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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 05/13/2004 W jad Cara sa WC4,0 City of Corpus Chnsti w� City of orpus Christi MIMTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nueces County Public Health District Education Room,2626 Holly May 13",2004 Members Present: Chris Cooper,Sherry Dunlap,Cheryl Quinones,Sharon Massad,and Dr.Alan Garett Members Absent: Susan Thiem Staff Present: Marge Rose,Cherrie Stunz,EIizabeth Hundley Staff Absent: No absences Guests: Donna Patterson,Barbara Benyon,Veronica Lankford,Denny Bates,and Angel Hernandez,and the Media. Call to Order: Chris Cooper,Chairperson called the meeting to order at 12:35pm 1. ApProVal of April 81h,2004 The Minutes of April 8's was approved. 2. Board Business Voting on Absences Ms.Stunz advised the committee that of having a procedure for voting on absences. If a member of the committee knows they will be absent for a meeting,they are to be required to either verbally let someone know or send a letter in writing to the committee stating so. The approval for absences will be voted at each meeting. Ms.Stunz added a reminder of Ms.Theim's informed absence since last month Ms.Quinones motioned to approve the absences,Ms.Dunlap seconded and all were in favor. City Ordinance Revisions Ms.Hundley stated that the lack of quorum in the meeting for the specific revisions for the City Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting of April 8th.1004 1 r t° Ordinances,meant it would remain as is. Ms.Quinones inquired about the changes. Ms.Hundley replied that the collar passed would be in there,and if revised,the collar would be specific to dogs. Ms.Massad inquired about the specifics of what would be considered a proper collar. Ms. Hundley replied that the language will give a common sense definition as to what is known as a `collar' capable of being called a restraining device. Ms.Dunlap made a motion to pass as is,and Ms. Quinones 201 Ms.Massad said since new members were coming in,we would receive more opinions. Ms. Quinones replied that we should go ahead since the new members had not yet worked on these. Ms.Massad mentioned a motion that had been voted and passed to go to an open meeting.Ms. Quinones thought the committee should go to council as is,without the open meeting and possibly change the motion without the open meeting. 2 dates were proposed for the open meetings- April 271 and May 181,both would be at the Health Department Auditorium. Ms.Hundley said she did not remember a vote to have a public meeting,but it was a consensus of the committee to have a public meeting,prior to going to council. Dr.Silvers added that the discussion was that there be a town hall meeting. However,voting`yes' on this motion would alleviate the town hall meeting and it won't be necessary. Ms.Dunlap inquired on the rules concerning this. Dr. Silvers explained that the committee did not want the motion to read as it presently does,and so,sends it to council. However, if the chairman wants it voted on,it can be done. There was no quorum formed for the special meeting to take care of the changes. Ms. Quinones made a motion to have a Town Hall meeting on the 18`h at 7:00 pm at the Health Department Auditorium. A special meeting will be scheduled for the the week after to approve the ordinances that will go to council. Ms.Keye's 21" the motion.Votes were cast 5 in favor and 1 abstention. Ms.Dunlap withdrew her earlier motion and Ms. Quinones made a new motion. A vote to have the town hall meeting at 7:00pm on the 18`h of May was taken and the following week, 27'h of May,a special meeting to finally approve and send it to council will be held. Ms. Stunz said the staff will keep the committee informed. I Director's Report Ms. Stunz thanked Ms.Keye's for her help and support of ACS on Earth Day. She spent many hours preparing and manning the booth. All animals on show on that day were adopted. We have a catalogue of pictures of the adopted animals. This will also be used for a career day at one of the elementary schools. Ms. Quinones inquired if ACS statistics report was available,and Ms. Stunz replied to the fact that the Chameleon database system had been malfunctioning lately. Rabies Clinics Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting of April 8th,2004 2 The Rabies Vaccination Clinic with the Neighborhood Initiative Program will be on Saturday May 22"1 at the Oso Recreation Center. Sweeps Angel Hernandez said ACS was initiating NIP in 2 areas with at Ieast 2 sweeps a week and doing a lot of educating. ACS is looking at some educational programs for example the Vaccination Clinic.Officers are distributing posters at different stores and places of businesses for the clinic locations when it takes place. We are also implementing sweeps at the old NIP areas, 1 and 2, and officers revisit to make sure the areas are not neglected. Officers will eventually go into the schools and talk to the children. Ms. Stunt added that in the future we will be bringing to the committee for discussion, planning issues for resources that ACS will need for education. We want ideas from the community on what they think would work as far as going thru the NIP program and what other programs ACS might be able to offer. Ms. Dunlap inquired about the ACS budget and whether there were unforeseen expenditures as a result of the move into the new facility. Ms. Stunt replied that the budget was where it needed to be and things were fine,but ACS is cutting back just like all other departments. This actually gives us the opportunity to look at where our resources are going by looking at how much we are spending on each individual item on the budget,eg. Dog food. Ms.Dunlap inquired about the possible dumping of Chameleon. Ms. Stunt said there is reason to look at Chameleon as a database and a resource. For cost effectiveness,it may not be what we need. We need to make sure that what we use is practical for what our practices are and it's the best available out there. If there is something less expensive that does exactly what we need to do over time it's going to be the best business practice to look into that. Ms.Dunlap inquired on the payment for the support of the database. Ms. Stunz replied that we continue to pay yearly, for support for Chameleon whereas other programs do not need technical support. HIP Chameleon also charges by workstation. As there are other resources available out there it will benefit the citizens and ACS to look into those resources. Dr. Silver's added that everyone should have received an invitation to a reception in appreciation for member contributions to the committee,set for Wed May 19'h. 4. New Business Ms.Dunlap brought up a question to present to staff and the committee regarding letter written by Ms. Theim City Council. She felt this letter should have been brought before the Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting oJApril 8th,2004 3 committee. She felt if there were problems in the committee solutions should be attempted before going to City Council. She thought everyone in the committee needed to be aware that the letter(s)were written and the content of such letters. Ms. Massad agreed but also added that anyone had a right to write a letter to City Council. Ms.Dunlap asked if Ms. Keyes was aware of this. Ms.Keyes said she was,months ago, and Ms. Cooper said she was aware of the letters too. Dr. Garrett said he was not aware of any such letters,but was not surprised since there had been a lot of discontent and back stabbing;however he felt problems were best solved by confronting the issues and the persons with the displeasure, instead of trying to get people kicked out of the board. Ms.Quinones said she had received a disturbing phone call from a concerned and upset citizen. She said she had called Ms.Dunlap but she did not get a satisfactory answer. She said it was to do with a pit bull that was euthanized inadvertently and the owner was given other pit bulls. Ms.Dunlap said she had spoken to ACS staff who had told her that these dogs were lab mixes and was approved by legal. Ms.Dunlap said she had heard different versions of the story and decided to visit the 2137 Harvard—the dog owner's house before coming to the Advisory Committee meeting. The dogs were 3 pit bulls,2 pit bulls, 1 brindle,and 1 black. She had Ms Dunlap on the phone as a witness. She had presented at the Reyes residence like she was looking to buy pit bulls. The owner replied"I have some but they are not for sale". Ms. Quinones asked the owner,"Where did you get them?" The person replied"from Animal Control,they don't adopt them out but they gave them to me because they euthanized my dog by accident". Ms. Quinones then asked,"Where's the dog?" The owner replied,"We have a full grown white one that got loose and roams the area". Ms.Quinones thanked the owner and. Ms. Quinones wanted to know why we would give out pit bulls to a citizen in a low income area,with no fenced yard. She said the animals were not lab mixes and the white one had been at large more than once and ACS knew that. Ms. Stunt agreed that ACS did know the first time the animal was loose, and will try to pick it up if it's presently at large,however, there is no written policy as far as the adoption of pit bulls. When pit bulls are available to ACS to adopt out,they are transferred to C- CARE,PALS or to Gulf Coast after being temperament tested. It was not logical to go thru PALS to adopt out this particular animal to this owner. The 2 pit bull mix puppies were temperament tested by the Kennel Master who is certified to do such testing. Ms. Quinones insisted that they were very close to pit bulls. She also wanted to know the truth about the Vet bill for these animals. Ms. Ms. Stunz said their animal was accidentally euthanized and ACS paid for the Vet care of the puppies. Ms. Quinones also wanted to know of the purchase of a kennel for the animals. Ms. Stunt replied that there was no kennel purchased by ACS for the animals. Ms. Quinones felt it disconcerting that ACS would put a dog and the white pit bull at the Chula Vista School area,and worried about the liability on the City if the dog bit anyone.. Ms. Stunz replied that any dog bite is the liability of the owner and every citizen was Animal Control Advisory Committee Meeting ofAprit 81h.1004 4 responsible for their own animal. She said PALS right now has a pit bull that is being transferred after being temperament tested from ACS. There is nothing that would prove to us that the new owners may be irresponsible pet owners. Their home has been looked at and the owners seem to be good owners. Yes, their animal got loose and they will be educated on the actions that need to be taken to prevent such things. If a citation needs to be issued,one will be issued and they will be treated as any other individual or family that is not being responsible for their pet. Ms. Quinones said the owner of the dog had told her that ACS was not supposed to adopt these animals out,but had given her 3 of them. At this point,Ms.Massad interjected with the fact that an answer had been given to all questions Ms. Quinones asked,except of course if it was more important that Ms. Stunz be wrong while Ms. Quinones be right. Ms. Cooper chairperson of the committee also asked Ms.Quinones if she was satisfied with the answers to her concerns. Ms. Quinones said she was not, but will accept them. 5. Old Business No old business. 6. Public Comments Ms.Marge Rose introduced herself to the Committee as the Assistant City Manager. 7. Adjournment Ms. Keyes made the motion to adjourn,Ms.Quinones 2`'the motion and all were in favor. Animal Control Advisory Comminee Meeting ofAprll 8th,2004