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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/22/2016/s/ Steve Teglia B A K E R S F I E L D Committee Members Staff: Steve Teglia Councilmember, Terry Maxwell, Chair Assistant City Manager Councilmember, Jacquie Sullivan Councilmember, Chris Parlier REGULAR MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND LITIGATION COMMITTEE Monday, August 22, 2016 12:00 p.m. City Hall North – Conference Room A 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The meeting was called to order at 12:00 p.m. 1. ROLL CALL Committee members: Councilmember, Terry Maxwell, Chair Councilmember, Jacquie Sullivan Councilmember, Chris Parlier City Staff: Alan Tandy, City Manager Steve Teglia, Assistant City Manager Christopher Gerry, Administrative Analyst – City Manager’s Office Caleb Blaschke, Management Assistant – City Manager’s Office Virginia Gennaro, City Attorney Richard Iger, Deputy City Attorney Katie Reed, Information Technology GIS Supervisor Dennis West, Bakersfield Police Department Lieutenant Tammy Davis, Bakersfield Animal Control Supervisor Lacey VonDohlen, Bakersfield Police Department Julie Johnson, Bakersfield Animal Care Center Kimberly Wilson, Bakersfield Animal Care Center Members of the Public: Liz Keogh Christi Nolan Minoo Seyedan 2. ADOPT JANUARY 8, 2016 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT The Report was adopted as submitted. 3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS None _________________________________________________________________ S:\Council Committees\2016\Legislative and Litigation\08_August\August 22 ASR.docx Page 2 ST:mc     4. DEFERRED BUSINESS A. Update Regarding Animal Control Activities and Efforts - Teglia Assistant City Manager Teglia provided a presentation updating the efforts of several Animal Control activities including the monthly licensing and vaccination clinics held at City parks and the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center (CBACC), the microchip program, the temporary tag program, the Spay and Neuter Voucher program, the offsite adoption events, canvassing and education of pet owners who utilize the dog parks, and the Target Zero program (a Community Cat Diversion Program). He also provided an overview of the activities happening at CBACC. Public Speaker, Liz Keogh a Kern County Animal Activist, complimented staff on their efforts and made several comments regarding the implementation of the various programs mentioned in Mr. Teglia’s presentation. Ms. Keogh also inquired about whom the public should file complaints to regarding animal control services and CBACC. She urged the Committee to revisit and discuss a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City and County to provide adequate services for all residents. She provided details of her experience with CBACC and its staff regarding the zeutering and adoption documentation of a dog. Bakersfield resident Minoo Seyedan asked about training CBACC staff receives, if any, prior to working at the facility. If so, is the training documented. Bakersfield resident Christi Nolan stated she would like to see a joint effort between the City and County to provided better services to all residents. She asked if there were any written policies or procedures for CBACC and if so, where can the information be found. She also asked when the City expects to launch its TNR program. Bakersfield resident Susan Madigan also complimented staff on their efforts and the progress she has seen at CBACC. She suggested the City create a Commission or an Advisory Board to oversee the management of the CBACC and review their public relations issues with CBACC. She too inquired about written policies and procedures for CBACC including performance evaluations of CBACC staff. City staff provided the following responses to several questions asked by members of the public: City Manager Tandy stated the city contracts with a large number of entities to operate several facilities including CBACC. Residents should be filing complaints regarding personnel directly to the Bakersfield SPCA as they are the entity operating the facility; operational issues should be directed to the City. Employees of the Bakersfield SPCA are not city employees; therefore the city has no responsibility over performance evaluations. Assistant City Manager Teglia stated discussions regarding a JPA took place during a time when the City and County were still working together which did not come to _________________________________________________________________ S:\Council Committees\2016\Legislative and Litigation\08_August\August 22 ASR.docx Page 3 ST:mc     fruition. The City and County have very different organizational structure; the City Council has standing committees overseen by three Council members and provides the general public an opportunity to address any items of concern directly with the governing body. Animals brought to CBACC by County residents are assessed and handled according to the animal’s wellbeing. All members of the public whether city or county residents who attend city clinics are provided with services and resources available. Mr. Teglia acknowledges that implementation of certain programs has been difficult but stated the city is reaching out and partnering with entities who have been successful with the implementation of such programs in an effort to expedite their launch at CBACC. Committee Chair Maxwell stated there has been great improvement with animal control and animal care services at CBACC but that there is much more to be accomplished; he added that any critique or feedback from the public is greatly appreciated so that improvements continue to occur. Committee member Parlier thanked staff for the presentation and agreed with the comments made by Committee chair Maxwell. He added that the use of the GIS mapping system is a great idea and will assist staff in directing specific services to areas that are in need of it. Committee member Parlier asked if there was a projection on the euthanasia rate decreasing. Assistant City Manager Teglia stated that the Target Zero program is steered toward mature cats; if a greater number of cats are released back into their originating communities, it will decrease the euthanasia rate. CBACC Director Johnson stated Target Zero has many components to its program; the goal is to implement those components and become a model shelter. Committee member Parlier requested that Target Zero provide additional information during a webinar presentation at a future meeting and that an organizational chart of CBACC be provided at an upcoming meeting as well. He stated that he preferred having the public have direct contact with three Council members at a Committee meeting to provide them with any issues they may have. He requested that all future items related to CBACC be directed to only one committee. Committee member Sullivan thanked staff for the update. She stated that there have been several improvements at CBACC and looks forward to seeing additional improvements in the future. Committee Chair Maxwell inquired about the feral cat intake at CBACC and how they are logged and tracked. Kimberly Wilson, Bakersfield Animal Care Center Veterinarian, stated that it is a rare occurrence that residents collect and bring in feral cats; the cats that are being brought to CBACC are referred to as community cats as there is not one owner who _________________________________________________________________ S:\Council Committees\2016\Legislative and Litigation\08_August\August 22 ASR.docx Page 4 ST:mc     provides for it but several and they live within the community. Of these cats, less than 2% are spay/neuter which leads to a large number of euthanasia. These cats present as large and heavy set cats when compared to feral cats. The most effective way of tracking cats that are trapped and neutered is to clip the ear; it’s an indication that the animal has been neutered and does not need to be re- trapped/recaptured. Committee Chair Maxwell stated that staff should expect a significant increase in the number of cats brought to CBACC in the first few days of launching and marketing the program if it becomes popular. 5. COMMITTEE COMMENTS Committee member Sullivan inquired about when the matter on Pumpkin will be heard; she expressed to have the issued resolved. City Attorney Gennaro stated that a report will be provided to the full City Council at one of the City Council meetings in September. 6. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m.