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Animal Shelter Advisory Committee Minutes - 09/25/2008MINUTES THE ANIMAL SHELTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ASAC) SEPTEMBER 25, 2008 MEMBERS PRESENT: Julie Gibson, DVM ■ Members Marty Maxwell, Animal Welfare Organization Rep. ■ Penny Miller, Citizen -At -Large ■ Susan Morris, Chairman /LRCA/Zoonosis Administrator ■ Lou Franklin, Director of Public Health ■ Staff Diane Syrus, recording secretary ■ Staff Michael Smith, Councilor- District 1 ■ Council Liaison Stephen Dodge, A/C Supervisor ■ Staff Lou Franklin, Director of Public Health ■ Staff ABSENT: Rick Wright, Animal Reclaim Center Operator ■ Member I. CALL TO ORDER Susan Morris, L.R.C.A., Chairman presided. Mrs. Morris introduced Lou Franklin, Director of Public Health, and Stephen Dodge, Animal Control Supervisor. II. REVIEW & APPROVAL OF May MINUTES The minutes from the ASAC Meeting on August 21, 2008, were distributed and reviewed. Dr. Gibson made the motion to accept these minutes, with a second by Mrs. Maxwell. Motion carried. III. OLD BUSINESS At last meeting, guests from Ms. Fannie's Feline Friends voiced concerns regarding the proposed feral cat ordinance to be taken to the Board of Health and City Council. Our committee approved it with Dr. Gibson abstaining, the Board of Health reviewed it the following day and they tabled the discussion and decision. After listening to both sides, Ms. Terri Russell was directed to write down her concerns and to submit them to Mrs. Franklin, our Director of Public Health. We would then write our responses but Ms. Russell has not done so. They asked her to allow Mrs. Franklin sufficient time to answer and bring back to Board of Health at their next monthly meeting. Mrs. Franklin commented there was no specific time frame but to be submitted before their next Board of Health Meeting. Thus, this is where the Feral Cat Ordinance stands. Mrs. Morris stated regarding the question of permit fees for a group organizational or individual; our city attorney has instructed me this is purely up to the Council when we set the fees separate of the new ordinance. Regarding tattoos for animal identification, Mrs. Morris reported that this is not practiced in the area and tattooing is not practical. Regarding receiving neighborhood permission. Mrs. Franklin said that it has to be annual, blanket permission since people move and opinions change. Mrs. Morris said people have the right to either change their minds or if they move; and someone else comes into the neighborhood, these people should be able to say no. Mr. Smith asked whose responsibility is it to ask the neighborhood. Mrs. Morris said the people Animal Shelter Advisory Committee September 25, 2008 page 1 who want the feral cats. Mrs. Franklin added whoever will be the colony caregiver. Susan added that the health district will be happy to participate in organizational education events, like neighborhood meetings which explain the benefits of allowing cat colonies, but the caregiver is the one ultimately responsible for getting that information circulated. Discussion followed on Ms. Fannie's Feline Friends possible disappointment and concerns that they did not want so many rules, and wanted to run the "feral cat thing" for the entire city which is just not feasible. Mr. Smith thinks there was some frustration knowing that other cities in Texas have little or no regulation. Susan added maybe these cities do not have city attorneys nor do they not prosecute whereas we do have enforcement. Mrs. Franklin stated that all the ordinances she looked at, not in any of them does it name one particular organization that is responsible. Mr. Smith said there are some outside of Texas that do, but the ones in Texas and he has seen one, that there is one sentence that states "it is allowed ". Mrs. Morris said but it you read the rest of their ordinance, it says that all animals have to be rabies vaccinated. Mr. Smith wanted to express his thanks to the committee members for doing a lot of ordinance work, as well as Mr. Bill Sullivan's office getting this ordinance on the table. He said that he told Ms. Russell that we have to start somewhere and this ordinance is now a legal document which is ready to go. He advised Ms. Russell he understood her concerns but to let it go, pass, and get on the books to enable Ms. Fannie's Felines to be legal. Then she can talk to the media, get volunteers and contributors but Mr. Smith is not sure what Ms. Russell wants to do. Board members agreed these guests did not express why it would not work for them other than monetary or with paperwork. Mrs. Franklin stated was one of the concerns the Board of Health expressly asked Ms. Russell was to come up with a list of items she did not like about the ordinance and how she would propose to fix those things, how she want the ordinance changed to meet her needs but still comply with State Law. Mrs. Franklin said that she will send Ms. Russell an email around the end of this week just to let her know that she needs this information just as soon as possible. IV. NEW BUSINESS Susan asked members if there was anything they wanted addressed as new business. Mrs. Morris had wanted to ask Mr. Wright about his inspection of the Animal Reclaim Center but he must have forgotten. Mr. Smith added that since the budget is passed and part of that budget is the new Animal Resources Center. Mr. Smith asked what we are going to do as a committee of the city government to work with the Humane Society to help them along to have a facility they need in conjunction with the city's new center. Mrs. Franklin said we have had committee meetings with the Humane Society for months, probably close to one year when we started this process. We had the feasibility study done, then we began meeting with them, and we are at the point where we are almost in agreement on a lease agreement for the land which the City would purchase for us to build a facility on and for the Humane Society to build a facility on so that we would be co- located in the same area. Mrs. Franklin added they would have their own facility and we would have our own facility and we would each run separately so there would be no contractual agreement as it exists today. She said they were really close to coming to an agreement. Discussion followed. Mrs. Morris asked if anyone would like to bring up something for this committee to discuss. Dr. Gibson said that we did not discuss last time, but she wanted to follow up on the wording on the permit for "wildlife ". Mrs. Morris said Mrs. Miller brought this up after the meeting, and in our ordinances changes we will address then, as with Wildbird Rescue or Riverbend Nature Works. Mr. Smith had another concern regarding all the pigeons in town. Mrs. Morris said that she did not have any pigeon removal advice. Discussion followed on other problem pigeon locations in town. Animal Shelter Advisory Committee September 25, 2008 page 2 V. ADJOURN Mrs. Morris asked committee members when they would like to meet again. Dr. Gibson asked how about the ordinance process after the Board of Health meets. Mrs. Franklin clarified depending if she receives final recommendation or a major revision. Mr. Smith asked if Board of Health approves, then do we present to the County Commissioners. Mrs. Morris stated that the county currently allows feral cats; they do not have any rules against them; the county can have their own orders about licensing of animals but ours does not currently, but we have a new sheriff. Mrs. Franklin advised we will be careful of providing new services without additional funding, and we do not have the manpower to start animal control in the county. The date of the next meeting is open tentative to major ordinance changes and we have already had over three meetings this year. Mrs. Morris said if no further business, do I hear a motion to adjourn? Dr. Gibson made the motion; Mrs. Miller seconded it, motion carried to adjourn at 12:45 p.m. and all were in favor. Susan B. Morris, Chairman Zoonosis Administrator /L.R.C.A. Diane Syru4, Zoonosis & OSSF, Sr. Admin. Clerk Date ut�-cEI lED IN � CITY CLERK'S OFFICE R narP 1 Animal Shelter Advisory Committee September 25, 2008 page 3