[00:00:03]
TONIGHT IS THE JULY 10TH, 2023 REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION.
UH, FIRST WE WILL, UH, SEE WHO, WHICH COMMISSIONERS ARE
[CALL TO ORDER]
PRESENT.WHY DON'T YOU START US OFF? COMMISSIONER, LENDER, PRESENT.
I'M RYAN CLINTON, PAIGE NELSON, LUIS HERRA.
WE THREE AND WE HAVE THREE, I THINK ONLINE.
UH, SO THE FIRST THING WE GO TO IS
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.WE HAVE 22 SPEAKER, 23 SPEAKERS.
UM, WE HAVE THREE MINUTES EACH TO SPEAK.
UH, I WOULD, UH, CAUTION EVERYONE THAT WE'RE ALL, UH, VOLUNTEERS AND, UH, WHILE WE ARE HAPPY TO HEAR AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO SAY, UH, WE ALL HAVE FAMILIES AND JOBS TO GO HOME TO, UH, 24 SPEAKERS.
SO IF YOU HAVE, UM, IF YOU HEAR THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE PLANNING TO SAY ALREADY SAID, PLEASE, UH, DON'T REPEAT THEM.
THE FIRST SPEAKER WILL DO THE REGISTER SPEAKERS, UH, VIA TELEPHONE FIRST.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ERIN COX.
I JUST, BECAUSE COMMISSIONER, UH, LONEY IS NEW, SHE MAY NOT REALIZE THAT IF HER CAMERA'S OFF, SHE'S CONSIDERED NOT ON THE DAIS.
I I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE JUST WANTED TO.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONER NELSON WANTS COMMISSIONER LONEY TO KNOW THAT, I'M SORRY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT'S JUST, IF I'M SPEAKING, THE CAMERA NEEDS BE ON.
AND CAME IN FROM WHERE I DON'T HAVE SERVICE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, SO IT'S JUST KIND OF AN AWKWARD
SO I WILL ABSOLUTELY JOIN, UH, WHENEVER I HAVE A BY CAMERA.
WHENEVER I HAVE, I'M READY TO SPEAK.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU NEED TO BE ON CAMERA TO VOTE OR TO SPEAK.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
UM, I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT, UM, FOR THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, WHICH WOULD BAN FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES FROM ALLOWING PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS WITHOUT A C A PRESERVATION.
MY MYSELF, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN, UM, IN YOUR MEETINGS ABOUT THE NUMEROUS INVESTIGATIONS OF THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM RELATED TO ANIMAL NEGLECT AND ABUSE AND CONCERNS OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
BUT WE KNOW THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD IMPACT OTHER BUSINESSES AS WELL.
AND CONSIDERING THIS ORDINANCE, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ASK YOURSELF, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT THESE BUSINESSES HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS? IT'S ACTUALLY CONSIDERED NATIONAL STANDARD FOR U S D A AND OSHA, AND IN REALITY, THESE STANDARDS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THE BARE MINIMUM.
THEY INVOLVE REGULAR INSPECTIONS FOR PERFORMANCE BASED EVALUATIONS OF THESE BUSINESSES.
WHAT CAN POSSIBLY BE LEARNED OR GAINED FROM OBSERVING WILD ANIMALS WHO ARE UNNATURALLY, CONFINED, EXPLOITED, AND NEGLECTED TO THE POINT THAT THEY CLEARLY SUFFER PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS? THIS IS NOT THEIR NATURAL HABITAT.
IT'S NOT THEIR NATURAL BEHAVIOR.
IT'S THE EFFECT OF CONTINUED EXPLOITATION AND NEGLECT IF THESE BUSINESSES ARE NOT EXPECTED TO MEET THESE TYPES OF STANDARDS.
WHAT PROTECTION DO WE HAVE FOR THE ANIMALS AS WELL AS FOR PUBLIC VISITORS? IT'S AN INJUSTICE TO THESE ANIMALS WHO ARE FORCED INTO CONFINEMENT TO NOT ENFORCE THESE STANDARDS OF CARE THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE LEAST THAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
THEY'RE INNOCENT AND VULNERABLE, AND I BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THEIR VOICE.
IF WE WANT AUSTIN TO BE CONSIDERED A PLACE OF COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE, WE NEED TO PUT THOSE GOOD INTENTIONS INTO ACTION.
[00:05:01]
THIS PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS A SMALL STEP TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THESE ANIMALS.IT'S TIME TO PUT THE RIGHTS AND WELLBEING OF THESE SENTIENT BEINGS, THESE BELOVED WILD ANIMALS ABOVE THE PROFITS OF THE BUSINESSES THAT EXPLOIT THEM.
IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE MOVE THIS ORDINANCE FORWARD TO CITY COUNCIL.
JULIE ZUCKER, PLEASE UNMUTE MS. ZUCKER.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES.
UM, MY NAME'S JULIE ZUCKER AND I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF A GROUP CALLED OFTEN ANIMALS PROTECTED.
AND I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF THE SENTIMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD BEFORE FROM THE LAST MEETING, AS WELL AS THE PERSON WHO JUST SPOKE.
UM, AND ON THE ORDINANCE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CONSEQUENCES, MORE TEETH TO IT, SO THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY REASON FOR THESE PEOPLE TO, TO STOP ABUSING ANIMALS.
UM, I SUPPORT AS MUCH AS CLOSING THE AQUARIUM.
AND, UM, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING, UH, HAVING STRONGER CONSEQUENCES.
AND I'LL KEEP IT TO THAT SINCE YOU ASKED US TO, TO KEEP IT QUICK.
LET'S, UH, TRY TO GO BACK TO HER, UH, MICHELLE SINT.
HI, MY NAME IS MICHELLE SIMMONS.
I AM THE DIRECTOR OF CAPTIVE ANIMAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE PETA FOUNDATION.
I'M TESTIFYING TONIGHT ON THE PROPOSAL TO LIMIT PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS.
UM, PETA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED DURING THE JUNE MEETING.
UM, WHILE IT'S CLEAR THAT THE COMMISSION IS DEEPLY CONSIDERING THIS ISSUE, AND FOR THAT, I THANK YOU.
THE AMENDED PROPOSAL HAS CREATED A NUMBER OF UNNECESSARY AND CONFUSING EXEMPTIONS THAT HAVE TURNED A CLEAR, STRAIGHTFORWARD PROHIBITION INTO WHAT I THINK WILL BE A COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE REGULATION.
UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT SPOKE ON THIS PROPOSAL AT THE JUNE MEETING SUPPORTED IT.
UM, AND THAT SUPPORT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN LOST IN THE MIDST OF TRYING TO LIMIT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WOULD DUE IS PREVENT PUBLIC INTERACTION WITH WILD ANIMALS AT UNACCREDITED FOR-PROFIT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. IT WOULD NOT IMPACT PRIVATE POSSESSION.
IT WOULD NOT PREVENT ANY BUSINESS FROM EXHIBITING WILD ANIMALS.
IT WOULD NOT PREVENT EXHIBITORS FROM BRINGING WILD ANIMALS TO SCHOOLS, AND IT WOULD NOT IMPACT BUSINESSES THAT ONLY EXHIBIT DOMESTICATED ANIMALS.
SO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS ALREADY QUITE LIMITED, AND IT WOULD NOT AFFECT NONPROFIT FACILITIES OR PETTING ZOO, EXHIBITING ONLY DOMESTICATED ANIMALS, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE AND AQUARIUMS IN AUSTIN.
SO GIVEN THAT ALREADY LIMITED SCOPE, IT'S UNCLEAR WHY THE AMENDED PROPOSAL HAS WEAKENED THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC CONTACT AND CREATED NUMEROUS UNNECESSARY EXEMPTIONS TO THE DEFINITION OF FOR-PROFIT DUE OR AQUARIUM.
THE DEFINITION OF FOR-PROFIT DUE OR AQUARIUM SHOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY EXEMPTIONS BECAUSE IT IS ALREADY QUITE LIMITED.
AND ADDING A LONG LIST OF EXEMPTIONS WILL MAKE ENFORCEMENT HARDER.
THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC CONTACT NEEDS TO BE STRONG AND CLEAR SO THAT IT DOESN'T FORCE LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE JUDGMENT CALLS ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF CONDUCT IS OR IS NOT ALLOWED.
THE DEFINITION IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL INCLUDED FEEDING, ENTERING AN ANIMAL ENCLOSURE OR ALLOWING CLOSE PROXIMITY WITHOUT A PERMANENT PHYSICAL BARRIER.
THE UPDATED PROPOSAL HAS REMOVED THAT LANGUAGE, WHICH CREATES A
[00:10:01]
POSSIBLE LOOPHOLE WHERE EXHIBITORS COULD ALLOW CUSTOMERS TO ENTER AN ENCLOSURE WITH A RESTRAINED WILD ANIMAL TO FEED THEM, WHICH STILL POSES SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS.SO PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, AND THOSE RISKS ARE AMPLIFIED AT UNACCREDITED FOR-PROFIT FACILITIES.
AND THAT IS WHY PETA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT A PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AT UNACCREDITED FOR-PROFIT FUSION AQUARIUM.
HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE, THAT PROHIBITION NEEDS TO BE CLEAR, STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND EASY TO ENFORCE, WHICH IS WHY PETER SUPPORTS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL PRESENTED AT THE JUNE MEETING.
AT THOSE JS, UH, PLEASE UNMUTE PAT.
UH, TODAY I WROTE A LETTER TO THE COMMISSION THIS AFTERNOON.
IN FACT, AFTER READING YOUR UPDATES TO THE PROPOSAL, I FEEL COMPELLED TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THESE CHANGES.
I DO FIND THEM TO BE COMPLICATED WITH A NUMBER OF CONFUSING AND UNNECESSARY EXEMPTIONS.
THESE WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE AND EASY FOR GREEDY, ABUSIVE ROADSIDE ZOOS TO FIND LOOPHOLES.
PUBLIC INTERACTIONS WITH WILD ANIMALS HAVE PROVEN TO BE DANGEROUS WITH BITES AND SCRATCHES.
NOT UNCOMMON, EVEN ZOONOTIC DISEASES CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO PEOPLE JUST THROUGH PETTING.
THE ANIMALS ARE STRESSED AND FRUSTRATED DUE TO LOUD NOISE, MISHANDLING, PRODDING, POKING, PETTING, ET CETERA.
MOST WILD ANIMALS AVOID CONTACT WITH HUMANS, BUT ARE FORCED TO INTERACT AT THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM AGAINST THEIR WILL.
THE U S D A HAS CITED AUSTIN AQUARIUM MORE THAN ONCE FOR NOT CONSULTING A VET FOR SEVERE ANIMAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS, FAILURE TO HOUSE ANIMALS IN CLEAN ENCLOSURES, AND FOR THE LACK OF BARRIERS BETWEEN CUSTOMERS AND THE ANIMALS.
THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM IS ALL ABOUT PROFIT AND IS REMISS IN PROVIDING HUMANE CARE.
THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS AND THEIR SAFETY AND THAT OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE FIRST AND FOREMOST ON EVERYONE'S MIND.
AS AN OPTION RESIDENT, I'M INTERESTED IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD PRO PROPOSAL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANIMAL CONTACT WITH FOR-PROFIT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS, SUCH AS THE AUSTIN ANIMAL AQUARIUM.
THANK YOU KINDLY FOR YOUR SERIOUS ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL MATTER.
CAR, CARLA WAFFLES OR WAPLES CARLA.
UH, I GUESS FIRST THING I WANNA SAY IS APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE OUT.
I AM IN A PLACE WITH NOT GREAT SERVICE, BUT I AM CALLING IN TO SUPPORT THE REVISED ORDINANCE TO BAN PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED TO PREVENT HARM AT THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM.
I THINK THAT IF THERE'S ANYTHING WEAKER IN LANGUAGE OR ANYTHING THAT CARVES OUT MORE, IT WILL EFFECTIVELY AUTHORIZE THE AQUARIUM TO SKIRT AROUND POTENTIALLY UNCLEAR OR SWEEPING LANGUAGE.
IF IT'S WEAK ANY MORE, I WORRY THAT THE INTENT OF ITS ORDINANCE TO REDUCE HARM AT THE AQUARIUM WILL NOT BE ACTUALIZED LIVE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, I DO SUPPORT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AND LANGUAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS PUT INTO THIS ISSUE.
AND OF COURSE, I WOULD ALSO APPRECIATE IF YOU, AS MEMBERS OF THIS COMMISSION VOTED TO SEND THIS ORDINANCE TO CITY COUNCIL SO IT CAN PASS THERE AND ACTUALLY BE PUT INTO EFFECT.
NOW, I FEEL THAT SOMETIMES THIS ISSUE OF THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM CAN FEEL SMALLER THAN IT REALLY IS.
BUT TO ME, IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT.
UM, I MEAN, AUSTIN RESIDENTS ARE BITTEN ONCE WEAK.
THE AQUARIUM CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 10 YEARS OLD ARE ATTACKED WITH THE AQUARIUM.
[00:15:01]
CITED THE AQUARIUM FOR VIOLATING THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT.DOZENS OF ANIMALS ARE FORCED TO LIVE IN CONDITIONS THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN JUST FOR AN AQUARIUM PROFIT.
AND I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO Y'ALL ABOUT ALL OF THAT, BUT THIS ISN'T A SMALL ISSUE, AND IT HASN'T BEEN A SHORT LIVED ONE EITHER.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE AND A LANGUAGE WITHIN THIS ORDINANCE IS THE MINIMUM REQUIRED TO PREVENT ANY OF THIS HARM.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU SUPPORT IT AND SENT TO CITY HOSPITAL.
UH, CATHERINE CHAMBLEE, IS SHE ON MUTE? YEAH.
MS. CHANDLEY, YOU ARE MUTED AT THE MOMENT.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN.
UH, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE AUSTIN CENTER'S CLOSED INTAKE AND SOME CONTRIBUTORS TO THAT.
UH, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION, AT LEAST ON SOCIAL MEDIA REGARDING MANAGEMENT AT AEC.
BUT TRUTHFULLY, WITHOUT ADDRESSING OVERRIDING ISSUES LIKE PUBLICITY, MARKET COMPETITION AND MARKETING, THE SHELTER WILL STRUGGLE REGARDLESS OF WHO'S IN CHARGE.
FOCUS NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THESE AREAS AND NOT DIVIDED TO YET.
ANOTHER DIRECTOR SEARCH REGARDING PUBLICITY.
APA BASED DOWN IMMEDIATE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, DARLING APA IS PARTNERED WITH THE OFFICE, THE SOCCER TEAM, REPEATEDLY FEATURED IN K ONLINE AND ON TV, AS WELL AS THE MENT MEDIA AFFILIATION A'S NAME INTO THE PUBLIC CONVERSATION, WHICH RESULTS IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AS WELL AS INCREASED TRAFFIC FOR OFFICERS AND ADOPTERS.
AAC MEMO, RARELY IN THE NEWS UNIT TIMES FROM THE SHELTER.
D APA ALSO HAS AN OUTSIDE NUMBER OF ADVOCATES ON THE STEERING COMMISSION.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT OFTEN ANIMALS ARE NO LONGER APAS FOCUSED.
APA HAS SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED TO PULL LESS ANIMALS FROM AUSTIN AND MORE FROM OUTSIDE.
ADDING AT THIS POINT TO MORE TO A, A BUSINESS COMPETITOR INTO A PARTNERSHIP.
AP HAS DROPPED OFFER FROM REFERENCED AUSTIN ANIMALS FROM COMMISSION STATEMENT.
APA HAS ACCESS TO DIFFERENT, MORE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE SUPPLY PRODUCTS, AND THAT THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE ANIMALS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.
ANIMALS ARE BEING IMPORTED TO AUSTIN, MARKETED AND SOLD TO THE SAME SET OF ADOPTERS AND FOSTERS THAT AAC IS MARKETING TO, EXCEPT THE AAC, AS THE ONLY OPEN INTAKE SHELTER CANNOT TAKE CHOOSE ANIMALS.
THE FOCUS CHANGE AS AAC IS PREROGATIVE, BUT THEIR AFFILIATES SHOULD NOT HOLD POSITIONS ON A FEDERAL COMMISSION TO CONTROL THEIR COMPETITOR.
THE SAME GOES FROM MEDIA CAMPAIGNS.
SEE, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE PUSHING FOR AAC TO ACQUIRE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND ENDORSEMENTS SINCE AAC AND NOT APA THAT MAINTAINS THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CITY'S SHELTER PET.
THERE'S A CORRELATED ISSUE WITH MARKETING.
AAC IS THE SHELTER THAT TAKES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THE VAST NUMBER IS DEADLY APAS OR CITY INTAKE SHELTER.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS IT LEAST TO CITIZENS INTENDING TO ASSIST OFFICER STRAYS SIGNING UP MISTAKENLY TO FOSTER ADOPTS AND VOLUNTEER AT APA.
THIS IS NOTHING FOR AACS ANIMALS.
I, MYSELF, ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR APA YEAR AGO, BELIEVING THEY WERE OFFICE SHELTER.
I BEGAN INCLUDING THE SHELTER NAME AND ADDRESS IN MY POST FOR FOSTERS AND ADOPTERS.
JUST TO CLARIFY, THERE'S A TOUGH TIME NATIONWIDE FOR MUNICIPAL SHELTERS, BUT YOU'LL KNOW A TOUGH JOB COULD BE MADE EASIER IF PROMOTION OF AAC AND IT GAMBLES FOR WANTS FOR THE CITY'S TOP PRIORITY.
HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.
I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN ANIMALS PROTECTED.
I'M AN EDUCATOR IN AUSTIN AND A FORMER ZOOKEEPER WITH EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PRIMATES.
THE PROCESS FOR ZOOKEEPERS TO WORK WITH PRIMATES AT WELL-REGULATED FACILITIES IS NORMALLY VERY EXTENSIVE.
IT TAKES TIME FOR EXPERIENCED KEEPERS TO LEARN PROTOCOLS, FORM RELATIONSHIPS, AND READ PRIMATE BEHAVIOR.
IT IS ALWAYS ALARMING TO ME WHEN SUBPAR FACILITIES ALLOW CUSTOMERS CASUAL CONTACT WITH PRIMATES ENDANGERS ANIMALS.
AS A SCIENCE TEACHER, I SEE THE VALUE IN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN LEARNING HANDS ON ABOUT NATURE, INCLUDING
[00:20:01]
HAVING APPROPRIATE INTERACTIONS WITH ANIMALS.HOWEVER, HAVING PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTERACTING WITH LEMURS AND CHU IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS FOR THE MULTIPLE REASONS ALREADY DISCUSSED.
WHILE THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN OPINION ABOUT THE SUBJECT OF KEEPING ANIMALS IN ZOO AQUARIUMS, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN COME TOGETHER WITH A STANCE THAT PRIMATES SHOULD NOT HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH CUSTOMERS.
ESPECIALLY WITH THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM'S TRACK RECORD, THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM AND THEIR SISTER FACILITIES, INCLUDING SAN ANTONIO AQUARIUM, ARE KNOWN FOR A ATROCIOUS QUALITY OF CARE.
AND I'M ENCOURAGED THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IS TAKING A LOOK AT ONE ASPECT OF THE CRUELTY TAKING PLACE AT A SHOPPING CENTER OFF OF 180 3.
IT'S COMMENDABLE THAT THIS COMMISSION IS PROPOSING DRAWING A CLEAR LINE THAT IN AUSTIN, SUBSTANDARD FACILITIES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENDANGER CHILDREN AND ANIMALS FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT YOU WILL VOTE ON A RECOMMENDATION TO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL TO LIMIT PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AS SUSAN AQUARIUMS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, THANK YOU CHAIR CLINTON AND ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR, UM, TAKING ON THE ISSUE OF THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN THIS ISSUE A LOT OF TIME AND THAT YOU HAD IT ON THE AGENDA LAST TIME.
YOU HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA AGAIN TODAY.
AND BECAUSE IT IS A VOTING ISSUE, I REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE THAT EARLY ON IN YOUR AGENDA AS I REQUESTED LAST TIME.
AND THANK YOU FOR MOVING IT UP.
LAST TIME, UM, I SUPPORT POSTING SOMETHING TO BE SENT TO CITY COUNCIL REGARDING THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM PREVENTING PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS.
BUT I DID NOT SEE A POST AS OF FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY THAT SHOWED THE NEW VERSION.
SO I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE NEW VERSION.
I DID LIKE WHAT WAS PROPOSED LAST TIME.
I HEARD A VERY GOOD DISCUSSION WHERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA MAKE SOME CHANGES.
UM, AND I HOPE THE CHANGES ARE GOOD, BUT I HAVE NOT READ THEM, SO I CANNOT WEIGH IN ON THAT.
HOWEVER, UH, I DO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SEND SOMETHING TO COUNCIL, IT'S IN PRETTY GOOD ENOUGH SHAPE THAT, UM, COUNSEL CAN TAKE IT UP AND THERE CAN BE MORE INPUT.
UM, I DO WANNA ALSO SPEAK TO THE
HOPEFULLY THAT, UM, THE ZILKER PARKS VISION PLAN NOT MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT SOME SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT REVIEW OF HOW IT WILL IMPACT WILDLIFE AND DOGS.
UM, HAVING VOICED MY POSITION ON THOSE TWO ISSUES THAT YOU'LL BE VOTING ON TODAY, I NEXT WANNA MOVE ON TO A REQUEST FOR NEXT MONTH, NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA, WHICH IS THAT I REQUEST THAT YOU RESTART THE, UH, SPAY UTER WORKING GROUP THAT YOU PUT, UH, CREATING YET ANOTHER SPAY WORKING GROUP ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE ISSUES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
AND THEN YOU VOTED ON ONE OR TWO OF THEM, BUT THERE ARE STILL FOUR OTHER SPAY NEUTER ISSUES OUT THERE THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD, UM, GET FURTHER REVIEW IF THERE IS INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE.
I ALSO WANNA BRING UP ANOTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS, UM, BILLS PASSED BY THIS CURRENT LEGISLATURE, UH, DURING THE REGULAR SESSION THAT ENDED ON MAY 31ST.
AND ALSO THE SESSION THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO HAVE ENDED THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT I BELIEVE WILL END BEFORE YOUR AUGUST MEETING.
SO, UM, I KNOW THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER WAS PART OF, UH, HS U S AND BE ANOTHER GROUP.
UH, WE NOW HAVE I THINK 14 MORE IN PERSON.
HI, YOU CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? OKAY, AWESOME.
UM, HI, MY NAME IS CAITLYN NAGAR.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE ORDINANCE
[00:25:01]
REGARDING LIMITING PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AT FOR-PROFIT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION IS TO PROMOTE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND OTHER PARTIES RELATING TO ANIMAL WELFARE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS OF HIGH IMPORTANCE IN GETTING THE BALL ROLLING TOWARDS A MORE COMPASSIONATE FUTURE FOR ALL ANIMALS.
THE PRINCIPAL PLAYER IN THIS AS WELL AS THE REASON I AM HERE SPEAKING ON GETTING THIS ORDINANCE PROPOSED, IS THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM.
THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM IS A FOR-PROFIT BUSINESS THAT HAS TIME AND TIME AGAIN, PUT MONEY OVER THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS.
THESE ANIMALS ARE PRISONERS AND SUBJECTS OF CONSTANT AND UNDESIRED CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC.
THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM CLAIMS THAT THEIR BUSINESS MODEL IS BASED ON FAMILY, FUN, AND PUBLIC EDUCATION.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE ARE ALLOWING THIS ESTABLISHMENT TO TEACH IS THAT IT'S OKAY TO EXPLOIT AND KEEP PRISONER ANIMALS THAT DESERVE THE BASIC RIGHT OF FREEDOM IN THEIR NATURAL HABITATS, BUT INSTEAD ARE LOOKED AT AS MERELY PROFIT AND NOT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO INTERACT WITH WILD ANIMALS AND ESTABLISHMENTS, SUCH AS THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM, IS A DIRECT REFLECTION OF THE VALUES THAT ARE CITY INSTILLS.
SO WHY WOULD WE WANT THOSE VALUES TO BE SEEN AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN COMPASSIONATE AND ASSURING AUSTIN ARAM HAS SHOWN US NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THEY'RE INCAPABLE OF HOLDING THOSE VALUES BY REFUSING VET CARE TO ANIMALS THAT WERE IN NEED OF VETERINARY ATTENTION.
BY ALLOWING PUBLIC CONTACT WITH THESE ANIMALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS, AND BY SIMPLY VIEWING THESE BEINGS AS ENTERTAINMENT IN A WAY TO FILL THEIR POCKETS, GETTING AN ORDINANCE PUT TOGETHER THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THESE ESTABLISHMENTS TO TRY TO SKIRT AROUND THE RULES SET FORTH TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WILL ALLOW THESE ANIMALS SOME RELIEF, BUT ALSO SHOW THAT THE CITY CARES ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE ANIMALS WITHIN IT, AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND VISIT HERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING A PART OF THIS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AS IT IS OUR MORAL DUTY TO STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND WHO CANNOT STAND UP FOR THEMSELVES.
OR RAYMOND, I APOLOGIZE IF I GOT THAT WRONG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
YOU ARE ALL GREATLY APPRECIATED AND YOUR EFFORTS TO TAKE THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY, DO NOT GO UNNOTICED.
I JUST WANTED YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT MY NAME IS PETE.
I AM AN AUSTIN RESIDENT, AND I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY FOR THE THIRD TIME, PASSIONATELY ADVOCATING FOR A CRUCIAL PROPOSAL, THE PROHIBITION OF PUBLIC CONTACT WITH WILD ANIMALS IN FOR-PROFIT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS. THIS BAN IS ESSENTIAL TO PROTECT BOTH ANIMAL WELFARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WHICH WOULD PREVENT PUBLIC INTERACTION WITH WILD ANIMALS.
I THOUGHT WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, AND I WAS SLIGHTLY DUMBFOUNDED AND NOT PARTICULARLY PLEASED WHEN I SAW THE RECENTLY REVISED PROPOSAL.
UH, SO IN AN EFFORT TO NOT BE REPETITIVE, I WILL BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT.
THE REVISED PROPOSAL HAS BECOME NEEDLESSLY COMPLEX WITH UNNECESSARY EXEMPTIONS THAT UNDERMINE ENFORCEMENT AND PROVIDE LOOPHOLES FOR EXPLOITATION.
DEFINE A FOR-PROFIT ZOO OR AQUARIUM AS ANY ENTITY CHARGING A FEE TO EXHIBIT WILD ANIMALS TO THE PUBLIC.
EXCLUDING 5 0 1 C THREE ORGANIZATIONS.
PUBLIC CONTACT, INCLUDING FEEDING MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BAND.
PUBLIC CONTACT, INCLUDING FEEDING MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE BAN.
WHILE ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE FREE FROM UNDUE STRESS, MISHANDLING AND IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS INFLICTED UPON THEM DURING PUBLIC ENCOUNTERS.
ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO FEED WILD ANIMALS IS NOTHING SHORT OF AN ENCOUNTER.
SUCH ENCOUNTERS POSE SIGNIFICANT RISK, AS WE ALL KNOW, INCLUDING INJURIES, INFECTIONS, ZOONOTIC, DISEASE, TRANSMISSION.
WE CANNOT IGNORE THE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WHERE ANIMALS HAVE BITTEN OR INJURED VISITORS HIGHLIGHTING THE DANGER TO BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES.
THE AUSTIN AQUARIUM HAS BEEN CITED REPEATEDLY BY THE U S D A AND WITH ITS HISTORY OF VIOLATIONS, INJURIES, AND CRAMPED ENCLOSURES STANDS AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE RISKS WE FACE.
IT IS TIME TO PRIORITIZE ANIMAL WELFARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY OVER PROFIT DRIVEN EXPLOITATION.
LET US APPROVE THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
WITHOUT DELAY, AUSTIN MUST TAKE A FIRM STAND AGAINST THE MISTREATMENT OF WILD ANIMALS, AND BY, BY ENACTING THIS BAN, THIS BAN, WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO ETHICAL PRACTICES AND A COMMUNITY THAT VALUES THE WELLBEING OF ALL LIVING BEINGS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR SUPPORT.
PLEASE PUSH THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND TOGETHER WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
[00:30:01]
UM, I'M SIGNED UP FOR THE GENERAL SESSION AS WELL AS FOR ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN.SO I'M GONNA DO MY, UH, QUICK GENERAL SESSION.
UH, MY NAME IS TANYA PAYNE AND I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR ZILKER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.
AND I AM HERE TO SPEAK LATER ON THE AGENDA ON BEHALF OF THE ZILKER VISION PLAN AND ANIMALS.
BUT, UH, Z NNA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET PROJECT, AND WE NEVER WANNA MISS ANY CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT TAKING CARE OF ALL OUR INTERRELATED PRIORITIES WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO BE TOGETHER.
THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, WHICH, UM, I PASSED OUT TO EVERYONE, IS A PROJECT OF EQUITY ACTION AND 40 OTHER GROUPS, INCLUDING SIERRA CLUB, GAVA EDUCATION, AUSTIN, AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, AND THE A C L U.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL BUDGET FUNDING FOR PARKS HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, EMS, WORKFORCE HOUSING AND TEACHERS.
RIGHT NOW, LESS THAN 10% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET GOES TO HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH SUSTAINABILITY OR AFFORDABILITY.
UH, THE JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION, THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION HAVE ALREADY SENT IN LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BUDGET.
PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING A LOOK AT THE BUDGET LIST WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, WHICH INCLUDES AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION FOR PARKS, AND SEE IF YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.
I, I THINK NOW'S THE TIME TO SPEAK, IF YOU WILL.
UH, UH, THE, THE ONE FROM THE PLAN.
UM, AND THEN, UH, SO I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ZILKER PARK VISION PLAN ON, UM, ON, UH, ANIMALS.
AND ALSO TO POINT OUT THAT, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION REPRESENTED IN THE PLAN AND, UH, MOST OF THAT CONS AND IT, UH, CONTI IT CONTAINS MOST OF THE MONEY SPENT ON THE PLAN.
AND I'VE ALSO PASSED THIS ALL OUT TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY, YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS BASED ON, UH, COMMUNITY INPUT.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF HIGH CONSENSUS ITEMS, WHICH ARE ALL GREAT FOR ANIMALS TOO,
AND THAT'S ACTUALLY ONLY 43 MILLION, WHEREAS YOU CAN SEE THE NO CONSENSUS ITEMS INCLUDE THREE PARKING GARAGES, ONE OF WHICH IS UNDERGROUND, VERY CLOSE TO THE SPRINGS, AND ANOTHER ONE, WHICH IS NEXT TO ELIZA SPRINGS.
AND IN THE SALAMANDER PROTECTED ZONE, A LAND BRIDGE, UM, A 5,000 PERSON AMPHITHEATER.
AND SO AS YOU LOOK THROUGH THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE ITEMS THAT ARE GOOD FOR ANIMALS AND GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CLIMATE.
AND TO, UM, RECOMMEND NOT PUTTING THAT AMOUNT OF CONCRETE IN THE PARK.
MY NAME IS GAIL RHODEY AND I REPRESENT REW ZILKER.
WE ARE A VOLUNTEER GROUP ADVOCATING FOR PRIORITIZING GREEN SPACES AND HABITAT IN THE PARK AND THAT SUPPORT NATURE-BASED AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
UH, WE HAVE A MAP, I THINK, THAT HAS BEEN HANDED OUT, UH, TO YOU, IF YOU WOULD LOOK AT THAT.
WE HAVE TWO SALAMANDER SPECIES IN ZILKER PARK THAT ARE LISTED UNDER THE FEDERAL ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDER, AND THE AUSTIN BLIND SALAMANDER.
THE MAP SHOWS THE PROXIMITY OF TWO OF THE THREE PARKING GARAGES AND THE LAND BRIDGE TO THE DESIGNATED HABITAT OF THESE TWO SPECIES.
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE ZILKER VISION PLAN AS PROPOSED, ESPECIALLY THE LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT.
SO FAR, THE CITY HAS DONE NO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ON ANY OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS, AND APPARENTLY HAS NOT EVEN SOUGHT AN INITIAL ANALYSIS BY THE CITY'S WATERSHED PROTECTION DEPARTMENT OR THE CITY'S ENDANGERED SPECIES CONSERVATION STAFF.
WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT COULD PREVENT THESE LARGE PROJECTS FROM BEING BUILT.
HOWEVER, IT MIGHT TAKE A LONG PROTRAC PROTRACTED FIGHT WHERE CITY TAX DOLLARS, ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEER HOURS,
[00:35:01]
AND THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WOULD BE SPENT ON THIS EFFORT WHEN ALL OF THESE RESOURCES COULD BE DIRECTED TO THE MANY NEEDS OF ZILKER PARK AND TO OTHER CITY PARKS.FOR THIS REASON, WE ASK THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL THAT PARTS OF THE ZILKER VISION PLAN THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE HARMFUL TO THE SALAMANDERS AND OTHER WILDLIFE BE REMOVED FROM THE PLAN.
UM, IF I HAVE JUST ANOTHER MINUTE, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU OF SOME COMMENTS WE MADE LAST TIME ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT WILL BE, UH, FOR, UH, PEOPLE TAKING THEIR DOGS TO THE PARK IF THESE, UH, GARAGES ARE BUILT AND INSTEAD OF WHAT WE HAVE NOW, DOG WALKERS, I AM NOT ONE, BUT TELL US THAT PEOPLE WHO TAKE THEIR DOGS TO THE PARK TELL US THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION, EXCEPT FOR VERY HIGH USE DAYS, UM, TEND TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE PARK, AND PARK IN A PLACE CLOSE TO WHERE THEY WANT TO, UH, WALK OR, UM, TAKE THEIR DOGS.
THAT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT IF YOU HAVE TO DRIVE INTO A PARKING GARAGE AND, AND NAVIGATE GETTING OUT OF THE PARKING GARAGE AND GOING TO WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO.
SO IT'S NOT AN IMPROVEMENT FOR, UH, THOSE PEOPLE AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS DETAIL, AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
MS. RODDY, I APOLOGIZE FOR MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAME.
DO YOU MIND TELLING US, UH, I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BY SURE.
DO YOU MIND TELLING US WHAT EXACTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT, LIKE WHERE, WHERE IT IS EXACTLY IN THE PARK? SO IT'S REALLY ENCOMPASSING ALMOST ALL OF THE PARK, THE PINK, THANK YOU.
THE, THE PINK AREAS, THE VERY SMALL PINK AREAS.
THE LARGER PINK AREA IS THE POOL AND THE SPRINGS AROUND THE POOL.
THE VERY TINY PINK AREA IS SUNKEN GARDENS.
IT'S ALSO CALLED ZENOBIA SPRINGS.
IT'S ONE OF THE FOUR SPRING SYSTEMS, UH, THAT FEED BARTON CREEK.
SO THE YELLOW PART SURROUNDING THE PINK, UH, INDICATE THE, THE HABITAT FOR THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDER.
THAT'S TENDS TO BE BOTH SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE.
THE HATCHED AREA, WHICH COVERS A, I DON'T KNOW, A VERY SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE PARK, UH, THAT IS, THAT SHOWS THE, THE PROTECTED HABITAT, SUBSURFACE HABITAT FOR THE AUSTIN BLIND SALAMANDER.
SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE OVER THERE, IT'S ADJACENT TO, AND EVEN IN PART OF THE SUBSURFACE HABITAT.
SO, UH, JUST TO ORIENT YOU A LITTLE MORE, I MEAN, I THINK RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE IS BARTON CREEK, UH, AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THAT IS BARTON SPRINGS ROAD, THE GRAY LINE.
AND THEN, UH, TO THE TOP RIGHT, REALLY OFF THE MAP WOULD BE THE GRAY LAWN TO THE, DOES THAT HELP? YES, MOPAC SURE.
WILL BE TOWARDS THIS WAY, CORRECT? UH, NO MOPAC WILL BE OFF TO THE LEFT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. ROWDY? THANK YOU.
I CAME HERE TODAY TO DRESS THE LOOSE DOG SITUATION IN AUSTIN, BUT I WILL START BY SAYING I ALMOST DIDN'T COME HERE TODAY.
WHEN THE SHELTER DECIDED TO START EUTHANIZING MORE DOGS TO MAKE MORE SPACE, I THOUGHT I BETTER NOT MENTION THE DUMP NEGLECTED DOG SITUATION IN AUSTIN, BECAUSE MY DOING SO MIGHT ACTUALLY EXACERBATE THE EUTHANASIA BY JUSTIFYING THEM AS A MEANS TO REMEDY THE SUPPOSED PROBLEM OF TOO MANY DOGS.
INSTEAD, I WOULD SILENTLY CONTINUE TO TAKE MORE AND MORE DOGS OFF THE STREET INTO MY HOUSE, AND SILENTLY ALIGN MYSELF WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOING THE SAME.
BUT THE ABSURDITY THAT A NO-KILL CITY WOULD BE LEAVING HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF DOGS ON THE STREET TO DIE, WAS TOO GREAT FOR ME NOT TO COME HERE TODAY.
THE REASON I'M SITTING HERE IS BECAUSE BY CHOOSING TO CLOSE YOUR SHELTER DOORS FOR INTAKES, YOU CHOSE TO RELY ON YOUR COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SHELTER AND SANCTUARY WITHOUT ANY MEANS TO DO SO WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING SHELTER.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE THE ONES TAKING THE DOGS OFF THE STREET.
WE ARE THE ONES RETURNING THEM TO THEIR OWNERS IF WE ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND THEM.
AND IF WE ARE NOT, WE ARE THE ONES HOUSING THEM.
WE ARE THE ONES FINANCING THEIR SPAYING AND NEUTERING, AND WE ARE THE ONES FINDING THEM LOVING FOSTER HOMES AND LOVING HOMES.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE FORCED US INTO THESE ROYALS.
I'M HERE TO SAY, YOU NOW HAVE TO LISTEN AND RESPECT OUR IDEAS.
WE ALREADY CHOSE TO BE A NO-KILL CITY,
[00:40:01]
NOT AS A QUOTA, BUT AS AN IDEA THAT EVERY LIVING SOUL DESERVES THE CHANCE NOT ONLY TO SURVIVE, BUT TO THRIVE.AND IN CHOOSING TO TAKE ON THIS NOBLE CAUSE, IT BECAME OUR CIVIC AND OUR MORAL DUTY TO BE THE EXAMPLE OF WHY NO KILL WORKS, NOT THE EXAMPLE OF WHY IT DOES NOT, IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO FULFILL OUR COMMITMENT, NOT ONLY DO THESE DOGS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY SUFFER, IT'S ALL DOGS ALL OVER FOR GENERATIONS THAT SUFFER.
WHEN PROGRESSIVE CITIES DE DECIDE TO TURN THEIR BACK ON PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION, YOU LET THAT BEACON OF HOPE IGNITED BY THAT LEGISLATION EXPIRE IN A WORLD, IN A COUNTRY, AND IN A STATE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO TURN ITS BACK ON.
THOSE LESS FORTUNATE, WE CHOSE TO STAND UP AND PUSH BACK.
WE ARE DOING THIS NOT BECAUSE IT IS EASY, BECAUSE WE CAN, AND WE MUST.
PROGRESSIVE CITIES MUST STICK TO THEIR PROGRESSIVE IDEALS, ESPECIALLY AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.
AND YOU CAN'T HAVE LOOSE DUMP, DUMP ROAMING THE STREETS AND CALL YOURSELF NO KILL.
UM, I'M HERE TODAY TO SUGGEST THE COMMISSION CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO PROVIDE OUR CITY WITH A FUNCTIONING SHELTER WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF NO KILL.
AND I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE ALL IN THIS ROOM TODAY BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT WE LOVE ANIMALS.
BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS, A, WE ARE ALREADY A NO KILL CITY.
AND B, WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS NOT WORKING.
IF CITIZENS ARE INSTRUCTED TO LEAVE DUMP DOGS WHERE THEY FOUND IT, THAT IS NOT NO KILL.
IF SOMEONE FINDS A LOST DOG AND HAS NOWHERE TO TAKE IT TO BE REUNITED WITH ITS FAMILY, THAT IS NOT NO KILL.
IF WE'RE YOUTH EUTHANIZING DOGS THAT VOLUNTEERS SAY CAN BE REHABILITATED AND HOMED, THAT IS NOT NO KILL.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S NO PROBLEM IN AUSTIN.
THEY CAN'T BE FIXED BY AND SOLVED BY AUSTIN.
THE CITY NOT ONLY HOUSES SOME OF THE MOST EMPATHETIC PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, THE CITY IS ALSO HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST UNIVERSITIES.
THE CITY HAS SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN THE WORLD HERE, THE WEALTHIEST INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE EVER WALKED THE PLANET LIVE HERE, THE PUT ALL OF US TOGETHER, AND THERE'S NO PROBLEM TOO BIG.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOMEONE IN THE COMMISSION TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH A FUNCTIONING SHELTER WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF NO KILL.
NOT TO DEBATE WHAT'S POSSIBLE OR NOT POSSIBLE, OR TO ARGUE OVER, UM, WHAT IS WRONG OR WHO'S TO BLAME, BUT TO DECIDE WHAT IS NEEDED.
AND IF WE CAN COME UP WITH THOSE SOLUTIONS, WE HAVE NO LACK OF RESOURCES WE CAN TAP TO BRING THOSE SOLUTIONS TO FRUITION.
THE CITY NOT ONLY WANTS THIS TO HAPPEN, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN, AND WE CAN BE THE EXAMPLE IN THE BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER CITIES TO FOLLOW.
I'M HERE FOR THE SPADE AND NEUTER.
YOUR SHELTER, YOUR TAX DOLLARS.
I'M TIRED OF HEARING APA GO ON THE TV CHANNEL 24 SAYING THEY NEED $50,000 A DAY TO RUN THE SHELTER.
THEY ARE LIVING IN A FREE SHELTER.
THEY PAY THE ELECTRICITY BILL.
THEY DON'T PAY FOR THE SHELTER.
I'M PAYING FOR THE SHELTER FOR THE CITY.
YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE SHELTER FOR THE CITY.
AND I'M TIRED OF HEARING THEM SAY THAT.
THEN I HEARD THE OTHER DAY, THEY SAID, OH, WE HAVE SAVED 12,000 LIVES.
LET'S TAKE 2000 FROM THAT, THAT THEY PULLED FROM OUR SHELTER, 10,000.
YOU'RE NOT SAYING THEY'RE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN, OUTTA COUNTY, OUT OF STATE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING OUR SHELTER.
AND THESE PEOPLE HERE MAY NOT NOT KNOW THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING OUR SHELTER TO HAVE PROBLEMS. OUR SH OUR ANIMALS BEING SHUT DOWN AT THAT SHELTER.
I SEE ANIMALS, ELROY IS JUST FULL OF THEM, DOGS BEING DUMPED, AND CATS BEING DUMPED.
AND IT'S, AND I'VE, I'VE SEEN DOGS ON THE COLORADO RIVER RIGHT NEAR WHERE I LIVE AT 9 73, AND I CALLED THE SHELTER OUR CITY SHELTER.
THEY WOULDN'T GO DO N DO ANYTHING, BUT THEY DID TELL ME OF SOME PEOPLE THAT WOULD GO PICK 'EM UP, AND THEY WENT AND GOT THE SIX LITTLE DOGS BECAUSE THE COYOTES WOULD'VE GOTTEN THEM.
BUT THIS, THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE, IS AUSTIN PETS ALIVE IS BRINGING IN ANIMALS, AND THEY, THEY
[00:45:01]
ARE ADOPTING THEM OUT, AND OUR ANIMALS ARE NOT BEING ADOPTED.THAT, THAT COME FROM OUR CITY.
OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE HERE, THEY GET PREGNANT DOGS AT, AT OUR SHELTER.
THEY DON'T GO PICK UP THE DOG UNTIL SHE HAS THE BABIES.
THEN THAT'S ONE MAMA DOG AND MAYBE FIVE P FIVE PUPPIES, OR EIGHT PUPPIES, OR SEVEN PUPPIES.
THEN THAT SAYS THEY GOT SIX OR SEVEN DOGS.
THAT'S NOT FAIR TO OUR CITY THAT THEY, THEN THEY SELL THE DOGS.
THEY SELL 'EM FOR TWO AND $300.
WE GIVE THEM AWAY AT OUR SHELTER, AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET, WE CAN'T EVEN GET PEOPLE TO COME THERE.
SO I'M, I'M WANTING US TO GET MORE SPADE AND NEUTER YOU.
YOU'VE HEARD ME CRY THAT OUT AND I DO IT.
I DID 10 CATS TODAY AND GOT THEM FIXED.
AND I'VE TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M 83 YEARS OLD.
I'M THE OLDEST TRAPPER YOU GOT IN THIS TOWN, AND I WORK HARD AT IT.
I DID OVER 34 CATS LAST MONTH, AND I HAD TWO THAT HAD TWO LITTER WHILE THEY WAS IN AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY.
AT LEAST THEY WENT INTO FOSTERS AND THE KITTENS ARE GONNA GET FOREVER HOMES, AND THE MAMAS ARE GONNA GO BACK TO WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
DOROTHY LOPEZ BARNETT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
SERVING ON COMMITTEES IS HARD WORK.
UH, I AM DOROTHY LOPEZ BARNETT.
AND FOR DISCLOSURE, I'M A CONCESSIONARY IN ZILKER PARK, AND I'M HERE TO, UH, SPEAK AGAINST THE ZILKER VISION PLAN, UH, AS IT PERTAINS TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE ANIMALS.
UH, I I'VE HEARD ONE ESTIMATION THAT IT WILL BE A 50 YEAR BUILD OUT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING IN TRYING TO LIVE IN THE PARK AS A WILD ANIMAL, AS THEY'RE DIGGING TUNNELS AND BUILDING GARAGES AND BUILDING AMPHITHEATERS AND CHANGING EVERYTHING AROUND? UM, I JUST WENT ON THE GOOGLED EFFECTS OF, UH, POLLUTION, NOISE POLLUTION ON ANIMALS ON THE INTERNET, DO IT SOMETIMES.
UH, THERE'S EVERYTHING FROM SCHOLARLY, UH, STUDIES TO, YOU KNOW, EXCUSE ME, MAGAZINE ARTICLES OUT THE AUDUBON SOCIETY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.
AND HERE'S ONE LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION.
IT SAYS, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT LOUD NOISE CAN CAUSE CATERPILLARS HEART TO BEAT FASTER AND BLUEBIRD TO HAVE FEWER CHICKS.
NOISE POLLUTION MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ANIMALS TO USE SOUND FOR NAVIGATION, FINDING FOOD MATING, AND AVOIDING PREDATORS AFFECTING MANY OF ANIMALS' ABILITY TO SURVIVE.
AND SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THE VISION PLAN AND STOP THE NOISE POLLUTION THAT THEY'RE GONNA CAUSE IN ZILKER PARK, PLEASE DO THAT.
UH, IN, IN OUR PARK, UH, WHAT I DO BRING TO THE TABLE IS, UH, WE'VE BEEN THERE SINCE 1969, AND I BRING INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S IN THE CREEK AND THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE.
UH, WE SEE THE TURTLES, WE SEE THE BLUE HERONS, WE SEE THE EGRETS, WE SEE, SEE THEM ALL ON THE CREEK EVERY DAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO READ YOU, I THINK I HAVE TIME TO DO THIS.
I'D LIKE TO READ YOU A LITTLE THING THAT, UH, WE USED TO HAVE A LADY THAT CAME AND, UH, UH, HER NAME WAS DOROTHY RECTOR.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE IN THE ROOM REMEMBERS DOROTHY OR NOT.
UH, SHE USED TO COME TO THE PARK AND FEED THE BIRDS EVERY MORNING.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE DID WAS, UM, SHE'D HAVE A, A BIG LOUD WHISTLE, AND SHE WOULD START, SHE WOULD PARK IN THE LITTLE PARKING LOT THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO TAKE OUT AND CROSS THAT, UH, PECAN, UH, GROVE PICNIC AREA AND GO DOWN TO THE CREEK, THE, THERE, THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE OUR, OUR BUSINESS.
AND SHE WOULD START BLOWING ON HER WHISTLE, AND THE BIRDS WOULD START COMING IN.
AND SHE BROUGHT WITH HER BIRD FOOD, FOOD FOR A WHILE.
UH, SHE WAS LEERY OF US BECAUSE WE WERE IN HER TERRITORY.
UH, SHE LIVED IN, IN HYDE PARK, BUT SHE DROVE EVERY DAY OVER THERE.
AND SHE WAS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS.
UH, WE DID EVENTUALLY WIN HER OVER, UH, BY SHOWING HER THAT WE TOO CARED ABOUT THE, THE WILDLIFE.
I JUST ASK THAT YOU, UH, KEEP DOROTHY IN YOUR MIND.
[00:50:01]
HOLD ON.UH, DANA HA HAGAR, THANK YOU FOR HEARING US TODAY.
UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO CUT THIS DOWN.
UH, PLEASE CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE, THE ZILKER VISION PLAN ON ALL THE OTHER SPECIES THAT EXIST IN AND USE THAT THE PARK.
THIS INCLUDES THE CAGE TO WILDLIFE AND THE NATURE AND SCIENCE CENTER, THE WILDLIFE THAT CALLS ZILKER AND BARTON SPRINGS AND BARTON CREEK HOME, OR USE IT AS A THOROUGH AFFAIR, INCLUDING BIRDS AND INSECTS AND REPTILES, AND ANY OTHER SPECIES.
THE DOGS WHO DEPEND ON ZILKER IN THE ALII AREA, WHICH IS THE GREAT LAWN, AND OF COURSE, THE FEDERALLY PROTECTED SALAMANDERS.
NO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDIES WERE COMMISSIONED BEFORE THE $600,000.
$600,000 WAS SPENT ON THE PLAN.
THE VISION PLANNERS PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE ACL AND TRAIL OF LIGHTS ALREADY DELETER IMPACT OTHER SPECIES FOR MONTHS FROM SET UP TO TAKE DOWN OF EACH EVENT THAT IS UNREASONABLE FOR A PUBLIC PARK.
AND THIS PLAN, IF IT GOES THROUGH WITH, WILL ONLY MAKE IT LESS ACCESSIBLE.
MY DOG, LUCY AND I, AND MANY OTHERS, USE THE GREAT LAWN A LOT.
WE ARE MEMBERS OF A DOG GROUP WHO USE THE PARK REGULARLY FOR MEETUPS.
THE GREAT LAWN IS THE ONLY SIZABLE OFF LEASH AREA, 46 ACRES IN AUSTIN FOR DOGS TO RUN AND RUN AND RUN AND FETCH AND SOCIALIZE.
DOGS REQUIRED AS ESPECIALLY LARGER BREEDS.
A DOG'S AVERAGE LI AVERAGE LIFESPAN IS 10 TO 13 YEARS.
IMAGINE THE YEARS THE GREAT LAWN WILL BE UNAVAILABLE DURING THE VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION.
BULLDOZING, CONCRETIZING, A DOG COULD BE DEAD BEFORE IT WOULD BE READY.
AND AFTERWARDS THE USABLE ACREAGE WILL BE REDUCED GREATLY.
I'VE TALKED TO MANY DOG PEOPLE AT THE GREAT LAWN, AND NOT A SINGLE ONE IS ON BOARD WITH LOSING ACCESS ANY MORE THAN WE ALREADY DO.
UM, THE GREAT LAWN CANNOT SUSTAIN INSECT HABITATS.
NOW WITH ALL THE EXPENSIVE REHAB AND REPLACING A SOD, EVERY D EVERY YEAR AFTER ACL, THE ANIMALS CAGED AT THE NATURE CENTER ARE ALREADY BOMBARDED BY LOUD NOISES AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT FROM ACL AND TRAIL OF LIGHTS, GENERATORS, MACHINERY, TRUCKS, LOUD MUSIC.
WHY SUBJECT THEM TO THIS AND EVEN MORE.
AND THIS AFFECTS ADOPTIONS OF DOGS IN THE SHELTERS TOO.
LET'S PUT THE BRAKES ON HIS BACKWARDS PLAN.
KEEP PRODUCING CONCRETE, AND BULLDOZERS DON'T BELONG IN GREEN SPACES.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PARK USING REWILDING AND PERMACULTURE.
THESE ARE HOW HUMANS HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED LAND BEFORE COLONIALISM AND IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.
AND IT IS THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
ZUKI PARK CAN BE A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR THE WORLD ON HOW TO LIVE HARMONIOUSLY WITH OUR OTHER SPECIES PARTNERS.
IT COULD BE A FORERUNNER, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO ELEVATE OUR RESPECT FOR THOSE OTHER SPECIES.
WE ARE NOT AN ISLAND UNTO OURSELVES.
THANK YOU FOR ADVOCATING FOR ALL THE OTHER SPECIES.
UH, CHAIR, CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? SURE, ABSOLUTELY.
UH, OF THE LAST SPEAKER, UH, YES.
UM, THE TIMELINE FOR ACTION FROM THIS COMMISSION TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.
HOW, HOW SOON DOES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN? UM, CITY COUNCIL WON'T TAKE, UM, THIS PLAN INTO CONSIDERATION UNTIL AUGUST 31ST, SO YOU COULD HAVE TIME UNTIL YOUR NEXT MEETING IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE A WORKING GROUP.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ROBERT SINGLETON, AND I'M HERE ROBERT REPRESENTING A COUPLE OF GROUPS, EARTH FIRST AUSTIN, WHICH RECENTLY CAME OUT OF DORMANCY BECAUSE OF ISSUES LIKE THIS.
AND THE OTHER IS AN ORGANIZATION CALLED CODA CITIZENS ORGANIZED TO DEFEND AUSTIN.
WE HAD ABOUT 30 MEMBERS FOR A WHILE NOW.
WE, WE FOUND WE WERE UNWIELDY THEN.
SO NOW WE'RE DOWN TO TWO REMAINING MEMBERS.
SO WE'VE BECOME WIELDY, THANK YOU, IN PARTICULAR FOR GIVING US THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO SPEAK THAT THE PARKS COMMISSION GAVE US.
I, IT, IT JUST, IT ALLUDES ME WHEN IT WAS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN, AS A WHOLE SEEMED TO BECOME SO AFRAID OF ITS CITIZENS AND PUBLIC INPUT.
THE THERE ALREADY TAUGHT, TALKING ABOUT CUTTING DOWN OUR TIME FOR PRESENTATIONS
[00:55:01]
AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.AND IF THAT HAPPENS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET A COMPLETE VIEW OF WHAT THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN THI THINK? IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM ALL THE CITIZENS.
UM, I'M ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TURTLE, SQUIRRELS, BIRDS, AND, UH, AND OTHER ANIMALS THERE.
UM, I'VE BEEN TESTIFYING IN PUBLIC HEARINGS IN AUSTIN FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE DECADES.
AND IT IS ONLY IN FAIRLY RECENT MEMORY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN THIS HOSTILE ATTITUDE TOWARDS INPUT, UM, TO SPECIFICALLY TIE THIS TO, UM, TO ANIMAL ISSUES.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT THE GORILLA IN THE ROOM THAT NO ONE'S TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT IS ACL.
AND ANYBODY WHO'S BEEN DOWN THERE THE WEEK AFTER A C L CAN TELL YOU, ACL HAS OUTGROWN ZILKER PARK.
AND EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT OF THIS PLAN, THIS VISION PLAN, UH, IS DRIVEN BY ACL, THE PARKING GARAGES, THE PERMANENT AMPHITHEATER, THE SKY BRIDGES, WHATEVER A SKY BRIDGE IS.
I THOUGHT ALL BRIDGES WERE IN THE SKY, BUT MAYBE I'M WRONG.
SO I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES BECAUSE, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE LAW ARE THAT THE COUNCIL ULTIMATELY CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO THE VISION PLAN.
AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO PROVE SOME POINTS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH, UH, THAT THEY'VE MET THE CONDITIONS OF THE, UH, UH, PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE.
SO I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES TO A C L BEING IN ZILKER PARK, WE USED TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD CONCERT FACILITY THAT WOULD'VE MADE A GREAT HOME FOR ACL, BUT WE PAVED IT OVER.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA PROPOSE ARE A SERIES OF ALTERNATIVES USING JOINT USE, UH, OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT A DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE SOUTH PARK MEADOWS.
OKAY, UM, LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN, LET ME JUST CONCLUDE WITH SAYING THERE HAVE BEEN TWO KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN AUSTIN.
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LOOKING FOR QUICK, EASY FIXES WHO TELL YOU THAT HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NO LOAF, I CALL THEM HALF A LOAFERS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE, IN THE, THIS PLAN IS A PLAN BY THE HALF A LOAFERS.
I'M, UM, A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTALIST AND FORMER SCIENCE TEACHER, AND I RUN AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TODAY, UH, CALLED SEED COALITION.
UM, I AM HERE AND GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR LISTENING ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR ZILKER PARK THAT WOULD INCREASE BIODIVERSITY.
UM, THE ZUCKER REW WILD PLAN IS ACTUALLY AN INCREDIBLE DOCUMENT.
I'VE BEEN READING THAT, UM, MORE THOROUGHLY LATELY.
AND IF YOU EVER LOOK AT IT, THE PHOTOS TELL THE STORY IN THIS PLAN.
SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN TRIED AND TESTED ALREADY, WHERE SOME AREAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED TO STOP MOWING AND LET NATURE COME IN.
THE WILDFLOWERS COME IN, THE HABITAT IMPROVES, YOU'LL SEE BUTTERFLIES AND, YOU KNOW, THE MINUTE YOU BRING IN ONE SPECIES MORE COME.
AND SO WE HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY, THIS PLAN, THE REW ZILKER PLAN IS MUCH PREFERABLE TO THIS, UM, ZILKER PLAN THAT'S BEING TOUTED, UM, BY THE CITY AND, UM, I GUESS BY THE CITY.
BUT, UM, UNDER CONSIDERATION, THE REWILD PLAN, BY CONTRAST, WOULD HAVE 25 ACRES THAT ARE FORESTED, UH, DENSE WOOD LAND IN EIGHT ACRES, OPEN WOODLAND IN 23 ACRES.
AND THAT'S AN AREA THAT'S REALLY INTRIGUING.
AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS, YOU'VE GOT AREAS THERE THAT HAVE TALL TREES, THEY'VE GOT SOME UNDERGROWTH, AND YOU'VE GOT PICNIC TABLES AND SHADE.
AND THIS IS PLACES WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BE.
THIS INCREASES THE ABILITY FOR RECREATION, UM, FOR BIODIVERSITY, UM, AND JUST PHOTOGRAPHY AND JUST MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE HABITAT.
UM, THERE'S GREEN PARKING WOODLAND FOR THREE ACRES AND SAVANNAH WETLAND FOR ONE ACRE.
THIS WHOLE PLANT COULD SAVE THE CITY A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY.
IT COULD PREVENT A LOT OF POLLUTION
[01:00:01]
THAT GOES INTO MOWING AND, AND, UM, A LOT OF COST OF IRRIGATION.IT COULD BOOST SOIL HEALTH AND BIOLOGY.
AND THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE IN AUSTIN HAVE ASKED FOR.
UM, THEY WANT NATURE TRAILS, THEY WANT WATER FEATURES.
UM, THIS CAN BE DONE AND WE CAN STOP THE EROSION.
STILL, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN OCCASIONAL THING OR TWO IN THE, IN THE ZUKI, UM, VISION PLAN THAT THAT HAS MERIT.
BUT ALL OF THE CONSTRUCTION JUST HAS TO GO.
AND IF YOU ENVISION WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT THE KIND OF PARK THAT'S A NATURAL AREA.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE A DOWNTOWN CITY PAVED BLOCK KIND OF CONCEPT.
UM, I WAS ALREADY DISAPPOINTED BY WHAT HAPPENED WITH WATERLOO PARK.
IT WAS A NICE AREA WHERE YOU COULD SIT UNDER THE TREES AT ONE POINT IN TIME AND HAVE A SENSE OF GREEN AND SPACE.
AND NOW SO MUCH OF THAT HAS BEEN LOST.
AND NOW WE HAVE PATHWAYS THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO JUST WALK DOWN INSTEAD OF A PLACE THAT YOU CAN STOP AND ENJOY.
SO, I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
I LIKED WHAT TANYA AND GAIL HAD TO SAY, AND I HOPE YOU'LL CONSIDER ALL OF THAT AS WELL.
TERRY ADAMS. HI, MY NAME IS TERRY ADAMS. AND, UM, WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ZILKER VISION PLAN IN DECEMBER, UM, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I STARTED DOING WAS ACTUALLY READING THE PLAN.
AND, UM, ON PAGE 35, IT'S PAGE 54 OF THE ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT, BUT IT'S PAGE 35 OF THE VISION PLAN.
IT TALKS ABOUT CRIME AND LIGHTING, AND IT SAYS, ZUCKER PARK IS NOT A CRIME-FREE AREA.
THERE'S AN AVERAGE OF 383 CRIMES PER YEAR IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.
IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT IN 2019, THERE WERE 355 CRIMES OVERALL, BUT 322 OF THOSE OCCURRED IN OCTOBER, AND 309 OF THEM OCCURRED DURING ACL.
THEN THE SECOND SECTION SAYS LIGHTING IN THE PARK.
A BRIGHTER PARK DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN A SAFER PARK.
BASED ON RECENT STUDIES, HOWEVER, PARK USERS REPORT FEELING SAFER, LIGHTING IS CRITICAL TO IMPROVING THE PERCEPTION OF SAFETY BY MAXIMIZING VISUAL AND PHYSICAL ACCESS TO SPACES.
AN OVERALL INCREASE IN LIGHTING FOR THE PARK IS BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY BY DAUNTING CRIME AND ENCOURAGING AFTER DARK COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, WHILE RESPECTING THE NA, THE NATURE EXPERIENCE AND PARK AESTHETIC, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S PARK SECURITY LIGHTING PROJECT SHOULD BE APPLIED TO ZUCKER PARK TO INCREASE SAFETY AND SECURITY AT PARKS BY INSTALLING SOLAR POWERED L E D LIGHTING WITHOUT GRID SUPPORTED SUPPLIED POWER.
SO WHEN I READ THAT, I WAS IMMEDIATELY ALARMED BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE TREND IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIRD, I'M NOT A, YOU KNOW, BIOLOGIST, BUT IS DARK SKIES.
AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT'S NOT GONNA BE GREAT.
THAT'S GONNA FOR THE, THIS PERCEPTION OF SAFETY, WE'RE GONNA BE DISRUPTING, UM, DEAD BIRD HABITATS.
AND THEN AS I CONTINUE TO READ ON IN THE VISION PLAN, I REALIZED THAT A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED WILL JUST INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DISRUPTION.
SO IN THIS, UM, SLIDE, WE SEE A 5,000 PERSON CAPACITY AMPHITHEATER.
SO THE VISION PLANNERS SAY THAT THE AMPHITHEATER WILL NOT BE USED FOR CONCERTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS A REASONABLE CONCLUSION TO COME TO.
I THINK IT REQUIRES THE SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF, OF REALITY.
SO THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE ZIR 3 51 GROUP THAT IS POISED TO BE THE NONPROFIT PARTNER OF ZILKER PARK, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN SCALING UP EVENTS.
UM, ZILKER PARK HAS BEEN ALL BUT ABANDONED BY OUR PARKS LEADERSHIP.
THEY ACTIVELY WANT TO HAND OVER DUTIES TO THIS NONPROFIT THAT WILL BE INCENTIVIZED TO MONETIZE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT THEY WANT BUILT.
UM, CHAIR, CAN I ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION? YES.
I, I ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ANYONE ON AUDIENCE AS MUCH AS US, BUT IF SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE TONIGHT ARE NOT HERE AND WE DO CREATE A WORKING GROUP, UM, IS THERE A WAY TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S COMMUNICATED TO THEM? GIVEN THAT THE TIMELINE FOR ACTION IS QUITE SHORT? I THINK YOU JUST DID.
[01:05:01]
OKAY, COOL.SO WE WILL GO, UH, TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL OF THE
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
MINUTES.UM, THE ITEM KNOWS, NUMBER ONE, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE, THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETINGS ON JUNE 12TH, 2023.
I NOTED TWO THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, UM, NOT, UH, ON THE FIR THE VERY FIRST ITEM BEFORE APPROVE THE MINUTES, UH, WAS THAT IT WAS PROPOSED TO MOVE THE AGENDA ITEMS. AND I VOTED AGAINST IT, NOT UNDERSTANDING THE MOTION, BUT I WANNA JUST WANTED TO BE HONEST THAT I VOTED AGAINST IT CUZ I MISUNDERSTOOD IT.
UH, WHICH IS THE VERY FIRST THING BEFORE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
AND, UH, COMMISSIONER HANSEN, UH, HASSEN WAS HERE, UM, BUT EXCLUDED.
SO I THINK IT NEEDS TO SAY WAS PRESENT, BUT EXCLUDED WITH RESPECT TO COMMISSIONER HASSEN, WHICH IS WITH AN S NOT AN N ON THE FRONT.
BUT WITH THOSE CHANGES, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
ONE QUESTION THAT HAPPENED TO ME ONCE WHEN I WAS IN, IN, UH, I THINK WAS A MEETING IN AUGUST OF SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR, I DIDN'T SEND MY, MY, MY LETTER AND JASON SAY, IF I DON'T RECEIVE THIS, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO, TO VOTE.
SO WE GOT, UM, CLARIFICATION FROM, UH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND YOU WERE INAPPROPRIATELY EXCLUDED, UM, AT THAT TIME.
SO THAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO EITHER TURN IN THE FORM OR SEND, UH, AN EMAIL SAYING THAT I AGREED AT THE TERMS OF THE FORM AND I DO NOT HAVE A CONFLICT.
AND THAT EMAIL CAN BE SENT BEFORE OR UPON YOUR PRESENCE.
AND SO YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO SEND AN EMAIL AT THAT TIME.
SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION? COMMISSIONER LINDER MOVES? UH, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I, SECOND.
SO DO WE HAVE, UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AND THAT IS UNANIMOUS.
SO WE WILL GO TO THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH IS NUMBER TWO, STAFF
[2. Overview of monthly reports provided by Animal Services Office staff]
BRIEFINGS, OVERVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORT