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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 04/17/2008 ,,.IMal care>soryf,,,, a y Chfisti i of o' us Christ[ MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY COMMITTEE Education Room,2626 Holly Rd The Minutes for April 77th, Members Present: Dr William Watson, Bill Schroeder,Kendal Keyes, Dr.John Buckley, Sharon Massad and Pam Rhyner Members Absent: Paul Reynolds Staff Present: Kell Copeland Staff Absent: none Guests: Bill Darcy,Mary Ann Darcy and Deanne Anderson 1. Call to Order: Dr.Watson called the meeting to order at 12:30. . Approval of for Match 19th,2008 Minutes Mr.Schroeder made a motion to approve the minutes,Ms.Rhyner 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed. . Approval of Absences for March 19th,2008 Mr.Schroeder made a motion to approve Ms. assads°absence,Ms.Rhyner 2nd the motion all in favor motion passed. Committee Reports ( ) Zoonosis Reports The Zoonosis Report was attached for viewing. ( ) Shelter Report Ms.Copeland reported to the committee that the Budget has been worked on and will be asking for 8 additional staff,3 AC01,3 ACO2 and 2 office staff.The cost of the additional staff is$304,595.00 for salaries. Ms.Copeland added that this would be if we go to a 6 day operation and felt that they should. Ms.Copeland also added that this is from the community that are requesting pick up for dead animal and trap pick ups. Ms.Copeland added that currently we have 2 officers in the field on the weekends and we would like to add a third officer. Ms.Copeland added that would like to see 10 hour shifts on the weekends,it would be better utilization of staff and equipment. If the City cannot do that then we will be requesting 6 staff members,we will need these to maintain the current level of service,at 6 additional staff members that would be$238k.Ms.Copeland added that it was her hope that City Council will approve this,we need the pick for dead animal and trap service. Ms.Copeland also added that our Front Staff is inundated from the Spay Neuter Clinic, Side Gates and the Vaccination Clinic, Ms.Copeland added that we were behind of the data entry of Vet Animal Control Advisoo,Committee Afeetin April 17a 2008 Pet Registrations to 6 months;we have it down to about 3 months. Ms.Copeland added that we utilized a Community .,vice and had them add the names that are registered;the name can be looked up if it's on there. Ms.Copeland also added that she was requesting one of the office staff an assistant to the Sr.Management Asst.,so when that person is out or leaves for a better paying job as Ms.Ortiz did,there will be back up. At this time we have to train an individual who is not really qualified to do the job or the skills,doesn't have the proper schooling,eventually this young lady will manage an office somewhere,right now it is a straggle for her and is stretching all of us. Ms. Copeland added that whether City Council approves this or not is not sure. My staff is constantly behind the 8 ball,one call is not something you can handle in one spot. Ms.Copeland added that we are accused of drive by's all the time and the calls the officers receive in their box need to be responded to in 1 day. Ms.Copeland reported that the vehicles that we possess for transport are old and when she first came to ACS there was 1 vehicle from the previous budget that we had not received. We did received the truck,didn't have it very long when it was involved in an accident and totaled. The budget for last year requested 4 new vehicles,was approved but we should be receiving them soon. We have 2 trucks that broke down due to the transports being old and the fiberglass not well maintained they cratered on the rear axle. It was a min of$6.000.00 to repair and was not even sure the repair will last. Ms.Copeland informed that when she was in Montgomery County she had designed a steel cage that sits on a bed on the back of the truck and it can be made at approximately$3,500.00. It will hold more animals and easier to maintain It is also more sanitary. Ms.Massad inquired about the heat for the animals. Ms.Copeland replied that the officers come in at half day sometimes more. They need to come in and unload or the health of the animal needing to be brought in as soon as possible. Ms.Copeland that in the summer time the vehicles are well ventilated,they are cages so that is not an issue. The winter time may be more of an issue but if the animals were not out in the elements we would not have them. Ms.Copeland added that there have been good results with this system. Dr.Watson added that the fiberglass gets hot;Ms.Copeland added that the fans go out;the fiberglass cracks and when it cracks disease can get in there. Ms.Copeland added that the bottom of the track will have a powder coating;at this time they are waiting on the drawings from ACS. The remaining vehicles are constantly down because they are old. We are asking for 3 new vehicles for the 08-09 Budget. Dr.Buckley asked if it would be good for the board to go to Council to back this up, Ms.Copeland replied that there is a discussion whether we are going to take the budget to city council with the supplement for the clinic and the supplement for the staffing or if we are going to take it by itself and then come back to City Council afterwards;Ms.Copeland added that she does not get to make that decision and she would advise the committee when she is aware of the decision. • Ms.Keyes inquired when it will be discussed on the agenda,Ms.Copeland replied she did not know at this time but will advise the committee of this. Ms.Massad advised that we could do a correlation of how many staff we have now and what the population in Corpus Christi and how many staff we had then. Ms.Rhyner also added the growth in the income.Ms.Copeland replied that is what she had been concentrating on was revenue and expenditures;with the opening of the Spay Neuter Clinic and the vaccinations on Monday we have increased on pet license. We have been able to demonstrate financially everything we are doing is benefiting the City not to mention the good publicity that the City is getting from Animal Control. Ms. Copeland added that she gets told it is going to be a bad budget year for the City. • Ms.Copeland reported to the committee in reference to the Monthly Totals and also added a quarterly sheet with comparison From last year to this year. There are significant differences. In the first quarter of 2007 we had 2,923 calls for service.,for 2008 we had 7,512 calls for service. Ms.Copeland added that the incoming animals for 2008 are down,however citations are up;this reflects ACS educating the citizens Ms.Copeland added that the first 3 months there were the staff wrote 100 citations last year,in 2008 for first quarter was 234 citations were written. Ms. Keyes asked what the citations were written for. Ms.Copeland replied the citations are for failure to confine,failure to vaccinate,failure to register,on occasion failure to quarantine, failure to Spay Neuter,Cruelty,the majority of them are for confinement,vaccinate and register. Ms. Copeland added that in 2007 an average of 12.5 citations per officer and 2008 21.2 citations per officer. • Ms.Copeland reported to the committee that the number of administrative hearings is being reduced and we will increase the amount of dogs being deemed dangerous dogs This is a beautiful facility but when built it they went from approximately 90 kennels to 118- There are 26 adoption kennels,20 bite case kennels,26 admin hearing kennels,and 50 for the general population. The general population kennels are segregated by size,sex„by age and health,we can be in violation at any given time. Ms.Copeland also added that she Animal Control Advisor}^Committee Meeting April V"',,2008 will be requesting in budget that City Council be aware within the next 5 years they need to consider additional buildings. Ms.Copeland added that she would like to see a building attached to the Bite Case building,and one attached to the quarantine building,this attachment would become Admin then we could open up the kennels in the back. The kennels would be totally enclosed,one of the problems with the animals from admin hearings is that people try to cut thru the fence and steal their dogs so they don't have to comply with spay neuter which is more with Pit Bull owners. Mr.Schroeder inquired how much more this would allow. Ms.Copeland replied that she had not measured the footage but it should provide approximately 50 more kennels; 918 kennels does not go far not to mention the fact we do not have a place to quarantine the adoptable animals so we took the Nursery and Cat Room turned into the Adoption Quarantine;with the antibiotic in the water and quarantine procedures before they go into adoption makes a huge difference in their health, Ms.Copeland also added that she has almost been able to keep puppies out of it but the staff gets around it everyone once in a while,but if one or two slips thru that's fine, Ms.Copeland added that with the new addition would want to include a quarantine area;if that happened than we could turn the other rooms back to the cats at this time the cats are in the bay. Another area that needs more space is storage but if we were able to get the cat room then we could turn the bay into storage so there are options in all of this. Ms.Copeland also expressed that we are looking at what would be the most financially beneficial and also what would benefit space wise. Ms.Copeland added that they are requiring a transmittal letter,last year I submitted budget with many documentation and no one had ever done that before so now they are asking for it;with the letter we have been able to provide goals for the next 5 years. + Ms.Copeland expressed how pleased she was with the numbers of the animals coming in going down, I don't want you to think that this means the officers are not working;we have been short staffed and this year is no exception continuing to respond to calls and getting them done. Ms.Copeland added that she was concerned on the bite reports,this month there were 84 which I felt would go up but not like it did and am wondering it the numbers will continue like this in the coming months. • Ms.Massad asked about the calls for service,why is there such an increase if there are less dogs being brought in either we are doing something better or not. Ms.Copeland replied that the officers are now documenting the calls in the proper manner and also the citizens have gained the confidence when they see they are getting the response they are wanting.The calls are no longer being closed out as failed.Ms. Copeland added that when she first came if a call was not worked within so many days the call was closed out as failed which means the department failed to respond- The citizens deserve a response and to know that an officer will be out in their community they may only be 10 minutes but they are there and will address the problem. The citizens have responded to that,they see us out and talking to them,which was another thing. Ms.Copeland added that she told her staff when she first came you need to quit running from the media and the community,you face and deal with them,there are a few of the staff that do not like confrontation but now are writing citations. These are the two reasons,,documentation and a greater confidence from the community;if a call is put in or if it was not responded to they can call me and someone will be sent out • Ms.Copeland introduced Ms.Deanne Anderson as Volunteer Coordinator. Ms.Copeland added that Ms.Massed had called to find out if she could help with anything and she helped us make contact with Ms.Anderson about being the Coordinator, Ms,Copeland added that at this time she was not managing due to the fact of helping out in Field and Kennel Supervisor. Ms,Cases is Acting Supervisor but is not a Supervisor,she works very hard in trying to make k work. Mr..Jaime Guerrero is doing a great job as Lead Officer,not once has anyone said"I can't." Ms,Copeland added that the interviews for Kennel Master and Field Supervisor haven't been done„the reason why the positions were run the first time,none of the applications were able to be sent over,The reason why they did not qualify,this is a small community if you are asking for a minimum of 2 years supervisory experience and a minimum of 2 year animal experience where are they going to get it. Ms, Copeland added that the job description was re-written,Human Resources and Ms.Rose helped to get this done which took 2 weeks which included being given to the Committee and approved and was re-run,there was nothing. Ms.Copeland added that someone is needed with management skills. The problem in the past they brought people from the ranks,which is good if you have the skills to train someone to be a supervisor that is wonderful,fight now there is no time. Ms.Bliss was trained for almost a year to be supervisor and when I hired her she had the skills but it was until after that it was supervision with paper'instead an individual,it did not work. Animal Control Advisor} Committee Meeting April 1," 2006 0 4 14 i .. was very excited about the documentary and also happy it happened before Oprah's did. Ms.Childers would like to sit down with myself and Ms.Rose;she feels that her and some of her friends would be helpful to ACS. Ms.Childers also mentioned that whether or not Clark wins they believe they can raise enough to sponsor or assist to sponsor the Clinic for another year. • Ms.Massad inquired if we still had the pet that was biting.Ms.Copeland replied that was Sharky and had not had time to work with him with the budget going on. Ms.Copeland also added that she was going to wait until Raffe got adopted and he has not as of yet. Ms,Anderson added that we were down to the bottom of all the applications.The biggest issue is the teeth,there were many that came by but did not work out Ms.Anderson did add that the little old one was adopted out to a lady who already had an older dog at home. Ms.Copeland added that if someone had the time to spend with Sharky that would be great. Ms, Massad advised that he would need to leave the facility,Ms.Copeland replied that a foster could be arranged,he has calmed down. Ms.Copeland added that she would be asking Dr.House what it would take for him to be able to work on his teeth but not sure if they have the equipment for that. ® Ms.Copeland pointed out that the generator was almost finished,everything has been filled in. The enunciator and the new panel did not match up.The City changed the enunciators out years ago;they need to find the right one and should be done within a few weeks. (C) Clinic Re art Ms.Copeland informed that they were trying to get a washer and dryer for the Spay/Neuter Clinic. Sams Club donated $1,000 and it is going towards bowls and the washer and dryer, Mr.and Mrs.Darcy have been going around to businesses to see if someone will be able to assist with a good deal. The extra room in the clinic is finished and the cages were moved over and the only thing left to go in is the washer and dryer... 6. New Business Discussion of Expiring Terms of Board Members Dr.Watson announced that he had been informed by the City Secretary office that Ms.Keyes and Ms.Rhyner were up for reappointment Ms.Keyes pointed out that she had replaced one member in the middle of the term,so she could serve 2 full terms after that. Dr.Watson advised that they can submit their names for reappointment or submit names. Ms.Keyes'informed the committee that she saw a dog get hit on Ocean and stopped to call 911,they were very nice and was transferred to ACS,this time everyone was very helpful. Ms.Keyes'said she waited for someone to come, Ms.Copeland asked how long she waited and Ms.Keyes said 10 minutes then a gentleman stopped to help to get the dog,but he said"I know someone who is a professional". The gentleman came back with someone from Santa Fe Animal Hospital.The employee p[cked the dog up and went back to the clinic, Ms,Keyes advised she did call the City back to let them know about the dog being taken to the Clinic; Ms.Keyes was able to make contact with the man who helped and they were not sure if the dog would make it. Ms.Keyes called the vet the next day,the owner had come to pick it up,the gentleman who helped in the beginning had paid the bill,and the dog had a broken pelvis.Ms.Copeland mentioned that we had 2 light duty people back to back. 7. Public Comments Ms.Darcy felt that the more media coverage we receive more people try to solve the problem and gets involved which makes things escalate more. Ms.Darcy also felt we were having to euthanize more dogs.. 9. Adjournment Mr.Schroeder made a motion to adjourn„Ms.Rhyner 2^d the motion all in favor motion passed. 1;26pm Animal Contrail Adviser),Committee Meeting April 111.2008