Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

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 on policies, regulations, processes, and programs that advance pet-friendly policies (e.g., restrictions on pet rent, pet deposits, breed restrictions, and weight limits), seeking review and/or approval from governing bodies as applicable. Live Release (Page 16): • media partnerships and increase opportunities for media coverage.” Live Release (Page 17): • fixed satellite adoption centers in high-traffic locations.” Goal 1: Add Strategy G as follows: “G. Develop and implement plan to foster Goal 2: Add Strategy E as follows: “E. Analyze and explore opportunities for Commissioner Nilson made a motion to insert “in English and Spanish” after “partnerships” in Live Release section, Page 16. Vice Chair Linder seconded. The amendment was approved without objection. Chair Clinton withdrew from consideration amendments to Open Intake, Page 14, without objection. Vice Chair Linder made a motion to add the following amendment to Open Intake, Page 26, Goal 1, Measures 1 and 2. The amendment as outlined below was approved without objection: “Request that those measurements be categorized for strays and owner surrenders and listed by the number of animals in each category as well.” The amendments were approved as amended on Vice Chair Linder’s motion, Commissioner Huddleston’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Holt recused. Commissioner Hoke was absent. Chair Clinton made a motion to add the following amendment to Open Intake, Page 14. The amendment as outlined below was approved without objection: “Open Intake (Page 14) • implement policies to prioritize emergency cases and most at-risk animals for immediate intake.” The amendments to Open Intake, Page 14 were approved on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Holt recused. Commissioner Hoke was absent. Goal 1: Add Strategy C as follows: “C. Develop methods to identify and 3 The motion to recommend the Animal Services Office Strategic Plan 2025-2030 as amended was approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Vice Chair Linder’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Holt recused. Commissioner Hoke was absent. 6. Approve the formation of a Community Cat Processing Working Group. The motion to approve the formation of a Community Cat Processing Working Group with Commissioner Huddleston as chair, was approved on Commissioner Huddleston’s motion, Commissioner Tucker’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke was absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 2026 Bond Advisory Task Force Briefing Budget Requests and Approvals Discussion of Targets for Animal Services Strategic Plan A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. was approved on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Vice Chair Linder’s second on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke was absent. The minutes were approved at the March 10, 2025, meeting on Commissioner Nilson’s motion, Commissioner Smagula’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Hoke abstained. Chair Clinton and Commissioner Herrera were absent. 4