June 2022 June 2022 Animal Services Report AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for June was 96.28 percent. • A total of 1,247 animals were brought to the shelter which included 606 cats, 568 dogs, 49 wild animals, 10 domestic birds, six rabbits, five guinea pigs, and three turtles. • A total of 628 animals were adopted (372 cats, 241 dogs, and 15 small pets). • A total of 88 dogs, cats, and birds were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). Animal Protection Rescue. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 39 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 17 fencing assistance applications and implanted 16 microchips. • Officers impounded 173 injured animals and delivered 110 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife • Officers entered 234 rabies exposure reports and submitted 58 specimens for rabies testing. Six bats tested positive for rabies and an additional eight were considered non-negative due to being too decomposed to test. • 56 total coyote related activities o 25 sightings o 19 wild sick o 6 wild injured o 1 wild speak o 2 encounters o 3 incidents and incident) • Out of 56 coyote related activities, 30 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, • Encounters: Pets were not a factor in these encounters. o 1 encounter involved a coyote chasing a man riding his bike June 2022 Animal Services Report o 1 encounter a coyote following a resident. Do not know if resident had a pet • Incidents: Pets were a factor in 75% of activities: o 1 incident involved a coyote acting “aggressively” in an unfenced front yard o 1 incident involved a coyote taking two free-range chickens o 1 incident involved a coyote injuring a small dog in a fenced backyard with a person present Volunteer, Foster, and Rescue Programs • A total of 323 volunteers donated 4,712 hours of volunteer service. • The Volunteer Coordinators held four orientations for new volunteers in May, introducing 185 people to the shelter programs.63 new volunteers attended their first training or mentor shifts in April. • 40 group volunteers donated 80 hours towards dog walking and cat care. • 11 Community Service Restitution individuals performed 117.5 hours of laundry, dishes, and other duties as assigned. • 151 animals were adopted directly from foster care. • More than 225 different people/families fostered. • 263 new …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2022 Austin Animal Advisory Commission (Official Name of Board or Commission) The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: The purpose of the board is to advise the City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court on Compliance with Texas Health and and Safety Code Chapter 823 (Animal Shelters); advise the City Council on animal welfare policies and on budget priorities identified by the commission and the community, except on issues related to the administration of the Animal Services Department; advise the Travis County Commissioners Court on animal welfare policies; promote the collaboration between the City, private institutions, and agencies interested in or conducting activities relating to animal welfare in the City; identify proactive, creative approaches to engage and facilitate communication within the animal welfare community; and foster and assist the development of animal welfare programs in the community. The commission may study, advise, and report on policy recommendations it deems effective to promote animal welfare outcomes consistent with City goals and objectives as outlined by City Council and the City Manager. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. • Received quarterly reports from staff (and APA) on issues directly related to Chapter 823 compliance at the Austin Animal Center and TLAC. • Received monthly Animal Services reports. • Received monthly Austin Animal Center reports. • Provided a forum for public comment and discourse on animal issues. Annual Review and Work Plan 2021-2022 Page The Commission created or carried over the following Work Groups to study and possibly recommend action on these issues: • Working Group on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin • Working Group on Off-Leash Dogs • Shelter Space Issues Working Group Actions taken by the Commission during the year: • The Commission passed 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, vendors costs, including which animals receive medical services and by whom. • The Commission strongly recommended to APD that the APD’s Cruelty Division not be cut and any …
AAC Meeting Minutes 2022-07-11 REGULAR MEETING APPROVED AUGUST 8, 2022 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 11, 2022 The Animal Advisory Commission convened for a regular meeting on Monday, July 11, 2022, 6 p.m., in the Boards and Commissions Room 1101 at Austin City Hall. Commission Chair, Craig Nazor, called the meeting to order at 6 p.m., conducted a roll call of those in attendance and confirmed a quorum of 11 commissioners. Six Commissioners attended the meeting in person: Nazor, Clinton, Jarl, Smagula, Norton and Nilson. Five Commissioners attended via teleconferencing: Mitchell, Neuhaus, Nemer, Herrera and Dulzaides. District 10 is vacant. Commission Members Absent: Commissioner Nancy Nemer Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: GENERAL Virtual: Emily Wells Kayla Murray Gina DeStaffany In-person: None 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Dr. Nilson moved to approve the minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission Special Called Meeting, June 10, 2022. Commissioner Clinton seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 11 to 0, with all Commissioners in attendance at the time voting approval: Nazor, Jarl, Clinton, Smagula, Herrera, Hassen, Nilson, Norton, Mitchell, Neuhaus, and Dulzaides. Commissioner Nemer was absent, and District 10 is vacant. 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2022-07-11 Jason Garza noted revisions or corrections to 3d and 4e of the draft minutes for the Commission’s July 11 Regular Meeting, and Commissioner Jarl moved to approve the minutes as revised. Commissioner Dr. Nilson seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 11 to 0, with all Commissioners in attendance voting approval: Nazor, Jarl, Clinton, Smagula, Herrera, Hassen, Nilson, Norton, Mitchell, Neuhaus, and Dulzaides. Commissioner Nemer was absent, and District 10 is vacant. 2. BRIEFINGS a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports b. AAC Staffing and Services c. AAC Public Communications on Services d. 311 Flow Charts and Information e. Parliamentarian Presentation on Meeting Decorum f. APA! Monthly Report 3. OLD BUSINESS: Update, Discussion and Possible Action a. Monthly Reporting of Data b. Transferring Austin Animal Center Animals to Other Communities c. Austin Animal Center Space Crisis and Recommendations from the Space Crisis d. Austin Animal Center Staffing Request for Budget FY 23 No action No action. Working Group No action. e. Hold Period Ordinance No Action No action 4. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion and Possible Action a. Inclusion of Animal Services in the City of Austin next five-year strategic plan No Action b. Annual Internal Review and Report Commissioner Clinton moved to approve/support the Annual Internal …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2022, 6 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, Room 1101 301 W. Second St. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at http://www.austintexas.gov/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. For remote participation, registration no later than noon, Sunday, June 12, is required. To register for remote participation, please email or call Jason Garza at Jason.Garza@austintexas.gov or by phone at 512-978-0536. AGENDA CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Craig Nazor, Chair Nancy Nemer Palmer Neuhaus Jo Anne Norton Luis Herrera Kristen Hassen, Parliamentarian CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 Ryan Clinton, Vice Chair Lisa Mitchell Katie Jarl Lotta Smagula Beatriz Dulzaides Dr. Paige Nilson a. Review and approval of minutes from the May 9, 2022, Animal Advisory Commission 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES meeting 2. BRIEFINGS a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports b. AAC Staffing and Services c. AAC Public Communications on Services b. Parliamentarian Presentation on Meeting Decorum 3. OLD BUSINESS: Update, Discussion and Possible Action a. Monthly Reporting of Data b. Transferring Austin Animal Center Animals to Other Communities c. Austin Animal Center Space Crisis and Recommendations from the Space Crisis Working Group d. Austin Animal Center Staffing Request for Budget FY 23 e. Resubmission of Vicious Dog Recommendation to Correct Language Error 4. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion and Possible Action a. Regarding Members of the Commission’s No Kill Committee b. Hold Period Ordinance c. Spay/Neuter on Second Impoundment d. Proposed Increase in Living Wage to $22/hour 5. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 6. 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 call Belinda Hare at the Animal Services Office, at 512-978-0565, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2022, 6 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL, Room 1101 301 W. Second St. AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Some members of the Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at http://www.austintexas.gov/watch-atxn-live. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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. For remote participation, registration no later than noon, Sunday, June 12, is required. To register for remote participation, please email or call Jason Garza at Jason.Garza@austintexas.gov or by phone at 512-978-0536. AGENDA - ADDENDUM CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Craig Nazor, Chair Nancy Nemer Palmer Neuhaus Jo Anne Norton Luis Herrera Kristen Hassen, Parliamentarian Ryan Clinton, Vice Chair Lisa Mitchell Katie Jarl Lotta Smagula Beatriz Dulzaides Dr. Paige Nilson 4. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion and Possible Action e. State of the Shelter Resolution 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 call Belinda Hare at the Animal Services Office, at 512-978-0565, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Animal Advisory Commission, please contact Board Liaison. Belinda Hare, 512-978-0565 or Belinda.Hare@austintexas.gov
FAQ Category: Animal Services Access Classification: Internal Topic: Austin Animal Center Summary: General information about the Austin Animal Center. Reference Text: Address: 7201 Levander Loop, Building A, Austin, 78702 Main Number: 512-978-0500 Animal Services Fax: 512-978-0619 QLESS Paging System: 512-687-1472 Animal Intake To bring in a found pet, submit a Stray Intake Appointment Request Form found on the Animal Center Website. Found pet appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday only. Intake of animals without an appointment will not be accepted. As of May 2022, due to ongoing space issues, the Animal Center is currently only accepting sick or injured dogs for intake. Cats are not subjected to this restriction. The Center will not accept animals found outside the city of Austin or Travis County. If an animal is brought in from outside of the jurisdiction, resident will be asked to return the animal to the area where it was found. Pet Surrender To surrender a pet, see the Rehoming a Pet website and click the link to schedule an owner surrender consultation appointment. Walk-in owner surrenders are not accepted. For more information see the Animal Services Issues KB Doc. Animal Adoption Hours Monday - Saturday 11am - 7pm Sunday temporarily closed The latest that a resident may go into the Austin Animal Center to adopt an animal is Monday - Friday is 6:30pm, and Saturday is 6pm, as they often have a 1.5 - 2 hour wait. To schedule an adoption appointment, email ASOanimaladoption@austintexas.gov. Fees There are fees associated with reclaiming animals at the shelter. In certain cases, the Animal Center can work with individuals on reclaim fees. It is best going to the Animal Center as soon as possible to work out a possible arrangement. The Shelter accepts Mastercard, Visa or Discover. They also accept cash. If the payment total is less than $100, they will not accept a $100 bill as it is hard to find change. Emergency Animal Clinics North Emergency Clinic at 12034 Research Boulevard in Austin (512-331-6121) accepts wildlife. South Emergency Clinic at 4434 Frontier Trail in Austin (512-899-0955). does not accept wildlife. Night drop boxes for animals are not available. Residents with injured animals will need to take them to an afterhours clinic. They would need to hold strays until morning. It is a violation to abandon an animal at the front door of the shelter. FAQ Category: Animal Services Access Classification: Internal Topic: …
AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-05-09 REGULAR MEETING MAY 9, 2022 ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION DRAFT MINUTES The Animal Advisory Commission convened for a regular meeting on Monday, May 9, 2022, 6 p.m., in the Boards and Commissions Room 1101 at Austin City Hall. Commission Chair, Craig Nazor, called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. and welcomed new District 4 Commissioner, Dr. Paige Nilson, to her first meeting. Chair Nazor conducted a roll call of those in attendance and confirmed a quorum of 10 commissioners. Seven Commissioners attended the meeting in person: Nazor, Jarl, Clinton, Smagula, Herrera, Hassen and Dr. Paige Nilson. Three Commissioners attended via teleconferencing: Mitchell, Neuhaus, and Dulzaides. Commissioner Nemer joined the meeting at Old Business, Agenda Item 3b. Commissioner Norton was absent, and District 10 is vacant. Commission Members Absent: Norton Staff in Attendance: Don Bland, Jason Garza, Belinda Hare, Dr. Kathryn Lund, Abigail Varela, Rebekha Montie, Kelsey Cler, Sarah Luce, Mary Brown, Nicole Savage PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS: GENERAL Virtual: Emily Steinberg Eileen McFall Stephanie Loayza Zachary Loayza 1 AAC Meeting Minutes 2021-05-09 In Person: Beverly Luna Ashley Niels Shelly Leibhan Rhonda Pickens Joann Molinyawe 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Jarl moved to approve the minutes from the Animal Advisory Commission Meeting, April 11, 2022. Commissioner Dulzaides seconded the motion which passed unanimously, 10 to 0, with all Commissioners in attendance at the time voting approval: Nazor, Jarl, Clinton, Smagula, Herrera, Hassen, Dr. Paige Nilson, Mitchell, Neuhaus, and Dulzaides. Commissioner Nemer joined the meeting at Old Business; Commissioner Norton was absent, and District 10 is vacant. 2. BRIEFINGS a. Austin Animal Center and Animal Services Reports b. COVID Update c. Austin Pets Alive! Quarterly Report 3. OLD BUSINESS: Update, Discussion and Possible Action a. Monthly Reporting of Data b. Working Group on How to Increase Microchipping in the City of Austin c. Austin Pets Alive!’s Future at the Town Lake Animal Center and the Maintenance of No d. Transferring Austin Animal Center Animals to Other Communities No action. No action. Kill No action. No action. 4. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion and Possible Action a. Austin Animal Center Space Crisis and Recommendations from the Space Crisis Working Group Commissioner Neuhaus moved to resubmit the recommendations from the Space Crisis Working Group; Commissioner Nemer seconded the motion which passed with a vote of 9 to 1 with one abstention. Nine commissioners voted for the proposal: Nazor, Jarl, Clinton, Smagula, Hassen, Mitchell, Neuhaus, …
RESOLUTION NO. Whereas, the Austin Animal Center (Center) is operated by a Chief Animal Services Officer and management team (Leadership); and Whereas Leadership has consistently failed to provide the Animal Advisory Commission (Commission) with the data necessary to monitor the ongoing status of the Austin City Council (Council)-mandated No-Kill Policy; and Whereas Leadership has disregarded the guidance of the Commission and violated the City of Austin’s stray-hold ordinance which has exposed the City to legal liability, and caused the placement of animals the City did not yet own and should have held for possible reunification with their owners; and Whereas Leadership's monthly reports are confusing, misleading, incomplete, and lack transparency to the Commission and to the public; and Whereas Leadership has alienated partnership organizations, volunteers, and other stakeholders, which has contributed to shelter overcrowding and lack of volunteer support for shelter pet care and adoptions; and Whereas Leadership has failed to adequately manage or support lifesaving foster and volunteer programs and to engage the willing public to help; and animals; and Whereas Leadership has failed to provide adequate services to help reunite or assist taxpayers with lost or found Whereas Leadership has ceased to provide or substantially reduced animal-related services to the public on Sundays, citing inaccurate and incomplete information to support their rationale; and Whereas Leadership has stopped providing intake and pet owner support services on weekends, when they are generally most-needed by Austin residents; and Whereas Leadership has not indicated they plan to reinstitute animal services previously provided to Austin Whereas Leadership refuses to implement data-driven, best practices to alleviate the ongoing space crisis; and Whereas Leadership refuses to prioritize the use of taxpayer funds to address the most urgent needs of the residents; and shelter; and Whereas Leadership has consistently failed to tell the public about or market the ‘long stay’ dogs, despite lengths of stay in excess of one year; and Whereas Leadership’s out-of-state transport program contributes to the space crisis, denies taxpayers a selection of highly adoptable pets, and moves animals to kill communities which is incompatible with the Council-mandated No-Kill Policy; and Whereas Leadership has not responded to Commissioners’ requests for data on the out-of-state transport program; and Whereas Leadership refuses to collaborate with the volunteer dog behavior support group who utilizes rewards-based training and is now sending Austin Animal Center dogs to a trainer known to use shock and prong collars; and Whereas …
May 2022 May 2022 Animal Services Report AUSTIN ANIMAL SERVICES REPORT Animal Services News • The live outcome rate for May was 96.76 percent. • A total of 1,395 animals were brought to the shelter which included 746 cats, 587 dogs, 39 wild animals, 14 guinea pigs, three birds, three rabbits, two ferrets, and one hamster. • A total of 473 animals were adopted (239 cats, 229 dogs, and five small pets). • A total of 108 dogs, cats, rooster, and ferret were returned to their owners (RTOs and RTO-Adopt). Animal Protection Rescue. • Animal Protection Officers (APOs) returned 53 animals to their owners in the field. • Officers handed out 32 fencing assistance applications and implanted six microchips. • Officers impounded 194 injured animals and delivered 98 wildlife animals to Austin Wildlife • Officers entered 248 rabies exposure reports and submitted 47 specimens for rabies testing. Eight bats tested positive for rabies and an additional three were considered non-negative due to being too decomposed to test. • 47 total coyote related activities o 32 sightings o 5 wild sick o 3 wild injured o 2 wild speak o 2 encounters o 2 incidents o 1 observation • Out of 47 coyote related activities, 41 fell within the reported behavior types (sighting, encounter, incident, and wild sick). • Encounters: Pets were a factor in 50% of activities: May 2022 Animal Services Report o 1 encounter involved a coyote approaching a person with no incident o 1 encounter involved a resident seeing a coyote chasing an outside cat • Incidents: Pets were a factor in 50% of activities: o 1 incident involved a coyote growling and approaching a caller with no interaction o 1 incident involved a coyote injuring an off-leash unsupervised pet Volunteer, Foster, and Rescue Programs • A total of 313 volunteers donated 4,399 hours of volunteer service. • The Volunteer Coordinators held five orientations for new volunteers in May, introducing 167 people to the shelter programs. 116 new volunteers attended their first training or mentor shifts in April. • Group volunteer opportunities resumed. 12 group volunteers donated 24 hours towards dog walking and cat care. • 114 animals were adopted directly from foster care. • More than 190 different people/families fostered. • 220 new foster applications were processed. (This number does not include walk-in / in person applications that were processed.) • There are currently 916 members (approved …
311 Agent receives citizen phone call Agent identifies call as Animal Services Assistance Request issue Agent fills out and saves Animal Services – Assistance Request SR Animal Services Employee Reviews SR No contact required Animal Services employee Animal Services Employee closes SR SR Closed SR Review Contact caller Animal Services Employee assists caller s s e c o r P - t s e u q e R e c n a t s i s s A – s e c i v r e S l a m n A i e c a f r e t n I - t s e u q e R e c n a t s i s s A – s e c i v r e S l a m n A i SR Not Currently on an Interface e k a t n I - t s e u q e R e c n a t s i s s A – s e c i v r e S l a m n A i Animal Services – Assistance Request SR Use t hi s SR for requests for records, inquiries about impounded/surrendered animals, adopt ions, etc. or updates to Found Animal reports. Citizens request ing a bite report from a previous animal bit e should be referred to http://www.aust in.gov/pir or they can send an email to publicinformation@ austintexas.gov where they can request the bit e record. If they do not have computer access t hey can go to t he Austin Animal Center where they can fil l out the request in person. Do not submit an Sr for cit izens asking if thei r pet is at the Ani mal Center. Indivi duals wi th missing pets must go to the shelter to search for their l ost pet. They can also view the animals onl ine at http://austintexas.gov/page/view-lost-pets. Animal Services cannot verify someone’s pet ov er the phone 1. What kind of assistance do you need? SLOV Need a copy of a record Wants info on i mpounded/surrendered animal Wants info on an animal up for adoption Other – explain i n the description field Was contacted by Animal Control [CC STAFF ONLY] – SR Update Wants to give/get a dog house Is my pet at t he shel ter? Need a copy of a record Assist ance? Other Continue to …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: THRU: Mayor and Council Members Spencer Cronk, City Manager Veronica Briseño, Assistant City Manager Joya Hayes, Human Resources and Civil Service Director April 28, 2022 Living Wage Work Group Process FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an overview of the living wage stakeholder review process and transmit to Council a summary of their work and recommendations. In 2014, the City Council passed Resolution 20141016-035 which directed the City Manager to provide staff support for a stakeholder process to develop recommendations regarding the City’s living wage rate and policy. During that process, stakeholders met seven times from January to May 2015, provided their recommendation to Council, and then briefed the Council. After the presentation to Council, the City Manager in conjunction with the annual budget process brought forward a plan to increase the Living Wage rate to $15.00 per hour by 2020. Similar to the 2015 process, the Human Resources Department provided staff support by convening meetings with the community organizations who participated in the previous Living Wage Stakeholder Group. Other organizations were invited upon the Groups' recommendation. The Group met four times: January 26, February 9 and 23, and March 9, 2022. Like the previous process, this memorandum provides the Group’s recommendation to Council. The Group will present their recommendation at a future Council work session. Attached to this memorandum are the summaries of the meeting topics, major data points reviewed, recommendations from the Group, and participating organizations. HRD and the Budget Office have preliminary provided an estimate of costs associated with a $22.00 per hour living wage rate for FY23. The costs to the City budget is estimated between $18.2M to $22.8M. These costs do not include any sworn employees. City staff will provide more information on the budget impact, costs if sworn employees were included, and potential living wage rates that work within a balanced budget. We will also review our current pay grade structure, specifically the number of pay grades that will be impacted, projected increases, and how this impacts our current employees. If you have any questions before the presentation by the Group occurs, please contact me. Attachments cc: CMO Executive Team Department Directors HR Manager’s Forum Living Wage Working Group Participants, Meeting Summaries, Data Reviewed, Recommendations Living Wage Stakeholder Group Participants These are the organizations that attended at least …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220613-03E Seconded By: Commissioner Jo Anne Norton Recommended changes to Vicious Dog, 3-4-7, in the City Code Date: 6/13/22 Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation The Commission recommends that City Code 3-4-7, Vicious Dog, is amended to read as in the description below. Description of Recommendation to Council [Include the backup from the May meeting here] Rationale: Currently, once a dog has been determined “vicious,” it cannot be kept in the City. Such a dog may not be a threat as long as the owner is willing to take extra precautions to avoid the circumstances that caused the bad behavior in the first place. It is also possible for dogs to get training to improve their behavior. With no other option, these dogs could end up in a shelter, or worse. They become hard to place in a new home, and without that support, their behavior may deteriorate further in a shelter. We believe the proposed change would allow dogs to stay with their owners, with the potential for improved behavior, with very little risk to the public. Vote For: 12 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Absent: 1 (vacant) Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] 1 of 2 Proposed revision to Section 3-4-7 2 of 2 Proposed revision to Section 3-4-7 3-4-7 VICIOUS DOG. (A) An owner or handler shall take reasonable measures to protect the public from accidental contact with a dog that, by nature or by training, is dangerous to people or other animals. (B) [ An owner or handler may not keep or permit a dog to be in the city if the dog has] For purposes of this section, a vicious dog is a dog that, while running at large, has: [(1) on at least three separate occasions bitten or scratched a person in the city; (2) on at least one occasion bitten or scratched a person to an extent that the attending physician has presented an affidavit to the health authority stating that the person’s life may have been endangered by the dog; or (3) on at least one occasion:] [(a)] (1) killed a another dog, cat, or other domestic pet, fowl, or livestock, provided, however, that when the incident occurred, the killed animal was not in violation of a provision of this title relating to the confinement or physical control of animals in the City; or [(b)] (2) seriously injured another animal …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: THRU: Mayor and Council Members Spencer Cronk, City Manager Veronica Briseño, Assistant City Manager Joya Hayes, Human Resources and Civil Service Director April 28, 2022 Living Wage Work Group Process FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide an overview of the living wage stakeholder review process and transmit to Council a summary of their work and recommendations. In 2014, the City Council passed Resolution 20141016-035 which directed the City Manager to provide staff support for a stakeholder process to develop recommendations regarding the City’s living wage rate and policy. During that process, stakeholders met seven times from January to May 2015, provided their recommendation to Council, and then briefed the Council. After the presentation to Council, the City Manager in conjunction with the annual budget process brought forward a plan to increase the Living Wage rate to $15.00 per hour by 2020. Similar to the 2015 process, the Human Resources Department provided staff support by convening meetings with the community organizations who participated in the previous Living Wage Stakeholder Group. Other organizations were invited upon the Groups' recommendation. The Group met four times: January 26, February 9 and 23, and March 9, 2022. Like the previous process, this memorandum provides the Group’s recommendation to Council. The Group will present their recommendation at a future Council work session. Attached to this memorandum are the summaries of the meeting topics, major data points reviewed, recommendations from the Group, and participating organizations. HRD and the Budget Office have preliminary provided an estimate of costs associated with a $22.00 per hour living wage rate for FY23. The costs to the City budget is estimated between $18.2M to $22.8M. These costs do not include any sworn employees. City staff will provide more information on the budget impact, costs if sworn employees were included, and potential living wage rates that work within a balanced budget. We will also review our current pay grade structure, specifically the number of pay grades that will be impacted, projected increases, and how this impacts our current employees. If you have any questions before the presentation by the Group occurs, please contact me. Attachments cc: CMO Executive Team Department Directors HR Manager’s Forum Living Wage Working Group Participants, Meeting Summaries, Data Reviewed, Recommendations Living Wage Stakeholder Group Participants These are the organizations that attended at least …
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 2022613-004 Commissioner Neuhaus Resolution of No Confidence Seconded By: Commissioner Nemer Date: 6/13/22 Subject: Motioned By: Recommendation The Resolution is one of No Confidence. It is the City Council’s prerogative to decide how to respond. Description of Recommendation to Council RESOLUTION: WHEREAS, the Austin Animal Center (Center) is operated by a Chief Animal Services Officer; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has consistently failed to provide the Animal Advisory Commission (Commission) with the data necessary to monitor the ongoing status of the Austin City Council (Council)-mandated No-Kill Policy; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has disregarded the guidance of the Commission and violated the City of Austin’s stray-hold ordinance which has exposed the City to legal liability, and caused the placement of animals the City did not yet own and should have held for possible reunification with their owners; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer’s monthly reports are confusing, misleading, incomplete, and lack transparency to the Commission and to the public; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has alienated partnership organizations, volunteers, and other stakeholders, which has contributed to shelter overcrowding and lack of volunteer support for shelter pet care and adoptions; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has failed to adequately manage or support lifesaving foster and volunteer programs and to engage the willing public to help; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has failed to provide adequate services to help reunite or assist taxpayers with lost or found animals; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has ceased to provide or substantially reduced animal- related services to the public on Sundays, citing inaccurate and incomplete information to support their rationale; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has stopped providing intake and pet owner support services on weekends, when they are generally most-needed by Austin residents; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has not indicated they plan to reinstitute animal services previously provided to Austin residents; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer refuses to implement data-driven, best practices to alleviate the ongoing space crisis; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer refuses to prioritize the use of taxpayer funds to address the most urgent needs of the shelter; and WHEREAS, the Chief Animal Services Officer has consistently failed to tell the public about or market the ‘long stay’ dogs, despite lengths of stay in excess of …
