APPROVED Minutes August 9, 2021 — original pdf

Approved Minutes

AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-08-09 REGULAR MEETING APPROVED September 13, 2021 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION AUGUST 9, 2021 The Animal Advisory Commission convened, via video conferencing, for a Regular Meeting, Monday, August 9, 2021, 6 p.m. Commission Chair Craig Nazor called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m., conducted a verbal roll call of those in attendance and confirmed a quorum of 10 commissioners. Commission Members in Attendance: Craig Nazor, Nancy Nemer, Lisa Mitchell, Ryan Clinton, Katie Jarl, Palmer Neuhaus, Monica Frenden, Jo Anne Norton, Lotta Smagula, and Luis Herrera. Commission Members Absent: Dr. Jon Brandes, Edward Flores, and Yolanda Rodriguez Pacheco were absent. Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Sarah Murphy, Dr. Kathryn Lund, Mark Sloat, Belinda Hare CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS: Christopher Summers Beverly Luna Kathy Mitchell Pat Valls-Trellis 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-08-09 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Jarl moved to approve the minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting, July 19, 2021, and Commissioner Smagula seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously, 10 to 0, with all Commissioners in attendance voting approval: Nazor, Clinton, Mitchell, Nemer, Jarl, Neuhaus, Frenden, Norton, Smagula and Herrera. Commissioners Dr. Brandes, Flores, and Rodriguez Pacheco were absent. 2. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports b. COVID Update c. Update on Austin Animal Center Rescue and Transport Program d. Update on status of the license agreement between the City and Austin Pets Alive! e. Update on how to maintain No-Kill and meet Council directives if Austin Pets Alive! license agreement is substantially changed 3. OLD BUSINESS a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Comparative Evaluations of Monthly Release Rates No action. No action. No action. No action. b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Monthly Reporting Data c. Update, Discussion and Possible Action from Working Group on Off-Leash Dogs d. Update, Discussion and Possible Action from Working Group on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin e. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Placement Partner Transfer Agreement f. Update. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Shelter Space Issues Working Group Commissioner Neuhaus moved to submit the Working Group’s recommendations to address the Austin Animal Center’s space crisis and asked for additional monthly reports on the following: the numbers of animals pled to Austin Pets Alive! for medical reasons and declined; the number of animals hospitalized and length of hospitalizations; and the outside vendors, costs, which animals receive medical services and by whom. Commissioner Nemer seconded the motion, which passed by a vote of 7 to 3. Seven Commissioners voted in favor, including Commissioners Nazor, Clinton, Mitchell, Nemer, Neuhaus, Jarl and Frenden. The three voting against the motion included Commissioners Norton, Herrera and Smagula. Commissioners Dr. Brandes, Flores, and Rodriguez Pacheco were absent. 2 AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-08-09 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Update, Discussion and Possible Action regarding Austin Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Division Commissioner Clinton moved that the Animal Advisory Commission strongly recommends that the Austin Police Department’s Cruelty Division not be cut and any cuts made recently be restored. b. Update, Discussion and Possible Action on Austin Pet’s Alive Future at the Town Lake Animal Center (TLAC) and the maintenance of No Kill in Austin No action 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioners agreed to retain agenda items under Old Business, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, and to move agenda item 4b to New Business. Commissioner Neuhaus moved to amend the Commission’s Bylaws to allow for the formation of a committee to maintain No Kill. Commissioner Clinton seconded the motion. 6. ADJOURNMENT Commission Chair Craig Nazor adjourned the meeting, without objection, at 9:23 p.m. 3