REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION April 8, 2024, 6 p.m. Austin City Hall, Room 1101 301 W. 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 Eric Anderson at eric.anderson@austintexas.gov or (512) 974-2562. CURRENT BOARD COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Lotta Smagula, D1 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Ann Linder, D3 Paige Nilson, D4 Whitney Holt, D5 Luis Herrera, D6 Larry Tucker, Vice Chair, D7 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Amanda Bruce, D10 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 12, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Staff briefing regarding FY 2023 actual expenditures, including performance measures, for each Animal Services program (i.e., Shelter Services, Field Services, Spay/Neuter). Staff briefing regarding FY 2024 actual expenditures, as of the second quarter (March 31, 2024), for each Animal Services program (i.e., Shelter Services, Field Services and Spay/Neuter). Staff briefing on the year-to-date progress of the spay/neuter goals for the City of Austin. DISCUSSION ITEMS Discussion of the License Agreement Report from Austin Pets Alive. Discussion of a potential ban on foie gras at Austin restaurants. Discussion of the Austin Animal Center "Urgent Placement List" Memorandum and Matrix. Discussion of the implementation of Ordinance No. 20240201-002 (An ordinance amending City Code Chapter 3-1 relating to disposition of an impounded animal, notice to rescue organization, reporting by animal shelter, removing Definitions; and adopting a bite scale). Approve recommendations on the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Animal Services Budget. Conduct officer elections for the Chair, Vice Chair, and Parliamentarian. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. 11. WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES 12. FUTURE AGENDA …
March 2024 Animal Services Report March 2024 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for March was 97.09%. • A total of 908 animals were brought to the shelter which included 487 dogs, 359 cats, 42 wild animals, 7 finches, 4 guinea pigs, 4 rabbits, a cockatiel, a chicken, a turtle and a pig. • A total of 480 animals were adopted (307 dogs, 173 cats). • A total of 91 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On March 3, there were 694 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (423 onsite, 269 in foster, 1 at APA, and 1 at • On April 1, there were 727 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (383 onsite, 341 in foster, and 2 at a vet clinic a vet clinic). and 1 at Austin Pets Alive!). Animal Protection • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 23 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 36 fencing assistance applications and implanted 1 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 141 injured animals and delivered approximately 37 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 281 rabies exposure reports and submitted 52 specimens for rabies testing. We had 3 rabies positive bats, 1 rabies positive skunk and 1 destroyed bat. • 68 total coyote related activities o 26 Wild Sick o 1 Wild Speak o 3 Wild Injured o 20 Sightings o 2 o 2 o 1 Observations Encounters Incidents • Out of 55 coyote related reports, 25 reports fell within the reported behavior types. Behavior types include Sighting, Encounter, Incident, and Observation. “Observation” is defined as hearing coyotes howling and finding scat or footprints. o Encounters: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of encounters reported. ▪ An encounter involved a coyote coming face-to-face with pet. No incident occurred. ▪ An encounter involved a coyote following a resident and on-leash dog. o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of incidents reported. ▪ An incident involved a coyote attempting to take an owned outside cat. ▪ An incident was reported but did not have anything stated in the memo and APO was unable to contact the caller. • Out of 55 related activities, 30 fell within the reported behavior types (wild sick, wild speak, and wild injured). March 2024 Animal Services Report Volunteer • There was 129% increase in reports …
ASO Information Request AnnualComprehensivelFinancialReport2023.pdf (austintexas.gov) Animal Services | City of Austin, TX Operating Expense Budget (austintexas.gov) Programs Animal Services Activity Transfers, Debt Service, and Other Requirements Support Services Division Placeholder Total Shelter Services Field Services Prevention Services FY23 Expenditures FY24 Expenditures 7,715,970 $ $ 5,137,188 $ $ 1,276,988 $ $ 1,301,793 $ $ 1,798,907 $ $ $ 722,266 $ $ $ - $ $ 13,176,253 9,118,735 2,318,357 1,739,162 3,431,484 1,492,425 1,326 18,101,488 10,237,143 The information requested can be found on the Open Budget ATX website and the ACAFR. I’m including links to those along with the requested information below. 1. a. FY 2023 Actual Expenditures: $18.1 million, Shelter Services: $9.1 million, Field Services: $2.3 million, and Prevention Services: $1.7 million. i. ii. iii. iv. FY 23 Performance Measures 2. FY 2024 Actual Expenditures as of the Second Quarter: $10.2 million, Live outcome percentage: 97% Number of animals sterilized in the community: 7,571 Number of spay/neuters performed at the Animal Center: 5,328 Percent of sheltered animals returned to owner: 9.33% Shelter Services: $5.1 million, Field Services: $1.3 million, and Prevention Services: $1.3 million. City of Austin - ePerformance Measures | AustinTexas.gov AnnualComprehensivelFinancialReport2023.pdf (austintexas.gov) Animal Services | City of Austin, TX Operating Expense Budget (austintexas.gov)
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on Monday, February 12, 2024, at 301 W. Second 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 Ann Linder, D3 Dr. Paige Nilson, D4 Luis Herrera, D6 Larry Tucker, D7, Vice Chair Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Lotta Smagula, D1 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Whitney Holt, D5 Dr. Amanda Bruce, D10 Commissioners Absent: Nancy Nemer, Travis County, Parliamentarian Sarah Huddleston, D9 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Rochell Vickery – Spay and Neuter Pat Valls-Trelles – EmanciPet Ben Joyce – Fois Gras Kristian Camtes – Fois Gras APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on January 8, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of January 8, 2024, were approved with a correction to change the minutes meeting date from December 11, 2023, to January 12, 2024, on Commissioner Linder’s motion, Commissioner Herrera’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Huddleston and Nemer were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Overview of monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. Reports posted in backup materials. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief and Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the creation of a Working Group regarding the Emancipet contract. A motion to approve the creation of a working group regarding the Emancipet contract was made by Commissioner Bruce and seconded by Commissioner Herrera. An amendment to change the name of the working group to “Spay & Neuter Contracts with the City of Austin” was made by Chair Clinton, seconded by Commissioner Bruce, and approved without objection. The motion to approve the creation of a working group on Spay & Neuter Contracts with the City of Austin was approved on Commissioner Bruce’s motion, Commissioner Herrera’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Huddleston and Nemer were absent. Approve the creation of a Working Group on owner-intended euthanasia at the Austin Animal Center. The motion to approve the creation of a working group on owner-intended euthanasia was made by Commissioner Nilson, seconded by Commissioner Linder, and approved on a 7-1 vote. Vice Chair Tucker voted nay. Commissioner Dulzaides abstained. Commissioners Huddleston and Nemer were absent. Discussion and approve possible recommendations regarding the Animal Services Office Budget. Discussed with no action taken. …
Information is from October 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024 Information compiled via ASO Power BI dashboards. Difference of outcomes - intakes Outcome Year (fiscal) Intake 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 2024 2605 2159 4764 2024 2619 2312 4931 2024 14 153 167 2024 1564 82 369 48 25 1 223 2312 2024 1749 387 426 40 15 2 2619
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on April 8, 2024, 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 Amanda Bruce, D10 Paige Nilson, D4 Ann Linder, D3 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Whitney Holt, D5 Lotta Smagula, D1 Commissioners Absent: Larry Tucker, Vice Chair, D7 Luis Herrera, D6 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Sarah Huddleston, D9 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Rochelle Vickery – Dogs Pat Valls-Trelles – Posting a draft agenda two weeks before the Commission meeting & not voting on any motions on important recommendations until there has been a full discussion, including community input, for at least one meeting before the vote is taken. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on February 12, 2024. 1. 1 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. The minutes from the meeting of February 12, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Linder’s motion, Commissioner Nilson’s second on an 8-0 vote. Vice Chair Tucker, Commissioners Herrera, Hoke, and Huddleston were absent. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer and Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer. Chair Clinton requested that staff notify Animal Advisory Commission members when additional incentives for rescue partners to transport animals are offered. Staff briefing regarding FY 2023 actual expenditures, including performance measures, for each Animal Services program (i.e., Shelter Services, Field Services, Spay/Neuter). The presentation was made by Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer. Staff briefing regarding FY 2024 actual expenditures, as of the second quarter (March 31, 2024), for each Animal Services program (i.e., Shelter Services, Field Services and Spay/Neuter). The presentation was made by Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer. Staff briefing on the year-to-date progress of the spay/neuter goals for the City of Austin. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer and Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer. Commissioner Nilson requested that staff provide data related to the need for in-house spay/neuter services. DISCUSSION ITEMS 6. Discussion of the License Agreement Report from Austin Pets Alive. The presentation was made by Stephanie Bilbro, Austin Pets Alive! Director of Operations. Discussion of a potential ban on …
