* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] AND DR. NIELSEN IS ON HER WAY HERE. UM, [CALL TO ORDER] WE NEED SEVEN PEOPLE, SO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR DAVID TO COME BACK. SO WE'LL START IN A MINUTE, AND THEN DR. NIELSEN IS ON HER WAY, AND SHE'LL TAKE OVER WHEN SHE GETS HERE. UM, DR. NIELSEN IS, I SAID IS ON OUR WAY IN. UM, COMMISSIONER AHMED, COMMISSIONER CLINTON. COMMISSIONER ES COMMISSIONER DANIEL PRESTON. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ME. I SAW YOU. COMMISSIONER FERGUSON PRESENT. COMMISSIONER LINDER PRESENT. COMMISSIONER HOLT PRESENT. UH, COMMISSIONER HUDDLESON. COMMISSIONER LMAN HERE. COMMISSIONER EMER, AND I AM HERE. OKAY. UM, WE'LL START WITH OUR GENERAL [PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL] PUBLIC SPEAKERS. UM, FIRST UP IS, UH, SUSIE CHASE. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS SUSIE CHASE. I'M A DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENT. I'M THE CURRENT, OR I'M A CURRENT AUSTIN PETS LIVE STAFF MEMBER AND FORMER STAFF FOR TWO AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AUSTIN'S MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED FROM THE DIOCESE THAT ANIMAL ADVOCATES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER. FOLLOWING THAT REQUEST, A DOZEN ANIMAL ADVOCATES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM SHELTERS AND RESCUES STARTED A GRASSROOTS COALITION TO FIND AREAS WHERE WE AGREE AND CAN WORK TOGETHER. WE WANT THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS TO KNOW THAT WE LISTENED AND WERE COMMITTED TO POSITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO BENEFIT ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALL SHARE A COMMITMENT TO ENSURING AUSTIN REMAINS A MODEL FOR HUMANE, TRANSPARENT, AND EFFECTIVE ANIMAL SERVICES. TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SURE AUSTIN'S NEXT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR REFLECTS THE COMPASSION AND DEDICATION THAT DEFINE THIS COMMUNITY. THE COMMISSION HOSTED A TOWN HALL ON AUSTIN ANIMAL WELFARE LAST WEEK, AND THE COALITION INVITED THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. AUSTIN'S MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE INVITED. I ASKED THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO, TO EXTEND THE INVITATION TO ALL OF YOU ON THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION. WE ASKED, ON A SCALE OF ONE NOT IMPORTANT TO FIVE MOST IMPORTANT. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THE NEW DIRECTOR HAS DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE WORKING WITHIN, SUPPORTING, OR ADVOCATING FOR A NO KILL SHELTER ENVIRONMENT? AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AS THE CITY HIRES THE NEXT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR? 100% OF THE RESPONSES INDICATED IS VERY IMPORTANT OR MOST IMPORTANT WITH EVERY RESPONSE BEING A FOUR OR A FIVE. ON THAT SCALE OF ONE TO FIVE, WE HOPE THAT YOU, THE COMMISSIONERS, WILL JOIN US FOR FUTURE TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO HEAR WHAT CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR DISTRICTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH STRAY ANIMALS AND ALL ANIMALS IN THEIR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. PAT TRE. IS SHE CALLING IN? DO YOU KNOW? WHAT WAS THE NAME? PAT TRE. SHE'S NOT HERE YET. HE'S NOT HERE. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON. EDITH GRISEL RIOS, CAN YOU TELL HER TO PUSH STAR SIX TO UNMUTE WHO? EDITH? YEAH. OH. UM, IF YOU COULD, MS. RIOS, IF YOU COULD PRESS STAR SIX TO UNMUTE. GOOD EVENING. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? NO. TESTING AUDIO. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME? WE CAN. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS EDITH RIOS AND I WANNA SHARE, UM, WHAT IT'S LIKE FOR RESIDENTS WHO TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN THEY FIND DRAY DOGS AND HOW HARD IT IS, UH, TO TAKE CARE OF THESE STRAY DOGS. ON AUGUST 17TH, I FOUND TWO DOGS WITH COLLARS, SO I PICKED THEM UP. UNFORTUNATELY, I SOON DISCOVERED THEY HAD NO CHIPS. THEY WERE NEAR MY HOUSE BY SOUTH FIRST AND BEN WHITE. [00:05:01] UM, AND WHEN I SAY BY, I MEAN, I CAN SEE ACROSS BEN WHITE FROM MY FRONT YARD. SO THEY WERE WALKING DISTANCE TO THE FREEWAY AND THE BUSY STREET OF SOUTH FIRST, UM, CONCERN FOR THEIR SAFETY AND NOT, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO FIND THEIR OWNER VIA MICROCHIP. I CALLED 3 1 1 3 1 1 ADVISED ME TO PUT THEM BACK OUT AND REPORT THEM AS LEWIS DOG EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO BEN WHITE AND SOUTH FIRST. I FELT THIS WAS INCREDIBLY SAFE FOR THE ANIMALS, GIVEN THE WALKING DISTANCE. I COULDN'T KEEP THEM INSIDE BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A VERY ANXIOUS AND REACTIVE DOG IN MY HOUSE, WHO I FOUND IN 2024 ON THE STREET, UM, AND DIDN'T HEAR BACK FEBRUARY OF 2024 ON THE STREET. DIDN'T HEAR BACK FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER UNTIL DECEMBER, 2024. ONLY TO HEAR, HEY, WE CANNOT TAKE THIS DOG. WE'RE FULL. SO I HAVE AN ANXIOUS REACTIVE DOG. I COULDN'T KEEP THESE TWO DOGS IN MY HOME. SO I TOOK THEM TO OFTEN ANIMAL CENTER THAT SUNDAY. AND I EXPLAINED THE SITUATION AND I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T TAKE THEM. UM, AND I EXPLAINED, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO KEEP THEM. SO THEN, UM, MY ONLY COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE TO DO WHAT 3 1 1 RECOMMENDED, WHICH IS TO PUT THEM BACK OUT AND REPORT THEM AS LOOSE DOG, AT WHICH POINT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SAID, WE DEFINITELY DON'T RECOMMEND THAT. AND THEY GAVE ME AN INTAKE DATE, WHICH WAS MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY. UM, WHICH IS HARD. I EXPLAINED I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO KEEP THEM. I ALREADY HAVE THIS DOG IN MY HOME AND IT'S ALREADY TOO MUCH. SHE'S ALREADY DESTROYED HALF MY HOUSE. NO, I CANNOT KEEP TWO ADDITIONAL DOGS. I CAN ONLY DOES, THE ONLY PLACE I CAN KEEP THEM IS MY BACKYARD. THEY DID OFFER ME CRATE FOOD AND FLEA MEDICINE, UM, BUT I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE CREATING THEM IN THE BACKYARD IN THIS TEXAS HEAT. UM, SO I, I REALLY WISH THEY WOULD HAVE BETTER RESOURCES SUCH AS KENNELS OR SOMETHING TO OFFER ME. UM, BECAUSE I HAD TO KEEP THEM. UM, AGAIN, IN THIS TEXAS HEAT AND THE TEXAS MOSQUITOES, I DIDN'T WANT THE DOGS TO RUN THE RISK OF GETTING HEARTWORM. SO I ENDED UP TAKING THEM TO EMANCIPATE AND SPENDING OVER $200 ON HEARTWORM TEST, HEARTWORM PREVENTION, PREVENTION, RABIES VACCINE FOOD SUPPLIES, SO ON AND SO FORTH. OKAY. WAS THE TIME I HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, I JUST HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. WERE THESE MEDIUM OR LARGE DOGS THAT YOU FOUND? LARGE. OKAY, THANK YOU. LARGE. THEY WERE LARGE DOGS. THANK YOU. OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. I'M A DIS DISTRICT SEVEN CONSTITUENT AND RECOGNIZED AS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT IN ANIMAL WELFARE LAWS AND ANIMAL CRUELTY PROSECUTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS MY EXTREME CONCERN ON THE DIRECTION THAT THE SHELTER HAS BEEN GOING FOR YEARS. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE CHANGING. FOUR WORDS CAN SIMPLIFY IT, THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE POPULAR. NO KILL DOESN'T WORK. NOT HERE, NOT NOW. MAYBE IN THE FUTURE. BUT WITHOUT RESOURCES LIKE SPACE AT THE SHELTER, THERE ARE SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH GOOD HUMANS WHO CAN TAKE ON OTHER ANIMALS HERE TO CLEAR SPACE RESCUES UP NORTH ARE FULL TRANSFERS ARE NOT AS EASY AS THEY USED TO BE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. SO WE'RE LEFT WITH A CLOSED INTAKE SHELTER THAT I PAY FOR IN TAXES. WE ALL PAY FOR IN TAXES, BUT NO SERVICES PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO FIND ANIMALS. PEOPLE WHO FIND THEM, AS YOU JUST HEARD, ARE DIRECTED TO DROP OFF ANIMALS BACK WHERE THEY FOUND, FOUND THEM. IF THEY CAN'T TAKE THEM HOME, OF COURSE, UM, NUMBERS ON INTAKE REDUCED THE DENOMINATOR IN THE WHOLE NO KILL EQUATION. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HITTING OUR 95%. I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S COMMON SENSE. YOU REDUCE THE DENOMINATOR OF INTAKED ANIMALS, THEN YOU INCREASE YOUR END RESULT. SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S AN ACCURATE NUMBER. AND THAT'S WHERE I SEE DOGS KILLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I END UP SCANNING AND CALLING THE OWNERS WHO LOST THEM. MY OTHER CONCERN IS DIRECTING PEOPLE TO DROP OFF ANIMALS OR EVEN INSINUATING THAT COULD, BECAUSE THAT CAN CONSTITUTE A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR. TELLING PEOPLE TO ABANDON AN ANIMAL IS AN ILLEGAL OFFENSE, AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE DIRECTED. IT'S ALSO INHUMANE. ANYBODY WHO SAYS EUTHANASIA, EUTHANASIA AT A SHELTER FOR SPACE IS LESS HUMANE THAN ALLOWING A DOG TO BE HIT BY A CAR OR PICKED UP BY DOG FIGHTERS, WHICH IS HERE IN, IN THIS COUNTY IS IRRATIONAL AND UNREALISTIC. THAT LEADS ME TO MY SECOND POINT TONIGHT. THE BUDGET REMOVED EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED TO INJURED ANIMALS AFTER HOURS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HIRING TWO ADDITIONAL TOP MANAGEMENT POSITIONS INSTEAD OF TAKING THAT MONEY FOR INJURED ANIMALS IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND DISGUSTING. HOW IS IT HUMANE TO [00:10:01] DIRECT PEOPLE TO LEAVE SEVERELY INJURED ANIMALS IN THE ROAD OR DRIVE TO THE ER AND PAY THEMSELVES ERS SOMETIMES ALSO WON'T EVEN WORK ON AN ANIMAL UNLESS YOU ARE THE OWNER. SO THEN WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU FIND AN INJURED ANIMAL? FINALLY, DO CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS ON ADOPTERS IN CASE YOU DID NOT SEE THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATION. SOMEBODY WHO'S CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY IS BANNED FROM POSSESSING AN ANIMAL FOR FIVE YEARS. HOW ARE WE ADOPTING ANIMALS OUT TO PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ANIMALS? WHY ARE WE NOT DOING CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS? THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL. YOU'RE CREATING NO KILL AT ANY COST AND YOU'RE COSTING THE WELFARE OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS IN AUSTIN. REALIZE THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY AREN'T ALWAYS THE LOUDEST. AND THIS IS THE CASE HERE. JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE PASSED THIS YEARS AGO DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T CHANGE IT OR AMEND IT OR MODIFY IT. HAVE THE COURAGE TO CHANGE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT WE HAVE ROCHELLE VICKERY COMMISSIONERS. I WILL, I WILL. I'M NOT COMMISSIONER, UH, BOARD MEMBERS JUNIOR HERE. I'M COMING TO ASK IF DR. JEFFERSON WOULD, UH, STOP BRINGING IN CATS TEMPORARILY FOR SIX MONTHS. AND THE REASON IS, AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY I'M SAYING THIS OUT AT THE AIRPORT, THERE'S ABOUT 60 TO 70 CATS. I DON'T THINK Y'ALL KNOW IT, BUT PEOPLE GO THERE, PARK THEIR CAR, OPEN THE DOOR AND LET THE CAT OUT. THEY, AND ZOOM AWAY. THEY DON'T, WHEN THEY ZOOM BACK, THEY DON'T PICK UP THEIR CAT. NOW JEN OVER HERE SENT ME THREE YEARS AGO. I GOT 18 CATS IN TURN. UH, I CAN'T TRAP NOW, BUT MICHELLE CHANCY IS TRAPPING OUT THERE AND SHE SAYS THERE'S SOME IN THE TERMINAL CATS AND SHE'S BEEN TRAPPING CATS. SHE ASKED ME, UH, ABOUT A MONTH AGO IF I WOULD HELP HER WITH SOME THAT WERE THERE AT THIS. AND I'M FEEDING THERE EVERY DAY. SHE'S THE, HAD A MOTHER CAT AND TWO KITTENS IN TURN. I FED 'EM AND THEN THEY, WE COULD STILL COULDN'T GET 'EM IN THE TRAP. THEN I SAID, I SLEPT ON IT. AND I SAYS, I KNOW THEY LOVE CHURCH'S CHICKEN, CATS LOVE CHURCH'S CHICKEN. AND IN TURN, I WENT AND GOT SOME CHURCH'S CHICKEN AND I FED 'EM FOR A FEW DAYS ON THAT, STOPPED, DIDN'T FEED 'EM ANYTHING. ONE DAY WE WENT THERE, BAM, WE GOT 'EM ALL, AND THE MAMA AND THE KITTENS. AND IN TURN, UH, SHE HEARD FROM, UH, PARK AND ZOOM, IF ANY OF Y'ALL FLOWN OUT OF THE AIRPORT PARK AND ZOOM, SHE FOUND OUT THERE'S A BUNCH OF CATS THERE. SHE ASKED ME IF SHE COULD BORROW FIVE TRAPS FROM ME. I SAID, YES. I TOOK FIVE TRAPS OVER IT. 'CAUSE SHE, SHE WAS DOING SO MUCH. WE USED TO COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER ON THE MOST CATS IN TURN, UH, WE DID THOSE. I'M JUST ASKING YOU BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE, ARE RELEASING THEIR CATS AT THE AIRPORT. THAT'S INHUMANE TO DO THAT, JUST LIKE THIS LADY SAID ABOUT THE DOGS. AND THEN THEY'RE BREEDING AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE CAN'T CATCH ALL OF THEM. SO I'M JUST SAYING, PLEASE, DR. JEFFERSON, IF YOU JUST TAKE SIX MONTHS OFF, THAT WOULD BE UNTIL NEXT MAY. AND WE COULD GET, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PEOPLE WOULD STOP. MAYBE WE CAN GET EVERYBODY AND OUR CATS AND OUR SHELTER THAT ALL OUR TAX DOLLARS PAY FOR AND GOING TOWARDS IT. CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? YOU SAID YOU WANT A PA TO STOP TAKING IN CATS. THEY'RE BRINGING THEM IN FROM OUTTA COUNTY BECAUSE THEY'RE BEGGING FOR HELP ON TV. EVERYBODY KNOWS THE CITY CANNOT GO ON TVS AND SAY, PLEASE COME ADOPT OUR DOGS, PLEASE. WE GOT X AMOUNT OF DOGS. OR PLEASE COME GET OUR CATS. THAT DOESN'T LOOK NICE ON OUR CITY THAT WE'RE OUT HERE BEGGING FOR HELP. EVERYBODY KNOWS WE NEED HELP, BUT WE'VE GOT SOME BEAUTIFUL CATS AT THE CITY SHELTER, SOME RUSSIAN BLUES, YOUNG RUSSIAN BLUES THAT ARE PROBABLY SIX MONTHS OF OR LESS. AND, AND, OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE KRISTEN WILLIAMS. HI, HOW ARE Y'ALL? IS THIS ON? IT'S ON. OKAY. UM, I'M KRISTEN. I'M IN DISTRICT NINE. I AM GOING TO READ FROM THIS TO TRY TO HIT MY THREE MINUTES, BUT I HAVE TWO IDEAS THAT COULD HELP. UM, THE FIRST ONE, THREE POINTS INCREASE THE MEDICAL VOUCHERS TO $750. THESE VOUCHERS SHOULD BE OFFERED BY A A S TO POTENTIAL OWNER SURRENDERS AT INTAKE INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY ENTERING THEIR PET INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM. FOR INSTANCE, IF AN OWNER IS UNABLE TO AFFORD ANTIBIOTICS FOR THEIR PET'S INFECTION, [00:15:01] INSTEAD OF SURRENDERING THEIR PET TO THE SHELTER, UM, A A S IS ABLE TO OFFER A MEDICAL VOUCHER THAT IS ACCEPTED BY A PARTICIPATING PRIVATE VETS. THIS ALLOWS PETS TO STAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES. PRIVATE VETS CAN BE MORE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED TO PROVIDE BASIC CARE, AND THERE IS LESS STRAIN ON THE SHELTER. THESE VOUCHERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED TOWARDS PETS THAT PEOPLE FIND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE NEED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY WORKING AS AN EXTENSION OF THE SHELTER. SO, I'M NOT, CAN I KEEP GOING? SORRY. YES, WE LOST FEED ONLINE. THAT'S ALL. YEAH, WE DID NOT SEE THE CITY HALL. ALL RIGHT. UM, LET'S SUFFICIENTLY ALLOCATE A PORTION OF THE BUDGET TO RESCUING PETS. WHILE ALLEVIATING STRESS ON THE SHELTER. INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF A A S MEDICAL VOUCHERS CAN ENCOURAGE MORE PRIVATE VET PARTICIPATION, WHICH ALSO EASES STRAIN ON THE SHELTER AND PROVIDES MORE ACCESS TO CARE. THAT'S MY FIRST IDEA. UM, THE SECOND IS TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN TNR AND THE COMMUNITY CATS PROGRAM. I'M A FIRSTHAND WITNESS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE CARE FOR COMMUNITY CATS. THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND INTEREST FROM THE COMMUNITY REGARDING COMMUNITY CATS. HOWEVER, THERE IS LITTLE TO NO EDUCATION. EDUCATION AND SUPPORT DIRECTLY FROM THE CITY WILL GIVE MORE CREDIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM AND AUSTIN'S NO KILL INITIATIVE WITH ADEQUATE RESOURCES IN THE FORM OF SIGNAGE, EMAIL COMMUNICATION TO HR, OWNERSHIP OF THE BUSINESS, ET CETERA. WE CAN EDUCATE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PATRONS OF BUSINESSES ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF TNR AND ILLUSTRATE THAT AN EAR TIP IS A BADGE OF HONOR. IT REFLECTS THAT THE BUSINESS ON THE PROPERTY THAT THE CATS ARE LOCATED ARE WELL-MEANING PEOPLE THAT ARE INVESTED IN THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY. AND ANIMAL WELFARE AND WATER CITY STANDS FOR AS LEADERS IN THE NOELL MOVEMENT. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT APPEARS TO BE IT FOR GENERAL COMMENTS AND THE REMAINDER OF THEM SEEMS TO BE ON SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. I JUST, UM, AND I OH, CAN, CAN I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FIRST? OH, SORRY. YES. UM, COMMISSIONER LOMAN. HI. UM, I, I KNOW THAT A FEW PEOPLE GOT IN HERE IN THE DOOR JUST A LITTLE BIT LATE AND THE SIGNUP SHEET WAS PULLED TO SPEAK. IS THERE ANYTHING? YES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN IT ENDS. THAT'S WHEN IT ENDS. THE SIGNUP ENDS. OKAY. SO NOBODY CAN SPEAK IF THEY WALKED IN A MINUTE LATE. RIGHT. JUST LIKE I CITY COUNCIL. OKAY. IN FACT, IT'S IN 45 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING WITH CITY COUNCIL. UM, SO, AND I AM UNCLEAR PEOPLE, HOW MANY INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP FOR AS MANY INDIVIDUAL AGENDA ITEMS AS THEY WANT. OKAY. SO BY A SHOW OF HANDS, CAN WE SEE IF THE MAJORITY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOW OR RIGHT BEFORE THE AGENDA ITEM? SO PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK NOW, PEOPLE WANNA SPEAK RIGHT BEFORE THE APPROPRIATE ITEM. OKAY. THE LATTER WINS. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE TODAY. YOU TOOK ROLE. MM-HMM. YES. UM, AND SO JUST A REMINDER ON, UM, ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER WILL GET, UM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE CHAIR BEFORE ANYBODY SPEAKS, AND WE'LL JUST KEEP DOING THAT. AND A REMINDER THAT, UM, AS A COMMISSION, WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAY IN HOW THE SHELTER RUNS, WHAT THEY DO, THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. WE ARE THE INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN, UM, COMMUNITY AND WE ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT, UM, COMMUNITY ANIMAL WELFARE PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND AS WELL AS HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CITY. UM, THE HISTORY OF A FAIRLY RECENT HISTORY OF THE COMMISSION, UM, AND THIS WAS BEFORE YOU WERE HERE, YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE, BUT WE KIND OF GOT OFF TRACK A LITTLE BIT. SO MUCH SO THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE LIAISONS DIRECTLY, UM, FROM, UM, FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO HELP MODERATE OUR MEETINGS. UM, AND THE FOCUS BECAME A LOT MORE ON, UM, UH, ATTACKING THE CITY RATHER THAN BEING A PRODUCTIVE DELIBERATIVE BODY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN COME UP WITH GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO. IF WE HAVE SPECIFIC DEEP, DEEP QUESTIONS AND NEED A DEEP DISCUSSION ABOUT, UM, ADMINISTRATION OF THE SHELTER, THE BEST PLACE TO HAVE THAT IS DIRECTLY WITH THE STAFF. AND I WILL SAY THAT I'VE NEVER HAD ANY OF THE CITY STAFF NOR ANYBODY AT, AT A PA EVER DENY ME A MEETING TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE, A, A A ONE-ON-ONE [00:20:01] MEETING TO DISCUSSION ISSUE SO THAT I CAN HAVE CLARIFICATION AND SO THAT WE CAN BE A BETTER, UM, DELIBERATIVE BODY FOR THE PUBLIC. SO, JUST SAYING ALL THAT. UM, MOVING ON TO [APPROVAL OF MINUTES] APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MONDAY, OCTOBER 13TH MEETING, VICE CHAIR LINDER. UM, YES, JUST A QUICK QUESTION OR, OR COMMENT I GUESS RATHER ON, UM, COMMISSIONER IAN'S POINT EARLIER, I WONDER IF THERE ARE FOLKS WHO CAME AND WANTED TO SPEAK AT THE MEETING, UM, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I JUST WANNA REMIND THEM THAT THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US OVER EMAIL AND OUR COMMISSION'S, UH, EMAILS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ONLINE. AND IF YOU ARE RUNNING LATE, YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL IN, UM, AND SPEAK VIA THE PHONE AND, AND GET ON THE LIST THAT WAY. SO, UM, I JUST, YOU KNOW, I KNOW TRAFFIC CAN BE DIFFICULT. UM, FOLKS ARE LATE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. THANKS. THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER. UM, UM, CAN I CLARIFY THAT? SURE, YOU CAN. YES. IN ORDER TO SPEAK PUBLICLY, UM, YOU CAN EMAIL ME OR CALL ME THE LIAISON AT LEAST THREE DAYS BEFORE, UM, OR BEFORE THE MEETING. ONCE THE MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED TO ORDER. NO NEW SPEAKERS CAN BE ADDED TO THE LIST. IF YOU WANNA SPEAK REMOTELY, THAT HAS TO BE THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. THANKS. BUT EMAILS 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. UM, SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO PASS THE DRAFT MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 13TH MEETING? UM, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER NORTON. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. YES. UH, COMMISSIONER HOLT, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES? UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSING THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN. THAT'S UNANIMOUS. OKAY. NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS [2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services.] STAFF BREEDING REGARDING MONTHLY REPORTS. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. JASON GAR WITH THE ANIMAL SERVICES. SO, UH, FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, EXCUSE ME, THE LIVE, UH, THE LIVE OUTCOME RATE WAS 95%. UM, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 1068 ANIMALS THAT WERE INTAKED INTO THE SHELTER. UM, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 436 ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED WITH 92 ALSO BEING, UH, RETURNED TO THEIR OWNER THROUGH EITHER A STRAIGHT UP RETURN OWNER DURING THE STRAIGHT HOLE PERIOD OR AN RTO ADOPT. UM, ON NOVEMBER 1ST, WE HAD ABOUT 1,280 ANIMALS IN OUR INVENTORY, WHICH INCLUDES 348 THAT WERE IN OUR FOSTER PROGRAM. WITHIN ANIMAL PROTECTION, UH, THEY WERE ABLE TO RETURN EIGHT ANIMALS OUT INTO THE FIELD BACK TO THEIR OWNERS. UM, THEY DID IMPOUND, UH, 17 INJURED ANIMALS AND 65, UM, SICK ANIMALS. UH, WE DID HAVE OVER, OH, EXCUSE ME, UH, ALMOST 300, UH, 96 RAB UH, UH, EXPOSURE REPORTS THAT WERE CONDUCTED IN THE FIELD AS WELL. UM, SO, UM, TRYING TO FULFILL THOSE, THOSE, THOSE TASKS, UM, CAN BE ANTE ACROSS THE CITY. UM, OUR VOLUNTEERS, UH, WE MOVE ON. DO YOU HAVE THE BUTTON? UH, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AGAIN SHOWED OUT FOR US. UH, THIS PAST MONTH. UH, WE HAD, UH, 550 VOLUNTEERS DONATE OVER 7,700 HOURS TO US. UM, WE HAD SIX ORIENTATIONS THAT INTRODUCED 103 MORE, UH, POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS. WE HAD 19 INDIVIDUALS, UH, DONATE 38 HOURS OF GROUP SERVICE TOWARD US. SO, UM, THAT'S ALSO, UH, WELL RECEIVED. UM, WITHIN OUR FOSTER AND RESCUE PROGRAM, UH, WE HAD 24 DIFFERENT RESCUE PARTNERS, UH, PULL A TOTAL OF 285, UH, ANIMALS FROM US. WE HAD 366 DIFFERENT, UH, FAMILIES FOSTER FOR US. UM, WE ALSO HAD 34 ANIMALS THAT WERE, UH, WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FINDER IN A FOSTER PROGRAM. UM, WE HAVE CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT, OH, A LITTLE OVER 1100, UH, MEMBERS IN OUR GIVE PULSE PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE APPROVED FOSTERS WHO, WHO COULD POTENTIALLY FOSTER FOR US, AND FINALLY IT CLOSE IT OUT WITHIN VET SERVICES. UM, WE HAD 559 SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES THAT WERE PERFORMED AT A A C. UM, WE HAD 122 ANIMALS THAT WERE TRANSFERRED TO PARTNERS FOR MEDICAL REASONS WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM GOING TO A PA ABOUT 105. UM, THEY ALSO DID, UH, A PA ALSO DID PULL THREE VISIBLY PREGNANT ANIMALS TOO, UH, INTO THE PROGRAM AS WELL. UM, I THINK I SKIPPED OVER IT 'CAUSE UH, LAYOUT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WE DID HAVE A GOOD ENGAGEMENT WITHIN OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE DID HAVE A NUMBER OF, OF, OF, UH, HITS WITHIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE, AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUT STORIES. UM, I ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO DO A [00:25:01] QUICK SHOUT OUT. UH, WE DID HAVE A WEEKEND EVENT, AN ADOPTION WEEKEND, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO GET 72 ANIMALS OUT. SO, UM, IT WAS OUR DI DE LOS . THERE YOU GO. SORRY, GARZA, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE . UM, BUT IT WAS A TRUE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG ALL THE TEAMS, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED TO, TO MAKE IT A FUN EVENT. SO WE'LL HOPEFULLY DO THAT IN THE, IN THE, IN A YEAR FROM NOW. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. COMMISSIONER NORTON. UH, THANK YOU. UM, NOT SO MUCH A QUESTION, BUT SINCE, UM, I KNOW SOME OF THE SECTIONS YOU HAVE, TALK ABOUT THE SYSTEMS TRANSFER ISSUES. UM, THIS WAS THE FIRST MONTH OCTOBER THAT I, UM, FOSTERED UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM. AND, UM, MY LITTLE WRECK OF A 15-YEAR-OLD DOG GOT THREE APPLICATIONS. AND, UH, I THOUGHT THE PROCESS WENT REALLY WELL. UM, I KIND OF LIKE IT BETTER THAN THE LAST ONE SINCE I FOSTERED FOR SO MANY YEARS. AND, UH, IT WAS REALLY GOOD. I THINK THE PERSON UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE WAS DOING ON HER END AND THE DOG, UM, DID GET ADOPTED. SO, UM, I JUST WANNA TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT IT. , IT'S GOING WELL. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER DANIEL. HI, JASON. HI. UM, FOR THE TOTAL VOLUNTEERS, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT THE TNR VOLUNTEERS AND I REQUESTED TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE. WERE THEY INCLUDED IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SHARED AND THEIR HOURS? SO, SO YES, THEIR NUMBERS ARE INCLUDED, BUT I CAN DO A BREAKDOWN AND I COULD SEND BE GREAT IN THE FUTURE. I CAN SEND YOU A BREAKDOWN FOR THE OCTOBER, UH, SO THAT WAY JUST TO Y'ALL'S EMAILS AND THEN FOR UPCOMING FOR THE FUTURE. WE'LL, WE'LL BREAK IT DOWN. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER TIES? YES, THANK YOU CHAIR. UM, BEAUTIFUL SLIDES. JASON. UM, UH, THANK YOU. SO, UH, CHILD TO OUR, UH, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT SADIE, SHE PUTS THAT TOGETHER. OKAY. AND, UM, THE UNFORTUNATE THING THAT ALL THIS DATA DIDN'T GET POSTED TILL TODAY AND A LOT OF US WORK AND DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE DATA THAT WAS POSTED. SO MY QUESTION IS, UM, I KNOW WE REQUIRE WHAT THE SPEAKERS TO, NOT THE SPEAKERS. SO THE AGENDA, HOW, HOW IN ADVANCE WE POST THE AGENDA IS REQUIRED THREE BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING. AND FOR THE SPEAKERS, THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE BEFORE THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. IT'S FOR THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. IT'S JUST BEFORE THE MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER FOR, UH, PHONE SPEAKERS. IT'S THREE DAYS PRIOR. NO, I'M SORRY, I MEANT TO CLARIFY. FOR THE PHONE, PHONE SPEAKERS, IT'S THE DAY BEFORE AT NOON, AND THAT'S ON THE AGENDA. OKAY. JUST LIKE CITY COUNCIL WITH THAT PART. OKAY. OKAY. SO FOR THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL, WHAT, WHAT IS THE, WHEN DOES THAT, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE ALSO PUT UP? THREE DAYS? IS THIS THE DEADLINE IS THREE HOURS BEFORE THE MEETING IS WHEN BACKUP, THE DEADLINE FOR BACKUP MATERIAL? MM-HMM . ARE YOU, ARE YOU STILL ASKING YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? YEAH, I'M NOT, UH, I, I, UM, IT JUST DOESN'T SOUND CORRECT, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT THE EXPERT. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IN ADVANCE ALSO? YEAH. UM, 'CAUSE I, I MEAN I'M JUST, WE RECEIVED A DOCUMENT FROM CITY HALL, UM, HOW ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WORK AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TOLD HOW ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WORK. THE BACKUP JUST HAS TO BE THE, THE LAST TIME THEY POST IS AT THREE O'CLOCK ON THE DAY OF THE MEETING. SO IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO OUR COMMISSION. IT'S ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WORK THE SAME WAY. THE AGENDA HAS TO BE POSTED THREE DAYS IN ADVANCE AND BACKUP CAN POST THE SAME DAY. UH, IS, IS ANYBODY ELSE TRYING TO COMMENT ON THIS SAME QUESTION BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT SHE'S DONE. OKAY. COMMISSIONER LUON, I THINK WE NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT. 'CAUSE THE READING OF STATE LAW SAYS ALL BACKUP AGENDA ITEMS, UM, INCLUDING REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS HAVE TO BE IN THREE DAYS BEFORE JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M READING. SO I JUST THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO GET SOME ACTUAL CLARIFICATION ON THAT. 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST BOUNCING AROUND GUESSING RIGHT NOW. SO, UM, VICE CHAIR LINDER, DID YOU HAVE A SEPARATE QUESTION OR A COMMENT ON THE SAME ISSUE? UM, I, I DID IT, IT WAS JUST A COMMENT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE [00:30:01] IS MAYBE SOME, SOME QUESTION AS TO WHAT THE ACTUAL RULE IS. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK THE LARGER POINT IS JUST THAT IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING STRAIGHT FROM, FROM WORK AND THERE ARE MATERIALS, I KNOW THERE'S SITUATIONS WHERE THINGS CHANGE UP TILL THE LAST MINUTE AND, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT HAVE TO BE ON THE, THE SHORT END OF THAT THREE HOUR DEADLINE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, UH, THE MORE TIME WE CAN HAVE WITH THIS, THE, THE BETTER. SO EVEN IF IT'S NOT A FORMAL RULE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE, THE SORT OF POLICY, UM, POINT STILL STANDS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED CLARIFICATION, UM, TO COMMISSIONER IAN'S POINT AS WELL. SO, AND ONE QUICK THING, UM, I SAW, UH, ONE OF THE REPORTS UPDATED. UM, THERE WAS AN UPDATED OF THE STATS, UH, JASON MM-HMM . MY COMPUTER WENT TO SLEEP. YES. THERE, THERE ON THE, UH, OUTCOME VERSUS INTAKE THAT WE'RE TRACKING. AND ACTUALLY I SEE IN UHHUH A LITTLE MISTAKE. UM, THERE WAS A, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, ROWS THAT I HADN'T MEANT TO INCLUDE AND I SENT OUR, OUR ASSISTANT THE WRONG VERSION. SO THIS ONE IS JUST A CLEANER, JUST A SYNC TO ONE PAGE SO IT DOESN'T FLOW OVER INTO THE NEXT PAGE. BUT THIS JUST SHOWING THE EXPLANATION OF THIS ONE IS SHOWS OUR INTAKES VERSUS OUTCOMES AND WE'LL, I'LL PROVIDE THAT WITH EACH ADDITIONAL YEAR SO WE CAN TRACK IT OR, SO Y'ALL CAN TRACK IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OKAY. SO THANK, THANK YOU BECAUSE, UH, I WAS LOOKING AT IT AND I NOTICED THE UPDATED ONE, IT ONE ROW, I MEAN ONE COLUMN SHOW 2026. YEAH. AND THE OTHER COLUMN OCTOBER 20, UH, 25, AND I HAD THAT SAME NUMBER. SO, BUT I SEE WHAT HAPPENED. IT'S, YEAH, SO NO, NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? LAST THING. SO WHO WILL BE ABLE TO CLARIFY ABOUT, UM, THE CLERK'S OFFICE THAT POSTING? YEAH, THE CLERK'S OFFICE WILL LOOK INTO THAT AND, UM, AND OUR, OUR LIA LIAISON WILL, WILL GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT, I'M SURE. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION. I NOTICED A, A HUGE INCREASE IN THE VACCINES ADMINISTERED IF I'M, IF I'M READING THE REPORT RIGHT FROM, FROM PREVIOUS YEARS MM-HMM . UM, WAS THAT REAL? DO WE KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED? SO THESE ARE VACCINES THAT ARE ADMINISTERED OR TRACKED IN SHELTER BUDDY WITH OUR, OUR, OUR VET. SO WHEN I KEPT RUNNING THE REPORT, I, I KEPT GETTING THAT, THAT SAME NUMBER. SO, UM, I KIND OF WANNA DO A DEEP DIVE ON IT JUST BECAUSE IT WAS AN, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF ANOMALY OF, OF JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE PUTTING IN AND WE'RE NOT DOING DUPLICATED WORK, BUT THESE HAD ALL THE DIFFERENCE. SO RABIES, UM, DON'T MAKE ME SAY THE WORD, BUT YEAH. ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VACCINES AMONG DIFFERENT SPECIES OF DIFFERENT AGES, AND THAT WAS THE TOTAL NUMBER, SO, OKAY. SO IT, IT'S A, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THAT IS AN ACTUAL INCREASE OR MAYBE A DATA ENTRY. YEAH, I, I JUST WANNA CHECK IT OUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF MY LITTLE TO DO THINGS. YEAH, I MEAN, IF FE SERVICES IS REALLY DOING THAT MUCH MORE WORK, THEY SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED FOR IT. YEAH. BUT YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING. GOOD EVENING. ROLANDA FERNANDEZ, INTERIM DIRECTOR. I THINK WE, WE'VE ALSO BEEN FOCUSING ON JUST DOING THE DATA COLLECTION, UH, THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE PROCESS. UM, WHETHER, WHETHER IT'S, UM, A RESCUE POOL OR EVEN, YOU KNOW, BACK OF HOUSE, UH, FUNCTIONS, RIGHT? ENSURING THAT WE ARE ENTERING THOSE DATAS IN THE RIGHT PLACES. UM, AND A LOT MORE FOCUS ON DATA MANAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT. SO, UH, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT'S THE CAUSE OF THAT? IS IT ACTUAL NUMBERS OF INCREASE OR IS IT THE FACT THAT WE WEREN'T DOING THAT REALLY WELL PREVIOUSLY AND NOW WE ARE. SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG FOCUS OF OURS. WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OUR PROCEDURES TO UPDATE, YOU KNOW, WHERE ARE THE, IN, WHERE ARE THE ACTUAL ACCOUNTING OF THAT ACTION OF THAT LEVER MOVING UP OR DOWN? WHERE IS THAT HAPPENING IN THE SHELTER, IN THE SHELTER BODY? SO, BUT WE'LL, WE'LL LOOK INTO THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO MOVING ON TO AGENDA [3. Staff briefing on the Rescue Placement List, Urgent Placement List, and Matrices. Presentation by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. ] ITEM NUMBER THREE, WHICH HAS A LOT OF, UM, SPEAKERS FROM THE PUBLIC. UM, IT IS, SO THE AGENDA ITEM IS STAFF BRIEFING ON THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST, URGENT PLACEMENT LIST AND MATRICES. AND THEN OUR FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER IS JULIE OLIVER. IS JULIE OLIVER HERE WE CAN, YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, YES, YES. GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I AM SPEAKING REMOTELY BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE DOG CENTER CITY SHELTER AND THE FAIRNESS OF OUR POLICIES. AND I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE RESCUE PULL LIST, THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST, AND HOW BEHAVIOR DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE. THE RESCUE PULL LIST WAS CREATED WITHOUT INPUT FROM VOLUNTEERS, RESCUE PARTNERS, OR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WORK WITH THE DOGS EVERY DAY. A DOG CAN BE PLACED ON THIS LIST FOR ANY BITE HISTORY, EVEN IF THE BITE WAS EXTREMELY MINOR ACCIDENTAL OR NOT EVEN CONFIRMED. SOME BITES WERE SIMPLY SCRATCHES FROM A SCARED DOG MOVING SUDDENLY, BUT THEY WERE WRITTEN DOWN AS BITES. ANYWAY, THIS LEADS TO DOGS BEING LABELED AS UNSAFE WHEN THEY'RE [00:35:01] NOT. THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP DOGS BY GIVING THEM MORE MARKETING AND SUPPORT, BUT MANY DOGS ON THIS LIST HAVE NO POSITIVE DESCRIPTIONS AT ALL, AND THEIR PROFILES ARE JUST BLANK. IT DOESN'T HELP THEM GET ADOPTED. IT DOESN'T TELL THE PUBLIC WHY THEY'RE WORTH LOVING. SO THE DOGS WHO NEED THE MOST HELP ARE GIVING THE LEAST. THEN WHEN WE DON'T, WHEN THEY DON'T GET ADOPTED FAST ENOUGH, THEY'RE SOMETIMES JUST MOVED TO THE RPL LIST. THE REST YOU PULL LIST. AND THEN AGAIN, NOTHING ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR CHANGED, ONLY THE LABEL CHANGED. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS MILA. UH, I THINK MY SON IS IN THE AUDIENCE WITH A PICTURE OF HIM AND MILA. MILA DID NOT BITE ANYONE. SHE WAS IN A NEW HOME BEING BATHED, AND SHE FLAILED AND HER TOOTH ACCIDENTALLY SCRATCHED SOMEBODY. THIS WAS RECORDED AS A BITE BY THE SHELTER AND SHE WAS MOVED TO THE RPL. VOLUNTEERS WHO KNEW HER WERE DEVASTATED. THANKFULLY, AUSTIN PET, THE LIFE TOOK HER IN. AND TODAY MILA IS HAPPILY IN A, A HOME WITH A LOVING FAMILY. THIS SHOWS THE HARM THAT COMES FROM RUSHED OR UNFAIR LABELING. AND I WANNA BRING UP SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID GENTLY. THE PERSON WHO CURRENTLY MAKES MANY OF THE BEHAVIOR DECISIONS, INCLUDING LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS, IS SOMEONE WHO SURVIVED A VERY SERIOUS DOG ATTACK IN HER PAST. I'M GLAD SHE SURVIVED. THAT KIND OF TRAUMA IS REAL, BUT TRAUMA ALSO CREATES UNDERSTANDABLE FEAR AND BIAS, ESPECIALLY TOWARDS LARGE DOGS. NO ONE PERSON WITH THAT HISTORY SHOULD BE MAKING FINAL BEHAVIOR CALLS ALONE. THERE HAS TO BE CHECKS, THERE HAS TO BE COLLABORATION AND SHARED REVIEW. SO WHAT WE NEED A SIMPLE, WE NEED CLEAR DEFINITIONS FOR WHAT COUNTS AS A BEHAVIOR CONCERN. WE NEED VOLUNTEER AND RESCUE INPUT INCLUDED IN THE DECISION PROCESS. WE NEED MARKETING THAT SHOWS WHO THE DOGS ARE, NOT JUST WHAT THEY FEAR. AND WE NEED TO END USING MEDICAL BITE SCALES AS BEHAVIOR LABELS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. WE CAN PROTECT PEOPLE AND PROTECT DOGS AT THE SAME TIME. WE JUST NEED A FAIR, TRANSPARENT PROCESS THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE WHO CARES FOR THESE ANIMALS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND, AND JUST AS A MO I BELIEVE IT'S STATE LAW THAT ANY TIME AN ANIMAL TOOTH BREAKS THE SKIN, IT HAS TO BE CLASSIFIED IN A CERTAIN WAY. SO, UM, MOVING ON. UH, THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER IS SYDNEY SMITH. I'M HERE IN PERSON INSTEAD OF VIRTUALLY. THAT'S GREAT. DO YOU WANT ME TO PRESS THOSE OR IS IT GREEN? AS LONG AS IT'S GREEN. HI, MY NAME IS SYDNEY SMITH. I'M AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER FOR AND FOSTER FOR RESCUE A TX DOGS AND CLOSELY FOLLOW THE OPERATIONS OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES. TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU, WHY IS IT THAT THE DOGS THAT ARE TRULY STRUGGLING AND NEED RESCUE INTERVENTION ARE NOT ON THE RESCUE POLE LISTS? THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE HAD FIVE DOGS THAT WE PULLED INTO OUR RESCUE THAT WERE DISABLED. THEY WERE SENIORS. THERE WAS A DOG WHO IS STARVING TO DEATH AND SO SEVERELY EMACIATED BECAUSE OF HOW ADVANCED HIS DIABETES WAS. UM, THERE WAS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY HOSPICE CASES THAT WE'VE PULLED FROM THE SHELTER AS WELL. THESE DOGS WERE NOT ON ANY KIND OF RESCUE PULL LIST. THEY WERE FOUND BY OUR DIRECTORS DOING WALKTHROUGHS OF THE SHELTER AND ASKING VOLUNTEERS, WHO NEEDS THE MOST HELP? WHO NEEDS SPECIALIZED ONE-ON-ONE CARE? UM, SO WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CASES OF THAT. AND IF WE HAD AN ACCURATE RESCUE PULL LIST OF DOGS THAT NEED THAT SPECIALIZED CARE, THAT NEED ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION FROM THOSE RESCUES, INSTEAD OF DOGS THAT SIMPLY HAVE BITE HISTORIES ON THAT LIST, I BELIEVE IT WOULD SAVE, UM, TIME. IT WOULD SAVE SUPPLIES, MONEY, AND VOLUNTEER HOURS AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THANK YOU. THANKS. UM, THE NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE IS CHELSEA REMAN. AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? YES. UH, THANK YOU CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS. UH, IF YOU DID SAY IT CORRECTLY. I'M CHELSEA REMAN. I'M THE DOG BEHAVIOR DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE. UH, AND BEFORE YOUR STAFF RE UH, BRIEFING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT A PA WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD A FEW MONTHS AGO. UH, WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THE CREATION OF THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST AND NEW PROTOCOLS THAT WOULD CHANGE PROCESSES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY WORKING, UM, TO SAVE EVERY DOG ON THE LIST THAT WAS ON ATTENTION FOR BEHAVIOR. UM, SO JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE ONE, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IDENTIFIED A DOG AS BEING AT RISK FOR EUTHANASIA DUE TO THEIR BEHAVIOR. THEY WOULD PROVIDE A PA WITH DOGS PHOTOS, RABIES CERTIFICATES, MEDICAL PAPERWORK, SHELTER PAPERWORK, PREVIOUS OWNER INFORMATION, AND ANY BITE INFORMATION. THIS WAS TO ENSURE THAT A PA HAD ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO MAKE SAFE AND INFORMED EVALUATIONS FOR THESE DOGS BEFORE THE STANDARD 10 DAY EVALUATION PERIOD THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE, WHICH WAS USED FOR OUR PROGRAM TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, UM, NEEDED TO CON FOR LIKE CONSIDERATION OF SAFETY FOR OUR TEAMS [00:40:01] AND FOR THE PUBLIC. UM, NOW, UH, INSTEAD OF THESE DOGS BEING BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION, AS SOON AS SOMEBODY IDENTIFIES A BEHAVIOR CONCERN, UM, THESE DOGS ARE BEING BATCHED, UM, AND ADDED TO THE LIST PICKING CALENDAR BUSINESS DAYS RATHER THAN THE DAY THAT THE BEHAVIOR CONCERNS ARE IDENTIFIED. AND THAT CAUSES DELAYS IN VISIBILITY FOR THOSE OF US WHO CAN HELP. UM, WE'RE NO LONGER BEING GRANTED THE, THE STANDARD 10 DAY EVALUATION PERIOD AT TLAC. SO WE'RE NOW SENDING MEMBERS OF OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM TO A A S EACH WEEK TO MEET WITH OUR TEAM TO RECEIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO EACH DOG. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, IT'S INCREASINGLY BY STAFF WHO HAVEN'T EVEN MET THEM YET, THEY HAVEN'T MET THESE DOGS THAT THEY'RE INTRODUCING US TO. DUE TO NEW POLICIES WHERE LOW LEVEL BITES LAND DOGS IN THE SIX HUNDREDS, AND THESE STAFF MEMBERS DON'T HAVE HANDS-ON WITH THEM, UH, WE'RE NOT, UH, WE'RE NOT RECEIVING THE DOG'S INFORMATION PRIOR TO THESE EVALUATION DAYS EITHER. UM, IF THESE DOGS ARE GONNA BE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC VIEW, SLATED TO BE EUTHANIZED AND AVAILABLE TO RESCUE ONLY DUE TO THEM BEING A SAFETY RISK, THEN I'M UNSURE WHY INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP KEEP THESE DOGS OUR TEAMS AND THE COMMUNITY SAFE IS SIMULTANEOUSLY BECOMING LESS AVAILABLE. UM, BY LAW, A PA HAS TO TAKE FIVE BEHAVIOR DOGS EVERY MONTH FROM A A S UH, LAST MONTH WE TOOK 10 BEHAVIOR DOGS JUST FOR SOME CONTEXT. UM, AND AS THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSIONERS, I HOPE THAT YOU'LL UPHOLD THE BEST PRACTICES THAT WERE ONCE IN PLACE AND HELP US, UM, IN UPHOLDING THOSE AND DO AWAY WITH THESE NEW UNSAFE PROCESSES THAT PROMOTE AN IDEA THAT ALL DOGS IN THE 600 KENNELS NEED TO BE AWAY FROM PUBLIC VIEW, BUT ARE OKAY WITH US COMING THERE WITH NO INFORMATION, NO BITE MEMOS, EVEN AS WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. UM, THAT INCLUDES THE COMMUNITY, LIKE I SAID. AND SO WHAT HELPS KEEP PEOPLE SAFE THE MOST IS INFORMATION. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. GO FOR IT. HI. IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT. YES. THANK YOU. UM, OF THE DOGS THAT WERE PULLED SPECIFICALLY FROM THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST MM-HMM . UM, HOW MANY, WHAT PERCENTAGE WOULD YOU SAY HAVE BEEN ADOPTED OR FOSTERED OR IN A HOME NOW? UM, I THINK RIGHT NOW, 65% OF THEM. OKAY. UM, HOW MANY OF THEM REQUIRED ANY KIND OF SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION BEFORE GOING INTO A HOME? ONE. OKAY. WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS A GOOD USE OF THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN A PA AND A A S? NO, I THINK THAT I, WE DO WANNA BE GOOD PARTNERS. UM, AND I, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE COULD HELP WITH DOGS WHO TRULY NEED IT, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THESE ARE THE DOGS WHO TRULY NEED IT. HOW, HOW WOULD YOU WANNA SEE A PROGRAM SET UP BRIEFLY THAT WORKS WITH DOGS THAT I ARE IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIAL BEHAVIOR? DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A CLARIFY QUESTION. SURE. IT'S TO WHAT YOU SAID, CLARIFICATION QUESTION. IT'S ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BUT IT'S NOT A BRIEF CLARIFICATION ON WHAT SHE SAID, AND IT'S NOT A DISCUSSION IS NOT ON THE AGENDA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WOW. THE NEXT PERSON FROM THE PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO SPEAK ON NUMBER THREE IS HEATHER MYERS. MY NAME IS HEATHER MYERS, I'M A LOCAL ATTORNEY, ANIMAL ADVOCATE AND CURRENT VOLUNTEER AT THE SHELTER. BEFORE I START MY STATEMENT ON AGENDA ITEM THREE, UH, DR. NELSON, YOU MADE AN INCORRECT STATEMENT ABOUT, UH, THE LAW. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU ARE NOT AN ATTORNEY, SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULDN'T MAKE INCORRECT CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE LAW ON THE RECORD. I'LL SEND YOU A NOTE AFTERWARDS TO ADVISE YOU. THANK YOU. UM, I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON AGENDA ITEM THREE AND A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH HOW AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES MANAGES THE URGENT AND RESCUE PLACEMENT LISTS. THIS ISSUE GOES TO THE HEART OF TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND PUBLIC TRUST. THESE LISTS DECIDE WHICH ANIMALS GET A CHANCE AT LIFE OUTSIDE THE SHELTER, BUT THE INFORMATION DRIVING THOSE DECISIONS IS OFTEN UNRELIABLE. DOGS ARE ROUTINELY LABELED AGGRESSIVE OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS BASED ON BEHAVIOR NOTES THAT ARE INCOMPLETE, OUTDATED, OR JUST PLAIN WRONG. THAT'S NOT A DATA ISSUE THAT'S INDICATIVE OF SYSTEMIC FAILURE. A RECENT POST IN THE AUSTIN LOST AND FOUND PETS GROUP MAKES THIS PAINFULLY CLEAR. A CITIZEN ADMITTED, HE TELLS THE SHELTER THAT DOGS HAVE BITTEN HIM JUST TO GET THEM TAKEN IN WITH INTAKE RESTRICTED PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE AND DESPERATION LEADS TO FALSE BITE REPORTS THAT BECOME BITE HISTORIES, THEN PUBLIC SAFETY RISK LABELS, AND THEN A THREATENED DEATH SENTENCE. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CLOSED INTAKE MEETS A BROKEN DATA SYSTEM. AND WHEN LEADERSHIP FOCUSES MORE ON IDENTIFYING DOGS FOR EUTHANASIA LISTS THAN SUPPORTING THEIR NEEDS WHILE LIVING IN A CONCRETE BOX. SO FAR, THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT POLICY CHANGE UNDER THE INTERIM DIRECTOR HAS BEEN THE CREATION OF THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST, A LIST THAT ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF BUREAUCRACY AND CONFUSION, CREATING BARRIERS TO LIVE OUTCOMES RATHER [00:45:01] THAN REMOVING THEM. IN HIS RECENT COMMENTS TO AUSTIN MONTHLY, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR ADMITS HE HAS LITTLE ANIMAL EXPERIENCE, YET IN THE SAME BREATH CLAIMS MANY DOGS ENTERING THE SHELTER HAVE BEHAVIOR ISSUES. THAT CONTRADICTION SAYS EVERYTHING DOGS, HE'S LABELED UNADOPTABLE OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS LIKE MILA, LIKE GHOST, ARE NOW LIVING SAFELY IN HOMES WITH CHILDREN AND OTHER DOGS, OFTEN WITH LITTLE TO NO BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION. THESE ARE NOT EXCEPTIONS. THEY'RE EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE THAT THE INTERIM DIRECTOR AND THE STAFF ADVISING HIM LACK BOTH THE DESIRE AND THE ABILITY TO ACCURATELY JUDGE WHICH DOGS ARE TRULY SAFE FOR PLACEMENT. AUSTIN CANNOT CALL ITSELF A MODEL OF HUMANE SHELTERING. WHILE POLICIES ARE BUILT ON MISINFORMATION AND IMPLEMENTED BY LEADERSHIP THAT SHOWS LITTLE UNDERSTANDING OR EVEN INTEREST IN THEIR IMPACT, WE NEED OPEN HUMANE INTAKE POLICIES, VERIFIED BEHAVIOR RECORDS, AND REAL OVERSIGHT OF HOW THESE LISTS DECIDE WHICH ANIMALS MAKE THAT ALIVE. IF WE WANNA MOVE PAST THIS CURRENT CRISIS, THE INTEGRITY OF OUR INFORMATION AND OF OUR LEADERSHIP MUST COME FIRST. THANK YOU. UM, I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR, UM, INTERIM CHIEF FERNANDEZ. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BITES ARE NOT ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM UNLESS THERE'S PROOF OF THE BITE, AND THAT'S EITHER, UM, A VET, UH, DOCUMENTATION, MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION, OR THE ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICER VISUALLY SEEING THE BITE ON THE PERSON AND THAT WOULD HAVE THEM PUT IT ON A DUNBAR SCALE. IS THAT CORRECT? GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONER, UH, ROLANDA FERNANDEZ INTERIM, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR? UM, THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH FOR, UH, DOCUMENTING THE A DUNBAR, UM, SCALE RATING ON A BITE. UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT'S THE ONE THAT COMES IN THROUGH THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF OUR, UH, FIELD SERVICE OFFICER AND PROTECTION OFFICER. UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF FOLKS THAT AUDIT THAT, UM, BITE. AND THE AUDIT IS TO CONFIRM BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PROVIDED, UM, WHETHER IT'S, UM, DETAILS, UM, ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSON THAT EITHER WITNESSED THE BITE OR THE VICTIM THEMSELVES. AND THEN WE SEEK THE MEDICAL RECORDS TO CONFIRM THAT THAT BITE, UM, JUST AS WE'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS WHERE WE HAVE NO SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION, WE DON'T, UH, DECLARE A BITE ON, ON THE ANIMAL OR WE KNOW IN THERE CAN'T CONFIRM BECAUSE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE. AND SO THAT'S A COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FROM, UH, MANY LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE THE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THE NEXT SPEAKER, UM, FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE IS SONAL PATEL. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? ALMOST SONAL SONAL PATEL. THANK YOU. OKAY. IS THIS RIGHT? OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS SONO AND I'M SPEAKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A RESCUE PARTNER THAT REGULARLY WORKS WITH THE CITY SHELTER AND FROM THE RESCUE SIDE OF THINGS. THE WAY THE RESCUE PULL LIST IS BEING USED RIGHT NOW IS CONFUSING AND CONCERNING DOGS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY LISTED ON THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST FOR BITE HISTORIES, BEHAVIORAL, OR QUALITY OF LIFE REASONS ARE NOW BEING CLASSIFIED AS PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS CLEAR WHAT CHANGED OR WHY. AND AS A RESCUE THAT SHIFT MATTERS WHEN A DOG SUDDENLY MOVES FROM AN URGENT PLACEMENT TO A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. WITHOUT NEW INFORMATION, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY HELP. IT ALSO UNDERMINES WHAT THE TERM PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS SHOULD MEAN. THERE'S A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOG THAT TRULY POSSESSES A THREAT AND ONE THAT SCRATCHES SOMEONE WHILE PLAYING FETCH OR REACTS IN FEAR. DUE TO THE SHELTER ENVIRONMENT, CALLING ALL OF THESE CASES PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS DOES A DISSERVICE TO THE REAL ONES AND TO THE COMMUNITY'S TRUST IN THIS PROCESS, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, JUST IN TERMS OF THE DATA AND THINGS, RESCUE A TX DOGS PULLED A DOG NAMED BILLY INTO OUR CARE ON JUNE 13TH. IN HIS RECORDS, UM, IT STATED HE HAD A BITE BUT NO BITE DETAILS. I EMAILED TO ASK FOR THE BITE REPORT ON JUNE 17TH, 18TH, AND 23RD, AND WE FINALLY GOT IT ON JUNE 23RD. THAT MEAN THAT MEANT THAT WE HAD THIS DOG FOR 10 DAYS IN OUR CARE WITHOUT THE FULL ABILITY TO ASSESS AND PLACE THAT DOG SAFELY. IN ADDITION, WHEN RESCUES RECEIVE THE RPL LIST EACH MONTH, THE COMMUNICATION IS LIMITED TO A GENERIC EMAIL WITH THE SAME VIEW OF THE LIST THAT'S POSTED ON THE WEBSITE WITH NO FULL NOTES OR BEHAVIORAL HISTORY ATTACHED. THAT LACK OF INFORMATION DELAYS DECISIONS AND CAN COST DOGS A CHANCE AT A SAFE PLACEMENT. WE ALL WANT PUBLIC SAFETY TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND THAT REQUIRES PRECISION, TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND THAT DOGS BE CLASSIFIED WITH CLEAR AND CONSISTENT CRITERIA SUPPORTED BY DOCUMENTATION AND RESCUE PARTNERS RECEIVE FULL RECORDS UPFRONT SO WE CAN EVALUATE CASES RESPONSIBLY. THAT CLARITY WOULD PROTECT BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE ANIMALS AND ALLOW RESCUES TO DO OUR JOBS EFFECTIVELY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS, IS IT PIA PHILLIPS? [00:50:01] GOT IT. KIND OF RESPOND TO ANYTHING AT THIS POINT. I'VE HEARD IT ALL. . OKAY. HELLO COMMISSIONERS. UH, MY NAME IS PIA PHILLIPS AND I'M HERE SPEAKING NOT ONLY AS A RESCUE VOLUNTEER, BUT AS A TAXPAYER. AND TODAY I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT HOW THE RESCUE PULL LIST, RPLS WE'VE BEEN SAYING IS BEING USED AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR REAL DOGS LIKE LOYAL AND LOLA, WHO I WILL BE REFERRING TO, UM, THROUGHOUT MY TIME. THE RPL DECIDES WHICH DOGS ARE LABELED UNSAFE, OR PUT SIMPLY WHICH ONES LIVE AND WHICH ONES DIE. BUT THE SYSTEM WAS BUILT WITHOUT THE INPUT OF PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SEE THESE DOGS EVERY DAY, BOTH STAFF AND VOLUNTEER. THERE ARE NO CLEAR DEFINITIONS FOR WHAT COUNTS AS BEHAVIOR CONCERNS, AND THAT GRAY AREA BEING DEEMED ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION IS REALLY A LIFE AND DEATH MATTER. LOYOLA AND LOLA ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE. THEY CAME FROM A HORRIFIC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION. THE MAN IN THE HOME WAS BEATING HIS PARTNER AND ORDERING THE DOGS TO BITE HER WHILE HOLDING HER DOWN. THEY WERE LIVING IN AN UNSAFE HOME WITH A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON. THEY WERE NOT THE CAUSE OF DANGER. THEY WERE CAUGHT INSIDE OF IT. SINCE COMING TO THE SHELTER, THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING A VOLUNTEER, ADOPTER OR FOSTER COULD EVER HOPE FOR. THE VOLUNTEERS DESCRIBED THEM AS GENTLE, PLAYFUL, AFFECTIONATE. THEY'VE PLAYED WITH OTHER DOGS. THEY'VE MET PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT THEY'VE BEEN KEPT IN ONE OF THE 600 KENNELS OFF LIMITS TO THE PUBLIC AND TO MOST VOLUNTEERS, AND TREAT IT AS IF THEY ARE DANGEROUS FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST MONTH. THEY COULD NOT EVEN LEAVE THEIR KENNELS TO HAVE NORMAL INTERACTIONS OR WALKS. AND LOLA SPECIFICALLY WAITED EVEN LONGER BECAUSE SHE CAME IN WITH BRAND NEW PUPPIES. THEY HAVE BEEN STUCK IN LIMBO, NOT BECAUSE OF NEW INCIDENTS, BUT BECAUSE OF HOW THEIR CASE WAS SIMPLY CLASSIFIED ON PAPER. IF THIS WERE A CHILD WHO HAD SURVIVED ABUSE, WOULD WE ISOLATE THEM FOR MONTHS AND LABEL THEM AS UNSAFE TO BE AROUND? NO, WE'D BRING IN TRAUMA PROFESSIONALS, WE'D HELP THEM HEAL, AND WE'D MOST IMPORTANTLY CONTEXTUALIZE THAT FEAR. AND DARE I SAY, HUMANS ARE A WHOLE LOT LESS PREDICTABLE THAN DOGS. THE SYSTEM OWES LOYAL AND LOLA THAT SAME DECENCY RIGHT NOW. THE EUTHANASIA MATRIX IS OFTEN FILLED BY VETERINARIANS WHO SEE DOGS WHEN THEY'RE SCARED AND RESTRAINED ON A MEDICAL TABLE, NOT WHEN THEY'RE RELAXED OR SOCIAL, WHICH IS WHAT CONSTITUTES A MAJORITY OF THEIR LIFE. DO YOU KNOW WHOSE FEEDBACK ISN'T PRIORITIZED OR MEANINGFULLY INCLUDED? VOLUNTEER FEEDBACK, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SEE THEIR PROGRESS DAY TO DAY. THAT'S NOT A PROCESS ISSUE THAT IS A MAJOR BLIND SPOT. WE ALL CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT FAIRNESS DEMANDS THAT DECISIONS BE MADE WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION, UNLIKE WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING IT BEING DONE. SO I'M ASKING THAT THE COMMISSION RECOMMEND, I AM RECOMMENDING TO THE CONDITION CLEAR DEFINITIONS BE CREATED FOR WHAT BEHAVIOR CONCERNS AND PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS ACTUALLY MEAN. DOGS WHOSE INCIDENTS ARE TIED TO ABUSE OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BE EVALUATED IN CONTEXT AND WITH BEHAVIOR PROFESSIONALS, NOT ONLY THROUGH A MEDICAL BITE SCALE AND MULTIPLE TRAINED EVALUATORS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WHO INTERACT WITH DOGS ON THE DAILY, BE A PART OF THE MATRIX AND PLACEMENT DECISIONS. LOYOLA AND LOLA HAVE SHOWN WHO THEY ARE OVER THE PAST MONTHS IN THE SHELTER, AND THEY DE DESERVE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT REALITY, NOT JUST A SIMPLE CHECKBOX FROM A VIOLENT HOME THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER ON AGENDA ITEM THREE IS SYDNEY SMITH. I'M SORRY, I THINK I'M ON THERE TWICE BECAUSE I HAD HEARD TO DO IT ONLINE. OH, SORRY. YEP, YOU'RE CORRECT. UM, AND YOU ALSO WANNA SPEAK ON FOUR AND SIX? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. THAT WAS ONLY UNDER ONE OF YOUR NAMES. SO HERE WE GO. UM, THEN THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA PIERS PI PIRE. THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT. GOOD NIGHT. Y THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. UM, I HAVE BEEN WONDERING THE ABOUT THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST AND WHAT ACTUALLY IS URGENT ABOUT THAT. UM, SAYS THAT BEING ON THE LIST GIVE THESE DOGS MORE ATTENTION. AND WE, I IMAGINE THAT OFTEN ANIMAL SERVICE FOCUS ON PROMOTING THEM WITH PHOTOS, VIEWS, UH, BIO PLAYGROUPS, OUTINGS AND ALL OF THAT, THAT IS NOT MATCH WHAT, UH, I HAVE BEEN SEEN FOLLOWING THIS LIST. UM, VERY OFTEN, INACCURATE AND, UH, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOGS. UM, I HAVE, I DO NOT REMEMBER SEEING ANY ADVERTISING OF ANY DOG THAT IT IS IN THE UPL. UH, THERE ARE, IF YOU SEE VOGUE, IF YOU GO ON THE, ON THE UPL, THERE ARE LINKS FOR THE DOGS, RIGHT? THE NAME OF THE DOG YOU CLICK AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER PETS. IF YOU CAN SEE PGO AND YOU CLICK ON THAT, IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE. [00:55:01] IF YOU SEE YORK, THERE'S NO LINK. UM, ABOUT URGENT. I WONDER. HE ALSO, ZEUS HAS BEEN AT A SHELTER FOR 162 DAYS. HE HAS NO BIO, HE HAS NO BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS. SAME THING FOR BERLIN HAS BEEN FOR 148 DAYS. UM, AND I CAN GO OVER AND OVER AND ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONES WHO DO HAVE BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS, UH, BIOS WERE DONE BY VOLUNTEERS. SO I WONDER WHAT IS THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SHELTER DOING TO TREAT THIS LIST AS IF IT IS REALLY URGENT. AND I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT DOGS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK LIKE TWO DOGS IN THE LIST. ELLA AND VIVIAN. UH, I MENTOR NEW VOLUNTEERS AND I HAVE USED THEM TO TEACH THEM HOW TO HARNESS. SO THOSE ARE THE, I JUST CHOOSE THE EASY DOGS TO DO THAT, RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU'RE TRAINING NEW VOLUNTEERS. SO HOW TO PUT A HARNESS HAS BE DOGS THAT, UM, ARE FINE WITH BEING HANDLED. IF YOU SEE VIVIAN HERE, UM, SAYS THAT SHE HAS A BAD HISTORY. SHE HAS A STRANGER DANGER, HIGH FEAR IN THE ESCAPE ARTIST, UH, ABOUT HISTORY. IT SEEMS TO BE, UH, I DO NOT READ HER RECORDS. UM, BUT I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY STRANGER DANGER, ANY HIGH FEAR IN ANY ESCAPE ARTIST THING. ACTUALLY, UH, THERE WAS RECENTLY SOMEONE TOOK HER ON A HIKE AND THEN TOOK HER TO A COFFEE SHOP, SAID THAT SHE WAS WONDERFUL MEETING PEOPLE WHO CAME TO WANTING TO PET HER, ET CETERA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. UM, BUT AGAIN, IT COULD GO ON AND ON BECAUSE THERE'S, IF YOU CAN GO. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL OF YOUR TIME. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE NEXT SPEAKER FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE IS KATE, HELP ME OUT. OH, DOHAN DOHAN, IT'S IN. THANK YOU. OF COURSE. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING, I'M SORRY. UM, MY NAME IS KATE HAN. I AM A REPEAT ADOPTER FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER. I'M AN ICU VOLUNTEER AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, AND I RUN A DOG RESCUE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WITH OVER 27,000 FOLLOWERS FOCUSED ON HIGHLIGHTING ADOPTABLE DOGS AT AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT DOGS BEING MOVED FROM THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST, UPL TO THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST, RPL WITHOUT ANY INTERVENING INCIDENTS CAUSING THIS MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL DOGS AND HERE IS URBAN COWBOY STORY. THE FIRST TIME I MET URBAN COWBOY, I WAS HANGING DRAWINGS ON HIS KENNEL. I PARTNER WITH LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO HAVE KIDS DRAW PICTURES OF ADOPTABLE DOGS WHILE WRITING STORIES ON WHY EACH DOG DESERVES A HOME. USUALLY THERE'S ONE DRAWING PER KENNEL, BUT URBAN COWBOY HAD THREE BECAUSE HE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE WHO LOVED SEEING HIM SLEEPING UNDER A BLANKET AND SWIMMING IN A POOL. IN SEPTEMBER, I MADE A COLLABORATION REEL WITH A A C FEATURING URBAN COWBOY. IT REACHED THOUSANDS OF VIEWERS. A MONTH LATER, HE WAS MOVED TO RPL. NOTHING HAPPENED IN BETWEEN. NO NEW INCIDENTS, NO BEHAVIOR CHANGES. HIS TIME HAS JUST RUN OUT. DOGS ARE PLACED ON THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST BECAUSE THEY NEED EXTRA SUPPORT, NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONSIDERED PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS. YET SOME OF THESE SAME DOGS LATER GET MOVED TO THE RPL WITHOUT ANY NEW BEHAVIOR, AND IT'S CONFUSING FOR VOLUNTEERS AND DEVASTATING FOR DOGS'. CHANCES AT ADOPTION OR RESCUE. A LABEL CAN LITERALLY MEAN LIFE OR DEATH. AS A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER, I KNOW HOW DAMAGING MISLABELING CAN BE. WE MUST TREAT INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER DOGS OR PEOPLE, AND NOT JUST TREAT A LAB VALUE OR A MATRIX OR WHATEVER. THEY'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO. VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF WHO KNOW THESE DOGS BEST, SEE TRUST, THEY SEE JOY AND PROGRESS, BUT THESE OBSERVATIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED IN THESE DECISIONS. I'M ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY WITH CLEAR DEFINITIONS. INTERIM DIRECTOR ROLANDO FERNANDEZ RECENTLY SAID, I THINK I WAS BROUGHT HERE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ANIMAL EXPERIENCE. IF THAT'S THE CASE, I DON'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WITHOUT ANIMAL EXPERIENCE CAN BE THE DECIDING FACTOR ON IF A DOG IS A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. WE MUST VALUE THE EXPERIENCE OF VOLUNTEERS, RESCUE GROUPS AND STAFF WHO WORK WITH THESE ANIMALS DAILY. URBAN COWBOY IS NOW SAFE AT AUSTIN. PETS ALIVE. WHEN I CHECKED ON HIM THIS WEEK, THEY SENT ME A VIDEO OF HIM IN A PLAYGROUP WITH [01:00:01] OTHER DOGS, AND THEY SAID HE GOES TO PLAYGROUP TWICE A DAY AND HAS A LOT OF FRIENDS. HE IS SERIOUSLY ONE OF THE EASIEST DOGS WE'VE EVER TAKEN FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER. HE DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK TO ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. UM, AND THE LAST PUBLIC SPEAKER FOR AGENDA ITEM THREE IS ASHTON GRECO. YES. BEFORE I SPEAK, I WANTED TO ASK IF I CAN GIVE MY PLACE UP TO ANOTHER SPEAKER. NO. OKAY. UM, FORGIVE ME ONE SECOND. I'M JUST THIS LONG. I WOULD, I'LL TAKE IT. I'LL TAKE IT. NO, NO, NO, NO. ANOTHER SPEAKER THAT I, THAT I WANTED TO SPEAK FOR ME, BUT THAT'S OKAY. BUT I CAN'T DO THAT ANYWAYS. AH. UM, OKAY. SO THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING TO ME TO SPEAK. I HAVE BEEN A FOSTER, UM, FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN. I'M A TAXPAYER IN DISTRICT ONE. I'VE ALSO BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT A A C AS WELL AS A PA. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE CURRENT USE USE OF THE DUNBAR DUNBAR BY SCALE IS CAUSING HARM IN SHELTER DECISION MAKING. THE DUNBAR SCALE WAS CREATED TO MEASURE THE MEDICAL SEVERITY OF A BITE. IT WAS NOT MADE TO JUDGE, TO JUDGE A DOG'S BEHAVIOR OR INTENTIONS. A DOG MAY HAVE CAUSED A SMALL SCRATCH BECAUSE IT WAS SCARED OR IN PAIN OR EAGERLY REACHING FOR A TREAT. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE DOG IS DANGEROUS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SHELTER IS USING DUNBAR AS A BEHAVIOR SCALE TO DECIDE WHETHER A DOG SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE RPL. THIS LEADS TO DOGS BEING LABELED AS DANGEROUS WHEN THEY'RE SIMPLY REACTING TO FEAR OR STRESS OR NORMAL BEHAVIOR LIKE PUPPIES WHO MOUTH LIKE TODDLERS AS THEY NAVIGATE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THESE LABELS FOLLOW THE DOGS AND LIMITS THEIR CHANCES OF RESCUE OR ADOPTION. EVEN WHEN VOLUNTEERS SEE LOVING BEHAVIOR FROM THEM EVERY DAY WE SEE DOGS LIKE MILA, WHOSE TOOTH ACCIDENTALLY SCRATCHED SOMEONE DURING A BATH THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN EXPLAINED. UH, THAT WAS NOT A BITE THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT YET THIS WAS USED TO CLASSIFY HER IN A WAY THAT WAS PUT HER AT RISK. WHEN WE MISUSE TOOLS LIKE THE DUMP OUR SCALE, WE ARE NOT PROTECTING PUBLIC SAFETY. INSTEAD, WE ARE CAUSING UNNECESSARY HARM. I'M ASKING THE COMMISSION TODAY TO STOP USING THE DUNBAR SCALE AS A BEHAVIORAL TOOL AND TO WORK WITH BEHAVIORAL EXPERTS, VOLUNTEERS, AND RESCUE PARTNERS TO CREATE A FAIR SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE SIGNED UP PUBLIC SPEAKERS FOR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE. UM, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO INTERIM DIRECTOR FERNANDEZ. ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. UH, ROLANDA FERNANDEZ INTERIM, UH, DIRECTOR AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO, UH, SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. UM, BEFORE I BEGIN SPEAKING ON THIS ITEM, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING, UH, FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HELPING OUT, UH, THE ANIMALS, UH, IN OUR CARE. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW IT'S, UH, IT'S A LOT OF WORK, SO I APPRECIATE THAT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES TO SHARE WITH YOU. BEFORE I DO THAT THOUGH, I KIND OF JUST WANNA GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND IN TERMS OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THE GENESIS OF THE RPO AND CERTAINLY IT DERIVED FROM THE UPO, UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO, THREE MONTHS AGO, IN FACT, UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RPO, WE ONLY HAD THE UPO, BUT THE UPO SERVED THE PURPOSE THAT THE RPL SERVES HAD IDENTIFIED DOGS THAT NEEDED ATTENTION, UH, FOR PLACEMENT, WHETHER THAT WAS THROUGH ADOPTION, FOSTER RESCUE. UM, BUT IT ALSO INFORMED THOSE DOGS THAT IN, IN, IN OUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY, UM, HAD A MATRI SCORE AND BACKGROUND CONCERNS THAT, UM, STAFF, UM, BELIEVED THAT THEY WERE, UM, A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. AND SO WHAT YOU WOULD SEE, UH, WAS THAT, UM, THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING, UH, FOR HUMANE EUTHANASIA WERE DERIVING FROM THE UPL LIST. IN FACT, A FEW TIMES, UH, IN MY FIRST, UH, MONTH, UH, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, UH, WE USED THAT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE, UM, THOSE THAT WE BELIEVE WERE, UM, A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AND WHERE, UH, THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THEM WAS TO USE THE, UH, HUMANE EUTHANASIA PROCESS. UM, A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THOSE TWO, UH, FIRST POSTINGS OF HUMANE EUTHANASIA, UH, SUCH AS, UM, WE'RE SURPRISED, SUCH AS THEY WERE JUST AVAILABLE FOR EVERY OPTION. UM, AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THIS. UM, AND SO THE RPO, UM, REALLY DOES THE SAME THING AS THE UPO WAS DOING. WHAT IT REALLY DOES NOW IS PROVIDE MORE TIME, UH, A LOT MORE TIME. UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN THE RPO GOES OUT, AS IT WENT OUT LAST WEEK, UM, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, THE POSTING OF THE RPO UM, DOGS, UM, FOR THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER, UH, FIVE DAY BUSINESS COMMITMENT PERIOD PLUS THERE'S THE WEEKENDS. AND THEN YOU ALSO ADD IN THE 48 HOUR, UH, NOTIFICATION THAT COMPLIES WITH CHAPTER THREE OF THE CITY CODE. SO THERE'S, THERE'S A, AGAIN, THE EMPHASIS WAS TO GIVE MORE TIME FOR BOTH STAFF, FOR VOLUNTEERS, AND FOR RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS TO, UM, TO COME IN AND HELP US OUT WITH THOSE, UH, WITH THOSE ANIMALS. UM, I THINK WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB OF ADVERTISING THE UPO. WE'VE BEEN MAKING A LOT OF MODIFICATIONS AS YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, UH, FOR, UH, PRIORITY PLACEMENTS, YOU'LL SEE THE UUPO AND THE RPO. WE'VE ADDED SOME DEFINITIONS [01:05:01] IN THERE, UH, AND WE'RE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES IN TERMS OF HOW DO WE GET MORE NOTIFICATION ON THE UPO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO START OFF WITH THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING NEW. WE WERE DOING THAT EFFORT. IT WAS JUST DERIVING FROM THE UPO LIST. UH, SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE THEN IS, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN ABOUT EVERY ANIMAL, UH, INCLUDING, UH, THE DB, THE DUNBAR SCALE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, HISTORY, UH, BEHAVIORAL HISTORY, SO THAT FOLKS ARE FULLY AWARE OF, UH, THE ACTS BEHIND, UH, THE ANIMAL. UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANNA MAKE CLEAR THIS, I DON'T MAKE A DECISION BY MYSELF IN THIS SITUATION. YOU KNOW, I RELY ON THE EXPERTISE OF MY STAFF. UH, I RELY ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ABOUT THOSE ANIMALS. AND WHEN I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH, ENOUGH INFORMATION, AND WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION UNTIL WE GET THAT INFORMATION TO INFORM THE BEST DECISION POSSIBLE FOR THE ANIMAL, UM, I SEE, UH, EVERY ANIMAL IN OUR CARE. IT, IT'S A MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR US, AND WE WANT TO ENSURE THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THAT ANIMAL. BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF THINKING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, UH, AND WHAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THAT COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO A A A, A DOG THAT HAS A, A SIGNIFICANT BITE HISTORY, UH, AND SIGNIFICANT, UH, BEHAVIORAL CONCERN. SO I JUST WANTED TO LAY THAT OUT THERE FOR Y'ALL. AND THEN BEGIN WITH THIS SLIDE, UH, NUMBER ONE ON THIS ONE. HERE IT IS. SO THIS IS THE, UM, THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST, THE UPL. UM, AS WE COMMUNICATED BEFORE, UH, THROUGH A MEMO TO ARIAN COUNCIL, AS WE COMMUNICATED TO THIS, UM, THIS BODY, WE, WE SHARED THAT MEMO TO, UH, ARIAN COUNCIL. AND AS WE PROVIDE IN OUR, OUR BACKUP INFORMATION WHEN WE, UM, WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT ALSO WHEN WE PLEA OUT ANIMALS, UH, HERE'S THE CRITERIA FOR, FOR UPO. UM, IT'S UPDATED REGULARLY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS OF THE ANIMALS THAT, UM, NEED, UM, ACTION, NEED ACTION, UH, FAIRLY QUICKLY, UH, TO FIND A BETTER PLACEMENT FOR THEM THAN IN OUR, THAN IN OUR CARE. UH, WHAT GETS AN ANIMAL INTO THIS, UH, UPL IS ANIMALS THAT HAVE CONCERNS, UH, OF BEHAVIOR MATTERS, UH, A BY HISTORY THAT DOESN'T, UM, RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN OR THREAT. UH, AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING A POOR QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, IN OUR CARE. WE'VE ALSO REVIEWED THIS LIST ON THE WEEKLY BASIS, UH, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT WHAT ANIMALS WE NEED TO ADD THERE TO, AGAIN, TO HELP THEM GET OUT. UM, BUT ALSO MAYBE THOSE THAT ARE DOING BETTER, AND MAYBE WE DON'T GET 'EM OFF THAT LIST, BUT IN MY OPINION, UM, IT JUST BRINGS MORE ATTENTION TO THAT ANIMAL THAT NEEDS TO GET HELP, UH, OUT OF OUR SHELTER. UM, I UNDERSTAND SOME CONCERNS REGARDING, UM, FOLKS THINKING THAT THE UPL WILL THEN INFORM WHAT GOES INTO THE RPO LIST. AND, UH, CERTAINLY THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING EARLY ON WHEN WE FIRST LAUNCHED THE RPO. AS I STATED EARLIER, THE PURPOSE OF THE RPO WAS TO TAKE AWAY THOSE ANIMALS THAT HAD A HIGH, UH, MATRIX SCORE THAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD REGARDLESS WHETHER THE RPO WAS CREATED OR NOT, UH, INTO THAT HUMANE EUTHANASIA NOTIFICATION PROCESS. AND SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT TRANSITION. UM, MY HOPE IS THAT WE DON'T SEE ANY, UH, DOG, UH, IN THE UPO TRANSITION INTO THE RPO. NOW, THAT SAID, THOUGH IT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THAT DOG IN OUR CARE, UM, DEMONSTRATES A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT'S CONCERNING, OR, UH, WHILE IN OUR CARE INTERACTING WITH ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS OR ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, UH, THEY HAVE A, A BITE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO REVIEW THAT. AND SO, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT IT MAY NOT HAPPEN, BUT THOSE ARE THE CRITERIA THAT WE'LL LOOK TO, TO SEE, UH, IF THEY NEED TO BE, UH, MOVED FROM THE UPO TO THE RPO UM, LIST. OKAY. OH, I'M SORRY, I SKIPPED OVER THE RPO. UM, I NEED BETTER GLASSES ASSES. OKAY. SO, UH, THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST, THIS IS, UH, WE CREATED THIS, UM, BACK IN SEPTEMBER. UM, AGAIN, IT WAS JUST TO SEPARATE THAT AND PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY, UH, MORE TIMELINESS AWARENESS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS AND TO OUR STAFF REGARDING, UH, THOSE DOGS WERE THAT, AGAIN, WERE ON THE UPL LI, UH, UPL LIST. AND, UH, UPL LIST, THAT'S THE SAME THING. SO THE UPL, AND THAT WOULD TRANSITION INTO THAT IF WE DEEMED THAT THEY HAD, UH, CONCERNING BACKGROUND BY HISTORY, UH, FOR THAT MATTER. UM, AS I STATED EARLIER, WE PUBLISHED A LIST, UH, ON THE, WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF THE MONTH. THAT LIST WILL BE UPDATED ON A REGULAR BASIS, UM, AS WE SEE, UH, ANIMALS IN OUR CARE THAT, UH, MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE RPL PURPOSE. UM, AFTER THE FIVE BUSINESS DAYS, WE'LL DO WHAT WE CALL A COMMITMENT PERIOD, WHICH IS ANOTHER FIVE BUSINESS DAYS THAT WE'RE, UM, NOTIFYING, UH, FOLKS ON THAT RESCUE LIST TO, UH, COME IN AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THOSE DOGS AND, AND SEE WHAT THEY, IF THEY CAN, UH, HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE TO, UH, RESCUE THOSE ANIMALS FROM US. AND THEN AFTER THAT FIVE DAY, UH, BUSINESS, UH, TIMEFRAME IS, UH, IS COMPLETED, THEN WE'LL DO THE TWO, UH, THE TWO DAYS. SO 48 HOURS OF, UH, NOTIFICATION FOR EUTHANASIA IF THEY'VE NOT BEEN, UH, RESCUED BY THAT TIME. UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT PLACES AN ANIMAL, UH, ON THAT LIST IS, UH, A BI A BI HISTORY THAT'S SIGNIF AND OR SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, UH, THAT POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I WANT JUST REITERATE AGAIN, THAT THAT'S NOT A DECISION THAT, THAT I TAKE LIGHTLY [01:10:01] AND THAT I MAKE BY MYSELF. IT'S A COLLECTIVE TEAM EFFORT, UH, REGARDING LOOKING AT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE ON, ON THAT ANIMAL, UM, MATRIX. UH, THIS IS A TOOL THAT WE UTILIZE TO INFORM, UH, THESE PROCESSES. UM, YOU KNOW, WE DO USE THE, THE DUNBAR, UH, RATING SCALE, UH, SYSTEM. UM, WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT DOUBLE AUDIT SINCE MY DE UH, MY TIME IN THE, IN THE SHELTER, UH, TO CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, UH, AND THAT, UM, ONCE WE HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT AS A COLLECTIVE GROUP, WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS ABOUT THE SKILL OF THAT BITE, AND THEN WE'RE MAKING THAT CONSISTENTLY. UM, I'VE ALSO, UH, IN MY TIME HAVE ALL INCORPORATED MORE MEMBERS TO THAT, UH, GROUP, UH, IN TERMS OF OUR BEHAVIORAL GROUP, UH, FOR THAT CONVERSATION. PRIOR TO, UM, UH, ADDING MORE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, WE RELIED ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER WITHIN THAT GROUP. UH, WE MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE OF OUR ORGANIZATION. AND SO NOW WE HAVE, UH, MORE FOLKS REPRESENTING THAT BACKGROUND, UH, THAT DIVISION WITHIN OUR, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. UM, SO, UH, AGAIN, WE LOOK AT THE DB, THE, THE DUNBAR AND THE BENNESS BICYCLE. UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FIVE FREEDOMS, UH, SHEET. UH, WE'RE GETTING SOME PERSPECTIVE FROM ANYBODY THAT HANDLES THE ANIMAL INVOLVED IN OUR CARE, AND ALSO THE ANIMAL HAS ANY HISTORY WITH SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION, UH, TO INFORM OUR, OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS. UM, IT'S A COLLECTIVE GROUP OF, OF FOLKS THAT REPRESENT THE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS IN OUR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT. SO THE BEHAVIORAL, UH, EUTHANASIA RISK ASSESSMENT DESIGNED TO OBJECTIVELY ASSESS AND QUANTIFY THE SEVERITY AND THE RISK OF DOG BEHAVIOR THAT MAY PO POSE A DANGER TO OP, UH, PEOPLE OR ON ANIMALS OR THE DOGS THEMSELVES, UM, HISTORY AND HOME AND IN SHELTER ENVIRONMENT, UH, THE PREVIOUS REPORTED, UH, BITES, AND THEN THE QUALITY OF LIFE. UH, AND YOU'LL SEE ON THIS SLIDE, UH, WHO'S ALL PART OF THAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS. UM, AND IT, UH, AND IT TAKES US SOME TIME TO GET THROUGH THAT, THROUGH THAT, UM, THAT REVIEW. UM, WE'RE QUESTIONING EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE CHALLENGING EACH OTHER. UM, YOU KNOW, I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING, UH, OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IT'S NOT MEANT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVELY JUDGE OR, UM, YOU KNOW, MAKE SOMEBODY FEEL BAD. BUT, YOU KNOW, I I, I DON'T TAKE LIGHTLY THE DECISIONS THAT ONE THAT WE MAKE IN THAT ROOM, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY NEED TO BE INFORMED. AND SO, UM, IF WE'RE, IF OUR CHALLENGING PERSPECTIVE IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHY DID YOU SEE THERE? WHY, WHY DID YOU LOOK AT THIS THIS WAY? UH, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL OF, OF DETAIL, UH, IN THIS REVIEW MEETINGS. UM, ON THE WEEKLY BASIS, IT'S ALL PUBLIC. UM, I THINK WE SHARED A MEMO WITH Y'ALL, UH, WHEN WE RELEASED THE RPO, AND WE PROVIDED ALSO THE, ALL OF OUR, OUR TOOLS, THE MATRIX TOOLS AS BACKUP. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S BEEN AVAILABLE, UM, TO, UH, THE COMMUNITY. AND, UM, IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU. UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THINGS WE'RE, I'M ALWAYS, UH, MEETING WITH FOLKS AND GETTING SOME PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY. UM, BUT THAT'S THE TOOL THAT WE HAVE NOW, AND WE'VE MADE SOME TWEAKS TO IT. I THINK, AS I MENTIONED ALREADY, THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT WE MADE IS THAT, THAT DOUBLE CHECKING OF THINGS, UH, HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE ROOM FOR THAT CONVERSATION, UH, TO ESTABLISH JUST CONSISTENCY IN HOW WE DO THINGS. UM, IT HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO US AND, AND, AND ALLY TO MYSELF. SO, UH, WITH THAT, UH, COMMISSIONERS, I'LL, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS. AND I, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I CAN ALSO SEE, OKAY. UM, COMMISSIONER LOMAN. HI. UM, THANKS FOR THE REPORT. UM, SO THE UPL SPECIFICALLY STATES IT'S THE DOG IS NOT A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT. AND THE RPL STATES THAT THE DOG IS POTENTIALLY A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. SO HOW WOULD A DOG MOVE FROM THE UPL TO THE RPL WITH NO INTERVENING RECORDED BEHAVIOR INFORMATION IN BETWEEN? HOW WOULD THAT HAPPEN? YEAH. SO IF IT'S IN OUR CARE, AS I SAID IT, UH, MY, UM, COMMENTS EARLIER ON, IT'S IF THEY DEMONSTRATE SOME BEHAVIORAL, AND WHEN OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, CONFIRMS THAT THERE'S ANOTHER ASSESSMENT, IF, UH, A VOLUNTEER, UM, UH, TELLS US THAT PERSPECTIVE, UM, AND THEN WE'LL DO AN ASSESSMENT OF THAT, UH, ANIMAL JUST TO CONFIRM, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING, OR WE'RE HEARING, HEARING FROM EITHER STAFF OR THE VOLUNTEERS, OR IF DURING OUR CARE, AND IT'S HAP HA IT HAS HAPPENED WHERE AN ANIMAL JUST HAS, HAS ANOTHER BITE. AND IF THAT BITE, UH, WILL LOOK AT THAT AND, AND THEN DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAUSED THAT BITE, WHY DID THEY, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT ACTION? DID THEY CHARGE TO A PERSON? DID, YOU KNOW, JUST DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION. AND THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. AND THAT SITUATION RIGHT THERE, THE OUTCOME OF THAT SITUATION, EXCUSE ME, MAY DETERMINE THAT THAT DOG BE REMOVED FROM THE UPL OVER TO THE RPL. SO FIVE DOGS THAT I LOOKED AT THAT WENT FROM UPL TO RPL WITH NO RECORDED INFORMATION OF THIS HAPPENED, WHICH IS WHY THEY'RE MOVING TO THE RPL. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? YEAH. AS I SAID EARLIER, MY COMMENTS, UM, WHEN YOU TRANSITION FROM ONE SYSTEM TO THE NEXT, THERE WAS THOSE DOGS IN THAT LIST THAT ALREADY HAD A MATRIX AND HAD A BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT THAT WERE ALREADY PRETTY HIGH IN THE RANK IN TERMS OF, UH, [01:15:01] OUR CONCERN REGARDING THOSE ANIMALS TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY. AND SO IF WE DON'T DO THE RPO, THOSE DOGS WOULD'VE PROBABLY BEEN NEXT IN OUR REVIEW, RIGHT? FOR HUMANE EUTHANASIA AS ONE OF THOSE OUTCOMES FOR THEM. BUT THEY'RE, BUT THEY'RE LISTED, SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU. YEAH, THAT'S FINE. BUT THEY'RE LISTED AS NOT A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC, AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY ARE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. I'M JUST HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW A DOG CAN GO FROM NOT BEING A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC TO BEING A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. I, I HEAR YOU ON THAT, AND I, I ALSO STRUGGLED WITH THAT. UM, I THINK AS I'VE TALKED TO STAFF AND WE KIND OF LOOKED AT THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE, WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT PLACEMENT FOR EACH ANIMAL, AND MAYBE THAT A RESCUE COMES IN AND SAYS, WE FOUND SOMEBODY THAT IS HIGHLY SKILLED, UM, OR MAYBE LIKE AN A PA VERSION, UH, THAT CAN COME IN AND DO SOMETHING FOR THAT. AND SO I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS, UM, YOU KNOW, AT THE, AT THE EDGE OF THAT PROCESS OF TRYING TO GIVE EVERY, UH, DOG A, A GOOD OUTCOME. UM, BUT WE STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR. AND SO WE WANT TO BE, UH, CERTAIN TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY THAT, UH, THAT INFORM, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTCOME, RIGHT? IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE FOR THAT DOG, UH, FOR, UH, THAT POTENTIAL NEW OWNER, BUT ALSO FOR THE CITY. I MEAN, WE, WE, WE JUST CARRY A, A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF CONSIDERATION THAN OTHER ORGANIZATIONS MAY NOT HAVE, RIGHT? WHEN I THINK ABOUT ME REPRESENTING THE CITY IN THIS POSITION AND MY STAFF REPRESENTING THE CITY IN THIS POSITION, WE ALL, WE ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOU KNOW, DID WE KNOW ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE DID ABOUT THAT DOG? AND ARE WE PLACING IT IN THE RIGHT SITUATION FOR THAT DOG TO BE AT A GOOD HOME? AND VICE VERSA, RIGHT? FOR THAT, THAT HOME TO BECOME, UH, WELCOMING THIS DOG INTO THEIR HOUSE. AND IT'S GONNA BE A, A GOOD, A GOOD CONNECTION, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP. AND SO WE STRETCH THAT LIMIT IN TERMS OF PUSHING IT FOR EVERY, UM, UH, OPTION OF ALLOWABLE. BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHEN DO WE SAY, OKAY, THIS IS REALLY CONCERNING TO ME. RIGHT? AND I, I HEARD EARLIER COMMENTS ABOUT THERE ARE SOME DOGS THAT MAYBE ARE NOT IN OUR VIEW RIGHT NOW THAT ALSO HAVE, UH, CONCERNING BEHAVIORS. AND I'VE HEARD THAT FROM VOLUNTEERS. I'VE HEARD THAT FROM STAFF AS WELL, THAT THERE ARE SOME CONCERNING DOGS THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE A BODY HISTORY THAT WE ARE JUST KIND OF IGNORING. AND SO, UM, I THINK WE'VE BEEN JUST FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET EVERY ANIMAL PLACED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION, RIGHT? AND THEN HAVING OUR, YOU KNOW, ASSESSMENT FOR DETERMINING WHAT, WHAT IS A, YOU KNOW, A GREATER RISK, YOU KNOW, TO BE OUT IN THE PUBLIC. AND SO NOW WE'RE JUST MAYBE FORMALIZING THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. UM, BUT I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EXAMPLES THAT YOU BROUGHT UP IS THAT TRANSITION PERIOD FROM THE UPO TO THE RPO WHERE STAFF AND, AND WE HAD ALL THE BACKUP TO SAY, YEAH, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE. AND NOW IT'S TAKE, YOU KNOW, IT IS TIME TO TAKE ACTION. AND FINALLY, I WOULD ADD THIS, UH, WE, WE TOOK A PAUSE WHEN WE WERE CREATING THE RPO AND, AND, AND THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING WITH STAFF AND SOME VOLUNTEER GROUPS, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH CMO CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THIS TRANSITION. UM, WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH ANYTHING FOR A MONTH AND A HALF, YOU KNOW? UM, BECAUSE I, I WANTED TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, GET ALL THAT PERSPECTIVE TO INFORM, UH, THIS, THIS PERSPECTIVE, THIS NEW POLICY. HOW WOULD A DOG WITH NO BITES END UP ON THE RPL? I THINK THAT'S VERY HARD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RPO AND, AND YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION BEFORE, UH, THE, THE, THE SCALE THAT WE USE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE LEVEL OF, OF DUNBAR BITE AND THE NUMBER OF BITES REALLY INFORMS THAT OVERALL SCORE. BUT I'M ASKING A DOG WITH NO BITES. HOW WOULD IT END UP ON THE, AS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC? WELL, I'M TRYING TO GIVE THAT RESPONSE TO YOU. UM, YOUR QUESTION WAS IN TERMS OF THE MATRIX, RIGHT? HOW WOULD IT GET ON THE RPO? NO, I'M, I'M ASKING A DOG WITH ZERO BITES, OKAY, NO BITE HISTORY WHATSOEVER. HOW WOULD IT END UP AS A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC ON THE RPO? SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE RPO IS THE DRIVE BY A MATRIX, RIGHT? THAT MATRIX IS IN, IS INFORMED BY A DOG BITES HISTORY AND BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, RIGHT? SO IF A DOG HAS VERY CONCERNING BEHAVIORS, RIGHT? IT MAY END UP IN THAT RPO, WHAT I'VE SEEN THUS FAR, RIGHT? OF WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE IN THE RPO IS A DOG THAT HAS SOME BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS, BUT THEY HAVE NUMBER OF BITES, UH, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE BITES, RIGHT? OR THEY HAVE, UH, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UM, YOU KNOW, DB THREES. AND SO THAT INFORMS THE OVERALL MATRIX SCORE THEN THAT WE LOOK AT AND CONSIDER IN TERMS OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE, WHAT'S THE BEST OUTCOME FOR THIS DOG. IS THAT THE RPO? AND THAT'S, THAT'S HOW I, THAT'S HOW I MAY GET THERE. HOW MANY PEOPLE? SO, I'M SORRY. I HAVE QUESTIONS. OKAY. UH, I HAVE QUESTIONS. WELL, JUST TO CLARIFY, I THINK, SO POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON SOME OF THE DISCUSSION THAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR. SO IT'S, I, I FEEL IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE USED TO ONLY BE I'M THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST. I'M, I, DO I INTERRUPT YOUR QUESTIONS WHEN YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS? I'M THE CHAIR AND I'M GONNA ADD IN. OH, SO YOU AN OBSERVATION RIGHT NOW. OKAY. SO YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK FOR THE, FOR THE SHELTER? NOPE, I'M NOT. CAN I, YOU ARE. CAN I GET CLEAR? I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE WAS, UH, ONLY AN URGENT PLACEMENT LIST. AND SO UP UNTIL THERE WAS ALSO A RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST. THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST [01:20:01] HAD ANIMALS THAT NEEDED SPECIALIZED PLACEMENT AS WELL AS ANIMALS THAT ARE A PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE LIST. THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S HOW THAT UPO WAS, UH, UTILIZED. AND THAT'S HOW THAT UPO WAS COMMUNICATED ON OUR WEBSITE. THAT'S HOW THAT UPO WAS COMMUNICATED TO STAFF AND TO VOLUNTEERS. AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE SYSTEM THAT WE HAD IN PLACE. AND SO, AS YOU TRANSITION FROM THAT LIST THAT HAS BOTH JUST SPECIALIZED PLACEMENT AND ANIMALS THAT ARE PUBLIC RISK, AS YOU TRANS AS YOU TRANSITION TO A LIST THAT ONLY HAS THOSE ANIMALS THAT ARE PUBLIC RISK AND ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR RESCUE PLACEMENT, SOME ANIMALS ARE GONNA MOVE FROM THAT URGENT PLACEMENT LIST TO THAT RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST WITH NO NEW INFORMATION. 'CAUSE WE, 'CAUSE THEY WERE ON THE ONE LIST AND NOW THEY NEED TO BE ON THE SECOND LIST. MM-HMM . UM, AND THEN I APPRECIATE THE SHELTER TRYING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AND NOT REQUIRING THAT SOMEBODY GETS BITTEN FIRST BEFORE OTHER PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED. AND I THINK, I THINK IT SHOULD BE PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ANYBODY WHO'S WORKED WITH ANIMALS THAT THERE ARE OFTEN SIGNS THAT, THAT THEIR BEHAVIOR SHOWS THAT THEY MAY BECOME VIOLENT IN A NORMAL SITUATION BEFORE THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. THAT'S VERY OBVIOUS TO ME AS A VETERINARIAN WHO WORKS WITH ANIMALS. SO, CONTINUE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE. AND WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR BEHAVIOR BACKGROUND? ? CONTINUE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS. I I THINK THAT'S BETTER. YOU DO NOT. YOU DON'T. I'D LIKE TO KNOW. I'D LIKE TO KNOW YOU PRESENTED YOURSELF AS AN EXPERT. YOU PRESENTED YOURSELF AS AN EXPERT. I'M ASKING YOU WHAT YOUR QUALIFICATIONS ARE. THIS IS NOT FOR US TO DEBATE EACH OTHER PERSONALLY. OKAY. IT'S NOT A DEBATE. IT'S A QUESTION. IT'S, THERE'S A POINT OF ORDER. PLEASE. IF YOU'RE IN AN AUDIENCE, PLEASE BE QUIET. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'LL ASK ROLANDO. OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT THE RPL AND THE UPL, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BEHAVIOR QUALIFICATIONS AND FORMAL BEHAVIOR EXPERIENCE? CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY BEHAVIOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR YOUR QUESTION? SO LETTERS OF CERTIFICATION, BEHAVIORAL BACKGROUND, BEHAVIORAL TRAINING, BEHAVIORAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION FROM ANYWHERE AT ALL? NO. OKAY. WHICH CERTIFICATIONS DO YOU THINK ARE MEANINGFUL? C-C-P-T-I-B-C-A? WHAT? THE NORMAL ONES THAT PEOPLE USE FOR CERTIFICATIONS? I DON'T THINK THEY'RE ALL, I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY YOU POINT OF ORDER. IT IS AGAINST OUR BYLAWS TO GET INTO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE, OF THE ANIMAL SHELTER. WE'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS. IF YOU READ ROBERT'S RULES, IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS BYLAW ROBERT RULES ROBERT RULE. EXCEPT WHEN YOU DECIDE, NO, IT'S, THAT'S HOW IT IS. UM, IT, IT OVERRULES. AND IF I THINK THESE ARE MEANINGFUL QUESTIONS THAT EVERYBODY HERE AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AT THE SHELTER AND THE STAKEHOLDERS WANT TO KNOW, BUT IF ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONS YOU COULD MEET WITH AND, AND GO THROUGH THAT, THIS ISN'T A DISCUSSION ITEM. THEY'RE JUST CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. AND ALSO WHEN YOU GO AROUND AND WE ASK QUESTIONS, AND, AND YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, UM, IF THEY GET LENGTHY, YOU COULD DO 10 MINUTES AND THEN EVERYONE GETS A CHANCE IF THERE'S ANY MORE QUESTIONS. AND THEN YOU CAN COME BACK AND GET ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT'S A TOPIC YOU DON'T LIKE. NO, NO, NO. IT'S, NO, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME ON A TOPIC, SO I UNDERSTAND HOW YOU FEEL. UM, BELIEVE ME, UH, I HAD TO GO IN THROUGH LIKE SIX ROUNDS TO GET ALL MY QUESTIONS, UH, AND COMMENTS PUT IN. BUT, UM, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP IT TO CLARIFYING QUESTIONS OR YOU CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION, UM, OFFLINE AND IF, UH, UH, I'M INCORRECT. UM, WE HAVE OUR CITY OF CLERK PERSON HERE, AND WE HAVE OUR A CM HERE WHO CAN CLARIFY. I JUST THINK IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY LOST THE TRUST OF THE VOLUNTEERS AT THE SHELTER. UM, COMPLETELY. IT'S NOT A CLARIFYING QUESTION. AND YOU'RE LOSING THE, YOU'RE LOSING THE POINT OF ORDER TRUST OF YOUR STAFF AS WELL. POINT OF ORDER. AND I THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE OPERATING ORDER, YOU NEED TO STOP TALKING. THAT'S NOT A CLARIFYING QUESTION. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. IT CAN BE A DISCUSSION. NO ONE ON THIS COMMISSION SPEAKS FOR ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF AT THE SHELTER. I'LL JUST CLARIFY THAT. MOVING ON. NEXT QUESTIONS. ANYBODY ELSE? THERE'S, UH, VICE CHAIR LINDER. HI. UM, THANKS SO MUCH FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS AGAIN. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ALSO REALLY HELPFUL TO, TO EVERYONE, UM, WHO SPOKE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO, UM, TO GET THESE QUESTIONS AND, AND REACTIONS. SO I JUST WANTED TO PICK UP ON, UM, ON SOMETHING [01:25:01] THAT, THAT WAS MENTIONED THERE, UM, THAT I THINK SORT OF PERTAINS TO, UM, TO THIS ISSUE OF, OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SEVERAL FOLKS, UH, FROM DIFFERENT RESCUE GROUPS I THINK WHO, WHO MENTIONED THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO OBTAIN THE RECORDS THAT THEY FELT LIKE THEY NEEDED BEFORE THEY HAD THOSE, UM, INTERACTIONS WITH THE DOGS AND DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT TO PULL THEM OR PERHAPS HAD ALREADY PULLED A DOG IN THEIR CARE. UM, BUT, BUT WEREN'T SURE, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T HAVE THE, THE BACKGROUND THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO PLACE THAT DOG OR ADOPT THAT DOG. SO, I'M WONDERING, I GUESS IS, UM, IS THERE ANY REASON NOT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH THEM AHEAD OF TIME OR, OR SORT OF HOLD UP THERE? IS IT JUST A MATTER OF STAFFING OR, UM, COULD YOU JUST SORT OF SPEAK TO, TO THOSE CONCERNS? 'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO, TO MAKE DECISIONS ON THE ANIMALS THEMSELVES AND THE STAFF. NO, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE A PA COMMENT. UM, I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF TIMING. I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN WE RELEASE THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RPO LIST AND YOU KNOW, WHO'S ON THERE. UM, I THINK AS I MENTIONED, THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, I UPDATED, UM, ANYTIME THERE'S AN ANIMAL THAT GOES ONTO THE RPO. UM, BUT I CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT MY, UH, TALK TO MY STAFF. WE, WE HAVE THEM IMPLEMENTED SOME, SOME NEW PROCESSES AND WORKING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, A PHI THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS. IF I CAN SEPARATE THOSE FOR Y'ALL, I I'D APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY. YOU KNOW, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE WITH A PA FOR THE TLAC AGREEMENT WHERE THEY HAVE REQUIREMENTS TO MEET ON, ON A YEARLY BASIS AND A MONTHLY BASIS. THEY HAVE THE FIVE BEHAVIORAL DOGS. UM, AND WE, WE WANT THEM TO COME LOOK AT ALL THE DOGS WE WANT. WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM RECOMMENDATIONS. HERE'S THE ONES THAT ARE ON THE UPL, UH, AND THEN WE HAVE THESE OTHER ONES THAT ON THE MONTHLY BASIS WILL BE ADDED TO, UM, THE RPL AS NEEDED. AND SO, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, WHEN DO THEY GET THE INFORMATION RIGHT, JUST LIKE THEM OR ANY OTHER, UH, RESCUE, UM, AND LEMME GO BACK. UH, I KNOW WE'VE, UM, WE'VE INVITED, UM, A PA TO OUR SITE TO LOOK AT THE DOGS AND, AND I KNOW THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROS AND CONS TO THAT. AND I THINK WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO, I, I, I THINK FOR ME, WHAT I WAS REALLY TRYING TO DO IS ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DOG, RIGHT? THERE WAS EXAMPLES WHERE I FELT LIKE, UM, THE TRANSPORT WASN'T DONE SAFELY, OR YOU WERE LOOKING AT MAYBE VOLUNTEERS OR INAPPROPRIATE VEHICLES THAT WERE DOING THE TRANSFER. AND I FELT LIKE WE WERE PUTTING THE DOG IN A POSITION TO HAVE ANOTHER BITE BECAUSE OF THAT. JUST, UM, LACK OF, UM, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT WAVE OF TRANSFERRING ANIMALS. AND SO, UM, I THINK THE WAY WE HAVE IT NOW, UM, I THINK IT'S WORKING. UH, IT'S ONLY HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL WEEKS NOW, I THINK FOUR WEEKS NOW. UM, BUT I'LL GIVE 'EM MY STAFF IN TERMS OF HOW, WHEN CAN WE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AND ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE FOR A PA TO CONSIDER, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY, WHETHER THEY WANT TO PULL OR, OR NOT, UH, PULL AN ANIMAL. SO YEAH, I'LL, I'LL GET BACK WITH Y'ALL ON THIS ONE, MAYBE NEXT MONTH AND LET YOU'ALL KNOW WHAT WE, UH, WHAT WE ENDED UP WORKING OUT. THANKS. AND I COULD BE REMEMBERING WRONG, BUT, UM, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE OTHER, UH, SPEAKERS FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAD ACTUALLY PULLED THE DOGS AND MM-HMM . HAD THEM IN THEIR CARE AND WERE WAITING, UM, FOR, FOR THOSE RECORDS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PLACE THEM. SO IF, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE LOOKING INTO IT, IDEALLY IT WOULD BE SORT OF A, A BROAD, UM, LIKE PERSPECTIVE. SO, UM, IT AFFECTS OTHER RESCUE GROUPS AS WELL. BUT MAYBE I MISUNDERSTOOD THOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS. I'LL LOOK AT IT FROM BOTH ALL PERSPECTIVES. YOU BET. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. COMMISSIONER ZAES? YES. THANK YOU. UM, ROLANDO, I LOVE HOW SHE SAYS MY NAME, BUT I KNOW I JUST END UP THAT I CAN, UH, ROLL MY R OF YOU . SO, UM, EH, TO ME, STRIKING WHAT IS STRIKING, STRIKING OUT THE SECTION OF THE MEETING IS IT, IT'S LIKE, UM, I I'M HEARING THE, THE AUDIENCE, THE COMMANDERS, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, AND I ALSO SAW YOUR PRESENTATION, AND IT IS, THERE'S DEFINITELY A HUGE DISCONNECT. THERE'S NOT, PEOPLE ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY IS THAT, WHY, WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S THAT WHAT CAN BE DONE? IT'S NOT, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT WORKING BECAUSE THE, WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND SO THERE'S NOT GOOD COMMUNICATION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. NO, I, I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT, ON THAT SUBJECT. I'VE GIVEN IT A LOT OF THOUGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE, UM, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING TO ME. UM, AND THEN JUST TRYING TO DISCERN LIKE, WHAT, WHAT MAKES SENSE AND WHAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE OR, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY VALUE THE INPUT ON MY STAFF. I, I, I HAVE, I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A REALLY GOOD EXPERIENCE, UH, TEAM. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MY JOB IS TO, UH, LAY THE FOUNDATION [01:30:01] FOR THEM TO PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE MM-HMM . AND INFORMATION IN TERMS OF POSITION. I ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. I MEAN, I, I, I GET TO THE SHELTER AND THEY'RE THERE. I LEAVE THE SHELTER IN THE EVENING AND THEY'RE THERE. UM, BUT I, BUT QUITE HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE EVEN WITHIN STAFF OR THE VOLUNTEERS, LIKE, WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE, RIGHT? LIKE, I, I CAN'T MAKE ONE. I CAN'T SAY YES TO THIS ONE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S LIKE, OKAY, WHAT'S OVER HERE? UM, AND SO THE COLLECTIVE IS LIKE, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST EVERYWHERE I THINK RIGHT NOW. AND SO, UM, I WANT TO BE TRANS. I, I WANT US TO BE TRANSPARENT. THAT'S, I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA GET THE OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT TO HAVE TO, UH, FOR OUR, OUR, FOR OUR DOGS AND OUR CARE. UM, BUT I ALSO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE, THE, THE PROCESS AND THE PLACE, UH, THAT INFORMS LIKE, OKAY, THESE ARE THE, THESE ARE THE DOGS THAT WE LIKE, WE FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, ARE CONCERNED OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THIS IS THE PROCESS, AND HERE'S HOW WE DO THAT DUE DILIGENCE, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE HELP US GET THEM OUT OF OUR CARE. UM, I FEEL LIKE WE DO, UH, THE BEST THAT WE CAN AND, AND PROVIDING THE CARE, UH, FOR OUR DOGS. AND THAT'S THE COLLECTIVE, BOTH OF STAFF AND THE VOLUN. I MEAN, I THINK JASON, I, I THINK OVER EVERY MONTH THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE EXCEEDED OVER 500 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER TIME. YOU KNOW, UH, I, I, I'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH VOLUNTEERS, UM, ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO OUR JOB BETTER. HOW CAN THEY GET MORE ENGAGED? UM, AND WE NEED THEM. ABSOLUTELY, WE NEED THEM. BUT I THINK WE FIND SOME STRUGGLE WHERE WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, RIGHT? AND MM-HMM . MY, MY GOAL IS TO BE ABLE TO SAY, I, I, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AND YEP, THAT, THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE. AND WE'RE, AND THAT WE'LL USE THAT INTO THE PROCESS, OR NO, AND HERE'S WHY NOT, AND THEN CAN WE MOVE ON FORWARD, RIGHT? AND I THINK WE'RE STILL KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THAT. I THINK WE'RE STUCK IN THE MUD A LITTLE BIT THERE ON THAT. UM, BUT YEAH, I, I, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A WILD DREAM THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND CONSENSUS AND EVERYTHING, BUT I, I CERTAINLY, I CERTAINLY WANT TO TRY AND, AND, AND SEE HOW WE CAN, YOU KNOW, GET THERE. UM, I, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE AND I, I KNOW THERE WAS SOME QUOTES SAID ABOUT WHAT I SAID SOMEWHERE, I'M FORGETTING WHERE I SAID THAT ONE. BUT, UM, I THINK I SAID IN THERE, IN THAT SAME, YOU KNOW, QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH, WITH THE REPORTER WAS THAT WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE, RIGHT? WE, WE, WE NEED HELP. AND, UM, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE ALIGNMENT WITH THAT HELP. SO THAT'S, THAT'S A REALLY TOUGH QUESTION. SO, ARE YOU COMMISSIONER, CAN YOU SAY MY NAME AGAIN ONE MORE TIME? I'M SORRY. I'M JUST MESSING ROLANDO. THERE YOU GO. MAKES ME FEEL BETTER. COMMISSIONER HOLT, UM, I'M GONNA RESTATE SOME THINGS BACK TO YOU, CORRECT ME AT ANY POINT, AND FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT ME IF I'M MISSTATING ANYTHING. SO, SINCE LAST MONTH WHEN YOU, SO LAST MONTH YOU SAID THAT THREE DOGS HAD BEEN PUT ON THE RPL AND ALL THREE OF THOSE, NO, TWO OF THOSE DOGS WERE PULLED BY AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, AND ONE OF THOSE DOGS WAS PULLED OFF OF RPL BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR. WHAT WAS THAT? CORRECT. LAST MONTH? I DON'T, I DON'T, UH, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T THINK I IT'S FINE. POP OF YOUR HEAD. YEAH. MAYBE ADMINISTRATIVE ERROR WASN'T THE TERM YOU WOULD'VE USED, BUT A, A, A DECISION WAS MADE AND THAT DOG CAME OFF OF THAT LIST, WAS THAT CORRECT? LAST MONTH? SO, UH, LET ME JUST REPEAT THE NUMBERS, RIGHT. AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SAID THOSE ALREADY, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THE, UM, THE RPO ON I THINK SEPTEMBER. I THINK WE HAD, UH, UH, THREE DOGS THERE, BUT TWO ACTUALLY THAT WERE, UM, PART OF THE RPL. UM, AND THEN ONE WAS PULLED BEFORE THAT. AND THEN WE HAD SEVEN DOGS, UH, LA UM, IN, UM, YEP. IN OCTOBER. AND THEN I THINK WE'VE HAD, WE'VE HAD SEVEN DOGS RIGHT NOW IN NOVEMBER THAT WE COMMUNICATED LAST WEEK. AND, UM, WE DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T, SO SEVEN, WE DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THE, THIS, THESE SEVEN ON NOVEMBER RPO. BUT THE PREVIOUS, UH, NINE DOGS, UH, WERE ALL POOLED AND I BELIEVE, UH, A PA POOLED, UH, ALL OF THEM, UM, FOR THE, FOR THEMSELVES OR WORKING WITH SOME SOMEBODY ELSE. OKAY. BUT THAT NINE FROM A PA WAS THE TWO MONTHS, 'CAUSE IT WAS THE SEPTEMBER AND THE OCTOBER DOCS, AND NOW THERE'S SEVEN NEW ONES FOR NOVEMBER. UM, I AM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THIS IS WORKING. IF THIS IS BASED OFF LIKE THE KANSAS CITY PET PROJECT MODEL, THIS IS KIND OF HOW IT'S INTENDED RIGHT? TO KIND OF CURATE TO RESCUES. SO WHO THEY KNOW WHO THE DOGS ARE THAT LIKE MOST ARE DEGRADING AT THE SHELTER. I AM WONDERING, BASED OFF THE FEEDBACK THAT YOU ARE GETTING, IF THERE ARE, SINCE YOU ARE SEEING THAT A PA SEEMS TO BE THE RESCUE THAT IS PULLING, IF THERE IS A WAY TO SCHEDULE TIME TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM ON, IF THERE WERE TWEAKS AND IF THEY ARE REASONABLE, WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE THIS MORE STREAMLINED? UM, I, I'M NOT SAYING IT NECESSARILY NEEDS TO BE CATERED JUST TO A PA, IF THERE'S OTHER RESCUES THAT ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO PULL, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD WANNA SEE THEM TOO. BUT, UM, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT I, MY FEAR IS THAT, UM, I DON'T RECALL WHICH SPEAKER SAID THIS, BUT IF THIS IS BEING [01:35:01] USED IN A WAY TO TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE DOGS THAT NEED OUT MOST URGENTLY, THAT IS GOOD. BUT IF IT IS BEING DONE BY TWISTING, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS THE CASE, BUT I'M SAYING IT SEEMS TO BE SOME SPEAKER'S PERCEPTION OF THE CASE, IF IT IS BEING DONE IN A WAY THAT IS TWISTING LABELS TO, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, RATHER THAN JUST SAYING, NO, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REALLY DEGRADING THE MOST. THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC TRUST BREAKS DOWN. AND SO I'M JUST WANTING IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO ACHIEVE THE SAME OUTCOMES WITHOUT IT HAVING TO GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM THAT IS OBVIOUSLY CREATING A LOT OF TENSION. I, I JUST WANNA PUT OUT LIKE A, A CONSIDERATION THAT I THINK THAT COULD BE USEFUL. UM, I ALSO, IN SEPTEMBER, I BELIEVE, UM, THERE WAS, COMMISSIONER L AND I BOTH, UH, TALKED ABOUT HOW HAVING LIKE PROPER BEHAVIOR EVALUATION, AND I KNOW THAT COMMISSIONER IAN KNOWS MORE ABOUT LIKE, ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS, BUT I DO THINK THAT LIKE THE VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK WITH THEM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS ARE GOOD INPUT. SO WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON, UM, TAKING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE GOTTEN AROUND THE BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION LAYER OF THE RPLI? I WOULD SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE INCLUDED, UM, MORE OF OUR, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIORAL TEAM MEMBERS IN, IN THE PROCESS. UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, I, I, I RELIED ON THE, ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER PREVIOUSLY, UH, THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD ATTEND THESE CONVERSATIONS AND PROVIDE THAT PERSPECTIVE. AND SO NOW WE HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE, MORE VOICES TO, UH, TO PROVIDE SOME INPUT INTO THE PROCESS FROM THIS GROUP. UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT HIRING A SUPERVISOR WITHIN THAT, WITHIN THAT DIVISION. UM, I'VE ALSO PLACED A VERY EXPERIENCED, UH, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER IN, IN OUR DEPARTMENT OVER TO OVERSEE THAT, UH, DIVISION. AND, UM, WE ARE WORKING ON SOME STEPS TO, TO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE A REVIEW OF OUR PROCESS BY, UM, A BEHAVIORAL, UM, VETERINARIAN. AND SO, YOU KNOW, MORE TO COME ON THAT, BUT THAT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS AND, UM, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT SO TO, YOU KNOW, TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESS, TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT OUR ABILITY DOWN THE ROAD TO ESTABLISH, UH, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT PROGRAM WITHIN OUR CAMPUS. UM, AND THEN TO PROVIDE, UH, TRAINING TO OUR STAFF. UM, AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BETTER, UM, LEVERAGE OUR RESOURCES, RIGHT? UM, UH, TO BRING SORT OF THAT LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, UH, INTO OUR, OUR GRASP. THANK YOU. THAT'S ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT THERE'S THAT UPDATE HAPPENING. IS IT? SECOND QUESTION FROM VICE CHAIR LINDER, THANKS SO MUCH. UM, JUST PICKING UP ON, ON THE POINT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER HOLT MADE, AND I THINK WE'VE, WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS INCLUDING SORT OF WHAT, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT HOW, UM, ESSENTIAL THE VOLUNTEERS ARE TO, TO MAKING THE SHELTER WORK AND, UM, AND HOW TO KIND OF, UM, MEND SOME OF SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, APPARENT RUPTURES OR TENSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I GUESS I WONDER WHETHER, UM, YOU KNOW, ON YOU, YOU DISCUSSED SORT OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE ULTIMATELY MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO LIST, UM, ANIMALS, WHAT LIST TO PUT THEM ON, AND, UM, AND THOSE SORTS OF DETERMINATIONS. I GUESS I WONDER, DO YOU FORESEE, YOU KNOW, ANY POSSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE THAT THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A, YOU KNOW, A VOLUNTEER MEMBER TO JOIN IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS? AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY AS, UM, AS EVEN A VOTING MEMBER, BUT I THINK EVEN JUST BEING ABLE TO, TO BE PRESENT AND EXPRESS, YOU KNOW, THEIR OPINIONS AS, AS THESE ARE OFTEN THE FOLKS WHO HAVE SPENT THE MOST TIME WITH THE DOGS. YOU KNOW, I THINK LIKE IF THERE'S SOME MECHANISM WE COULD CREATE EVEN, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS ULTIMATELY A DECISION THAT'S GONNA BE MADE, UM, BY, BY YOU AND BY YOUR STAFF. AND, AND I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE NATURE OF, OF THE DECISION. BUT I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO INCLUDE, UM, VOLUNTEER REPRESENTATION IN THE PROCESS, AT LEAST IN A WAY WHERE SOME OF THESE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY KNOW ABOUT THE DOG, UM, SO THAT THAT CAN, CAN BE FACTORED IN BY STAFF WHO ARE ULTIMATELY THE ONES MAKING THOSE DETERMINATIONS. I, I, I DON'T FORESEE THAT, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE STAFF AND, AND, AND THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY. UM, AND I'M JUST GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT I SAID EARLIER ABOUT THE, JUST THE VARIANT PERSPECTIVE FROM VOLUNTEERS. I MEAN, I'VE HAD VOLUNTEERS, MULTIPLE VOLUNTEERS, JUST, JUST THE DYNAMIC RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE WITH, UM, IT'S BEEN MULTIPLE MONTHS NOW CONCURRENTLY THAT WE'VE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF DOGS IN OUR, IN OUR MULTIPURPOSE ROOM, RIGHT? AND THE SENSE OF PEOPLE EMAILING ME VOLUNTEERS AND TELLING ME I'VE BEEN A VOLUNTEER FOR THIS LONG, AND, UM, OR EVEN JUST CATCHING ME IN THE HALLWAY OR WHEN I'M THERE IN THE MORNING, UM, IN THAT AREA, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT HUMANE, YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER, YOU KNOW, YOU PURSUE WHAT THIS OTHER PROCESS [01:40:01] AND SEE DOGS HERE OR SEE DOGS IN THE KENNELS IN THE HALLWAY, WHERE, YOU KNOW, AND SO I'M, I'M, I GET VARIOUS PERSPECTIVE FROM FOLKS AND, AND I, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE WITH STAFF. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GONNA, WE HAVE SOME OTHER STEPS TO DO TO GET, UH, INFORMED PERSPECTIVE FROM, UH, UH, A BEHAVIORAL VETERINARIAN AND THEN REALLY RELYING ON THE PERSPECTIVE OF EXPERIENCED STAFF. AND, UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE ROUTE THAT I, THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TAKING RIGHT NOW, UM, I THINK VOLUNTEERS STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM, UH, THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH DOGS THROUGH THE BEHAVIOR NOTES AND THROUGH THEIR, UH, NOTES OF WHEN THEY INTERACT WITH SPECIFIC DOGS IN OUR CARE. THEY CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO, UM, AS THEY DO NOW TO OUR BEHAVIOR TEAM MEMBERS, PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, CHANGES IN DOG COLOR SYSTEMS OR, UM, HEY, I WANT YOU TO BECOME AWARE OF THIS OR THAT. UM, SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UH, I HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT MUCH, UM, IS THIS WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, UH, WITH KENNEL ROUNDS AND THIS EMPHASIS ON, UH, PRIORITIZING ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS TO, UH, OVERSEE, UM, THIS OUTCOMES, UH, FUNCTION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT AND, AND LAYING EYES ON EVERY SINGLE, UH, CAT AND DOG IN OUR CARE. AND, AND, AND WORKING WITH STAFF TO KIND OF FIND THE BEST PLACE FOR EACH DOG EARLY ON AND THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY AT OUR SHELTER IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALSO INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT. AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PERSON, UH, IN THIS ROLE AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO. UM, AND, AND I'VE ALSO INCLUDED THIS PERSON IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS A KIND OF A NEUTRAL PERSPECTIVE, SO THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CAN YOU GIMME FEEDBACK ON ARE WE BEING CONSISTENT? ARE WE USING THE SAME TOOLS CONSISTENTLY? UM, SO LONG WAY TO SAY I, I, I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE SO. . THANKS. OKAY. SO, UM, INTERIM DIRECTOR FERNANDEZ, IF I WAS UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, AND YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THIS NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE AN EASY NUMBER. HOW MANY DOGS FROM THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST HAVE SO FAR BEEN EUTHANIZED AT A A S SINCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE, UH, RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST BACK IN SEPTEMBER? UM, I, IF I BELIEVE, UM, WE'VE NOT EUTHANIZED, UH, ANY ANIMAL OFF THAT LIST. THANKS. UM, AND THEN, I KNOW THIS IS HARD. WE'RE DEALING WITH BEHAVIOR WHICH IS NECESSARILY COMPLEX AND NUANCED AND SUBTLE, AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPLY AN OBJECTIVE MEASURE TO IT. IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA HAVE MAJOR PITFALLS ANYWHERE. BUT PURSUANT TO ONE OF THE COMMENTS, I BELIEVE THE DUNBAR BITE SCALE IS NOT FOR, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT FOR HUMAN MEDICAL PURPOSES IN DEALING WITH THE BITE. IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO, BASED ON THE CHARACTERISTICS IN THE TISSUE OF THE RECIPIENT OF THE BITE, SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE INHIBITION, THE BITE INHIBITION OF THE DOG OR CAT WHO GAVE THE BITE. DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT? AM I WRONG? MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SURE. I THINK AS I'VE, AS I'VE, UM, STUDIED, UH, AND READ AND, AND, UH, WE'VE APPLIED, UH, THE DUNBAR, UH, SCALE WITHIN OUR PROCESS, UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, GAUGING THE, THE IMPACT OF THE BITE, UH, THE FORCE OF THE BITE, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS LIKE THEY BIT IN THE LEGO OR THEY BIT AND THEY ACTUALLY LIKE PULLED, AND THAT'S WHY. SO IT'S LIKE, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF, YOU KNOW, WAS IT THE DOG BITING AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT'S LIKE, HOLY, I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. UM, AND THEY BACK AWAY, OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AGGRESSION BEHIND THAT BITE AND THERE'S OTHER ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW JUST THAT BITE. SO IT, IT'S US LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE, UM, ENVIRONMENT BEHIND THAT BITE, UM, BASED ON THE INFORMATION, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE. AND THAT'S WHY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, HAVING ALL THAT INFORMATION IS WHAT WE USE. AND THEN WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION. UM, YEAH. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, COMMISSIONER NORTON? THANK YOU. AND, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, YOU USE THE DUNBAR BYTE SCALE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT RE IS REQUIRED IN CITY CODE IN THIS CITY CODE OF ORDINANCE? IT IS, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO CAME THROUGH THE KANSAS CITY, UM, UM, PROJECT, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. IT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR, SINCE THAT TIME. UM, AND, UH, UH, I KNOW WE HAD STAFF TRAINED IN THAT WHEN WE IMPLEMENTED THAT SYSTEM. AND, AND OKAY, MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM, [4. Staff briefing on the implementation status of Shelter Buddy. Presentation by Rolando Fernandez, Interim Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services.] UM, NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS STAFF BRIEFING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE STATUS OF SHELTER BUDDY. AND THERE ARE, UM, A COUPLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WANTED TO COMMENT ON THIS. FIRST I HAVE JULIE OLIVER, ARE YOU STILL ON THE PHONE? HELLO? WE CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY, GOOD. UM, HI COMMISSIONERS. UH, THANKS AGAIN. I ALSO WANNA POINT OUT THAT I THINK SOMEBODY GOT, UH, SKIPPED. HER NAME WAS LAUREN, UH, ON AGENDA ITEM THREE, AND SHE HAD SIGNED UP. BUT ANYWAYS, I WANNA TALK ABOUT, UM, UH, SHELTER BUDDY SOFTWARE CONVERSION AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED OUR ABILITY [01:45:01] AS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP GET DOGS GET ADOPTED. WHEN THE SHELTER STARTED, THE MIGRATION FROM CHAMELEON TO SHELTER BUDDY ON MAY 5TH, WE WERE TOLD THE CHANGE WOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE WEEK. WE UNDERSTOOD THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME SMALL BUMPS AND ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT'S NOW NOVEMBER AND THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL HAPPENING. AND THESE ISSUES IMPACT VOLUNTEERS, FOSTERS STAFF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE ANIMALS. I STARTED FOSTERING A DOG SHORTLY AFTER THE MIGRATION STARTED, AND AS A FOSTER, PART OF MY JOB IS TO LEARN WHO THE DOG IS IN A HOME ENVIRONMENT AND SHARE THAT INFORMATION. I TRIED TO UPDATE HIS PROFILE AND ADD CHARACTERISTICS TO ATO PETS, WHICH IS THE MAIN PUBLIC FACING ADOPTION WEBSITE FOR THIS SHELTER. BUT EVERY TIME I UPDATED RUDY'S INFORMATION, IT WOULD DISAPPEAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I'D HAD DETAILS LIKE IF HE LIKED OTHER DOGS, WHICH HE DID, COULD COEXIST WITH CATS, WHICH HE COULD, AND HOW HE ACTED AROUND CHILDREN, WHICH WAS FABULOUS. AND THE NEXT DAY, THOSE UPDATES WERE GONE. IT WAS LIKE THE DOG HAD NO STORY TO SHARE. AND WITHOUT THAT STORY, ADOPTERS REALLY NEVER GOT TO KNOW 'EM. THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO MANY FOSTERS. SOME DOGS STAYED IN FOSTER FOR MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SHOW THE TRUE PERSONALITY ONLINE. ONCE PROFILES WERE FINALLY ABLE TO BE UPDATED AGAIN, I THINK STARTING ABOUT ONE AND A HALF WEEKS AGO, WE SAW DOGS GET ADOPTED VERY QUICKLY. THIS SHOWS THAT THEY FOUND LIKE TOOLS ARE NOT EXTRA. THEY'RE ESSENTIAL. VOLUNTEERS USED TO BE ABLE TO SEE BEHAVIOR AND CURE NOTES ON EACH DOG, AND NOW WE CAN'T. SO WHEN A FAMILY COMES TO MEET A DOG, WE CAN'T TELL THEM WHAT WE KNOW OR WHAT THE SYSTEM SHOWS. WE HAVE TO SEND THEM TO STAFF AND STAFF ARE ALREADY BUSY, SO ADOPTERS END UP WAITING CONFUSED. AND SOMETIMES, A LOT OF TIMES THEY LEAVE. AND THAT MEANS FEWER SUCCESSFUL ADOPTIONS, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN SINCE MAY 5TH PET FINDER, WHICH IS THE LARGEST ADOPTION WEBSITE IN THE COUNTRY, HAS NOT HAD OUR NEW SHELTER LISTING SINCE MAY MANY PEOPLE LOOK THERE FIRST. RIGHT NOW, THOSE PEOPLE WILL NEVER SEE OUR DOGS 'CAUSE OUR INVENTORY'S NOT ON PETFINDER. WE'RE TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE TRANSITION WOULD TAKE A WEEK. IT'S NOW BEEN SIX MONTHS. DOGS DON'T HAVE SIX MONTHS TO WAIT FOR VISIBILITY. WE'RE SIMPLY ACTING FOR THE TOOLS WE NEED TO DO THE VOLUNTEER WORK WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO DOING. PLEASE RESTORE VOLUNTEER ACCESS TO NOTES, AND PLEASE MAKE SURE ADOPTION LISTINGS STAY VISIBLE AND MAKE SURE THAT PET FINDER INTEGRATION IS A PRIORITY, WHICH IT HAS NOT BEEN. THESE DOGS CANNOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, SO WE ARE SPEAKING FOR THEM. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I DO APOLOGIZE, I SEE LAUREN RIDGE. YEAH. DO YOU, I'M SORRY. WE CAN, OKAY. SUBJECT HAS POSSIBLE, SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. UM, I'LL CALL YOU FOR ITEM FOUR, I PROMISE. UM, AND THEN CHELSEA REMAN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M CHELSEA REMAN, DOG BEHAVIOR DIRECTOR AT A PA. UH, AND BEFORE THE STAFF BRIEFING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SHELTER BUDDY HAS LED TO WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A A S AND THE LARGEST SHELTER PARTNER, A PA. UM, BEFORE WHEN CHAMELEON WAS IN PLACE, UH, WE WOULD RECEIVE A NIGHTLY REPORT, UM, ABOUT ALL THE DOGS WHO CURRENTLY WERE AT RISK OF EUTHANASIA FOR BEHAVIOR. SO ANYTIME THAT A DOG WAS REMOVED FROM THAT LIST, WE KNEW NOT TO CONSIDER THEM. ANYTIME A DOG WAS ADDED TO THAT LIST, WE KNEW TO CONSIDER THEM, AND THAT WAS IN REAL TIME. SO THEY HAD THE MAXIMUM VISIBILITY FOR OUR PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THEM AND DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO KEEP THEM IN THE PUBLIC SAFE. UM, SINCE THAT HAS GONE AWAY, WE NO LONGER RECEIVE THAT REPORT, WHICH MEANS WE ALSO DON'T HAVE THE COMMUNICATION WITH A A S TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE ARE AT WITH EACH DOG IN OUR PROCESS OF WANTING TO BRING THEM OVER, WHICH HAS LED TO SOME CONFUSION ON THEIR END, UM, OF NOT KNOWING WHEN THE DOGS, WHERE THE DOGS ARE AT IN THE PROCESS OF WHEN THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE, EVEN THOUGH THE WHOLE TIME WE HAD HAD THIS PROCESS IN PLACE THAT BASICALLY WAS ALREADY IN PLACE BEFORE THEY CHANGED THIS, LETTING THEM KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE DOG WAS AT AND HOW WE WERE PLANNING TO BRING THEM OVER. UM, AND EVERY TIME THAT WE WOULD GET DOCUMENTATION FROM THEM, AS SOON AS THAT DOG WAS ADDED TO THAT LIST, WE WOULD RECEIVE AN EMAIL THAT, UM, WOULD INCLUDE A PDF DOCUMENT FROM, UM, CHAMELEON, AND IT WOULD HAVE ALL THE DOG'S INFORMATION IN ONE PDF DOCUMENT, IT WOULD HAVE THEIR A NUMBER, THEIR RABIES CERTIFICATE, MEDICAL PAPERWORK, UM, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THE DOG, AND THEN IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL WOULD HAVE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE NEEDED, LIKE THE PREVIOUS OWNER INFORMATION, THEIR BITE INFORMATION. UM, AND SINCE THAT'S GONE AWAY, UM, THEY'VE DECIDED NOT TO WANT TO MANUALLY SEND US THAT INFORMATION ANYMORE, WHICH IS WHAT I DISCUSSED IN MY PREVIOUS, UM, TIME UP HERE. AND THAT HAS RESULTED IN US HAVING DOGS BROUGHT OVER WITHOUT HAVING THEIR PAPERWORK AND US COMING TO EVALUATE DOGS WITHOUT HAVING THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED. AND I SPEND PROBABLY DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TIME, UM, [01:50:01] EACH WEEK ON JUST TRYING TO FIND THAT INFORMATION. UM, WE ALSO, UM, EVERY TIME THAT I'M EMAILING THEM FOR MORE INFORMATION, I AM ASKING FOR THINGS LIKE RABIES CERTIFICATES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AS SOON AS WE HAVE A DOG THAT'S GONNA BE BROUGHT OVER FROM, UH, FROM A A S TO A PA. UM, AND INSTEAD OF GETTING THE INFORMATION EMAILED TO ME, I'M BEING ASKED WHY I NEED THAT INFORMATION. UM, AND SO IT'S JUST BECOME A REALLY BIG HEADACHE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE TRYING TO DO. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I FELT LIKE STREAMLINED OUR PROCESSES AND IS NOW, UM, CAUSING A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. IT'S CAUSING FOR DOGS TO NOT HAVE SHELTER LOVE PROFILES MADE FOR THEM BEFORE THEY SHOW UP AT OUR SHELTER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION NEEDED, WHICH IS CAUSING MORE SAFETY ISSUES THAN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, NEXT ON THE LIST IS HEATHER MYERS. HELLO AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENDED TIME THIS EVENING. UM, YOU KNOW ME, I'M HEATHER MYERS, AND TONIGHT I WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE SHELTER BUDDY IMPLEMENTATION. NOT HERE TO ASSIGN BLAME, BUT TO REQUEST ACCOUNTABILITY AND A CLEAR ACTION PLAN AS PART OF THE UPDATE THIS EVENING, WHEN THE SHELTER ANNOUNCED A ONE WEEK TRANSITION TO SHELTER BUDDY LA THIS PAST SPRING, THE COMMUNITY TRUSTED THAT NECESSARY PLANNING HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, YET SIX MONTHS LATER, CRITICAL FUNCTIONS STILL DO NOT WORK. VOLUNTEERS CANNOT ACCESS ANIMAL BEHAVIOR NOTES. ADOPTION PROFILES ON THE MAIN SHELTER'S WEBSITE WERE BROKEN FOR MONTHS AND REMAIN UNSTABLE, AND PETFINDER IS STILL NOT ADDING NEW ANIMALS THAT COME THROUGH THE SHELTER. FOR THOSE WHO HERE THAT DON'T KNOW, PETFINDER IS A NATIONWIDE ADOPTION DATABASE THAT CONNECT SHELTERS WITH THOUSANDS OF PROSPECTIVE ADOPTERS, WHICH IS WHY HAVING CURRENT SHELTER ANIMALS LISTED IS CRITICAL TO BOTH VISIBILITY AND LIFE SAVING OUTCOMES. THESE ARE NOT MINOR INCONVENIENCES, THEY ARE FAILURES OF CORE FUNCTIONS OF A MUNICIPAL SHELTER. THE NEW SYSTEM HAS CREATED AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN SO SEVERE THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE LIMITED TO REQUESTING NOTES FOR ONLY TWO ANIMALS PER WEEK. TWO, THAT MEANS FEWER DOGS ARE HELPED, FEWER PLACEMENTS HAPPEN, AND THAT PORTION OF THE SHELTER'S MISSION TO PROVIDE PLACEMENT SERVICES TO AUSTIN SHELTERED ANIMALS IS DIRECTLY HINDERED WHAT SHOULD BE A TOOL FOR EFFICIENCY HAS BECOME YET ANOTHER BARRIER TO ADOPTION AND PLACEMENT. IT FRUSTRATES VOLUNTEERS, SLOWS ADOPTERS AND BURDEN STAFF WHEN VOLUNTEERS AND FOSTERS RAISE THESE ISSUES. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BE PATIENT, BUT PATIENCE HAS DONE NOTHING FOR DOGS AND CAT SITTING AND KENNEL FOR MONTHS. IT HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THE ADOPTERS WHO CAN'T GET ACCURATE INFORMATION UNLESS THEY VISIT THE SHELTER IN PERSON. AND IT'S DONE NOTHING FOR STAFF CARRYING AN EVER HEAVIER WORKLOAD BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. TONIGHT, WE NEED AN UPDATE TO PROVIDE A CLEAR TIMELINE TO FIX VOLUNTEER ACCESS TO NOTES FOR ALL ANIMALS AVAILABLE FOR FOSTER ADOPTION AND STABLE INTEGRATION WITH BOTH THE SHELTER WEBSITE AND THE NATIONAL PETFINDER DATABASE. GOING FORWARD. WE ALSO NEED REGULAR TRANSPARENT UPDATES WITH CONCRETE ACTIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT THESE PROBLEMS. UPDATES SO FAR HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY EMPTY. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUES EXIST, BUT NEVER OFFER A PLAN TO FIX THEM. COMMUNICATION BUILDS TRUST, EMPTY UPDATES ERODED. THE TURNOUT TONIGHT MAKES ONE THING CLEAR. THIS COMMUNITY CARES DEEPLY ABOUT AUSTIN'S ANIMALS AND WE WANNA SUPPORT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES. WE, WE REALLY DO. WE JUST NEED THE TOOLS TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY. YEAH, APPRECIATE THAT. UM, FOR THE ANIMALS, THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE STAFF DOING THEIR BEST UNDER IMPOSSIBLE CONSTRAINTS. THANKS SO MUCH. YES. ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE FOLLOW UP? YES, PLEASE, COMMISSIONER. UM, YOU MENTIONED PETFINDER. MM-HMM . UM, THERE WERE THREE PROGRAMS THAT WERE BEING UPDATED BY CHAMELEON PETFINDER ADOPT A PET, AND I CAN'T RECALL THE THIRD ONE OFFHAND. ARE ALL THREE OF THEM STILL NOT BEING UPDATED, OR HAVE YOU, DO YOU KNOW IF, UH, ADOPTIVE PET IS BEING UPDATED? UPDATED? I'M NOT PARTICULARLY FAMILIAR WITH THE API WITH AOP PETS, SO, NO, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT ONE. NO, IT'S NOT AOP PETS, THEY'RE, IT'S A SEPARATE 'CAUSE. OH. I'VE HAD FOSTER FOUND OUT OF THAT CALLED ADOPT A PET. YEAH. OKAY. I, I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT, THAT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT I'M, I'M CERTAIN I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION AND SHARE IT WITH YOU. THANK YOU. YEP. COMMISSIONER DANIEL, ARE YOU OKAY WITH ANOTHER CLARIFYING QUESTION, MS. MYERS QUESTION? OH, YES, OF COURSE. THANK YOU. YOU MENTIONED THAT VOLUNTEERS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO GIVE TWO NOTES PER, PER WEEK. IS THAT LIKE IF YOU ARE GIVING A BEHAVIOR NOTE ON A DOG OR A CAT? THAT'S RIGHT. AND THEN THAT GOES TO THERE. THAT, THAT'S RIGHT. SO, UM, VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE ON SITE ARE OFTEN, UH, HELPING POTENTIAL, UH, ADOPTERS. UM, AND TO DO THAT, YOU REALLY, AND TO, TO DO IT EFFECTIVELY, YOU REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT PET'S NEEDS ARE, WHAT THEIR BEHAVIOR HISTORY IS, WHAT WHICH THEY DO BETTER IN A HOME WITH KIDS, NO KIDS, [01:55:01] HOWEVER, AND USED TO BE THAT YOU COULD GO AND LOG INTO A SYSTEM AND YOU COULD PULL THOSE RECORDS ON YOUR OWN, SO YOU COULD DO IT ON THE SPOT, AND IT MADE IT MUCH MORE EFFICIENT TO HELP MORE PEOPLE. UM, CURRENTLY BECAUSE OF, OF THE WAY THAT SHELTER BUDDY IS SET UP, THE, THE, UH, VOLUNTEERS ARE LIMITED TO REQUESTING THOSE RECORDS FROM AN EMPLOYEE. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A VERY ONEROUS PROCESS FOR THAT SINGLE EMPLOYEE TO PULL THOSE RECORDS. BUT IT'S, IT'S CAUSING FRICTION AND I THINK HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR ABILITY TO HELP POTENTIAL ADOPTERS AND FOSTERS. OKAY. SO THESE ARE NOTES THAT YOU'RE PULLING TO LIKE, HELP AN ADOPTER UNDERSTAND? YES, ABSOLUTELY. AND, AND TO HAVE PLACEMENT CONVERSATIONS. WHAT ABOUT NOTES LIKE VOLUNTEER, SEE BEHAVIOR NOTES? YOU CAN'T WE ENTER THOSE? NO. AND YOU CAN'T ENTER YOUR OWN OBSERVATIONS. YOU HAVE TO, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ENTER THEM. YOU JUST CAN'T, YOU CAN'T PULL THEM DOWN. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . THANK YOU. NEXT IS SONO PATEL. HI. SO, UM, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO, UM, READ A STATEMENT FROM A VOLUNTEER WHO, UM, SHOWED UP A FEW MINUTES LATE DUE TO TRAFFIC. UM, SO SPEAKING FOR CHRIS, UM, I'M NOT CHRIS, BUT GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS CHRIS O SMITH, AND I WORKED ON, I'VE WORKED AS AN ON-CAMERA ACTOR IN THE TEXAS MARKET FOR 13 YEARS, AND AS A CASTING OPERATOR FOR FIVE, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW CRITICAL QUALITY DIGITAL MATERIAL IS IN ANY SELECTION PROCESS. WHEN I STARTED VOLUNTEERING AT THE SHELTER, ONE OF THE WAYS I WAS MOST EXCITED TO CONTRIBUTE WAS BY TAKING HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF THE DOGS I WORKED WITH, GIVING THEM THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE TO BE SEEN BY ADOPTERS. BUT THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS COMPLETELY DERAILED BY THE TRANSITION TO SHELTER BUDDY, WHICH HAS BEEN FRANKLY, A WELL-DOCUMENTED DISASTER. OVER THE SUMMER, I CAPTURED DOZENS OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF ADOPTABLE DOGS, BUT NONE OF THEM COULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE SYSTEM. WE KNOW HOW POWERFUL DIGITAL VISIBILITY IS, AND THE PHOTOS COULDN'T BE UPLOADED, OR IF THEY WERE, THEY WOULD BE REMOVED ALL, UM, WITHIN DAYS. UM, AND THAT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, UM, MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOG GETTING ADOPTED EARLY OR BECOMING A LONG-TERM RESIDENT. YET FOR MONTHS, THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN BROKEN. STAFF COULDN'T UPDATE LISTINGS, VOLUNTEER COULD VOLUNTEERS COULDN'T UPLOAD PHOTOS, AND ADOPTERS COULDN'T SEARCH EFFECTIVELY. THE ENTIRE DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE HAS COLLAPSED. JUST YESTERDAY, MY FAVORITE DOG, ANYA, WAS FINALLY ADOPTED. THE ONLY REASON SHE WAS FOUND IS BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS, A FAMILY WAS ABLE TO REFINE THE, THEIR SEARCH ON THE SITE, AND HER FILTERS WERE ACTUALLY APPEARING. SO SHE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AT THE TOP OF THEIR RESULTS, BUT SHE HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE SYSTEM FOR OVER SIX MONTHS, AND THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. AS A TAXPAYER, I EXPECT MY DOLLARS TO BE USED WISELY AND EFFICIENTLY. AND AS A QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER FOR AN AUSTIN BASED TECH COMPANY, I CAN SAY WITH CERTAINTY THAT THE LACK OF TESTING AND PREPARATION BEFORE THIS ROLLOUT REFLECTS GROSS MISMANAGEMENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, EVERY PERSON RESPONSIBLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE. SO I HAVE TO ASK, HOW WAS THIS MIGRATION ALLOWED TO PROCEED BEFORE THE SYSTEM WAS VERIFIED TO WORK? AND WHY WAS A BROKEN PLATFORM PUSHED LIVE WHEN SO MUCH DEPENDENT ON IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS PF PHILLIPS. OKAY. HELLO AGAIN, COMMISSIONERS. UM, TO BEGIN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I AM, UH, WITH THE BLATANT EYE ROLLING FROM THE CHAIR HERSELF WHILE I PROVIDED MY LAST STATEMENT. I'M A COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY MEMBER VOICING MY LEGITIMATE CONCERNS, AND I REQUEST THAT YOU UPHOLD THE FAIRNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT THIS PROCEEDING REQUIRES. SO I MAY RESUME MY NAME'S PIA. I'M NOT ONLY HERE AS A RESCUE VOLUNTEER, AS I SAID BEFORE, BUT AS A TAXPAYER AND SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY AT A GLOBAL CONSULTING FIRM WHERE SYSTEM RELIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE NON-NEGOTIABLES. AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IS NOT A HOBBY. IT'S NOT A SIDE PROJECT. IT'S A FULLY OPERATIONAL ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS. ONE THAT MANAGES MILLIONS IN PUBLIC FUNDING, RELIES ON THOUSANDS OF DONORS, AND EXISTS TO PERFORM ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PUBLIC SERVICES AND MANAGEABLE SAVING LIVES. AND FROM ANY BUSINESS STANDPOINT, WHAT IS HAPPENING THE LAST FEW MONTHS AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES WOULD BE CONSIDERED BLATANTLY UNACCEPTABLE FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. AS WE'VE HEARD THE SHELTER'S PUBLIC ADOPTION WEBSITE ADOPT PETS HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY. ADOPTERS AND FOSTERS FIND ANIMALS IN ANY ORGANIZATION WHERE YOUR PRIMARY CUSTOMER PORTAL GOES DOWN FOR HALF A YEAR. THAT'S NOT A, THAT'S A SYSTEM FAILURE. IT'S NOT JUST A MIRROR INCONVENIENCE. THINK OF IT THIS WAY. THE SHELTERS, THE BUSINESS, THE ADOPTERS AND FOSTERS ARE THE [02:00:01] CUSTOMERS, AND THE ANIMALS ARE THE PRODUCT FOR, FOR MIRROR UH, METAPHOR. THE WEBSITE IS OUR STOREFRONT TODAY. THAT STOREFRONT IS SHOWING BOXES WITH NO DESCRIPTIONS. DOGS LISTED WITH INTAKE PHOTOS ONLY, NO PERSONALITY DETAILS. AS WE'VE HEARD BEFORE. I DON'T WANNA BE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT JUST WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE. AND SOMETIMES NO VISIBILITY AT ALL. NO BUSINESS COULD FUNCTION LIKE THAT AND EXPECT TO REACH ITS GOALS. OR PLEASE, ITS STAKEHOLDERS EXHIBIT A, B, C, D, E, FG. HERE WE KNOW THE RESULT BECAUSE WE CAN SEE IT. THERE ARE FEWER ADOPTIONS, THERE ARE LONGER STAYS AND DOGS AND LARGE DOGS SITTING IN MONTHS, UH, IN KENNELS UNSEEN. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW CARING THE STAFF OR VOLUNTEERS ARE, IF THE PUBLIC CANNOT EVEN FIND THEM. THE SHELTER BUDDY MIGRATION MAY HAVE CAUSED TECHNICAL ISSUES, WHICH, YES, THIS HAPPENS. I AM ON LARGE TECH IMPLEMENTATIONS, I GET IT, BUT SIX MONTHS LATER, HAVING NO RESOLUTION, IT'S NOT JUST A MIGRATION PROBLEM, IT'S A LEADERSHIP PROBLEM. I SAY THIS AS SOMEONE, LIKE I SAID, WHO'S SPENT MY CAREERS HELPING ORGANIZATIONS FIX THESE BROKEN SYSTEMS. WHEN A FAILURE DRAGS ON FOR HALF OF A YEAR, IT'S NOT JUST A TECHNICAL ISSUE. UM, AND IT'S A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE MISSION OVERALL. THE SHELTER IS A LIFE-SAVING OPERATION, AND IT DESERVES TO BE RUN WITH THE SAME RIGOR, ACCOUNTABILITY AND BASIC OPERATIONAL COMPETENCE. THE PUBLIC EXPECTS A FUNCTIONING WEBSITE WHEN TRYING TO ADOPT VOLUNTEERS, EXPECT TOOLS THAT WORK. THE ANIMALS DESERVE TO BE VISIBLE TO POTENTIAL FAMILIES. I ASK THE COMMISSION TO REQUIRE A CLEAR PUBLIC TIMELINE FOR RESTORING FULL ADOPT PETS FUNCTIONALITY, PETFINDER INTEGRATION AND ACCURATE ONLINE PROFILES. THESE ARE NOT EXTRAS. THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO SAVING LIVES. THIS ISN'T CODE. IT'S ABOUT CREDIBILITY. THANK YOU. SO NEXT WE DO HAVE LAUREN FRI. HELLO COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU. GOD TURNED ON. THANK YOU. HELLO COMMISSIONERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS LAUREN AND I'M A BUSINESS FOUNDER BASED IN AUSTIN. WORKING IN OPERATIONS EVERY DAY HAS TAUGHT ME THAT WHEN SYSTEMS BREAK DOWN, TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY BEGINS AT THE TOP. WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ANIMALS? AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IS NOT A TECHNICAL GLITCH. IT'S A BREAKDOWN. NOT JUST TECHNICAL, BUT OPERATIONAL. NOT JUST INCONVENIENT, BUT UNACCEPTABLE. THIS DEPARTMENT SITS UNDER THE CITY CUSTOMERS SERVICE DIVISION, YET THE MOST BASIC CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE HAS FALLEN APART. WELL, FOR MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. THE PUBLIC ADOPTION WEBSITE, THE PRIMARY CONNECTION BETWEEN ANIMALS AND ADOPTERS HAS BEEN BROKEN. PROFILES ARE MISSING, LISTINGS ARE OUTDATED. AND PETFINDER, THE NATION'S LARGEST ADOPTION PLATFORM, HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE MAY. THAT MEANS THAT PUBLIC CAN'T EVEN SEE WHICH DOGS ARE AVAILABLE. THE SYSTEM MEANT TO CONNECT LIVES ARE GONE, HAS GONE DARK. IF THIS WAS ANY OTHER CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WATER, UTILITIES, OR TRANSPORTATION, A SIX MONTH OUTAGE WOULD SPARK AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE. HERE, IT'S BEEN TREATED AS A BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT THIS ISN'T BUSINESS AS USUAL. IT'S ANIMALS WAITING LONGER. IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED. IT'S AVOIDABLE. AND LET'S BE HONEST, IF THIS WERE A PUBLIC COMPANY, PEOPLE WOULD BE FIRED. IF IT WERE A PRIVATE BUSINESS, IT WOULD BE SHUT DOWN BECAUSE NO ORGANIZATION THAT FAILED ITS CUSTOMERS FOR HALF A YEAR CAN CLAIM THAT IT'S ACCEPTABLE. AUSTIN CALLS ITSELF A CITY OF INNOVATION, BUT THERE'S NOTHING INNOVATIVE ABOUT A DEPARTMENT THAT CAN'T MAINTAIN ITS OWN PUBLIC INTERFACE. THIS IS A FAILURE OF MANAGEMENT. IT'S A FAILURE OF COMMUNICATION AND A FAILURE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. AND LET'S BE CLEAR, THE SHELTER DOESN'T JUST SERVE ANIMALS. IT SERVES PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN THE CITY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FAILS AT THIS SCALE, IT DOESN'T JUST BREAK TRUST, IT ERODES IT. AUSTIN DESERVES BETTER. THE ANIMALS DESERVE BETTER. WE ALL DESERVE BETTER. SO TODAY I ASK THE COMMISSION TO ACT FIRST REQUIRE THE CITY TO PUBLISH A CLEAR PUBLIC TIMELINE FOR RESTORING FULL FUNCTIONALITY TO WHICH ADOPTION PLATFORMS THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO KNOW WHEN THIS SYSTEM WILL BE FIXED. SECOND, ASSIGN CLEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT AND COMMUNICATION. SOMEONE MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE, NOT IN THEORY, BUT IN PRACTICE. AND THIRD, TREAT ANIMAL VISIBILITY AND ADOPTION ACCESS AS ESSENTIAL CUSTOMER SERVICES, NOT OPTIONAL FEATURES. BECAUSE WHEN THE SYSTEM FAILS, LIVES ARE IMPACTED. AND THAT IS NEVER OPTIONAL. THIS ISN'T ABOUT POINTING FINGERS, IT'S ABOUT SETTING STANDARDS. AUSTIN BECAME A NATIONAL LEADER IN ANIMAL WELFARE BECAUSE OF LEADERSHIP, GROUNDED IN EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE, AND COLLABORATION. [02:05:04] NEXT IS SYDNEY SMITH. HELLO. LIKE I SAID PREVIOUSLY, I WORK WITH RESCUE A TX DOGS, WHICH IS A RESCUE ORGANIZATION THAT PULLS FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER. ONE OF MY MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES THERE AS A VOLUNTEER IS TO, UM, ADVERTISE THE DOGS, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD. I UPDATE THEIR PROFILES, I PUT THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I TAKE PICTURES, I ASK FOR PICTURES. I'M IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE DIRECTORS, THE FOSTERS AND THE VOLUNTEERS TO GET THESE DOGS ADOPTED. WITH THE ADDA PETS WEBSITE BEING DOWN, THESE DOGS ARE NOT GETTING ADOPTED. I WANT EVERY DOG IN THE AUSTIN AREA TO HAVE A HOME THAT CARES ABOUT THEM. THESE DOGS ARE NOT FINDING HOMES, THEY'RE NOT FINDING FOSTERS. AS OF YESTERDAY, WHEN YOU GO TO THE ADDA PET'S WEBSITE AND YOU LOOK FOR DOGS THAT ARE DOG FRIENDLY, THREE RESULTS POP UP. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ONLY THREE DOGS IN THE ENTIRE SHELTER THAT ARE DOG FRIENDLY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS PEOPLE IN THE RESCUE WORLD TO FIND THESE DOGS', HOMES. THESE DOGS CANNOT FIND HOMES IF THEY ARE NOT UPDATED. IF THEY'RE NOT TAKEN CARE OF, FOSTERS CAN'T FIND THEM. ADOPTERS CAN'T FIND THEM, RESCUES CAN'T FIND THEM. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THESE DOGS ARE LEFT IN THE DARK FOR MONTHS, WHENEVER IT IS OUR JOB TO FIND THEM HOMES. THAT IS WHAT WE SIGNED UP TO DO AS VOLUNTEERS, AS EMPLOYEES, AND AS FOSTERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, NEXT IS ANGELA PEREZ. THANK YOU. THANK YOU AGAIN. I DUNNO IF I HAVE MUCH MORE TO ADD TO THAT, BUT SINCE I PREPARE, I'M GOING TO READ WHAT I HAVE PREPARED. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE SHELTER BODY ROLLOUT HAS AFFECTED VOLUNTEERS AND, UM, ADOPTER SUPPORT AT AIMA CENTER. BACK IN MAY, THE SHELTER BEGAN MOVING FROM CHAMELEON TO SHELTER BODY. WE ARE TOLD THAT THIS CHANGE WOULD TAKE ABOUT ONE WEEK. IT IS NOVEMBER AND ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT DAILY WORKS, ESPECIALLY FOR VOLUNTEERS. RIGHT NOW, VOLUNTEERS NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOG'S BEHAVIORS NOTES. UM, THESE NOTES ARE IMPORTANT. THEY TELL US HOW A DOG IS DOING, WHAT THEY ENJOY, AND WHAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH, UH, WHAT THEY STRUGGLE WITH. VOLUNTEERS USE THESE NOTES TO HELP ADOPTERS FIND THE RIGHT PATH FOR THEIR HOME, OR SOMETIMES IT'S ALSO TO ADVOCATE TO, TO DOGS IN GENERAL. UM, WITHOUT THESE NOTES, UH, WE MUST ASK ONE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR. THAT'S ALL THAT YOU HAVE. SHE CAN ONLY GIVE TWO REQUESTS PER WEEK, WHICH MEANS WE CANNOT OFTEN, UH, HELP PEOPLE WHO CAN ADOPT. OR LIKE LAST WEEK, UM, A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I REQUEST ONE FROM A DOG THAT'S IN THE UPLI STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED. AND I DO NOT WANT TO BLAME CHLOE. SHE'S AWESOME. UM, WHEN SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN THE DOG, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE DOG RIGHT AWAY. INSTEAD, WE HAVE TO TELL ADOPTERS TO GO FIND A STAFF MEMBER. THIS SLOWS EVERYTHING DOWN. IT ALSO MAKES IT HARDER TO MATCH DOGS WITH HOMES. LARGE DOGS ARE ALREADY HARDER TO ADOPT OUT, AND NOW WE ARE PUTTING EVEN MORE BEARS IN PLACE. THESE SOFTWARE CHANGE ALSO BROKE THE CONNECTION WAY, THE PUBLIC ADOPTION WEBSITE AT THE PET FOR MONTHS, SINCE, SINCE MAY, THAT WEBSITE IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY MOST PEOPLE FIND A DOG TO ADOPT. WHEN THE CONNECTION BROKE DOGS SIMPLY, UH, WERE NOT VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. UH, SOME PROFILES STILL DISAPPEAR. TODAY WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF DOGS WHO WERE ADOPTED ONLY AFTER THEIR PROFILES WERE FINALLY UPDATED RECENTLY. THIS SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT ONLINE VISIBILITY IS. FINALLY, PATHFINDER, THE LARGEST NATIONAL ADOPTION WEBSITE, HAS NOT HAD ANY NEW SHELTER ANIMALS SINCE MAY. THIS IS MONTH OF LOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE DOGS. YOU'RE NOT ASKING TO UNDO EVERYTHING. YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE SHELTER TO MOVE FASTER, TO RESTORE ACCESS TO NOTES, ENSURE THAT ADOPTION LISTINGS STAY ONLINE AND UPDATED AND TO MAKE PETFINDER WORK. AGAIN, THE DOGS IN OUR CARE DESERVE TO BE SEEN. VOLUNTEERS WANT TO HELP, BUT WE CANNOT HELP IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TOOLS. THANK FOR LISTENING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND LAST, ASHTON GRECO. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? GRECO GRECO, THANK YOU. I TOO SHARE ALL THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED. SO I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY WRAP UP JUST A FEW MORE NOTES. I ALSO WORK IN A TOP TECH COMPANY IN AUSTIN, AND IF WE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM SUCH SHELTER BUDDY DID, WE WOULD LOSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS. SO I THINK WE ARE JUST ASKING FOR THIS TO BE, UM, [02:10:01] MADE EFFICIENT AND GET TO THE PROBLEM AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND GET FIXED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE DOGS MOVED OUT OF THE SHELTER. UH, LIKE HE STAYED, LIKE CHRIS STATED, A DOG WAS SITTING FOR SIX MONTHS IN THE SHELTER, AND AS SOON AS HER PROFILE CAME AND, UH, CAME UP, SHE WAS ADOPTED. SO THAT THAT PLACE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME ANOTHER PLACE FOR A DOG IN THE ROLLING SHELTER. IN THE ROLLING KENNEL. SO MY MAIN THING IS LET'S GET THIS THING RUNNING. WE ARE IN A DIGITAL WORLD. WE'RE ALL FOCUSED ON AI AT THIS POINT. LIKE, WE SHOULD BE ON AI AT THIS POINT, SO WE NEED TO GET THE BALL ROLLING. WE NEED TO GET THIS DONE SO THAT WAY WE CAN GET MORE RESULTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. AND SO I HAND OVER TO THE STAFF FOR UPDATE ON SHELTER BUDDY IMPLEMENTATION. OKAY. HI, MY NAME'S MARY BROWN. I'M PROGRAM MANAGER OVER OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES. UM, SO I WAS PART OF THE PROJECT TEAM THAT HELPED WITH SHELTER BUDDY IMPLEMENTATION. SO, UM, GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT PROCESS LOOKED LIKE WITH THE ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONS OF, UM, ROLANDO AND MELISSA. WE WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT. SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A TIMELINE OF WHAT THAT PROJECT LOOKED LIKE. UM, THE CHAMELEON CONTRACT OF OUR SHELTER SOFTWARE WAS GOING TO BE ENDING. AND SO A PROPOSAL PROCESS STARTED AND A PROJECT TEAM WAS SELECTED THROUGH THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, CTM DEPARTMENT AND, UM, OUR, UM, FINANCIAL TEAM. SO THAT RFP PROJECT TEAM WORKED WITH AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES STAFF AND WITHIN, UM, THEIR PROCESS LOOKING AT, UM, BIDS AND PROPOSALS. SO AS YOU SEE, IT MOVES INTO SEPTEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY OF 2024. THE RFP WAS DEVELOPED AND PUBLISHED, AND THEN THE PROJECT TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED CTM STAFF AND OTHER CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF, INCLUDING AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, REVIEWED ALL OF THOSE PROPOSALS. UM, THERE WAS A PROCESS THAT WENT THROUGH LOOKING AT ALL OF THE CURRENT, UM, PROCESSES WITHIN CHAMELEON, UM, WHAT WAS WORKING, WHAT WASN'T WORKING, AND KIND OF OUR NEEDS LIST WISHLIST AND BIG PICTURE ITEMS. UM, AND OBVIOUSLY THE NEEDS LIST NEEDED TO BE MET FIRST, AND THEN ANY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL WOULD BE A BONUS FOR THOSE VENDORS THAT WERE SELECTED. AFTER THAT EXTENSIVE PRO REVIEW PROCESS HAPPENED, SHELTER BUDDY WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE RECOMMENDED VENDOR. AND THEN THE ONBOARDING PROCESS BEGUN IN OCTOBER OF 2024. AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES SUPPORT STAFF WORKED WITH THE VENDOR TO MAP PROCESSES. UM, AND THEN AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES LEADERSHIP TEAM WAS BROUGHT IN IN FEBRUARY TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS MAPPING AND THEN STAFF TRAINING BEGUN AT THAT TIME. AND THEN THE LAUNCH HAPPENED IN MAY OF 2025. ONTO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE JUST WENT WITH A BIG PICTURE OF KIND OF OUR CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS AND SOME OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. WE DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE POSITIVES THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH SHELTER BUDDY. UM, ACCESS WAS A MAIN THING THAT WE REALLY WANTED TO UPGRADE WITH OUR NEW SOFTWARE. A STRUGGLE WITH CHAMELEON, OUR OLD SOFTWARE SYSTEM WAS THAT, UH, YOU COULDN'T ACCESS IT THROUGH THE CLOUD OR MOBILE PROCESSES BASICALLY. AND SO THAT WAS WHAT WE WERE REALLY LOOKING FOR WITH OUR NEW SOFTWARE SYSTEM. UM, THAT HAS CHANGED, WHICH NOW WE HAVE STAFF THAT ARE ABLE TO ACCESS OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEM ANYWHERE IN THE SHELTER. AND SO IF STAFF ARE WANTING TO MAKE A KENNEL MOVE, LOOK AT THEIR CURRENT MEDICAL RECORDS, UPDATE VACCINATIONS IN THE MOMENT THAT THEY'RE GIVING THOSE VACCINATIONS, UM, THEY CAN DO THAT IN REAL TIME, WHICH JUST UPDATES AN ANIMAL'S RECORDS MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN HAVING TO DO, SAY, DATA ENTRY AT THE END OF THE DAY. THERE HAVE BEEN, UM, PROCESSES THAT WERE STREAMLINED. UM, OUR ADOPTION PROCESS SPECIFICALLY USED TO HAVE TO BE DOUBLE DATA ENTRY WITH THE TWO SOFTWARE SYSTEMS. IT'S NOW GOT THE TWO-WAY INTEGRATION. THERE'S ALSO BULK UPDATING OF RECORDS, WHICH HAS SAVED A LOT OF STAFF TIME. UM, THAT CAN BE WITH CREATING MULTIPLE INTAKE RECORDS, UPDATING MULTIPLE MEDICAL RECORDS AT A TIME. SO IT'S JUST STREAMLINING THAT FOR STAFF AND THEN GETTING A BETTER BIG PICTURE OF THE STATUS OF AN ANIMAL IN ONE SCREEN RATHER THAN HAVING TO LOOK THROUGH MULTIPLE MEMOS. SO IF YOU'RE A STAFF MEMBER WANTING TO LOOK AT A LARGE GROUP OF ANIMALS AND YOU REALLY WANNA SEE AN UPDATE IN, UM, YOU KNOW, ONE SCREEN, IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER FOR YOU. AND THEN FLEXIBILITY. UM, IF ANYONE'S BEEN A STAFF OR VOLUNTEER MEMBER INVOLVED WITH AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, ANY CHANGES, UM, THAT HAPPEN TO CHAMELEON COULD BREAK THE SYSTEM. AND SO IF WE NEEDED SOME TYPE OF UPDATE, UM, OR UPGRADE TO HAPPEN TO CHAMELEON, THEN SOMEHOW THAT WOULD CAUSE A TRIGGER EFFECT AND A LOT OF THINGS WOULDN'T WORK ANYMORE WITH SHELTER BUDDY, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. WE HAVE A LOT OF, A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE THINGS. SO THOSE ARE A FEW OF THE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE COME WITH THE NEW [02:15:01] SOFTWARE. THERE'S A MUCH LONGER LIST OF OUTSTANDING ITEMS, BUT WE WANTED TO HIT, UM, A FEW OF THE TOP ONES THAT WE KNOW AND AGREE WITH THAT ARE A CURRENT CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE STRUGGLING WITH. THAT IS A STAFF VOLUNTEER AND PUBLIC BURDEN THAT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE OUR VENDOR IMPROVE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. COMMISSION REPORTS IS OBVIOUSLY A TOP THING. THOSE ARE, UM, WE HAVE ORDINANCE REPORTS THAT ARE REQUIRED. AND WHILE WE DO HAVE, UM, FIELDS THAT HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND AVAILABLE FOR OUR POWER BI SYSTEMS, WHICH HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PAST SIX, SIX MONTHS, THERE ARE STILL OUTSTANDING ITEMS. OUR TWO-WAY INTEGRATION, UH, BETWEEN ADDA PETS AND SHELTER BUDDY. WHILE THE ADOPTION PROCESS DOES WORK SMOOTHLY, AS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT FROM ALL OF THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS, THE WEB PROFILES WAS OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE, WHERE THE SETTINGS KEPT CHANGING BETWEEN THE AVAILABILITY OF MAKING MARKETING PROFILE UPDATES AND THOSE, THAT TWO WAY INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS JUST NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. AND THEN VOLUNTEER ACCESS THAT WE ALL AGREE IS A MAJOR ISSUE, UH, THAT THE VENDOR HAS NOT SOLVED FOR US YET. UM, BUT THAT VOLUNTEER ACCESS IS STILL AN OUTSTANDING ITEM. THE WAY THAT STAFF ARE WORKING ON THESE RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE A TEAM WITH THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM, OUR BUSINESS ANALYST, AND SOME OTHER STAFF MEMBERS THAT WORK CLOSELY WITH SHELTER BUDDY, WORKING ON A REGULAR BASIS WITH OUR VENDOR TO IDENTIFY WHAT'S THE INFORMATION YOU STILL NEED FROM STAFF TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESSES THAT YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THESE OUTSTANDING ITEMS. UM, THE ANSWERS THAT WE GET ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THEIR U NEW UI UPDATES. SO WHILE THEY RECEIVED A MASSIVE LIST FROM US ON OUR NEEDS AND WHAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE, UM, THERE WERE THINGS THAT, UH, ON THEIR END THEY DIDN'T ENVISION WHEN WE ROLLED OUT THE SOFTWARE. AND SO THAT'S WHAT OUR TEAM IS WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, IS PROVIDING THEM THE INFORMATION NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THESE OUTSTANDING ITEMS. AND WE HAVE BASICALLY GIVEN THEM A PRIORITY LIST BETWEEN OUR HIGH, MEDIUM AND LOW JUST MEANING. WE UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE VOLUNTEER ACCESS, THE TWO-WAY INTEGRATION, AND OUR ORDINANCE REPORTS ARE GONNA BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM THAT LIST TO SAY, THESE ARE THE THINGS WE SPECIFICALLY NEED YOU TO FOCUS ON AND GIVE US THE FASTEST TURNAROUND TIME, AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT STILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HIGH PRIORITIES ARE DONE FIRST. SO FOCUS ALL OF YOUR TIME ON THOSE. I'LL PASS. HEY, JOHN, MARY? YEAH, LET ME, LET ME ADD TO THAT A LITTLE BIT, IF I MAY PLEASE. UM, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH OUR, UM, WHEN, WHEN MARY SAID CTM, THAT'S OUR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOW CHANGED AS WELL, AND I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO SAY WHAT THEIR NAME IS, UH, BECAUSE I DON'T MEMORIZED IT YET, BUT THEY, THEY'RE THE PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM, UH, ACROSS THE CITY FOR LARGE, UH, ENDEAVORS OF CHANGING, UM, SYSTEMS, SOFTWARES THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENTS. AND SO, UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE TEAM. IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. IT'S ONE OF THE DIRECTOR'S TOP PRIORITIES TO FIGURE SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE TIMELINESS FOR, FOR, YOU KNOW, GETTING THESE LAST ITEMS, UH, COMPLETED FOR OUR USE IN SHELTER BUDDY. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT INCLUDES, UH, YOU KNOW, THE REPORTING, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. UH, THE OUT PETS AND THE SHELTER BUDDY. UH, WE'VE MET WITH APES. WE HAVE COMMUNICATED, UH, THAT'S A SEPARATE, UH, UH, CONTRACT SEPARATE, UM, UH, PROCESS. AND WE'VE COMMUNICATED WITH THEM, UH, EVERY TERM AND CONDITION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CONTRACTING PROCESS REGARDING, UH, FAILURE TO PERFORM. UM, AND SO WE DON'T WANT TO GET THERE, BUT WE'VE COMMUNICATED THAT AND, AND, AND CERTAINLY WE WANT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, AND IF NOT, WE, WE THEN WE LOOK AT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS WE HAVE AVAILABLE. AND SO THAT'S BEEN ESCALATED THROUGH OPED THROUGHOUT THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAM. NOT ONLY THEIR, THEIR PROJECT MANAGER THAT WORKS DAILY, UH, REGULARLY WITH, UM, WITH MARY AND HER TEAM. UM, SO WE'VE COMMUNICATED BOTH IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF CTM, UM, WITH THEIR STAFF TO HELP US RESOLVE THE OTHER, UH, ALL THE OTHER ITEMS WE COMMUNICATED TO EDS. RIGHT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED WITH SHELTER BUDDY IS THIS ISSUE WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION BY OUR VOLUNTEERS IS, IS REALLY, UM, SHELTER BUDDY, UH, DOESN'T HAVE FIREWALLS THAT ALLOW FOLKS TO ENTER ONE AREA AND NOT ACCESS THE OTHER STUFF. AND SO WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE ACCESSIBLE BY VOLUNTEERS, UH, PRIVATE INFORMATION. AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THAT DEMARCATION THAT ALLOWS FOLKS TO GET IN THERE AND ACCESS WHAT THEY NEED TO GET WITHOUT GOING INTO EVERYTHING. IT'S A MAJOR LIABILITY IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. IT'S, WE HAVE GUIDELINES, PROCEDURES, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THAT WAS MISSED THROUGH THE, THE, THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF SELECTING THE VENDOR, UH, THAT SHELTER BUDDY IS. UM, SO EITHER IT'S GONNA WORK OUT WHERE THEY CREATE SOME FIREWALL SYSTEM OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY TO GET THIS, UH, INFORMATION, UH, TO THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, REGARDING, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF DATA POOL PROCESS. UM, SO WORKING ON IT, UM, UNDERSTAND THEIR FRUSTRATION. I, UM, BUT IT'S NOT BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN LOST IN US IN TERMS OF THE PRIORITY OF THIS. IT'S JUST WORKING WITH THESE VENDORS AND TRYING TO GET THINGS RESOLVED. [02:20:01] UM, IT IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO, UH, ELEVATE THESE THROUGHOUT OUR PROPER CHANNELS OF, UH, OF MANAGEMENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT, UH, IN, IN OUR CITY ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO, UH, MAKE THE VENDORS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND ASKING THEM TO RESOLVE, UH, RESOLVE THOSE MATTERS WITH WORKING WITH US. SO, UM, THINK WE'RE OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND UNLESS MELISSA, YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS, UM, MELISSA POOL, INTERIM CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. I, I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING REGULAR MEETINGS AND, UM, HAD SOME ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADDED TO THE PROJECT TEAM AND THAT WE ARE SEEING MOVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT AND, UM, AND INNOVATION IN TERMS OF WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUE WITH THE VOLUNTEER ACCESS SPECIFICALLY. UM, THAT ONE, AGAIN, AS ROLANDO MENTIONED, IT'S TRYING TO MAKE THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY NEED WITHOUT GIVING ACCESS TO THE PERSONAL INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, FORMER PET OWNERS, YOU KNOW, ADDRESS INFORMATION, OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION. UM, BUT IN OUR LAST MEETING WITH THE VENDOR, UM, I, WE FELT VERY HOPEFUL AND, UM, THE DIRECTION THAT THEY'RE TAKING TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT ACCESS AND, UM, ANYWAY, WE, IT, IT'S, IT'S LOOKING BETTER. WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING MOVEMENT. IT HAS BEEN A PAINFUL PROCESS. I WILL NOT, UM, DISAGREE WITH THAT AT ALL. UM, BUT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO GET THIS RESOLVED. WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS HAVING ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION, TO THE BEHAVIOR AND THE MEDICAL INFORMATION. UM, AND THE APES INTEGRATION AS WELL. WE'VE SEEN IMPROVEMENTS THERE, UM, HAVE BEEN ALMOST DAILY COMMUNICATING WITH THEM TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE KINKS, YOU KNOW, AS THEY TEST THINGS OUT. SO I THINK, UM, YOU SHOULD, YOU KNOW, SEE MOVEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT ON THAT VERY SOON. COMMISSIONER NORTON. THANK YOU. UM, SO PRIOR TO THIS UPGRADE, YOU HAD CHAMELEON AS THE BACK END AND YOU HAD ADD APES AS THE FRONT END, AND THEN YOU SWITCHED THE BACK END TO SHELTER BUDDY KEPT AT APES AS THE FRONT END, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE THE SAME COMPANY. YES, THAT IS CORRECT. THEY'RE, UM, BOTH OWNED BY PET LOYALTY, WHICH WE THOUGHT WOULD RESULT IN A REALLY SEAMLESS INTEGRATION THAT THEY WERE OWNED BY THE SAME COMPANY. OKAY. BUT IT HASN'T, AND I APPRECIATE HEARING WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING, BUT WHAT I HEAR IS STAFF, STAFF, STAFF, AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, AND YOU MAY NOT, 'CAUSE YOU WEREN'T HERE FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE, I WAS THE PRIMARY CONTACT FROM THE VOLUNTEER SIDE, UM, WITH, UH, A PETS. AND THE ISSUES, LIKE THE CHARACTERISTICS GOING AWAY HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I WORKED WITH THEM NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THEM BACK. IT'S THE VOLUNTEERS WHO MONITOR THE DATA AND SEE WHICH DOC NEED CHARACTERISTICS. IT'S THE VOLUNTEERS WHO LOOK TO SEE WHO NEEDS BEHAVIORS. IT'S THE VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK WITH YOUTUBE AND SEE WHAT SYSTEMS ARE COMING IN TO LOOK AT THE VIDEOS LIKE, LIKE ADOPT A PET AND PET FINDER. UM, AND YET IN ANYTHING YOU SAID, I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT BRINGING IN THE VOLUNTEERS. UM, I WAS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT WITHOUT A PET, SO I WAS NEVER BROUGHT INTO ANY OF THE PLANNING. UM, AS IT STANDS NOW, THE VOLUNTEERS DON'T SEEM TO BE BROUGHT INTO ANYTHING AND ARE KIND OF, UM, NOT UP TO DATE. UM, COULDN'T A VOLUNTEER FINALLY BE ON THE TEAM, UH, TO TELL YOU AND WORK WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU ALSO WHAT'S NEEDED AND WHY IT'S NEEDED? I LOOKED THE OTHER DAY AND IT JUST BROKE MY HEART TO SEE ONE DOG WHO WAS KID FRIENDLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY WHO'S LOOKING FOR A DOG, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA THINK. AND WE HAVE A SHELTER OF HOW MANY DOGS AND WE HAVE ONE KID FRIENDLY DOG. AND IT'S, IT'S SAD. AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS, FOUR YEARS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT THIS, THIS IS ABOUT WHEN A A C ASKED A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING ME, WHO KIND OF BECAME THE DEFACTO LEAD, UM, TO HELP GET THESE ANIMALS MARKETED AND TO GET GOOD AND CONSISTENT INFORMATION. SO LISTEN, I HOPE YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY AND CONSIDER GETTING A VOLUNTEER IN. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, UM, WHAT THE STATUS IS OF GETTING PETFINDER UPDATED. YEAH, NO, I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT IN THE TIMELINE. SO THE VERY EARLY PROCESS WHEN THEY WERE INTERVIEWING STAFF TO FIND OUT HOW DO YOU DO YOUR JOB? [02:25:01] JUST REALLY DOING THE DATA COLLECTION FOR PROCESS MAPPING VERY EARLY BEFORE ALL THE PROPOSALS CAME IN, THEY ALSO INTERVIEWED VOLUNTEERS. SO THERE WERE, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS THAT THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT TEAM CAME IN. THEY INTERVIEWED STAFF, THEY DID FRONTLINE STAFF, AND USUALLY THAT WAS OFF OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SUPERVISORS WITHIN THE TEAM, OF WHICH STAFF MEMBERS THEY THOUGHT, HOW MUCH HISTORY AND JOB EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE WITHIN THE SPECIFIC ROLE? SO THEY INTERVIEWED STAFF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO FIND OUT HOW DO YOU COMPLETE YOUR ROLE AND WHAT'S GONNA BE MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE SOFTWARE. SO THEY INCLUDED VOLUNTEERS IN THAT PROCESS. AND THEN, YES, TO YOUR POINT, I'M SO SORRY, I DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT. VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVING CHLOE REPORTS. MELISSA AND I REPORTS ON THESE ARE THE THINGS WE'VE OBSERVED. WE'VE UPDATED THESE SPECIFIC PROFILES AND NOTICED THAT THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE REPORT IS, THEY PROVIDE US SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE ADDS AND THEN THOSE ARE WHAT WE GET BACK TO THE, TO THE VENDOR. OKAY, THANK YOU. AND WHAT ABOUT PETFINDER? WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE AN UPDATE ON PETFINDER ON ANY OF THE THIRD PARTY INTEGRATIONS. UM, THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THOSE INTEGRATIONS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER LOMAN. HI. I JUST WONDERING IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN CHARACTERISTICS ARE GONNA GET TURNED BACK ON BECAUSE SOMEBODY PULLED DATA FROM ADOPTIONS AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHEN CHARACTERISTICS WERE TURNED OFF, THEY WERE TRENDING UP AND THE PRECIPITOUS RATE IN DECLINE IN ADOPTIONS IS PRETTY ALARMING. SO I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN CHARACTERISTICS ARE GONNA GET TURNED BACK ON. YEAH, WE, UM, A GOOD THING ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF GOT UPDATES AGO, A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, WE GOT UPDATES. THAT PROFILES CAN BE UPDATED BY VOLUNTEERS. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN UPDATED THAT THINGS LIKE PHOTOS WERE STILL HAVING CHALLENGES, BUT VOLUNTEERS, MARKETING VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED AND ARE UPDATING CHARACTERISTICS, VIDEOS AND PHOTOS. NOW, IS THERE SOME WAY THAT YOU CAN PUT OUT A LIST OF ANIMALS THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED, AREN'T UPDATED YET, JUST SO THAT VOLUNTEERS CAN JUMP ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE PRETTY HELPFUL AND I THINK YOU'D FIND A TON OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD JUMP RIGHT IN AND AND HELP. ABSOLUTELY. BECAUSE IT'S, I MEAN, IT REALLY IS IMPACTING ADOPTION. I AGREE. YEAH. THAT VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE RIGHT ON MARKETING. YES. YOU CAN DO THAT UP. SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT REAL QUICK. UM, YES, SO CHLOE DID, UM, SHE STARTED WITH THE MARKETING VOLUNTEERS TO RECRUIT THEM TO HELP WITH, UM, UPDATING PROFILES. MOSTLY JUST FOR THE FACT WE DID NOT WANT A HUGE GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS TO SPEND TONS OF TIME UPDATING IT IF IT WASN'T, IN FACT, WORKING A FEW MONTHS AGO WE HEARD THAT THE PROFILES WERE GOOD TO GO, WE HAD EVERYBODY UPDATE AND THEN PEOPLE SPENT TIME UPDATING 40 PROFILES AT A TIME FOR EVERYTHING TO BE DELETED. SO WE STARTED WITH A SMALL GROUP BASICALLY JUST TO TEST IT OUT AND MAKE SURE, OKAY, IS THIS WORKING BEFORE WE HAVE PEOPLE SPEND HOURS OF TIME AND IT WASN'T WORKING, BUT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY UPDATE EVERYONE WITH A LIST. NOW, UM, COMMISSIONER HOLT, I KNOW THAT YOU SAID THAT Y'ALL WERE IN CONTACT WITH SHELTER BUDDY ABOUT GETTING SOME SORT OF LIKE SPECIAL VOLUNTEER PERMISSIONS PROFILE CREATED. DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE FOR THAT? THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN US A SPECIFIC DATE, BUT WHAT WE HAVE TOLD THEM IS THAT THIS IS IN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY LIST, THAT IT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. OKAY. UM, SO I HAVE THANKS FOR CONVEYING THAT. I HAVE TWO THINGS THAT ARE, UM, JUST ADVICE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE FROM HOW AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS FOUND WAYS TO NAVIGATE, UM, GIVEN THAT THE CITY CONTRACTING, UM, IS UNIQUELY TERRIBLE , UH, WHEN IT COMES TO TRYING TO WORK WITH SOCIAL AND PUBLIC SERVICES TYPE THING. SO SPECIFICALLY THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH. AND THAT'S WHY AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ACTUALLY CREATED A SEPARATE PROCESS, UM, FOR A LOT OF THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS JUST NOT A GOOD FIT. UH, FOR EXAMPLE, IF Y'ALL HAD ASKED ANYBODY , WHO HAS WORKED WITH SHELTER SOFTWARES, THEY WOULD TELL YOU THAT SHELTER BUDDY IS THE MOST GARBAGE SYSTEM EVER. UM, AND I THINK THAT, LIKE I HAD AN ACTUAL PANIC ATTACK IN THE SPRING WHEN Y'ALL ANNOUNCED THAT YOU WERE SWITCHING TO THIS. UM, SO I THINK GOOD FEEDBACK FOR THE FUTURE FOR Y'ALL WOULD BE TO TRY TO ADVOCATE FOR AN RFP PROCESS THAT RELIES LESS HEAVILY ON CTM AND MORE HEAVILY ON THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD ACTUALLY BE INTERACTING WITH THIS SOFTWARE IN THE FUTURE. I ALSO THINK IT'S GOOD TO NOTE THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH DOES HAVE WAYS THAT THEY UTILIZE A RESERVE CORPS, SPECIFICALLY THE MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, AND THOSE PEOPLE DO HAVE ACCESS TO HIPAA COMPLIANT THINGS THAT ARE WAY MORE SENSITIVE THAN JUST LIKE SOMEONE'S ADDRESS OF HAVING SURRENDERED AN ANIMAL. SO I, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO LOOK TO THEM FOR THE SYSTEMS THAT THEY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO WORK AROUND THIS AND FOR Y'ALL TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SAME. AND EVEN IF [02:30:01] SHELTER BUDDY DOES COME UP WITH A SPECIAL VOLUNTEER LEVEL THING, I WOULD STILL LOOK INTO WHATEVER THAT MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS EQUIVALENT WOULD BE TO GIVE FULLY VETTED AND TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ACCESS TO SOME OF THE MORE SENSITIVE INFORMATION. BECAUSE IF, IF, AND THIS IS NOT A REFLECTION OF Y'ALL, I KNOW THAT THIS COMES DOWN FROM COUNCIL, BUT IF Y'ALL ARE GOING TO LITERALLY PUT INTO YOUR BUDGET THAT YOU ARE RELYING ON VOLUNTEERS TO DO WORK THAT YOU CANNOT BUDGET ENOUGH STAFF TO DO, THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH PERMISSIONS FOR THAT, THOSE VOLUNTEERS TO CARRY OUT THE WORK THAT THE STAFF EQUIVALENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THROUGH. 'CAUSE THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HEAR THAT AN ORGANIZATION THAT RELIES SO HEAVILY ON VOLUNTEERS IS NOT THROUGH Y'ALL'S FAULT, BUT THROUGH THE SYSTEM FAILURE IS NOT BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE THEM TO THEIR FULL EXTENT. UH, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I I CERTAINLY WASN'T HERE DURING THIS PROCESS. I, I, I DID, UM, YOU KNOW, JOIN A DEPARTMENT AT A TIME WHERE, UM, INTEGRATION WAS, UH, WAS CRITICAL. UM, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDES THE SUPPORT IN TERMS OF PROCUREMENT. UH, WE DON'T HAVE A PROCUREMENT PERSON IN OUR TEAM. UM, I SPENT A LOT OF YEARS IN THE, UH, THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, OVERSEEING, UM, LARGE CAPITAL, UH, PROJECTS, PROCUREMENT CONTRACTING. UM, I THINK THE, AS I LOOKED AT THE HISTORY, UM, WHEN I WAS MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THIS, UM, I FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS WAS ESTABLISHED PRETTY WELL. UM, I THINK WE HAD REALLY GOOD, UM, MEMBERS OF THE, UH, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, UH, TEAM IN THERE. UH, THERE WAS CHANGES THROUGHOUT TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS THAT I THINK IMPACTED THE QUALITY OF SERVICE. UM, BUT ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE A PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT LOOKS AT ALL THE PROPOSALS AND THEN MAKES A DETERMINATION BASED ON THE ESTABLISHED CRITERIA OF WHO IS A RECOMMENDED FIRM, UH, OR IN THIS CASE A VENDOR THAT, UH, WILL END UP PROVIDING THAT SERVICE TO US AND THAT ALL THAT WAS THERE. SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, I, NOT SAYING I DISAGREE WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF CTM. UM, IT NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED. THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE PROJECT DELIVERY EXPERTS, AND IN THIS CASE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH PROCUREMENT PROCESSES WERE WHERE WE'RE USED TO DEVELOP THIS, UM, THIS ULTIMATE SOLICITATION PROCESS AND THE RESULTING CONTRACT WITH SHELTER BODY. SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. YES. I, I JUST WANNA RESPOND TO THAT. I REALIZE THAT THESE WERE ALL THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE YOU WERE IN, SO THIS ISN'T LIKE INTENDED TO BE DIRECT HITS AT ANYBODY. THIS IS MORE LIKE A SYSTEMS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. UM, BUT I EVEN, I KNOW THAT Y'ALL DON'T HAVE YOUR OWN PROCUREMENT PERSON, BUT I, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WENT WRONG IN THAT PROCESS IF ANYBODY IDENTIFIED SHELTER BUDDY AS THE RIGHT SYSTEM TO LAND ON . AND SO WHAT I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO DO IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S THE CHOICE THAT IS BEING MADE, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH. AND I'M NOT TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PIVOT. I AM TRYING TO, LIKE, IF UPSTREAM'S THINKING IS THE THING, LET'S FIGURE OUT HOW THE NEXT TIME A A BIG CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY A TECHNOLOGY RELATED ONE COMES THROUGH, HOW DO YOU, UM, HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHO'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE INTERACTING WITH IT THE MOST? UH, AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE PUBLIC AND THE VOLUNTEERS, UM, AND WORK BACKWARDS FROM THEM BEING THE EXPERTS WHO GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE CRITERIA NEED TO BE. YEAH, THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE HAD WITH THE VENDORS SUBMITTING THEIR PROPOSALS IS OUR ORGANIZATION REQUIRED THE ANIMAL PROTECTION DISPATCH PIECE OF THE SOFTWARE, AND MOST OF THE VENDORS DID NOT OFFER THAT OPTION. SO THAT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR US TOO. UM, VICE CHAIR LINDER, THANKS. UM, THANKS FOR WALKING US THROUGH THIS. IT'S, IT'S HELPFUL TO HEAR AND, UH, THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE FROM THE, THE PUBLIC WHO TOOK TIME TO COMMENT ON THIS ISSUE. ALSO. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THE, THE CURRENT, YOU KNOW, STATUS QUO IS, IS, UM, NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIX THIS AS, AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO QUANTIFY, UM, THE COST HERE, BUT, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING ABOUT ALONG THE LINES OF HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A DAY THAT THIS IS COSTING THE CITY AS FAR AS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET THOSE ANIMALS OUT, UM, TO HOMES, REACH THOSE ADOPTERS. UM, AND, AND THOSE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES COME AT A COST. UM, SO I'M WONDERING, YOU KNOW, I THINK I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, BUT THE FIRST ONE IS, IS JUST A REALLY SIMPLE QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU IS WHAT CAN WE DO AS COMMISSIONERS, UM, TO HELP YOU GET THIS PROBLEM SOLVED IMMEDIATELY? IS IT GOING TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TELLING THEM THAT THEY NEED TO PUT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE VENDOR AND THREATEN TO PULL OUT OF THE CONTRACT? LIKE, WHAT DO YOU NEED, UM, FROM US? HOW CAN WE HELP YOU GET THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THOSE STEPS ARE NECESSARY. UH, UH, AT THAT LEVEL. AS I SAID ALREADY, WE, WE'VE COMMUNICATED THE EXPECTATION TO BOTH, UM, YOU KNOW, VENDORS AND, AND, UH, EXPECT THE FULL COMMITMENT FROM THEIR, THEIR TEAMS TO HELP US GET THESE THINGS IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. UM, CERTAINLY IF WE AS A STAFF DERIVE TO THE POSITION OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WORKING AND NOT RESPONSIVE, [02:35:01] YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO PIVOT AND, AND KIND OF FIGURE OUT, OKAY, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE DO? DO WE KEEP WORKING WITH THIS OR, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT ANOTHER PLAN AND HOW DO WE, AND, YOU KNOW, GO ABOUT THAT NEW PLAN AND WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS ABOUT THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE? I MEAN, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF WHEN YOU HAVE A VENDOR THAT MAYBE ISN'T PERFORMING UP TO PAR, RIGHT? AND YOU, YOU'VE LEVERAGED ALL THE TOOLS IN YOUR CONTRACT, UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, YOU KNOW, PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OR, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, SHARE, UH, SHARING THE CONCERNS. UM, YOU SAID, HEY, YOU'RE FAILING TO PERFORM AND YOU EITHER, UM, YOU KNOW, TERMINATE THE CONTRACT WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE. AND SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT. UM, AND WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS TO THAT LEVEL, UH, OF ISSUING A A NOTICE SECURE, WHICH MEANS, HERE ARE ALL THE ISSUES AND GIVE US YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT LIKE, UH, HEY, THIS IS NOT WORKING, WE'RE GONNA STOP AND, AND NOW HOW DO WE PIVOT? RIGHT? IT TOOK THE DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE YEARS THAT YOU SAW ON THE SCHEDULE TO KIND OF GET TO THIS POSITION. AND SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF IN A POSITION OF PUSHING THE FORCING, YOU KNOW, A LOT AND, AND EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, TURNAROUND FROM THE VENDORS TO MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE NEXT OPTION AFTER THAT IS' REPLACING THEM? AND THEN YOU, YOU'RE, YOU'RE ON A NEW SCHEDULE, YOU'RE ON A NEW, UH, PROCESS. AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT. AND SO I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU AS A RESPONSE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, LET US COME BACK TO YOU AND TO SAY THINGS ARE GOING IN THE DIRECTION THAT WE EXPECTED IN TERMS OF THE VENDORS ARE FINALIZING ALL THESE, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THERE, YOU KNOW, 10 OUTTA 10 IMPROVEMENTS ARE MADE, OR, YOU KNOW, EIGHT OF THE 10, EIGHT OF THE 10, BUT HERE'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE OTHER TWO THAT HAVE NOT BEEN, UH, DEVELOPED. OR, UM, WE MAKE A DECISION THAT SAYS IT'S NOT WORKING AND WE'RE GONNA PIVOT AND HERE'S THE PLAN FOR THAT. SO I THINK, UM, LET US COME BACK, UM, OR SEND YOU SOME SORT OF SOMETHING IN WRITING, YOU KNOW, IN THE MONTH OR TWO THAT SAYS, HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT FOLLOWING OUR PRESENTATION TODAY. UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS, BUT, UH, THIS DATE, YOU KNOW, IN NOVEMBER AND WHERE WE'RE AT. YEAH. BUT WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT STEP OF SAYING, YOU GOTTA, YOU GOTTA GET IT DONE FOR US. YEAH. AND IS THERE A TIMELINE THAT, THAT YOU GAVE THEM, UM, WHEN YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, LETTING THEM KNOW WHEN THEY NEED TO GET THOSE ISSUES RESOLVED BY YES. IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE DEVELOPED AS A TEAM ALL THE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WERE, WERE NEEDED TO GET, UH, FINALIZED OR EVEN THINGS THAT SORT OF ARE NICE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, UH, AS WELL. UM, OR CAN WE MAKE SOME TWEAKS TO THIS PROCESS NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT? CAN WE DO SOME CHANGES TO IT SO THAT WE, IT CAN MAKE IT EASIER FOR STAFF TO UTILIZE THE INFORMATION. AND SO AS, UH, MARY COMMUNICATED, WE SAID, THESE ARE THE TOP PRIORITIES, RIGHT? AND CAN, UH, COME BACK WITH SOME TIMELINES FOR EACH, UH, IN TERMS OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN CAN YOU GET THESE THINGS DONE? AND SO I THINK I KNOW MELISSA, OR, OR MARY, YOU WANNA SPEAK TO SPECIFIC DATES, BUT UH, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE LEFT IT AT, YOU KNOW, WITH THEM MOST RECENTLY, RIGHT? IS HERE'S THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND WHEN CAN YOU GET THESE DONE? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. UM, WE DO HAVE LIKE ON A TASK LEVEL, UM, MANY ITEMS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED. THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE STILL TO BE DETERMINED AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE LARGER ONES INCLUDE, UH, THE VOLUNTEER ACCESS 'CAUSE THEY'VE TRIED SOME THINGS THAT HAVE NOT WORKED. UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OVERALL ROADMAP OF ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THAT. WE HAVE TIMELINES FOR SOME THINGS, AND THEN OTHERS, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THEM TO GET A FULL COMMITMENT ON WHEN THEY'LL BE RESOLVED. THANKS. AND I DO HAVE JUST ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU ALL, WHICH RELATES TO, TO THE VOLUNTEER ACCESS ISSUE THAT YOU MENTIONED. SO, UM, CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE DEPENDENT ON THEM AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO, UM, PUT IN PLACE THOSE FIREWALLS THAT YOU MENTIONED TO PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, UM, THAT VOLUNTEERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO ACCESS. I GUESS I WONDER, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE UM, THIS PROCESS HAS GONE ON SO LONG BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY SORT OF WHEN OR IF THEY'RE, UM, ABLE TO GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. UM, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT, UH, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY REMOVE THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION FROM SHELTER BUDDY, GIVE ACCESS TO THE VOLUNTEERS, AND THEN ON YOUR OWN, CREATE SOME SORT OF OTHER PLATFORM FOR SHARING THAT CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, UM, AMONGST YOURSELVES, WHETHER IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THROUGH SHAREPOINT OR, UM, SOME OTHER SORT OF, UM, SYSTEM THAT THE CITY ALREADY USES WHERE YOU COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DO A MANUAL WORKAROUND BY REMOVING THAT INFORMATION FOR NOW AND SHARING IT AMONGST YOURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAT WILL ALLOW THE VOLUNTEERS ACCESS IMMEDIATELY? WE'RE EXPLORING A NUMBER OF OPTIONS, AND THE LATEST ONE IS MORE OF AN INTERFACE WHERE VOLUNTEERS WOULD ACT NOT ACTUALLY BE GETTING INTO THE SYSTEM, BUT WOULD BE QUERYING, YOU KNOW, JUST SPECIFIC FIELDS. SO IT WOULDN'T BE ACTUAL LOG ON INTO SHELTER BUDDY ITSELF. UM, BUT ANOTHER KIND OF LAYER AND INTERFACE WHERE THEY COULD PULL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED IS THE LATEST THING THAT, THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON FOR US. IT'S KINDA LIKE THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT YOU OFFERED, RIGHT? IS US CREATING A SYSTEM WHERE THE DATA GETS OVER TO THE SPECIFIC DATA THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, IT GETS OVER TO NEW SYSTEM. SO WE'RE PULLING THAT INFORMATION, IT'S AVAILABLE [02:40:01] AND THE REST OF THE STUFF IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR STAFF. SO WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ENTER INFORMATION THAT WAY THOUGH? I GUESS, LIKE, WOULD IT WORK BOTH DIRECTIONS OR THEY CAN ONLY VIEW THINGS IN, IN THE SORT OF SYSTEM YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, I THINK THEY'RE ALREADY, THEY'RE ALREADY, THEY'RE ALREADY ABLE TO ENTER INFORMATION IN TERMS OF, UH, THEIR NOTES WHEN THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH ANIMALS, RIGHT? AND SO WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO GET, UM, IS JUST MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANIMALS IN TERMS OF THEIR BACKGROUND, MEDICAL CONDITIONS AS THEY'RE DETERMINING, YOU KNOW, WHICH ONE TO SPEND TIME WITH OR WALK WITH OR, UM, YOU KNOW, SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION ABOUT WHAT AND WHAT TO INTERACT WITH. SO I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PULL FOR THEM SEPARATELY. AND SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE ANY FEEDBACK OR INFORMATION TO PUT INTO THEIR, THAT PART MARY OR, YEAH, SO, SO THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY GOTTA DO FOR, UH, ENTERING INFORMATION TO THE SYSTEM. THE PULLING OF IT IS SEPARATING THAT AND MAKING ITS OWN KINDA, UH, DATABASE OR SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN GET ALL THAT AND JUST THAT. THANKS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, I JUST HAVE A BRIEF ONE. I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT VOLUNTEERS NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION THEY NEED. THE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE ON THE PUBLIC FACING ADOPTION WEBSITES, AND THOSE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AND NOBODY'S HAPPY WITH WHERE IT IS AND YOU'RE, AND YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU CAN TO TRY TO FIX IT. I HOPE YOU'LL COME BACK AND GIVE US UPDATES ON THAT AS, AS, AS YOUR SCHEDULE ALLOWS. AND THEN THERE WAS, I THINK, ONE MORE SUBTLE, SLIGHTLY MORE SUBTLE POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP WAS THAT, UM, UH, CHAMELEON USED TO GIVE AUTOMATIC, AUTOMATIC EMAILS ABOUT REPORTS. IS THERE, IS THERE ANY HOPE OF GAINING THAT FUNCTIONALITY IN ON SHELTER BODY OR CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE BIT UPDATE ON THAT? IT WAS THE, THE ONE EXAMPLE WAS THE REP REPRESENTATIVE FROM A PA WHO USED TO GET AT RISK. YES. I MEAN, WE, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE REAL TIME UPDATES NOW ON OUR WEBSITE FOR BOTH THE UPL AND THE RPL. SO AS SOON AS WE MAKE A CHANGE, UM, AND IT'S ENTERED, YOU KNOW, ON THE, THE BACKEND AND THE SPREADSHEET, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHOWS UP ON OUR WEBSITE. SO IT'S, IT'S NOW SHOULD ALWAYS BE CURRENT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THEM GETTING AUTOMATIC EMAILS WITH RELEVANT INFORMATION LIKE CHAMELEON USED TO HAVE? YES. THAT, THAT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS ON OUR LIST THAT THEY'RE, THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH WITH THEM. AND WE'VE DONE SOME AD HOC KIND OF REPORTING KIND OF OUTSIDE THE SYSTEM THAT, UM, A MEMBER OF MY TEAM, UM, HAS MADE AVAILABLE FOR CERTAIN REPORTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SO MOVING ON TO [5. Staff briefing on the Strategic Plan Dashboard. Presentation by Juany Torres, Strategic Plan Project Manager, Austin Animal Services.] ITEM NUMBER FIVE, STAFF BRIEF BRIEFING ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN DASHBOARD. I THINK WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER ON THIS, IF I HAVE THIS RIGHT, CH UH, CHELSEA REMAN. SO ONCE AGAIN, I'M CHELSEA REMAN. ALL RIGHT, ONCE AGAIN, UM, I'M CHELSEA REMAN, DOG BEHAVIOR DIRECTOR, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE. UM, AND SINCE THE RPL PROCESS BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER 18, DOGS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO IT. AND AS ROLANDO STATED, NONE OF THEM WERE EUTHANIZED. AND THAT'S BECAUSE, UH, MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF MY A PA BEHAVIOR TEAM LEADERSHIP STAFF HAVE BEEN GOING TO A A S EVERY WEEK AND EVALUATED EVERY ONE OF THEM AND PULLED THEM INTO OUR PROGRAM. SO I HAVE VERY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROCESS AND BELIEVE THAT BEFORE YOUR STAFF BRIEFING, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW WHAT MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN. THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DOGS WITH LOW LEVEL BEHAVIORS WHO ARE BEING LABELED AS BEING UNSAFE AND AT RISK FOR EUTHANASIA BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A DOG BEHAVIOR BACKGROUND. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE DOGS ARE NOW BEING PLACED IN THE 600 KENNELS WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE NOT BEING MET. THEY'RE GETTING THE BARE MINIMUM OF WHAT'S PROVIDED FOR DOGS AT A A C, AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE THERE FOR MONTHS, WHICH WILL CREATE BEHAVIOR ISSUES FOR DOGS. THIS IS TRUE FOR SUCH CURRENT RPL L DOGS AS LOLA AND LOYAL, WHO WERE ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, PREVIOUSLY BY ANOTHER SPEAKER WHO HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THREE MONTHS. UM, SO I, I WON'T GET INTO THEIR DETAILS SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY DISCUSSED. UH, ANOTHER DOG IS CLEMENTINE, UH, 1-YEAR-OLD INTACT MALE WHO HAD A DOG DOG ALTERCATION AT LARGE. A HUMAN WAS BITTEN ON THEIR HAND WHEN INSERTING THEMSELVES BETWEEN THE DOG'S FACES, AND ALTHOUGH THE HUMAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHICH DOG ACTUALLY BIT THEM, CLEMENT TYPE WAS PUT IN THE SIX HUNDREDS, NOT GIVEN ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEEING HIM AS ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED THAT DAY. WHEN MY STAFF MEMBER AND I WENT TO A A S TO MEET HIM LAST WEDNESDAY, WE SAW AN ADOLESCENT DOG WHO HAD NOT BEEN TAUGHT THE SKILLS OR CONFIDENCE TO [02:45:01] INTERACT WITH OTHER DOGS APPROPRIATELY. SO WE ASK THAT WE HAVE SOME TIME TO WORK WITH HIM ON THAT. AND IT TOOK US FOUR DAYS OF WORKING WITH HIM TO GET HIM TO A PLACE WHERE HE IS NOW SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGING WITH OTHER DOGS IN PLAYGROUP AND NOW HAS THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN FRONT OF HIM. AND WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE'S A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. UH, AS A SIDE NOTE, I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT WE'VE OFFERED SEVERAL TIMES TO VOLUNTEER OUR TIME AT A A S TO TEACH THEIR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS HOW TO DO WHAT WE DO IN OUR BEHAVIOR PROGRAM. AND THAT HAS BEEN DECLINED, AND THAT IS A SMALL PART OF WHAT MY ANSWER WOULD'VE BEEN TO COMMISSIONER LO'S PREVIOUS QUESTION. MEANWHILE, WHILE THESE DOGS ARE, ARE LANGUISHING IN THE SIX HUNDREDS DOGS WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BY HANDS-ON A A S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE HAVING TRUE BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, UM, WHO THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH ON SITE ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A BITE YET. BOTH OF THESE POPULATIONS NOT BEING IDENTIFIED APPROPRIATELY BY PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A BACKGROUND IN BEHAVIOR, UH, IT MEANS THAT THEY ARE NOT BEING MATCHED WITH APPROPRIATE RESOURCES WHEN IT COMES TO CONSIDERATION FOR THEIR WELLBEING OR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AS AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD, I AM SINCERELY CONCERNED THE NEW POLICIES WILL CREATE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN DOGS WHO DID NOT PREVIOUSLY HAVE THEM. DOGS WHO ARE NOT UNSAFE ARE GOING TO BE EUTHANIZED DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCE. VOLUNTEERS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY TOO SCARED TO GIVE BEHAVIOR INFORMATION NOW THAT THE EUTHANASIA BAR HAS BEEN SET TO SOLO QUALIFIED PARTNERS WHO WANT TO HELP ARE NOT BEING GIVEN RESOURCES NEEDED TO HELP. THIS IS NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GOALS OF THE ANIMAL SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF. HI EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. HI EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS JUANI TORRES. I'M THE PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, AND I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR DASHBOARD. UM, AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, MY FIRST PRESENTATION IN JUNE AND INTRODUCTION TO YOU ALL, WE SHARED THAT OUR GOAL WAS TO HAVE A DASHBOARD UP BY JANUARY, 2026. THAT CONTINUES TO BE OUR GOAL, AND I WANTED TO KIND OF SHOWCASE TO YOU ALL, UM, WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD. SO, UM, AGAIN, THE GOAL IS JANUARY, 2026. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS ACHIEVING THIS GOAL OF PUBLISHING A PUBLIC DASHBOARD THAT REFLECTS OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. UH, AUSTIN ANIMAL SHELTER MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAM HAS BEGUN TRAINING ON THE NEW PLATFORM THAT WE PLAN TO USE FOR THIS DASHBOARD, UM, AS WELL AS MYSELF. WE ALL HAVE OVER 10 HOURS OF TRAINING THUS FAR ON THIS NEW DASHBOARD, UM, BACKUP. AND WE HAVE SET A CADENCE OF MEETINGS WITH OUR CTM TEAM, UM, WHICH IS NOW AUSTIN TECHNOLOGICAL SERVICES OR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, UM, AND OUR S3 EXTERNAL PARTNERS, UH, THE CONTENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE, UM, SHOWCASING IS CURRENTLY BEING MIGRATED WITH THE HOPE OF HAVING THE DRAFT DASHBOARD UP FOR US TO WORK WITH BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. UM, SO THAT IS AGAIN, THE DRAFT OF WHAT THE DASHBOARD WILL LOOK LIKE AGAIN, LAUNCHING NEXT YEAR. UM, AND I WANTED TO JUST SPEND A COUPLE MINUTES SHOWING YOU WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD SO YOU CAN SEE, UH, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO MIRROR. AND FOR THAT I NEED TO GO TO THE . UM, OTHER, THIS PROBABLY NOT . OKAY, WELL, RIGHT HERE, HERE YOU GO. SORRY. I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOLKS HAVE TO USE THIS, UM, SET UP. OKAY. SO WE ARE REFLECT OR WE ARE TRYING TO, UM, REFLECT THE IMPLEMENTATION DASHBOARD THAT THE AUSTIN CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN USED. REASONS BEING THAT ONE, IT WAS USED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN, SO WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT. UM, AND TWO, THEIR PLAN IS VERY SIMILAR TO OURS. THEIRS IS 17 GOALS WITH 75 STRATEGIES. OURS IS 18 GOALS WITH 64 STRATEGIES. SO THIS KIND OF SETS US UP NICELY IN TRYING TO REFLECT IT. WHAT'S COOL ABOUT THIS DASHBOARD IS THAT, UM, THE 17 GOALS FOR THEM ARE ALSO DIVIDED BY FOCUS AREAS. AS YOU MIGHT RECALL. WE ALSO HAVE OUR SIX FOCUS AREAS IN OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN. THESE FOR THEM, UM, FALL UNDER, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS, TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION, YOU KNOW, THESE BUCKETS HERE. UM, SO WHEN YOU CLICK ON THEM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WOULD BE SPAY AND UTER. YOU CAN SEE THE, THE GOALS THAT ARE ALIGNED UNDER IT. AND THEN UNDER EACH GOAL, YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH IT. IT HAS THE STRATEGIES HERE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR PLAN HAS THOSE 64 STRATEGIES UNDER THE 18 GOALS. AND, UM, THE STRATEGY GIVES YOU A NARRATIVE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT DATA IS BEING COLLECTED, WHAT, UM, WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED, AND WHERE ARE WE MOVING TOWARDS. SO WHAT'S NEXT? SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON . UM, AND WHEN IT'S READY, WHICH AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS JANUARY, 2026. UH, [02:50:01] WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU ALL. UM, IF I CAN GO BACK TO THE, OKAY. ONE SECOND. GO BACK TO THE SLIDESHOW. OKAY. PERFECT. AND THEN THE NEXT JUST OPEN AND BACK UP, UM, THE PRESENTATION? YES. SCROLL DOWN. MAYBE. I DON'T THINK THEY SEE ONLINE. CAN YOU ALL SEE IT? OKAY. SO, UM, IT'S HARD WITH THIS SETUP TO SHOW YOU BOTH SCREENS, BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THAT, WHAT I CLICKED ON THE BUCKET AND THE FOCUS AREA AND THE STRATEGY WOULD LOOK LIKE. SO FOR OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE FOCUS AREA WOULD BE SPAY AND NEUTER THE GOAL, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FREE AND SUBSIDIZED SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERIES FOR OWNED ANIMALS. THE STRATEGY IS A, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND NATIONAL VENDORS TO EXPAND LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES FOR OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN OUR, SORRY, , OUR, UM, DESCRIPTION. SO WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE ARROW AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THERE WOULD BE THIS. SO IN SPRING SUMMER OF 2025, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES SUBMITTED REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION WITH THE GOALS OF INCREASING THE NETWORK OF PROVIDERS AND EXPANDING CAPACITY FOR SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES WITHIN THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY. IT WAS PUBLISHED THROUGH A PURCHASING AND PROCUREMENT PROCESS, AND IT WAS SENT OUT TO VETS WHO SPECIALIZE IN HIGH SPEED SPAY AND NEUTER. WE ONLY RECEIVED TWO RESPONSES, EMANCIPATE AND HUMANE SOCIETY TO DATE. BOTH OF THESE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO RUN THROUGH JANUARY, 2026, AND OUR AIM IS TO EXECUTE A NEW CONTRACT WITH EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS BY JANUARY, 2026. IT HAS THE AMOUNT. SO EMANS HAD 1 MILLION HUMANE SOCIETY 250,000, AND WE ALSO CONTINUE, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION WITH GOOD FIXX RENEWING THEIR SECOND YEAR OPTION OUT OF THEIR FIVE YEAR CONTRACT FOR SEVEN 20. SO THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE ON THAT DASHBOARD THAT I SHARED, UM, FOR EACH STRATEGY UNDER THE 18, UM, FOCUS OR THE 18 GOALS UNDER THE SIX FOCUS AREAS. SO THAT'S, I WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL. AGAIN, OUR GOAL IS THAT BY JANUARY, 2026, WE WILL HAVE, UM, THIS DASHBOARD UP FOR THE PUBLIC, UM, WITH THE INFORMATION BEING UPDATED AS WE CONTINUE TO COLLECT BASELINE DATA AND WORK WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP UNDER THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE GOALS THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO HEAR FROM. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY, ANY ADDITION TO THAT FROM OTHER STAFF OR, UM, IF I CAN SAY, ALSO, AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, AS YOU ALL MIGHT BE AWARE, UM, WE, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS GOING THROUGH A SHIFT IN THE BRANDING AND OUR WEBSITES ACROSS THE CITY OF AUSTIN. SO, UH, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CTM OFFICE OR AUSTIN. UM, IT'S OKAY. BLESS YOU. UM, TECHNOL, YES. SO CTM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS CTM, UH, TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THE DEADLINES AND ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY'RE WORKING WITHIN, UM, THOSE NEW PARAMETERS OF HAVING TO ALSO UPDATE SO MANY DEPARTMENTS AND SO MANY OFFICES, SO MUCH WORK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO, YEAH, THAT'S IT. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? SEEING NO QUESTIONS, WE'LL MOVE ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUAN TORRES FOR ALL THE, UM, GOOD WORK YOU'VE PUT IN TO THERE. I LOVE SEEING THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR AND HOW YOU PLAN TO GET THERE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. UM, SO I BELIEVE WE'RE ON AGENDA ITEM [6. Update on the recruitment process for the Austin Animal Services Director. Presentation by Rodney Crain, Senior Consultant, MGT.] NUMBER STICK SIX, UPDATE ON THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS. WE'RE, UM, NOW REACHING THREE HOURS OF THE MEETING AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S PASSIONATE ABOUT STUFF, BUT IF YOU CAN NARROW STUFF DOWN IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAVE SAID WHAT YOU'VE SAID, UM, SAID WHAT YOU WANNA SAY. SO, UM, FIRST SUSIE CHASE, GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS. I'M SUZY CHASE, DISTRICT 10 CONSTITUENT. I WORK AT AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND I FORMERLY WORKED HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M SPEAKING ON ITEM SIX BECAUSE I REVIEWED THE JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE A A S DIRECTOR POSITION BACK IN 2017 [02:55:01] AND 2018. THE CITY SHELTER PROUDLY MAINTAINED A 97%, A 98% LIVE RELEASE RATE, AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT EXPERIENCE DIRECTING A SHELTER WITH A LIVE RELEASE RATE IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION. THIS IS IN OUR CITY CODE AND ITS IMPORTANT CRITERIA THAT I SHOULD BE, I THINK SHOULD BE INCLUDED. I ALSO REVIEWED THE MGT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT SLIDES, AND I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING ABOUT AN APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS. I'M EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ANIMAL ADVOCATES TO HEAR FROM THE FINALIST. THIS IS A JOB PAYING $218,000 A YEAR, OVERSEEING A BUDGET OF $25 MILLION AND MAKING DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT ALL OF THE A A S STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IN THIS ROOM. AND THOUSANDS OF DOGS AND CATS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNHOUSED BECAUSE THE CITY'S NOT TAKING THEM IN. I THINK MOST OF US CAN AGREE THAT THE 2019 HIRING PROCESS FOR A DIRECTOR WAS A BIG MISS. THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INCLUDED TWO MEETINGS THAT MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE TWO FINALISTS WERE NOT THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR THE JOB. IT WAS SO OFF BASE THAT THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE AT CITY HALL HELD BY ANIMAL ADVOCATES BEGGING THE FORMER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO EXPAND THE CRITERIA, BUT HE DID NOT. AND SINCE 2019, DUE TO THE POOR CHOICE OF A DIRECTOR, WE HAVE SEEN A REDUCTION IN LIFESAVING PROGRAMS AT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN ANIMALS ADMITTED TO A A S AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO FIND ANIMALS ARE TOLD BY 3 1 1 TO PUT THEM BACK WHERE YOU FOUND THEM. AND AN INCREASE OF A TAXPAYER FUNDED BUDGET FROM 13.9 MILLION TO 25 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLARS MGT AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN. LET'S DO BETTER IN 2025. I ENCOURAGE THE RECRUITING FIRM TO LEARN ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S CULTURE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IT WAS BUILT ON THE BLICHER TRAINING OF INFORMED CONSENT. AND THE CITY'S CORE TENEMENT OF THIS LONGSTANDING APPROACH TO STAKEHOLDER INPUT IS WE DO CARE AND WE ARE LISTENING. IF YOU'D LIKE DETAILS ABOUT THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PROVIDE EXCELLENT RESOURCES SUPPORTING THE MODEL OF EFFECTIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, ACTIVELY LISTENING TO THEIR FEEDBACK AND INCORPORATING THAT INPUT INTO YOUR DECISION MAKING. A SURVEY WITH 431 RESPONSES BARELY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE. I LOOK FORWARD TO MR. CRANE'S PRESENTATION AND HOPE PEOPLE IN EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT AND IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS IN TRAVIS COUNTY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TALK WITH THE FINALIST. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? BECAUSE YOU NEED INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING ANIMALS AND NOT GETTING HELP FOR THE LOST DEMANDED AND INJURED DOGS AND CATS WHO NEED HELP. AND IF ANOTHER A A S DIRECTOR IS SELECTED WHO DOES NOT ALIGN WITH A 95% NO KILL MANDATE, IT WILL FURTHER DIMINISH THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION AND TRUST OF LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE, UM, JULIE OLIVER, AND THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE PAT VAL TRACE. IS SHE STILL ON THE LINE? SHE IS NOT. UM, AND THEN SO AFTER, UM, JULIE OLIVER WILL BE MICHELLE WITTENBERG, JUST SO WE CAN BE READY. UH, NO WITTENBERG. OKAY. UM, HI EVERYBODY. IT'S JULIE OLIVER AGAIN. UH, THIS SEARCH FOR THE NEXT CHIEF ANIMAL SERVICES OFFICER IS HAPPENING AT A VERY CRUCIAL TIME. THE INTERIM DIRECTOR CURRENTLY OVERSEEING THE SHELTER DOES NOT HAVE AN AN ANIMAL WELFARE BACKGROUND. AND IN THE MONTHS SINCE HIS APPOINTMENT, WE'VE SEEN POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT UNDERMINE AUSTIN'S NO KILL MANDATE AND THREATENED THE INTEGRITY OF OUR OPEN INTAKE SYSTEM. IN JUNE, EUTHANASIA NOTICES WERE ISSUED WITHOUT WRITTEN STANDARDS OR QUALIFIED BEHAVIORAL EVALUATIONS. GAPS WERE LEFT WITHOUT CLEAR CRITERIA TO DETERMINE WHICH ANIMALS WERE AT RISK. WHEN THERE ARE NO DEFINED PROCEDURES, LIFE AND DEATH DECISIONS BECOME INCONSISTENT AND ARBITRARY, AND THAT ERODES TRUST FOLLOWING PUBLIC CONCERN. A NEW RESCUE POOL ONLY POLICY WAS INTRODUCED THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT. UNDER THIS POLICY, ANY DOG WITH ANY BITE HISTORY IS AUTOMATICALLY BLOCKED FROM FOSTER AND, AND ADOPTION ON THE RESCUE POLE IS NO MATTER HOW MINOR THE BITE OR WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE. AND ROLANDA WAS NOT BEING TRUTHFUL WHEN HE SAID, WE LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT. AND THAT INCLUDES CASES LIKE NIKKI, WHO WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE BEFORE SHE REACTED AND BIT SOMEBODY. NIKKI HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST, OR SHE HAD BEEN ON THE URGENT PLACEMENT LIST PRECISELY BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. AND THE NEW POLICY NOW REVERSES ALL OF THAT WITHOUT EVIDENCE AND WITHOUT BEHA PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT AND WITHOUT ANY STAKEHOLDER INPUT, THE POLICY ALSO ALLOWS ANIMALS TO BE LABELED RESCUE ONLY FOR SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS. BUT THAT TERM IS UNDEFINED. THERE ARE NO SOPS TO EXPLAIN WHAT QUALIFIES AT A RECENT COMMISSION MEETING. A PROGRAM MANAGER WHO HAS NO QUALIFICATION TO BE MAKING BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENTS ABOUT LARGE DOGS SAID THAT REFUSING MEDICATION COULD BE CONSIDERED A SERIOUS BEHAVIORAL CONCERN. THIS IS NOT ALIGNED WITH BEST PRACTICE BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS AND IT WILL DECREASE LIFE OUTCOMES. MEANWHILE, WE'VE CONSISTENTLY, UNDER THIS CURRENT DIRECTOR BEEN FALLING BELOW THE 95% LIVE OUTCOME MANDATE, AND INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING OPERATIONAL GAPS [03:00:01] AND SHELTER, BUDDY CONVERSIONS, LEADERSHIP HAS ASKED TO CHANGE HOW LIVE OUTCOMES ARE CALCULATED. THERE ARE ALSO EXAMPLES OF ANIMALS WHO'VE DIED IN THE SHELTER AND NOT PROPERLY RECORDED IN THE SYSTEM. MOST RECENTLY, I JUST SAW BABY KITTY NUMBER 1, 1 1 8 8 WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 2ND WAS FINALLY OUTCOME NOVEMBER 1ST. WHEN DEATHS ARE NOT ACCURATELY DOCUMENTED, IT UNDERMINES THE CONFIDENCE IN THE DATA THE PUBLIC RELIES ON AND HOW MANY OTHER ANIMALS ARE NOT BEING OUTCOME WHO HAVE DIED COMPOUNDING. THIS IS THE FAILED SOFTWARE MIGRATION THAT BROKE THE ADOPTION WEBSITE. Y'ALL HEARD ABOUT THAT? THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED MISSTEPS. THEY REFLECT A LACK OF SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO OPERATE A MODERN MUNICIPAL SHELTER. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT DIRECTOR, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE PRIORITIZE CANDIDATES WITH DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP AND ANIMAL WELFARE, WHICH ROLANDO HAS SAID IN AN ARTICLE TODAY THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE PROVEN EXPERIENCE OPERATING AND OVERSEEING AN OPEN INTAKE MUNICIPAL SHELTER AND A CLEAR AND CREDIBLE COMMITMENT TO THE NO KILL PHILOSOPHY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. UM, SO MICHELLE WITTENBERG AND THEN WILL CAMILLE FOSTERS BE READY TO STEP UP AFTER THAT, PLEASE? HI, UH, I'M MICHELLE WITTENBERG AND I'M A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'VE ADOPTED, UM, FROM SHELTERS ALL ACROSS AUSTIN FOR THE 30 YEARS THAT I'VE LIVED HERE. I AM AN ATTORNEY, UM, BY PROFESSION AND TRADE, UM, BUT I DONATE AND TO JACK JACKS PACK AND I VOLUNTEER AND I ADOPT FROM THEM. AND SO I'M ONE OF THE MANY VOLUNTEERS, LIKE SO MANY PEOPLE IN HERE WHO I HAVE HEARD SPEAK, UM, THIS EVENING. UM, THANK YOU ALL, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS WORK. I'M NEWER TO THIS GAME. THIS IS THE SECOND MEETING THAT I'VE ATTENDED AND INTEND TO PARTICIPATE AS FULLY AS, UM, I'M ALLOWED TO. UM, I WOULD SAY THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT, THAT I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT ME IS THAT I, MY OTHER, THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE A PASSION FOR AND THAT I VOLUNTEER WITH IS OVARIAN CANCER. AND SOMETHING I FOUND IN DOING THAT, EVEN, EVEN WORKING WITHIN THE BEST INSTITUTIONS IN TEXAS OF THE NATION, IS THAT EVERYBODY HAD A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND KIND OF THOUGHT THAT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT. AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT THE ONCOLOGIST DOES IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT AND WHAT THE PHARMACEUTICAL CO COMPANIES DO IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. EVERYBODY IS, BUT PEOPLE SOMETIMES FORGOT IN, UM, THE FERVOR OF CARING FOR THE PATIENT THAT A WHEEL HAS ONE HUB IN MANY SPOKES AND THAT THE PATIENT HAS TO BE AT THE HUB AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS A VERY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SPOKE. AND I SEE THAT IN EDUCATION AND I SEE THAT HERE, BUT THE ANIMALS ARE AT, THEY ARE THE ONLY HUB. NONE OF US ARE, WE ARE ALL INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SPOKES AND A WHEEL HAS TO HAVE SPOKES TO ROTATE. AND I, I, I HOPE THAT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, THIS NEW ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, THAT TO ME, UM, IT DOES SEEM THAT WE NEED, AND SUSIE CHASE, I HEARD YOU MENTION THIS, A CULTURE CHANGE AND WE'VE ALL WORKED IN PLACES, WHETHER IT'S YOUR LOCAL PTA OR YOUR JOB OR A LAW FIRM OR WHATEVER IT IS, THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN CULTURES AND SOME, UM, SOME ARE SYSTEMICALLY ROTTEN, OTHERS ARE INCREDIBLE OCCASIONALLY, AND SOME ARE IN BETWEEN. UM, BUT IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE CULTURE, AND IF IT IS NOT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, A CULTURE THAT DOES UTILIZE ALL OF THE IMPORTANT SPOKES, AND ONE OF THESE, ONE OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE THESE INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE VOLUNTEERS AND WHAT THEY BRING TO THIS FOR THE ANIMALS, UM, OF AUSTIN IN THE STATE, I, I THINK THAT WE'LL BE MISSING THE TARGET. AND AGAIN, I THANK ALL OF YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO, UH, CAMILLE FOSTERS, ARE YOU HERE STILL? YES, I AM. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES. AND THEN ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ WILL BE AFTER HER, SO PLEASE BE READY. SORRY, GO AHEAD. AWESOME. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CAMILLE WASINGER. OH, NO PROBLEM. UM, MY NAME IS CAMILLE WASINGER. I'M A VOTER AND TAXPAYER IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE. I'M ALSO A VOLUNTEER IN FOSTER FOR AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND CARE DEEPLY ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE IN AUSTIN. I WANT TO START BY SAYING THAT AUSTIN CANNOT SAY THAT IT IS NO KILL WHEN INTAKE IS CLOSED AND ANIMALS ARE QUITE LITERALLY DYING IN THE STREET. A 95% LIVE RELEASE RATE IS A LIE WHEN THE MUNICIPAL SHELTER IS TURNING AWAY ANIMALS ON A DAILY BASIS FOR THEM TO GET HIT BY CARS, TAKEN BY DOG FIGHTERS, ET CETERA. ALL THOSE ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER TURNS AWAY, OR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS DON'T PICK UP IN RESPONSE TO A THREE ONE ONE CALL SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE DATA. RIGHT NOW, STREET DOG RESCUES LIKE JACK JACK'S PACK AND TRAPPERS ARE CURRENTLY DOING THE JOB. THE CITY SHOULD BE WITH CONSIDERABLY FEWER RESOURCES. I ASK THAT THE RECRUITERS WHO ARE WORKING TO CHOOSE THE NEXT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR, PLEASE TAKE SOME TIME TO SCROLL THROUGH THE AUSTIN LOST AND FOUNDS PET FACEBOOK PAGE. WHILE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS MEETING TODAY HAS DEMONSTRATED THE GROSS MISMANAGEMENT AND FAILINGS AT THE SHELTER, [03:05:01] IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE RECRUITERS AND THE NEXT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR UNDERSTAND THE FULL PICTURE OF THE CRISIS THAT IS UNFOLDING TRAGICALLY EVERY DAY ON AUSTIN STREET, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IS IN DIRE NEED OF EXPERIENCED, INTELLIGENT, CREATIVE, DISCIPLINED LEADERSHIP TO GET THE CITY OUT OF THIS MESS. THERE ARE THREE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT I WOULD ASK THE RECRUITER WORKING TO FIND AUSTIN'S NEXT ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR TO FOCUS ON ONE, EXPERIENCED AND ANIMAL WELFARE, SHELTER MANAGEMENT, AND DOG BEHAVIOR. AS OTHER COMMENTERS HAVE APTLY POINTED OUT, THE SHELTER IS A BUSINESS. IT NEEDS A COMPETENT CEO AT ITS HELM THAT UNDERSTANDS THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR ITS PRODUCT AND KNOWS HOW TO MANAGE SHELTER TECHNOLOGY, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE SUPPLY AND APPLY CUSTOMER SERVICE TO DRIVE DEMAND THE FUTURE. A IS DIRECTOR NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO MANAGE A SHELTER AND NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND DOG BEHAVIOR SO THAT HE OR SHE CAN UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PUBLIC SAFETY RISK AND A MAORI PUPPY, AND CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL ANIMALS AS SOON AS THEY ENTER THE SHELTER SYSTEM TO MAKE THEIR STAY AS SHORT AND SWEET AS POSSIBLE. TWO, THE NEXT SHELTER DIRECTOR NEEDS CARE AND COMPASSION, GENUINE CARE AND COMPASSION FOR THE CITY'S ANIMALS, BOTH THOSE IN THE CITY SHELTER AND THOSE ON THE STREET WHO ARE THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY. AND THE SHELTER DIRECTOR NEEDS TO BELIEVE THAT A NO KILL OPEN INTAKE SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE. AT THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVEL, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES NEEDS A LEADER WHO ACTUALLY GIVES A CRAP ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO AUSTIN'S ANIMALS. BOTH THOSE IN THE SHELTER'S CARE AND THOSE ON THE STREET, THE CITY'S ANIMAL WELFARE IS IN A COMPLETE CRISIS, AND IT IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY PATH OUT. THE FUTURE LEADER NEEDS TO TRULY CARE ENOUGH TO PUT IN THE IMMENSE CREATIVE EFFORT TO OVER FALL OVERHAUL AND FIX THE SYSTEM, AND NEEDS TO BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN CAN ACHIEVE OPEN INTAKE AND NO KILL. LASTLY, THE FUTURE DIRECTOR NEEDS TO BE A CREATIVE MACRO THINKER WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE FULL EXTENT OF THE CRISIS AND THINK BIG TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES. THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM AND REQUIRES LARGE COMMUNITY SOLUTION. AUSTIN HAS AN IMBALANCE IN SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR SHELTER DOGS. THE STREETS ARE OVERRUN WITH STRAY ANIMALS. THE FUTURE SHELTER DIRECTOR NEEDS TO HAVE A CLEAR PLAN FOR HOW TO INCREASE SPAY AND NEUTER, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC INCREASE AVAILABILITY. THANK YOU FOR VETERINARY AND FOOD VOUCHER. I'M SO SORRY FOR GETTING YOUR LAST NAME INCORRECT. UM, UH, ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ. I'M SO GLAD EVERYBODY IS STILL AWAKE. , UH, THANK YOU AGAIN. I'M IN DISTRICT SEVEN. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. MY OPINIONS ON THE NEXT DIRECTOR MAY NOT BE A POPULAR ONE IN THE ROOM, BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY WHO MIGHT NOT BE HERE WHO ALSO SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS. MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THE HIRING IS THAT WE ARE GONNA END UP WITH SOMEBODY WHO BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY, OR SOMEBODY WITH THAT VISION HAS BEST FRIENDS, HAS EXACERBATED ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES IN ALMOST EVERY CITY THEY'VE TOUCHED. PICKING A CANDIDATE THAT SHARES THAT VISION IS A FAILED CHOICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. YOU'D BE PICKING SOMEONE WHO SUPPORTS IMPLEMENTING POLICIES TO NOT ASK ABOUT LANDLORD RESTRICTIONS, TO NOT DO CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS, TO NOT ASK IF THE PERSON AND ANIMAL, UM, HAS SHELTER. IN OTHER WORDS, ADOPTING OUT TO UNHOUSED PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING THOSE DOGS OUT AT ANY COST, HITTING THOSE NUMBERS. 95. 95 95, WE'VE HEARD THAT TODAY ALL THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH 95% AND STILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THE ANIMALS ARE HUMANELY TREATED. NO KILL DOESN'T MEAN 95. IT MAY IN OUR CITY 'CAUSE OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT 90% IS THE NO KILL NUMBER. WE CAN STILL AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO REACH THAT. WE NEED A DIRECTOR WHO ISN'T SCARED TO MAKE HARD CHOICES, INCLUDING POSSIBLY REPLACING THE CURRENT ASSISTANT DIRECTORS OR SUPERVISORS WHO CAN LOOK INTO TURNING UNUSED CITY BUILDINGS THAT HAVE AC INTO SHELTER SPACE. SO INTAKE ISN'T CLOSED. A DIRECTOR WHO DIRECTS A STAFF TO COOPERATE WITH A PD, HOW ABOUT THAT? WHEN THERE ARE AC CRUELTY CASES OR WHEN OFFICERS FIND ANIMALS, WHICH DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN. A DIRECTOR WHO ISN'T AFRAID TO TELL THE CMO AND COUNSEL THAT THEY NEED MORE APOS AND SUPPORT FOR INJURED ANIMALS VERSUS HIGH PAID UPPER MANAGEMENT. A DIRECTOR WHO TELLS HIS STAFF NOT TO TELL PEOPLE WHO FIND A DOG IN THE MEDIAN OF I 35 LIKE THIS AFTERNOON TO PUT IT BACK ON I 35 BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROOM AT THE SHELTER. AS THOSE PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN THE MEDIAN WITH THE ANIMAL LIKE THEY DID TODAY, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP. FINALLY, IT'LL BE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE A DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS WHO ENCOURAGE THEIR STAFF TO ATTEND FREE ANIMAL CRUELTY DANGEROUS DOG SBI TRAININGS WHERE THEY COULD RECEIVE A CO CREDIT THROUGH D-D-S-H-S WHERE NO ONE HAS BEEN SENT TO FOR YEARS. IT'S INTERESTING HOW EVERY OTHER JURISDICTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR SHELTER SEND STAFF AND APOS, BUT THIS GROUP HAS NOT. I BELIEVE THE PERSON TRAINING ALSO REACHED OUT ASKING IF THEY COULD DO A PERSONALIZED TRAINING HERE AT A A C AND WAS NEVER TAKEN UP ON IT EITHER. I WILL ALSO SAY IT WOULD BE NOT UNCOMMON, I HAVE TO SAY THIS FOR A SHELTER DIRECTOR TO DETERMINE THAT YVETTE, UM, COULD BE AN EXPERT IN ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. IN FACT, I'VE USED THIS ARGUMENT FOR YEARS WHEN I PROSECUTED ANIMAL CRUELTY CASES. [03:10:01] VETS CAN DETERMINE BEHAVIOR AND ARE VERY HELPFUL IN DOING SO IN CRUELTY CASES. I DID WANNA MENTION THAT WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS TO BE RESPONSIBLE WHEN RE WHEN RECOMMENDING SOMEONE I'M IN THE MINORITY. AGAIN, WHILE I THINK THAT SHELTER EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT, I ALSO THINK SOMEONE WHO IS ABLE TO REMOVE EMOTION AND INSERT COMMON SENSE AND THE ABILITY TO HOLD ONTO THAT COMMON SENSE WHEN SOME OF THE MOST VOCAL ADVOCATES TRY TO CLOUD THAT JUDGMENT WITH EMOTION IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENT. UM, NEXT IS DR. ELLEN JEFFERSON. THANK YOU. UM, TURN THIS ON OR IS IT ON? IT'S ON. OKAY. OKAY. UM, UH, MY NAME IS ALAN JEFFERSON AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AUSTIN PETS ALIVE. UH, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY IS NOT PERSONAL. UM, IT IS ACTUALLY DEVOID OF THE EMOTION THAT THE LAST SPEAKER SPOKE OF, AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE HIRING SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS OUR COMMUNITY. I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE'S NO MENTION OF NOKI EXPERIENCE IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE NOKI IS THE FOUNDATION OF TRANSPARENT AND COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS BECAUSE YOU NEED TO LET PEOPLE IN IN ORDER TO SAVE LIVES. IT WASN'T PERFECT BEFORE, BUT IT WAS FAR BETTER WHEN THE CITY DIRECTOR UNDERSTOOD HOW A NO-KILL COMMUNITY NEEDED TO OPERATE EVEN WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES YET BECAUSE THEY COULD SEE THE DESTINATION. THE CITY HAS MOVED FROM 17,000 INTAKE TO 11,000 INTAKE, MEANING 6,000 ANIMALS ARE TURNED AWAY A YEAR. THE SHELTER HAS DOUBLED DOG LENGTH OF STAY SINCE 2017. DOG RETURNED TO OWNER, HAS DROPPED BY MORE THAN HALF. THE 95% WAS THE WAS HERE THEN AND HAS STAYED, BUT FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. AND NOW THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING. HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE MANY OF US DO AGREE ON. WE WANT OUR CITY'S PETS TO LIVE GOOD LIVES IN AND OUT OF THE SHELTER. WE WANT OUR CITY SHELTER TO SERVE AS A TRUE SAFETY NET IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR CITY HAS THE FUNDING. WE HAVE HISTORY THAT SHOWS NO-KILL IS POSSIBLE, AND A COMMUNITY THAT OVERWHELMINGLY WANTS LIVE OUTCOMES FOR EVEN TROUBLED PETS. AT OUR CITY SHELTER, THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR SURVEYS OF OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE CITY'S OWN PUBLIC SURVEY FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ALL SHOW STRONG MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR NO KILL POLICY. OUR CITY IS DOING SO MUCH, SO MANY THINGS RIGHT, SO MUCH FUNDING AND SO MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, BUT IT HAS ALSO DONE A LOT WRONG. THE CITY ALLOWED MANY KEY PROGRAMS TO GO DORMANT AND ALLOWED MANY TO STOP GROWING DATA THAT MATTERS ALSO STOPPED BECAUSE SHARE BECAUSE BEING SHARED SO THE COMMUNITY COULDN'T SEE HOW TO HELP. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE GET THE HIRING RIGHT THIS TIME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MANY OF US CAN HANDLE SIX MORE YEARS OF UNDER PERFORMANCE. OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN VERY STRAINED, A PA AND A S BY THE LACK OF DIRECTOR KNOWLEDGE OF NO KILL PROGRAMMING AND THE CHAOS THAT COMES FROM TRYING TO REINVENT. WITHOUT THAT KNOWLEDGE, WE UNDERSTAND TURNOVER. WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE CITY DIDN'T BUILD AWAY FOR KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE INTRICATE WAYS PETS ARE SAVED TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE PREVIOUS DIRECTORS WHO MADE PROGRESS WITH HALF THE BUDGET TO THE NEW ONES WITH LITTLE TO NO KNOWLEDGE. SINCE IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT WILL HAPPEN THIS TIME, EITHER, IT'S EVEN MORE CRITICAL THAT THE PERSON ALREADY KNOWS MY REQUEST IS THAT THE RECRUITER MAKE IT TRANSPARENT HOW THEY ARE OR ARE PURPOSEFULLY NOT PRIORITIZING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN POLICY AND PROGRAMS THAT KEEP PETS ALIVE WHILE KEEPING INTAKE OPEN AND HUMANELY CARING FOR DOGS IN THE SHELTER. HERE'S WHAT I KNOW WORKED. WHEN OUR CITY HIRED TWO DIRECTORS THAT PRIORITIZED THE PETS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE WAS A HIRING PROCESS THAT THAT BROUGHT MORE THAN TWO CANDIDATES FORWARD FOR A SMALL STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO ACTUALLY VET. UM, THEY ONLY INTERVIEWED CANDIDATES WHO HAD ALREADY ACHIEVED NO KILL AND OPEN INTAKE AT THE SAME TIME. THEY AND WHO HAD, WHO WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE LIVES OF ALL ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO, WHO HAD CREATED A RESURRECTED LIFESAVING PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY AND HAD GOOD REFERENCES FROM THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DR. CRAIG NASER. HELLO, DR. CRAIG NASER, EIGHT YEAR VETERAN OF THE AUSTIN ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION. 2015 TO 2023. THE LAST TWO YEARS AS A CHAIR, I OBSERVE FOUR SHELTERED DIRECTORS IN ACTION. THOUGHTS ARE CREATIVE AND HUMANS ARE VERY POWERFUL CREATURES. WHAT WE THINK OVER AND OVER IN OUR MINDS CREATES A REALITY IN THE WORLD. NO KILL IS THE POLICY, BUT FROM THE START, THERE HAS BEEN A DISAGREEMENT AND A MINORITY OF THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY ABOUT THIS POLICY. SOME CALL IT SLOW KILL. HOWEVER, THERE HAS NEVER EMERGED A FORMAL [03:15:01] ALTERNATIVE POLICY AND THE MAJORITY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT NO KILL. SO WE HAVE NO KILL. HOWEVER, THOUGHTS ARE CREATIVE. NO KILL MUST ASSUME THAT THERE ARE HOMES FOR ALL AUSTIN'S ADOPTABLE CATS AND DOGS. IF ONE ASSUMES THAT THERE ARE NOT SUFFICIENT HOMES IN AUSTIN FOR ALL OF US SINCE ADOPTABLE CATS AND DOGS, NO KILL BECOMES A RACE TO SPAY AND NEUTER ALL PETS. SINCE IN TEXAS, ANIMALS ARE PROPERTY AND PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE. THIS WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH TO GIVE US AN OPEN INTAKE SHELTER. THAT BELIEF WILL NEVER SUSTAIN NO KILL. A SUCCESSFUL NO KILL DIRECTOR FOR AUSTIN, THEREFORE MUST BELIEVE THERE ARE HOMES FOR EVERY ANIMAL. I'VE PERSONALLY SEEN THAT EVERY OTHER APPROACH HAS FAILED IN ORDER TO GET US QUICKLY BACK ON TRACK. THE DUE DIRECTOR SHOULD PREFERABLY ALREADY HAVE EXTENSIVE SHELTER LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A ROBUST PUBLIC PROCESS FOR DIRECTOR SELECTION. AN NO KILL SHELTER CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUE PARTNERS. THE DIRECTOR MUST UNDERSTAND THIS AND EMBRACE IT. THE VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUE PARTNERS MUST THEREFORE BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DIRECTOR SELECTION PROCESS. MY OBSERVATION HAS BEEN THAT THIS HAS LED TO THE BEST RESULTS AND NOT DOING IT HAS LED TO REALLY BAD RESULTS. NOW THAT'S WHAT I'VE SEEN. I DIDN'T START DOING THIS. THE THE COMMISSION. OH, UNDERSTANDING NO KILL. I CAME TO THE COMMISSION AND LEARNED NO KILL BY WATCHING, QUESTIONING, WONDERING. BUT I LEARNED A LOT AND I THINK IT CAN WORK AND I THINK AUSTIN WANTS IT AND I THINK IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE IT WORK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT IS HEATHER MYERS, AND AFTER THAT IT WILL BE SONO PATEL. HEATHER MYERS. YOU'VE HEARD A LOT FROM ME THIS EVENING, AND I PROMISE THIS IS THE LAST TIME. UM, WHEN THE ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR WAS HIRED IN 2019, THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS WERE NOT GIVEN MUCH OF A MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE HIRING CRITERIA, PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS. UM, YOU'VE HEARD THAT FROM SUSIE CHASE, AND I PROBABLY WON'T GO INTO TO DEPTH OVER IT 'CAUSE WHY, WHY REPEAT THINGS FOUR HOURS IN, UM, WHAT FOLLOWED NEXT OVER THE, THE, THE SEVERAL YEARS WAS A STEADY DEGRADATION OF LIFESAVING PROGRAMS, A BREAKDOWN OF ESSENTIAL STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS AND A LOSS OF TRUST BETWEEN THE CITY RESCUE PARTNERS AND THE PUBLIC. THAT PERIOD OF DECLINE ULTIMATELY LED TO THE CREATION OF THE ANIMAL SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN. A PLAN DEVELOPED ONLY AFTER YEARS OF FRUSTRATION AND ONE THAT REAFFIRMED THROUGH THE CITY'S OWN SURVEY, UM, WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ALWAYS SAID. THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES ARE MAXIMIZING LIVE OUTCOMES, OPEN INTAKE, AND HUMANE CARE. WE SIMPLY ARE AT A PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO REPEAT PAST MISTAKES. THE NEXT NEXT DIRECTOR MUST BE SOMEONE WHO NOT ONLY BRINGS A STRONG OPERATIONAL AND SHELTERING EXPERIENCE, BUT WHO UNDERSTAND THE COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC RESCUE PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE NON-NEGOTIABLE. THE HISTORICAL SUCCESS IN ANIMAL WELFARE THAT THIS CITY HAS EXPERIENCED CAME FROM ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS THAT THE SHELTER NEVER WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT IN ISOLATION. FOR THESE REASONS, I RESPECTFULLY URGE THIS COMMISSION TO USE YOUR VISIBILITY AND YOUR INFLUENCE WITH CITY COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE REQUIRE, UM, OR TO ENSURE ROBUST COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION IN THE HIRING PROCESS, PRIORITIZATION OF SHELTERING EXPERIENCE, AND A PROVEN RECORD OF STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION AND THE SELECTION CRITERIA AND INTERVIEWS. AND TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY ADVISORY ELEMENT BEFORE FINAL SELECTION TO BUILD ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC TRUST. LET'S GET THIS THING STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT. AUSTIN BECAME A NATIONAL LEADER IN HUMANE ANIMAL CARE. BECAUSE STAKEHOLDERS WORK TOGETHER, WE CANNOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT. NOW. THE DECISIONS MADE IN THIS HIRING PROCESS WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND ANIMAL WELFARE FOR YEARS TO COME. AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT RIGHT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR TIME TONIGHT AND FOR SPENDING THIS TIME LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE WHO CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY'S ANIMAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, SONO PATEL. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL BE PIA PHILLIPS. ALL RIGHT. HELLO AGAIN. UM, I'M GONNA START AS CHRIS AGAIN. UM, SO AS YOU KNOW FROM CHRIS'S PRIOR STATEMENTS, HE'S A NEW VOLUNTEER WITH THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES AND NEW TO AUSTIN'S ANIMAL WELFARE C COMMUNITY AS WELL. EVEN SO, [03:20:01] IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR ME TO HEAR HOW REMARKABLE THE CITY ONCE WAS WHEN IT CAME TO SAVING AUSTIN'S ANIMALS' LIVES. AUSTIN WAS A NATIONAL MODEL, A PLACE WHERE VOLUNTEERS, RESCUE PARTNERS AND STAFF WORKED HAND IN HAND TOWARD A SHARED GOAL OF SAVING THE LIVES OF ANIMALS. BUT THE SYSTEM I'VE WALKED INTO FEELS VERY DIFFERENT. PROGRAMS FEEL NON-EXISTENT. MORALE AMONG STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS IS LOW. AND THE TRUST THAT ONCE BOUND THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER HAS CLEARLY FRAYED. OCTOBER'S REPORT HAS 550 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTING TO OVER FIVE 7,762 HOURS LAST MONTH ALONE. THAT'S NEARLY THE WORK OF 44 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND SHELTER VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BE SURPLUS TO NEEDS, NOT LABOR CRITICAL TO THE SHELTER'S OPERATIONS, TO THE POINT WHERE THE SHELTER SIMPLY CAN'T FUNCTION IN ITS CAPACITY WITHOUT THEM. THAT BEING SAID, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE HISTORY OF THE INS AND OUTS OF HOW WE GOT HERE, BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THE NEXT SHELTER DIRECTOR MUST BE SOMEONE WHO LISTENS, COMMUNICATES OPENLY AND TRULY VALUES COLLABORATION WITH VOLUNTEERS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CURRENT SITUATION. THEY MUST UNDERSTAND THAT LIFESAVING HUMANE CARE AND RESPONSIBLE INTAKE ARE NOT COMPETING PRIORITIES. THEY'RE INSEPARABLE. I URGE THIS COMMISSION TO INSIST THAT CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER ENSURE THREE THINGS THAT VOLUNTEERS' PERSPECTIVES ARE ACTIVELY SOUGHT AND INCLUDED IN THE HIRING PROCESS. TWO, THAT MAXIMIZING LIVE OUTCOMES AND TRANSPARENCY ARE WRITTEN CLEARLY INTO THE JOB DESCRIPTION. AND THREE, THAT A COMMUNITY ADVISORY ELEMENT IS ESTABLISHED, VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT OUTSIDERS. WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH STAFF FILLING THE GAPS TO AMPLIFY THEIR HARD WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY. PLEASE HELP MAKE SURE THE NEXT DIRECTOR IS SOMEONE WHO RESPECTS VALUES AND REBUILDS THAT PARTNERSHIP. COMING FROM AN EAST AUSTIN RESIDENT OF NEARLY 16 YEARS AND QUICKLY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, UM, I'M SONO AND I LIVE AND VOTE IN DISTRICT ONE. AND THIS AFTERNOON WAS A NORMAL AFTERNOON FOR THOSE OF US IN AUSTIN THAT ARE INVOLVED IN ANIMAL WELFARE ON IN THE STREETS, WHERE AS ROBIN HAD MENTIONED, A DOG WAS SPOTTED IN THE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND POSTED ON THE AUSTIN LOST FOUNTAIN GROUP. TONS OF PEOPLE WERE COMMENTING AND SOMEONE GOT THERE WITHIN MINUTES. SHE, WHEN SHE ARRIVED, HE WAS, SHE, THIS DOG WAS ABOUT TO JUMP OFF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. SHE MOVED THE DOG TO SAFETY AND STARTED CALLING 9 1 1 AND 3 1 1 REPEATEDLY AND WAITED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR THREE HOURS AND NO ONE CAME. FINALLY, A LOCAL ORGANIZATION, ONE OF THE FEW THAT STEPS UP FOR MANY OF THESE DOGS IN THE STREETS, TRAPPERS IN THIS CASE, CAME TO TAKE THE DOG IN BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GETTING INTO WHEN SHE RESPONDED TO THE POST TO SAVE THIS DOG'S LIFE. ON MY WAY HERE TONIGHT, I'VE GOT MESSAGES ABOUT A DOG STUCK IN A DRAIN. I WENT OUT AND CALLED FOR HELP TO 9 1 1 AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD RESPOND ONLY IF I CONFIRMED TO TAKE THE DOG IN MYSELF. THAT DOG IS IN MY BATHROOM, SO AS TIRED AS I AM, I'LL DEAL WITH THAT. NEXT. THIS IS A NORMAL DAY FOR ALL OF US. THESE STORIES MATTER. WE'RE DEMANDING. THE NEXT DIRECTOR CARES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, PIA PHILLIPS. OKAY, I'M PIA AS YOU MAY KNOW BY NOW. UM, I'M HERE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SOMEONE WHO HAS ADOPTED A DOG LABELED AS BEHAVIOR, UM, AS BEHAVIORAL OR AGGRESSIVE AND SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW WRONG THESE ASSUMPTIONS ARE. ONCE THAT ONCE THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE STRESS OF THE DAY-TO-DAY SHELTER LIFE. AND TODAY, I'M NOT JUST FRUSTRATED, I'M FURIOUS. UM, AS MANY OF YOU ALSO MAY HAVE SEEN IN AUSTIN MONTHLY, TODAY, OUR INTERIM CHIEF INTERIM CHIEF ANIMAL OFFICER WAS QUOTED SAYING, AND I QUOTE, WE HAVE A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT ARE JUST NOT ADOPTABLE. THEY HAVE BEHAVIOR ISSUES, THEY'RE MOUTHY, THEY CHEW, THEY DON'T GET ALONG WITH KIDS OR WITH MEN OR WOMEN. THIS STATEMENT IS NOT ONLY DISHEARTENING, IT IS PURELY DANGEROUS. AND IT TELLS ME EXACTLY WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS. WE HAVE LEADERSHIP MAKING BEHAVIORAL JUDGEMENTS WITHOUT EVER HAVING WORKED WITH ANIMALS BEFORE. THIS IS SIMILAR TO APPOINTING A CEO TO RUN A THERAPY CLINIC SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD WITH PEOPLE. AS A BUSINESSWOMAN, MYSELF, NEVER WOULD I WANT TO OR TRY TO TAKE ON A ROLE IN WHICH MY BACKGROUND IS NOT FIT FOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS DIRECT IMPLICATIONS ON LIFE OR DEATH FOR LIVING BREATHING BEINGS. I WOULD ALSO EXPECT BOARD TO DO DUE DILIGENCE TO ENSURE THAT THE ROLE WILL BE PROPERLY FILLED. ECHOING THE COUNTLESS AFOREMENTIONED CALLS FOR A LEADER WITH SHELTER AND ANIMAL WELFARE EXPERIENCE. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, BUT GOOD BUSINESS CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT EMPATHY AND COMPASSION IN THEIR LEADERSHIP. BEHAVIOR IS NOT A DEFECT. IT'S COMMUNICATION. EVERY PERSON, EVERY DOG, EVERY LIVING BEING EXPRESSES STRESS, FEAR, AND EMOTION THROUGH BEHAVIOR. WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLES IN A NOISY CLASSROOM, WE DON'T SAY THEY'RE INCAPABLE OF LEARNING. WE RECOGNIZE THE ENVIRONMENT ISN'T HELPING THEM SUCCEED. AND WHEN AN EMPLOYEE MAKES A MISTAKE AND UNDER, UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE, WE DON'T LABEL THEM AS UNEMPLOYABLE. WE LOOK AT WHAT SUPPORT OR CLARITY THEY WERE MISSING. DOGS IN A ALLOWED OVERCROWDED SHELTER ENVIRONMENT WILL NATURALLY BARK, JUMP OR MOUTH. THESE ARE PREDICTABLE STRESS RESPONSES, NOT EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE DANGEROUS OR UNADOPTABLE OPTIMAL. [03:25:02] AUSTIN'S OWN NO KILL POLICIES AND 34 POINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE CLEAR. DOGS MUST BE EVALUATED INDIVIDUALLY USING OBJECTIVE AND CONTEXTUAL ASSESSMENTS, NOT BROAD GENERALIZATIONS. STRESS IN A KENNEL IS NOT THE SAME AS AGGRESSION IN A HOME. AND IN FACT, RESCUERS ACROSS THIS CITY HAVE PROVEN THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, DOGS WRITTEN OFF AS UNADOPTABLE AND THE SHELTER THRIVE ONCE GIVEN STABILITY AND CARE. JUNIOR, MY OWN DOG, WAS ARGUABLY THE MOST UNADOPTABLE. HE WAS PARALYZED WHEN I GOT HIM AND LABELED AS AGGRESSIVE. AND NOW HE HAS ZOOMIES EVERY DAY AND HAS NEVER COME CLOSE TO HURTING PEOPLE. WHETHER THAT IS A STRANGER WALKING THROUGH MY DOOR OR A LOVED ONE. WE ALL AGREE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS. TRUE AGGRESSION SHOULD ALWAYS BE HANDLED RESPONSIBLY AND TRANSPARENTLY. BUT EXPERTISE, REAL ANIMAL WELFARE EXPERIENCE IS WHAT ALLOWS A LEADER TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FRIGHTENED DOG AND A DANGEROUS DOG. THAT'S WHY THE NEXT DIRECTOR MUST HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN SHELTER OPERATIONS, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT, AND HUMANE CARE. THIS CANNOT BE A ROLE FOR SOMEONE LEARNING ON THE JOB. THIS IS WHERE COMPASSION AND COMPETENCE MUST MEET. I ASK THIS COMMISSION TO ENSURE THE HIRING PROCESS IS DUE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS LINE WITH AUSTIN'S NO KILL STANDARDS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS RESCUES, FOSTERS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE A ROLE IN REVIEWING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS HIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. LAUREN FRI AGAIN. AND THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE SYDNEY SMITH. ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS LAUREN, AS YOU KNOW. I'M A BUSINESS FOUNDER HERE IN AUSTIN, AND I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS A RESIDENT TAXPAYER AND COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO WANTS TO SEE THE CITY'S ANIMAL SERVICES RUN WITH THE SAME PROFESSIONALISM AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT ANY PUBLIC DEPARTMENT SHOULD UPHOLD. THIS MORNING IN AUSTIN MONTHLY, THE INTERIM CHIEF ANIMAL OFFICERS QUOTED SAYING, I DON'T THINK I WAS BROUGHT HERE BECAUSE I HAVE ANIMAL EXPERIENCE. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT HAD EVERYTHING ELSE. RESPECTFULLY. THAT STATEMENT IS ALARMING. AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES IS IN CRISIS, INTAKE IS CLOSED. ANIMALS ARE LANGUISHING IN KENNELS FOR MONTHS. RESCUES AND RESIDENTS ARE BEING FORCED TO FILL THE GAPS. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR LEADERSHIP THAT IS LEARNING ON THE JOB. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE INTERIM POSITION WAS FILLED BY A CITY EMPLOYEE RESIGNED FROM A CONVENTION CENTER DURING ITS CONSTRUCTION DOWNTIME. AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, THE COMMUNITY IS GRATEFUL THAT SOMEONE STEPPED IN TO HELP DURING THIS TRANSITION, BUT THAT ARRANGEMENT CANNOT DEFINE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR A PERMANENT ROLE. WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER'S CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE NOW EXTENDED. WE MUST ALSO BE CLEAR, THIS DIRECTOR POSITION IS NOT A CONTINUITY OF EMPLOYMENT BUFFER. IT IS NOT A PENSION HOLDER. IT IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED LEADERSHIP POSITION. AND THE CITIZENS WHO FUND IT DESERVE A QUALIFIED, EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONAL, NOT A CONVENIENT REASSIGNMENT. IT'S NOT, IT'S ABOUT EXPECTING THE SAME LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE FROM ANIMAL SERVICES THAT WE DEMAND FROM ANY DEPARTMENT LABELED CUSTOMER SERVICE. AUSTIN RESIDENTS DESERVE BETTER AND IT STARTS WITH ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE TOP. THANKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SYDNEY SMITH. AND THEN AFTER THAT WILL BE ANGELA PITUS. HELLO, MY NAME IS SYDNEY SMITH. I'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ANDREA INSTEAD OF SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A RESCUE ORGANIZATION FOR THIS PART. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDREA AND AT THREE YEARS OLD, I WAS MAULED BY A ROTTWEILER AND AMERICAN STAFFORD INSURE THAT WERE KEPT ON OUR FAMILY RANCH'S GUARD DOGS. EVEN WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, OUR FAMILY NEVER BLAMED THE DOGS FOR MY ACCIDENT. WE ALL UNDERSTOOD WHAT THOSE DOGS WERE CAPABLE OF, AND ALTHOUGH THE DOGS WERE CHAINED AND KEPT TO THE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, I MUST HAVE GOTTEN TOO CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO GRAB ME. I COME FROM A VERY DOG SAVVY FAMILY. WE HAVE HAD ALL KINDS OF GUARD DOG TYPE BREEDS. I MYSELF EVEN HAD A ROTTWEILER FOR 12 YEARS. A DOG DOES NOT BITE UNPROVOKED. ALTHOUGH SOME BREEDS ARE MORE ASSERTIVE AND PROTECTIVE THAN OTHERS, IT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE AND CONDITIONING TO GET A DOG TO BITE WITH AN INTENT TO HARM. I RECENTLY FOSTERED A YOUNG MASTIFF DOG NAMED GHOST. THOSE PULLED FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER'S BEHAVIOR EUTHANASIA LIST BY AUSTIN PETS LIVE. THIS DOG WAS PURCHASED AND KEPT TO BE A GUARD DOG ON A PROPERTY WHERE HE WAS NOT RESTRAINED OR FENCED IN. HE WAS SET UP FOR FAILURE BY HIS OWNERS. AND AFTER COMPLAINTS AND A BITE RELATED INCIDENT, THEY HAD TO SURRENDER GHOSTS TO AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER, WHERE THIS DOG THEN BECAME THE CITY'S PROBLEM. DESPITE MY EXPERIENCE AS A CHILD, I QUICKLY REACHED OUT TO A PA AND OFFERED MY HOME TO GET GHOST OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO A HOME FOR OBSERVATION. FRIENDS OF HIS FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HAD REPORTED THIS DOG WAS NOT A DANGER. AND WHEN I MET HIM IN PERSON, IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS NOT A BAD DOG. HE HAD JUST BEEN ON THE WRONG HANDS. I HAD GHOST IN MY CARE FOR TWO WEEKS, AND DURING THAT TIME, HE DID NOT SHOW ME HE WANTED TO HURT ANYBODY ON OUR WALKS. HE WOULD BARK AT STRANGERS, BUT THIS WAS OUT OF FEAR. HE SHOWED ME HOW SMART, SWEET, AND SENSITIVE HE [03:30:01] WAS. GHOST WAS QUICKLY ADOPTED BY A FAMILY EXPERIENCE WITH MASTIFFS. FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH DOGS, I OBSERVED THAT ALL THIS BIG PUPPY NEEDED WAS SOME TRAINING, PATIENCE AND DEDICATION. I CAME HERE TODAY ASKING YOU FOR THE SAME THINGS AS THE CITY'S CURRENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE WHETHER A DOG IS A BITE RISK AND NEED TO BE REEVALUATED. AUSTIN'S STATUS AS THE LARGEST NO KILL CITY IS SOMETHING WE ALL TAKE PRIDE IN, BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN BY CHANCE. IT WAS BUILT THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY DATA AND GENUINE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WHEN THAT COLLABORATION DISAPPEARED, SO DID TRANSPARENCY AND PROGRESS. THE NEW DIRECTOR SEARCH IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD BOTH. I ASK THIS COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND ONE FULL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HIRING TWO, NO KILL AND TRANSPARENCY ARE WRITTEN INTO THE JOBS EXPECTATIONS. THREE, A COMMUNITY VOICE IS INCLUDED BEFORE FINAL SELECTION. AUSTIN'S IDENTITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEFINED BY EMPATHY AND COLLABORATION. LET'S RETURN TO THAT SPIRIT NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANGELA, IS SHE STILL HERE? SHE LEFT. SHE'S NOT HERE. ANGELA LEFT. SHE LEFT. OKAY. UM, LARRY COOK. AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? YES. LAURIE, IT'S LARRY. LARRY. WHOOPS. HI, I'M LARRY COOK. I LIVE IN TRAVIS COUNTY OUT BY CODA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE NEED A DIRECTOR THAT WILL, UM, WE'LL OPEN INTAKE. WE ARE DROWNING IN DOGS. WE NEED HELP. UH, WHEN THE DOGS AREN'T PICKED UP, THEY ARE SHOT. THEY ARE USED IN DOG FIGHTING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY RE REPRODUCE FERAL PUPPIES WHO THEN GROW UP AND RE REPRODUCE MORE FERALS. WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE DOGS OUT THERE. THE ONLY HELP THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN IS JACK JACK'S PACK. AND THEY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH. I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY'VE SLEPT IN THREE YEARS. I SEE DEAD DOGS ON THE ROAD. I SEE SICK, MALNOURISHED DOGS EVERY SINGLE DAY. AS A SIDE NOTE, EARLIER THEY TALKED ABOUT THE RABIES VACCINE INCREASE. I THINK THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE GREATER GOOD CHARITY FREE SPAY CLINIC, WHICH BY THE WAY, THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT WILL ACCEPT FERAL DOGS. THEY'RE VACCINATING LIKE 500 A MONTH NOW. UM, THERE WAS AN EXAMPLE. THERE WAS A, A DOG, A MAN THAT DIED AND HIS DOG WAS NOT PICKED UP. THAT DOG WENT ON TO FATHER TWO YEARS WORTH OF PUPPIES. HE WAS SHOT. HE WAS USED IN DOG FIGHTING. UH, JACK JACK'S PACK CAME OUT, HELPED ME TRAP HIM. THE VET FOUND 176 SHRAPNEL PIECES IN HIM, AND THREE BULLET CASINGS. ALL OF THOSE PUPPIES THAT HE FATHERED, THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE DYING, SLOWLY EATEN BY COYOTES, UH, BEING SHOT AT. THEY HELPED ME RESCUE ANOTHER DOG THAT WAS USED AS A BAIT DOG. HE HAD A EMBEDDED ROPE IN HIS LEG WHERE THEY HAD STAKED HIM DOWN FOR A DOG FIGHTING RING. WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE OPEN INTAKE. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE HELP. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT HERE. UM, AND UH, JUST TO SAY, I ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE GOOD FIX, BUT THERE WAS NO GOOD FIX. UM, THERE WAS NO GOOD FIX CLINIC IN OCTOBER, AND THAT WAS SPECIFICALLY AN OCTOBER NUMBER WHERE THERE WAS THE JUMP. SO STILL, OH, I THOUGHT THERE WAS ONE IN OCTOBER. I'M STILL CURIOUS. I THINK AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, AUGUST. UH, OKAY. SO WE'RE FINALLY AT, UM, STAFF COMMENT ON, UM, WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER CARBO HALL FOR DISCUSSION. ITEM SIX, UPDATE ON THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES. HI. GOOD EVENING. UH, CHAIR COMMISSIONERS. I'M SUSANNA GARBA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE RODNEY CRANE, UH, FROM MGT. UH, HE WILL BE PRESENTING, UH, THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS FOR THE DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES. GOOD EVENING. GO OVER ABOUT MY COMPANY. I'M SO SORRY IF SOMEONE IS SPEAKING PEOPLE ONLINE. WE, WE'VE LOST AUDIO. WE CAN'T HEAR Y'ALL. TRY AGAIN. THANK YOU. THERE WE GO. OKAY. UM, SO [03:35:01] GO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY COMPANY THEN. UH, WHAT WE WENT THROUGH IN TERMS OF BUILDING THE PROFILE FOR THIS RECRUITMENT. TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT, UH, STATUS AND NEXT STEPS, AND THEN, UH, QA PROCESS. SO, UM, RODNEY CRANE, UH, I'M ACTUALLY A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY AND HAVE SPENT TIME WITH, UH, VARIOUS RECRUITMENTS. UH, BUT I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN, UM, BOTH HR, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS IN CONSULTING. UM, MARY, UH, JACOBS IS MY DIRECTOR AND SHE HAS OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IS ALSO ASSISTING WITH THIS RECRUITMENT PROCESS. UH, SHE'S BEEN A FORMER CITY MANAGER, UH, AND HAS SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON POSITIVE THINGS IN THE, IN THE, UH, WORLD OF WORK, INCLUDING, SHE'S BEEN ON THE ICMA BOARD AS AN OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. UH, OUR COMPANY, UM, THANK YOU HAS, UH, BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 50 YEARS. WE JUST CELEBRATED THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR. UH, YOU CAN SEE THE AREAS IN WHICH WE DO CONSULTING, UM, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE FOCUS ON WORK THAT WILL PROVIDE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY ITSELF. SO VERY SERVICE ORIENTED. WE FOCUS ON, UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. WE FOCUS ON THREE AREAS IN TERMS OF HOW WE CREATE OUR VALUE. THE FIRST ONE BEING ASSOCIATED WITH OUR PERSPECTIVE. WE DO HAVE, UH, A GREAT, UH, A GREAT TRACK RECORD AS IT RELATES TO THE WORK WE'VE DONE ACROSS THE US. UM, OPERATING IN OVER 40 STATES AT THIS POINT. UM, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY REALLY, REALLY UNDERSTAND THE VALUE THAT WE PROVIDE. AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY, UH, HAVE, UH, A REPEAT CUSTOMER RECORD OF OVER 40%. AND WHEN WE DO OUR ASSESSMENTS THAT WE GET A 94% OUTSTANDING RATING. SO, UH, DEFINITELY PUT A PRIORITY ON IT. AND THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATION. I'M SORRY, I'M LOSING MY VOICE. I GUESS IT'S LATE. MM-HMM . UM, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROF PROFILE ITSELF. WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT ASSISTING THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND PARTNERING WITH THEM ON THIS RECRUITMENT, THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THAT'S, UH, BEING RECRUITED FOR. AND THAT INVOLVES A LOT OF RESEARCH, UH, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT TREND DATA IN THE INDUSTRY, UNDERSTANDING ALSO THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH, UH, OTHER POSTINGS. SO WE LOOK AND SEE WHAT OTHER LOCATIONS ARE POSTING JOBS SIMILAR TO IT, HOW ARE THEY, UH, IDENTIFYING THOSE, UM, OPPORTUNITIES. AND THEN WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE RECRUITMENT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND THAT'S WHEN WE DIVE IN, EXCUSE ME, INTO SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT INFORMATION FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THE, UH, RECRUITMENT ITSELF. SO IN OUR PROJECT, UH, KICKOFF MEETING, WE GET TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, UH, WITH THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND THE HR TEAM. UM, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET INFORMATION, UH, THROUGH FOCUSED INTERVIEW PROCESS, UH, WITH STAKEHOLDERS. UH, WE DID RECEIVE, AS YOU SEE THERE, UM, INFORMATION ON WHO THE CITY WANTED US TO INTERACT AND ENGAGE WITH. AND THEN IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A ROBUST FEEDBACK PROCESS, WE ALSO DID AN ONLINE SURVEY. IT WAS REFERENCED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER. UH, WE HAD A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE RATE. UM, IT WAS FOUR OVER 400 PEOPLE ACTUALLY PROVIDED FEEDBACK THROUGH THAT SURVEY PROCESS. SO WE FELT LIKE WE GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING AND QUITE A BIT OF CONSISTENCY, UH, FROM THOSE VARIOUS SOURCES IN TERMS OF WHAT THINGS NEEDED TO BE PRIORITIES AS WE WENT THROUGH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS. SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF THE DATA FROM THE SURVEY ITSELF. UM, YOU CAN SEE IS THAT, UH, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A HIGH NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS, AND SO THEY WERE CLEARLY THE STRONGEST GROUP THAT RESPONDED. UM, MY GUESS IS THAT THE OTHER CATEGORIES, EITHER INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT WANNA BE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED. UM, THAT'S MOST LIKELY WHAT IT IS. OR SOMEONE DID NOT SEE A CATEGORY THAT THEY FELT REPRESENTED WHO THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE AS A RESPONDENT IN THE SURVEY PROCESS. UM, BUT WE FELT LIKE ALL THE INFORMATION WAS VERY VALID AND WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE STRONG RESPONSE RATE. SO THEN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE SO FAR. UM, THIS SLIDE SAYS 30, I MEAN 22, BUT THAT WAS AS OF FRIDAY. UH, SO AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE 37 PEOPLE WHO'VE APPLIED. UM, AND WE ARE STILL VETTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO IDENTIFY THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AGAINST THE, BOTH THE, UH, JOB DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICALLY THE PROFILE OR BROCHURE THAT I BELIEVE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMISSION MEMBERS. UM, AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BOTH SEARCH FOR BOTH PASSIVE AND ACTIVE CANDIDATES. SO [03:40:01] REACHING OUT THROUGH OUR NETWORKS AND THROUGH THOSE VARIOUS SOURCES. BUT WE'RE GETTING ACTUALLY A VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE RATE. WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH IT. SO NEXT STEPS, UH, AS HAS ALREADY BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE POSTING IS ACTIVE, UH, 10 MORE DAYS. SO WE DO EXPECT THAT NUMBER TO INCREASE. UM, AND THEN IT'S IN DECEMBER THAT WE'LL ACTUALLY START THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS FIRST WITH A, UH, RE REMOTE PROCESS AND THEN WITH IN-PERSON INTERVIEWS. UH, SO THE PEOPLE WHO APPLY AND WHO, UH, I SPEAK WITH, THERE WERE THIS, UH, CALENDAR AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AVAILABLE ON THE DATES THAT WE PLAN TO SPEAK WITH THEM MORE FORMALLY. UH, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY IDENTIFIED BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR THE FIRST PART OF NEXT YEAR. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THE COMMISSION MIGHT HAVE. COMMISSIONER LEMAN. HI. UM, THERE WAS A, YOU HAD THE PRE-INTERVIEWS WITH COMMISSION AND PEOPLE AT CITY IDENTIFIED, THEN YOU HAD THE SURVEYS. WILL THERE BE ANY MORE STAKEHOLDER INPUT ONCE YOU GET TO A SMALLER GROUP OF CANDIDATES OR NO? AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? GREAT QUESTION. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION. UH, COMMISSIONER. YES. SO IN THE DECEMBER TIMEFRAME, UH, NEXT MONTH, UH, WE WILL HAVE A GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS OF THOSE OF, OF WHOEVER, YOU KNOW, UH, PROCEEDS TO THOSE, UH, INTERVIEWS. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THAT MAKEUP MIGHT BE IN TERMS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS? YES. THE MAKEUP WILL BE A WIDE VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES AND ACROSS COLLABORATION OF, OF THE PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. UM, AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THIS COULD BE A WIDE, UH, PERSPECTIVE AND BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE IN TERMS OF THE MAKEUP, IT'S REALLY INTENTIONAL THAT WE HAVE A, UH, A BROAD SET OF, OF STAKEHOLDERS THAT WE WORK WITH, UM, AND THAT WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THAT FUTURE DIRECTOR. JUST ONE MORE QUESTION, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT AT THIS POINT, BUT IN TERMS OF PAST EXPERIENCE WITH, UM, SHELTERING AND, UM, NO KILL, WHERE DOES THAT FACTOR INTO THE WEIGHT THAT YOU MIGHT LOOK AT? THAT WILL BE PART OF THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS. SO AS PART OF THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TAKE A DE DEEPER DIVE INTO THE TECHNIQUES, THE EXPERIENCES, THE STRATEGIES THAT THEY HAVE USED IN PRIOR EXAMPLES OR PRIOR ROLES. AND SO THAT CERTAINLY WILL BE PART OF THE INTERVIEWING PROCESS. OKAY. THANKS VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH, NO PROBLEM. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. ALL RIGHT. UM, NEXT WE HAVE WORKING GROUP UPDATE. [7. Update from the Strategic Plan Working Group regarding October 2025 meetings and implementation of the strategic plan to prioritize the top 15 strategic goals. ] I, UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, UPDATE FROM THE STRAT. PAT WAS ON THERE. SHE'S NOT ON AT ALL. NO. SH PAT, PAT BE TRACE. YEAH, SHE HUNG UP. OKAY. YES. UM, UPDATE FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP, UH, REGARDING OCTOBER, 2025 MEETINGS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN TO PR PRIORITIZE THE TOP 15, UM, STRATEGIC GOALS. COMMISSIONER FERGUSON. SO NO, NO PUBLIC. OKAY, GREAT. UM, SO YEAH, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT, UM, TEAM. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL COMMISSIONERS. UM, WE HAVE, UM, PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY STRONG WITH, WITH DATA AND INFORMATION. UM, WE, UM, AT JUAN'S REQUEST, WE PRIORITIZED, UM, THE TOP 15 THAT, UM, WE FELT AS A GROUP WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, AND WE HAD SORT OF LIKE A RANKING SYSTEM TO DO THAT. WE PROVIDED THOSE TO JUANI. UM, AND SHE IN TURN PROVIDED US WITH INFORMATION ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT SHE HAS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE THE BASELINE, UM, AND THE BENCHMARKS. AND SO YOU SAW ONE OF THOSE WHICH SHE PRESENTED, UM, TO HERE. SO, UM, NEXT STEPS WE'RE JUST GONNA KEEP GOING, UM, YOU KNOW, TO FINISH ALL THE STRATEGIES, UM, TOGETHER AS A WORKING GROUP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. AND THEN, UM, MOVING ON [8. Approve a change to the scope of work and membership of the Renter’s Policies Working Group. ] TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS APPROVE A CHANGE TO THE SCOPE OF WORK AND THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE RENTER'S POLICIES WORKING GROUP. UM, COMMISSIONER HOLT. YEAH. UM, SO WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING LAST WEEK. IT WAS AN EXCELLENT MEETING. UM, ARE, ARE WE REQUIRED TO GIVE ALL WORKING GROUP MEMBER NAMES OR IS THAT JUST A THING THAT HAS STARTED UNOFFICIALLY HAPPENING? [03:45:01] WE NEED TO VOTE ON THEM. OH, TO VOTE WHO'S GONNA BE PART OF THE WORKING GROUP? MM-HMM . YEAH. AND THIS, AND THIS IS, HAS THAT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE? I JUST, I'M ONLY ASKING 'CAUSE I KNOW IN PREVIOUS WORKING GROUPS, AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IS THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE, SINCE THIS GROUP BECAME FORMALIZED WHO MIGHT BE JOINING. SO IS IT JUST OKAY IF WE DO MONTHLY UPDATES AS THOSE PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY. GET BROUGHT IN? YEAH, THEY CAN JOIN WHENEVER, BUT JUST WE, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTERWARDS WE NEED TO SAY THEM AND VOTE ON THEM, BUT PERFECT. OKAY. UM, SO THE FOLKS IN THIS GROUP, IT'S ME, UH, COMMISSIONER LOMAN, JULIE OLIVER, SUSIE SMART, KATE MACAND, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M SAYING HER LAST NAME WRONG. UM, AND JUAN TORRES HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS GROUP. UM, AND THERE ARE TWO MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST, BUT AT THIS TIME IT'S JUST THE SIX OF US. UM, SO THAT'S ISSUE ONE, ISSUE TWO. AND I, I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS PART OF WHAT WAS BEING ADDED TO THE AGENDA ITEM. SO IF WE ALSO NEED TO EDIT TO NEXT MONTH FOR THIS SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE WANT TO CHANGE THE SCOPE TO BE SPECIFICALLY PET FRIENDLY HOUSING. UM, AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST RESTRICTED TO RENTERS OR JUST RESTRICTED TO DOGS, WHICH IS I THINK HOW IT KIND OF ORIGINALLY CAME TO BE. SO, UM, NOPE. IT'S ON THE AGENDA TO UPDATE THE SCOPE AS WELL. YEAH. TO DO THAT. OKAY. COOL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE NAME ALSO MATTERED, BUT, OR IF THAT WAS LIKE A SEPARATE PART OF THE BOAT, BUT YEAH. SO, UM, TELL ME WHAT TO SAY TO MAKE THIS PART GO QUICKLY. . SEE. SO I BELIEVE THERE'S A MOTION TO UPDATE THE, UM, SCOPE OF WORK AND THE NAME OF THIS WORKING GROUP TO THE RENTERS POLICIES WORKING GROUP. WE WANT IT TO BE THE PET FRIENDLY HOUSING WORKING GROUP TO THE PET FRIENDLY HOUSING WORKING GROUP. AND FOR THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP. CAN I TO BE APPROVED? DO I NEED TO SEPARATE THOSE OUT? MM-HMM . OKAY. AND FOR THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP TO BE THE SIX MEMBERS YOU NAMED, DID YOU GET THOSE NAMES? I THINK I GOT FIVE OUTTA SIX. COULD YOU REPEAT THEM ONE MORE TIME? SURE. IT'S ME, COMMISSIONER DEN, UH, JUANI TORRES. JULIE OLIVER, SUSIE SMART, AND KATE MCCANN. THINK IT'S, AND I MIGHT BE SAYING KATE'S LAST NAME WRONG. I'M SORRY. . CARDINAL ARD CARDINAL. I KNEW THERE WAS A LETTER IN THERE THAT I WASN'T, REMEMBER, I WON'T EMAIL YOU FOR SPELLING . ALRIGHT. UM, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MOVE? YES. UH, COMMISSIONER DANIEL, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO SECOND? I'LL SECOND VICE CHAIR. LINDA, I SEE YOU. UM, AND THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, IT'S UNANIMOUS OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, LET'S DO FUTURE [FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS] AGENDA ITEMS VIA EMAIL. DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD THE DEADLINE FOR, UM, ITEMS ON THE, ON THE DECEMBER AGENDA? UM, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL AT LEAST COUPLE WEEKS. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO SEND ME ITEMS A WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE THE MEETING IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE BECAUSE OF THE HOLIDAYS. GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH WITH THAT. DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MAKE A MOTION. UH, COMMISSIONER NORTON A SECOND. JUDGE DANIEL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.