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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 031611 FROM: Animal Services Advisory Board SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting (Approved) DATE: Wednesday March 16, 2011 LOCATION: Animal Services Center ____________________________________________________________________________ MEMBERS PRESENT: Kris Bergstrand, Susan Elmore, Suzanne Roy, Jean Austin, Andy Darwin, Sue Millager, Aviva Scully MEMBERS ABSENT: Lori Lumpkin, Dan Textoris STAFF PRESENT: Bob Marotto, Jess Allison ____________________________________________________________________________ Beginning time of meeting: 6:30pm The agenda was unanimously approved. The amended summary from the Jan. 19, 2011 meeting was also unanimously approved. Shelter Partner Profile tonight was Independent Animal Rescue (IAR). President of IAR, Jennifer Albright, presented a brief summary of their activities and partnership with Orange County Animal Services. IAR helps provides new homes for many animals and receives the largest number of animals from the shelter compared to other placement partners. Old Business (if any) Topic A: ASAB vacancies and appointments: • 4 new applicants for open positions introduced themselves to the board. If time allows, board will vote on recommendations for applicants to be sent on to the BOCC. Topic B: Susan Elmore introduced a template for use for the meeting minutes summary to be sent to the BOCC. It was unanimously approved. New Business Topic A: Shelter updates from Jess Allison: • Following Animal Services staff discussion with County management staff, the requirement for liability insurance for placement partners was dropped, allowing significantly more partners to go forward with placement partner agreements and thus help the shelter in the future, meaning more homes for shelter animals. • In-house sterilization data was provided and the program has exceeded expectations and brought $50,000 savings due to more efficient adoptions and less use of outside spay/neuter options. Topic B: Cat Care Review Update from Jess Allison • Jess Allison provided an overview of recent changes in cat care practices that were summarized in a staff memo distributed for the meeting. Two speakers from the public were on the agenda to speak about recently expressed concerns about the shelter’s feline husbandry practices. M. Heath said that she was still concerned about the size of cat cages and amount of socialization they received. D Rowan (also a shelter volunteer) made positive comments about her experience with the cat care at the shelter. The Board expressed their thanks for input from the public. Bob Marotto reviewed some of the ongoing efforts of staff and the need to be deliberative in making programming changes. Topic C: Budget Recommendations from Bob Marotto • Operations- Staff presented a “continuation budget” to the Manager. Changes in the amount of the budget reflected various personnel costs. • Community Spay/Neuter Fund. The Board supports renewal of the request for funds for 400 sp/n surgeries through the AnimalKind agreement. ($20k base with 10k matching). Also, the shelter will be implementing the spay/neuter voucher program (aka the Litter Patrol) in the near future. Topic D: due to time constraints, it was not possible to vote on the new ASAB candidates. The board unanimously approved to schedule an April meeting for the expressed purpose of choosing new ASAB members and recommending them to the BOCC. Meeting adjourned at: 8:30pm Name of Minute Taker Kris Bergstrand