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HomeMy WebLinkAboutASAB minutes 011409Animal Services Advisory Board (ASAB) Approved Minutes for January 14, 2009 Meeting Present ASAB Members: Daniel Textoris, Dewana Anderson, Pat Sanford, Jean Austin, Rob Gray, Suzanne Roy, Tracy Carroll, Susan Elmore Absent ASAB Members: Kris Bergstrand, Rachel Beckham and Ross Oglesbee. Others in Attendance: Animal Services Director Bob Marotto, Shelter Manager Jess Allison, Administrative Assistants Paula Ragan and Andi Morgan, Program Coordinator Sarah Fallin and Animal Control Manager, Irene Phipps. Public Members Present: None Welcome and Opening Comments—ASAB Vice-Chair, Jean Austin, called the meeting to order. Motion was made by Susan Elmore and seconded by Suzanne Roy to approve the Agenda dated January 14, 2009. VOTE: Unanimous. Motion was made by Jean Austin and seconded by Susan Elmore to approve the minutes dated November 19th, 2008 with the correction of a few typographical errors. VOTE: Unanimous General Public Comment—None Unfinished Business— November and December Statistics—Jess Allison gave an overview of the November and December, 2008, statistics and she reported that the adoption numbers are up compared to previous months as a result of increased marketing and advertisements during the Holiday Seasons. She noted that the special events held during the month of December brought more citizens into the shelter to look at the adoptable animals. Mr. Marotto indicated that the 2008 annual statistics would be reviewed at the February 2009, ASAB meeting. FY09/10 Budget & Service Priorities—Bob Marotto gave an overview of BOCC “Guiding Principles” for the coming fiscal year. He also reviewed the “Funding Matrix” staff presented to the BOCC to inform decisions about the budget, and he noted that the need to look at their core services and activities (mandated and non-mandated) in order to decide what is to be funded. Also, he indicated that staff is preparing an FY09/10 budget with a 10 percent reduction without any layoffs, and that no new services will be approved without exchanging of an existing service. This year budgets are due to the Budget Office by mid February in order to allow the County Manager to review them before making her recommendations to the BOCC in April. Animal Services Advisory Board January 14, 2009 Meeting--Approved Minutes Page 2 Activity Schedule 2009—Bob Marotto gave an overview of projected work activities for 2009. He indicated that Animal Services staff is already stretched, working very hard and at this time have no extra time to give to the ASAB in the form of support for ad hoc committees. He emphasized that staff should have manageable workloads and that he will manage their work loads very carefully given the impending transition to the new facility and budget preparation and review. Susan Elmore suggested to the board members that staff not provide support to the various Ad Hoc committees until workload and time allows. In order to keep the committees moving forward that the members would still continue to meet, take minutes and share the minutes with staff and provide input. Information would still come to the ASAB meetings for final review and discussion. Jean Austin suggested that something be written up to provide the guidelines of how committees would work without staff members present at meetings. Mr. Marotto stated that if there is a meeting of this body, there must be a public meeting notice posted 10 days prior to the meeting. Staff will take care of setting up meeting locations and the public notification. If items require legal review those must come to staff for coordination with the County Manager and County Attorney before anything is further processed for BOCC consideration. New Business— Tethering Public Relations and Evaluation Plan—Bob Marotto identified the need for community resources for residents who will need to transition from tethering to other means of keeping or confinement and that he would be talking with Amanda Arrington from the Coalition to Unchain Dogs but thought other resources would be needed and desirable. He stressed the importance of such resources when future reports were made to the BOCC regarding the implementation of the County’s new ordinance. Irene Phipps gave an overview of the evaluation process that has been set forth by the BOCC. Information of different kinds will be provided to the BOCC at six-month intervals over the next two years. Ms. Phipps also described how pertinent information would be gathered and noted that Animal Control Officers are currently posting flyers throughout the community. Andi Morgan reviewed the Public Relations Plan for the new Tethering Ordinance, noting its similarity to the plan for adjusted fees and fines that was recently implemented. The goal is to make everyone aware prior to enforcing, educate and identify resources available to help residents transition from tethering to other methods of confinement. She noted that there will be public service announcements, media releases, display ads, flyers, and that and that information is available on our website. Spay Day (and Nocturnal Neuters) Resolution and $20 Fix Outreach—Sarah Fallin has been meeting with the Department of Social Services (DSS) to determine the best way to serve DSS Animal Services Advisory Board January 14, 2009 Meeting--Approved Minutes Page 3 clients. Ms. Fallin provides $20 Fix flyers to the DSS, which are included in the packets they mail out to their clients. The flyers explain how the program works and the process for applying. This program started mid November and so far there are a total of 8 DSS clients who have responded to flyer. The number of responses is expected to increase now that the holidays have passed. Ms Fallin also noted that she would be conducting training with volunteers that are interested in assisting her with the County’s $20 Fix program. Andi Morgan provided board members with handouts of recent ads that will be placed in various papers and local businesses promoting the $20 Fix program for Orange County residents. She explained that the ads are also intended to educate citizens on the benefits of having your animal spayed or neutered as well as provide basic information about the program. Motion was made by Jean Austin and seconded by Tracy Carroll to recommend to the BOCC to adopt a Resolution to make February 24, 2009 to be Spay/Neuter Day. VOTE: Unanimous Animal Services Appreciation—Locopops, a local business located in the Courtyard of Chapel Hill has paired with a private citizen, Eunice Chan, to raise donations from the sales of their popsicles. They have selected Orange County’s Animal Shelter, among others, to receive the donations which to date amount to $1,100.00. Animal Services would like to present Locopops and Ms. Chan with a certificate of appreciation and invite them to the ASAB February meeting. Motion was made by Jean Austin and seconded by Susan Elmore to issue a Certificate of Appreciation to LocoPops. VOTE: Unanimous Getting to Know Partner Organizations—Susan Elmore reported that at previous meetings there had been discussion about contacting other organizations to help out with services that Animal Services provides to County residents. She and others thought that it would be an excellent idea to contact various organizations and invite them to a board meeting and ask them to give a little summary and explain what it is that they do. Some of the organizations suggested include, Paws-4-Ever, Piedmont Wildlife, IAR and other partners. It was suggested that a list be put together and that Paws-4-Ever be invited to the February meeting to discuss their partnership with Animal Services. Motion was made by Jean Austin and seconded by Susan Elmore to adjourn the meeting at 8:05 p.m. VOTE: Unanimous. Next ASAB Meeting: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. in the Southern Human Services Conference Room, 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill.