HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-01-2003-9cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 1, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. _~ -~_
SUBJECT: Proposed Task Force to Review Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Final Report and Current Status of Orange County Animal Shelter Operations
DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Proposed Task Force: Draft Charge
and Composition (November 18, 2003)
2, HSUS Report -Central Grouping of
Major Issues Identified by Staff
3. Staff Recommended Task Force
(September 16, 2003)
4. HSUS Task Force Depiction
(August 28, HSUS Final Report
Excerpt)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link, ext. 2300
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: Tc consider moving forward with a representative and timely process in the review
of recommendations contained in the final report from the Humane Society of the United States
(HSUS),
BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners authorized the HSUS to conduct an
assessment of animal control and animal sheltering services paid for by Orange County
government in the winter of 2003, The Commissicners, the Board of Health, and the Board of
the Animal Protection Society, Inc, heard a presentation by HSUS staff on August 28, 2003
detailing the release of the Final Report and its recommendations for improvement, On
September 16, County staff returned to the Board of County Commissioners with a potential
process for naming a task force and providing a preliminary listing of major topics within the
HSUS report that the Task Force could begin to address, if so directed by the Board.
Discussion at the Bcard meeting focused mostly upon the composition and overall directive tc
the proposed Task Force, It was decided that Chair Brown and Commissioner Carey would
work with staff to further refine the proposal and bring a new recommendation back to the
Board at a future meeting. Attached is the proposed Task Force charge and composition as
drafted by Gammissioner Carey. Formal appointments to the Task Force could be made by the
BOCC at its meeting on December 9, 2003.
Under this proposal, the Task Force would report back tc the BOCC no later than the second
meeting in March 2004 (March 16, 2004), with interim reports to be submitted monthly. Given
that scenario, the BOCC could consider the Task Force report at its work session scheduled for
April 1, 2004 and consider a potential planning process for the relocated Animal Shelter at its
work session scheduled for August 31, 2004 at the latest.
Also attached is the original Gentral Grouping of Major Issues from the HSUS Final Report
developed by staff in the fall. Initial emphasis will be placed upon the
Governance/Management/Leadership/Administration grouping followed by the grouping of
issues under Shelter Operations. Again, this listing is presented as a starting point only as a
means of orienting task farce members to the contents of the full report. The Board may wish
to amend or modify the Central Grouping of Major Issues as it deems important to the mission
and direction of the task force.
Additional attachments include the task farce proposal that was developed by County staff for
discussion purposes only and presented to the BOGG on September 16, along with the excerpt
from the HSUS Final Report that provides their rationale and process for naming a task farce,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Many of the recommendations in the Report have financial implications,
obvious and not so obvious, that will require fi~rther scrutiny. For example, purchasing new
equipment or supplies are obvious investments and changing operating practices that seem
budget neutral may in fact require recalculations in workload and staffing requirements.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider the following:
Apprdval of Proposed Task Force to Review the HSUS Report and Current Status of
Shelter Operations, with modifications as may be desired.
2. Approval of the Central Grouping of Major Issues for Orienting the Work of the Task
Force, with modifications as may be desired.
3. Approval of a timeline, with modifications as may be desired.
Suggested Timeline:
December 9, 2003 BOCC Appoints Task Force members
March 16, 2004 Task Force Issues Report
April 1, 2004 BOCC Work Session on Report
No later than August 31, 2004 BOCC Work Session on Animal Shelter Facility
PROPOSED TASK FORCE
TO REVIEW HSUS REPORT
AND
CURRENT STATUS OF SHELTER OPERATIONS
(DRAFTED NOVEMBER 18, 2003)
Charge: To review the detailed observations, recommendations, and
discussion contained in the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Report
on Animal Sheltering in Orange County in the context of recent Board of County
Commissioner (BOCC) decisions and provide recommendations for future action
to the BOCC by the second meeting in March 2004 (March 16, 2004). The Major
Issues to be addressed should be consistent with, but not limited to the Central
Grouping identified by County staff in the September 16, 2003 agenda abstract.
These Central Issues may be amended as desired by the BOGC.
Composition: Total of Ten (10) Representatives
1. Board of County Commissioners -One: (1) Representative
2. Board of Health -One: (1) Representative
3. Town Representatives -Three: One (1) each from Carrboro, Chapel
Hill, and Hillsborough
4. Public Representatives -Four: Two (2) from Rural Townships and
Two (2) from Urban Townships
5. Sheriffs Office-One: (1) Representative
NOTE: Chair to be selected by the BOCC. County Manager's Office will provide
staff support. Task Force will hold one Listening Session in Northern Orange
and one Listening Session in Southern Orange before finalizing its report to the
BOCC.
Timeline: The Task Force will report back tc the BOCC no later than the
second meeting in March 2004, with an interim report on progress and
outstanding issues monthly,
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HSUS REPORT ON ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATIONS
CENTRAL GROUPING OF THE MAJOR ISSUES AS IDENIFIED BY
COUNTY STAFF
These groupings - in brief, non priority order -represent principal areas
for in depth discussion, consensus building, decision-making, and
concerted action, based on Report findings, conclusions, and best
practices methodology.
Shelter Operations (Chapters 5.0. 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0)
• General Operations & Procedures
Veterinary/Health Issues
• Disease Control/Sanitation
^ Vaccination Protocol
• Euthanasia
• Adoptions
• Selection Criteria
Policies/Procedures
Behavior Evaluation
• Community Outreach Programs
Governance/ManagementlLeadership/Administration (Chapters 11.0, 12.0,
and 13.0
• Board and Staff Development
• Standard Operating Procedures (including records management)
• Budgeting and Bookkeeping
• Financial Statements and Audits
• Strategic Planning
Shelter Facility -Present and Future (Chapters 3.0 and 4.0)
Maintenance/Sanitation
^ Staff has previously reported on many improvements
presently underway.
• Design/Layout
Staff will incorporate these findings within the framework of
planning for a new shelter.
Field Services/Animal Control (Chapter 10.01
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Staff Training
Forms/Records Management
• Emergency/After Hours Service
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PROPOSED TASK FORCE
TO REVIEW HSUS REPORT
Charge: To review the detailed observations,
recommendations, and discussion contained in the
HSUS Report on Animal Sheltering in Orange County
and provide recommendations to the BOCC by the
first meeting in January 2004.
Composition: Board of County Commissioners -1
Board of Health - 2
APS - 2 (Board member and
Non-Management Employee)
Critics of APS - 2 (unaffiliated with active
lawsuits)
Public at Large - 2
Representatives of the Towns - 3
Timeline: Report back to the BOCC by the first meeting in
January 2004.
ill
page 3 ~ I. I~
Animal Protection Society of Orange County ~ ~'
Animal Services Consultation Final Report
L~
2.0 TASK. FORCE
The development of a task force to review this document and create a working plan of action
is a very important step to take. After reading this report, the task force should recommend
priorities and action items with due dates. The document the task force develops then
becomes APS's working document to implement the recommendations in this report. The
structure of people selected for this task force is critical.
Tlvs process will help APS prioritize and plan for the future, with not only this report, but
surccessfully with othernagencies that have receivedtASC evalu t lons,process has been used
The recommendations included in this report are based on what we believe are best practices
in the field of sheltering. Orange County and APS management, in concert with the task
force, should prioritize and weigh each recommendation against available resources and
decide whether or not that recommendation is to be implemented or used as a departure point
for what is realistic for them.
Recommendations:
/ Put together a committee of no more than seven members that are willing to comrmt
up to four months and who work well in group settings. It is important to appoint
unbiased individuals to the task force. The task force should include the following:
- A professional facilitator
- A shelter staff representative
- A member of the advisory committee or board of directors
- A veterinarian with strong shelter medicine background
Other members may include:
- Individual with legal strength
- Public health officials
- County budget officials
- Community members with expertise in short-term and strategic planning
- Those interested in animal welfare, but without personal agendas
/ Convey the responsibilities of the task force, which include:
- Reviewing the report
Using a form, divide up and prioritize each recommendation
This process allows the agency, tluough the task force, to evaluate the recommendations as
they relate to each other.
Task force matrix example
Page 4
Animal Protection Society of Orange County
Animal Services Consultation Final Report
/ Develop a reporting mechanism so the recommendations of the task force can be
presented and APS can begin to implement the changes.
/ Create written guidelines outlining expected behavior and conduct for task force
members.. These guidelines should include stipulations if meetings are missed,
/ A memorandum of understanding (MOU) should be created that outlines the above
sections and the role and outcome of the taskforce. All task force members should be
required to sign the MOU so it is understood that the task force is to be a professional
undertaking.
p l ~ t
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