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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-16-2003-6bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 16, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. b - SUBJECT: Process for Addressing Humane Society of the United States Report on Animal Sheltering DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): HSUS Report -Major Issues Identified by Staff Proposed Task Force: Charge and Composition INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, County Manager, ext. 2300 Gwen Harvey, Asst. Cty. Manager, ext. 2300 Rosemary Summers, Health Director, ext. 2412 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a central grouping of major issues contained within the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Report on Animal Sheltering, and the possible creation of a representative task force to undertake a thorough review of the Report and submit its recommendations to the BOCC by the first BOCC meeting in January 2004. 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. The Commissioners, the Board of Health, and the Board of the Animal Protection Society, Inc. heard a presentation by HSUS staff on August 28, detailing the release of the Report and its recommendations for improvement. Staff has concluded an initial review of the Report and developed a central grouping of the major issues as an attachment to this abstract. Staff acknowledges that the Report is rich in observations, recommendations, and discussion of ten fundamental areas, from shelter maintenance to general financial issues. It is; therefore, very difficult for staff alone to make conclusions on relative priority or how one recommendation potentially impacts or alters another. That is why the attachment the BOCC is receiving is essentially a categorization of the major issues and not a strict analysis. Staff believes it could be beneficial, given the magnitude of information involved and public importance of the topic, that the BOCC consider establishing a medium by which the Report could be addressed thoroughly, thoughtfully, and in as transparent a manner as possible, with staff support. An example would be the creation of a task force, as suggested by HSUS, but customized and given a charge that reflects the will of the Board, current conditions, and local circumstances. 2 A draft charge and proposed composition for such a task force is attached. If appointed, task force members would be in attendance at the upcoming public hearing on September 18 in order to learn further perspective from the public on the Report. The central grouping of major issues developed by staff could be the starting point in organizing the work of the task force, with additional emphases and/or parameters established by the BOCC, and the task force could be instructed to return with its recommendations by the first BOCC meeting in January. Review of the HSUS Report would be coupled with a review of the Staff Report as areas of interest may possibly intersect. If the BOCC does not wish to establish a task force, the Manager and staff request additional feedback and further direction on those priority issues the Board sees as demanding immediate attention, and the timeline the BOCC sees as being most critical for bringing closure and moving forward on the central questions of Shelter operation. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Many of the recommendations in the Report have financial implications, obvious and not so obvious, that will require further scrutiny. For example, purchasing new equipment or supplies are obvious investments. Changing operating practices that seem budget neutral may in fact also require recalculations in workload and staffing requirements. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider creation of a task force as the possible medium for a thorough review of the HSUS Report and receive the information provided by staff on the central issues contained in the Report as information and a potential starting point for any task force discussions. HSUS REPORT ON ANIMAL SHELTER OPERATIONS CENTRAL GROUPING OF THE MAJOR ISSUES AS IDENTIFIED 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 Oaerations (Chanters 5.0. 6.0. 7.0. 8.0 and 9.0 • General Operations & Procedures • Veterinary/Health Issues ^ Disease Control/Sanitation ^ Vaccination Protocol • Euthanasia ^ Selection Criteria • Adoptions ^ Policies/Procedures ^ Behavior Evaluation • Community Outreach Programs Governance/Management/Leadership/Administration (Chapters 11.0, 12.0, and 13.0 • Board and Staff Development ^ Human Resources Administration • 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 10.0) • Standard Operating Procedures • Staff Training • Forms/Records Management • Emergency/After Hours Service 4 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 -One Representative Board of Health - 2 Representatives APS - 2 Representatives (One Board member and One Non-Management Employee) Critics of APS - 2 Representatives (unaffiliated with active lawsuits) Public at Large - 2 Representatives Representatives of the Towns -One Each from Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough Timeline: Report back to the BOCC by the first meeting in January 2004.