REGULAR MEETING of the ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION August 12, 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 COMMISSIONERS: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, 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 Dr. 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 July 8, 2024. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of the Animal Services strategic plan and planning process. 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 Eric Anderson, Office of (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Eric Anderson at (512) 974-2562 or eric.anderson@austintexas.gov. the City Clerk at
1. ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JULY 8, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on July 8, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Parliamentarian Nemer called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Luis Herrera, D6 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Paige Nilson, D4 Lotta Smagula, D1 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Commissioners Absent: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Amanda Bruce, D10 Whitney Holt, D5 Larry Tucker, D7 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Rochelle Vickery – Spay and Neuter, Found Dogs Jeff Gjertson – Found Dogs, Shelter Intake APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on June 10, 2024. 1 The minutes from the meeting of June 10, 2024, were approved on Vice Chair Linder’s motion, Commissioner Smagula’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Clinton, Commissioners Bruce, Holt, and Tucker were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 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. Commissioner Dulzaides requested that information on the number of animals microchipped this year be provided by Animal Services staff. Presentation by Austin Pets Alive! regarding license agreement reports. The presentation was made by Stephanie Bilbro, Austin Pets Alive! Director of Operations. Discussion of the Animal Services strategic plan and planning process. A presentation was made by Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Assistant City Manager. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM 5. Approve a recommendation to Council on animals at City of Austin Cooling Centers. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council on animals at City of Austin Cooling Centers was approved on Commissioner Smagula’s motion, Commissioner Herrera’s second on an 8-0 vote. Chair Clinton, Commissioners Bruce, Holt, and Tucker were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. Parliamentarian Nemer adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the XX, meeting on Commissioner XX’s motion, Commissioner XX’s second on a X-X vote. 2
Information is from October 1, 2023 – June 30, 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 4455 4800 9255 2024 4419 4618 9037 2024 -36 -182 -218 2024 2902 130 1035 94 62 2 393 4618 2024 2936 651 731 74 25 2 4419
July 2024 AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT 1 Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for July was 97.31%. • A total of 932 animals were brought to the shelter which included 511 cats, 378 dogs, 28 wild animals, 6 guinea pigs, 2 rats, 1 chicken, 1 turkey, and 1 rabbit. • A total of 769 animals were adopted (166 adult dogs, 123 puppies, 398 kittens, and 82 adult • A total of 70 dogs and cats were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). • On July 1, there were 1,278 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (683 onsite, 592 in foster, and • On August 1, there were 1,045 dogs and cats within the ASO inventory (553 onsite, 486 in foster, 2 cats). 1 at a vet clinic). at a vet clinic, and 1 at TLAC). Animal Protection • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 25 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 24 fencing assistance applications and implanted 7 microchip(s). • Officers impounded 151 injured animals and delivered approximately 92 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife Rescue. • Officers entered 205 rabies exposure reports and submitted 46 specimens for rabies testing. We had 4 positive bats, 2 decomposed bats and 2 decomposed skunks. • 67 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 54 Wild Sick o 9 Sightings o 2 o 1 o 1 Wild Speak Encounters Incident • Out of 67 coyote related activities, 12 (18%) reports fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and observation) o Encounters: Pets were a factor in 2/2 (100%) of encounters reported. ▪ An encounter involved a coyote with mange running up to caller and dog. ▪ An encounter involved a coyote following caller and dog. o Incidents: Pets were a factor in 0/0 (0%) of incidents reported. ▪ An incident involved a coyote with mange chasing a man after the caller ran from the coyote. • Out of 67 coyote related reports, 49 (73%) reports were updated to the correct behavior types. o 23 sightings updated to wild sick (Due to mange) o Residents are mistaking coyotes with mange for dogs ▪ 7 stray injured dogs updated to wild sick coyotes ▪ 5 stray roam dogs updated to wild sick coyotes ▪ 1 stray sick dog …
July 2024 Travis County Coyote Report Prepared by: Emery Sadkin Total number of Coyote Calls: 2 Coyote Calls by Behavior Type July 2024 1 0 Sighting 0 0 Encounter Incident Obseravtion Behavior Type Figure 1. Coyote activity by behavior. Out of 2 coyote related reports, 1 fell within the reported behavior types (Sighting, Incident, Encounter and Observation) Coyote Calls by Precinct July 2024 s t r o p e R e t o y o C f o r e b m u N 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 s t r o p e R e t o y o C f o r e b m u N 2.5 1.5 0.5 2 1 0 Wild Speak Wild Sick Wild Injured Obseravtion Incident Encounter Sighting P1 P2 P3 P4 Precinct Figure 2. Coyote reports by precinct. All coyote reports took place in P2. Sick and Injured Coyote calls by Behavior Type July 2024 1 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 s t o r p e R e t o y o C f o r e b m u N 0 0 Wild Injured Wild Sick Behavior Type 0 Wild Speak Figure 3. Out of 2 coyote related reports, 1 report fell within the reported behavior types. Behavior types including Wild Sick, Wild Speak, Wild Injured. “Wild Speak” is defined as a resident not seeing the coyote (Example: Reporting for a neighbor) or having questions regarding coyotes. Location Where Activity Took Place July 2024 Neighborhood 100% Figure 4. Type of location where activity took place, based on confirmed reports. “Habitat Fragment” is defined as a natural area adjacent to human habitation, which could include dense vegetation, creek beds, greenbelt areas, and other undeveloped land not habituated by humans. “Open field” is defined as an area where vegetation is cleared for industrial or commercial use. “Greenbelt” is defined as a belt of parkways, parks, or farmlands that encircles a community. “House Property” defined as a sighting on side of house, rather than front or backyard. “Building Strip” defined as a series of shops within a strip. Potential Attractants July 2024 50% 50% Open Field Greenbelt Figure 5. Potential attractants which could help explain coyote presence in the location of reported activity. “Habitat Fragment” is defined as a natural area adjacent to human habitation, which could include dense vegetation, greenbelts, or another undeveloped greenspace. “Human Source” is defined …
July 2024 Travis County Wildlife Report Prepared by: Emery Sadkin Total number of Wildlife calls: 38 Wildlife Related Activities s t r o p e R e f i l d l i W f o # 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Investigate Exposure Wild Injured Wild Speak Wild Sick Wild Confined Assist Fire Assist Storm Drain Activities Figure 1. Wildlife Related Activities that took place in Travis County. Type of Wildlife Picked Up e f i l d l i W f o e p y T Duck/Goose Hawk Fox Deer Snake Skunk Rabbit Opossum Bird Raccoon Bat 1 1 1 3 2 2 2 4 4 4 7 11 0 2 6 8 10 12 # of wildlife species P4 P3 P2 P1 Figure 2. Type of Wildlife that was involved in activities that took place, based on confirmed reports. “Other” refers to wildlife such as armadillos, porcupines, ring-tailed cat, etc. Jurisdiction Where Activity Took Place 1 1 1 2 35 Travis Bee Caves Manor Pflugerville Rollingwood Figure 3. Where wildlife activity was reported based on Jurisdiction within Travis County.
Strategic Planning Update to Animal Advisory Commission Stephanie Hayden-Howard | Assistant City Manager Audrey Muntz, Budget and Performance Manager Dr. Larry Schooler, Consultant August 12, 2024 What’s Happened so far STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS & LISTENING SESSIONS PUBLIC SURVEY (2000+ RESPONSES) CONVENING OF WORKING GROUP Assessment Phase Stakeholder Engagement • ASO Strategic Plan SpeakUp Page went live on July 17th survey • Includes process overview and community • Will be updated throughout process • Additional input opportunities will be posted on this page in the Fall • More than 13k views to date • Community Survey open until August 14th • Survey open from July 17th to August 14th • More than 2k participants to date Strategic Plan Updates Assessment Phase Stakeholder Engagement • ASO Leadership Interviews • Completed in July • 9 participants • ASO Staff Listening Sessions • Underway, Complete on August 15th • 90+ staff participants (attended/scheduled to attend) • ASO Volunteer Listening Sessions • Completed August 10th • 40 volunteer participants • External Stakeholder Interviews • External Stakeholder Listening Session • Planning underway • Reviewed previous stakeholder engagement outputs from the City Auditor and ASO Strategic Planning Updates 4 Working Group Participants • Animal Commission Members • Austin Lost and Found • Austin Pets Alive • Classic Canines • City of Austin Staff • Emancipet • Humane Society • Travis County • TRAPRS • Individual Community Advocates: • Pat Valles-Trelles • Shelly Leibham Strategic Planning Update 5 Working Group Meeting • Dr. Schooler facilitated first working group meeting on August 7th • All partners attended Strategic Planning Update 6 Working Group's Work So Far • Building relationships, mutual respect, and trust • Forming group agreements • Defining expectations and intentions • Understanding stakeholders • Identifying “the elephants in the room” Upcoming Meetings • Meeting #2: Thursday, Aug 29, 4pm-8pm (confirmed) • Potential topic: What are our overarching goals for Animal Services, and what assets can we leverage? • Meeting #3: Thursday, Sep 5, 3p-7pm (tentative) • Potential topic: How do we chart a course to the future state we want? What could we achieve in the short term? • Meeting #4: Tuesday, Sep 17, 12pm-4pm (tentative) • Potential topic: How do all of the pieces fit together? What should we prioritize? How will we know we are successful? Possible Framework #1 • Appreciative Inquiry Possible Framework #2 • Strategic Doing • Courtesy Strategic Doing Institute Next Steps • …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 12, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on August 12, 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 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Larry Tucker, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Luis Herrera, D6 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Whitney Holt, D5 Lotta Smagula, D1 Commissioners Absent: Amanda Bruce, D10 Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Paige Nilson, D4 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Tracey B – Foster/TNR Rochelle Vickery – Spay and Neuter Kristyn Williams – TNR/Rescue/Medical Vouchers APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 1 Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on July 8, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of July 8, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Nemer’s motion, Vice Chair Linder’s second on a 7-0 vote. Chair Clinton and Commissioner Holt abstained. Commissioners Bruce, Dulzaides, and Nilson were absent. STAFF BRIEFING 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. Commissioner Smagula requested that Animal Services staff provide additional information related to the July 2024 Animal Deaths at AAC/Foster charts in the Austin Animal Center July 2024 Data Report. Vice Chair Linder requested that Animal Services staff provide information on the number of clinics accepting medical vouchers and the average wait times for intake of sick/injured and healthy animals. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of the Animal Services strategic plan and planning process. A presentation was made by Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Assistant City Manager; Audrey Muntz, Budget and Performance Manager, Financial Services; Dr. Larry Schooler, Consultant. Commissioner Holt recused herself from the discussion. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None. A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:51 p.m. was approved on Commissioner Huddleston’s motion, Commissioner Hoke’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Bruce, Dulzaides, and Nilson were absent. The minutes were approved at the October 14, 2024, meeting on Commissioner Holt’s motion, Commissioner Smagula’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Nilson abstained. Commissioner Dulzaides was absent. 2
