[Speakers are: Jose "Chito" Vela -Council Member – District 4 Leikyn Huckins -Constituent Don Bland -Director, Animal Services Dr. Ellen Jefferson - CEO, Austin Pets Alive! Kirk Waston -Mayor Paige Ellis - Mayor Pro Tem, District 8 Allison Alter -Council Member – District 10 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly - District 6 Luis Herrera - Animal Advisory Commission]
[00:00:09]
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF, UH, CRITICAL REFORMS FOR, UH, OF OUR FIRE SAFETY RULES TO PROTECT OUR FURRY FRIENDS AND COMPANIONS, SOME OF WHOM WE HAVE WITH US TODAY.
UH, BUT WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE TODAY, IF NOT FOR THE INSPIRING EFFORTS OF ONE PERSON.
LAKEN HUCKINS LAKEN TOOK THE TRAGEDY OF A DEVASTATING KENNEL FIRE AND TURNED IT INTO A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.
UH, I'M HUMBLED TO INTRODUCE LAKEN TO SHARE HER STORY.
DREXEL AND GIZMO IN THE PONDEROSA PET RESORT FIRE IN 2021.
IT WASN'T UNTIL THE AFTERMATH OF THAT ORDEAL THAT I LEARNED JUST HOW FEW REGULATIONS ARE IN PLACE AT THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES.
I LEARNED THAT BECAUSE OUR ANIMALS ARE CONSIDERED PROPERTY, THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED OCCUPANTS OF A BUILDING.
THIS MEANS THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BUILD OR OPERATE IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES LIFE.
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BUILD WITH FIRE RESISTANT MATERIALS, AND THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO PROVIDE CONSTANT SUPERVISION.
SINCE THEN, I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND PETITION CITIES TO ADOPT A FIRE SUPPRESSION PLAN LIKE GEORGETOWN DID AFTER THE FIRE THAT KILLED 75 ANIMALS.
WHEN A PET CARE FACILITY IS BEING PAID FOR 24 HOUR CARE OF LIVING BEINGS WHO ARE LOCKED IN CAGES INCAPABLE OF SELF-PRESERVATION, THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PRESERVES LIFE FOR THE 59 FAMILIES WHO LOST THEIR DOGS THAT DAY.
I CAN TELL YOU, THESE DOGS WERE SO MUCH MORE THAN PROPERTY.
DREXEL AND GIBS NEMO GAVE MY FAMILY AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF LOVE, JOY, AND COMPANIONSHIP.
THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILY.
THE TRAGEDY THAT SPARKED THIS CHANGE HAPPENED IN GEORGETOWN, BUT THIS IS NOT JUST A GEORGETOWN PROBLEM.
PONDEROSA WAS NOT THE FIRST PET CARE FACILITY FIRE.
AND SINCE THE PONDEROSA FIRE, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST NINE MORE FIRES IN PET CARE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS RESULTING IN 59 MORE COMPANION ANIMALS DYING THIS HORRIFIC DEATH.
UNTIL WE MAKE REAL WIDESPREAD CHANGES, WE ARE ON THE COUNTDOWN TO THE NEXT TRAGIC EVENT.
FOR ME, THE DEATHS HAVE BECOME A CAUSE THAT HAS CREATED CHANGES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE SAFETIES OF OTHER PET LIVES.
I AM GRATEFUL TO THE CITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY MADE FIRE CODE CHANGES TO ADD FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS TO THEIR PET CARE FACILITIES.
THESE INCLUDE GEORGETOWN, LIBERTY HILL, CEDAR PARK, ROUND ROCK, AND NOW CURRENTLY ON AGENDA FOR THE CITIES OF HU AND AUSTIN.
EVERY CHANGE THAT IS MADE BECOMES A GIFT FROM THEIR DEATH AND MEANS THAT THEY DID NOT IN DIE IN VAIN.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE DON BLAND.
ACTUALLY, LET ME, UH, I'LL GET IT.
THA THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, UH, LAKE AND, UH, GREATLY, UH, APPRECIATE IT.
AND IT'S, UH, IT'S REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE WHAT HAS COME FROM THE TRAGIC DEATH OF YOUR TWO ANIMAL COMPANIONS.
AND, UH, IT'S INSPIRING TO SEE SO MUCH CHANGE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL TEXAS.
UH, AGAIN, I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S HORRIBLE THAT TRAGEDIES HAPPEN, BUT IT IS GREAT WHEN PEOPLE RESPOND IN A POSITIVE AND CARING WAY.
AND I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR ACTIVISM ON THIS, UH, SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR RAISING YOUR VOICE AND FIGHTING SO THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS TO EXPERIENCE A PAINFUL LOSS OF TREASURED FAMILY MEMBERS.
YOU EXEMPLIFY THE VALUES THAT MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR DEMOCRACY STRONGER.
THE LOSS OF 75 PETS IN THE 2021 GEORGETOWN KENNEL FIRE WAS A PREVENTABLE TRAGEDY.
AS LAKEN MENTIONED, THE MODEL INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE BASES MANY OF ITS REQUIREMENTS ON THE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS, BUT CATEGORIZES PETS AS PROPERTY THAT MAY BE LEGALLY CORRECT, BUT I KNOW THAT MOST OF US THINK OF OUR ANIMAL COMPANIONS AS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF FURNITURE OR A TV.
UNDERSTANDABLY, MOST OWNERS TRUST THAT THE LAW WOULD PROTECT THE LIVES OF ALL FAMILY MEMBERS AND WOULD BE SHOCKED TO LEARN THAT THE FACILITIES THEY ENTRUST THEIR PETS TO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE COMMON FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE EFFORTS OF LAKEN OTHERS WHO HAVE LOST PETS AND PASSIONATE COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INCLUDING OWNERS OF PET BOARDING FACILITIES,
[00:05:01]
A NUMBER OF CITIES HAVE MADE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THEIR FIRE CODES.TODAY'S RESOLUTION TAKES THE NECESSARY FIRST STEP TO INITIATE AMENDMENTS TO OUR CITY'S FIRE CODE.
TO ESTABLISH FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR 24 HOUR.
PET BOARDING FACILITIES BY STATE LAW CHANGES TO MODEL CODES, SUCH AS THE FIRE CODE REQUIRE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE ANY CHANGES CAN BE MADE.
ONCE TODAY'S RESOLUTION IS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, SUGGESTED CHANGES WILL GO TO THE BUILDING AND FIRE, UH, CODE BOARD OF APPEALS, THEN TO THE COUNCIL FOR PUBLIC HEARING AND POTENTIAL APPROVAL.
MY STAFF HAVE ALREADY DRAFTED CODE CHANGES BASED ON THOSE PASTS IN OTHER CITIES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CITY STAFF, ARE CO-SPONSORS AND ADVOCATES TO ENSURE THAT ANY FACILITIES, HOUSING, PETS ON A 24 HOUR BASIS HAS FIRE DETECTION ALARM AND FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. WE BELIEVE THAT CLOSING THIS ALARMING LOOPHOLE DEMONSTRATES AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO ANIMAL WELLBEING AND SAFETY, AND FRANKLY, IS JUST COMMON SENSE.
I'D LIKE TO TURN THINGS OVER TO DON BLAND, DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES TO SPEAK ABOUT THOSE VALUES AND POLICIES.
DON, THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING.
I'D LIKE TO FIRST THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR PLACING ITEM NUMBER 42 ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TODAY.
WE ALL LOVE OUR PETS AND UNDER THE BEST CIRCUMSTANCES, IT'S STRESSFUL FOR US TO BE SEPARATED FROM THEM.
THIS ADDED LEVEL OF SAFETY WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN OUR CARE IS GONNA BE SO BENEFICIAL.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER VELA FOR PLACING AN NUMBER 46 ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, WE WANT PETS IN THEIR HOMES WHERE THEY'RE LOVED AND CARED FOR.
WHEN A PET BECOMES LOOSE, IT, IT CAN'T TELL US WHERE IT BELONGS, BUT A MICROCHIP CAM OF THE 158 LOOSE ANIMALS THAT ARRIVED IN THE FIRST THREE DAYS AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER THIS WEEK, ONLY ONE HAD A MICROCHIP AND WAS ABLE TO BE REUNITED IN THE HOME WHERE IT'S LOVED AND CARED FOR.
EVERYONE'S GOAL IS TO GET THEIR PETS BACK INTO THE FAMILIES, UH, WHERE THEY BELONG.
AND A MICROCHIP IS THAT TICKET TO HOME.
UH, THIS SATURDAY AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, WE'LL HAVE A DRIVE THROUGH MICROCHIP CLINIC BETWEEN NINE AND 12, AND ANY DAY OF THE WEEK WHEN WE'RE OPEN, YOU CAN COME BACK FOR A FREE MICROCHIP AT ANY TIME AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE DR.
ELLA JEFFERSON, PRESIDENT, CEO OF AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO COUNCIL MEMBER BAYLA AND CO-SPONSORS FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM FORWARD.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO SHELTERS AND ALSO BOARDING FACILITIES WHERE PETS ARE KEPT 24 HOURS.
UM, I'M HERE WITH SANDY CREEK AND SANDY CREEK PARK AND ZILKER PARK PUPPIES THAT CAME TO US FROM THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR PARVO VIRUS AND ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.
BUT THEY'RE DOGS THAT REPRESENT DOGS THAT LIVE IN OUR SHELTER, UH, FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.
AND WITHOUT ANY KIND OF PROTECTION, A FIRE COULD BE INCREDIBLY DEVASTATING TO THE HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS THAT LIVE IN SHELTERS.
WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE IN INSTALLING FIRE ALARMS AND HAVING OVERNIGHT PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF THE STATE OF OUR FACILITY.
UH, AND ANYBODY, ANYBODY THAT'S VISITED TOWN LIKE ANIMAL CENTER KNOWS THE STATE OF OUR FACILITY.
UM, HOWEVER, FIRE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE, AND, UH, WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE'RE TALKING WITH OTHER SHELTERS, THAT IT'S NOT A PRIORITY UNTIL IT BECOMES A CATASTROPHE.
AND, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR AUSTIN TO BE LEADING THE WAY TO MAKING THIS, UH, AN ORDINANCE, A CITYWIDE ORDINANCE, SO THAT IT BECOMES TOP OF MIND BEFORE THE WORST HAPPENS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THIS TO THE FOREFRONT, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE, UH, ALL OF YOUR WORK WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, ANIMALS, ANIMAL CARE.
YOU'VE REALLY DONE SO MUCH, UH, FOR, UH, ANIMAL HEALTH AND WELFARE, UH, IN, UH, AUSTIN AND, AND REALLY AROUND THE STATE.
UH, I WOULD ALSO, UH, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THE MAYOR PROTE ELLIS, UH, COULD NOT, UH, MAKE IT.
BUT I WANNA ASK, UH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, TO, TO PLEASE ALSO COME AND SAY A FEW WORDS.
GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER VE FOR THE INVITATION AND FOR BRINGING FORWARD THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION TODAY.
I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BE A CO-SPONSOR AS A PROUD PET OWNER OF MY BELOVED DOG, FRANK, AND MY MISCHIEVOUS BLACK CAT SPUTNIK.
I DEEPLY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL BOND THAT WE SHARE WITH OUR FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS.
OUR PETS BRING US JOY, COMFORT, AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY AND WELLBEING EVEN WHEN WE ARE AWAY.
THE RECENT REPORTS OF FIRE OUTBREAKS IN PET CARE FACILITIES HAVE SPARKED GREAT CONCERN IN OUR COMMUNITY,
[00:10:01]
AND IT PUTS THE SAFETY OF OUR BELOVED PETS AT RISK.IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT AS POLICYMAKERS, WE TAKE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT PET CARE FACILITIES PRIORITIZE FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECT THE PRECIOUS LIVES ENTRUSTED TO THEIR CARE.
WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THE TRAGIC INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES AND TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTION HERE IN AUSTIN BEFORE TRAGEDIES STRIKES AT HOME, MANDATING THE INSTALLATION OF BOTH DETECTORS, FIRE ALARMS, AND CONDUCTING REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF ELECTRICAL WIRING AND HEATING SYSTEMS ARE CRUCIAL STEPS IN SAFEGUARDING OUR PETS.
BY IMPLEMENTING THESE MEASURES, WE ARE NOT ONLY PRIORITIZING THE SAFETY OF OUR PETS, BUT ALSO THE SAFETY OF THE HARDWORKING STAFF AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.
OUR PETS DON'T HAVE A VOICE, AND THEY RELY ON US TO BE THAT VOICE.
SO IT'S OUR DUTY TO ADVOCATE FOR THEIR SAFETY AND WELLBEING.
WE ARE STANDING TOGETHER TODAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR BELOVED COMPANIONS ARE PROTECTED FROM POTENTIAL HARM.
AND WITH OUR UNITED VOICES, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR CHERISHED LOVED ONES THAT ARE OUR PETS.
AND AS A SIDE NOTE, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE LOOKING TO ADD A FURRY LOVED ONE TO YOUR FAMILY, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES HERE TODAY FROM SHELTERS WHO WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ADOPT.
YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OVER CAPACITY.
SO I WOULD CONSIDER, I WOULD ASK FOR YOU ALL TO CONSIDER ADOPTING A FURRY LOVED ONE TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON, ON THIS ITEM, UH, AND YOUR, YOUR EXCELLENT, UH, UH, WORDS.
UH, AND I, I WOULD NOW LIKE TO ASK, UH, UH, ANIMAL ADVISORY, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, LUIS HERRERA TO, UH, SPEAK IN, UH, SPANISH.
UH, WITH REGARD TO, UH, THE, THE ITEMS. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED US TODAY TO CELEBRATE AND MAKE THIS INITIATIVE POSSIBLE.
IN PARTICULAR, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO LAKE AND HUTCHINS, WHO STARTED THIS ALL BY REACHING OUT TO MY OFFICE.
UH, MY CO-SPONSORS MAYOR PRO TEM ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, UH, AS WELL AS MAYOR WATSON AND COUNCIL MEMBERS POOL AND, UH, ALTER, UH, DIRECTOR BLAND AND OUR INCREDIBLY HARDWORKING, UH, AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, UH, STAFF, DR.
ELLEN JEFFERSON, AND THE AMAZING FOLKS AT AUSTIN, UH, PETS LIVE, UH, COMMISSIONER, UH, ERRA AND OUR ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AND OF COURSE, OUR FURRY FRIENDS WHO ARE REALLY THE VIPS HERE, UH, TODAY.
UM, I HAVE A REMINDER, OUR FOUR-LEGGED GUESTS, ALL OF THEM, UH, TODAY ARE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION RIGHT NOW, AND THERE'S MANY MORE WAITING, BOTH AT THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER AND AT, UH, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK, UH, JIMMY TELECO STATE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, JIMMY TALLARICO.
HE HAD A BILL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WHILE IT DID NOT MANDATE, UH, FIRE SUPPRESSION AND SAFETY SYSTEMS AT THESE TYPES OF FACILITIES, IT DOES REQUIRE THEM TO NOTIFY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR PET FAIR THAT, UH, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE, UH, FIRE SAFETY AND SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. SO I THINK THAT ALSO WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN INFORMING FOLKS THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL STIR FOLKS INTO TAKING ACTION AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, THAT ANIMAL BOARDING FACILITIES DO HAVE FIRE SAFETY AND SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. UM, AND THEN IN, UH, CLOSING, WE'RE HAPPY TO, UH, TAKE, UH, ANY QUESTIONS, BOTH MYSELF AND, UH, LAKE AND HUTCHINS.
UH, SO TODAY WE ARE, UH, IN INITIATING THE PROCESS FOR, UH, FIRE CODE CHANGES.
[00:15:01]
MAKING CHANGES TO A CODE, THERE'S A, UH, UH, A PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE GONNA TAKE COMMENTS, WE'RE GONNA REVIEW EVERYTHING, BUT TODAY IS THE INITIATION OF THAT PROCESS.
HOW LONG DO YOU EXPECT THAT? OH, THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK IT SHOULD, I I ANTICIPATE THIS COMING BACK TO US IN A MEETING, UH, AFTER THE BREAK, PROBABLY IN THE LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.
UM, SO I HAPPY WITH WHY IS, UH, THAT'S A, A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
UH, I THANK LAKEN FOR REACHING OUT TO US AND TELLING US LIKE, HEY, WE NEED TO DO THIS.
AND THOSE, THAT KIND OF ACTIVISM, THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE AND WE DEPEND ON CITIZENS WHO ARE IDENTIFYING ISSUES SAYING, HEY, PLEASE ADDRESS THIS.
AND, AND AGAIN, I JUST APPRECIATE FOLKS THAT DO THAT WHO BRING THESE ITEMS TO OUR ATTENTION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE ACTION.
UH, UH, AND, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK, UH, LAKEN FOR, UH, INITIATING THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND FOR MAKING US AWARE OF THE NEED FOR THE LAW.
AND I GOTTA GIVE CREDIT TO GEORGETOWN AND ROUND ROCK AND LIBERTY HILL AND THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THIS STEP.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK Y'ALL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT AND, UH, TAKE A DOG WITH YOU ON THE WAY OUT.
IT SEEMS YOU ARE NO LONGER THERE.
JUST GENTLE ONE WHO NEVER KNEW THE THINGS YOU AND I JUST CAN'T STAND BY WHEN YOU WON'T EVEN GIVE HELP.
WELL, I, YOU, BUT I UP THIS WAY.
YOU'RE PLAN TO GET ON THE DEAD END ROAD, RUSSIAN.
YOU GOT EVERYTHING GOING FOR YOU RIGHT DOWN THE, WELL.