REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION April 14, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 West 2nd St Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Animal Advisory Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Travis County Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Whitney Holt, D5 Luis Herrera, D6 Jo Anne Norton, D7 Erin Ferguson, D8 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Laura Hoke, Mayor AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on March 10, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Services Office. 3. Staff briefing regarding the implementation of new shelter software at the Animal Services Office. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation by Austin Pets Alive! regarding license agreement reports. 5. Discussion regarding the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget including a review of budget requests made by the Animal Services Office and the process for Fiscal Year 2026 budget development. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Conduct officer elections for the Chair, Vice Chair, and Parliamentarian. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Christi Vitela, Office of the City Clerk at (512) 974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at (512) 974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MARCH 10, 2025 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on March 10, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Linder called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Lotta Smagula, D1 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Nancy Nemer, Travis County Whitney Holt, D5 Larry Tucker, D7 Commissioners Absent: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Luis Herrera, D6 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Kaitlyn Banis – Adoption policy proposal Sandra Muller – Adoption fees Pat Valls-Trelles – Process issues Laura Ransan Nesmith – Recurrent issues with rules and need for clear manual 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on February 10, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting on February 10, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Smagula’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke abstained. Chair Clinton and Commissioner Herrera were absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Officer, Austin Animal Services. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion regarding the development of bond technical criteria and the recent work of the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Presentation by Jason Garza, Deputy Officer, Animal Services Office. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Officer, Animal Services Office. 4. Overview of budget requests made by Animal Services Office and the process for Fiscal Year 2026 budget development. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Officer, Animal Services Office. 5. Discussion of targets for the Animal Services Strategic Plan. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Discussion of long distance adoption support at Austin Animal Center and formation of a working group to research, support and encourage the shelter in increasing adoptions by utilizing long distance adoption models. The motion to form a working group to research, support and encourage the shelter in increasing adoptions by utilizing long distance adoption models was approved on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Hoke’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Chair Clinton and Commissioner Herrera were absent. Commissioners Hoke and Holt were added to the working group without objection. 7. Discussion of Greater Good Charities, Good Fix support and formation of a working group to find ways …
Information is from October 1, 2024– March 31, 2025 Information compiled via ASO Power BI dashboards. Intake Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Outcome Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Difference of outcomes - intakes Dog totals Cat totals Totals Cats Adoption RTO/RTO Adopt Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing SNR (former SCRP) Total Dog Adoption RTO/RTO Adopt Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total 2025 2601 2432 5033 2025 2512 2591 5103 2025 -89 159 70 2025 1790 95 374 88 37 2 205 2591 2025 1628 366 436 70 12 0 2512
March 2025 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT 1 Austin Animal Center • The live outcome rate for March was 95.47%. • A total of 960 animals were brought to the shelter which included 472 dogs, 408 cats, 56 wild animals, 7 rabbits, 4 lizards, 7 guinea pigs, 3 turtles, and one rat. • A total of 495 animals were adopted (139 adult dogs, 161 puppies, 88 kittens, and 107 adult cats). • A total of 93 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On March 1, there were 770 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (479 onsite, 285 in foster, 2 at a vet clinic, and 4 at TLAC). • On April 1, there were 801 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (473 onsite, 323 in foster, and 2 at a vet clinic). Animal Protection • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 37 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 22 fencing assistance applications and implanted 4 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 174 injured animals and delivered approximately 162 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 264 rabies exposure reports and submitted 6 specimens for rabies testing. We had 1 positive bat. Wildlife • There were 18 total coyote related activities (Behavior types include Sighting, Encounter, Incident, and Observation. “Observation” is defined as hearing coyotes howling and finding scat or footprints.) o 10 sightings, 4 wild sick, 2 incidents, 1 observations, and 1 wild injured • Out of 38 coyote related activities, 13 (72%) reports fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and observation) o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of incidents reported. 2/2 incidents (100%) involved a coyote taking an unsupervised outside cat. • Out of 18 coyote related reports, 7 (39%) reports were updated to the correct behavior types. o 1 sightings updated to wild sick (due to mange) o Residents are mistaking coyotes with mange for dogs 1 stray injured dog to wild injured coyote • A total of 512 wildlife related reports were made, including 221 wild injured, 163 wild speaks, 104 exposure investigations, 12 wild sick, 9 wild confined, 2 wild roam, and 1 presentation. Wildlife Related Activities by District March 2025 2 Presentation Wild Confined Wild Roam Wild Sick Wild Speak Wild Injured D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 Investigate Exposure Districts s e t i v …
Animal Services Budget Animal Services Office Budget Asks and Appropriations March 10th, 2025 Presented by: Don Bland 1 Operating Budget Operating Budget Expenditure by Program Animal Services Support Services Transfers, Debt Service, and other Requirements 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved 13,176,253 15,056,502 15,149,003 16,010,710 1,492,425 3,431,484 1,544,174 4,161,880 1,751,149 4,161,880 2,036,181 5,419,387 Total by Program Revenue from General Fund 15,957,928 18,684,168 19,064,818 21,225,540 21,062,032 20,762,556 18,100,163 23,466,278 Revenue from Fees/ILA 2,142,235 2,078,388 1,997,204 2,240,738 Total Revenue Civilian FTEs 18,100,163 20,762,556 21,062,032 23,466,278 121.00 126.00 126.00 128.50 2 Animal Services Operating Budget Expense Categories Provides an array of animal protection, animal sheltering, rabies prevention, and pet owner services. Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved Animal Services Personnel Contractuals Commodities Expense Refunds Non-CIP Capital Total Program Revenue Civilian FTEs 9,516,023 2,708,860 1,259,272 (307,902) 0 9,798,286 10,269,387 10,740,720 3,506,162 1,913,827 (161,773) 0 3,687,002 1,352,387 (161,773) 2,000 3,669,603 1,652,387 (54,000) 2,000 13,176,253 15,056,502 15,149,003 16,010,710 112 116 116 118.50 3 Support Services Operating Budget Expense Categories Provides administrative and managerial support to the Department. Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved Support Services Personnel Contractuals Commodities Expense Refunds Non-CIP Capital Total Program Personnel Civilian FTEs 1,011,592 1,025,083 1,272,932 1,435,573 357,032 90,404 (189) 33,587 465,819 53,522 (250) 0 406,125 72,342 (250) 0 530,608 70,250 (250) 0 1,492,425 1,544,174 1,751,149 2,036,181 9.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 4 Transfers, Debt Service, and Other Requirements Operating Budget Expense Categories comprises Primarily other departmental requirements at the fund or agency level. transfers and Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved T.DS.OR Services Personnel Contractuals Transfers Total Program 31,445 662,447 662,447 905,737 3,398,842 3,499,433 3,499,433 4,513,650 1,197 0 0 0 3,431,484 4,161,880 4,161,880 5,419,387 5 5 2 0 2 - 4 2 0 2 s e g n a h C t n a c i f i n g i S 6 Requested for Animal Services Expense Category $2,932,551.00 To t a l E st i m a t ed Co s t o f U n me t N e e d s $2,932,551.00 $2,119,898.00 (Recurring FTE costs) $812,653.00 (One-time costs) Job Title Vehicles Laptops Animal Protection Officer 11 Vehicles ($65,423/each) 31 units ($3,000/each) Total(s) $812,653 Department/Position # of positions Grand Total Animal Protection 11.5 $951,899 Vet Services Coordinator, Rescue/Foster Animal Care Total(s) 10 2.5 6 30 $766,263 $207,704 $430,547 $2,356,413 Approved for Animal Services Expense …
REGULAR MEETING OF THE ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION March 10, 2025, 6:00 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 West 2nd St Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Animal Advisory Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Christi Vitela at christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2792. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Travis County Lotta Smagula, D1 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Whitney Holt, D5 Luis Herrera, D6 Larry Tucker, D7 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Laura Hoke, Mayor CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on February 10, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion regarding the development of bond technical criteria and the recent work of the Bond Election Advisory Task Force. Presentation by Jason Garza, Deputy Officer, Animal Services Office. 4. Overview of budget requests made by Animal Services Office and the process for Fiscal Year 2026 budget development. 5. Discussion of targets for the Animal Services Strategic Plan. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Discussion of long distance adoption support at Austin Animal Center and formation of a working group to research, support and encourage the shelter in increasing adoptions by utilizing long distance adoption models. 7. Discussion of Greater Good Charities, Good Fix support and formation of a working group to find ways to improve outcomes. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 10, 2025 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on February 10, 2025, at 301 W. 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Chair Clinton called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Sarah Huddleston, D9 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Larry Tucker, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Nancy Nemer, Travis County Luis Herrera, D6 Whitney Holt, D5 Commissioners Absent: Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Rochelle Vickery – Dogs Pat Valls-Trelles – Performance Measures APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2025. 1 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on January 13, The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting on January 13, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Huddleston’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke was absent. STAFF BRIEFING DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. The presentation was made by Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. 3. Presentation by Austin Pets Alive! regarding license agreements reports. The presentation was made by Stephanie Bilbro, Austin Pets Alive! Director of Operations. 4. Discussion of the draft Animal Services Strategic Plan. The presentation was made by Susana Carbajal, Assistant City Manager, Audrey Muntz, Budget and Performance Manager, Financial Services Department, Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the draft Animal Services Strategic Plan. The motion to amend the Animal Services Office Strategic Plan 2025-2030 with the titled “Proposed Additions to ASO Strategic Plan” was made by Vice Chair Linder, seconded by Commissioner Huddleston. The amendments were as follows: “Spay Neuter (Page 13) • Goal 2: Add language to Strategy A as noted in underlined terms so that sentence is: “Partner with volunteers and organizations that support community cats to identify opportunities to enhance, reduce barriers to, and maximize the impact of trap-neuter-return programs. Goal 1: Add Strategy C as follows: “C. Develop methods to identify and Open Intake (Page 14) • implement policies to prioritize emergency cases and most at-risk animals for immediate intake.” Open Intake (Page 15): • Goal 3: Remove “Get” in title. 2 • Add language to Strategy A as noted in underlined terms so that sentence is: “Review, research, and provide recommendations …
Information is from October 1, 2024– February 28, 2025 Information compiled via ASO Power BI dashboards. Difference of outcomes - intakes Intake Year (fiscal) Outcome Year (fiscal) Dog totals Cat totals Totals Dog totals Cat totals Totals Dog totals Cat totals Totals Cats Adoption Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total Dog Adoption Transfer Euthanasia Died Missing Total RTO/RTO Adopt SNR (former SCRP) RTO/RTO Adopt 2025 2129 2024 4153 2025 2059 2206 4265 2025 -70 182 112 2025 1595 78 274 67 32 2 158 2206 2025 1328 290 369 63 9 0 2059
February 2025 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT 1 Austin Animal Center clinic, and 1 at TLAC). clinic, and 4 at TLAC). Animal Protection Rescue. positive bat. Wildlife • The live outcome rate for February was 95.81%. • A total of 846 animals were brought to the shelter which included 476 dogs, 331 cats, 20 wild animals, 10 rabbits, 4 betta fish, one guinea pig, and one rat. • A total of 526 animals were adopted (140 adult dogs, 154 puppies, 112 kittens, and 120 adult cats). • A total of 75 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On February 1, there were 745 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (460 onsite, 280 in foster, 2 at a vet • On March 1, there were 770 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (479 onsite, 285 in foster, 2 at a vet • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) made contact with the public 2,234 times in the month of February. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 29 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 19 fencing assistance applications and implanted 4 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 89 injured animals and delivered approximately 62 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife • Officers entered 197 rabies exposure reports and submitted 20 specimens for rabies testing. We had 1 • There were 38 total coyote related activities (Behavior types include Sighting, Encounter, Incident, and Observation. “Observation” is defined as hearing coyotes howling and finding scat or footprints.) o 22 sightings, 7 wild sick, 2 incidents, 3 observations, 1 encounters, 1 wild injured, and 2 wild speak • Out of 38 coyote related activities, 28 (74%) reports fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and observation) o Encounters: Pets were a factor in 1/1 (100%) of encounters reported. 1/1 encounters (100%) involved a coyote chasing an owned outside cat in a fenced o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of incidents reported. 1/2 incidents (50%) involved a coyote possibly injuring a pet. Unable to contact the 1/2 incidents (50%) involved a coyote injuring a person’s dog and caller backyard. caller for more information witnessed incident. • Out of 38 coyote related reports, 12 (32%) reports were updated to the correct behavior types. o 2 sightings updated to wild sick (due to mange) o Residents are mistaking coyotes with mange for dogs …
Animal Services Budget Animal Services Office Budget Asks and Appropriations March 10th, 2025 Presented by: Don Bland 1 Operating Budget Operating Budget Expenditure by Program Animal Services Support Services Transfers, Debt Service, and other Requirements 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved 13,176,253 15,056,502 15,149,003 16,010,710 1,492,425 3,431,484 1,544,174 4,161,880 1,751,149 4,161,880 2,036,181 5,419,387 Total by Program Revenue from General Fund 15,957,928 18,684,168 19,064,818 21,225,540 21,062,032 20,762,556 18,100,163 23,466,278 Revenue from Fees/ILA 2,142,235 2,078,388 1,997,204 2,240,738 Total Revenue Civilian FTEs 18,100,163 20,762,556 21,062,032 23,466,278 121.00 126.00 126.00 128.50 2 Animal Services Operating Budget Expense Categories Provides an array of animal protection, animal sheltering, rabies prevention, and pet owner services. Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved Animal Services Personnel Contractuals Commodities Expense Refunds Non-CIP Capital Total Program Revenue Civilian FTEs 9,516,023 2,708,860 1,259,272 (307,902) 0 9,798,286 10,269,387 10,740,720 3,506,162 1,913,827 (161,773) 0 3,687,002 1,352,387 (161,773) 2,000 3,669,603 1,652,387 (54,000) 2,000 13,176,253 15,056,502 15,149,003 16,010,710 112 116 116 118.50 3 Support Services Operating Budget Expense Categories Provides administrative and managerial support to the Department. Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved Support Services Personnel Contractuals Commodities Expense Refunds Non-CIP Capital Total Program Personnel Civilian FTEs 1,011,592 1,025,083 1,272,932 1,435,573 357,032 90,404 (189) 33,587 465,819 53,522 (250) 0 406,125 72,342 (250) 0 530,608 70,250 (250) 0 1,492,425 1,544,174 1,751,149 2,036,181 9.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 4 Transfers, Debt Service, and Other Requirements Operating Budget Expense Categories comprises Primarily other departmental requirements at the fund or agency level. transfers and Expense Category 2022-23 Actual 2023-24 Estimate 2023-24 Amended 2024-25 Approved T.DS.OR Services Personnel Contractuals Transfers Total Program 31,445 662,447 662,447 905,737 3,398,842 3,499,433 3,499,433 4,513,650 1,197 0 0 0 3,431,484 4,161,880 4,161,880 5,419,387 5 5 2 0 2 - 4 2 0 2 s e g n a h C t n a c i f i n g i S 6 Requested for Animal Services Expense Category $2,932,551.00 To t a l E st i m a t ed Co s t o f U n me t N e e d s $2,932,551.00 $2,119,898.00 (Recurring FTE costs) $812,653.00 (One-time costs) Job Title Vehicles Laptops Animal Protection Officer 11 Vehicles ($65,423/each) 31 units ($3,000/each) Total(s) $812,653 Department/Position # of positions Grand Total Animal Protection 11.5 $951,899 Vet Services Coordinator, Rescue/Foster Animal Care Total(s) 10 2.5 6 30 $766,263 $207,704 $430,547 $2,356,413 Approved for Animal Services Expense …
