Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MAY 13, 2024 The Animal Advisory Commission convened in a regular meeting on May 13, 2024, at 301 W. 2nd St in Austin, Texas. Chair Clinton called the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Ryan Clinton, Chair, Travis County Ann Linder, Vice Chair, D3 Amanda Bruce, D10 Luis Herrera, D6 Laura Hoke, Mayor’s Appointee Whitney Holt, D5 Sarah Huddleston, D9 Paige Nilson, D4 Lotta Smagula, D1 Larry Tucker, D7 Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Nancy Nemer, Parliamentarian, Travis County Beatriz Dulzaides, D2 Commissioners Absent: None PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Heather Myers – Vote of No Confidence, Urgent Placement List, Euthanasia, Community Engagement Caroline Clay – Foster/Adoption Barriers Rochelle Vickery – Trap-Neuter-Return Pat Valls-Trelles – General 1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting on February 12, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of May 13, 2024, with the following correction were approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Holt’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Hoke and Tucker abstained. The correction was to revise Item 12 to read: “Commissioner Bruce began providing an update that was truncated by loss of quorum.” STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding monthly reports provided by the Animal Service Center. The presentation was made by Jason Garza, Deputy Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services, and Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. Commissioner Smagula requested that a breakdown of the inventory from April to May with the number of cats and dogs be provided by Animal Services staff. Staff briefing on the progress of the Finder to Foster program. The presentation was made by Don Bland, Chief Animal Services Officer, Austin Animal Services. DISCUSSION ITEMS A motion to take up Item 6 next was made by Commissioner Nilson, seconded by Commissioner Huddleston, and accepted without objection. 6. Discussion of animal cruelty investigations including the deceased dogs found in South Boggy Creek. A presentation was made by Lieutenant Michael Burgeson, Austin Police Department, Detective Christian Esquivel, Austin Police Department, and Robert Escamilla, Austin Police Department. A motion to make the PowerPoint presentation a part of the record was made by Commissioner Nilson, seconded by Commissioner Smagula, and approved on a 12-0 vote. Discussion of the Austin Animal Center "Urgent Placement List" Memorandum and Matrix. Discussed. 3. 4. 2 5. 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). Discussed. Commissioner Smagula and Chair Clinton requested that information on the Bennett scale be provided by Animal Services staff. Recommendations from the working group regarding City of Austin spay & neuter The recommendations of the working group were presented by Commissioner Bruce WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 7. contracts. and Vice Chair Linder. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Approve a recommendation to Council on the current and future City of Austin spay-neuter contracts. The motion to approve the recommendation was made by Vice Chair Linder, seconded by Commissioner Holt, and approved on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke was off the dais. None. Approve recommendations on the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Animal Services Budget. Discussed with no action. 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:46 p.m. was made by Vice Chair Linder, seconded by Commissioner Nilson, and accepted without objection. The minutes were approved at the June 10, 2024, meeting on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Huddleston’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioners Bruce and Dulzaides were off the dais. Commissioner Nemer was absent. 3