Mar 09, 2026 Animal Advisory Commission

DOGS OR WE HAVE DOGS STACKED UP IN CRATES, LIKE RIGHT NOW AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.

UM, AND SO WE HAVE SOME PUBLIC

[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]

COMMENT.

FIRST WE HAVE ROBIN KATZ GONZALEZ.

UM, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, UH, MY NAME IS ROBIN GONZALEZ AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M A PROFESSOR.

I TEACH AT UT LAW AND ST.

MARY'S.

I TEACH ANIMAL LAW.

I WORK WITH THE ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND AS A CONTRACT ATTORNEY AND CRIMINAL LAW CONSULTANT.

UM, AND TODAY I WANNA FOCUS ON SOME CONCERNING, UM, POSTS THAT I SAW, MAINLY INVOLVING THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO LOOSE ANIMALS, UM, INVOLVING 3 1 1 CALLS.

AND SO THE FIRST TWO, UH, PICTURES YOU'LL SEE HERE, THE FIRST, UM, IS A DOG THAT WAS ABANDONED IN A CRATE FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS.

AND THIS WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR APOS TO WORK, UM, MORE COLLABORATIVELY, MORE COLLABORATIVELY WITH A PD.

THE SECOND IMAGE IS AN IMAGE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THAT, UM, THIS DOG WAS ABANDONED.

UM, UM, HAD A WHITE VAN WITH PUPPIES.

THE PERSON WHO ABANDONED THE DOG, UM, DOG HASN'T MOVED.

3 1 1 WOULDN'T COME AND GET HIM.

THE NEXT POST IS ANOTHER DOG THAT WAS FOUND.

AND THIS, THIS PERSON WAS ADVISED TO CALL 3 1 1.

THEY SAID THEY CALLED 3 1 1, AND THEY SAID THEY'LL CON CONTACT HIM WITHIN FIVE DAYS.

UM, SORRY, THIS IS A, A DUPLICATE SLIDE.

I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

AND THEN IN THIS CASE, UM, THE, ON THE SLIDE ON THE LEFT, THESE ARE TWO DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ROAMING FOR A WHILE.

THEIR OWNERS WENT TO REHAB, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ARGUE OR NOT ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE ABANDONED, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS ANIMAL CONTROL WAS CALLED.

AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FULL, SO THEY COULDN'T TAKE 'EM.

SO NOW WE HAVE TWO DOGS THAT ARE HOUSE TRAINED, POTENTIALLY ADOPTABLE, THAT ARE ROAMING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

UM, NEXT SLIDE IS THREE.

ONE ONE WILL NOT PICK HIM UP.

SO WE SEE A TREND HERE THAT 3 1 1 IS, OOPS, NOT PICKING UP THESE ANIMALS.

UM, THE LAST TWO, UH, ANIMAL SERVICES DID TAKE THESE DOGS, BUT THEN TOLD THIS PERSON THAT THEY NEED TO STOP RESCUING DOGS.

SO THAT'S, THAT RAISES AN EYEBROW.

AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE, THIS DOG HAD ISSUES WITH THE TH LEGS AND WAS REALLY NOT MOBILE.

AND THE PERSON TRIED TO TAKE HIM TO THE EMERGENCY VET AND THEY WERE TURNED AWAY.

SO, REALLY, IN THE FUTURE, I WANNA KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH 3 1 1.

I WONDER IF ANY OF YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO SPEAK WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS OR WITH THE DIRECTOR ABOUT TALKING THROUGH THE 3 1 1, GETTING MORE CONSISTENT RESPONSES AND MAYBE MAKING THIS AN AGENDA ITEM, MOVING APOS UNDER A PD SO THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER.

UM, MOST APOS IN CITIES IN TEXAS ARE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN CONCERNS ABOUT OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF ANIMALS.

AND IT'S, I SAY, DARN, IF YOU DO, DARN IF YOU DON'T, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DIRECTOR'S UNDER, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A HARD JOB, HARD PLACE TO BE IN BECAUSE WE HAVE NO KILL.

SO WE EITHER HAVE STRAY

[00:05:01]

NEXT WE HAVE ROCHELLE VICKERY.

I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS.

UH, YESTERDAY WE GOT THE LAST OF THE THREE DOGS.

AND IT WAS NOT THE ANIMAL SHELTER THAT DID IT.

IT WAS A LADY BY THE NAME OF AMY.

HER AND HER FRIEND CAME OUT THERE BECAUSE THE CITY ANIMAL SHELTER GOT A, THEY PUT A TRAP OUT THERE.

THEY GOT A GERMAN SHEPHERD, WHICH I DID NOT KNOW THAT WAS RUNNING LOOSE AND TOOK THE TRAP AND LEFT PERIOD.

AND PAT, I WANT TO LIFT HER UP AND SAY HALLELUJAH, BECAUSE WHEN I NEEDED HELP, SHE HELPED ME.

SHE KNEW WHO TO CALL TO HELP ME GET THESE THREE DOGS THAT WAS OUT THERE, RED.

AND, AND JACK, I CALL HIM, HE WAS THE, THE OBERMAN.

AND I CALLED HIM BLACK JACK, AND THEN BETTY WHITE, BECAUSE SHE WAS WHITE WITH BLACK EARS.

UH, WE GOT THE, THE, THOSE TWO.

I'M VERY UPSET.

NOT WITH MONICA, SHE HASN'T BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS, TO, TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON.

UH, IT TOOK 10 DAYS BEFORE ANIMAL CONTROL.

REMEMBER IF I, I TOLD HER, I SAYS, HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL.

CONTACT ME.

I'LL TAKE YOU TO THE EXACT SPOT WHERE THEY ARE.

THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME.

AND I CALLED PAT, SOMEBODY SENT BRANDON OR BRENDA, OR HOWEVER HE SAYS HIS NAME, AND HE'S LIKE A RADAR TO HOMELESS CAMPS.

AND IN TURN, HE, HE FOUND THE HOMELESS CAMP.

AND, UH, ALL THOSE HOMELESS CAMPS KNOW, KIND OF INTER INTERMINGLE WITH EACH OTHER AND KNOW THINGS THAT GOES ON.

IT'S BEEN THERE TWO YEARS.

THEY'VE GOT DOGS.

THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF THEIR DOGS.

THEY ASKED IF THEY WAS FEEDING THOSE DOGS.

I HAD THEM PULL UP, TOOT MY HORN, AND HERE THEY COME.

I GAVE THEM FOOD, GAVE THEM WATER WAITING FOR THE CITY.

AND THAT'S WHEN I CALLED PAT, COME TO FIND OUT THE HOMELESS CAMP WAS GIVING THEM SOME FOOD BECAUSE BRANDON GAVE THEM FOOD.

AND THAT MESSED UP OUR WHOLE THING.

AND THAT'S WHY IT TOOK OVER 30 DAYS TO GET THESE DOGS.

BUT I WAS SO RELIEVED YESTERDAY MORNING THAT, UH, AMY AND HER FRIEND, 'CAUSE THEY GOT A BIG CAGE, HAD A CAMERA.

THEY WERE SEEING IT.

THERE WAS TWO OTHER DOGS THAT CAME UP ON THE, ON THE SITUATION.

SO THERE WAS FIVE DOGS THAT WAS TAKEN IN THE GERMAN SHEPHERD AND SOME KIND OF, I CALL IT A FOO DOG.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BIGGER THAN A, THAN A SHIHTZU, BUT IT'S, IT'S A REAL, VERY NICE, VERY NICE, CUTE DOG.

AMY AND THEM CAUGHT THAT DOG AND GAVE IT TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

SO THEY ONLY CAUGHT ONE DOG.

OUT OF ALL THOSE DOGS THAT WERE OUT THERE, AMY AND THEM CAUGHT THE, CAUGHT THESE OTHERS.

THERE'S A GREAT PYRENEES THAT'S RUNNING LOOSE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO IT BELONGS TO, SO I JUST WANNA TELL YOU, WE GOT 'EM.

BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

AND THEY WAS ROAMING EVERYWHERE.

AND THEY ENDED UP OVER THERE AT THE, WHERE THE SMART PROGRAM IS THE NEAR THE JAIL WHERE THE HALFWAY HOUSE, THEY CALL IT THE SMART PROGRAM ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.

AND I WAS SITTING FIRST AT 9 73 AND 71, AND I HOLLERED AT JACK 'CAUSE THE LIGHT WAS FIXING TO TURN.

AND HE STOPPED AND LOOKED, UH, NOT JACKET YOU HAVE, UH, RED.

I HOLLERED RED.

AND HE STOPPED AND LOOKED AT ME, AND THEN THE CAR STARTED GOING IN.

BUT HE GOT CLIPPED ON THE BACK RIGHT SIDE.

BUT HE WAS STILL RUNNING AROUND.

AND HE GOT THE OTHER ONES TO FOLLOW HIM OVER THERE SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW.

BUT IT'S, WE DID GET THOSE DOGS AND, AND I'M, I'M GLAD I KNOW THE CITY DIDN'T WANNA TAKE 'EM IN, BUT THEY HAD TO.

THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST THE SITUATION.

THEY WAS DUMPED AND THERE WAS NOT A FEEDER.

'CAUSE I COULDN'T TAKE THEM IN.

BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT.

THE GOOD NEWS WE DID, IT TOOK A MONTH, OVER A MONTH.

CAN I ASK A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? SO THE DOGS DIDN'T BELONG TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE? NO, I DROVE UP TO THE PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHAT I TOLD Y'ALL LAST MONTH.

I DROVE UP TO THE PEOPLE ON THE FALWELL LANE ALONG THE RIVER THERE FROM I 30.

BUT THEY, THEY WERE JUST TEMPORARILY FEEDING 'EM FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

OH, OH, THE HOMELESS CAMP? NO, BUT I CAUGHT THE PEOPLE DUMPING THE DOGS.

I PEED MYSELF IN THE BEHIND BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THEIR LICENSE NUMBER OR THEIR CAR.

I, WE HAD HAVE GOTTEN

[00:10:01]

NEXT WE HAVE JULIE OLIVER.

HI EVERYONE.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JULIE OLIVER, AND I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN.

TONIGHT, I AM HERE TO ASK Y'ALL, AS YOU LOOK INTO NEXT YEAR AND, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, UM, PERHAPS IN A BOND PACKAGE THAT YOU'LL CONSIDER A DA COMPLIANCE FOR THE SHELTER FACILITY.

AND I'LL SAY, I WAS THERE WITH MY SON THIS WEEKEND.

HE WAS WALKING DOGS, AND WE ENCOUNTERED SOMEBODY IN A MOBILITY DEVICE.

AND IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING TO GET THROUGH THE KENNELS IN A MOBILITY DEVICE AT, UM, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES.

AND FOR, UM, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE OUT, WELL, I WILL SAY THERE ARE NO DOOR, UH, BUTTONS THAT ALLOW AUTOMATIC OPENING OF DOORS.

SO IF SOMEBODY'S NOT MANNING THE FRONT DESK AND THEY DON'T SEE SOMEBODY OUTSIDE, THAT PERSON ISN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO GET IN.

UM, IF YOU GO THROUGH THE KENNEL RUNS, AGAIN, NONE OF THE DOORS ARE AUTOMATIC, SO IT LEAVES THE OUTSIDE AREA MUCH EASIER TO GET THROUGH.

UM, BUT EACH ONE OF THE OUTSIDE RUNS HAS CHAINS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SOMEBODY, OR THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO PLAY A GAME OF LIMBO IN A WHEELCHAIR, UM, TO TRY TO GET UNDER THAT.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF TO MAYBE TAKE THOSE CHAINS DOWN SO THAT IT IS A LITTLE MORE, UM, EASY FOR FOLKS TO GET AROUND.

UM, ONE TIME A FEW MONTHS AGO, A WOMAN CAME, UH, TO, TO FIND A SERVICE ANIMAL.

AND SHE WAS IN, UH, A MOBILITY, UH, CHAIR, AND WE HAD TO HAVE HER GO INTO ONE OF THE CATCH PINS BECAUSE THE PLAY YARDS AREN'T REALLY CONDUCIVE TO WHEELCHAIRS EITHER.

I MEAN, SOME OF THEM, AS YOU ENTER, THEY'RE LIKE REALLY BIG DIPS OR BIG CHUNKS TAKEN OUT.

UM, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THEY'RE PUSHING THEMSELVES OR THEY'VE GOT AN AUTOMATIC MOBILITY DEVICE.

BUT THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK Y'ALL TO CONSIDER IT.

IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO NEED SERVICE ANIMALS.

I THINK SHELTER DOGS MAKE WONDERFUL SERVICE ANIMALS.

UM, I WORK WITH VETERANS WHO, UH, MY DAY JOB IS I WORK WITH VETERANS WHO HAVE A, A WIDE RANGE OF SEEN AND UNSEEN, UH, INJURIES AND TRAUMA.

SO I WOULD JUST ASK Y'ALL TO PRIORITIZE.

AND THE LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO IN THE INTERIM IS JUST REMOVE THE CHAINS FROM THE OUTSIDE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE KENNEL RUNS AND TRY TO SEE SOME OF THOSE DOGS.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

NEXT WE HAVE SUSIE CHASE.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M SUSIE CHASE WITH AUSTIN PETS LIVE.

I JUST WANT TO COME HERE AND QUICKLY UPDATE YOU ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL AREA WIDE ADOPTION EVENT THAT WAS HELD OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS BY NINE LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES.

BECAUSE OF THIS INCREDIBLE COLLABORATIVE EVENT BETWEEN AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, AUSTIN PETS ALIVE, AUSTIN HUMANE SOCIETY, PFLUGERVILLE, UM, WILLIAMSON COUNTY REGIONAL ANIMAL SHELTER, LOVABLE RESCUE, A TX DOGS CLASSIC CANINES, AS WELL AS TRAPPERS.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET 227 ANIMALS ADOPTED, AND MORE THAN 100 ANIMALS WENT INTO FOSTER HOMES.

THAT'S OVER 300 ANIMALS FROM LOCAL SHELTERS AND RESCUES THAT ARE NOW OUT OF THE SHELTERS AND RESCUES THANKS TO THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.

SO IF YOU SEE ANYONE WHO WORKS AT A SHELTER OR RESCUE, PLEASE THANK THEM FOR PARTICIPATING, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN LATER ON THIS YEAR.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

UM, PAT VALTRA, IS SHE, I THINK SHE HAD TO LEAVE OKAY.

BEFORE HER.

AND SHE'S NOT ON THE PHONE.

SHE WAS HERE LIKE, OKAY.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM, UM, FEBRUARY.

SO, UM, WE'LL MOVE ON TO

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER FERGUSON? IS THERE A SECOND? I COMMISSIONER LOMAN? ANY DISCUSSION? NOPE.

ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSING LAST MONTH'S MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

EVERYBODY'S VOTING GREAT.

THEY'RE ALL, EVERYBODY.

IT WAS UNANIMOUS IN SUPPORT.

ALRIGHT, SO NEXT WE HAVE STAFF

[2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports. Presentation by Monica Dangler, Director, Austin Animal Services and Jason Garza, Assistant Director, Austin Animal Services. ]

BRIEFINGS REGARDING MONTHLY REPORTS.

PRESENTATION BY DIRECTOR DANGLER AND, UM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JASON GARZA.

[00:15:01]

GOOD EVENING COMMISSION CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UM, SO SOME UPCOMING EVENTS.

UH, WE'VE GOT THIS, NOPE, MARCH 22ND.

WE'VE GOT OUR WHO LET THE DOGS OUT EVENT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

UM, IT'LL BE A, UM, HOW DO YOU SAY THIS BAR RACHO, UH, PRO WE'LL BE BRINGING SOME ACTION TO THE, UH, SHELTER FOR A WRESTLING EVENT AND, UM, ADOPTION PROMOTION.

SO IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN AND BRING PEOPLE OUT TO THE SHELTER, WHICH IS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS JUST TO INCREASE THAT, UM, TRAFFIC, UM, AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SHELTER.

SO THAT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

UH, MARCH 11TH, THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, AND WE WILL BE CLOSED.

UM, AND, UH, AND MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL BE CLOSED THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR AN ALL STAFF TRAINING.

UM, OUR STAFF HAS BEEN ASKING FOR TRAINING, UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT, UM, TO THEM, UH, IN, IN, UM, ALIGNMENT WITH THE STRATEGIC, UM, PLAN.

UM, IN THIS FIRST CLOSURE, WE'LL BE FOCUSING ON DOG SAFETY.

AS YOU GUYS REMEMBER, WE HAD A, A DOG, UH, ATTACK RECENTLY.

SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING ALL OF THAT TRAINING WITH OUR STAFF SO THAT THEY CAN BE SAFE, AS WELL AS SOME DOG HANDLING, UM, TRAINING AS WELL, SO EVERYONE CAN BE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE, UM, DOING THAT.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, WE'LL BE TALKING MORE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND, UM, UH, DOG, DOG AND CAT BEHAVIOR.

UM, AND I SAID DOG SAFETY.

IT'LL BE ANIMAL SAFETY.

WE HAVE OTHER ANIMALS AT THE SHELTER TOO.

UM, ALSO JUST, UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAD OUR GOOD FIX EVENT, UM, LAST WEEKEND.

UM, WE DID A THOUSAND SPAY AND NEUTER.

SO THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING.

UM, AND, UH, THE KEEP AUSTIN ADOPTING EVENT THAT SUSIE HAD JUST TALKED ABOUT, UM, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, UM, HAD, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 67 OF THOSE ADOPTIONS, UM, AND 14 ANIMALS GOING TO FOSTER ALSO.

SO WE WERE ALL PRETTY EXCITED, UM, TO, UM, SEE THOSE ANIMALS, UH, GO HOME AND HAD SOME GOOD TURNOUTS.

SO, UM, THANK YOU TO THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY.

UM, NEXT WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE 30 60 90 DAY PLAN.

UM, AT THE LAST MEETING WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, BRINGING THIS TO YOU, AND WE HAD OUR FIRST SET OF 30 DAY ITEMS. SO THESE, UM, THE FIRST PAGE SHOWS YOU, OR FIRST SLIDE, SHOWS YOU WHAT ACTION ITEMS WE'VE COMPLETED.

UM, THE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITH THE EVALUATION OF THE PLEA PROCESS FOR LARGE DOGS, UM, GOING TO RESCUE, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH AUSTIN PETS ALIVE TO, UM, SEE HOW TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION A LITTLE BIT QUICKER AND EASIER, UM, AND MAKE SURE WE HAD, UM, GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THEM FOR THAT.

UM, SO WE'VE STARTED THAT PROCESS.

IT'S BEEN GOING FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

WE'LL HAVE A TOUCH BASE WITH THEM, UM, HERE SHORTLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UM, SINCE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND START MAKING THEM AWARE OF PETS NEEDING, UH, RESOURCES BEYOND THE SHELTER, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO START MOVING SOME DOGS, LARGE BREED DOGS OUTTA THE SHELTER, UM, A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY, A LITTLE BIT MORE QUICKLY THAN, UM, IN THE PAST.

SO I, I FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING REALLY PRETTY WELL.

AND WE'RE HOPING AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WE CAN POTENTIALLY REMOVE, UM, THE NEED FOR, UM, THE RESCUE PLACEMENT LIST.

UM, UH, SOME NEW PROGRAMMING THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE START.

WE'VE SAID WE ACCOMPLISHED IT.

WE'RE, IT'S GONNA, WE'RE GONNA ACCOMPLISH IT HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK.

UH, THE DOG DAY OUT IN PAJAMA PARTIES.

UH, THOSE WILL BE BEGINNING, UM, ON THIS FRIDAY.

THIS FRIDAY WE'LL START THE PAJAMA PARTY.

SO OVERNIGHT TRIPS.

UM, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY WILL BE THE DOG'S DAY OUT, WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND CHECK OUT A DOG FOR THE AFTERNOON.

WE'LL BE DOING, STARTING WITH, UM, JUST WEEKENDS DOING THIS, UM, SENDING THEM OUT.

AND THEN AS WE FINE TUNE AND, UM, DO EVERYTHING, WE'LL SLOWLY ADD MORE DAYS.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE 60 AND 90 DAYS OUT, UM, BY THE END OF 90 DAYS, WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THOSE, UM, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE, UM, DOGS ON OVERNIGHT TRIPS OR, UM, JUST DAY TRIPS OUT OF THE SHELTER.

UM, WHICH WE KNOW THOSE THINGS HELP GET PETS ADOPTED.

UM, 'CAUSE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND SEE HOW THEY ARE IN A HOME SETTING.

UM, AND HAND STAFFING.

UH, LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, WE HAD SIX, UH, VET TECHS, POSI VET TECH POSITIONS OPEN.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JOB OFFER THREE, AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE ALL ACCEPTED.

ONE HAS STARTED, ACTUALLY TWO MIGHT HAVE STARTED THIS WEEK.

YES, POSSIBLY.

AND THEN WE HAVE A THIRD THAT WILL BE STARTING HERE, UM, SHORTLY.

SO WE HAVE THREE VET TECH POSITIONS OPEN THAT WE HAVE THE RECRUITMENT OUT FOR.

I BELIEVE IT CLOSES THIS WEEK.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL TO KEEP THAT

[00:20:01]

MOMENTUM MOVING.

UM, AND TWO OF THOSE THREE ARE, UM, GONNA BE SURGERY TECHS TO HELP MAKE SURE OUR VETERINARIANS HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO HIGH VOLUME, HIGH QUALITY SPAY NEUTER SURGERIES.

UM, UM, SO YEAH, SO THAT'S, UH, ENHANCED STAFFING AND THEN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SHELTER DATABASE.

UM, WE'VE BEGUN GIVING VOLUNTEER ACCESS LAST WEEKEND.

WE, UH, PROVIDED TRAINING TO OUR MENTORS, UM, TO GET FEEDBACK.

WE HAD A COUPLE BUGS, UM, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WORK OUT.

UM, AND AN EMAIL WILL BE GOING OUT LATER THIS WEEK, UM, TO ALL VOLUNTEERS, LETTING THEM KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THAT TRAINING.

UM, SO WE CAN GET VOLUNTEERS, UM, ACCESS TO SHELTER BUDDY.

UM, AND THEN, UH, MOVING FORWARD WE'LL LOOK AT, UH, OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, UH, WITH SHELTER BUDDY THAT MIGHT ASSIST VOLUNTEERS TO HAVE, UH, GREATER ACCESS IN THE SHELTER.

UM, AND THEN INITIAL FEEDBACK SESSIONS.

UH, WE'VE BEEN ENGAGING WITH STAFF, STAKEHOLDERS, ALL THE PEOPLE.

UM, I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY WITH MEETINGS.

UM, I STILL HAVE MULTIPLE KEY GROUPS, SO I'M DEFINITELY NOT DONE WITH THAT.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE LOTS OF FEEDBACK SESSIONS AND GET SOME REALLY GOOD IDEAS.

SOME OF THE FEEDBACK SESSIONS HAVE BEEN, UM, BOTH WITH THE COALITION GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS, AS WELL AS, UM, SOME VOLUNTEERS ON SAFETY.

UM, AFTER THE DOG, UM, ATTACK, A LOT OF DIFFERENT VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF HAD SOME INSIGHTS AND INPUT ON HOW WE COULD BE MORE SAFE.

SO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND START IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THOSE SAFETY STANDARDS.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY DEVELOP A PLAN FOR REOPENING INTAKE.

UM, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WHAT'S THE QUICKEST, FASTEST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO REOPEN INTAKE? UH, UH, HAVING A ROBUST FOSTER PROGRAM REALLY CHECKS ALL OF THOSE BOXES.

SO WE'VE BEGUN, UH, LOOKING AT A FOSTER MANAGEMENT TOOL TO BE ABLE TO REALLY MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF PETS GOING TO FOSTER.

UM, AS WELL AS THEN WE'VE SET SOME EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEXT UPCOMING 30 DAYS.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE COMPLETED.

AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, UH, FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS, I'LL JUST START WHERE I LEFT OFF ON THAT.

DEVELOPING, UH, THE REOPENING PLAN, UM, UH, THERE'S SEVERAL PIECES TO THAT.

UM, ONE OF 'EM, LIKE I SAID, IS THE FOSTER PROGRAM.

UH, WE'RE GONNA BE BEGINNING, UH, DOING WEEKLY FOSTER POSTS, SO PETS IN NEED THAT NEED TO GO TO FOSTER.

UM, UH, IDENTIFYING THREE DOGS EACH DAY, UH, THAT NEED TO GO INTO FOSTER PLACEMENT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT OUT TO OUR FOSTER BASE TO HELP MOVE THOSE DOGS INTO, UM, THE HOMES.

UH, AND THEN JUST DAILY FOSTER EMAILS.

SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED IS THAT, UM, FOSTERS AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT PETS NEED TO GO TO FOSTER.

UM, SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SENDING THOSE EMAILS AND COMMUNICATING OUT DAILY WITH FOSTERS.

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, EXPANDING THAT DOG DAY OUT PROGRAM, UH, TO, UM, DOING THREE DAYS A WEEK THIS MONTH, UM, WHICH WILL, UH, ULTIMATELY JUST HELP EXPAND THAT PROGRAM.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER SHELTERS IS WHEN PEOPLE TAKE DOGS OUT, WHETHER IT'S FOR A DAY TRIP OR FOR A WEEKEND GETAWAY, OR AN OVERNIGHT, UH, A LOT OF TIMES THEY, UH, FALL IN LOVE WITH THE DOG DURING THAT TIME AND END UP KEEPING IT LONGER.

UM, AND THAT'S GREAT.

WHAT A GREAT NATURAL WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HELP US AND, UM, MEET NEW DOGS.

UM, OTHER THINGS WE ARE GONNA BE WORKING ON, RIGHT, IS THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE, UH, MAKING SURE WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON DEVELOPING A MARKETING PLAN WITH SOME MEASURABLE GOALS AND PERFORMANCE METRICS.

ONE OF THE PIECES ON THAT IS, UM, WE'RE MEETING WITH, UH, THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, UM, TO GET SOME FEEDBACK TO MAKE SURE WE'RE, UM, LOOKING AT ALL STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING THAT COMMUNITY PRESENCE AS WELL AS WITHIN OUR OWN TEAM AND DEVELOPING THAT PLAN.

AND AGAIN, THOSE MEASURABLE, UH, METRICS, THOSE PERFORMANCE METRICS, UH, AND RIGHT.

THE AREAS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ARE PET PLACEMENT.

HOW DO WE INCREASE, UM, THE ANIMALS GOING INTO FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE HOMES, UM, OUR EVENTS, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THE EVENTS THAT WERE HAPPENING.

UH, AND THEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION.

UH, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE START SURROUNDING THOSE CERTAIN TIMES OF YEAR, UH, WHERE WE SEE MORE COYOTES OUT AND ABOUT, OR THE BATS COME OUT TO VISIT US.

UM, MAKING SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WHO TO CALL, AND HOW TO KEEP THEMSELVES AND THEIR PETS SAFE.

UH, AND THEN JUST CAPACITY MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

RIGHT? WE'RE AT THAT IN THAT SEASON WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO FLEX UP.

UM, AND WE'RE SEEING, UH, YOU

[00:25:01]

KNOW, ECONOMIC FACTORS STARTING TO IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WE'RE SEEING MORE DOGS COME IN, UM, AND NOT LEAVING AS QUICKLY AS THEY'RE COMING IN.

SO HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE THOSE THINGS EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT, UM, UH, LOSING THE EFFECTIVENESS WHEN WE'RE COMMUNICATING THAT OUT.

UM, ALSO IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, UH, ENHANCE THE STAFFING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THREE MORE VET TECHS.

WE'RE HOPING TO GET THOSE GUYS, UM, UH, AT LEAST RECRUITED AND JOB OFFERED, HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT, UM, COMMISSION MEETING.

UH, WE ALSO, THAT WE DIDN'T MENTION ON THIS, WE ALSO HAVE OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR POSITION OPEN.

UM, WE DID INTERVIEWS ON THURSDAY AND WE'RE, UM, LOOKING AT NEXT STEPS FOR THOSE CANDIDATES, UM, UH, TO IMPLEMENT TOMORROW.

UH, AND THEN, UM, WHAT WAS THE OTHER POSITION? OH, AND WE JUST RECENTLY HAD OUR, UH, MARKETING, UH, MARKETING SPECIALIST POSITION IS GONNA BE OPEN AT THE END OF THIS WEEK.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO UTILIZE THAT POSITION AND, UM, UH, TO GET THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK WITH, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY ON STAFF ENHANCEMENT.

UM, WE NEED, WE NEED TO STILL CONDUCT OUR CLEANING STUDY.

I THINK LAST MONTH WE TOLD YOU WE'RE GONNA DO THAT THIS LAST MONTH.

UH, BUT DUE TO THE DOG, UH, ATTACK AND SOME OTHER STAFFING ISSUES, WE WEREN'T ABLE TO START THAT, UM, THIS LAST MONTH.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE STARTING THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK, UM, TO SEE HOW WE BEST UTILIZE OUR TIME, UM, AND WHAT, WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE FOR, UM, CLEAN WHEN WE'RE CLEANING THE KENNELS.

UM, AND THEN WHEN WE LOOK AT PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, UH, RIGHT, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT PATHWAY PLANNING.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH AUSTIN PETS ALIVE SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE, UH, DOGS WITH, UH, NEEDING BEHAVIOR RESOURCES BEYOND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER.

UM, SO WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT AND CONTINUING, UH, DEVELOPING THAT AND, UH, THE PROCESS AND REEVALUATING IT.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY WRITE THE DEVELOPING PLAN FOR REOPENING INTAKE.

THAT'S GONNA BE AN ONGOING THING FOR A FEW, FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

AND THAT'S INVOLVING, LIKE I SAID, THAT FOSTER PROGRAM FOR RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN AS WE CAN ADD ADDITIONAL PIECES TO THAT, UM, THERE'S ALSO SOME CONVERSATIONS, UH, WITH AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND HOW THEY CAN BE PART OF SOME COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.

UM, SO AS WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, UM, ADDING THOSE PIECES IN THROUGHOUT, UM, THE NEXT 90 DAYS, UM, AND THEN I WON'T READ THROUGH ALL OF THE 60 DAY AND 90 DAY, UM, BASICALLY EVERY 30 DAYS WE KIND OF ARE REEVALUATING WHAT DID WE ACCOMPLISH? WHAT DID WE NOT ACCOMPLISH, WHAT DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE, ARE THERE NEW THINGS THAT WE NEED TO ADD IN THAT WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT BEFORE? UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN KIND OF WORKING THROUGH ON THAT.

UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I PASS IT OVER TO JASON TO TALK ABOUT MONTHLY DATA? NO.

CAN YOU SHOW ME THE PEOPLE ONLINE? MM-HMM.

COMMISSIONER, UM, OOPS, I DIDN'T HAVE MY THING ON.

SORRY.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? GO AHEAD.

COMMISSIONER TIES , MONICA.

UM, I, I LOST YOUR REPORT.

VERY THOROUGH.

UH, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND I LIKE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT METRICS AND VERY, UM, PRESCRIPTIVE.

SO I KNOW YOU ONLY HAVE ONE MONTH IN YOUR ROLE.

AND, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THIS.

IS THERE A GOAL FOR HOW MANY FOSTERS, UM, YOU WANNA ASPIRE TO? MM-HMM .

AND ALSO ADOPTION WISE? YEAH.

COUNT ON FTS IS 15, DON'T 15.

THANKS FOR THAT QUESTION.

UM, YES.

UH, RIGHT.

NATIONAL BEST STANDARDS FOR ADOPTION NATIONAL AVERAGES IS THAT AT LEAST 50% OF THE ANIMALS ARE LEAVING THE SHELTER THROUGH ADOPTION.

UM, I, I THINK RIGHT, LONG TERM LIKE THIS DEFINITELY ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

UH, OR WE'RE LACKING THE AREAS OF CHALLENGING CHALLENGES FOR ADOPTIONS IS JUST THE TRAFFIC COMING INTO THE SHELTER.

SOME OF THOSE, UM, CHALLENGES ARE BECAUSE OF, UH, RIGHT, THE PNEUMO VIRUS OUTBREAK WE HAD IN DECEMBER, THAT KIND OF WENT INTO A LITTLE BIT OF JANUARY, AS I RECALL.

UM, THAT KIND OF HAS A, A LINGERING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

UH, YOU KNOW, SUBCONSCIOUSLY THEY THINK THERE'S SICK DOGS IN THE SHELTER.

UM, SO THERE'S THAT PIECE.

SO WE DO NEED TO INCREASE OUR TRAFFIC REALLY PRETTY DRAMATICALLY TO BE ABLE TO HIT THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT I THINK THAT'S ACHIEVABLE

[00:30:01]

TO HIT 50%.

AND THEN, UM, RIGHT, A, A REALLY HEALTHY SHELTER IS GONNA BE SENDING ABOUT 60% IF WE'RE FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS.

UM, 60% OF THE ANIMALS CAN GO THROUGH, CAN LEAVE THE SHELTER THROUGH ADOPTION.

UM, AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON THROUGH THAT.

AND SOME OF THESE TRAININGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING ON WEDNESDAYS, WE'LL BE HELPING ADDRESS THOSE.

UH, RIGHT, THE, SPECIFICALLY THE ANIMAL HANDLING, HOW TO HANDLE THEM SAFE, UM, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HOW DO WE TALK TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT OUR ANIMALS AND, UM, RELAY INFORMATION TO ANIMALS AND HOW DO WE HELP THEM AND, UH, SHOW, HIGHLIGHT OUR ANIMALS IN THE BEST LIGHT POSSIBLE WHILE STILL BEING, UM, RIGHT HONEST ABOUT, UH, THE ANIMAL'S NEEDS.

SO SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GONNA HELP US MOVE THAT NEEDLE FORWARD, AS WELL AS WRITE THE DIFFERENT EVENTS AND THE DIFFERENT MARKETING SHOULD ALSO, UM, INCREASE THAT.

SO THAT WOULD BE FOR ADOPTIONS.

AND THEN FOR FOSTER, UM, YOU KNOW, W WITH A, A REALLY NICE ROBUST FOSTER PROGRAM, UM, I WOULD ANTICIPATE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEND, UM, AT AT LEAST 30% OF OUR ANIMALS TO FOSTER.

UM, BUT I, I THINK IT CAN BE HIGHER, UM, PROBABLY CLOSER TO 50%.

UM, BUT AT LEAST 30%.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT HERE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE AUSTIN PETS ALIVE.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF ANIMALS THAT TRADITIONALLY GO INTO FOSTER HOMES AT OTHER SHELTERS, RIGHT? THOSE BOTTLE BABY KITTENS, UM, THOSE BOTTLE BABY PUPPIES, THOSE PREGNANT NURSING MOMS. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY BUILD THAT INTO WHAT WE SEND TO FOSTER, WHICH IS GREAT.

WE CAN FOCUS ON THOSE.

UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE KITTENS THAT EAT ON THEIR OWN BUT AREN'T OLD ENOUGH TO BE ADOPTED.

SAME WITH THOSE PREGNANT MOMS OR NURSING MOMS. UH, AND THEN, UM, RIGHT, THE BIG DOGS, LET'S GET THEM INTO, INTO FOSTER HOMES.

THOSE GUYS TEND TO TAKE A, A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESOURCES ON ALL ENDS.

SO, UM, LET'S GET THEM INTO HOMES AND ALLOW OUR FOSTER TEAM TO REALLY SPECIALIZE AND, UM, COMMUNICATE WITH THE FOSTERS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND PART OF THAT IS THAT, UM, FOSTER MANAGEMENT TOOL I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

UM, WE, WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL AND, UM, UH, THERE'S THE ONE THAT'S CALLED BERT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

UM, THEY DO, THEY HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MODULES THAT DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

UH, THEY ALSO HAVE A FOSTER MODULE THAT HELPS DO ALL THE BACKEND WORK FOR US.

SO WE CAN REALLY JUST FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING THE ANIMALS THAT NEED TO GO TO FOSTER AND THEN SENDING THEM TO FOSTER.

UM, AND THEN THEY DO THE REST OF THAT SUPPORT, UH, BOTH WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS AND SCHEDULING AND MATCHING FOSTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, UM, I, I'M HOPEFUL WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA GO THROUGH THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

UM, BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WILL HELP US, UM, REALLY BUILD THAT SUPPORT PIECE IN SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SEND 40, YOU KNOW, 30, 40, 50% OF OUR ANIMALS TO FOSTER HOMES.

UM, SINCE WE DO HAVE SO MANY THAT COME IN AS STRAYS AND WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT THEM, HAVING THEM BE IN A HOME FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME IS REALLY HELPFUL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PETS AND HOW TO BEST PLACE THEM.

WHAT'S THE TOOL THAT YOU SET FOR THE FOSTERS? BERT.

BERT? YEAH.

I KNOW IT'S KIND OF GOOFY SOUNDING, BUT, UM, YEAH, IT'S, UH, UH, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT MODULES THAT DO DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, BUT THE FOSTER MODULE IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT FOR THEM.

AND, AND, UH, I'M SORRY, I'M REMOTE.

UM, I, I'M IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, UPSTATE NEW YORK WHERE, BUT, UH, AND I'M JUST MY CLASS CLASSROOMS AND ALL THAT WITH MY PHONE, I, SO IT'S NOT LIKE I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE .

BUT ANYWAY, SO I, I I LIKE WHAT YOU, YOUR FOCUS, WHAT? UM, SO OUR VET TECHS, I THINK OUR

[00:35:01]

15.

SO OUR VET TECH TOTAL COUNT IS 15.

IS THAT WITH VACANCIES? MM-HMM .

WITH VACANCIES IS 15.

UM, AND THOSE ARE ALL FULL-TIME.

UH, I BELIEVE WE HAD, WE HAD TWO TEMPORARY, AND NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY.

WHAT NOW? WE DON'T HAVE ANY.

WE HAD TWO TEMPORARY, BUT THOSE HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO FULL-TIME POSITIONS.

ALRIGHT.

UM, COMMISSIONER FERGUSON, YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

IT WAS, IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE ALL THE NEW PROGRAMS AND THE GOALS THAT YOU'VE SET.

I'M, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW ALL OF THAT PROGRESSES.

UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

YOU MENTIONED, UM, IN THE INFO GATHERING SESSIONS THAT YOU WERE MEETING, YOU HAD A COALITION.

WHO IS ON THAT? WHAT GROUPS? THE COALITION IS ACTUALLY, UM, ORGANIZED WITH AUSTIN PETS ALIVE AND THEY'VE INVITED ME TO PARTICIPATE.

SO I COME ON OCCASION JUST TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS AND SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO, UM, INCREASE THE LIFE SAVING AND, UH, RIGHT.

AND OPEN UP INTAKE AT THE CITY SHELTER.

GOT IT.

THANKS.

UM, ALSO, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UM, STAFF TRAINING ONCE A MONTH AND CLOSING ONCE A MONTH SO YOU CAN GET THAT DONE.

AND I JUST HAD A QUESTION 'CAUSE I KNOW THAT AT LEAST THE STRAY HOLD ORDINANCE MM-HMM .

DESCRIBES, STAYS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND I JUST, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GONNA YES.

YOUR SOFTWARE WAS GONNA ALLOW YOU TO DO IT JUST FOR THAT WEDNESDAY, OR IF YOU WERE GONNA EXPAND THE STRAY HOLD ALWAYS.

JUST BECAUSE, OH, SORRY.

THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

SO JUST LIKE, UH, HOLIDAYS OR OTHER DAYS THAT WE WOULD BE CLOSED THAT DAY WOULD COUNT IS A, IS A NO COUNT DAY.

RIGHT? SO IT'S NORMALLY 72 HOURS OR THREE DAYS STARTING THE DAY AFTER THEY COME IN MM-HMM .

SO, UM, RIGHT.

IF A DOG CAME IN ON TUESDAY, UH, IT'S 72 HOURS WOULDN'T EXPIRE UNTIL THE END OF DAY.

AFTER NINE, SIX.

SO FRIDAY I DID DO THE MATH.

SO AFTER NINE, SIX HOURS, WE ALWAYS EXTEND IT ONE MORE DAY WHENEVER WE HAVE A CLOSER AND CAN SHELTER BUDDY.

I'M CURIOUS, CAN SHELTER BUDDY AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT? OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOUR STAFF HAS TO UM, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO MANUALLY DO.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH CHAMELEON AS WELL.

AND SO, YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BUILD, BUILD IT IN.

AND WRITE IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTION BEFORE? OH, SORRY.

COMMISSIONER DANIEL.

I LOVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND I LOVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOCUS.

THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

GREAT.

UM, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GOOD FIX OR THE GREATER GOOD CLINIC.

UM, THE GOAL IS USUALLY 1200, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

AND WE HIT A THOUSAND EVEN THIS TIME.

UH, SO WE LEFT 200 SURGERIES THAT WE COULD HAVE GOT DONE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW TRANSLATES TO A LOT MORE ANIMALS PREVENTED WHAT OUTREACH WAS DONE, UM, WHAT WAS DONE TO, YOU KNOW, ADVERTISE THIS CLINIC BECAUSE IF YOU COMPARE IT TO THE LAST CLINIC AT THE SAME LOCATION, IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, A DIFFERENCE OF OVER 200.

SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT'S BEEN DONE OR WHAT WILL BE DONE IN THE FUTURE.

YEAH, WE, WE WERE ACTUALLY SURPRISED TOO BECAUSE IT WE'RE LIKE, THE LAST ONE WAS SO WELL RECEIVED, WE'RE LIKE, THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT THAT IT'S AT THE SAME LOCATION AGAIN.

UM, BUT WE DID THE SAME OUTREACH AS WE DID BEFORE.

I BELIEVE WE, WELL WE, WE HAD THE POSTERS AND FLYERS HERE AT THE LAST COMMISSION PRIOR TO IT.

I TOOK SOME MM-HMM .

YEP.

YOU TOOK SOME.

UM, AND WE HAD THOSE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR ABOUT A MONTH PRIOR.

UM, AND THEN WE HAD DONE A NEWS RELEASE FOR THAT, I BELIEVE ABOUT A WEEK, WEEK AND A HALF BEFORE THAT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

WE ALSO DID, UM, YOU KNOW, NEW FLASHES TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL MM-HMM .

YOU KNOW, SEND IT TO, TO THEM FOR THEIR AWARENESS, ANY NEWSLETTERS THAT MAY HAVE AS WELL.

SO SORT OF FOLLOWING THE SAME FORMULA THAT MM-HMM .

THAT, THAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.

SO, YEAH.

UM, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE INITIAL NUMBERS THAT WE WERE GETTING WERE LIKE, OKAY, BUT WE HIT A GOOD SPOT.

SUNDAY.

SUNDAY ENDED UP WE WERE REBOUNDED A LITTLE BIT, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT ENOUGH TO, TO HIT OUR ULTIMATE GOAL.

UM, BUT YEAH, UM, UH, WE, WE ACTUALLY DO OUR PLAN AND ACTION DEBRIEFING WITH GOOD FIXX LIKE WE ALWAYS DO AFTER EACH EVENT, JUST TO SEE WHAT WORKED WHEN THEY, WHAT THEY SAW, WHAT WE AND THEY HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THEMSELVES.

AND THEN, UM, LOOKING FOR ANOTHER LO UH, A DIFFERENT LOCATION JUST TO SPICE IT UP A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW? UM, AND, UH, AND SEE IF WE CAN HIT SOME OF OUR MORE TARGETED AREAS.

SO WE'LL BE DOING THAT.

IS THERE A WAY WE COULD GET A PRESENTATION ON WHAT EXACTLY WAS DONE? UM, LIKE DID YOU REACH OUT TO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, APARTMENT COMPLEXES IN THE AREA? UM, FLYERS TO CHURCHES, RESTAURANTS THAT, SO I, I, WE CAN, I CAN GET WITH OUR MARKETING STAFF AND THEN WE CAN EVEN JUST PROVIDE A COMMUNICATION.

UM, SO YEAH, RATHER THAN WAIT A MONTH, WE CAN SEND SOMETHING OUT TO Y'ALL THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

UM, THROUGH, THROUGH THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

AND THEN, BECAUSE

[00:40:01]

UM, I THINK MOST OF US IN ANIMAL WELFARE KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT YOU ADOPT DON'T SHOP.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY FULLY UNDERSTANDS, ESPECIALLY WITH AUSTIN, NEW FOLKS MOVING IN, I SEE 'EM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY'VE GOT THE DESIGNER DOGS.

CAN THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE START PUTTING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO NOT SHOP AND TO ADOPT FROM YOUR LOCAL SHELTERS AND, 'CAUSE I THINK THOSE OF US IN ANIMAL WELFARE, IT'S JUST A GIVEN AND THE GENERAL POPULATION, THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

AND THAT COULD BE A WAY, ONE OF MANY WAYS THAT WE COULD START TRYING TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THAT.

UM, AND ALSO MAYBE HIGHLIGHTING IF YOU ADOPT FROM THE CITY SHELTER, YOU'RE ACTUALLY HELPING ANIMALS IN THE COMMUNITY VERSUS GOING TO SOME OF THE OTHER SHELTERS THAT ARE PULLING ANIMALS FROM OUTSIDE OF BOSTON.

I'VE HAD FRIENDS THAT ADOPT FROM OTHER SHELTERS, AND THEN THEY'RE A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WERE KIND OF MISLED AND THEY FIND OUT THAT THE ANIMAL THEY'RE ADOPTING IS FROM SOUTH TEXAS OR SOMETHING.

AND WITH PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY NOW I FEEL LIKE ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, THAT IS SOMETHING WE COULD PLAY OFF OF AND HIGHLIGHT AND BE LIKE, IF YOU'RE ADOPTING FROM THE CITY SHELTER, YOU ARE TRULY HELPING THE ANIMALS HERE IN AUSTIN IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD SUGGESTION.

'CAUSE I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, AUSTIN'S CHANGED A LOT WITH LOTS OF NEW PEOPLE MOVING IN INTO AUSTIN AND RIGHT.

HIGHLIGHTING, UH, RIGHT.

THE BENEFITS OF ADOPTING AS OPPOSED TO BUYING.

AND THEN, UM, YEAH.

WHY IT'S GREAT TO, TO ADOPT IS, RIGHT, YOU'RE GETTING YOUR, YOU'RE GETTING YOUR PET SPAYED AND NEUTERED FOR FREE AND VACCINATED AND ALL THE THINGS MM-HMM .

AS WELL AS THEN, UM RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, BUY LOCAL SHOP LOCAL KIND OF THING.

LOCAL, AND I MEAN, IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOME SPECIFIC BREED, THEN, YOU KNOW, EDUCATE 'EM THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF RESCUES OUT THERE.

YEP, ABSOLUTELY.

AND HIGHLIGHT THOSE RESCUE PARTNERS.

THAT WAS A GREAT SUGGESTION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, COMMISSIONER LINDER, UM, THANKS SO MUCH.

IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THIS PRESENTATION AND SEE ALL THE PROGRESS.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, I, I SPEAK FOR MANY FOLKS ON THE COMMISSION SAYING IT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING TO SEE, UM, ALL THE WORK YOU, YOU'VE PUTTING, YOU'RE PUTTING IN AND, UH, AND GET GLIMPSE AS TO AS TO WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

UM, SO THANK YOU FIRST FOR THAT.

I HAVE TWO REALLY QUICK QUESTIONS.

UH, THE FIRST IS SORT OF RELATED TO THE GOOD FIX, WHICH IS, UM, I GUESS WONDERING SORT OF WHETHER, WHEN WE REALIZED THAT MAYBE WE WEREN'T GONNA HIT THAT MARK IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SLOT IN ANY ANIMALS FROM THE SHELTER WHO NEEDED, UM, TO BE SPAY AND NEUTERED AT THAT POINT.

UM, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS JUST A REALLY QUICK PRACTICAL ONE, WHICH IS, UM, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO THE, UM, TO THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'LL BE CLOSED ON THAT SECOND WEDNESDAY.

SO WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VERY DISAPPOINTED FOLKS SHOWING UP TO THE SHELTER, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST IS WHEN PEOPLE GO THERE, UM, WITH EXPECTATIONS, BUT THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET A SERVICE AND THAT SERVICE ISN'T AVAILABLE.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME WAY THAT, THAT WE CAN, UM, COMMUNICATE THAT GOING FORWARD AND UPDATE THE HOURS ON THE WEBSITE AND GOOGLE AND ALL OF THOSE GOOD THINGS.

AND I DID JUST NOTICE EARLIER TODAY I WAS LIKE, OH, WE NEED TO UPDATE THE WEBSITE AND HAVE THOSE HOURS COMMUNICATED AND, UM, SOCIALS, BUT JASON, DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT, UH, THE GOOD FIX? SO YEAH, WE, WE TRY TO PRE-PLAN AS MUCH OF THE ANIMALS THAT WE'RE TAKING OVER.

SO WITH THIS GO AROUND, AS WITH LAST GO AROUND, WE, WE DID PLAN IT FOR MORE WITH OUR CAT TRAPPERS TO TRAP CATS AND THEN BRING THEM TO THAT.

UM, LIKE INTERESTING BUT , UH, UM, BUT YEAH, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST WHERE, UM, WE HAVE TAKEN SOME OF OUR ANIMALS OVER WHEN WE KNEW THAT WE WEREN'T, WHEN WE WERE SEEING A SLOWER LINE THAN USUAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, UH, WE DIDN'T GET WORD ENOUGH THAT WE WERE SEEING THAT TO, TO SORT OF, UM, YOU KNOW, RALLY THE TROOPS IN ORDER TO GET TRUCKS THAT WILL THEN TRANSPORT ANIMALS OVER TO US, UNFORTUNATELY.

UM, YEAH, WITH, WITH WITH, UM, WE HAVE SOME COVERAGE, UH, DEFINITELY COVERAGE ON, BUT NOT AS ROBUST AS OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK WITH OUR ANIMAL PROTECTION.

SO AS TO PULL SOME FROM THE, FOR THE FIELD IN ORDER TO TRANSPORT ANIMALS OVER THERE CAN, CAN BE SOMETIMES CHALLENGING, ESPECIALLY LAST SECOND.

SO YEAH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.

ESPECIALLY WE DO HAVE, UM, SOME OF OUR OTHER VANS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PUT ANIMALS AND CRATES IN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO COORDINATE THAT ON A DAY THAT, YOU KNOW, OPENLY TO THE PUBLIC, WHATNOT WITH STAFF ON HAND CAN BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING .

BUT, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN AT LEAST GET THAT, UH, IN OUR AFTER ACTION BRIEFING WITH GOOD FIX, SORT OF ASK THEM LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THEIR SORT OF DROP THAT TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY SEE BY EIGHT 30, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING ANY ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS, THEN IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN COORDINATE WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO? GREAT.

THANKS

[00:45:01]

SO MUCH, JASON.

COMMISSIONER DANIEL, THE LOOK I GAVE YOU.

JASON .

SO, UM, SINCE I'M PART OF ONE OF THE VOLUNTEER TRAPPERS, I, THIS IS COMING FROM THAT INFORMATION, UM, A LOT OF THE TRAPPERS HAD REQUESTED THAT IF THEY COULD HAVE MONDAY AS THE DAY FOR COMMUNITY CATS, THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY MORE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THE TRAPPERS WOULD HAVE SATURDAYS AND SUNDAY TO TRAP FOR MONDAY.

AND WITH MONDAY USUALLY BEING KIND OF THE LOWEST CLINIC DAY, IT WOULD MAKE MOST SENSE.

UM, I DID REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM STAFF AND SUGGESTED THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THEY REACHED OUT TO GOOD FIX.

'CAUSE GOOD FIX WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.

SO IF WE COULD HAVE MONDAY FOR CAT TRAPPERS, I THINK IT WOULD BE A HIGHER NUMBER.

LET'S TOUCH BASE BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THAT.

SO MAYBE I, SOMETHING GOT MISSED, BUT I THOUGHT I HAD GOTTEN THAT MONDAY CLEARANCE, SO I, LET'S TOUCH BASE AFTER THE MEETING.

OKAY, GREAT.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU? DO YOU HAVE A YEAH, I'LL KEEP GOING.

ALRIGHT.

I THINK THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

YEP.

IT'S, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE PRESENTATION PLEASE? SO, UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS, JASON GARZA, AND I'LL BE, UH, GOING OVER THE MONTHLY STATISTICS WITH YOU'ALL.

UH, AND BEAR WITH ME.

WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THIS NEW, THIS NEW SORT OF, UH, AFTER SIX YEARS OF DOING IT THE OLD WAY, STILL HAVING TROUBLE GOING TO THE NEW WORLD.

SO WE HAD 823 ANIMALS THAT WERE IMPOUNDED IN FEBRUARY WITH 788 OF THOSE BEING, UM, DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

UM, HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF SORT OF THE, THE LIST OF IMPOUNDS.

UM, MOVING ON, WE HAD 28 ANIMALS THAT WERE EUTHANIZED IN THE MONTH.

UH, WE HAD, UM, UH, 13, UH, CATS, SIX WILDLIFE.

THAT'S USUALLY BECAUSE OF RAISE E RISK.

AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL, UH, BREAKDOWNS FOR THAT.

UM, FOR OUR LIVE RELEASE RATE, WE HAD A, UH, LIVE RELEASE RATE OF 95.53%.

UM, THIS INCLUDES ALL ANIMALS.

THE ONLY ONES NOT INCLUDED ARE THOSE THAT ARE COURT ORDERED OR WILDLIFE.

WE HAD 385 ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED IN THE MONTH.

UM, WE ALSO PUT THIS CHART SO THAT TO, TO ILLUSTRATE SORT OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT LEAST WITH, WITH THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

UM, YOU KNOW, SO WE'RE AS, AS, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO, UM, DEVELOP MORE OUTCOMES, ESPECIALLY ADOPTIONS AND TRYING TO RAISE THAT RATE.

UM, HOPEFULLY WITH THE UPCOMING SPRING MONTHS, WE'LL SEE SOME POSITIVITY.

WE SAW A SLIGHT LITTLE INCREASE FROM JANUARY, FEBRUARY, BUT WE REALLY, WE NEED THAT TO, TO GROW FOR US A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AS FAR AS, UM, WE HAD, UH, FOSTER CARE FOR, FOR, UH, THE MONTH.

WE HAD 308 DIFFERENT FAMILIES THAT FOSTERED FOR US.

UM, AS OF THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH, ABOUT MARCH 4TH, WE HAD 229 ANIMALS THAT WERE IN FOSTER.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS WOULD BE FOUR, THE ADOPTION EVENT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY GROWN UP TO TWO, AT LEAST 14 MORE.

UM, IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WE HAD 13 ANIMALS THAT WENT TO FINDER FOSTER PROGRAM AND LOOKING ALSO TO INCREASE THAT.

I HAD A MEETING WITH FOSTER FOLKS LAST WEEK JUST TO FIGURE OUT WAYS WHAT WERE OTHER, UM, RESOURCES, THINGS TO OFFER FOR FINDERS OF PETS.

AND THAT WAY THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, FOSTER FOR US AND HOPEFULLY REUNITE THE ANIMAL WITH THEIRS TONER.

UM, BUT WE DID HAVE 58 ANIMALS THAT WERE DIRECTLY, UH, ADOPTED FROM FOSTER CARE.

AND CURRENTLY WE HAVE 791 PEOPLE WHO WERE IN OUR, UH, UH, APPROVED, UH, OUR GROUP, WHICH IS OUR APPROVED FOSTERS.

UM, FAR AS AS, AS FAR AS OUR TRANSFER PARTNERS, WE HAD 20 DIFFERENT ANIMAL RESCUES PULL A TOTAL OF 184 DOMESTIC ANIMALS TO, UM, FROM AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER.

UM, WITHIN THAT GROUP THAT A HUNDRED EIGHTY FOUR SEVENTEEN WERE, FOR MEDICAL REASONS, 33 WERE TRANSFERRED TO AUSTIN MAINE SOCIETY FOR SNR.

SO THOSE ANIMALS THAT WERE BROUGHT DIRECTLY TO PRC THAT QUALIFIED FOR THE SR PROGRAM AND SIX TO EIGHT WERE TRANSFERRED TO, UH, HELP WITH OUR CAPACITY CHALLENGES.

UM, WE HAD 76 ANIMALS THAT WERE RECLAIMED OR BY THEIR OWNERS THROUGH THE SHELTER.

UH, OUR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO, UM, RETURN TO ANIMALS TO THEIR OWNERS IN THE FIELD.

UM, THEY, WE DID HAVE ANY ANIMALS THAT WERE ADOPTED INTACT, SO WE WERE ABLE TO, TO, UM, PROCESS THOSE APPROPRIATELY.

UM, NO, UH, REPORTED MISSING ANIMALS AND WE HAD EIGHT ANIMALS THAT DIED IN THE SHELTER.

UM, WE HAD 917 VACCINATIONS THAT WERE DONE TO ANIMALS IN OUR CARE.

WE HAD 341 SPAY OR NEUTER, UH, SURGERIES WITHIN THE SHELTER.

UM, CURRENTLY WE'RE STILL SORT OF LIKE THAT MONTH BEHIND WHERE WE HAVEN'T GOT OUR INVOICE FOR THE EC YET FOR FEBRUARY, BUT FOR LA THE PREVIOUS MONTH, JANUARY, WE HAD A INVOICE OF, OR $10,800, UM, WITHIN OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM.

UM, AGAIN, SHOUT

[00:50:01]

OUT TO THEM.

WE HAD 4 27 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE OVER 5,000 HOURS TO US.

UM, WE HAD FOUR, FOUR ORIENTATIONS WITH HOPEFULLY GETTING 94 MORE VOLUNTEERS TO US, UM, TO HELP OUT.

UM, AND THEN, UH, WE DID FOR OUR COMMUNITY CAT SCRAPPERS, WE HAD OVER 500 HOURS CONTRIBUTED TO US.

AND, UM, JUST OTHER, UM, THINGS OF NOTE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO OUR, UH, SHARE.

WE DID HAVE, UM, OVER OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HAD OVER 600,000 VIEWS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND WE HAD 13,000 CONTENT INTERACTIONS.

AND THEN WITH INSTAGRAM WE HAD OVER 661,000 VIEWS.

SO, UM, HOPEFULLY STILL GETTING THE WORD OUT.

PEOPLE ARE ENGAGING WITH US AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN SHARE THAT TO, TO HOPEFULLY GET SOME ANIMALS OUT.

SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

UM, INTEREST COM COMMISSIONER TIES.

HI, JASON, ARE YOU GONNA GO OVER THE INTAKE INVENTORY REPORT? OH, I CAN, IF YOU HAD A SPECIFIC QUESTION ON IT.

SO YES, THE, YEAH, I HAVE A SPECIFIC QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT LAST TIME WHEN WE MET, I ASKED ABOUT THE MYTH AND ANIMALS AND I, AND YOU SAID YOU WERE GONNA LOOK INTO IT AND I ASKED YOU TO GET BACK TO US DURING THE MEETING SO THE PUBLIC CAN ALSO HEAR ABOUT IT.

UM, YEAH, THE, THE CATS, WHAT I WAS ABLE TO FIND IN THE REPORTS WAS IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN OUTCOME, BUT I CAN'T TO A PARTNER, BUT I COULDN'T GET CONFIRMATION WHETHER THEY WERE OR NOT.

SOMETIMES THAT DOES HAPPEN, UNFORTUNATELY, WHERE SOMEONE FORGETS THE OUTCOME AND DIDN'T PUT THE APPROPRIATE NOTES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE JUST HAVE THEM OUTCOME AS MISSING.

UM, AND, YOU KNOW, UH, A SHELTER BUDDY DOES ALLOW A, A OUTCOME OF UNRESOLVED, BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE CATS IN PLACE.

AND SO, UM, YEAH, UNFORTUNATELY, YEAH, WE HAVE THE OUTCOME IS MISSING.

WHAT ABOUT THE DOGS? YOU ALSO HAVE TWO FOR THE DOGS? UH, I DIDN'T LOOK INTO THE DOGS, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO THAT ONE.

I HAVE TO SAY, IF YOU FOLLOW UP, I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY, BUT, UM, WE TECHNIC COMMISSIONERS AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY ARE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU FOLLOW UP.

BY ANIMAL CENTER.

IT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOU, I'M JUST TALKING IN GENERAL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? UM, COMMISSIONER DANIEL, ARE THE TNR NUMBERS GONNA BE INCLUDED? UH, SO I CAN INCLUDE 'EM? I'M SORRY IF I, YEAH.

UH, 'CAUSE YES, WE'LL, WE GET THOSE USUALLY AT THE, THE INVOICE AT THE START OF THE MONTH.

AND SO WE'LL PROBABLY CAN INCLUDE THEM FROM AT LEAST THE MONTH PREVIOUS, BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHEN WE HAVE TO SUBMIT ITEMS TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE, COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, THE COMMUNITY CAPS PROGRAM DID SHARE OKAY.

ON FRIDAY.

SO I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THEM, I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THEY CAN JUST INCLUDE YOU ON THEIR UPDATES SO THEY'RE THERE OR WHATEVER.

BUT THAT'LL FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH, WITH THE GROUP.

AND THEN MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ADD TO THAT, SO THAT WAY, AND WE CAN ALSO KEEP IT MAYBE, AND I'M JUST THINKING OUT SIDEBAR OUT LOUD, SO JUST, UH, SORT OF WHAT WE DO HERE WITH THE INTAKE OUTCOME.

WE CAN JUST HAVE A ROLLING, UH, COUNT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

UM, I, FOR, FOR THE REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS ABOUT THE BUDGET THERE, IF ANY OF YOU ARE ABLE TO STAY AROUND, THERE MIGHT BE SOME QUESTIONS THAT, THAT ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER, BUT I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY AND HAD A LONG DAY, SO IF YOU NEED TO LEAVE, TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE.

UM, MOVING ON

[3. Approve the addition of new members to the Budget Working Group. ]

UM, THAT UNFORTUNATELY CAN BE DROPPED.

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, AND IN CASE THERE WAS ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO JOIN , THE BUDGET WORKING GROUP UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT THEY COULD BE OFFICIALLY ADDED.

BUT NOBODY REACHED OUT TO ME, SO I WAS THE WORKING GROUP.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COMMISSIONER? UH, ER I JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM JULIE OLIVER THAT, AND IT WAS SENT TO YOU AS WELL, THAT SHE'S INTERESTED IN JOINING THAT GROUP.

UM, WELL, WHEN WAS IT SENT? IT WAS SENT PROBABLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES AGO.

OH, WELL, UM, THE CO THE WORKING GROUP'S GONNA BE DONE AFTER THE PRESENTATION TODAY.

OH, OKAY.

JUST WANTED, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT.

WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW.

[00:55:01]

SO IT, JUST SO I UNDERSTAND, UM, FOR WORKING GROUPS, WHEN CAN PEOPLE JOIN THAT? ANYTIME THAT THE WORKING GROUP EXISTS.

SO, AND IF THEY WANNA JOIN, DO THEY, HOW DO THEY BRING IT UP DURING THE, OUR MEETINGS OR EMAIL'S? GREAT.

UM, SO AGENDA ITEM THREE IS OFF.

WITHDRAWN.

AGENDA ITEM FOUR, WHICH IS APPROVE, UM, A FISCAL YEAR 27, FISCAL YEAR 28 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL TO CONVERT TWO ANIMAL CARE POSITIONS TO REGULAR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES FROM TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES.

SO WE'LL MOVE TO, UM,

[4. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to convert two animal care positions to regular full-time employees from temporary employees.]

AND, UM, BE, I DID GET THESE ALL SENT OUT ON FRIDAY.

I HOPE PEOPLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THEM.

UM, ONE THING THAT I ADDED TO THIS SINCE I SENT IT OUT IS AN ADDITIONAL, WHEREAS A FOURTH, WHEREAS UNDER THE THIRD, WHEREAS THAT'S TYPED THERE.

AND THE FOURTH, WHEREAS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED WITH THIS IS WHEREAS AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES HAS AS ONE OF ITS SIX PRIORITIES, UM, I MEANT IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, THAT'S ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL TO QUOTE, ENHANCE WORKING CONDITIONS AND BUILD SKILLED AND SUPPORTED STAFF.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CONSIDERED NOW.

AND, UM, SO I WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD IF THERE IS A SECOND COMMISSIONER LODEN.

AND THEN, UM, DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? COMMISSIONER? UM, LINDER, THANKS SO MUCH, UM, FOR ALL YOUR WORK PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

UM, I WONDER IF JUST SORT OF BEFORE WE GET INTO IT, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL JUST TO, UH, TO SORT OF RECAP, YOU KNOW, HOW, UM, YOU GOT HERE AS FAR AS, UM, WHERE, WHERE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS CAME FROM, WHAT CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE, JUST SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AS TO YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO, UM, UH, MELISSA WAS NICE FROM THE SHELTER, WAS NICE ENOUGH, UM, TO MEET WITH ME AND JUST GIVE ME KIND OF AN OVERVIEW OF IN GENERAL ANNUALLY, UM, HOW, HOW THE BUDGET IS PUT TOGETHER AND PRESENTED TO THE CITY IN VERY GENERAL TERMS. UM, SHE POINTED OUT THAT THERE'S BEEN, UM, SOME CHANGES WITH THE CURRENT, UM, CITY MANAGER WHO NOW WANTS, UM, TWO, TWO YEARS AHEAD.

THAT'S WHY THESE SAY FISCAL YEAR, NOT ONLY 27, BUT FISCAL YEAR 28 AS WELL.

AND THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS ASKING, UM, DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES TO, UM, TO PUT IN WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE CHANGED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, TWO YEARS OUT, AND THEN WHAT THEIR PLAN IS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.

AND THAT, UM, IN THAT BUDGET PROCESS, THEY ALSO ASK FOR, UM, THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR CURRENT BUDGET AND TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY CAN GET RID OF, PLACES WHERE THEY CAN CUT EXPENSES, UM, PLACES WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY THAT THAT ISN'T ACTUALLY MANDATED BY THE CITY FOR THEM TO SPEND OR SERVICES THEY'RE PROVIDED THAT AREN'T MANDATED.

AND TO, YOU KNOW, HIGHLIGHT IF THEY FIND ANY OF THOSE AREAS THAT THAT COULD BE CUT FROM THEIR BUDGET AND THEN ALSO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THAT WAS A VERY INFORMATIVE CONVERSATION.

AND THEN, SO WHAT I DID AFTER THAT WAS GO BACK AND REVIEW THE PRESENTATION FROM LAST MONTH SEVERAL TIMES TO OBSERVE WHAT THEY HAD ASKED FOR LAST YEAR, WHAT HAD BEEN APPROVED, AND THEN WHAT HADN'T BEEN APPROVED.

UM, AND THEN JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, FORECASTED THAT THOSE ARE PROBABLY STILL NEEDS THAT THE, THAT THE SHELTER HAS.

AND, UM, THAT'S WHERE THESE CAME FROM.

AND THEN I DID A LOT OF REVIEW OF BOTH THE CITY'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE SHELTER STRATEGIC PLAN TO SEE, UM, IF THESE ALIGNED WITH THOSE OR IF THEY DIDN'T, AND WHEN THEY DID ALIGN HOW IT

[01:00:01]

ALIGNED.

AND THEN, UM, I SENT DRAFTS TO BACK TO MELISSA AS WELL AS MY, UM, COUNCIL OFFICE.

AND, UM, AND THEN, UM, MY COUNCIL OFFICE INFORMED ME THAT, UM, CITY COUNCIL LIKES TO HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA COST.

AND THEN, AND UH, MY CITY COUNCIL OFFICE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WHEN THEY HEAR BUDGET REQUESTS, THEY WOULD ALSO HEAR, LIKE TO HEAR WHERE CUTS COULD BE MADE IN THE, IN THE CURRENT BUDGET.

SO, AND MELISSA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO, BASED ON THE, THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS I HAD MADE, FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE PROBABLY WOULD COST.

AND UM, AND THEN FOR THIS ONE, FOR THE CONVERSION OF PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, I KNEW THAT , IF THEY WERE NO LONGER HAVING TO PAY THEM AS PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, THEY COULD, OR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES, THEY COULD PAY THEM AS FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES.

UM, HOWEVER, I DID A LOT OF LOOKING INTO IF I COULD FIND A, A LINE ITEM BUDGET FOR THE SHELTER JUST TO SEE IF, JUST WITH MY KNOWLEDGE GOING THROUGH IT, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING STANDING OUT THAT THAT WAS NOT MANDATED BY THE BUDGET.

BUT I NEVER ENDED UP COMING ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

LIKE I BELIEVE IT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE BECAUSE THE CITY NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT, BUT I DIDN'T SUCCESSFULLY FIND IT IN THE TIME THAT I SPENT LOOKING FOR IT.

SO I WASN'T ABLE TO, MORE SPECIFICALLY THEN I, THEN I PUT IN HERE, LOOK FOR ANY PLACES, UM, WHERE I, I I COULD POTENTIALLY FIND, UM, COST SAVINGS.

AND, UM, OH, ONE QUESTION THAT I DID HAVE IS, UM, IS IF CON CONTINUE TO HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON GOOD FIX IS CURRENTLY IN THE BUDGET.

THAT'S WHAT I, I DON'T KNOW IF NOT, NOT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT LIKE THE FISCAL YEAR 26, DO YOU KNOW ? GOOD EVENING.

MELISSA POOLE, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ANIMAL SERVICES.

SO YES, WE DO HAVE, UH, FUNDING IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET FOR SPAY AND NEUTER, UM, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY IN OUR PROPOSED.

SO I SEE, UH, COMMISSIONER HOLT AND YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO THIS.

UM, I AM OVERWHELMINGLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, BECAUSE AS YOU WERE TALKING THROUGH KIND OF THE PROCESS, I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.

IS THERE A, A THING THAT WE WOULD BE EXPLICITLY GIVING UP OR IS THERE AN EXPECTATION AND HOPE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO RAISE THE BUDGET TO COVER THIS.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ADVOCATING FOR.

OTHER THAN, OTHER THAN FOR CONVERTING THE, UM, THE, UH, TEMPORARY TO FULL-TIME POSITIONS.

I, I DON'T HAVE IN MY RECOMMENDATIONS ANY, ANY CUTS THAT I COOL.

GREAT.

THOUGHT WE COULD RECOMMEND, BUT I DIDN'T, I I COULDN'T FIND ANY FINE TUNE LINE ITEM BUDGET WHERE I COULD EVEN LOOK, BUT RIGHT.

I WON'T FIND TO MAKE US GIVE ANYTHING.

THIS WAS BEING SHARED AND I WAS JUST MISUNDERSTANDING.

SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, COMMISSIONER TIES.

UM, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU HAVE PUT A LOT, LOT OF WORK INTO THIS.

IT'S, IT'S NOT EASY THING.

SO IT, IT IS APPRECIATED.

AND I'M, I SHARE .

I GLAD YOU HAVE MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND I NEED TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND.

AND, UH, I, I LOOK AT IT THROUGH ALL THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

I THINK THEY'RE GREAT.

AND ALSO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE BACKGROUND.

SO IS THIS A WORKING GROUP THAT CAME UP WITH THIS, OR WAS IT YOU ALONE? IT'S, IT WAS ME AS THE WORKING GROUP, WHICH NOBODY ASKED TO JOIN UNTIL 10 MINUTES AGO.

ALSO, IT WAS JUST YOLO.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE WORKING WITH YOU.

CORRECT.

I WAS HOPING THAT PEOPLE WOULD REACH OUT AND, AND OFFER

[01:05:01]

HELP .

WOW.

MY OTHER QUESTION ABOUT, AND THAT'S NOT MY FIRST TIME SERVING AS THE ONLY PERSON ON A WORKING GROUP.

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MY FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME DOING THAT .

SO, UH, QUESTION AND, UH, I'M LOOKING AT THE, JUST RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL, I SEE THE POST CITY OF AUSTIN LOGO.

SO WITH THIS RECOMMENDATIONS, DO YOU GET, UM, BUY IN FROM THE SERVICES AND YES.

FROM WHAT LEVEL? SO THIS HAS THE LOGO ON IT BECAUSE THIS IS THE FORM THAT THEY WANT US TO SUBMIT IT IN.

THIS HAS NOT BEEN PASSED, THIS IS A DRAFT.

SO, UM, UH, THE ONLY PERSON I EMAILED MY DRAFTS TO WERE, UM, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, CARBAJAL, UM, MS. POOLE AND MY COUNCIL OFFICE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY GLARING FEEDBACK THAT I, THAT, THAT I SHOULD HAVE PRIOR TO BRINGING THEM TO THE COMMISSION.

SO YOU PROBABLY THANK YOU FOR THAT.

YOU PROBABLY WORK ON THIS BEFORE MONICA GOT INVOLVED? NO, UH, IT WAS ONLY AFTER LAST COMMISSION MEETING WHEN THE WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED.

AND I THINK THAT, AND CORRECT ME IS IN THE DEADLINE, UH, MARCH 31ST.

SO THERE'S MUCH TIME, BECAUSE TODAY'S MARCH 9TH AND I, YEAH, IT NEEDS TO BE PASSED TODAY IF WE WANT TO HAVE IT AS A COMMISSION.

I, THAT'S WHY THE WORKING GROUP WAS FORMED LAST MONTH.

AND NO, AND I WORKED ON IT TO PRESENT IT TODAY.

'CAUSE WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY MEETING BEING CALLED, THIS IS OUR ONE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON THE BUDGET, WHICH IS IN OUR, UM, BYLAWS THAT AS A COMMISSION WE SHOULD DO.

AND WHILE I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION, IT HASN'T HAPPENED BEFORE, SO I HOPE WE CAN, WHILE I WAS ON THE COMMISSION.

SO I HOPE WE CAN HAVE SOME BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL THIS TIME.

I UNDERSTAND.

ONE LAST QUESTION.

I ONE HAVE, AND I, I MEAN, I CAN TELL ALL THE WORK, AMAZING WORK YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS.

SO LET'S SUPPOSE FOR SOME REASON, UM, WE HAVE NEW LEADERSHIP AND THAT IT, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S SERVED TO THAT THE NEW LEADERSHIP HAS AN INPUT ON THIS.

AND FOR SOME REASON, THIS DOESN'T GET A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S DEAD.

CORRECT.

IT DOES.

UNLESS WE HOLD AN EMERGENCY MEETING PRIOR TO MARCH 31ST.

AND MAYBE THE, THE NEW ANIMAL SERVICES DIRECTOR MIGHT LOOK AT THIS AND TAKE IT UPON IT.

I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST, I'M JUST TALKING OUT LOUD.

THAT'S ALL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NO.

NO.

, I I'M JUST THINKING THAT YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO LEAVE JUST A NEW LEADER.

THEY WANNA OWN AND MAKE THE DECISION.

THAT'S ALL.

AND I, AND I'M NOT TAKING DOWN WHAT YOU DID, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE DONE HERE IN AMAZING WORK.

THAT'S ALL.

THAT'S IT.

THE DIRECTOR'S HERE AND SHE CAN COMMENT IF SHE HAS COMMENTS.

UM, DO YOU WANNA GO BEFORE COMMISSIONER LINDER AND HOLT, OR, OKAY.

COMMISSIONER LINDER.

JUST THANKS.

JUST REALLY FAST.

AND, UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WILL HELP ANSWER, UH, YOUR QUESTION, COMMISSIONER, UH, HER ABILITY IN ANY WAY TO, TO ASK FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

YEAH, THIS IS, YEAH.

THIS IS NOT AT ALL THE BUDGET PROPOSAL OF THE SHELTER AT ALL.

THE SHELTER SEPARATELY MAKES THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL TO THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OR TO THE CITY MANAGER.

AND THAT'S DECIDED THERE.

THIS IS SEPARATE, THIS IS OUR COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL THAT IF THEY'RE IN A POSITION TO SUPPORT THESE THINGS, THAT WE WOULD LOVE THEM

[01:10:01]

TO SUPPORT THESE THINGS.

THE SHELTER CAN ASK FOR WHAT WHATEVER THEY WANT.

DOES THAT CLEAR ANYTHING UP? YES.

UM, COMMISSIONER HOLT? YES.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL.

UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? YES, COMMISSIONER FERGUSON.

UM, THIS IS ALL REALLY GREAT.

UM, THE HARDWARE DOESN'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT.

WE'RE ONLY DOING, UH, AGENDA ITEM FOR, I DID 'EM SEPARATELY, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO AMENDMENTS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF AMENDMENTS WE COULD DO.

SO , SO, OH, I SEE.

SORRY.

ONLY, ONLY THE FIRST ONE.

WE'LL GET TO THAT ONE THEN.

GOT IT.

, ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR AS I AMENDED IT? WOULD ANYBODY LIKE ME TO RESTATE THAT OR NO? I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'RE, DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT ANY ABOUT THIS ONE? UM, NO, I THINK, UH, THESE ARE REALLY THOUGHT, WELL, ALL OF 'EM ARE THOUGHTFUL.

THESE ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL.

UM, PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE COMMENT IS WRITE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IS, UM, RIGHT.

REMOVING THE TEMPORARY, UM, POSITIONS AND REPLACING THEM WITH THE FULL-TIME, THE TEMPORARY POSITIONS SO YOU GUYS KNOW HOW THEY OPERATE AND THE PURPOSE OF THEM YEAH.

IS TO HELP FILL IN THE GAPS, WHETHER IT'S SEASONAL GAPS THAT MAY BE CREATED OR GAPS FROM VACANCIES OR LEAVES OF LEAVES OF ABSENCES.

SO WHEN WE CONVERT A TEMPORARY PCN TO A PERMANENT ONE, UH, WE START REMOVING THAT ABILITY TO HAVE STAFFING THAT CAN KIND OF FLOW AND FILL IN THOSE GAPS WHERE THEY ARE.

UM, SO THAT WOULD BE MY ONE COMMENT ON THAT, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DID THE CONVERSION AS WELL.

UM, COMMISSIONER, DO POSITION'S CORRECT? I I DIDN'T STATE THIS CORRECTLY.

YEAH, I'M NOT SURE.

C I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU ARE ASKING.

THE OKAY.

THE PRO, COULD I CLARIFY, THE PROPOSAL ISN'T ABOUT TURNING VOLUNTEER POSITIONS INTO PAID POSITIONS.

IT'S ABOUT TURNING.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING THERE IS ALSO VOLUNTEER ANIMAL CARE HELP AT THE SHELTER.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE POINTING OUT? YEAH.

SO IT, IT'S, IT, NO, UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, ANIMAL CARE POSITIONS AT THE SHELTER ARE IN LARGE PART, UM, KENNEL CLEANING AND ALSO MOVING OF THE ANIMALS AND PLAYING THE VERY COMPLICATED TETRIS GAME OF CORRECT.

MAKING SURE THEY'RE ALL IN THE BEST POSITION THEY CAN BE IN.

CORRECT.

AND, AND, AND THESE, AND SO WE'RE ONLY DISCUSSING PAID POSITIONS AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A LONG TERM TEMPORARY POSITIONS THAT RECENT, I APOLOGIZE.

I GOT IT FROM NOT MY QUESTION.

WOULD YOU MIND REPEATING THE AMENDMENT? UH, NOT AT ALL.

OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? THE, THE, THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION,

[01:15:01]

UM, SO THE BEFORE US CURRENTLY IS, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, A AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FOR, FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 AND 28 REGARDING ANIMAL CARE POSITIONS AND FOLLOWING THE THIRD, WHEREAS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A FOURTH, WHEREAS THAT SAYS, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES HAS AS ONE OF THE SIX PRIORITIES IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL TO ENHANCE WORKING CONDITIONS AND BUILD SKILLED SUPPORT STAFF.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING THERE LONG TERM, WAS IT CLEAR WHERE I STOPPED? OKAY.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WORKING LONG TIME AS A TEMPORARY WORKER, THEY, THEY'RE JUST A TEMPORARY WORKER WHO DOESN'T GET BENEFITS, DOESN'T HAVE ANY JOB GUARANTEES, AND IF YOU HAVE THEM WORKING AS A LONG, AS A FULL-TIME PERSON, BUT THEIR POSITION ISN'T THAT THEY DON'T GET THE BENEFITS, THAT HAS DOWNSIDES FOR SURE.

UM, THAT, THAT CLASH WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN OF BOTH THE SHELTER AND THE CITY.

ITEM FIVE IS, UM, A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL REGARDING, UM, AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FISCAL YEAR 27 AND 28 REGARDING STAFF DOG WALKERS.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THIS UNANIMOUS FOR AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

AGENDA

[5. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for two dog walkers.]

UM, SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SIMILAR, BUT THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO, UH, STAFF DOG WALKERS WHO ARE, ARE PAID DOG WALKERS AT THE SHELTER.

AND FOR, FOR THE LARGE DOGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT THE SHELTER FOR A VERY LONG TIME, THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL SERVICE.

UM, BUT THE, THE, UM, THE, THE MONEY TO PAY THESE DOG WALKERS IS NOT IN THE BUDGET, DOESN'T COME FROM THE CITY.

IT COMES FROM DONATIONS RAISED BY THE SHELTER.

AND, UM, I, I FEEL THAT THESE POSITIONS ARE TOO CRITICAL FOR THE DOGS AS WE'RE HOUSING THEM NOW FOR, FOR, FOR, FOR THEM TO BE, UH, TENUOUS AND DEPENDENT ON, UM, VOLUNTEER MONEY RAISED.

AND I CAN THINK OF SOME OTHER, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW VOLUNTEER OR OR DONATION MONEY COULD BE USED TO THE SHE AT THE SHELTER, UM, IN, IN A WAY WHERE I THINK EVERYBODY MIGHT BENEFIT MORE.

UM, SO AGAIN, AFTER I GOT THESE SENT OUT FRIDAY, I THOUGHT OF ANOTHER, WHEREAS THAT'S THE SAME AS THE LAST ONE.

SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UM, CONSIDER, UH, THIS RECOMMENDATION AS WRITTEN WITH THE ADDITION OF A FOURTH, WHEREAS UNDER THE CURRENT THIRD, WHEREAS, UM, THAT AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES HAS AS ONE OF THE SIX PRIORITIES IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WITH A SPECIFIC GOAL TO QUOTE, ENHANCE WORKING CONDITIONS AND BUILD SKILLED AND SUPPORTED STAFF.

UM, IS THERE A SECOND? COMMISSIONER LINDER? UM, ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER LO.

WE'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW IF MONICA HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

UH, N NO, NOT ON THIS ONE.

UM, YEAH, THOSE POSITIONS ARE, I THINK COMMISSIONER NELSON EXPLAINED THAT RIGHT.

THEY'RE CRITICAL TO HELP GET THE DOGS OUT AND EXERCISE.

UM, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

[01:20:01]

UM, SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF SUPPORTING THIS AS AMENDED, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

AND THEN, UM, AGENDA ITEM

[6. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for one animal enrichment specialist. ]

NUMBER SIX.

UM, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES BUDGET RECOMMENDATION FISCAL YEAR 27 AND 28 REGARDING STAFF ANIMAL ENRICHMENT SPECIALIST.

AND THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE LAST ONE, BUT IT'S A SINGLE POSITION, UM, WHERE IT'S, UH, SOMEBODY WHO JUST COORDINATES, UM, ENRICHMENT.

SO IT'S SERVES A SIMILAR PER PURPOSE AS THE DOG WALKING, BUT IT CAN BE IN KENNEL ENRICHMENT FOR DOGS AND CATS.

AND AGAIN, UM, IS VERY CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY IF ANIMALS ARE STAYING IN THE SHELTER A FAIRLY LONG TIME, IT CAN BE VERY BENEFICIAL IN KEEPING THEM HAPPY AND GETTING THEM, UM, ADOPTED.

AND AGAIN, I THINK, UM, IT SHOULDN'T, IT SHOULDN'T BE DEPENDENT ON, UM, DONATION MONEY FLUCTUATIONS.

UM, SO IS THERE A, A SECOND ON THIS ONE? UM, COMMISSIONER, UH, ER, UM, ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMISSIONER DINGLER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT? NO, I DO NOT HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

ALL THOSE IN SUPPORT OF, UM, OOPS, I FORGOT.

I ALSO HAD AN AMENDMENT, ANOTHER AMENDMENT.

UM, THIS NO LONGER BELONGS TO ME.

IT BELONGS TO THE TABLE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO ADDING, UM, A FOURTH, WHEREAS THAT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE, WHEREAS FOR THE LAST TWO.

ANY, ANY OBJECTION? NO.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF, OF THIS AS AS AMENDED UNANIMOUS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY AMENDMENTS TO THIS ONE OTHER THAN MOVING THE SEMICOLON INSIDE THE QUOTES ON THE, ON THE THIRD, WHEREAS , AND IF ANYBODY WANTS TO OBJECT TO THAT, THAT WOULD BE FASCINATING.

THE LAST ONE,

[7. Approve a FY27/FY28 Budget Recommendation to Council to provide funding in the general budget for expected, ongoing, necessary hardware upgrades.]

UM, UH, UH, ARE YOU, ARE YOU VOLUNTEERING TO, TO SECOND THIS COMMISSIONER DO, IE.

BECAUSE WE NEED A SECOND BEFORE WE DISCUSS.

I CAN HEAR YOU NOW.

ANY DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER FERGUSON? HOW, UM, I, I LIKE THIS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT.

I'VE HEARD, YOU KNOW, TIME AND AGAIN, THAT HAVING BETTER TECHNOLOGY AND HARDWARE WOULD BE REALLY GREAT FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND THE STAFF.

HOW, SINCE THERE'S NO DOLLAR AMOUNT IS THAT, IT'S JUST WHATEVER YOU CAN, I MEAN, UM, CITY, IF WE PASSED IT AS IS, CITY COUNCIL COULD HEAR THAT WE WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS.

IT WOULDN'T STOP THEM FROM SUPPORTING IT BECAUSE AT THIS POINT IT DIDN'T HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY WOULD COME UP WITH A DOLLAR AMOUNT BEFORE THEY SUPPORTED IT.

BUT YEAH, THIS IS WHAT I COULD COME UP WITH.

I THINK THAT'S GOOD.

I THINK IT DOES SHOW THE SUPPORT AND, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS THE, UM, THE ANIMAL SERVICES WILL HAVE LINE ITEM REQUESTS AS WELL, SO, OKAY.

JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND THAT.

UM, COMMISSIONER ES YES.

SO IS MORE COMMON OF THEIR FOUNDATIONS.

I, I THINK THEY'RE AWESOME.

I ALSO THINK, AND, UM, A LOT OF THINGS FOR DONATIONS AND WE WANT TO ESTABLISH LIKE CONSISTENCY OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DON'T LOSE THAT, THOSE DECISIONS.

I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS MORE FOR THE AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES, THAT THOSE WE WANT TO KEEP COMING, THOSE DONATIONS KEEP COMING IN BECAUSE WE NEED THE MONEY.

WE, I MEAN, YES, WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT AND TAXES AND ALL THAT, BUT WE WANT DONATIONS TO KEEP COMING AND USING ALTER DIFFERENT THINGS THAT'S ON.

MAYBE THE SHELTER MIGHT BE IN A POSITION TO USE THOSE DONATIONS FOR, UM, SOME OF THAT MEDICAL FUNDING THAT WE USED TO HAVE.

AND OBVIOUSLY I WOULD HAVE NO SAY OVER THIS OR NO CALL, BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UM, CUTBACKS IN FUNDING FOR EMERGENCY AND AND MEDICAL SERVICES THERE, THAT, THAT, IF NOT SO MUCH OF THE DONATIONS WERE USED UP FOR BASIC STAFF, THAT

[01:25:01]

LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE ANY SAY OVER THAT, BUT THAT WAS, THAT'S IN A THOUGHT.

UM, COMMISSIONER LINDER, DID YOU HAVE A, WAS I HALLUCINATING ANOTHER COMMENT OR OTHER DISCUSSION? COMMISSIONER THAT HAD QUESTION? COMMISSIONER HOLT, I WAS GONNA BASICALLY SAY THE SAME THING YOU SAID, WHICH IS LIKE, EVEN IF WE WERE TO GET PRIVATE DOLLARS THROUGH GRANTS OR THROUGH DONATIONS, THAT'S JUST LIKE A RECONFIGURING OF HOW POTS OF MONEY GET MOVED AROUND.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY LOCKING US OUT FROM BEING ABLE TO APPLY FOR, FOR GRANTS OR TO SOLICIT DONATIONS AND NOTHING PRECISELY ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UH, COMMISSIONER LOIN? YEAH.

UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS.

I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT TO DO BY YOURSELF, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.

AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF THE DIRECTOR HAD ANY COMMENTS ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

JUST, YEAH, SO ON THE TECHNOLOGY ONE, I WAS JUST TALKING WITH MELISSA ABOUT THAT AND I'M GONNA PASS IT OFF TO HER 'CAUSE SHE HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE BACKGROUND ABOUT IT.

SO, UM, I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME TO REALLY ASSESS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE.

BUT I WILL SAY THINGS LIKE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET FOR RADIO, YOU KNOW, REPLACEMENT.

AND WE GOT USED RADIOS FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, FOR OUR, OUR STAFF.

UM, WE, YOU KNOW, HAD TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE IN, UH, GETTING LAPTOPS FOR OUR ANIMAL PROTECTION OFFICERS AND THEIR VEHICLES.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO DO SOME TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, LIKE TO THE WHITEBOARD WHERE WE NOTE, UM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE, THE DOT COLORS AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY'VE TAKEN OUT OR NOT.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN A, UM, IN A TECHNOLOGY SETTING SO THAT SOMEONE COULD LOOK AT THAT FROM ANOTHER AREA OF THE SHELTER AND NOT HAVE TO RUN BACK, YOU KNOW, AND LOOK AT THE WHITEBOARD, UM, TO GET, TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT ANIMAL.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY, UM, AND WE HAVE A VERY LEAN BUDGET, SO WE DO HAVE NEEDS.

UM, AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS FOR US.

AND, AND I JUST, IT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GIVE A GOOD ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, ON WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE DOLLAR OR THE, TO DO A COST ESTIMATE ON THOSE NEEDS.

SO HOPEFULLY AS A COMMISSION WE CAN AT LEAST SAY HIGHLIGHT TO, UM, CITY COUNCIL THAT THIS, THAT THIS IS A NEED AND THAT WE NEED IT.

AND I KNOW OUR, AS OUR WORK ON THE, UH, UH, THE WORKING GROUP ON THE STRATEGIC PLAN, THAT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT, IF THERE WERE A WAY TO SEE THE DATA FROM THE WHITEBOARDS IN THE, IN THE HUNDREDS BUILDING THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE CRITICAL FOR LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE STRATEGIES AND GOALS IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN.

SO YEAH, JUST FURTHER EMPHASIZING THAT.

NEED TO UPGRADE THAT.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ON, ON AGENDA ITEM SEVEN.

ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF PASSING, UM, AGENDA ITEMS. ITEM SEVEN IS WRITTEN DESPITE THE SEMI, THAT'S UNANIMOUS.

AND JUST ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND ALL OF YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND THAT'S SUPER EXCITING.

UM, AND THEN, UH, I, I, THIS IS, UM, COMMISSIONER LINDER, VICE CHAIR LINDER'S LAST MEETING.

UM, I, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, THANK HER AND OFFER HER A MOMENT TO SAY WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

UM, THANKS SO MUCH.

UM, YES.

UM, I'LL, UH, BE HAVING A BABY IN APRIL, WHICH IS TERRIFYING AND EXCITING.

UM, BUT, UH, BUT YES, SO IT SEEMED LIKE A, A GOOD TIME FOR, FOR WORK AND A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS TO, UM, TO, UH, TO STEP BACK.

BUT I HAVE SOMEONE WONDERFUL COMING IN FROM, UH, DISTRICT THREE TO TAKE MY PLACE.

UM, JULES MARIN, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WILDLIFE RESCUE.

UM, AND I THINK WE'LL, WE'LL, UM, BE A MORE THAN ADEQUATE REPLACEMENT.

UH, SO, UM, SO SHE'LL BE STEPPING IN IN APRIL, UM, AS I TAKE A STEP BACK.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS, UM, TO ALL OF YOU.

I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION FOR THREE YEARS NOW, UH, WHICH, WHICH CAN MOVE BY QUICKLY.

AND I'VE BEEN, UH, REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SO MANY OF YOU, UM, LEARN FROM SO MANY OF YOU.

UM, AND I ALSO JUST WANNA THANK, UH, ANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UM, ROCHELLE AND PAT AND FOLKS WHO SPENT, YOU KNOW, EVERY FIRST MONDAY WITH US AND HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH OF THEIR, UH, SELVES AND THEIR TIME, UM, TO DOING THIS KIND OF WORK THAT, THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT SO MUCH AND SUPPORT.

SO I JUST WANT, UH, TO, TO SAY THANKS TO, TO ALL OF 'EM AS WELL AND, AND TO THE CITY STAFF.

SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I'M GRATEFUL, UH, FOR ALL OF IT.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

YES, CONGRATULATIONS.

[01:30:01]

AND THANK YOU FOR, UM, HELPING MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE, UM, AN, AN OPENING AND THAT WE'RE STILL A ROBUST COMMISSION AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO WORK WITH, WITH JULES AS WELL.

I JUST WANT TO MENTION HERE THAT, UM, UH, AT THE LAST MEETING WE DID MENTION, UH, A POTENTIAL FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, UM, ITEM OF HEARING FROM AUSTIN, UH, RESOURCE RECOVERY ABOUT THEIR PROTOCOLS FOR, UM, COMING ACROSS, UM, DECEASED DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

UM, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.

[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ]

AND THAT, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TALKING WITH ALL OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY, THAT THEY NEED TO COORDINATE WITH WHEN, WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, COME UP WITH A PRESENTATION FOR US, HOPEFULLY, UM, RELATIVELY SOON ABOUT, UM, WHAT THEIR PROCESSES ARE ON THAT AND THEIR PROTOCOLS ON THAT.

SO, UM, JUST SO IN CASE PEOPLE WERE LOOKING FOR THAT ON THE AGENDA THIS MONTH AND HOPING THAT WAS GONNA BE THERE, THAT'S WHERE THAT STANDS.

AND, AND THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO EVER IS INVITE DEPARTMENTS TO COME SPEAK AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL TAKE THAT UP, TAKE US UP ON THAT WHEN THEY HAVE THE TIME.

UM, INDY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AT THIS MOMENT.

AND THEY ALSO CAN ALWAYS BE EMAILED TO ME.

AND THEN, UM, EVA, DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THE DEADLINE FOR WHEN THAT'S GONNA BE FOR THE APRIL MEETING OR THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE APRIL 13TH.

I WILL NEED THE LAST AGENDA ITEM SPECIFICALLY FOR THE DISCUSSION BY, UM, THE THIRD FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD.

APRIL 3RD, MY, YES, APRIL 3RD, FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD, YES.

OH, AND I DO, I DO THINK I, WE DO NEED TO PUT ON THERE, UM, UH, OFFICER ELECTIONS.

SO THAT WILL BE ON NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA.

COMMISSIONER HOLT, DID YOU HAVE AN, A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM? YEAH, I DUNNO IF IT GOT DONE VIA EMAIL.

I APPARENTLY CANNOT DO BACKWARDS AGENDA MATH TO SAVE MY LIFE .

SO THE PET FRIENDLY HOUSING WORK GROUP WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION, UM, IN APRIL.

I DON'T KNOW IF I STILL NEED A SECOND OR IF THAT'S ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF FROM THE EMAIL I SENT.

AND WE HAPPY TO SECOND EMAIL FROM THE, SORRY, WHAT I JUST SAID.

I'M HAPPY TO SECOND IT EITHER WAY.

SO, PERFECT.

YOU'RE THERE.