON'T WEAR RED AROUND.BUT THE SECOND THING IS YOU CAN CLIP THEIR SPURS WITH A WIRE CUTTER AND IF YOU, YOU JUST CLIPPED THE POINT OFF.
AND IF CLIPPED THE POINT OFF, EVEN A BIG ROOSTER REALLY CAN'T HURT YOU VERY BADLY.
UH, THE OTHER THING I DO KNOW THAT IS YOU CAN CLIP THE SPURS EVEN FURTHER AND CAUTERIZE THEM.
CUZ I KNOW THAT, UM, WHEN THEY, IN GAMECOCKS THEY PUT A BLADE OR A, THEY, THEY PUT SOME, YEAH, THEY PUT SOMETHING ON THOSE SPURS.
BUT I WAS JUST REALLY, UH, CURIOUS BECAUSE IT, IT SEEMED, UM, THAT WAS A VERY UNUSUAL PROGRAM, UH, PROBLEM THAT CAME UP BUT MADE QUITE A BIT OF NOISE PUBLICLY
I KNOW IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE'RE WORKING WITH ARIES NATIONWIDE TO FIND PLACEMENT FOR THEM.
SO IT'S JUST A, A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WELL TOGETHER.
WELL, I WISH YOU LUCK WITH THAT.
UH, HAVING, IF THE SPURS AREN'T CLIPPED, THEY CAN HURT YOU
REMEMBER TO STAY SO FAR AWAY FROM THEM.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, COMMISSIONER NORTON.
UM, OH, REGARDING THE ROOSTERS, THEY'RE STILL AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, RIGHT? YEAH, THEY'RE AT, AT APA? NO, THEY'RE ALL AT AUSTIN.
WELL LET THEM KNOW IF, IF, IF THAT'S NECESSARY.
CUZ I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE DONE THAT OR NOT, BUT THAT MAKES THEM EASIER TO HANDLE.
UM, FOR THE IMPLIED, UM, ON THE SECOND PAGE WHERE YOU SAY THE AAC IMPLIED LIVE RELEASE SITE.
UM, WHAT IS THERE THAT IMPLIES AAC WOULD KILL ALL THOSE ANIMALS? UM, TAKE THEM.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
I THINK THE ANSWER WOULD BE OTHER WAY AROUND.
WHY ARE THE UN DETENTION LIST FOR ENHANCED RISK OF EUTHANASIA? I MEAN THAT'S, THEY'RE PUT TO US ON ATTENTION FOR ENHANCED RISK OF EUTHANASIA.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING IT'S IMPLIED.
WE'RE NOT SAYING AT ALL THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS WOULD BE EUTHANIZED.
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT'S THE IMPLICATION THEN FOR ANIMALS THAT HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO FOR BOTTLE BABIES WHERE THERE'S NO OVERNIGHT CARE AVAILABLE AT US ANIMAL CENTER, IF THEY WEREN'T TO COME TO US, THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT THEY WOULD PERISH OVERNIGHT.
SO AS I SAY, IT IS IMPLIED, WE'RE NOT, WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THAT ALL THOSE ANIMALS WOULD BE EUTHANIZED.
WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT WITHOUT THOSE ANIMALS COMING TO US, THAT THAT WOULD BE THE, BUT THE OTHER FLIP SIDE IS THAT IF YOU WEREN'T TO TAKE CARE OF THE PARVO, PUPPIES AND THE LITTLE KITTENS THAT YOU TAKE AND PROBABLY TURN THE, ALSO WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF TURNING THE DAVENPORT BUILDING INTO A SATELLITE ADOPTION CENTER.
AND SINCE YOU ARE ADOPTING OUT WHAT 600 SOMETHING ANIMALS LAST, UH, OR YOUR INTAKE LAST MONTH WAS, UH, SIX HUN 600 OVER, UH, UH, WHAT YOU TOOK FROM AAC I MEAN, YOU'RE MOVING ANIMALS THROUGH THERE SO THE CITY COULD TAKE THAT BACK AND MOVE THAT NUMBER OF ANIMALS TOO.
SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO SAY, AND WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION BEFORE ABOUT THIS, THAT, UM, IMPLIED IS FAIR.
I DISAGREE WITH YOU, BUT I TAKE YOUR POINT ON BOTH.
BUT SO YOU'LL IMPLY THAT THE CITY WON'T PUT IN ANY PROGRAMS IN THE ANIMAL.
UM, I GUESS THE, THE ANSWER, AND I REALLY DON'T MEAN THIS TO SOUND FLIPPANT, IS WE WOULD LOVE THE CITY TO PUT IN PROGRAMS IN PLACE FOR PARVO DOGS.
WE WOULD LOVE THE CITY TO PUT IN PLAN PLAN PROGRAMS FOR NEONATAL BABIES.
THERE'S CERTAINLY NO OBJECTION FROM ANYONE IN AUSTIN PETS ALIVE TO THE CITY OF DOING THOSE THINGS.
YEAH, BUT THEY BUT THE CONTRACT WITH YOU IS TO DO THAT SO THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
UM, OH, ALSO, AND THEN STEPHANIE WAS GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THE QUESTION ABOUT, UM, ANIMALS DYING LAST MONTH THAT THERE WAS CONCERN THAT VET TECHS DIDN'T, UM, VACCINATE ANIMALS.
THAT THEY SAID THAT THEY DID VACCINATE AND THE RECORDS WERE FALSE AND SOME ANIMALS DIED AND SHE WAS GONNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS? APOLOGIES.
I DUNNO THAT INFORMATION, BUT I WILL FOLLOW UP ON, GET THAT AND, AND SEND IT.
UH, HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD, THANK YOU.
UH, DID Y'ALL KNOW, SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE THE REPORT.
HOW MANY SPARE NOODLES DID Y'ALL, UH, DO LAST MONTH? UM, WE DID 546.
[01:05:01]
FANTASTIC.AND QUESTION FOR THE BEHAVIOR DOGS THAT Y'ALL PULL FROM THE SINE ANIMAL CENTER, WHICH IS A PROGRAM, UH, THAT Y'ALL USE FOR THESE DOGS.
WHICH KIND OF TRAINING DID Y'ALL USE? AND THE OTHER ONE, WHAT IS THE OUTCOME OF THESE, THESE DOGS, THEY BEGIN TO BE LONG STEAK WITH Y'ALL.
Y'ALL ADOPT A LITTLE BIT FASTER.
HOW IS THE PROCESS WITH THESE DOGS? UM, SO I NEED TO APOLOGIZE A LITTLE.
I'M NOT PARTICULARLY EXPERT ON OUR DOG PROGRAMS. NO, NOT A PROBLEM.
I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO THIS ROLE AND FROM A CAT BACKGROUND.
BUT, UM, WHEN THEY COME TO AUSTIN PETS LIVE, WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, UH, A COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT TEAM THERE.
YOU DON'T SEND TO OTHER PLACE? NO.
AND THE OUTCOME, MAYBE YOU CAN HELP US TO FIND THAT NUMBERS.
BUT CLEARLY OUR GOAL IS NOT TO HAVE THESE ANIMALS ON SITE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME EITHER.
AND AS OUR ORGANIZATION BECOMES INCREASINGLY FOSTER CENTRIC, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE MORE OF THESE ANIMALS IN SUPPORTED FOSTER HOMES.
WE FEEL THE SAME WAY THAT US AND ANIMAL CENTERED DOES.
IT'S NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE ANIMALS TO BE IN A SHELTER ENVIRONMENT ABSOLUTELY.
UM, SO WE WORK TO SUPPORT BOTH OUR FOSTERS AND OUR SUPPORT TEAM ON SITE TO GET APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT FOR THE ANIMALS.
YES, I SEEN, I SEEN A, A VERY GOOD, UH, TEAM BETWEEN APA AND THE SINE ANIMAL CENTER, UH, PASSING THE INFORMATION OF THESE, THESE DOGS ON BEHAVIOR TO, TO HELP THEM THE FASTEST.
THAT, THAT, THAT Y'ALL CAN DO IT.
IF YOU CAN HELP ME TO FIND A, AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE BEHAVIOR TEAM OF APA, JUST TO GO AND, AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE AND, AND MAYBE BRING SOME INFORMATION TO THE, TO THE SEN ANIMAL CENTER TO SHARE AND MAYBE PLAY MORE AS A TEAM.
I WILL MEET THE INTRODUCTION TOMORROW.
UM, SO I WAS WONDERING IF, I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE, WHEN THE YEAR DO THE CURRENT 12 MONTH ROLLING AVERAGE OF TRANSFERS AS A PERCENT OF PRIOR YEAR AAC INTAKE? I WAS, I WAS TRYING TO GO THROUGH AND ADD HOW MANY ANIMALS BORN IN CARE.
DO YOU KNOW? IS THAT NUMBER USED AS PART? IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN OUR PERCENTAGE.
AND THEN IS IT INCLUDED IN THE, UM, PRESUMED EUTHANIZED? NO.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR THE REPORT.
[5. Discussion regarding any updates for companion animals at emergency shelters in winter weather.]
SO, UH, THE NEXT THING IS, UH, UH, DISCUSSION REGARDING ANY UPDATES FOR COMPANION ANIMALS AT EMERGENCY SHELTERS IN WINTER WEATHER.AND THAT WAS COMMISSIONERS MAGULA.
SO I, UM, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL.
I, UM, I, YEAH, I'M HAVING, UH, TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH MY PHONE, SO I CAN'T GET THE EMAIL ON MY PHONE.
UM, HOWEVER, THE, BASICALLY THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERSON THAT EMAILED ME BACK IS THAT THE WARMING CENTER FOLLOWS THE SAME GUIDELINES AS THE COOLING CENTERS.
MEANING THEY DO NOT ALLOW COMPANION ANIMALS INTO THE LOCATIONS THAT ARE DESIGNATED AS WARMING CENTERS.
THEY ONLY ALLOW SERVICE ANIMALS.
UH, IF THERE IS AN INSTANCE WHERE SOMEONE NEEDS TO UTILIZE A WARMING CENTER AND HAS A COMPANION ANIMAL, SAME THING THAT THEY DID WITH THE COOLING CENTERS, THEY WOULD CONTACT AAC UH, APOS WOULD IF AVAILABLE, GET A A P O VEHICLE OVER THERE, AND THE ANIMAL WOULD BE PUT IN THERE WHILE THE PERSON WAS IN THE WARMING CENTER WARMING UP.
UM, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT HAS OCCURRED AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY, IF ANY INSTANCES OF THAT HAVE HAPPENED YET.
UM, WE HAD A BRIEF COLD SPILL THAT IT WARMED UP AGAIN AND IT'S GETTING READY TO GET COLD AGAIN.
UM, AS FAR AS EMERGENCY S SHELTERS, THE CITY FOLLOWS THE COUNTY GUIDELINES FOR THE MOST PART, AND THEY ATTEMPT FROM TO KEEP COMPANION ANIMALS WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THEY COME IN WITH.
HOWEVER, WHAT I DON'T HAVE CLARIFICATION ON, AND WHAT I'M STILL TRYING TO FIND IS A COLD
[01:10:01]
WEATHER SHELTER CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY SHELTER.UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE CLARIFICATION THAT I'M, THAT I'M TRYING TO GET RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I DON'T HAVE THAT CLARIFIED.
UH, IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE, THAT, THAT SOME OF THAT INFORMATION COULD BE FOUND IN THE RESPONSE TO WINTER STORM URI.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO WE'D ASK.
AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
SO NOT JUST A REGULAR, YOU KNOW, COLD, LIKE THE COLD WEATHER NIGHTS.
I KNOW THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTIN, UM, MANY CHURCHES THAT OPEN UP THEIR FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SLEEP IN AT NIGHT DURING THESE COLD WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN MM-HMM.
UM, BUT THOSE ARE NOT CITY RUN ORGANIZATIONS.
SO I HAVE NO ANSWER AS TO DO THEY ALLOW COMPANION ANIMALS WITH THESE UNHOUSED PEOPLE IF THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND SOMEPLACE FOR THE NIGHT TO SLEEP WHEN IT'S COLD AND THEY HAVE A PET? RIGHT.
UM, SO I, I JUST FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER AND I'M STILL TRYING TO WORK ON EMERGENCY SHELTER VERSUS A COLD WEATHER SHELTER.
KATIE, THE, I I'M ASSUMING YOU'VE TALKED TO THE E OOC, THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE JUST SAYING, RIGHT? YEAH, THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER.
SO THERE SHOULD BE AN ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER THAT IS ASSIGNED TO OVERSEE THE E OOC AS ONE OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS.
THAT'S HOW IT IS IN EVERY OTHER CITY THAT I'M AWARE OF.
SO YOU MAY WANNA JUST FIND OUT WHICH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER HAS THAT UNDERNEATH THEIR PORTFOLIO.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING TO LOOK INTO NOW WHEN THERE'S NO EMERGENCY
[6. Discussion and creation of rules and procedures for public communication at the Animal Advisory Commission.]
MOVE ON TO, UH, DISCUSSION ACTION.I, UM, DISCUSSION AND CREATION OF RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
UH, I CAN SAY WHAT I'VE SEEN, AND, AND, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT RECENTLY AT THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES ANY COMMENTS ON THE CON CONSENT AGENDA FIRST BEFORE HASHING THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND THAT ALL COMES LIKE RIGHT AFTER THEY OPEN UP AT 10 30 ABOUT, AND IT GOES FOR AS LONG AS IT GOES.
AND THEY DECIDE HOW MUCH TIME ANY PERSON CAN SPEAK BASED ON HOW MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP AND WHAT, HOW MANY HUNDREDS OF ITEMS THEY HAVE ON THE AGENDA.
UH, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THEY HAVE HEARINGS, UM, UH, THEY WILL TAKE THE SPEAKERS ON THE HEARINGS, UM, ALL AT ONCE IN THE AFTERNOON AT AROUND TWO.
AND THEN THE HEARINGS MAY GO WAIT WELL INTO THE EVENING, BUT THEY DO IT.
THEY ALSO, THE THREE MINUTE TIME OR WHATEVER THE TIME, IT COVERS MULTIPLE ITEMS. LIKE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SIGN UP FOR THREE OR FOUR ITEMS, THEY WANNA MAKE COMMENTS.
AND THAT HAS BEEN, UH, SOME OF THIS STUFF IS CONTROVERSIAL EVEN AT THE CITY, UH, WITH THE, THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOW.
SO WHAT WE DO NOW IS, OF COURSE, EVERYBODY GETS THREE MINUTES.
SO THIS IS WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES TOO, WITH PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
IF IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, EVERYBODY GETS THREE MINUTES.
BUT WITH THE CITY, YOU IT, YOU GOTTA SIGN UP IN A MONTH OR TWO AHEAD OF TIME AND GET IN THE QUEUE.
UM, BUT WE CAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE CAN TAKE A 10 PEOPLE AND DO THREE MINUTES.
THE QUESTION FOR US MIGHT BE IS HOW LONG DO PEOPLE SPEAK? UH, AND DO WE WANNA MAKE THAT A SLIDING SCALE OR JUST SAY, YEAH, EVERYBODY GETS THREE MINUTES.
UM, OR, AND OR WHEN DO THEY SPEAK? WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE PAST MOSTLY IS SPEAKING BEFORE EACH ITEM THEY WANT TO ADDRESS.
SO IF WE DO AN ITEM, WE HAVE SPEAKERS AND DO THAT ITEM, WE COULD PUT ALL THOSE SPEAKERS AT THE BEGINNING ANYWHERE WE WANTED TO ACTUALLY, I SUPPOSE, AND CLUMP THEM ALL TOGETHER.
SO THAT JUST IS, IS, IS DID EVERYTHING, DID I GET EVERYTHING? YEAH, CHAIR.
LET ME JUST ADD A COUPLE PIECES FOR CONTEXT THAT MIGHT HELP.
THE REASON THE MAJORITY OF THE REASON THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS TAKEN THOSE IN THESE LUMPS, WE CALL THEM BATCHES, IS BECAUSE OF THE HYBRID MEETING STRUCTURE.
IT BECOMES QUITE CHALLENGING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE PHONE TO WAIT UNTIL THE ITEM HAS COME UP.
IT, IT WAS ALSO CHALLENGING WHEN WE WERE HERE IN PERSON.
YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT END UP STAYING HERE ALL DAY, BUT IT BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE WAITING ON THE PHONE.
SO THAT IS WHY THAT CHANGE IS MADE.
WE DON'T SEE YET THAT THAT CHANGES.
UM, BUT IT'S WORKED FAIRLY WELL.
[01:15:01]
IS KIND OF WHAT WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT COMMISSIONS DO.BECAUSE OF THE HYBRID STRUCTURE, OF COURSE, YOU TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE AS MANY SPEAKERS AS A COUNCIL MEETING WOULD HAVE, BUT OUR GENERAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU FOLLOW ALONG KIND OF WHAT COUNCIL IS DOING.
AND THEN THE WAY A COMMISSION MEETING USUALLY IS BROKEN UP, THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, WHICH AT A COUNCIL MEETING HAPPENS AT NOON, YOU JUST TAKE THAT UP AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR MEETING AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME TAKE UP ANY SPEAKERS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
I THINK THE DEBATE THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING POTENTIALLY IS SHOULD WE ALLOW THEM TO SPEAK FOR EACH ITEM THAT THEY SIGN UP ON? AND THAT IS OF COURSE, UP TO YOU.
I THINK YOU JUST HAVE TO DECIDE HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE TYPICALLY HAVE.
BUT PLEASE KNOW AT ANY MEETING, IF YOU FOR SOME REASON GET 30 SPEAKERS SIGNED UP, YOU CAN TAKE A VOTE AT THE BEGINNING OF THAT MEETING TO SAY, WE NEED TO REDUCE THIS TIME TO ONE FOR THE SAKE OF THE TIME OF THE MEETING.
I HOPE THAT THAT HELPS AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.
REALLY, JUST REALLY AHEAD, CLARIFYING.
SO IF PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO SIGN UP TO, LIKE, IF THERE WERE THREE ITEMS THAT THEY WANTED TO SPEAK ON AND WE DID IT ALL AT THE BEGINNING, THEY WOULD BASICALLY JUST GET NINE MINUTES.
IF YOU DID AT THE BEGINNING, WE WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LUMP IT TOGETHER.
JUST EVERYONE'S ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING FOR THREE MINUTES FOR ALL OF THEIR ITEMS. I KNOW THE THING ABOUT IT IS MOST PEOPLE WILL, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WRITE OUT THEIR TESTIMONY AND PR PRACTICE IT AHEAD OF TIME IF THEY'VE GOT DIFFERENT ITEMS. AND SO THEN IT SORT OF LEAVES THEM SORT SCRAMBLING TO MUSH ALL OF THEIR ITEMS INTO ONE.
I THINK THAT'S WHY, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT TODAY.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN POST, BUT THAT'S THE DEBATE, RIGHT? YES, YES.
AND YOU WANTED TO BE SURE WITH UNDERSTAND.
SO, UH, SO IN GENERAL, UH, OKAY, SO, SO WHAT WE NEED TO DECIDE IS WHEN WE TAKE THE ITEMS, UH, UH, UH, WE, IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT WE TAKE THE ITEMS ON INDIVIDUAL.
AND THIS IS PARTICULAR PEOPLE CALL IN AFTER, UH, AFTER THE, UH, GENERAL COMMENTS.
SO WE DO GENERAL COMMENTS AND WE TAKE THE INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. UH, DOES ANYBODY OBJECT TO THAT? OH YEAH.
SO THE NEXT THING IS, UM, FAIR POINT OF ORDER.
I, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A MOTION, UM, AND A VOTE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN JUST SAY, DOES ANYBODY OBJECT? THEN DECIDE THINGS THAT WAY.
IF WE CAN GET THIS ALL DECIDED THAT NOBODY OBJECTS TO IT, SAW THE MAYOR DO THIS LAST WEEK,
WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT THAT WAY.
SO, UH, SO, UH, BUT COMMISSIONER RYAN IS RIGHT.
THIS IS NOT THE STANDARD WAY OF DOING IT.
UH, SO DO I HEAR A MOTION TO, TO TAKE ALL THE SPEAKERS, UM, UH, FOR ALL THE ITEMS AFTER, UH, DIRECTLY AFTER THE, THE, UH, UH, THE GENERAL COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING THERE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT ALL, ALL PUBLIC COM WHAT IS IT? THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND ANY PERSONNEL, ANY PEOPLE WITH WANTING TO SPEAK ON A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM ALL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK PRIOR TO THE, UH, MINUTES BEING OKAY.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE NEXT, YEAH, THAT'S IT PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND? OKAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? YES.
YES, WELL GO, LET, LET'S GO WITH, UH, SINCE I SAW HER HAND.
FIRST LET'S GO WITH, UH, COMMISSIONER NELSON AND THEN WE'LL GO TO YOU.
SO I GUESS THIS IS JUST CLARIFICATION.
SO WE'RE SAYING THAT EVERYBODY WANTING TO SPEAK ON A TOPIC, NOT ON THE AGENDA, AS WELL AS ANYBODY WANTING TO SPEAK ON A TOPIC ON THE AGENDA.
THEY ALL SPEAK BEFORE WE APPROVE THE MINUTES? IS THAT WHAT THE PROPOSAL SAYS? YES.
AND THEN WHAT I HEARD, UM, DO I SAY CLERK CALL? WHAT DO I SAY?
NO, WE HA WE'RE NOT GOING THERE YET.
THAT'S WHAT, WELL, THAT'S WHAT SHE SUGGESTED.
BUT WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME.
AT THE SUGGESTION OF COMMISSIONER CLINTON.
SO WE'LL TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME AND THAT WAY WE'LL GET, I THINK WE'LL GET 'EM.
SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHEN WE TAKE THE TIME WE TAKE THEM? YES, YES.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONER NIELSEN JUST KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
CAUSE I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT TOO.
CAUSE A COUPLE OF US ON THE PHONE, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SPEAKING FOR EVERYBODY, CERTAIN OF THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE MEETING, I CAN HEAR BETTER THAN OTHERS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT
[01:20:01]
DR.NELSON ASKED WAS CORRECT, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPEAKING ONLY BEFORE THE MEETING MINUTES ARE APPROVED AND THEN NOT AGAIN THE REMAINDER OF THE MEETING, FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AN ITEM OR AS ANOTHER ITEM IS COMING UP.
ALTHOUGH I DO KNOW THAT IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING, IF WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH INFORMATION WE ABOUT THE ITEM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEY CAN BE ASKED TO COME UP AND SPEAK AT AN INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
IS THAT, WOULD THAT FOLLOW FOR US? CUZ THAT DOES HAPPEN TO CITY COUNCIL? THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
POTENTIALLY I WOULD PROBABLY PROCEED WITH CAUTION ON THAT.
I THINK IT DEPENDS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STAFF OR SOMEONE WHO'S DONE A PRESENTATION VERSUS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF WE DO THIS FOR ONE ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD MIGHT SAY LIKE, WHY HAVEN'T YOU ASKED ME A QUESTION? SO I, I WOULD JUST USE THAT WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CAUTION.
UM, I FEEL LIKE I WAS GONNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I ALREADY FORGOT.
BUT YES, YOU CAN DETERMINE THE LENGTH OF TIME.
THE, THE GENERAL, WE GUESS IS THE GENERAL WE SAY IS THREE MINUTES AND COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING UP TO THREE MINUTES TOTAL FOR ANY OF YOUR ITEMS. BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
THE ONLY REQUIREMENT, THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS THAT SPEAKERS BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ON ANY AND ALL AGENDA ITEMS BEFORE DISCUSSION OCCURS, BEFORE DISCUSSION AND ACTION OCCURS.
IS THERE A, IS THERE A, IS THIS MANY SPEAKERS, IS THERE A RANGE MAXIMUM MINIMUM? NO.
STATE LAW, IT ACTUALLY WAS JUST RECENTLY AMENDED A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT THERE CAN BE NO LIMIT PLACED ON THE AMOUNT OF SPEAKERS SIGNING UP FOR AGENDA ITEMS. THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE LIMITED IS THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION IS TYPICALLY 10.
BUT FOR AGENDA ITEMS, AS MANY AS COME AND SHOW UP AND WANNA SPEAK.
AND THAT'S WHY WE GIVE YOU THE FLEXIBILITY WE NEED TO REDUCE THE TIME.
UH, ALSO I MIGHT WANT IF, UH, HERE, IF WE WANTED SOMEONE SPECIFIC TO GIVE US INFORMATION, WE CAN ASK THEM TO SPEAK, INVITE THEM TO SPEAK DURING DISCUSSION ITEM AND THEN WE COULD LATER ON HAVE AN HAVE AN ACTION ITEM ON A TOPIC THAT THEY DISCUSSED.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON WHO WE'RE TALK.
I WOULD, AGAIN, I WOULD CAUTION IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ARE MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE, I WOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE'RE INVITING BECAUSE IT JUST SETS A PRECEDENT.
AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE, SAY TONIGHT WE HAD, UH, UH, WE HAD, UM, MISTY VALENTE MM-HMM.
AND SO WE HAD A DISCUSSION ITEM WHERE SHE GAVE US A, A REPORT LIKE APA OR WHATEVER, AND THEN LATER ON WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION, AN ACTION ITEM ABOUT SOMETHING SHE DISCUSSED WHERE, WHERE SHE WOULDN'T BE A PART OF THAT DISCUSSION, BUT SHE WOULD'VE DISCUSSED IT ON, ON UNDER DISCUSSION.
COULD THAT HAPPEN? THIS IS AN INTERESTING HYPOTHETICAL BRAIN TEASER.
I THINK POTENTIALLY, I THINK, I THINK THE SCENARIO THAT I SEE, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING, IS, UH, SOMEONE COMES AND THEY SPEAK ON AN, ON A SUBJECT MATTER AND THEN THE COMMISSION DECIDES WE WOULD LIKE TO, AT THE NEXT MEETING HAVE A DISCUSSION, POTENTIAL ACTION ABOUT THAT.
I, I THINK IT MIGHT BE LUCKY IF YOU HA I MEAN, OR I DON'T KNOW, POTENTIALLY YOU COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ITEM ALREADY ON THERE ABOUT THAT SAME TOPIC AND THEN YES, IF YOU KNEW THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WAS AN EXPERT AT THAT AS A COMMISSION, YOU COULD CERTAINLY CALL THAT PERSON UP.
BECAUSE FOR INSTANCE, HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE.
WE HAD, UM, A MERLIN, UH, TULE HERE WHO SPOKE AT LENGTH, GAVE US A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION AND THEN WE ALSO, THERE'S AN ACTION ITEM BECAUSE WE KNEW HE WAS ASKING US TO TAKE SOME ACTION.
UM, THAT, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT I THINK, UH, WE DON'T WANT TO DISALLOW.
THAT SCENARIO SOUNDS ACCEPTABLE TO ME.
I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT COMMISSION IS AGREEMENT.
IF YOU'RE CALLING SOMEONE UP AND YOU'LL HEAR THE MAYOR DO THIS AS WELL, DOES ANYONE OBJECT IF WE HEAR FROM THIS PERSON? JUST MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION'S AGREEMENT THAT YOU'RE CALLING SOMEONE UP WHO'S NOT A PRESENTER OR THAT IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND JUST I WOULD USE THAT WITH CAUTION.
SO IS IS THAT GOOD, UH, COMMISSIONER MITCHELL? IS THAT, IS THAT PRETTY REASONABLE? UH, SURE, I GUESS, I MEAN, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I HEAR EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, I WASN'T TRYING TO SUGGEST ANYTHING NECESSARILY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
UH, THAT WAS A GOOD POINT THOUGH, I THINK.
UH, SO IS THERE ANY MORE DISCUSSION ON WHEN WE TAKE INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS
[01:25:01]
ON SPECIFIC ITEMS? OKAY, SO IF THERE'S NO MORE YES, I'LL, I'LL JUST SAY QUICKLY.I, FROM MY OPINION IS NO, I DON'T HAVE A STRONG FEELING AS TO WHERE IN WHERE IN THE AGENDA IT'S PLACED IF EVERYBODY GOES UP FRONT OR NOT.
BUT I, I DO PERSONALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING THREE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECT THAT THEY CAME TO TALK ABOUT.
SO IF, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY SITS AT HOME AND SPENDS A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING AND PUTTING TOGETHER THREE MINUTES WORTH OF TESTIMONY ON TWO DIFFERENT SUBJECTS, THEN I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND GIVE THEIR TESTIMONY IF THEY'VE WORKED ON IT.
I JUST THINK THAT IT, I CAN SEE A SITUATION WHERE IF IT'S ALL LUMPED AT THE BEGINNING, IT COULD GET OUT OF HAND IF THAT PERSON IS GIVEN, YOU KNOW, NINE MINUTES OR 12 MINUTES OR SOMETHING AND THEN IT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF PUTTING IT ALL UP AT THE FRONT.
IT SEEMS LIKE I WOULD WANNA HEAR THEIR THREE MINUTES OF TESTIMONY FOR LIKE THE THREE ITEMS THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT.
MAYBE THIS IS JUST FOR ME HAVING DELIVERED WAY TOO MUCH TESTIMONY MYSELF.
BUT IT STINKS WHEN YOU WORK REALLY HARD ON IT AND THEN YOU GET SOMEWHERE AND SOMEBODY TELLS YOU HAVE TO MUSH A BUNCH OF STUFF TOGETHER AND YOU ONLY GET A MINUTE.
YEAH, I, I'VE BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
I KNOW THE, THE, THE THING IS THOUGH, WE DIVIDED IT UP TO TALK ABOUT THE TIME AND THEN TO, TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT HAPPENS AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF TIME PEOPLE GET TO SPEAK AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS SAYING THEY'RE LINKED.
CAUSE IT, THEN IT GOES FROM, SORRY, I KNOW I'M NOT ON ANYMORE.
THEN IT GOES FROM A REASONABLE THREE MINUTES ON THEIR SUBJECT TO POTENTIALLY SOME ONE PERSON SITTING THERE FOR FIVE OR SIX AGENDA ITEMS WORTH OF TESTIMONY AND JUST LINKING IT ALL TOGETHER AND THEN IT'S ALL MASHED UP.
CUZ THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE GOING FROM LIKE, YOU KNOW, CAT DECLINE TO COYOTES, TO RESEARCH PAPERS TO SOMETHING AND THEN THAT'S A THEN THAT'S HARD TO FOLLOW US COMMISSIONERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PERSON CAME HERE TO SAY.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH, NO, THAT MAKES SENSE.
I I WOULD JUST SAY THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD TO LIMIT ANYBODY ON HOW LONG THEY SPOKE AT THIS COMMISSION MEETING AND MY WHOLE TIME HERE.
JUST WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT AND NEVER HAD TO YES, COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER YARO AND, AND I THINK IT MIGHT ALSO BE CONFUSING FOR THE PUBLIC WHO IS LIKE, WHY DID THIS PERSON JUST SPEAK FOR NINE MINUTES? I ONLY GOT THREE IF THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAD DISTINCT TOPICS.
AND I THINK IF, IF IT WERE TEMPORARILY SEPARATED IT MIGHT BE EASIER TO UNDERSTAND.
SO WE, WE DO HAVE AN ITEM ON NOW ON THE FLOOR, WHICH IS, HAS BEEN FIRST AND SECOND IS WHEN WE HAVE THESE PEOPLE SPEAK.
AND SO NOW WE GOTTA VOTE ON THAT CUZ THAT'S HOW YOU GOTTA DO IT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ITEM IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION.
SO, UM, SO, UH, CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE MOTION HERE.
SO IS THERE A WAY TO REWARD THE MOTION IN THAT IF WHEN THE PUBLIC IS GONNA SPEAK THAT THEY ARE, WE WE CALL THE AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES PRIOR TO LETTING ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE PHONE WAITING TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM.
THAT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR 30, 45 MINUTES.
IS IT A SAY, WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM THOSE PERSONS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON DISCUSSION ITEM NUMBER ONE, GIVE THEM THEIR THREE MINUTES.
WE WILL NOW HEAR FROM PEOPLE DISCUSSION ITEM TWO, GIVE THEM THEIR THREE MINUTES.
USUALLY THEY THEY DO, BUT I MEAN, SO, BUT WE, IS THAT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO IT THAT WAY BEFORE WE ACTUALLY GET TO DISCUSSING THOSE ITEMS? UH, WELL THAT WOULD THEN IT WOULDN'T BE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
IT WOULD BE FOR EACH ITEM CHAIR.
YOU COULD ABSOLUTELY DO THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING IF YOU WANTED TO OUTLINE WHAT ITEM THEY WERE SPEAKING ON IT.
THE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS IT HAPPENS BEFORE THE ITEM IS TAKEN FOR DISCUSSION AND ACTION OR, SO I, I I'M, I'M A RANDOM RESIDENT.
I WANNA SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS YES.
SO YOU HAVE YOUR PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, IT HAPPENS, WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK.
THEY'RE THREE MINUTES FOR THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
THEN AS CHAIR YOU SAY, NOW WE WILL HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE SIGNED UP ON AGENDA ITEM ONE.
I'M SIGNED UP, I GET MY THREE MINUTES.
ANYBODY ELSE FOR THAT SPECIFIC ITEM? WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO IT YET.
BUT THEY CAN SPEAK TO IT AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE PHONE WAITING OR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE THAT HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO DO AREN'T HELD HERE FOR AN HOUR PLUS WAITING TO GET TO THAT SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.
SO, SO, SO THERE'S PEOPLE IN BETWEEN THEM, THEY'RE SEPARATED.
SO THAT MEANS THAT WE, WE TAKE THE ITEMS IN ORDER IN CLUMPS.
[01:30:01]
CAN BE PART, THAT CAN BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR, TO MY MOTION.AND THAT CAN BE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION.
AND SO, UH, AND THAT, AND, AND WHAT THAT MEANS THEN IS EACH PERSON CAN SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES ON EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM.
NOW THE CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT DO THIS AND THIS IS CONTROVERSIAL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO, WHO INSIST THAT THAT DOESN'T FOLLOW CITY LAW.
FRIENDS OF MINE WHO GET CRANKY
I I THINK THAT WE, CUZ WE CAN DO THAT IN THIS COMMISSION, I THINK BECAUSE WE HOPEFULLY NORMALLY DON'T GO THAT LONG.
SO CHAIR, YOU DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF FLEXIBILITY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT.
BUT UM, THE OTHER THING YOU CAN DO IS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO EVEN SEPARATE THEM IF WE'RE JUST CLEAR ON WHAT THEY'RE SPEAKING.
SO SAY SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON TWO, THREE AND FOUR, YOU COULD CALL THEM UP AND SAY, SO-AND-SO IS SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
THEY WILL HAVE THIS MANY MINUTES AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T AND THEN THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO HANG AROUND ON THE PHONE AND WAIT.
AND WE KIND OF DO THAT FOR COUNSEL.
SO YOU MIGHT HEAR IT SOMETIMES.
I'M, I'M CALLING THOSE NAMES A LOT.
MERNA CALLS THOSE NAMES A LOT.
AND SAY THEY DO LUMP IT, BUT WE DO IDENTIFY WHAT ITEMS THEY'RE CALLING FOR, RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THEY'RE ALL IN JUST ONE QUEUE AND WE SAY ITEM WHATEVER, WHATEVER, WHATEVER, WHATEVER.
THAT GOES RIGHT BACK TO MY INITIAL POINT THOUGH.
CAUSE THEN IT'S ONE PERSON WITH A BUNCH OF THREE MINUTES ALL SHOVING ALL THEIR STUFF INTO ONE WHILE WE TRY TO TAKE IT ALL IN AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT WE CAN ALL JUST YES, I'M IN AGREEMENT HERE.
I THINK, UM, I LIKE WHAT LOTTO WAS SAYING AS WELL, ABOUT SEPARATING THEM OUT.
SO YOU GET THREE MINUTES ON THIS.
BECAUSE I ENVISION SOMEBODY KIND OF, OKAY, SO THAT'S THE AMENDMENT THEN TO HERS.
IS THAT YOU SEP WE SEPARATE THE ITEMS OUT? YES.
SO HER, SO WE TAKE, UH, WE, WE TAKE COMMENTS ON, UH, AGENDA ITEMS AFTER, UH, GENERAL, UH, UH, GENERAL COMMUNICATION AND PEOPLE CAN, AND PEOPLE CAN SPEAK INDIVIDUALLY ON, ON ANY OR ALL ITEMS. THREE MINUTES PLEASE.
UNLESS, AND WITH THIS TIME LIMIT, UNLESS WE VOTE TO LIMIT THE TIME TO LESS THAN THREE MINUTES BECAUSE WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SPEAKING.
CAN WE ADD THAT THAT'S ANOTHER FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? YES.
SO, UH, AND AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE.
UM, A MAJORITY VOTE WOULD, WE WOULD, WE WOULD LIMIT IT TO EITHER TWO MINUTES.
ONE MINUTE I WON'T EVEN, I WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER ONE MINUTE CUZ I'VE BEEN, THE ONLY WAY I'VE EVER SPOKEN TO ONE MINUTE WITH ANY EFFECTIVENESS IS I HAD PICTURES THAT'LL WORK.
BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PICTURES.
UH, SO THERE IS THE, DOES EVERYBODY CLEAR WHAT THE MOTION IS? YES.
SO, UH, IS THERE ANY MORE, UH, DISCUSSION ON THIS? DID YOU LIKE THE WAY THE SAUSAGE WAS MADE? COMMISSIONER
SO TO BE HONEST, I'M, I'M, I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE WHAT THE MOTION IS.
SO, SO THE MOTION IS, LET ME STATE IT AGAIN.
EVERYBODY SHOULD BE CLEAR ON THIS.
SO THE MOTION IS PEOPLE, UH, SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS AFTER GENERAL COMMUNICATION.
UH, WE LUMP THE ITEMS BY, UH, AGENDA ITEM.
SO SPEAKERS ON ITEM ONE, ITEM TWO, ITEM THREE, ITEM FOUR.
EACH SPEAKER GETS TO SPEAK ON, UH, WHATEVER AGENDA ITEM THEY WANT OR AS MANY AGENDA ITEMS AS THEY WANT.
AND FOR EACH ITEM THEY GET TO SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
AND IF WE'RE GONNA LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME BASED ON SO MANY PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE, UH, A VOTE AND THE MAJORITY WOULD CUT THAT DOWN TO TWO MINUTES.
THAT IS THE, THAT IS THE MOTION.
WE, SO IF EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ABOUT THE MOTION.
CAN I MAKE A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT TO JUST YEAH, YOU COULD.
THE TWO MINUTE PART AND JUST SAY, AND WE RE WE STILL HAVE AN OPTION TO VOTE ON IT VERSUS SAYING IT HAS TO BE TWO MINUTES.
AND I DON'T, TO YOUR POINT I, IS IT NOT ALREADY JUST THE CHAIR'S PLEASURE THAT HE, IF IF HE WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION IN A, SO IT, THREE MONTHS FROM NOW, IF THERE'S 200 PEOPLE SIGNED UP ON ONE AGENDA ITEM AND THE CHAIR WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING TO SAY WE WOULD LIMIT TESTIMONY TO ONE OR TWO MINUTES, WOULDN'T HE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT? OR DO WE HAVE TO PASS IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS? NO, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND LEAVING THAT OPEN.
WHAT I PUT IN THE MINUTES IS JUST UNLESS VOTED TO REDUCE TIME.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY HOW I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU LEAVE IT.
BUT NOW HOW IS THAT? IT'S UP TO YOU.
SO YOU DON'T HA WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE LIMITING TWO MINUTE PART BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE AS CHAIR, YOU WOULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT IF
[01:35:01]
YOU NEEDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS LIKE SOME INSANE CROWD.THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR DOES AND YEAH.
BUT ONE THING JUST TO SAY THIS ACCORDING MY READ IS ROBERTS RULES, THE CHAIR IS NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE MOTIONS ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES.
WELL YOU CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION BUT YOU COULD ALSO JUST ASK FOR IT.
YOU JUST SAY COMMISSIONERS, I SEE THAT WE HAVE 50 PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN SPEAKING ON ITEM THREE.
BUT I'M JUST, OKAY, SO IS EVERYBODY CLEAR WITH WHAT THE MOTION IS? OKAY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL THOSE OPPOSED WERE, YEAH.
I'M GONNA OBTAIN, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND.
I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT ANYONE'S TALKING ABOUT.
SO, SO, SO THAT'S EVERYBODY VOTED FOR WITH ONE ABSTENTION.
WHAT ABOUT COMMISSIONER MITCHELL? I'M ALSO ABSTAINING.
OH, SO THERE'S TWO ABSTENTIONS.
UH, UH, THAT, SO THE COMMISSIONER MITCHELL AND COMMISSIONER HASSAN.
SO THAT, DOES THAT TAKE CARE OF THAT ITEM? AND NOBODY SAID NO.
NO ONE SAID NO TO ABSTENTIONS.
[7. Update from the Spay/Neuter Working Group regarding the Spay/Neuter Program Policy.]
TO, UM, THE WORKING GROUP UPDATE.THIS IS THE, UH, UH, THIS IS THE SUITES
UH, WE HAVE A GROUP, WE BEGIN TO, TO, TO TALK ABOUT SPARE UTER.
I KNOW IT'S SO NECESSARY, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, IN THE TRAVIS COUNTY, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD, BUT LET'S GO TO WORK WITH THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN CANT.
UH, COMMISSIONERS MAGULA IS GOING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT TALK ABOUT WHAT WE TALK IN THAT GROUP.
HUH? SO WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE SPAY NEUTER WORKING GROUP.
UM, IT WAS COMMISSIONER HERRERA, MYSELF, COMMISSIONER NIELSEN AND COMMISSIONER BRUCE, AND A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
AND WE ARE, UM, WORKING ON, ON, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SPAN NEUTER CAPABILITIES IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, WE HAVE A, OUR NEXT MEETING SCHEDULED WITH TO GO TO THE AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR, UM, PROGRAM OF THE COMMUNITY CATS AND HOW THEY DO THE SPAY NEUTERING THERE.
THE, UM, APPROPRIATE STAFF AT AAC THAT WORKS WITH THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN INVITED AND HOPEFULLY WILL BE THERE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAM FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILL BE THERE.
UM, AND SO WE CAN KIND OF GET AN IDEA OF HOW, HOW THAT WORKS FOR THE, THE, THE TN R OR S N R PORTION OF THAT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THIS FIRST WORKING GROUP WAS THE VETERINARIAN VACANCY AT AAC.
AND WHAT WE BELIEVE IS THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SHOULD AT A MINIMUM HAVE ONE VETERINARIAN THAT IS EXPERIENCED WITH A HIGH VOLUME, HIGH QUALITY, HIGH QUAN, HIGH QUALITY, HIGH VOLUME SPAN NEUTER.
UM, AND WE WOULD DEFINE THAT AS THE ABILITY TO SPAN NEUTER AT MINIMUM OF 30 ANIMALS AND A FIVE HOUR PERIOD WITH A MIX OF DOGS AND CATS IN THERE.
UM, AND A MIX OF MALE AND FEMALES.
UM, WE THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY TO HAVE THAT PERSON WITH THAT EXPERIENCE ON STAFF SO THAT WHEN THE ISSUE ARISES OF HAVING THAT MANY ANIMALS THAT NEED TO BE SPAYED AND NEUTERED AT ONCE, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND THEY HAVE SOMEBODY THERE WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT WHEN WE COME TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE END OF THE WORKING GROUP.
THAT WILL BE A RECOMMENDATION.
HAVE YOU ALL, SO EVERY SINGLE CITY IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW HAS A VACANCY FOR VETERINARIAN FIRST BAY AND NEUTER
HAVE, HAVE YOU ALL OR, OR IS THIS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL DO COMPARE THE RECRUITMENT PACKAGES THAT ALL OF THESE OTHER CITIES ARE OFFERING TO ATTRACT THEIR VETERINARIANS? CUZ I WILL TELL YOU SOME HAVE UPPED THEIR NAME, UM, TO RECRUIT THESE VETERINARIANS FOR THAT EXACT REASON.
SO WE MAY JUST, ONE OF THE THINGS WE MAY WANNA DO IS COMPARE WHAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS OFFERING MM-HMM.
[01:40:01]
A RECRUITMENT TOOL FOR THAT SPECIALIZED BET VERSUS WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER LARGE CITIES ARE OFFERING.THAT'S, I KNOW THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.
AND IF YOU HAVE SOME OF THE INFORMATION, I'M GONNA INTERRUPT BECAUSE I HAVE ACTUALLY MET, UM, THIS AVERAGE SPAY NEUTER VET IN THE AUSTIN REGION WORKS FOUR DAYS A WEEK AND MAKES MORE THAN THE POSITION THAT'S BEING OFFERED FOR FIVE DAYS A WEEK IS BEING OFFERED FOR.
UM, THE POSITION WAS POSTED AND CLOSED, UH, IT WAS, UH, ADVERTISED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN WEBSITE INDEED AN I HIRE, I BELIEVE IT WAS NOT POSTED ON THE ASV ASSOCIATION OF SHELTER VETS.
IT WAS NOT POSTED ON ANY SPOT, HONESTLY, THAT THE AVERAGE SHELTER OR HIGH VOLUME SURGEON WOULD LOOK.
AND SO THAT POSITION HAS BEEN REPOSTED.
UM, AND THE VETS HAVE BEEN WORKING AT EXPANDING THE, UM, WHERE THAT'S BEING SEEN.
SO GETTING IT ON ASV, GETTING IT ON SOME FACEBOOK PAGES, UM, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT REACHING OUT TO THE VETERINARY COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS. BUT I FULLY AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A MASSIVE VETERINARY SHORTAGE, UM, IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT IS NOT A COMPETITIVE PACKAGE AT ALL.
WOULD SO TO YOUR POINT EXACTLY.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN DOING RECRUITMENT FOR THAT POSITION AND THE SALARY HAS GONE UP.
THEY'RE NOW GOING TO FOUR DAY WORK WEEKS, THEY'RE NOW GOING OFFERING, YOU KNOW, BONUS PACKAGES, MOVING PACKAGES, LIKE ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
AND SO I THINK WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER, WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RECRUITING VETS, WE HAVE TO BE REALLY HONEST ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE TO TRY TO ATTRACT A VETERINARIAN WHEN EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIND THAT MAGICAL VETERINARIAN RIGHT NOW.
SO I, EVERY SHELTER I TALK TO RIGHT NOW, THAT'S THE FEEDBACK I GET.
SO I'M, I'M GONNA BACK IT UP EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AND ALONGSIDE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, I'VE DONE RELIEF WORK AT AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY.
I MOVED DOWN HERE TO WORK WITH E MANZA PET.
I HELPED GET THE BEST PROP PROGRAM GOING.
I'VE HELPED GET, UM, THE PROGRAM IN DRIPPING SPRINGS GROWING.
AND AT NO PERIOD IN THE LAST SIX YEARS OF WORKING WITH AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, HAS THERE BEEN ANY COMMITMENT MADE TO ACTUALLY DELIVER HIGH QUALITY, HIGH VOLUME SERVICES.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE NOT RECRUITED FOR IT.
UM, NOR HAVE THEY HELD ANY OF THEIR VETERINARIANS OR SUPPORT STAFF ACCOUNTABLE FOR REACHING THAT VOLUME.
AND SO I THINK BEFORE WE START RECRUITING THAT VET, WE NEED A COMMITMENT THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS COMMITTED TO DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY, HIGH VOLUME SERVICES AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR MANY YEARS.
YOU KNOW, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE PHYSICAL SPACE AND THE EQUIPMENT, AND EVEN IF YOU CHOOSE THE CORRECT STAFF MEMBERS, HAS A PROVEN CAPACITY.
THEY HAVE RELIEF DOCTORS THAT COME IN AND DO 30 TO 40 ANIMALS A DAY.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCUSES BEING MADE BY STAFF THAT GOES BACK, MULTIPLE DIRECTORS AND LEADERS.
YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER FOR SOME REASON HAS NOT EMBRACED HIGH VOLUME.
SECOND, I DON'T KNOW IF IT COMES AS A DIRECTIVE FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
UM, IT, IT'S REALLY HARD TO HEAR IF YOU TURN YOUR HEAD AWAY FROM THE MIC ONLINE AND I'D REALLY LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
OH, I'M JUST NOT GETTING QUITE ALL OF IT.
SO ANYWAY, I MEAN THE GIST OF IT IS THIS COMMITTEE I THINK NEEDS TO DECIDE IF WE WANT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER ONCE AND FOR ALL TO COMMIT TO HOLDING THEMSELVES TO BEING A HIGH QUALITY, HIGH VOLUME SPAY NEUTER PROGRAM.
UM, LIKE OTHER SHELTERS OF THEIR SIZE THROUGHOUT THIS STATE ARE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT COMMITMENT HASN'T BEEN MADE, BUT IT HAS NOT.
AND YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THAT PHYSICAL SPACE HAS THE PROVEN CAPACITY TO DELIVER 30 TO 40 SURGERIES A DAY.
AND THIS IS MORE FOR MY EDUCATION.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT WHAT YOU'RE ALL DOING.
UH, SO I HEARD IN THE GOAL, OR UM, IT'S TO DO IN FIVE HOURS 30 SPAY NEUTER.
SO THAT WOULD BE SIX ANIMALS PER HOUR.
IS IT THAT QUICK TO DO SPAY NEUTER? THE PROVISIONAL ONES ARE SO FAST.
UHHUH
SO, UM, AGAIN, LAST TUESDAY I WAS, WAS RELIEF DOCTOR AND HAD STAFF THAT WERE
[01:45:01]
COMING TELL ABOUT WHEN, WHEN WE START SURGERY UNTIL THE LAST ANIMALS IN RECOVERY, NOT FROM THAT ANIMAL BEING UP AND READY TO BE DISCHARGED, BUT ACTUAL SURGICAL CUTTING TIME OF FOUR HOURS.WE COULD DO, WE DID 36 ANIMALS.
AND SO THERE ARE OTHER RELIEF VETERINARIANS LIKE MYSELF WHO ARE TRAINED IN HIGH VOLUME SURGERY.
AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE, UM, WITHOUT TRAINING THAT THE CURRENT VETERINARIANS AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER COULD GET TO THAT VOLUME.
I MEAN, I, I'LL, I AM A GOOD HIGH-VOLUME SURGEON.
UM, BUT YES, 30 SURGERIES IN A FIVE HOUR PERIOD IS ACHIEVABLE FOR SOMEBODY WITH THE GOAL AND THE INTENT OF BEING A HIGH-VOLUME SURGEON.
UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WORKING ON THIS.
IT'S, UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT'S KIND OF AN EDUCATION FOR ME, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE HIGH-VOLUME BED AND IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THE FACILITY CAN HANDLE IT CUZ I WAS GONNA ASK ABOUT THAT MM-HMM.
BUT WHAT OTHER SUPPORT STAFF DO WE NEED AND DOES, WOULD THE CITY ALSO HAVE TO RECRUIT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE DURING RECOVERY AND SUCH? I THINK I, I, OKAY.
I AM GOING TO LEAVE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL.
I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER, THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS NEVER RECRUITED FOR, TRAINED FOR, NOR HELD ANYBODY ACCOUNTABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS.
THERE IS NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ANYONE IN VETERINARY SERVICE WHO HAS COME FROM A BACKGROUND WORKING IN A HIGH-VOLUME SPAY NEUTER CLINIC.
AND I'M INCLUDING ALL OF THIS, THE, LIKE TECHNICAL SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL AS THE VETERINARIANS.
SO YES, THEY COULD ABSOLUTELY CHOOSE TO REACH OUT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY POST POSTINGS, THEY COULD POST FOR PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE IN HIGH VOLUME CLINICS.
THEY COULD POST FOR PEOPLE WITH TRAINING IN VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY, THERE'S, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S CURRENTLY A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN ON STAFF.
SO LOTS OF DECISIONS IN HIRING COULD BE MADE DIFFERENTLY.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER THEN, BESIDES THE VET TO LOOK AT, BUT NU VET TECH POSITION OPEN, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER TO LOOK FOR AN ANTICIPATION OF DOING THIS.
WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER IS THEY HISTORICALLY HAD A TRAINING PROGRAM IN PLACE THAT COULD TAKE THEIR STAFF THROUGH LEARNING THE TECHNICAL SKILLS.
I MEAN, THEY'VE HAD FANTASTIC STAFF MEMBERS, UM, IN THE PAST CAPABLE OF DELIVERING HIGH VOLUME SERVICES, LIKE TRAINING THE TECHNICAL SKILLS.
AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A THREE STAFF MEMBER, UM, ROLE TO SUPPORT A DOCTOR DOING THAT VOLUME AND THEN SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO THE PAPERWORK.
UM, AND THEY'RE, THEY TYPICALLY HAVE A RECOVERY VOLUNTEER IN THERE, BUT THAT WOULDN'T BE A NECESSARY THING.
UM, AND SINCE I DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HIGH VOLUME, UM, SURGERY, I DID FOSTER A DOG THAT, UM, ENDED UP WITH A HERNIA FOLLOWING, UM, HIS, UH, NEUTER SURGERY, UM, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.
UM, IS THERE ANY HIGHER RISK TO ANIMALS FROM HIGH VOLUME SPAY NEUTER SURGERY OF HAVING THOSE TYPE OF ISSUES VERSUS REGULAR SURGERY? SO THE COMPLICATIONS ARE LESS, UM, FROM A MORTALITY RATE.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF PUBLISHED DATA THAT ACTUALLY HIGH VOLUME, UH, SURGERIES THAT THE, UM, MORBIDITY, MORTALITY RATES ARE LOWER.
UM, AND JUST LIKE IN HUMAN MEDICINE, IF ONE PERSON DOES THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, THEY JUST GET BETTER AND BETTER AT IT.
SO IF THE BASIC TRAINING AND SKILLSET IS THERE, THEN YOUR COMPLICATION RATE BECOMES LOWER AND LOWER.
SO IF THE, SO IN THAT CASE THEN IF THE VETERINARIAN ISN'T THERE, THE SOMEDAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SICKER SOMETHING, THEN WE'D PROBABLY HAVE TO POSTPONE SURGERIES FOR THAT DAY.
WELL, THEY STILL HAVE SURGEONS CAPABLE AND ADEPT AND PROFICIENT AT DOING SURGERIES THERE.
AND MY LAST QUESTION, UM, AGAIN, IT'S KNOWLEDGE.
SO THESE ANIMALS PER DAY THAT WE'RE DOING, ARE THESE SHELTER ANIMALS THAT ARE WAITING FOR SURGERY OR IS THIS A SERVICE WE'RE GONNA OFFER TO THE PUP? THE IDEA FROM THE VETERINARIAN OF THE SHELTER, IT'S ONLY ANIMALS THAT THE OIN ANIMAL CENTER, IT'S O OWN THESE ANIMALS.
THE, UH, AND THAT'S, THAT'S COMPLETELY PLANNED JUST JUST TO HELP THE ANIMALS FROM THE SHELTER BECAUSE WE CAN SEE SOME SEASONS WHEN IT'S SCARY SEASON OR A POPPY SEASON, IT'S TOO MANY.
LIKE FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, NOW LAST WEEK WAS ON THE LEASE, ONLY 70 ANIMALS, BUT I JUMPED TO SOME NUMBERS BEFORE AND WAS IN THE LEASE 140.
SO IT HELPS KEEP UP PLUS BE PROACTIVE.
FOR THE, THIS, THIS IS JUST TO BE ON THE, AND JUST THE SHELTER.
JUST THE SHELTER OWNED ANIMALS.
[01:50:01]
WE COME FOR THE COMMUNITY ANIMALS.SO WE'RE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THEM, IT'S THE ANIMALS THAT ARE WITHIN THE SHELTER, BUT THEN ALSO THE FOSTER PROGRAM.
SO IN THE PAST, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SENT THEIR FOSTER ANIMALS THROUGH EMANCIPATE.
UM, I THINK AROUND, I'D HAVE TO LOOK EXACTLY, BUT UP TO AROUND 500 ANIMALS A YEAR, WE'RE GOING THROUGH EMANCIPET.
UM, EMANCIPET CAPACITY HAS DWINDLED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING C O V.
AND SO NOW AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SPAY NEUTER PROGRAMS IS ALSO, UM, DOING ALL THE FOSTER ANIMALS.
SO THAT'S, YOU KNOW, NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS SYSTEM AS WELL.
WITHIN THE CUSTODY OF AAC CAN BRIAN HAS THE QUESTION.
RYAN, DO YOU HAVE, UH, COMMISSIONER CLINTON? THANK YOU.
UH, I GLAD THAT MR. NORTON BROUGHT THAT TOPIC UP AND I JUST KIND WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
UM, OBVIOUSLY, AND, AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE, I THINK EVERYBODY ON, ON THE COMMISSION NOTICE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IS THAT WE OUTSOURCE, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF THE COMMUNITY STATE LEADER, UH, TO EMAN PET.
AND THEY ARE A HIGH VOLUME CLINIC.
AND, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING, OBVIOUSLY I WOULD DEF REFER TO VETERINARIANS ON THE, UH, ON THE COMMISSION, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE SAME THAT WHEN, UH, VETS ARE TRAINED IN HIGH VOLUME STAIN, THEY DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING SAFE.
BUT YOU'RE, I I ONCE ASKED A PRIVATE VET, UM, SHOULD I, UH, THIS IS A LONG TIME AGO.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY BETTER OFF GOING TO A PRIVATE VET GONNA VET MAKES IT, TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST, THEY PROBABLY BETTER OFF GONNA REGARDLESS OF PRICE BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, AND SO I THINK THERE'S, UH, GREAT, UH, A BENEFIT TO THE TRAININGS THAT DR.
BRUCE IS TALKING ABOUT IN THE SYSTEM THAT DR.
UH, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN MENTIONED IS THAT THE, THE, THE SPACE CRISIS WORKING GROUP AND THE VARIOUS, UM, TIMES THROUGHOUT THE LAST PROBABLY 10 YEARS WHERE WE'VE HAD BOTTLENECKS THAT'S OFTEN COME UP THAT ONE OF THE, UH, GROUNDS, ONE OF PLACES WHERE BOTTLENECKS HAVE HAPPENED IS, UH, IN MAY WHERE THE ANIMALS, UH, ARE TECHNICALLY ADOPTED OR SOMEBODY WAITING FOR THEM TO BE ADOPTED, BUT WE CAN'T GET THEM OUT, UM, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MEDICALLY READY.
AND USUALLY THE THING THAT SLOWS THEM DOWN THE MOST IS STAY NERE.
SO, UM, I REALLY, I JUST WANTED TO, TO ADD THAT, THAT THAT'S YET YET ANOTHER REASON TO, TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A WAY TO, TO MOVE US ALONG IN THE PROCESS OF SAVING MORE ANIMALS IS THAT IF WE CAN, UM, IF WE CAN GET THEM OUT FASTER THEN, AND THEN, THEN THEY DON'T NEED TO BE HELD IN THEIR CAGES AS LONG AND WE CAN, UM, MOVE OTHER ANIMALS IN.
AND THAT HELPS, UH, RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH KEEPING ANIMALS OUT OF THE SHELTER AS WELL.
UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
COME THIS, THIS, THIS IS JUST BEGINNING WITH, WITH THE SHELTER AND SEE HOW THEIN ANIMAL CENTER CAN BE MORE P THEY DO FANTASTIC WORK.
I HAVE SOME OF THE BEST COWORKERS DOING SURGERIES.
I, I GO AND I TAKE A PICTURE MAYBE TWICE PER WEEK, UH, THE AIDS TO, TO DO IT MUCH BETTER BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT.
AND THE OTHER PART OF THESE WORKING GROUP, IT IS SEEING HOW, HOW WE CAN HELP MORE THE COMMUNITY OR SEEING HOW WE CAN EDUCATE BETTER THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE SPAN.
BECAUSE AS, AS WE KNOW, WE ARE VERY LOW WITH NUMBERS AND IT'S NOT US IN, IT'S EVERYBODY.
UH, WE HAVE THIS MEETING WITH HUMAN SOCIETY TO SEE, UH, THE, THE CATS.
AND I HAVE NEXT WEEK A MEETING WITH THE PEOPLE FROM APA AND I AM VERY EXCITED BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE ALL WE ALL THE COMMUNITY WANT, WE WANT TO WORK FOR THESE MM-HMM.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF THE HAPPY ENDINGS AND THE OPTIONS AT THE SHELTER, BUT THE TRUTH, WE NEED TO CLOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE THE SOURCE BECAUSE WE CAN SEE, OR I CAN SEE MORE INTACT ANIMALS, I CAN SEE MORE PUPPIES AND MORE KITTENS THAN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PEOPLE AROUND, AROUND THIS GROUP.
AND, AND I WANT TO INVITE THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU ALL WANT TO ENJOY PART OF THIS GROUP, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
UH, NOW FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, UH, DO WE HAVE ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FOR JANUARY? UM, I'D MAKE A MOTION THAT WE KEEP THE, UM, WORKING GROUP UPDATE ON MONTHLY UNTIL WE MAKE OUR FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS.YEAH, I THINK WORKING GROUPS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
[01:55:01]
UN UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT A, THEN THEY'RE DISSOLVED.I THINK THAT'S HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
IT'S, IT'S ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATION.
I I WOULD JUST SAY WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE A STANDING ITEM, BUT AS LONG AS THERE'S AN UPDATE.
UH, ANY OTHER ITEMS TO PUT ON THE AGENDA? UH, LIKE I SAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN ITEM AND IT COMES UP, WE NEED A FIRST AND A SECOND.
AND, AND, AND THEN WE WANNA GET IT TO UH, UH, STEPHANIE AT LEAST A WEEK BEFORE
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OH, I DO WANNA MAKE A QUICK ANNOUNCEMENT JUST BECAUSE THE, THE ITEM WE PASSED ABOUT BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS, GOT A LOT OF TRACTION AT THE CITY COUNCIL.
IT LOOKS THAT, UH, AUDUBON JUMPED ON BOARD.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BIRD FRIENDLY GLASS IN THE STATESMAN PUD, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IT IN THE BRODY OAKS DEVELOPMENT AND WE'RE HOPING THAT'LL GET PASSED.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE MAY NOT FEEL LIKE WE DO A LOT OF GOOD, BUT I THINK THIS THING, I WAS SURPRISED MYSELF, UH, WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IS TAKING IT ON AS ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT ANYWAY, SO WE'RE ADJOURNED AT A, YES.
SORRY, I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
UM, IS ANYBODY FROM STAFF STILL ON OR I'M JUST SEEING A COUPLE OTHER COMMISSIONERS ON THE ZOOM LINK OR TEAM, WHATEVER THIS IS.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY FROM THE SHELTER.
WE JUST HAD MOVED THEM OVER, SO THERE'S, THEY'RE NOT VISIBLE, BUT THEY COULD STILL BE IN, I'M NOT SURE, BUT RIGHT.
THEY'RE ARE, THEY'RE, YES, HE'S THERE.
WHAT'S, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? WATCH THAT.
CAN I DO A QUESTION BECAUSE I I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THE MEETING LAST MONTH.
AM I UNDERSTANDING IS LAST MONTH THERE WAS NO ONE FROM STAFF PRESENT EITHER ON A LINK OR IN PERSON.
THEY, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, ARE WE SHIFTING THE MODEL OF THIS COMMISSION AND WHETHER WE HAVE, UH, RESOURCES FROM THE ANIMAL CENTER AVAILABLE? I MEAN, I REALIZE THAT DIRECTOR OF LAND HERE TONIGHT ONLINE, WHICH I, WHICH IS GREAT, I APPRECIATE, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF SHIFT THAT'S BEING MADE THAT I MISSED.
THIS IS STEPHANIE WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE SHIFT.
IT'S TEMPORARY AND WE ARE WORKING ON IT MONTH TO MONTH.
SO I WILL HAVE INFORMATION FOR YOU NEXT MONTH ABOUT THE STAFF AND THE STAFF REPORT, BUT FOR NOW, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL BE HERE IN PERSON AND THEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE STAFF ATTEND VIRTUALLY.
RIGHT? I CAN'T SPEAK YET FOR NEXT MONTH AT THIS POINT.
QUESTION WOULD BE NO, NO, THAT'S ALL.
I JUST CAN'T, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR NEXT MONTH AT THIS POINT YET.
SO CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THAT'S HAPPENING? BECAUSE IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT STRANGE TO ME TO HAVE STAFF REPORTS, BUT NO STAFF ASKS QUESTIONS OF, I MEAN, I, I RECOGNIZE WE DID TONIGHT, BUT I JUST I HEARD THAT LAST MONTH THAT WASN'T AN OPTION AT ALL.
I, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THIS IS NOT REALLY ON THE AGENDA.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE FOR US TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH IS YOU ASK IF THERE WERE FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT THAT WAS JUST SORT OF A PROCEDURAL ONE.
YEAH, IF IT REQUIRES SOME AGENDA, I THAT'S FINE.
YEAH, I MEAN THAT, I MEAN THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW AS WE COULD, UH, POTENTIALLY, I MEAN, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GONNA BE AN ITEM THAT WE CAN EXACTLY ADDRESS IN A COMMISSION MEETING.
WE KIND OF COVERED IT LAST WEEK, KIND OF COVERED IT LAST WEEK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
UM, I, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY UPDATES RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING TEMPORARY AND LIKE I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT STAFF ATTEND A BOARD COMMISSION MEETING.
WHAT THE REQUIREMENT IS, IS THAT THERE'S A STAFF PERSON THAT'S BEEN ASSIGNED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO STAFF THE MEETING.
AND SO WE ARE CURRENTLY FILLING THAT ROLE.
AS ANY OTHER COMMISSION GOES, THEY MAY INVITE STAFF OR SPECIALTIES OR CERTAIN OFFICES TO COME AND ANSWER QUESTIONS.
STAFF ARE NOT REQUIRED TO ATTEND NOR ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND SO I THINK WE ARE KIND OF FACING THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT MONTH TO MONTH AS AS WE CAN.
AND IT'S KIND OF IN FLUX RIGHT NOW.
WELL, UH, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER MITCHELL KEEP IN IN CONTACT AND IT COULD, MAYBE WE CAN MAKE IT AN ITEM OR NOT.
WE MAY GET SOME MORE INFORMATION.
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE I'VE BEEN TOLD WE CAN'T, AND IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT TROUBLING THAT WE CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT REPORTS.
UH, UH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN, UH, YES.
IF THE STAFF IS NOT TO ATTEND, I'M JUST WONDERING, UM, ARE COMMISSIONERS REQUIRED TO ATTEND, UH, MEETINGS WITH STAFF? CAUSE I, I JUST, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'LL BE ADDRESSED, BUT I, I, I'M REALLY HERE TO UNDERSTAND THE DATA AND,
[02:00:01]
UM, WHAT'S HAPPENING TO PET IN OUR CITY.AND I IF, IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, CAN WE JUST, IS THERE A PURPOSE IN EVEN HAVING MEETINGS? I MEAN, YOU CAN CERTAINLY CANCEL A FUTURE MEETING IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THERE ARE AGENDA ITEMS. I DON'T THINK I WOULD AGREE NECESSARILY WITH THAT STATEMENT.
I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE OUTLINED THAT THE COMMISSION CAN DO AND ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IN THEIR MANDATE.
UH, WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE ANSWERS FROM STAFF AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IN THE PAST, SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS TOO AND BACK AND FORTH WITH STAFF HAVE NOT BEEN CONDUCIVE TO AN EFFECTIVE COMMISSION MEETING.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.
BUT YES, YOU ARE WELCOME AS COMMISSIONERS TO NOT HAVE A MEETING.
YOU CAN ALSO NOT HAVE A QUORUM AND THAT MEETING WILL BE CALLED TO ORDER.
IF THAT HAPPENS FOR SIX MONTHS, IT WILL BE TAKEN UP BY THE AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE.
IF I CAN JUST SAY ONE LAST THING AND THEN NOT TO BE CONTENTIOUS IN ANY WAY, IT'S JUST, IT, IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING FOR US TO DO OUR JOBS AND APPROPRIATELY AND EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS IF WE CAN'T NECESSARILY GET QUESTIONS ABOUT DATA ANSWERED.
CAUSE THAT'S WHY I'M RAISING THE QUESTION.
I WASN'T TRYING TO CERTIFY OR HAVE YOU ATTEND IT OR ANYTHING.
I JUST, I FOUND IT A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING BECAUSE IT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE TOUGHER TO, TO DO OUR JOBS FOR OUR MEMBERS AND THANK YOU.
YES, COMMISSIONER NELSON, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
BUT WE, THIS IS MYRNA, THE CITY CLERK AND COUNSEL ARE AWARE, UM, THAT WE ARE FILLING IN AS LIAISONS.
UM, SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING PUT THIS OUT INFORMATION OUT THERE.
UM, WE'RE HERE TO ASSIST AND MANAGE, HELP YOU MANAGE THE MEETINGS AND, UM, LAST, THE LAST MEETING WAS THE FIRST MEETING AND SO WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD FLOW AND, UM, THAT'S WHY STAFF WERE PRESENT TODAY, BE IT ONLINE OR IN PERSON.
AND THAT'S HOW IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL, UM, WE ARE TOLD NOT TO ASSIST ANY LONGER.
SO, UM, AND I SEE THAT DON IS ON, HAS A QUESTION AS WELL THAT WAS DIRECTED AT ME.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT, UH, I, I DO, I WAS NOT HERE LAST MONTH'S MEETING CUZ I WAS ON A PLANE COMING BACK FROM, UH, AN EVENT.
BUT, UH, I, I DO UNDERSTAND, I THINK WE DID HAVE A STAFF MEMBER AVAILABLE.
UH, SO IF FROM, YOU KNOW, ONE FORWARD, UNLESS THERE'S EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE'RE GONNA BE, THERE WILL BE STAFF MEMBERS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE, WAS THIS EVENING.
UH, SO THAT WAS AN ANOMALY LAST MONTH, BUT, UH, WE HOPE THAT, THAT, THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN.
UH, COMMISSIONER O' NIELSEN, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? NO.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S, YES, COMMISSIONER, WE DID HAVE A SYSTEM LAST MONTH WHERE JASON WAS ONLINE ANSWERING QUESTIONS AS BEST YOU COULD.
AND I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE JASON AND, UM, YOU, YOU, YOUR OFFICE IN ALL THE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS AND GETTING US THE FOLLOW UP INFORMATION AND SHARING IT WITH ALL OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
I THOUGHT YOU DID A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
AND I THOUGHT, UM, EVEN DURING THE MEETING, I KNOW IT WAS TRICKY.
IT'S THE FIRST ONE, BUT JASON DID A GOOD JOB OF RE REPLYING AND THEN GETTING BACK TO ALL OF US, SO THANK YOU.
UH, WELL THEN THE, THE MEETING ADJOURNS AT YES, RYAN? YEAH, I, I JUST HAD ONE, ONE COMMENT AND I'M SORRY TO EXTERMINATING, BUT I'LL TAKE 30 SECONDS OR LESS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, THAT I, I DON'T LIKE THE, THE, THE IDEA THAT COMMISSIONERS SHOULD BE SENDING EMAILS THROUGH THIS KILLER'S OFFICE TO THE STAFF AND THEN GOING BACK AROUND.
UM, I THINK THAT IS NOT A PUBLIC PLAY OF HAVING, UH, INFORMATION BE SHARED.
I THINK THAT THE, UM, STAFF MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS AS DONE SUGGESTED THAT HE WOULD TRY TO BE FROM HERE ON OUT, UH, MY WAY.
UH, IS THAT, NO MORE COMMENTS? NO.
SO WE ADJOURNED AT, UH, EIGHT, UH OH SEVEN.
YOU KNOW THAT SWEET MOUNTAIN WAS SKIPPING THE BUS AND BLOWS
[02:05:04]
PROBABLY.