Sep 11, 2023 Animal Advisory Commission

AND THEN IS IT WORKING? YES.

OKAY, COOL.

UHHUH .

AM I MISSING SOMETHING? THERE'S AN EXTRA PERSON THERE.

THAT'S FOR YOU GUYS.

OKAY, GREAT.

ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL MOVE TO THE PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

COMMENT.

WE HAVE NO ONLINE SPEAKERS, BUT WE HAVE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 AVAILABLE, UH, IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, UH, ROCHELLE VICKERY.

MY NAME IS ROCHELLE VICKERY.

AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN COMING HERE A YEAR AND I KEEP BEGGING Y'ALL TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SPADE AND NEUTER.

AND, UH, I KNOW FOR A FACT I'M, I WOULD BET A HUNDRED DOLLARS NOT A ONE OF Y'ALL, EXCEPT FOR LOUISE KNOWS THAT THEY CANNOT DO LARGE DOGS AND EPET, THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR 'EM, AND THAT MEANS ANYTHING OVER 30 POUNDS BECAUSE THEY, THEY LAY 'EM ON A TOWEL ON THE FLOOR AFTER SURGERY.

AND WE NEED, WE NEED HELP MR. CLINTON.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WITH THESE DOGS, WITH THESE PIT BULLS AND PEOPLE, I'VE BEEN THERE WHEN PEOPLE'S BROUGHT 'EM INTO THE SHELTER AND THE LADY SAYS, I CAN'T KEEP IT BECAUSE IT'S A PIT BULL.

SHE CAN'T RENT AN APARTMENT.

THESE PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHEN THEY GET 'EM, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

AND I KNOW IPET GETS OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

AND IF WE COULD GET SOME OF THAT MONEY AND PAY THESE, THESE VETS IN TOWN TO GET THESE LARGE, THOSE HUSKIES, GERMAN SHEPHERDS, ROT, WALLERS, ANY OF 'EM, ANY OF THESE LARGER AND MIXED BREED DOGS, IT WOULD HELP IT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD HELP ALL OUR SHELTERS AND IT WOULD HELP THE DOGS HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

AND I JUST KEEP PLEADING FOR, FOR, FOR THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND WE ALL KNOW IT.

WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE EPEC CANNOT DO IT.

THEY'RE BACKED UP THERE ALL THE WAY TO JANUARY, FEBRUARY.

THEY CAN DO FOO DOGS OR LITTLE SMALLER DOGS AND CATS, BUT CATS GO IN A CARRIER.

SO WHEN THEY HAVE SURGERY, THEY PUT 'EM INTO THE, THE CARRIER, BUT THEY CAN'T, THEY HAVE KENNELS, BUT SMALL KENNELS.

THEY DON'T HAVE LOTS OF BIG KENNELS.

AND I'M JUST ASKING IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO, TO HELP, YOU KNOW, THE POPULATION OF THE DOGS AND TO GIVE THEM A BETTER LIFE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GETTING A BETTER LIFE OUT, JUST BREEDING.

AND IT'S CAUSING LOTS OF PROBLEMS IN OUR SHELTERS.

AND THAT'S ONLY, I JUST, I'D LIKE TO SEE US DO SOMETHING.

IT'S BEEN A YEAR AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY, ANY MOVEMENT TOWARDS, EXCEPT FROM MR. TUCKER SAID, GIVE HER ALL THE VOUCHERS SHE CAN GET.

WELL, I'VE ONLY GOT ONE VET THAT'LL TAKE IN THESE LARGER DOGS, AND THAT'S SOUTH CONGRESS.

DR.

HARDESTY, HE DOESN'T GET PAID A LOTS, BUT HE, YOU KNOW, HE'S DOING ONE, ONE A WEEK OR TWO A WEEK WHEN HE DOES SURGERY.

AND I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN GET SOME OF THAT MONEY TO, TO GO TO SOME OTHER VETS IN TOWN TO, TO HELP GET THIS SPAYED AND NEUTER.

AND SOME OF YOU PEOPLE MUST HAVE POWER WITH YOUR OWN VETS AND COULD TALK TO THEM AND SAY, CAN YOU DO ONE DOG A WEEK? YOU KNOW, JUST ONE DOG WILL HELP.

IF, IF WE HAD 10 VETS DOING ONE DOG, IT WOULD HELP.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE

[00:05:01]

ALL THE TIME.

THAT'S ALL I ASK FOR IS TO DO, GET SOMETHING MOVING ON THIS SPAYING NEUTER 'CAUSE EMANCIPATE CAN'T DO IT.

UH, CLAUDIA HOLLAND, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO IMPLEMENTING A FINDER TO FOSTER PROGRAM.

AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, FINDERS ARE GIVEN LIVE, IF ANY RESOURCES WHEN TAKING A FOUND DOG TO THE SHELTER.

THIS WEEK ALONE, I LEARNED OF A GOOD SAMARITAN WHO FOUND A DOG WITH SUCH BAD BLISTERS ON HER FEET.

SHE COULD NO LONGER WALK.

WHEN TAKEN TO THE SHELTER, THAT DOG WAS GIVEN A DISTEMPER VACCINE AND THE FINDERS TOLD THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN.

ANOTHER IS HOUSING TWO STRAY DOGS.

DOGS IN A MAKESHIFT SETUP IN HER BACKYARD TO KEEP THEM COOL BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO HAVING HER OWN PANICKED RESCUE DOG, SHE DOES NOT OWN THE HOUSE AND DOES NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO BRING THEM INSIDE.

SHE WAS CODED AS SAYING A, A C FINALLY GOT, GAVE ME A CALLBACK AND BASICALLY SAID THAT BECAUSE I SAVED THESE DOGS FROM THE STREET, I ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY'RE MY PROBLEM.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, JUST MAKING IT THE FINDER'S PROBLEM IS A HUGE ASK.

TO GET A DOG UP TO DATE ON VACCINES, IT'S $150, GETTING THEM SPAYED, NEUTERED, ANOTHER 150 CURRENTLY IN A MONTH.

FOR MY FOSTERS ALONE, I SPEND 60 ON PREVENTATIVES, 120 EXTRA ON FOOD, 60 PLUS ON TREATS, HUNDREDS ON MENDING FENCES AND BUILDING NEW FENCES.

THERE'S HARNESSES TAGS, LEASHES, TOYS, PUPPY PADS, DIAPERS, KENNELS, BEDS, CALMING SUPPLEMENTS, NOT TO MENTION THE WEAR AND TEAR ON MY HOUSE.

AND FURNITURE.

WEEKENDS ARE SPENT WAITING HOURS AT EMANCIPATE.

THERE ARE FOUR HOUR DRIVES, TWO BEFORE WORK AND TWO AFTER TO GET DOGS NEUTERED AT REASONABLE PRICES.

AFTER MONTHS OF BEING ON A WAITING LIST.

THERE'S COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT PROMOTING THESE DOGS ON ADOPTION WEBSITES.

THIS COST AND TIME IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.

BUT WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE? LEAVING DOGS ON THE STREET TO DIE, OR MORE LIKELY TO CONTINUE MATING TO THE POINT WHERE THERE THE PROBLEM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AND REMAIN NO KILL.

I DECIDED LIKE MANY OTHERS TO TAKE THESE DOGS IN.

I HAD ONE ADOPTED IN MARCH, ONE WHO GOES TO HIS FOREVER HOME NEXT WEEK.

AND TWO, THAT MYSELF OR MY COWORKERS WILL LIKELY ADOPT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME THE MASCOTS OF OUR OFFICE.

MY ONLY HESITATION IN ADOPTING THEM IS KNOWING IF UNSUPPORTED, I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE SUSPENSE.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR RESCUING STRAYS WITHOUT SUPPORT FOR BASIC NECESSITIES.

IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER WITH SUPPORT.

IT CAN BE BOTH IN SUCH SIX MONTHS TIME.

THAT'S FOUR FOSTER DOGS OFF THE STREET IN HOMES WITHOUT RESOURCES.

IMAGINE HOW MANY MORE COULD BE HELPED IF RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO CAN DO THIS.

BUT ALTERNATIVELY, IF RESOURCES AREN'T PROVIDED, THINK OF HOW MANY DOGS WILL BE IGNORED AND LEFT ON THE STREETS.

THIS IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING STREET DOGS, BUT BELOVED FAMILY DOGS THAT GET LOST.

IF YOU ARE ASKING YOUR FINDERS TO FOSTER, THEN FOSTER YOUR FINDERS.

GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES, THE SUPPORT, AND THE KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THESE DOGS AND IN TURN, HELP OUR CITY.

UH, PAT CHE, UH, THANK YOU CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UH, MY NAME IS PAT REYES.

I AM A LONGTIME AUSTIN RESIDENT, A LONGTIME ANIMAL ADVOCATE.

AND I HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE YOU MANY TIMES ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

AND TODAY I AM HERE TO SPEAK ON A FEW THINGS DURING PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

AND I UNDERSTAND I'LL BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AGAIN DURING AGENDA ITEMS. IS THAT CORRECT? UH, THE TIME IS NOW.

SO JUST THE TIME IS NOW TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

AND THEN AGAIN, CORRECT.

YOU CAN SPEAK ON THE ITEMS YOU'VE SIGNED UP FOR.

FOR SPAY NEUTER FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THANKS TO ALL THE NEW COMMISSIONERS FOR JOINING THE COMMISSION THIS YEAR.

I AM VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE A FULL COMMISSION WITH EVERY VACANCY FILLED.

THIS HASN'T HAPPENED IN A LONG TIME, AND I THINK YOU'RE DOING EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT WORK WITH LOTS OF VIEWPOINTS.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING WHAT WAS ALREADY A PRETTY GOOD COMMISSION.

AND NOW IT'S EVEN BETTER.

UH, MY NEXT IS ISSUE IS A QUESTION ABOUT THE JULY MINUTES AND GETTING THE JULY MINUTES POSTED.

UM, I ASKED CHAIR CLINTON ABOUT THAT EARLIER.

I'VE ASKED AN EMAIL TO, UM, DIRECTOR BLAINE AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GARZA, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT POSTED PRETTY SOON.

UM, NEXT I'M WANNA REQUEST TWO AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MONTH.

AND ONE IS TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS TO HAVE A BRIEFING ON THE ANIMAL SERVICES DONATIONS FUND THAT WILL INCLUDE LAST YEAR'S EXPENDITURES AND THEN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR OUT OF THE DONATIONS FUND.

AND I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROPRIATED $850,000

[00:10:01]

AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THEN APPROPRIATED ANOTHER 350,000 THAT BRINGS NEW SPAY NEUTER MONEY TO A TOTAL OF 1.2 MILLION.

AND BOTH OF THOSE FUNDS HAVE INTERESTING LITTLE CAVEATS TO THEM.

MOST PARTICULARLY THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT SAID THAT IT SHOULD BE FOR SPAY AND NEUTERING PETS OF LOW INCOME PEOPLE.

SO THAT RELATES BACK TO MY PREVIOUS REQUEST THAT YOU LOOK AT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CLARIFIED IN THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AS A PERFORMANCE MEASURE.

AND THEN I ALSO WANNA NOTE THAT DURING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE 850,000 FROM THE CITY, UH, THE MAYOR MADE IT A POINT THAT WHEN MONEY IS APPROPRIATED, IT STILL HAS TO GO THROUGH A, YOU KNOW, CONTRACTING PROCESS.

AND THAT WAS A QUESTION THAT DR.

BRUCE HAD BROUGHT UP LAST MONTH.

AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA HAD PUT IT IN AS A REQUEST THAT IT BE FOR EMANCIPATE, BUT I THINK THAT REQUEST DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT TIED TO THAT.

AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY I INTERPRET THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS.

SO I AM HERE TO, UM, BE VERY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION AND ASK YOU TO LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE, UH, DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND HOW THEY SHOULD BE SPENT.

PAT, DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK ON THE OTHER ITEMS? 'CAUSE NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.

OH, THIS IS THE TIME TO SPEAK.

NOW'S THE TIME.

YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S OKAY.

SO, UM, ITEM THREE IS I BELIEVE THE REPORT BY, UM, COMMISSIONER HASSAN.

I SENT AN EMAIL EARLIER ASKING SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

UM, MY QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS.

UM, THERE WAS NO BACKUP PROVIDED, UH, THERE WAS NO BACKUP ON THE HYPER HOUND REPORT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT BE, UM, PROVIDED AS EITHER A BACKUP, WHICH I GUESS AFTER THE FACT, UM, OR PERHAPS, UM, SENT OUT AS, AS, AS A EMAIL COMMUNICATION AT A LATER TIME.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HYPER HOUND REPORT.

UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU KNOW, IS UH, COMMISSIONER DDA STILL PART OF THAT TEAM? OR IS THIS, UH, COMMISSIONER HASSAN'S REPORT AND, AND HERS ALONE? AND THEN, UM, I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER , BUT I SENT IT TO Y'ALL IN AN EMAIL, SO I HOPE YOU WILL ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND THEN SHOULD I JUST KEEP GOING INTO ITEM FOUR? SURE.

SO, UM, WITH ITEM FOUR, IT IS THE ISSUE OF, UM, FOSTER TO FINDER, FINDER TO FOSTER.

I GET THOSE TERMS MIXED UP.

SO, SO FINDER CAN FOSTER, AND THEN I ASSUME THAT MEANS ADOPT OUTTA THAT FINDER'S HOME.

AND MY BIGGEST QUESTION ABOUT THAT IS HOW DOES SPAY NEUTER FIT INTO THAT? LIKE, WILL THERE BE A REQUIREMENT THAT IF YOU'RE DOING FINDER OR FOSTER, WILL THOSE PETS BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED? I SURE HOPE SO, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE A QUESTION.

UM, MY OTHER QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH LIABILITY.

UM, IS THE CITY GOING TO TAKE ON LIABILITY IF A FOUND DOG GOES INTO A HOME AND THAT DOG IS ATTACKED EITHER BY A PERSON OR ANOTHER ANIMAL IN THAT HOME? IT, YOU KNOW, IF MY DOG WERE TO GO INTO SOME, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON'S HOME AND SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, AND THEN ALONG THOSE LINES IS IN ORDER TO, UM, AVOID THAT EVENT, THAT EVENTUALITY FROM HAPPENING, WILL THERE BE ANY KIND OF TRAINING PROVIDED SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T PUT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE DOG IN A ROOM WITH A, A BIG DOG AND, AND, AND SOMETHING BAD COULD HAPPEN OR, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF THING.

SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS ABOUT FIND IT A FOSTER.

I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE TOPIC TO EXPLORE, BUT I HOPE YOU EXPLORE BOTH THE SPAY NEUTER ASPECT AND THE, YOU KNOW, AS, AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A SMALL DOG, THAT IF MY SMALL DOG GETS OUT, I WOULD NOT WANT MY SMALL DOG BE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

I'D RATHER MY SMALL DOG BE IN A SHELTER.

UM, SOME PEOPLE THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THEY'RE, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY TO THE SHELTER TO GET THEIR DOG BACK, BUT THAT ASSUMES A HOME THAT KEEPS 'EM SAFE.

SO THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS AND MY COMMENTS.

WHAT I WAS JUST NOW GONNA SAY AFTER THE FIRST TWO SPEAKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT SPAY NEUTER THAT MIGHT GUT FEELING IS THAT THE CITY REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO DO SPAYED NEUTER.

UM, MR. ROBERT CORVIN.

WELL, WHAT PAT SAID WOULD MAYBE CONTRADICT

[00:15:01]

THAT WHAT THE CITY WANTS ARE, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT, AND THEY DOG INDUSTRY, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, DOG INDUSTRY WANTS, IS TO PUSH AS MANY DOGS, ESPECIALLY BIG DOGS INTO THE CITY AND EVERYWHERE ELSE AS THEY POSSIBLY, POSSIBLY CAN.

AND THEY'RE GOOD AT IT.

THEY BRAINWASH PEOPLE ON THE MEDIA ADVERTISEMENTS.

IT'S NONSTOP ABOUT HOW GREAT IT IS TO GET A DOG AND HOW HAPPY YOU'RE GONNA BE, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

WELL, ANYWAY, YOU SHOULD JUST SPAY, NEUTER 'EM ALL.

IT'D BE A MUCH BETTER WORLD.

AND INTERESTING ENOUGH, MR. BLAND HERE JUST TOLD ME, IT COSTS $51 A DAY NOW TO SHELTER A DOG.

AND THAT DOES NOT COUNT ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OR, UM, OR VET BILLS.

IT WAS, IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? OKAY.

SO AT OUR LAST MEETING, I PRESENTED TO YOU IDEAS FOR SAVING AUSTIN'S DOG OWNERS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR.

AND I HOPE YOU PUT TOGETHER SOME KINDA WORKING GROUP ABOUT THAT.

REMEMBER THE DOG TOOTH CLEANING, HOW IT COSTS LIKE MAYBE $800 AND IT SHOULD ONLY COST MAYBE 150.

THERE'S A LOT OF EXPENSES THAT DOG OWNERS HAVE TO ENDURE THAT THEY REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO.

ENDURE, EXCEPT LIKE THE DOG INDUSTRY VET IS PAR A PART OF IT.

AND DOGLIKE DOG INDUSTRY VETS LIKE TO MAKE BIG MONEY THAT EVERYTHING HAS TO STAY UNDER THEIR DOMAIN ANYWAY.

TODAY, I WILL EXPLAIN WAYS THAT AUSTIN'S NO-KILL POLICY IS INTENSELY BAD AND HAS FAILED SO MISERABLY THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO END IT, TO KILL IT, TO DRIVE A STAKE THROUGH ITS DESTRUCTIVE HEART.

NO KILL IS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE POLICY THE CITY HAS ENACTED IN MODERN TIMES.

NO KILL DESTROYS PLACES, PEOPLES AND PUBLIC CIVILITY.

AMAZING IS THAT IN THIS ENVIRONMENTAL CITY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY WAS NOT CONDUCTED AT THE BEGINNING TO PREDICT THE DESTRUCTIVE OUTCOME.

13 UN LUCKY YEARS LATER, BUT NO STUDY AND NOBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED HOW DESTRUCTIVE NO KILL WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME.

THAT IS, UNLESS YOU READ STUDIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE.

IF THE CITY HAD READ STUDIES AND STILL PASSED NO KILL, THE ONLY CONCLUSION WE COULD DRAW TODAY IS THAT IN ENVIRONMENTAL AUSTIN, DR.

TRUMPS DATA MORE IN THE FUTURE.

TODAY'S LET'S FOCUS ON HOW DESTRUCTIVE THE OVERWHELMING WAVE OF NOKI DOG RESCUES HAVE BEEN TO PEOPLES.

I READ A STUDY THE OTHER DAY, AND I THINK THERE'S A FEW OF 'EM.

DOG OWNERSHIP DOES NOT MAKE PEOPLE HAPPIER.

IN FACT, OFTEN MAKES 'EM LESS HAPPY.

UH, DOGS GET PEOPLE STUCK WITH WHAT OFTEN, WHAT THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO HAVE.

UH, THAT'S TOO BAD.

I HAD LIKE ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES, I THINK.

UH, TRINA PURCELL? NO, I'M JUST HERE.

AND MR. UH, HAY? SAME? YEAH.

THAT COMPLETES OUR PUBLIC, UH, COMMUNICATION.

WE'LL NOW GO TO, UH, THE APPROVAL OF THE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

MINUTES.

ITEM NUMBER ONE, APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ON AUGUST 14TH, 2023.

I HAD A COUPLE OF SMALL, UH, NOTES, UM, ON THE, UH, MEMBERS PRESENT.

UH, WE DON'T TRADITIONALLY WRITE IF SOMEONE HAS MOVED IN AND OUT, UH, OFF OF THE SCREEN IN THE MEETING.

SO IT WOULD JUST SAY IT NEEDS THAT LAST LINE NEEDS TO BE DELETED AND, AND, UH, KRISTEN HASSON NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF PRESENT MEMBERS.

THAT'S ON JUST AT THE TOP WITH A ROLL CALL ON ITEM NUMBER ONE.

UH, THERE'S JUST A TYPO.

POSTPONED SHOULD BE, IT MUST HAVE, UH, ONE OF BEEN, BEEN ONE OF THOSE AUTOCORRECTS POSTPONE SHOULD JUST BE P O S T P O N E D ONE WORD.

IT REMINDED ME OF MY CELL PHONE TYPING, UH, WHICH IS AWFUL.

UM, AND THEN ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, ACTION WAS TAKEN.

UH, NINE.

IT SHOULD JUST SAY NINE DASH ZERO DASH ONE INSTEAD OF 9 0 1.

THAT'S PROBABLY MY FAULT FOR DECLARING FOR SAYING IT OUT LIKE THAT.

SO I'LL TAKE, UH, RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT MISTAKE, BUT IT SHOULD BE NINE DASH ZERO DASH ONE.

AND THEN I WOULD JUST DO A SEMI NOTING THAT, UH, I HAD ABSTAINED.

DID ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY NOTES ON THE MINUTES? THERE WERE TWO LOCATIONS OF THE POSTPONED.

OH, WAS IT AFRAID? I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME TO SAY EXACTLY.

DO YOU MIND SEARCHING WHEN YOU JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE POSTPONED WAS CAUGHT TWICE? I GUESS IT MAY HAVE BEEN

[00:20:01]

IN THERE TWICE.

AND CHAIR, IS THERE SOMETHING, UM, IN THE RULES ABOUT NEEDING TO BE PRESENT FOR A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES TAKEN AT THE MEETING TO BE CONSIDERED PRESENT? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING LIKE THAT I NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.

SO DO WE, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED? COMMISSIONER LINDER, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

UH, IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND.

SECOND.

COMMISSIONER HERRERA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ALL, UH, ALL THOSE AGAINST, SO AGAINST ONE, AGAINST ALL THE RESTS.

WERE IN FAVOR.

UH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN.

WE CAN'T GET YOUR VOTE ON THAT IF YOU'RE THERE.

THERE YOU ARE.

IS THAT A YES? I'M IN FAVOR.

SO WE HAVE, UM, ALL, ALL EXCEPT FOR ONE WOULD BE AGAINST.

PROVIDED BY AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES STAFF.

ITEM NUMBER TWO, OVERVIEW OF MONTHLY REPORT

[2. Overview of monthly report provided by Animal Services Office Staff]

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

I'LL, UH, JASON GARZA, THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.

I'LL KICK IT OFF.

THE LIVE OUTCOME FOR AUGUST WAS 97.9%.

WE HAD A TOTAL OF 965 ANIMALS THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER.

UM, A TOTAL OF 685 ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED AND WE HAD 78 DOGS AND CATS THAT WERE RETURNED TO THEIR OWNERS, EITHER THROUGH A RETURN TO OWNER OR AN R T O ADOPT.

UM, APOS WERE ABLE TO RETURN 32 ANIMALS OUT IN THE FIELD.

THEY DID IMPOUND 160 INJURED ANIMALS AND DELIVERED 76 ANIMALS TO WILDLIFE RESCUE.

UM, THEY ENTERED OVER, UH, ENTERED 220 RAB EXPOSURE REPORTS AND SUBMITTED 51 SPECIMENS FOR RABIES TESTING.

I'M NOT GONNA KICK IT OVER TO DON TO CLOSE OUT THE REST OF THE REPORT.

GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

DON BLAND, CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICER.

UH, I JUST WANNA SAY FOR THOSE THAT CAME AND SPOKE, UH, ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER THAT, UH, WE DID GET THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SPAY AND NEUTERING.

AND IT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY TIED TO ONE ORGANIZATION.

SO WE WILL HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO UTILIZE OTHER FOLKS THAT, UH, MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THE SERVICES DONE FOR THE PUBLIC.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT.

UH, VOLUNTEERS FOR LAST MONTH, WE HAD 6,587 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS.

WE DID SIX VOLUNTEER ORIENTATIONS, INTRODUCING 136 NEW VOLUNTEERS TO THE ORGANIZATION.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS POSTED.

WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ONBOARDED.

AND WE HAVE EIGHT POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE PREPARATION STAGES TO BE POSTED AND HIRED UNDER THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS.

WE HAVE ONE THAT IS IN PROCESS AND THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT.

WE DID TAKE 131 NEW FOSTER APPLICATIONS AND, UH, WE SENT QUITE A FEW ANIMALS TO FOSTER LAST MONTH, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL FOR US WITH OUR, UH, SITUATION THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.

WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE.

DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION? COMMISSIONER MULA.

HI, GOOD EVENING.

UM, YEAH, I HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS HERE, UM, SINCE I'M FINALLY BACK IN AUSTIN AND ABLE TO SEE ALL THE REPORTS HERE.

UM, SO ON YOUR ANIMALS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE, UM, A A C RESCUE PARTNERS IN AUGUST, UM, YOU HAVE 259 ON YOUR RE THE RE THE REPORT, BUT THE PORTAL DOESN'T SHOW THAT.

AND I GUESS IS THAT BECAUSE, AND I SEARCHED JUST FOR AUGUST, BUT, AND THOSE NUMBERS DON'T MATCH, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT I DID WRONG AND HOW COME I DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE SAME NUMBER YOU GUYS DID.

UM, AND ACTUALLY IT WAS ONE OFF, THERE WAS 260 ON THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS COUNTED.

UM, OKAY.

YEAH, I NEEDED TO LOOK UP WHERE THAT ONE ANIMAL WAS.

IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OUTCOME LATE OR, OR, UM, WHEN WE RAN THIS REPORT OR IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, THERE'S SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF IT, IF IT WAS A NOT PROPERLY CATEGORIZED WITH A, IF IT WAS A CAT OR SOMETHING.

BEING MICROCHIPPED, UH, IN THE COMMUNITY? OF COURSE, ALL THOSE THAT COME FROM THE SHELTER ARE, AND WHEN WE DO HAVE OUR MICROCHIP CLINICS, THEY'RE VERY WELL PARTICIPATING.

UM, YOU JUST REMIND ME WHAT I FORGOT.

YEAH.

AND THEN GOING INTO THE, ALL THE CHARTS AND EVERYTHING HERE, UM, ON THE RETURN TO OWNER CHART, I, I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT THE NUMBER IS DECREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR.

AND IF YOU HAVE A REASON WHY ANIMALS ARE BEING RETURNED TO OWNER AT A SUCH A LOWER RATE, IS IT, I MEAN, IS IT MICROCHIPS? IS IT WE ARE SEEING LESS AND LESS ANIMALS

[00:25:01]

PEOPLE ARE COMING TO GET THAT DONE.

AND, UH, THEN WE SEE MICROCHIP INFORMATION WHEN THEY ARE MICROCHIPPED NOT UPDATED.

UH, THAT'S A, A STUMBLING BLOCK THAT, UH, NO WORKING PHONE NUMBER.

THEY'RE NOT LONGER AT THAT ADDRESS.

SO WHEN WE DO FIND, WHEN IT IS MICROCHIPPED, A LOT OF TIMES THAT IT'S A DEAD END.

UM, AND THEN A FOLLOW ON TO THAT, YOU HAD 55 INTACT ANIMALS ADOPTED OUT IN AUGUST FROM 15 INTACT ANIMALS LAST YEAR AND FOR THE YEAR BEFORE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN HEARING PEOPLE TALK AND TALK AND TALK ABOUT SPAY AND NEUTER AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE SENDING MORE AND MORE ANIMALS OUT INTACT.

UM, IS THERE A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE ANIMALS? WERE SOME OF THEM, YOU KNOW, MEDICAL REASONS? DID THEY GO TO FOSTER TO ADOPT AND THEN THEY HAD SPAY AND NEUTER APPOINTMENTS? THERE'S NO, NO, NO WAYS I COULD FIND ANY OF THAT INFORMATION ON THE PORTAL.

WE'D HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, BUT A LOT OF TIMES IT IS THAT EITHER THERE'S A MEDICAL REASON OR WE WE'VE DONE A SPAY NEUTER AGREEMENT OR IT'S, IT'S A PRE-OPT TYPE THING.

ESPECIALLY WITH, WITH AUGUST AND THE SITUATION WE WERE GOING THROUGH, WE SORT OF WERE HESITANT TO GET ANYTHING IN THE SURGERY.

UM, AND ESPECIALLY ANY NEW ANIMALS THAT WE NEEDED TO ENSURE VACCINES WERE TAKING HOLD OF MM-HMM.

AND WE STILL HAVE THE, THE SITUATION WHERE IF THEY REFUSE TO SIGN A SPAY NEUTER AGREEMENT ON A RECLAIM, THEN WE HAVE TO SEND IT BACK TO THEM.

IS THAT ON THE FIRST INTAKE OR ANY INTAKE? ANY INTAKE.

ALRIGHT.

UM, HAS YOUR TRANSPORT PROGRAM GOTTEN STARTED AGAIN? I KNOW THAT YOU HAD SAID AT ONE OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS YOU HAD HIRED PEOPLE INTO THOSE POSITIONS.

IS THAT GOING AGAIN YET? WE'RE TRYING, UH, WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THOSE, THOSE RESCUE PARTNERS, THEY'RE FULL AND WHEN THEY DO HAVE OPENINGS, THEY'RE PULLING FROM OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR NO KILL STATUS INSTEAD OF PULLING FROM US.

ALRIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WHICH LEADS ME TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

ANIMALS LOST, STOLEN OR MISSING.

UM, IS THERE ANY WAY, AND I COULDN'T FIND IT ON THE, ON THE PORTAL TO FI FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY ARE.

ARE THEY LOST, MISSING OR STOLEN? SO I LOOKED UP THESE, UM, THEY WERE, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THEY WERE MISSING.

IT WAS IN FOSTER THAT HAD SOME KITTENS.

HMM.

I MEAN, I KNOW TWO OF 'EM ARE DOGS 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN THE POSTS ON THEM, SO.

UM, AND IS THERE, IS I, I'M GUESSING THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THAT IDENTIFIED AS FOR THIS REPORT AS TO WHICH THEY ARE? UH, I COULD CHECK WITH OUR IT ANALYST TO IF WE CAN LIST IT AS WELL.

UM, BUT YEAH, OUTSIDE OF ME, UH, WITH OUR INTERNAL SORT OF DASHBOARD, I PROBABLY FIND THOSE A NUMBERS.

YEAH, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE DATA PORTAL TODAY AND I WAS ON THE DASHBOARD AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO FIND THAT INFORMATION.

SO, UM, I DON'T KNOW.

UM, THEN THE ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED AT THE SHELTER.

YOU HAD 456 ANIMALS SPAYED AND NEUTERED IN AUGUST AGAIN.

UM, IS THERE A WAY FOR, FOR US TO GO IN AND LOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS OF THOSE 456 ANIMALS BETWEEN CATS AND DOGS? UH, NOT WITH THIS REPORT, UH, BUT I CAN ASK CHRIS AGAIN.

OUR, OUR IT ANALYST.

I'M SORRY.

UM, JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN SORT OF BUILD THAT BREAKDOWN IN THESE REPORT.

I'M GETTING THERE.

I'M GETTING TO THE END.

UM, NO ACTUALLY THAT, NO, THAT, THAT, THAT'S IT.

AND THEN ACTUALLY THAT IS NOT THE, SO THE, ON YOUR, ON YOUR ANIMAL SERVICES, 965 ANIMALS WERE BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER.

SO I'M ASSUMING THOSE WERE ALL THE ANIMALS, THEY WERE ALL INTAKE CORRECT.

INTO THE SHELTER MM-HMM.

, IS THERE ANY DATA BEING COLLECTED ON THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING TURNED AWAY? UM, WE'RE, WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH TRYING TO DO THAT.

ONLY WE WOULD, SINCE WE IMPLEMENTED SORT OF THE FINDER FOSTER IN ORDER TO, UM, AND, UH, VACCINATE INDIVIDUAL, UH, VACCINATE ANIMALS THAT, UH, A FINDER'S WILLING TO TAKE WITH THEM AND, AND HOLD IT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.

UM, I CHECKED THEM WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DOING A GREAT JOB OF TRACKING IT.

SO RIGHT NOW I CAN'T DEFINITIVELY SAY YES WE ARE, UM, JUST WITH DATA OF LIKE, LIKE I SAW, I CAME ACROSS A COUPLE DOGS THAT WE WERE, DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE THE, WE, UH, VACCINATED THE, THE ANIMALS AND THEN THEY WERE BROUGHT IN AT A LATER DATE ONCE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, HAD BEEN ESSENTIALLY THE VACCINE WAS ABLE TO TAKE HOLD.

SO I NEED TO GET WITH CHRIS, ESSENTIALLY TO FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW I CAN, WE CAN TRACK THAT, UM, THROUGH CHAMELEON.

[00:30:02]

ALRIGHT.

UM, AND THEN THE FINAL QUESTION I HAVE IS THIS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US, BECAUSE I HEAR THAT THERE IS A BOARDING AGREEMENT GOING ON WITH A P A AND YOU MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.

WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT ENTAIL? WE ARE DOING A PILOT PROJECT WITH A 60 DAY PILOT PROJECT WITH, UH, A P A AND, UH, IT'S, THEY'RE BOARDING ANIMALS FOR US FOR A DAILY FEE.

AND WE'VE SENT THEM 15 SO FAR.

AND PILOT, THE PILOT PROJECT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE UP TO 30 DURING THE 60 DAY PERIOD.

UM, AT THE END OF THE 60 DAYS, THEN WE'LL RE-EVALUATE AND SEE IF IT WORKS.

AND IF SO, THEN UH, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT AND, YOU KNOW, BID PUT OUT FOR ANYONE THAT WAS WILLING TO BOARD FOR A FEE.

AND WHEN DID THIS PROGRAM START? UH, I GUESS TWO WEEKS AGO.

IT, WE, WE, IT, WE HAD GOT IT APPROVED QUITE A WHILE AGO AND THEN IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY TAKE AGREEMENT UNTIL TAKE EFFECT UNTIL THEY PULLED THEIR FIRST ANIMAL.

SO, UH, WE, I THINK WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE 30 DAY MARK ON THE FIRST, UH, ANIMALS PRETTY SOON.

SO AUGUST, SO OCTOBER WE SHOULD HAVE A, SOME KIND OF REPORT ON HOW THE PILOT PROGRAM WENT AND IF IT WAS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT.

WE WILL AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING OUR FIRST BILLING VERY SOON FOR THEM BECAUSE THEIR BILL IS MONTHLY.

AND I'M SORRY, I DO HAVE ONE MORE BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PILOT PROGRAM, THE OTHER PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS INSTITUTED AT A A C WHERE YOU'RE CLOSED TWO MORNINGS A WEEK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO FOCUS ON SPECIFIC ADOPTIONS.

UM, WHERE ARE YOU IN THAT PROGRAM? IS IT CONCLUDED? IS THE SHELTER REOPENED ON THOSE TWO MORNINGS YET OR IS IT STILL ONGOING AND WHEN IS IT GONNA COMPLETE? THEY HAVE NOT, THEY'RE PREPARING THE DATA FOR US TO REVIEW AND WE'LL GET WITH THE, UH, A C M ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND REVIEW IT AND SEE IF IT'S GONNA STAY THE SAME OR MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS.

SO, UH, AND BY BACKWARDS YOU MEAN RETURNING TO BEING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? CORRECT.

CORRECT.

SO, WE'LL, WE'LL REVIEW THE DATA AND SEE THE RESULTS AND MAKE A DECISION GOING FORWARD.

AND NO TIMEFRAME ON THAT.

UH, IT'S PROBABLY BY THE NEXT MEETING WE SHOULD HAVE THAT VOICE, HAVE THAT FORM.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONER HERRERA, IT'S NOT A QUESTION.

IT IS.

JUST TO ADD, I AM WORKING AND I AM IN THE PROCESS TO DO A MICROCHIP CLINIC IN NOVEMBER.

IT'S GONNA BE, UH, EIGHT HOURS.

WE ARE GOING TO PARTICIPATE WITH OTHER TWO NONPROFITS, AND THE IDEA IS TO MICROCHIP 1000 DOGS AND CATS.

THIS IS A PREVIEW OF THE INVITATION TO ALL THE PEOPLE COME AND HAVE A FREE MICROCHIP.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? UH, YES.

COMMISSIONER ZAES Y YES.

UH, THANK YOU CHAIR.

CAN, UM, SHE LAND OR TALK THROUGH THE LAST ITEM PUT AS A BACKUP IN THE AGENDA.

THE, IT'S A TABLE IS INFORMATION FROM OCTOBER 1ST THROUGH 2022.

AUGUST 31ST, 2023.

YEAH.

SO, UM, THERE'S A TABLE THAT WAS IN, IN THE BACKUP THAT IS JUST, UM, GIVING A, A, A COUNTDOWN OF OUR INTAKE TOTALS BROKEN DOWN BY, BY ANIMAL, AND THEN WHAT THOSE OUTCOMES THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR EACH OF THOSE ANIMALS.

AND THEN GIVING THE DIFFERENCE, UM, JUST FOR, JUST TO GIVE A STATUS OF THE, OF THE FISCAL YEAR OF WHERE WE'RE AT.

AND SO, UM, RIGHT NOW, CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, UH, WE'VE TAKEN IN 4,940 DOGS, UH, 4,857 CATS.

UM, FOR THE OUTCOMES THOUGH, UH, WE'RE FOR DOGS, WE'VE, UH, ABLE TO OUTCOME 4,851 AND FOR CATS 4,698.

SO, UM, WITH, WITH THOSE TOTALS, WE ARE HAVE, WE'RE HAVE A DI BIT OF A DEFICIT OR DIPSET WITH DOGS.

WE'RE 89, UM, MORE THAN WE'VE TAKEN IN.

AND FOR CATS, WE'VE TAKEN ABOUT 159 MORE ANIMALS THAN WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET UP.

AND SO THEY'RE EITHER IN FOSTER HOMES OR, OR STILL AT THE SHELTER.

AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO MANAGE THAT SPACE ACCORDINGLY.

SO IS THIS A ONE TIME REPORT? UH, NO.

THIS WAS A REPORT THAT, UH, IF YOU REMEMBER LAST MONTH IT WAS A REPORT THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE A C M.

AND SO SINCE YOU KNOW, SHE ASKED ME TO DO IT, I KEPT GOING ONTO IT AND JUST UPDATING AS A, AS A CURRENT REPORT THAT

[00:35:01]

WE ALREADY HAD.

AND SO JUST FOR, FOR Y'ALL'S Y'ALL'S INFORMATION, SO THAT WAY, SO Y'ALL HAVE IT.

ONE, ONE QUICK QUESTION.

WHO, WHAT IS A C M? OH, I'M SORRY.

ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

SO, UH, AND I APPRECIATE IT.

UH, I KNOW THAT LAST SESSION, UM, MEETING THAT WE HAD, UH, THE CHIEF LAND SHARE WITH ME, UM, A REPORT AND I, I THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA BE PART OF OUR MONTHLY REPORT, AND IT WAS BASICALLY WHAT I HAD BEEN ASKING FOR A LONG TIME.

AND I, I THOUGHT THAT WAS EXCELLENT.

AND I'M SURPRISED THAT IT'S NOT, IT WASN'T EVEN POSTED.

I, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A CANNED REPORT THAT WAS IN CHAMELEON AND, UH, WE TRIED TO RUN THAT AND IT FAILED AND THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS IN TOTAL DISARRAY AND WAS NOT PRODUCING ANY RESULTS THAT, UH, MADE SENSE.

SO WE'VE HAD TO SEND THAT BACK TO THEM TO WORK ON.

UM, COMMISSIONER HOLT, UM, ABOUT THE MICROCHIPPING, UH, YOU SAID THAT THERE'S A NUMBER OF MICROCHIPS THAT ARE OUT OF DATE.

UM, DO YOU HAVE DATA ON HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE NOT GETTING RETURNED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MICROCHIPPED VERSUS THEY ARE MICROCHIPPED AND THEY, WE JUST COULDN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH THE OWNER? WE, IN OUR SYSTEM THAT DOESN'T TRACK MM-HMM.

, BUT I KNOW THAT, UH, SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I JUST PULLED EVERY ANIMAL THAT CAME INTO THE SHELTER AND LOOKED, AND OF ALL THOSE ANIMALS THAT CAME IN THAT WEEK, THERE WAS ONLY ACTUALLY ONE THAT HAD A MICROCHIP AND IT WENT BACK TO ITS OWNER WITHIN TWO HOURS.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE A FAIRLY REASONABLE CONCLUSION THAT WHAT WE'RE DEALING, WELL, ONE OF THE SCENARIOS WE COULD BE DEALING WITH IS JUST MORE ANIMALS BEING BORN ON THE STREETS OR BEING BROUGHT INTO OUR CITY WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, BEING MICROCHIP.

YES.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

UM, AND THEN I NOTICED THAT IN SOME OF THE RESCUE PARTNERS THAT YOU GO TO, UM, THERE WERE 10 OUT OF STATE RESCUES.

YAY.

BIG SUPPORTER OF OUT-OF-STATE RESCUE.

I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TEXAS CAN GET OUT OF THIS.

UM, DO YOU HAVE ANY, IT WAS 10 DIFFERENT RESCUES, BUT LIKE GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THESE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE SAME TRIP.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY LIKE RESCUE TRIPS Y'ALL ARE SENDING OUT? WELL, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT LAST YEAR'S NUMBERS.

UM, SURE.

THIS, THIS MONTH'S, THIS MONTH'S NUMBERS, WE, WE STAYED WITHIN THE AUSTIN METRO AREA.

SO THAT ACTUALLY KIND OF BRINGS ME BACK TO MY, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE GET OUT OF THIS IS BY UTILIZING OUR OUT-OF-STATE PARTNERS.

SO WHY ARE WE NOT DOING OUT-OF-STATE RESCUE? WE TRY, UH, THEY JUST WON'T TAKE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE, WHEN THEY HAVE OPENINGS, THEY'RE PULLING FROM OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR NO KILL STATUS.

YOU KNOW EXACTLY.

WORDS FROM SOME OF THESE RESCUES.

, YOU KNOW, I'M PULLING FROM OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE THAT ARE IN THE SEVENTIES, WHEREAS YOU'RE IN THE UPPER NINETIES, SO I'M GOING TO HELP THEM OVER HELPING YOU.

THAT'S FAIR.

UM, OKAY.

AND THEN LAST QUESTION, THIS ONE WAS KIND OF RANDOM.

UM, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT KNOWING LIKE LOCAL AND STATE ORDINANCE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT ARE THERE FINES FOR WHENEVER SOMEONE HAS A DOG THAT, SO WHENEVER I DID ALL THIS IN HOUSTON, THERE WAS A FINE FOR NOT HAVING YOUR DOG FIXED.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS ENFORCED.

AND IF YOU, UH, GOT IT RETURNED BY THE CITY OR COUNTY SHELTER, YOU COULD GET THE FINE WAIVED IF YOU OPTED TO GET THE DOG FIXED AND YOU COULD LIKE PROVE IT WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY OR IS IT JUST THIS IS OPEN TO EVERYBODY SO THERE'S NO SORT OF FINANCIAL INCENTIVE? WE DO DO NOT HAVE A MANDATORY SPAY NEUTER LAW.

CAN I ASK, UM, WHY IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA? SO WE PROBABLY CAN'T GET INTO A DISCUSSION OF THE MERITS OF A MANDATORY SPAY OR LAW POLICY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

WHAT, COMMISSIONER, HOLD, ARE YOU CONCLUDED? YES, I'M DONE.

I THINK THERE WERE SOME MORE HANDS.

UH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN? UH, YES.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY TESTING THE TITERS ALSO TO SEE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED.

UM, I AM WONDERING IF WE CAN GET A STATUS UPDATE ON THE SITUATION WITH DISTEMPER, INCLUDING SPECIFIC NUMBERS OF CASES AND, UM, WHAT, IF ANYTHING ELSE THE ANIMALS ARE TESTING FOR.

AND IF YOU'RE TESTING ALL SICK ANIMALS, I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

OUR HEAD VETERINARIAN, DR.

DEBBIE ELLIOT, SHE IS ON VIRTUAL, AND I'M GONNA TOSS THIS OVER TO HER BECAUSE SHE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING TESTING AND

[00:40:01]

SO, DR.

ELLIOTT, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK TO THIS? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

OH, HI GUYS.

UH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

I, UM, IN ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION AS TO HOW MANY WE'VE TESTED, UM, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT EACH WEEK WE ARE TESTING ANYWHERE FROM 25 TO 50 ANIMALS.

THE REASON I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER IS BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE TESTS MAY BE MULTIPLE, UH, TESTING TEST ANIMALS.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF AN ANIMAL DOES, IF A DOG DOES TEST POSITIVE THE NEXT WEEK, I MAY RETEST THAT DOG TO SEE IF THE P C R CT VALUE IS IMPROVED.

AND IF IT IS IMPROVED, THAT HELPS US KNOW WHEN WE CAN START TO MOVE THIS DOG INTO THE PUBLIC.

THE OTHER OPTION IS IF A DOG TESTS NEGATIVE, UM, AND THEN IT BECOMES CLINICAL, THEN WE MAY RETEST THAT DOG AS WELL.

AND IN, IN ANSWER TO ARE WE TESTING FOR OTHER THINGS? WE ARE, WE RUN RESPIRATORY PANELS, NOT NECESSARILY ON THE PUPPIES, BUT I DO RUN THEM ON DOGS THAT DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR CANINE DISTEMPER.

AND WE HAVE SEEN KENNEL COUGH AS WELL AS MYCOPLASMA.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY OF THE REALLY BIG BAD BUGS IN THE SHELTER, THANKFULLY.

AND ARE YOU, UM, ARE YOU ISOLATING EVERY SICK ANIMAL AND ARE SICK? ARE ANY ANIMALS WITH SYMPTOMS BEING TESTED BEFORE THEY'RE BEING ADOPTED OR FOSTERED? UM, SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN THAT.

ARE WE ISOLATING EVERY SICK ANIMAL? WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO ISOLATE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE.

THE ONLY ISOLATION THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE ARE THE FIVE HUNDREDS, WHICH IS OUR U R I WARD.

AND, UM, WE ALSO CREATED IN SMALLVILLE A, UM, ANOTHER WARD CALLED THE D WARD IN ORDER TO HELP WITH THOSE ANIMALS.

WHEN THAT THOSE AREAS FILL UP, WE RUN OUTTA SPACE TO ISOLATE.

SO WHAT WE ARE STARTING TO DO IN THAT SITUATION IS ISOLATE SPACE AND THEN SURROUNDING THOSE AREAS WITH EITHER NO KENNELS, IF THAT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE, OR WITH KENNELS THAT HAVE ANIMALS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA OF BEING PROTECTED AGAINST C D V.

AND I FORGOT YOU HAD A SECOND QUESTION.

UH, YEAH.

ARE YOU, UM, ARE YOU TESTING ANY ANIMALS WITH U R A SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEY'RE GOING OUT FOR FOSTER ADOPTION? GOOD QUESTION.

UH, IT'S REALLY DEPENDS.

AS SOON AS WE GET PUPPIES IN, I REALLY WANT THOSE GUYS TO GET OUT OF THE SHELTER.

UM, SO WE DO NOT TEST THOSE DOCS.

WHAT I FIND IF I DO TEST PUPPIES WHEN THEY COME IN IS THEY'LL BE C D V NEGATIVE, BUT THEY MAY NOT HAVE TIGHTER PROTECTION.

SO IT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE ME ANY MORE INFORMATION ON THESE DOGS.

SO IT MAKES IT HARD FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE DOGS.

IF I HAVE DOGS THAT ARE OUT AND SEE THAT ARE UNDER TREATMENT, WE WILL SEND THEM INTO FOSTER, FOSTER BASED ON THE FOSTER PERSON.

BUT WE DON'T JUST ROUTINELY SEND THEM OUT TO FOSTER IF WE DO NOT HAVE A LONG-TERM DISCUSSION OR A LONG DI LONGER DISCUSSION WITH THE FOSTERS ABOUT MAINTAINING THOSE DOGS.

WE ARE CONSULTING WITH THEM AS WELL AS, UH, WE HAVE SENT ANIMALS TO A P A AND, UH, THEY'RE, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM THAT THEY'RE BEEN CARING FOR ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OVER THERE AS WELL.

AND THE LAST QUESTION ABOUT THAT IS, UM, ARE YOU, UM, IF, IF A DOG GOES TO A FOSTER ADOPTIVE HOME AND THEY GET DISTEMPER, ARE YOU, ARE PEOPLE CONTACTING YOU LIKE THAT MUST BE HAPPENING IF YOU'RE NOT TESTING? LIKE, WHAT ARE PEOPLE DOING WITH THOSE DOGS? ARE THEY COMING BACK TO YOU? YES.

UM, WE SEE BOTH.

WE SEE THAT THEY DO CONTACT US, UM, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS AN ADOPTION.

UM, AND THEY'VE, UM, OBVIOUSLY HAVE GONE TO THEIR OWN VET.

A LOT OF TIMES I'VE SPOKEN TO THOSE VETS AS WELL TO ASSIST WITH MANAGING THEM.

I'VE ALSO SPOKEN WITH A P A AND THEY'VE AGREED TO HELP MANAGE THE DOGS THAT ARE IN ADOPTIONS, ADOPTION HOMES.

AND, UM, FOR FOSTERS, WE DO MANAGE THOSE UP TO THE POINT, IF THE PUP DOES GET VERY SEVERE, WE WILL SEND THAT OVER TO A P A FOR THEIR FOSTER, UH, PROGRAM AS WELL.

THANKS.

AND YOU'RE DIRECTOR BLAND, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ALL WERE CONSULTING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM.

ARE YOU ALL STILL CONSULTING WITH THEM? UM, I DEFINITELY AM.

I TALK TO THEM AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, SOMETIMES TWICE A WEEK.

[00:45:02]

COMMISSIONER NEER, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? NO.

UH, COMMISSIONER LINDER.

HI THERE.

UM, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION.

UM, IT SAYS, OFFICERS IMPOUNDED 160 INJURED ANIMALS AND DELIVERED, SORRY, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME OVER THE SIRENS.

76 WILDLIFE ANIMALS TO AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE, THAT 160, THOSE ARE COMPANION ANIMALS OR ARE THOSE WILD ANIMALS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE? I BELIEVE THEY'RE BOTH, YEAH.

, BUT OF THE A HUNDRED SIXTY SEVENTY SIX WERE WILDLIFE.

SO EVERY WILD ANIMAL WOULD HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO, OKAY.

THANKS COMMISSIONER.

MS. MAGULA, YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AGAIN.

DO YOU WANNA SAY I DID I JUST IN, IN REGARDS TO COMMISSIONER HOLT'S THING, IT REMINDED ME, UM, WHEN THE RECLAIM FEE FOR INTACT ANIMALS, IS THAT STILL HIGHER? AND IS THAT STILL BEING ENFORCED? 'CAUSE AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY THING THAT THE SHELTER HAS CONTROL OVER.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.

AND IF IT COMES DOWN TO, UH, AN OWNER PAYING THE FEE OR LEAVING THE ANIMAL, WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THEM SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT ANIMAL BACK IN THEIR HOME.

WE'LL ALL LEARN AND, AND GET, GET UP TO SPEED ON.

I WILL SAY THAT WE WILL TRY TO INCENTIVIZE AND WORK WITH 'EM THAT IF WE WILL WAIVE THE FEE, IF YOU GO AHEAD AND LET US, YOU KNOW, IZE THE ANIMAL.

SO OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE STAFF WORK REALLY HARD TO TRY TO GET THAT TO.

ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD OVER EMAIL ABOUT THE NUMBER OF, UH, ANIMALS VACCINATED ON INTAKE AND NOT VACCINATED ON INTAKE.

UM, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE, UM, CITY REPORTING CODE REQUIRES THE SHELTER TO REPORT, UH, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT WERE VACCINATED ON INTAKE AND THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT WERE NOT VACCINATED ON INTAKE.

AND WHEN I WAS, UH, AND I QUESTIONED, UM, WHERE THAT WAS IN THE REPORTS, IT TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS ON THE DATA PORTAL, BUT IT WAS ANSWERING THE WRONG QUESTION.

IT WAS ANSWERING THE AGE OF ANIMALS WHEN THEY WERE VACCINATED, WHICH IS NOT THE QUESTION.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEIR ANIMALS ARE BEING VACCINATED ON INTAKE OR NOT.

DO WE HAVE ANY, UM, UPDATE ON WHEN WE COULD GET THE CODE, UH, REPORTING PROVISION, UM, RES REPORTED CORRECTLY.

WE, LAST WEEK WE DID SEE A DRAFT REPORT THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THAT.

AND, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THEY'RE CHECKING IT AND AS SOON AS IT GOES THROUGH ITS STEPS, THEN IT'LL BE LIVE.

AND THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

UH, WE DO, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, THE REPORT, WE DID SHOW DIFFERENCES BECAUSE IF SOMETHING CAME INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, UH, TODAY, BUT IT'S NOT ARRIVING TO, UH, THE SHELTER TILL TOMORROW MORNING.

BUT WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND SHOW THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY IMPOUNDED THE PREVIOUS DAY WHEN IT CAME INTO THE EMERGENCY CLINIC.

SO THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A DAY THERE WOULD DAY DISCREPANCY, BUT NOT, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH TIME DISCREPANCY.

AND SO ANIMALS THAT, UH, WERE GOING INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, EMERGENCY CARE ONE DAY, WERE GETTING VACCINATED TO THE NEXT DAY FROM US.

BUT WE HAVE CHANGED THAT PROTOCOL AND WE HAVE BEEN, WE'VE BROUGHT THEM THE VACCINES SO THEY WILL BE VACCINATING ANYTHING THAT COMES IN, UH, AT AND BEFORE IT COMES TO US.

SO JUST LIKE, UH, PREVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, ANIMALS THAT COME IN THAT ARE NOT THAT SHOW ON THE REPORT THAT THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED, IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CURRENT VACCINATION.

IT'S, IT COULD BE A RECLAIM A, A RETURN ANIMAL THAT IS COMING BACK INTO OUR SYSTEM THAT HASN'T BEEN OUT LONG ENOUGH TO GET VACCINATED AGAIN.

IT'S STILL CURRENT.

SO THIS REPORT WILL BREAK ALL THOSE DOWN SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, THAT EVERYTHING IS GETTING VACCINATED.

THANKS.

AND, UM, MR. GARZA, I SAW YOU NOD YOUR HEAD EARLIER.

DID YOU WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THE MINUTES, UH, THAT MS. UM, SRES MENTIONED? YES.

IT'S MY THOUGHT.

I'LL TAKE THE HICKEY ON THAT.

I WAS LOOKING IN THE WRONG FOLDER, SO I'LL POST THEM TOMORROW.

, UH, IT WAS NICE OF YOU TO JUMP ON THE GRENADE, BUT, UM, THEY'LL GET UPDATED AND, AND I HAD TOLD MS. TRESS THAT WE, UM, THAT IN THE CHANGEOVER OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND ALL OF THESE ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, THEY'RE BOUND TO BE THINGS, UM, THAT

[00:50:02]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS SECTION? YES, MR. BOY.

I DO WANNA REPORT THAT, UM, WE DID SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN PATS ALIVE, UH, FOR THEM TO, UH, BUILD ON THE T CURRENT TLAC LOCATION.

SO THEY DO HAVE A 25 YEAR AGREEMENT NOW, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO, UH, DEMO SOME OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND REBUILD ON THAT PROPERTY.

SO THAT TOOK EFFECT, UH, ON THE 23RD.

UH, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD GET, UH, AN UPDATE, UH, MR. HAY, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE ROOM.

DO YOU MIND SPEAKING TO GIVE US A LITTLE MORE, UH, CONTEXT TO THAT? WOULD THAT BE POSSIBLE? SURE.

UM, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU'D HAVE TO GO UP TO THE MICROPHONE.

I APOLOGIZE VERY MUCH SO, UM, I MEAN, JUST REALLY TO, TO CONFIRM THE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE.

I THINK IT'S A 75 YEAR WEEKS.

25 YEAR.

UM, I WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE THE END IN THE 75 YEARS.

SO, UM, ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE THAT NOW IN PLACE AND WE ARE WORKING ON OUR END ON WHAT THAT WILL ACTUALLY MEAN.

WE DON'T EXPECT THERE TO BE MATERIAL CHANGES AT TIME LAKE.

UM, CERTAINLY IN THE NEXT KIND OF YEAR TO 18 MONTHS AS WE GO THROUGH PLANNING ON WHAT OUR PLANS AND ALTERNATIVES LOOK LIKE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE PAST.

AND I, I HAVE NOT, I'M NOT, I HAVE NOT AT ALL BEEN PRIVY TO THE LATEST CONVERSATIONS, BUT IN THE PAST I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A, UM, PLAN TO COMPLETELY REMAKE, UM, THAT AREA OF, OF THE TOWN LAKE SHORES, I EVEN FORGOT WHAT IT'S CALLED, UH, OVER THERE IT'S A COMPLETELY NEW REVISIONING WITH THE Y M C A MOVING AND A P A MOVING IS THAT, UH, STILL GOING FORWARD.

UM, AND SOME OF THAT'S CLEARLY NOT IN OUR CONTROL, BUT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON, ON WHAT IS DEVELOPABLE LAND WITHIN THE AGREEMENT.

UM, THERE ARE, UM, LARGE WATER MAIN PIPES UNDERNEATH THE SITE.

THERE ARE LARGE ELECTRICAL LINES OVER THE SITE OF WHICH WORK TO RESTRICT WHAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DO ON THE SITE.

AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE LOOKING TO DEVELOP.

TIME OUT.

ON REPORT FROM NON-PROFIT GROUP HYPER HOUND AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION FROM THE CITY'S ONLINE DATA PORTAL REGARDING AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICE'S FULFILLMENT OF ITS DUTY TO MEET THE CITY'S VISION FOR NO KILL ANIMAL SHELTERING, UM, PRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER HASSEN.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON.

THANK YOU BOTH.

ITEM NUMBER THREE, DISCUSSION

[3 Discussion on report from non-profit group Hyperhound and other relevant information from the City’s online data portal regarding Austin Animal Services Office’s fulfillment of its duty to meet the City’s vision for no-kill animal sheltering. Presented by Commissioner Hassen.]

AND I WILL NOTE, UM, JUST SO THAT THERE'S CLARIFICATION, UH, TO MS. VERE'S QUESTION, UM, TWO THINGS HAPPENED.

IS SHE STILL HERE? NO.

NO.

WELL, FOR THE RECORD, TWO THINGS HAPPENED.

ONE IS THAT, UM, THIS VERSION OF THE DISCUSSION ITEM, UH, WAS NOT THE VERSION THAT WENT THROUGH THE COMMISSION OR THAT I, THAT I APPROVED ON THE AGENDA.

THIS WAS ADDED LATER BY, UM, CITY STAFF.

SO, UH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN DID NOT WRITE THESE WORDS.

UM, SECOND, THE HYPER HOUND REPORT WAS ATTACHED TO LAST, UH, MONTH'S AGENDA.

UM, WHICH IS WHY THE CITY STAFF DID THIS, IS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CURRENT, A NEW REPORT.

UH, SO WHAT THEY DID IS THEY TOOK THE INFORMATION FROM THE LAST, UH, FROM LAST MONTH'S POSTED ITEMS AND DID A DESCRIPTION OF THOSE ITEMS. SO THAT'S WHERE, THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE.

UH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN, UH, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR CLINTON.

UM, I, UH, I'M NOT SURE THE LANGUAGE FOR THIS.

I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE TO MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING, GIVEN THAT THERE IS CONFUSION AND, UH, THE REPORT PROVIDED BY, UH, MR. MCFALL IS A COMPREHENSIVE, IT'S MORE THAN 70 PAGES.

IT'S ALL DATA.

UM, AND I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AT A MINIMUM SPEAK, UM, ON HIS OWN REPORT, ALTHOUGH I'M FAMILIAR WITH IT AND CAN SHARE SOME OF THE HIGH POINTS, BUT I ALSO THINK THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSIONERS REALLY NEED TO READ THE REPORT.

UM, AND SO DUE TO THE CONFUSION, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THIS TO THE NEXT MEETING.

OF THE AGENDA LAST, UM, MONTH.

SO, UM, BUT BEFORE YOU PULL IT, LET'S, SINCE IT'S ON THE AGENDA, WE'LL LET ANYBODY, UM, SPEAK TO IT OR ASK QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL LET YOU FORWARD IT, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK, IS THIS, UM, THE SAME REPORT THAT YOU SPOKE FOR OVER, OVER 20 MINUTES ON TWO TO THREE MONTHS AGO THAT I, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER HASSEN HAS SPOKEN TO THE HYPER HOUND REPORT THAT WAS PLACED ON THE BACK

[00:55:01]

COMMISSIONER HASSEN, UH, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A REPORT PREPARED BY, UH, UH, HYPER HOUND CHRISTOPHER MCFALL.

UM, AND I, NEITHER HE NOR I HAVE PRESENTED, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TO THIS COMMISSION.

SO, UM, WOULD THERE BE A HELPFUL WAY OF REFERRING TO THE REPORT THAT YOU WANT TO PRESENT AS OPPOSED TO THE REPORT YOU PRESENTED TWO MONTHS AGO? AGAIN, THERE WAS, THERE WAS CONFUSION AS TO, UM, THE STAFF JUST PICKING THE THINGS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO LAST MONTH'S AGENDA.

SO I THINK WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS THAT SHE LIKED TO GET IT CLEARLY ON THE AGENDA, GET IT CLEARLY ON THE BACKUP, AND GET IT CLEARLY DESCRIBED.

AND RESOLVE ANY CONFUSION.

SO THIS IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE REPORT YOU PR THAT WAS ON IN ALL THE BACKUPS IN JUNE, IS THAT CORRECT? THE, THE HYPER HOUND REPORT, I BELIEVE WENT ON THE BACKUP THE FIRST TIME LAST MONTH.

IS THAT JULY? SORRY.

UH, IT WAS ON FOR JULY.

UM, WE, UH, IT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BACKUP.

UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THE BACKUP LAST MONTH.

UM, BUT YES, I MEAN, UM, WHATEVER THE COMMISSION DECIDES TO TAKE ACTION ON YEAH.

IF WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PART PARTICULAR POSTING LANGUAGE OR, OR WHAT I THINK, I THINK IT'S, I THINK COMMISSIONER HASTON IS SAYING SHE'S GONNA PULL IT FOR TODAY AND WE'LL GET CLARIFICATION SO WE CAN GET IT ON THE AGENDA PROPERLY NEXT TIME.

SO THERE WAS, SHE PRESENTED A REPORT IN JUNE AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE REPORT YOU WANT TO PRESENT NOW, IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK THAT THAT'S BEEN ANSWERED.

SO IT WAS ON, I, I HAVEN'T HEARD THE ANSWER.

WHAT'S THE ANSWER? IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REPORT.

SHE, SHE SAID SHE DID NOT, SHE, NEITHER SHE NOR THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT HAS PRESENTED THE INFORMATION IN THE REPORT TO THIS COMMISSION.

SO THERE'S, SO THERE'S, THERE'S, I'M GUESSING THERE MIGHT BE SOME, IT MUST NEVER BEEN POSTED TO ANY BACKUP THEN.

'CAUSE THE ONLY REPORT I'M SEEING, MR. GARZA, YOU SAID THAT IT WAS POSTED IN JULY, IS THAT RIGHT? IT, IT, YES, IT WAS POSTED AND IT WAS NAMED MACK FALL.

IT HAD A DIFFERENT NAME, BUT IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS AGENDA ITEM? SO WITH THAT, UM, COMMISSIONER HASSEN, YOU WANNA PULL THE ITEM AND PUT IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA? YES.

ON CHANGES TO THE CITY CODE TO IMPLEMENT A FINDER TO FOSTER WITH ANIMAL SERVICE.

THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS DISCUSSION ON CHANGES TO NUMBER FOUR, DISCUSSION

[4. Discussion on changes to the City Code to implement a Finder to Foster within Animal Service.]

COMMISSIONER LOY HAD ASKED TO PLACE THIS ON THE AGENDA, BUT SHE'S, UM, UNABLE TO, TO BE PRESENT TODAY AND UNABLE TO PRESENT TODAY.

WHAT SHE DID ASK, AND I THINK IT'S A, IT'S A GOOD IDEA, IS FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO, UM, TALK ABOUT THE ISSUE OR HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ISSUE, CONCERNS ABOUT THE ISSUE, WE COULD BRING THEM UP TODAY.

UM, WHAT I WOULD PROPOSE, I THINK WOULD MAKE, WHAT WOULD MAKE SENSE IS THAT, UH, WE PUT ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, UH, TO CREATE A WORK GROUP FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING ON THAT KIND OF SPECIFIC PROGRAM.

BUT I'LL THROW IT OUT THERE SINCE WE DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA.

WE DON'T HAVE A MOTION TODAY, OR EVEN A PRESENTER, UH, JUST KIND OF THROW IT OUT THERE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT.

AND THERE MAY NOT BE COMMISSIONER HERRERA.

UH, I, I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE FOR THE LAWYERS.

UH, IN CASE SOMEONE FIND A DOG AND GO AND SPARE A NEUTER TO THEIR PERSONAL BET, IT'S A PROPERTY OR IT'S NOT A PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE FINDING ONE CAR, OR IT'S NOT LIKE FINDING THAT PROPERTY, THIS DOG.

UH, IT'S, IT IS, IT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST AN IDEA TO THE PUBLIC CAN BE MORE AWARE WHAT IS HAPPENING OR NOW.

AND I THINK LAWYERS HAVE THE, THE, THE ANSWER FOR THIS, I, AS I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION IS, IS, UM, WHAT IS THE PROPERTY IMPLICATION OF SOMEBODY FINDING A LOST DOG? YES.

SORRY.

AND YOU TAKE THE DECISION FOR GO AND SPEND YOUR RESULT.

SO, UM, MY, UH, I HAVEN'T, I HAVEN'T RESEARCHED THIS IN A FEW YEARS, SO GI GIVEN THAT CAVEAT, BUT I DID SPEND A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING IT AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ANSWER IS UNDER TEXAS LAW.

UH, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MY PERSONAL OPINION OF THE ANSWER IS.

MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT, UH, A A LOST DOG WOULD BE CONSIDERED, UM, LIKE LOST PROPERTY OR, OR, UH, UH, OR, UH, PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, LOST PROPERTY.

UM, YOU CAN'T JUST CLAIM LOST PROPERTY THAT YOU FIND AS YOUR OWN.

UH, THERE'S A, THERE ARE, UM, STATUTES THAT DEAL WITH LOST PROPERTY.

UM, THEY TAKE A LONG TIME.

I THINK IT'S A, IT'S TWO OR FOUR YEARS.

IT'S, IT'S A LONG TIME BEFORE

[01:00:01]

YOU CAN CLAIM PROPERTY AS YOUR OWN.

UM, THAT'S WHY I THINK THAT MOST STATES IMPLEMENT AN IMPOUNDMENT PROCESS.

UM, SO BECAUSE ONCE THE, UH, ANIMAL GOES THROUGH AN IMPOUNDMENT, UM, IT'S SUBJECT TO, UH, WHAT HAS TO BE A PUBLICLY NOTICED IMPOUNDMENT, UM, TIME PERIOD.

THAT'S WHAT THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT HELD A FEW YEARS AGO.

THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PUBLICLY NOTICED, UM, UH, NOT ONLY A HOLD PERIOD, BUT AN THE, THE STATEMENT THAT AT THE END OF THE HOLD PERIOD, UM, THE ANIMALS' PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE CONVEYED OR TRANSFERRED, WHICH WE DO NOW BECAUSE WE WENT AND AMENDED OUR, UM, OUR, UH, ORDINANCE BASED ON TO, TO, IN RESPONSE TO THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT'S OPINION.

UM, SO THAT'S WHY THOSE, THAT IMPOUNDMENT PROCESS EXISTS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE LOST ANIMALS.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TRANSFER THEM.

THERE'S A MYTHOLOGY IN TEXAS THAT I HAVE FOUND NO LEGAL BACKING FORTH WHATSOEVER, THAT YOU JUST MERELY NEED TO HOLD AN ANIMAL FOR THREE DAYS AND IT BECOMES YOURS.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THERE'S ANY, UH, LEGAL, UH, AUTHORITY FOR THAT.

UM, I'VE NEVER FOUND ANY, NOR HAVE I EVER ANYBODY EVER QUOTED THAT TO ME.

UM, MY BEST GUESS IS THAT, UH, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CONVERSION, WHICH IS TWO YEARS.

SO THAT IF SO, NO ONE COULD COME BACK AND SUE YOU AND CLAIM THAT IT'S YOUR ANIMAL AFTER TWO YEARS.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR TAKING SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY EXPIRE.

THERE MAY BE OTHER LAWYERS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

COMMISSIONER LINDER.

UH, IT'S NOT AN OPINION, IT'S JUST A, UM, ANOTHER QUESTION I GUESS, AND, AND MAYBE THE SYSTEM WAS VERY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THIS IN THE PAST, BUT I'M WONDERING, UM, SORT OF WHAT COUNTS AS THE IMPOUNDMENT PROCESS IN THIS SYSTEM THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE USING NOW, WHICH IS QUITE NEBULOUS, WHERE THE, THE DOG NEVER ACTUALLY MAKES IT TO THE SHELTER.

AND, UM, THOSE LINES BECOME A BIT BLURRED.

RIGHT? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR, UH, THAT, THAT, THOSE OF US WHEN WE WORKED ON THAT, UH, AMENDMENT WERE NOT, HAD NOT THOUGHT OF, UM, IS WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ANIMAL NEVER ENTERS THE PHYSICAL SHELTER OR IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED AT THE TIME OF THOSE CHANGES.

UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY HAS A REALLY GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT QUESTION OF WHAT EXACTLY CONSTITUTES IMPOUNDMENT.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT INPRACTICE HAS GENERALLY MEANT IS THAT THE ANIMAL PHYSICALLY COMES INTO THE FACILITY.

NOW, WHETHER IT HAS TO STAY IN THE FACILITY, I THINK IS A MUCH DIFFERENT QUESTION OF, THAN WHETHER IT HAS TO BECOME IN THE FACILITY.

AND I THINK WHETHER SOMEONE CAN SERVE AS AN AGENT OF THE SHELTER FOR PURPOSES OF IMPOUNDMENT IS A MUCH DIFFERENT QUESTION THAN, UH, SO WE DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

UH, I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT THE, UH, IF WE DO HAVE A WORKING GROUP, THEY COULD LOOK AT TRYING TO PROPOSE SOMETHING TO THE CITY.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY LEGAL SOLUTIONS, UM, KEEPING IN MIND ALL THE THINGS THAT MS. TRES MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

UM, BUT, UH, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A REAL ANSWER TO WHAT TECHNICALLY IMPOUNDMENT MEANS 'CAUSE THERE'S NO DEFINITION IN THE ORDINANCE.

I, I MAKE THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THE BETTER TOOLS TO THE SHELTER AND THE TO AND, AND THE COMMUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER IN THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND IN THE WELLBEING OF EVERYONE.

UH, MAYBE A WORKING GROUP CAN BE A GOOD PLAN.

YOU WOULD YOU HAVE IN MIND A DIFFERENT, UH, WORKING GROUP OR, OR JUST PART THAT BE PART OF THE TOPIC OF, OF THE, UM, FOSTER FINDER TO FOSTER A WORKING GROUP, MAYBE A WORKING GROUP TO FIND THE BEST WAYS TO HELP THE SHELTER WITH THIS PROGRAM AND THE COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED AND HELP IN SOME WAY AS POSSIBLY RESOURCES, POSSIBLY TRAINING, POSSIBLY, UH, THAT LIABILITY OF, I FIND THIS DOG, I WALK LEASH AND HE JUST GETTING INTO A FIGHT.

THAT SIMPLE THINGS.

SOUNDS GOOD.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS OR WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC AT ALL? ALRIGHT, UM, THEN WE WILL MOVE TO, UH, FUTURE AGENDA

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]

ITEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT ON THE AGENDA, UM, UH, TO, UH, RECOMMEND, UH, THE CREATION OF A WORKING GROUP OR TO CREATE A WORKING GROUP, UM, ON FINDER TO FOSTER, BECAUSE I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF ISSUES, UM, THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

I IMAGINE THAT WILL BE A ONE MONTH WORKING GROUP.

I IMAGINE THAT'LL BE A SEVERAL MONTH WORKING GROUP.

ARE THERE ANY, UH, OH, COMMISSIONER HASSEN, I THINK SHE'S LEFT US.

BUT, UM, COMMISSIONER ES, IF YOU AND COMMISSIONER HASSEN CAN GET TOGETHER AND KIND OF, UM, FIGURE OUT HOW YOU WANNA WORD, UH, THE, THE DATA ANALYSIS ITEM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND THEN JUST LET US KNOW AND WE'LL HOPEFULLY YOU CAN RUN IT BY, UH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE EARLIER THIS TIME SO THAT WE CAN WORK OUT ANY SOLUTION ON THAT.

SOUNDS GOOD.