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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Animal Care Advisory Committee - 07/17/2014 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANIMAL CONTROL ADVISORY MEETING Nueces County Public Health District Conference Room,2626 Holly The Minutes for July 17,2014 Members Present: Dr. Barbara Whitlock, Cheryl Martinez,Harold Bennett,Janet Strawn,Mark Phillips, Megan Winn, &Laina Schonefeld City Staff: Heather Hedrick,Joseph Brice, Commander Green, &Barbara Sandoval Guests: Megan Tisdale, Stephanie Orona, &Angela Talbert 1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Dr. Barbara Whitlock at 12:30pm. 2. Discussion and Approval of Minutes from June 19,2014 Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated an amendment be made to change Mark Phillips calling the meeting to order to herself Dr. Barbara Whitlock also states an amendment to item 9 be changed to add Gulf Coast Humane Society to line 1 with PAAC and the Cattery. Cheryl Martinez stated an amendment be made to correct the number of billboards to read"1 billboard was created". Dr. Barbara Whitlock states an amendment for item 13, to correct the name for Stephanie from Orone to Orona.Also in item 13,change the word"what to was"in the last sentence to read"the board was designed to do". Cheryl Martinez made a motion to approve the Harold Bennett seconds, all prove,none oppose and none abstain. 3. Discussion and Approval of Absences from June 19,2014 No absences 4. Discussion of Current Texas Department of State Health Services Region 11 Zoonosis Report No report available. Dr. Barbara Whitlock stated that the report is provided by the state and the has nothing to do with the advisory committee or the city. 5. Discussion of Texas Parks and Wildlife report Barbara Whitlock stated there was 2 skunks, one head for lab and 1 relocated to the wild, 7 raccoons, and 105 captured possums. 6. Discussion of the Current Shelter Report Heather Hedrick reported 848 animals incoming for June of 2013 compared to 736 animals for June of 2014. Heather also reported total outgoing animals for June of 2013,972 and for June of 2014, 664. Heather reported 67 citations June of 2013 and 77 total citations were given for June of 2014. Heather reported the number of bite cases for June of 2013 were 57 and for June of 2014 were 83. Heather reported the number of calls for services were 54 for June of 2013 and 45 for June of 2014. Dr. Barbara Whitlock commented that the number of adoptions were lower from the previous year probably based upon the Rachel Ray event that occurred in 2013.No further questions or discussion. 7. Discussion of the Current and Previous Clinic Report Dr. Barbara Whitlock commented that the clinic report was similar to the previous year's numbers No further questions or discussion. 8. Discussion of the Status of Rachael Ray Grant Funds Heather stated that the cat house is complete and up front in the lobby area. Command Todd Green stated that we are working with purchasing for a voucher program to work with the local veterinarians. Commander Green stated that the voucher will cover a portion of the costs, somewhere in between$50.00 to$100.00, and then the individual would have to cover the rest of the cost. Cheryl asked wasn't there a set amount at first, Commander Green stated there was no original amount for the voucher but just a set amount of funds to be used towards the targeted low cost spay/neuter program. 9. Discussion,review and possible recommendation for affidavit process for any ordinance concerning animal cruelty Dr. Barbara Whitlock allowed everyone to review the affidavit.No further questions or discussion. 10. Discussion,review and possible approval of By-laws Dr. Barbara Whitlock states the two copies of the By-laws are as follows: one as a draft that Joseph Brice drew up and the other copy is one that Cheryl Martinez has formatted. Cheryl Martinez states the changes and additions she made to the By-laws. Joseph Brice asks that the board go over the changes and additions and states that the board could approve it at the next Advisory Meeting. Dr. Barbara Whitlock agrees and states to table and approve at the next Advisory Meeting.No further questions or discussion. 11. Discussion and possible recommendation for tethering ordinance Dr. Barbara Whitlock asks where the recommendation stood at this time and Commander Todd Green states that the Assistant City Manager Susan Thorpe has the ordinance.No further questions or discussion. 12. Discussion of Volunteer Programs Janet Strawn states that there are no similar programs in other cities. That the only comparable cities are San Antonio and Austin. Janet states that San Antonio has a program that does a neighborhood sweep who partner with UTSA and target 10 areas a year based on bites, stray dogs, and pick up of animals. They go monthly to specific areas. The volunteers only go on Saturdays and hand out flyers with the Animal Control Officers and inform the community about the vaccinations with local vets. Janet also comments that San Marcos, Arlington and Austin have different programs but San Antonio is the most comparable. The Animal Control Officers would need to partner with volunteers to make the program a success sweep program. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asks for the information to be brought to the next Advisory Meeting. Dr Barbara Whitlock states that in her opinion Animal Control in Corpus Christi is overwhelmed and doesn't recommend that they start any new programs at this time. Dr. Whitlock suggested that Animal Care Services let the committee know when they are ready to move forward. Commander Todd Green states that we do have a volunteer program which is the VIPS program,through the Police Department, already in place. Commander Green states just not the staff to do the research for such programs. Harold Bennett asks Commander Todd Green who coordinates the new volunteers. Commander Todd Green states that Danni Alcantara,the Kennel Master would coordinate the volunteers. Harold Bennett asks if there is someone we have or could hire outside of Danni to help,Heather Hedrick states that we temporarily hired an adoption coordinator to help free up Danni so she can spend more time working with the volunteers. Harold asks if a volunteer could help coordinate. Heather states that it is up to the volunteer to decide. Commander Todd Green states that a volunteer could absolutely help with that. Commander Todd Green states that we would have to look at it and decide what duties and task the Police Department and the volunteer coordinator would handle. Dr. Barbara Whitlock asks Janet Strawn to bring any information that she receives to the next Advisory Meeting. 13. Public Comments No public comment 14. Identify items to be placed on next agenda Zoonosis Report,Texas Parks&Wildlife Report, Current Shelter Report, Clinic Report, status of Rachel Ray funds, approval of the bylaws,update on tethering, and volunteer programs in other cities. 15. Adjournment Cheryl Martinez motions to adjourn at 1:14. Janet Strawn seconds, all approve,none oppose and none abstain.