HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ANSAB_04.08.2021City of Georgetown Animal Shelter Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes
April 8, 2021
The Animal Shelter Advisory Board met virtually Thursday, April 8, 2021.
Regular Session -'To begin no earlier than 6:00 pm.
(This Regular Session may, at any time, be recessed to convene at Executive Session for any purpose authorized
by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551).
The City of Georgetown is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you
require assistance in participating at a public meeting due to a disability, as defined under the ALGA, reasonable
assistance, adaptations, or accommodations will be provided upon request. Please contact the City Secretary's
Office, at least three (3) days prior to the scheduled meeting date, at (512) 930-3652 or City Hall at 113 East 8 1h
Street for additional information; TTY uses route through Relay Texas at 711.
Members Present: Ned Atkins, William Gregory, Laura Klein Plunkett, Melissa Sheldon, Sarah Vigil
Members Absent: Louise Epstein
Staff present: Jack Daly was present
Guest present: Heather Pencil
Meeting called to order at 6:01 PM by Melissa Sheldon
1. Discussion on how this virtual conference will be conducted, to include options for public comments
and how the public may address the Commission — April Haughey (Board Liaison)
a. April detailed the ways the public can engage with the meeting, told members that roll call votes
would be conducted, and instructed members to "raise their hand" to speak and to identify them-
selves first.
2. Review and discuss board purpose and bylaws — Melissa Sheldon, Board Chair
a. Melissa read the bylaws to the group.
3. Review of City Council's Boards and Commissions Attendance Policy — Melissa Sheldon, Board Chair
a. Melissa read the attendance policy to the group, emphasizing the 75% attendance expectation and
the two allowable excused medical/military absences.
4. Presentation of Animal Services Statistics for March, 2021 — April Haughey, Animal Services Manager
(Board Liaison)
a. 101 total intakes, 19% higher than February, included a number of puppies and kittens, and showed
an increase in owner surrenders.
b. Two euthanasias, one for illness and the other as a result of rabies quarantine, resulted in a LRR of
98.6%.
c. Adoption rate of 36.5%, an increase over the previous month.
d. Average LOS decreased slightly; for dogs, 9.17 days, and for cats, 8.17 days, with an overall 12
month LOS of 8.67 days.
e. License compliance up to 83.9% from previous onth's 46.2%. The online system seems to be
working well.
£ Animal Control took 393 calls in March, resulting in 127 total violations and 45 warnings. Warnings
were primarily due to rabies violations. Animal follow-ups totaled 105.
5. Presentation of status of current and future facilities projects and updates`— April Haughey, Animal
Services Manager (Board Liaison)
a. HVAC work has begun.
b. The awning replacement is scheduled for May. Next year's schedule includes the security gate pro-
ject, the cat area floor renovation and the new kennel drains installation.
c. April is obtaining an official postal address for the shelter due to continually misdirected mail. It
will be necessary to install a special secure mailbox to prevent the public from depositing animals
inside the receptacle.
6. Presentation on current staffing and operational updates — April Haughey, Animal Services Manager
(Board Liaison)
a. Two good ACO candidates have been identified and ride-alongs are in progress. The veterinarian
candidate has completed a virtual interview and is coming in for an in -person tour and meeting that
will hopefully result in a jab offer and acceptance.
b. Two full-time techs have resigned and interviews for replacements are being conducted. There are
several good candidates, and the hope is that at least one will start 4/26.
c. The shelter's unrestricted opening has created an uptick in visitors. Surrenders are still handled by
appointment and adoptions need an approved application on file.
7. Presentation of finished shelter mural — April Haughey, Animal Services Manager (Board Liaison)
a. April presented a photo of the completed mural and said that the public response to the mural has
been very positive.
8. Recognition of Animal Service's work y the community— April Haughey, Animal Services Manager
(Board Liaison)
a. April presented an article from the Georgetown View featuring ACO Angela Jones.
b. April presented a letter from an adoptive family of a shelter dog. The letter expressed appreciation to
the staff and volunteers for their dedication to caring for the dog while she was in the shelter's care,
and described the bond that had been forged between the dog and the nine -year -old child in the fam-
ily.
c. The city council will recognize the Animal Services staff at the upcoming City Council Meeting in
honor of Animal Care and Control Appreciation Week.
9. Public wishing to address the board - Melissa Sheldon, Board Chair
a. Heather Pencil of Georgetown asked the Board to consider modifying Sec. 7.06.010 of the municipal
code to allow the inclusion of ducks as well as hens in the allowable limit of poultry, and asked to
scale the allowable limit and the coop's distance from a private residence of another based on
lot size, citing similar ordinances in Round Rock and Austin.
. Election of Vice Chair and Secretary fort e Animal Sheter Advisory oar — Melissa Sheldon,
Board Chair
a. Bill Gregory volunteered to assume the Vice Chair position. Laura Klein Plunkett volunteered to
continue as Secretary. Motion by Laura Klein Plunkett, seconded by Ned Atkins, to approve the
elections. Passed unanimously.
11. Discuss and confirm dates and times for future Animal She ter Advisory oarMeetings — Melissa
Sheldon, Board Chair
a. Ned Atkins made a motion to keep the current meeting date and time of the second Thursday of the
month at 6:00 PM. Bill Gregory seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
12. Consideration and possible action to approve minutes from are , 2021 Melissa Sheldon, Board
Chair
a. Board members signified that they had read the minutes and had no corrections. Motion to approve
the minutes as presented, Ned Atkins. Seconded by Bill Gregory. Motion passed unanimously.
With no further business or discussion, Laura Klein Plunkett made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded
by Ned Atkins, and approved by all.
Meeting adjourned at 6:34 P.M.
Chair eliss S eldon
,A
Secretary, Laura Klein PI ett
Liaison, April Haughey