[00:00:05]
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING. THE TIME IS 2:06 P.M. ON JUNE 26TH, 2024.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU READ THE ROLL? >> CLERK: MAYOR, WE HAVE A QUORUM. WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE HAVE A BRIEF AGENDA TODAY, TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 17TH, 2024. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THOSE.
>> SO MOVED. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND APPROVAL FOR THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 17TH, 2024.
IN YOUR PACKETS, ANY DISCUSSION? CORRECTIONS? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.)
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM NUMBER TWO, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU READ THE
CAPTION? >> CLERK: ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST BY COUNCILMEMBER MARINA ALDARETE GAVITO DISB 7 ON THE COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY MEASURES FOR LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: GO AHEAD, DAVID, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST IN OUR AUDIENCE TODAY, SENATOR MENENDEZ, SO I'M GOING TO CALL HIM AFTER YOU MAKE THE PRESENTATION. AND THEN WE'LL GET ON WITH THE DISCUSSION.
>> MCCARY: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID MCCARY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER. THIS IS A BRIEFING IN RESPONSE TO COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO'S CCR REQUEST TO BRING FORWARD A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY MEASURE'S PLAN FOR LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS.
LET'S GET STARTED. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND TO START OFF WITH. SAN ANTONIO IS EXPERIENCING A HIGH NUMBER OF ROAMING AND STSTRAY ANIMALS. NOT ALL PET OWNERS ARE BEING RESPONSIBLE WHEN IT COMES TO THE CARE OF THEIR PET, SPECIFICALLY WHEN ALLOWING THEM TO ROAM FREE OF RESTRAINT. ONE THING I WANTED TO SHARE, TO BE CLEAR, IS THAT 85% OF ROAMING PETS ARE OWNED PETS.
SO WE ARE ALSO SEEING A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, AS WELL AS A DISREGARD OF THE LAW, AS A PRIMARY REASON FOR ROAMING PETS.
SPAY AND NEUTERING IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE OVERPOPULATION OF PETS.
THIS CCR REQUEST FOCUSES ON THREE DISTINCT OUTCOMES.
THE FIRST IS TO INCREASE FINES FOR REPEAT OWNERS OF ROAMING DOG VIOLATIONS. THE SECOND IS STERILIZATION OF OWNED PETS FOUND ROAMING AND FREE OF RESTRAINT. THE THIRD IS IMPLEMENT A PSEUDONYM PROGRAM TO PROTECT THE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE FILING DANGEROUS DOGS AFFIDAVIT. I ALWAYS GET TONGUE-TIED WITH THAT WORD.
NOW, CURRENTLY, PET OWNERS ARE ISSUED STERILIZATION AGREEMENTS IF THEIR ANIMAL IS FREE OF RESTRAINTS OR FOR A BITE CASE.
PET OWNER HAS 30 DAYS TO GET THEIR PETS ALTERED PER OUR CHAPTER 5 CODE.
ACS IS CHARGED WITH ISSUING NOT ONLY CIVIL -- CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CITATIONS TO PET OWNERS THAT DO NOT COMPLETE THEIR STERILIZATION AGREEMENT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE ACS ACTUALLY FUNDS OVER 40,000 FREE AND LOW-COST SPAY AND NEUTERING SURGERIES ON SITE AND THROUGH AGENCY PARTNERS. NOW, HISTORICALLY, ACS HAS NOT COMPLETED SURGERIES OF OWNED ANIMALS ON SITE TO DATE.
CURRENTLY, ACS DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY OR THE RESOURCES TO COMPLETE THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SURGERIES ON SITE TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FINES. IN OUR CHAPTER 5 CODE FOR THE FIRST OF OFFENSE OF THESE FINES IS $100.
YOU CAN SEE THE SECOND OFFENSE IS $200 AND THE THIRD OFFENSE IS $300.
NOW, THE CITY LAWS ON DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS ARE ACTUALLY TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM OUR TEXAS HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. OUR CHAPTER 5 CODE ALIGNS WITH THE STATE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE. ACS ACTUALLY RECEIVES AND
[00:05:06]
INVESTIGATES APPROXIMATELY 300 SWORN AFFIDAVITS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR DANGEROUS AND AGGRESSIVE DOGS ANNUALLY.SO LAST YEAR, ACS MADE AN EFFORT TO NOT ONLY PROVIDE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO THE PUBLIC, BUT HOW TO FILE FOR A DANGEROUS DOG AFFIDAVIT.
WE CREATED PAMPHLETS, WE ALSO CREATED A DANGEROUS DOG REGISTRY WITH PHOTOS AS WELL. WE'LL MOVE FORWARD, AND ALSO AT SOME POINT ADD THE AGGRESSIVE DOGS TO THAT LIST AND PROVIDE VIDEOS.
NOW, ALTHOUGH WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THIS IN PLACE, BUT THE PSEUDOANY MORE CAN BE USED BASED ON THE CURRENT STATE FORM THAT'S IN PLAY.
SO WE'LL BE EXPERIENCING THAT AND FOLLOWING UP. ONCE APPEALED TO AN APPELLATE COURT, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL TO KNOW THAT AT THAT POINT ONLY WILL THE ACTUAL NAME BE DISCLOSED AT THAT POINT.
I HAVE THIS VIDEO THAT I WOULD LOVE FOR Y'ALL TO SEE.
IT'S ONLY 30 SECONDS, BUT IT HELPS PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CCR.
GUARDIAN, YOU MUST KEEP YOUR PET SAFE AND SECURE, NOT ONLY IS IT THE LAW, BUT IT ALSO HELPS ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN FROM ANIMAL ATTACKS AND PROTECTS OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM HARM.
BE RESPONSIBLE AND SECURE YOUR PET TODAY. TO LEARN MORE VISIT SAACS.NET.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, AND STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THIS CCR GO TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR REVIEW. THIS CONCLUDES MY OVERVIEW AND BRIEFING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH, DAVID.
ERIK, I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT THAT HAD THE BEST CREATIVE. NOW I KNOW IT'S DAVID, BECAUSE DAVID WAS AT SOLID WASTE, NOW HE'S OVER AT ACS -- OR NOW HE'S OVER ABOVE THE DIVISION OFASM CS, AND THAT'S EXCELLENT CREATIVE.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THAT ON TV. SO WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST, STATE SENATOR MENENDEZ, SO SENATOR, YOUR FLOOR TO ADDRESS THE
COUNCIL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS. I WANT TO THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO FOR HER INVITATION TO BE HERE, AND FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE, INVITING ME TO COLLABORATE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING, I DON'T THINK I NEED TO REMIND EVERYBODY HERE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THE TRAGEDY THAT OCCURRED BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2023 WHERE AN 81-YEAR-OLD GENTLEMAN, AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND HIS 74 -- AND A 74-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND, MR. RAMON NAJIRA, HIS WIFE GENIE WERE VICIOUSLY ATTACKED BY TWO DOGS WHILE THEY WERE ENTERING THEIR VEHICLES. BOTH INDIVIDUALS WERE MAULED, A RELATIVE SUFFERED A BITE TO THE HAND AND A FIREFIGHTER SUFFERED A PUNCTURED LEG.
AS WE ALL KNOW MR. NAJIRA WAS KILLED, HIS WIFE WAS LEFT IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT A NEARBY HOSPITAL. FOR YEARS THE NEIGHBORS HAD FEARED THE DOG BUT WERE AFRAID TO REPORT IT OUT OF FEAR OF RETALIATION FROM THE DOG OWNER, WHO NOT ONLY WAS GANG AFFILIATED BUT HAD ALREADY THREATENED THEM IF ANYBODY REPORTED HIM OR HIS THREE DOGS. AND SO TE DUE TO THIS INCIDENT AND THE MANY SIMILAR THAT OCCURRED AFTER.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CAMPOS AND I WORKED TOGETHER TO PASS HOUSE BILL, DANGEROUS DOG WITHOUT THE NEED FOR A SWORN WITNESS STATEMENTS. IF A SWORN WITNESS STATEMENT WAS RECEIVED, THE ANIMAL AUTHORITY COULD USE THAT STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER PERTINENT DOCUMENTS TO DETERMINE THE GROUNDS EXISTING FOR DANGEROUS DOG DECLARATION. THIS WAS A BILL THAT WE HAD TO BRACKET SPECIFICALLY TO SAN ANTONIO BECAUSE OTHER CITIES FELT THAT THEY HAD THEIR ISSUE UNDER CONTROL. THIS BILL OUTLINED OFFENSES RELATED TO DANGEROUS DOGS CAUSING BODILY INJURY AND IT ADDED LANGUAGE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO THAIK THE REPORT FOR THE DANGEROUS DOG HAVE THEIR INFORMATION PROTECTED AND ONLY REPORTED FOR PURPOSES OF A SWORN STATEMENT, WITH THE PURPOSES OF PROTECTING OUR CONSTITUENTS. IT WAS A TEAM EAF RT TO, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, THE COUNCIL AND MANAGER WALSH'S TEAM WERE PART OF THE DAY-TO-DAY NEGOTIATIONS, ALONG WITH STATE
[00:10:01]
REPRESENTATIVE CAMPOS' TEAM. UNFORTUNATELY, GOVERNOR ABBOTT VETOED THIS BILL BEFORE CALLING US BACK TO SEVERAL SPECIAL SESSIONS AFTERWARDS. WHEN THE YEAR-LONG SPECIAL SESSIONS FINALLY ENDED AND WE CAME BACK TO SAN ANTONIO, I GOT A CALL FROM COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO AND SHE SAID, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DID, BECAUSE I'M STILL HAVING A PROBLEM, PARTICULAR WOODLAWN LAKE IN THAT AREA WHERE PEOPLE ARE WALKING, PACKS OF DOGS JUST LOOSE DOGS, DANGEROUS DOGS, THAT SORT OF THING. WAY PT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER SAYING, I HATE THE FACT THAT WE MAY HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT SESSION.COULD YOU CHECK WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CHECK WITH THE MANAGER'S OFFICE, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THE CITY COULD DO WITHOUT HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE STATE. AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL SHE'S BRINGING FORWARD, THE TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS OF NENGS, THE MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER OF ALL LOOSE DOGS AND THE PROTECTION FOR RESIDENTS WHO REPORT DANGEROUS DOGS. I THINK ALL OF THESES THINGS COMBINED WILL MAKE FOR A SAFER COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW IT'S NO SURPRISE TO MANY OF Y'ALL WHO HAVE KNOWN ME FOR A WHILE, BUT -- FAMILY, BLOCK WALKING ON THE WEST SIDE SINCE 1997.
AND WE'VE HAD PEOPLE GET BITTEN, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE CHASED, WE'VE HAD NEIGHBORS TELL US THEY CAN'T -- DON'T FEEL SAFE GOING FOR WALKS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE IN THE SEVENTH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION, A CITY RUN BY COMPETENT, INTELLIGENT, COMPASSIONATE LEADERS LIKE YOURSELF FS, SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THESE PROPOSALS. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY GOOD STEP FORWARD TO MAKING SURE THAT OUR NEIGHBORS FEEL SAFE AND IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD, AND I WANT TO THANK COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN NOT HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE STATE TO SEE IF, ONCE AGAIN, WE COULD PUSH FORWARD THE LEGISLATION, GET IT PASSED THROUGH TWO HOUSES, ONLY TO HAVE IT VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR.
SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THEIR WORK IN FINDING THE SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE SENSE. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR RUDE REMARKS, WHATEVER IS YOUR DISCRETION. MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION. YOU'RE IN SAN ANTONIO, NOT AUSTIN.
THANK YOU. >> YES, I'M AWARE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR COUNCIL DISSIGNIFICANCE, LET ME CALL UP COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO, WHO'S CCR WE'RE NOW HEARING.
>> GAVITO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I, AGAIN, WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENCE OF STATE SENATOR JOSE MENENDEZ, AND HE TALKED ABOUT OUR INTERACTION, AND I APPRECIATED -- VERY MUCH APPRECIATE HIS PARTNERSHIP AND HIS GUIDANCE IN THE CCR TODAY.
SO MY TOP PRIORITY IS PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND MY FOCUS IS BOLSTERING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFEMENT AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS IS LOOSE AND DANGEROUS DOGS.
SENATOR MENENDEZ TALKED ABOUT REY NAJERA. I COMMITTED TO HIM I WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO, BUT I KNEW WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING. AS STATE SENATOR SAID, THESE ATTACKS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTIBLE, AND AS A CITY, WE DO NEED TO GET WITH THE TIMES. WE NEED TO GET BETTER. AND SO WITH THOSE, WE DID DO THE POLICY PROPOSALS, WE TALKED ABOUT FIRST THE INCREASED FINES.
AS GOOD NEIGHBORS, WE CANNOT RISK LOOSE DOGS CAUSING HARM TO CHILDREN, PLAYING NEARBY OR OLDER ADULTS WITH NEIGHBORS. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE DID WORK VERY CLOSELY, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MUNICIPAL KOWMPTS, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND ACS FOR YAFTING THESE POLICIES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR Y'ALL'S HELP AND THOSE FINES.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE MANDATORY SPAY AND NEUTER, WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE, AND ALSO THE ANONYMOUS REPORTING SO WE CAN HELP PROTECT RESIDENTS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BRING THESE PROPOSALS TOGETHER. I'M ASKING FOR Y'ALL'S SUPPORT ON THIS, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE CHANGE IN OUR
CITY. THANKS SO MUCH. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ALDARETE GAVITO. ALL RIGHT.
START OUR COUNCIL DISCUSSION NOW, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR
ITEM NUMBER TWO. >> SO MOVED. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO.
WE'LL BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE?
>> COURAGE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ASK DAVID, CAN YOU GIVE US SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW MANY ANIMALS THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN BRINGING IN EVERY YEAR THAT ARE NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED? IS IT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE THAT'S BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT?
[00:15:03]
BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN FEATURES OF THIS, IS TO SPAY AND NEUTER MORE ANIMALS, SO... DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE DO USUALLY COME IN, SPAYEDAND NEUTERED AND WHAT PERCENTAGE DON'T. >> MCCARY: SO WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT AT LEAST 4800 OF THE ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT ARE ACTUALLY ROAMING THAT COME IN HAVE NOT BEEN SPAYED OR NEUTERED.
SO 4800 IS THE NUMBER OUT OF THE TOTAL THAT WE GET, BUT THAT'S THE ACTUAL NUMBER. THAT'S THE TARGET THAT WOULD BE, AS WE CREATE THIS PLAN, WILL COME BACK AND GIVE YOU MORE SPECIFICS.
>> COURAGE: OKAY. AND SO WE'D BE RELIEVING THE INDIVIDUAL OWNER OF DOING THIS THEMSELVES IF WE AS A CITY SAY WE ARE GOING TO SPAY AND NEUTER
ANY UNSPAYED OR NEUTERED ANIMAL THAT WE PICK UP? >> MCCARY: WHAT WE WOULD DO, AS WE THINK ABOUT THE PLAN, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE ONCE WE'VE PICKED UP THAT ANIMAL THAT'S EITHER BEEN ROAMING, FREE OF RESTRAINT. THAT WILL BE THE PROCESS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET
THE ANIMAL BACK. >> COURAGE: I'LL BE INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE LOOKS AT THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD
MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER COURAGE. COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA
GARCIA? >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. AND GREAT VIDEO, I LOVED IT, TOO. IT WAS JUST TO THE POINT, SO THANK YOU MR. MCCARY FOR THAT AND THE TEAM. I'LL ALSO START BY THANKING COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO FOR DRAFTING THE CCR AND ALSO TO SENATOR MENENDEZ FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL. WE HAVE A HIGH VOLUME OF CALLS IN DISTRICT FOUR WITH ROAMING, LOOSE, UNRESTRAINED, AGGRESSIVETOKINGS, SO I COMPLETELY AGREE WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING.
I HAVE JUST A FEW QUESTIONS, MR. MCCARY, FOR YOU.
UNDER THE CURRENT ACS POLICY FOR PET OWNERS WHO ARE ISSUED STERILIZATION AGREEMENTS IF THEIR ANIMAL IS FOUND TO BE FREE OF RESTRAINT AND BITE CASES. WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF COMPLIANCE FOR THOSE WHO
ARE ISSUED STERILIZATION AGREEMENTS? >> MCCARY: I WOULD SAY THAT PARTICIPATION IS LOW UP TO THIS POINT, COUNCILWOMAN.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THE RESOURCES TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON ALL STERILIZATION AGREEMENTS. WE'VE ISSUED THEM, BUT THE ACTUAL FOLLOW-THROUGH, I'D HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT PERCENTAGE. WE JUST -- THE RESOURCES HAVEN'T BEEN THERE.
>> GARCIA: SO THERE'S NO TRACKING SYSTEM FOR THAT?
>> MCCARY: THERE IS A TRACKING SYSTEM, I'LL JUST HAVE TO LET YOU
KNOW -- THE PERCENTAGE IS LOW. >> GARCIA: OKAY.
>> MCCARY: WHAT THAT ACTUAL PERCENTAGE IS, I OO ELHAVE TO CIRCLE BACK
TO YOU. >> GARCIA: BUT THERE'S NO MANDATORY NOTIFICATION BY
THE OWNER? >> MCCARY: YES, SO THERE IS A FOLLOW-UP WITHIN 30 DAYS THAT GOES BACK TO THAT OWNER TO GET THEM TO VALIDATE AND VERIFY THAT THEY HAVE HAD THEIR PE PET ALTERED. TO THIS POINT, THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. NOW, WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE 30 DAYS TO GET THAT DONE. WHEN THEY DON'T GET IT DONE, THEN WE AUTOMATICALLY MAKE THE COURT SYSTEM AWARE, THEN THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE BROUGHT IN FOR THE CITATION.
RIGHT NOW, THE FIRST ONE IS CIVIL, THE SECOND ONE IS CIVIL, AND THEN IT'S CRIMINAL BY THE THIRD, WHICH IS NORMALLY LIKE 90 DAYS OUT.
>> GARCIA: OKAY. >> MCCARY: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FAST-FORWARD THE CRIMINAL PART WHERE WITHIN THE FIRST 30 DAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A
CRIMINAL CITATION TO BRING THAT FULL CIRCLE. >> WALSH: I THINK, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT -- THAT QUICK EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS IS WROUGHT WITH INEFFICIENCIES AND NEEDS TO BE -- WE HAVE PROBABLY OVER YEARS GOTTEN TO TODAY'S PROCESS BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE, NOBODY WANTED TO SPAY/NEUTER DOGS. WE MOVED FROM CRIMINAL CITATIONS TO CIVIL CITATIONS. WE HAVE STAFFING ISSUES.
I MEAN, IT'S BEEN A COMBINATION, AND I THINK THE POINT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE COUNCILWOMAN HAD IN ADVANCE OF THE ACTUAL DRAFTING OF THE CCR, WAS WE SHOULD BE DOING BETTER.
>> GARCIA: YEAH. >> WALSH: SO I THINK THE CONVERSATION AT PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE NOT JUST HOW WE MAKE SMALL SHIFTS, BUT HOW WE REPRIORITIZE THE ANIMALS WE SPAY/NEUTER, WHETHER OR NOT WE TAKE THE -- I'LL CALL IT DISCRETION, IT'S NOT REALLY DISCRETION, WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY AWAY FROM THE OWNER.
MAYBE -- AND I'M NOT -- I KNOW THE WORK HAS GOT TO BE DONE BY THE STAFF AND A LOT OF DEBATE AT PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT THE DOG THAT'S BEEN PICKED UP BY
[00:20:05]
THE ACO3 TIMES IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN THE DOG THAT'S BEEN PICKED UP ONCE. AND SO SHOULD WE BE TREATING THEM DIFFERENTLY? I THINK WE NEED TO BREAK IT AND I THINK WE NEED TOPUT IT BACK TOGETHER. >> GARCIA: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT. UNDER THE CHAPTER 5 CODE, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF FINES GO UNPAID, DO WE HAVE THAT? AND IS THERE ANY CONSEQUENCES FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T PAY THEIR
FINES? >> MCCARY: SINCE OUR MUNICIPAL COURT ATTORNEYS ARE HERE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD.
>> GARCIA: YEAH, AND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PERCENTAGE TODAY, IT'S
OKAY. >> YEAH, WE'D HAVE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FOR
YOU. >> GARCIA: NO PROBLEM. AND THEN I KNOW THAT WE FUND -- ACS FUNDS OVER T40,000, WE SAW THAT TODAY ON THE SLIDE OF FREE OR LOW-COST NEUTER SURGERIES, CAN YOU BREAK DOWN THE AMOUNT OF THOSE
THAT ARE ACTUALLY FREE? >> MCCARY: SO THOSE THAT ARE FREE ARE AT LEAST
13,000. >> GARCIA: OKAY. >> MCCARY: -- ARE FREE.
13 OF THE 40,000 ARE ACTUALLY FREE. >> GARCIA: GOT IT.
AND REMIND ME, WHICH FUNDS IN PARTICULAR ARE USED FOR THE FREE
SURGERIES? >> MCCARY: SO IT'S THE SAME FUND AS ALSO THE REDUCED PART OF IT, SO IT'S ALL ONE FUND. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS THOSE THAT AREN'T IN THAT HIGH EQUITY SCORE AREA, THOSE THAT ARE IN CERTAIN ZIP CODES, WE AT LEAST ALLOW REDUCTIONS FOR THEM, SO WITH THOSE REDUCTIONS, THEY CAN STILL GET THEIR PET, YOU KNOW, SPAYED OR NEUTERED,
BUT FOR A SMALL FRACTION OF THE COST. >> GARCIA: WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU. AND I'M SUPPORTIVE, OBVIOUSLY, OF THE INCREASES OF FINES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IF YOU ALL COULD STUDY OR CONSIDER MAYBE A PROGRAM FOR FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS FOR RESPONSIBLE PET COURSE, SO THEY CAN KIND OF LEARN A LITTLE BIT. AND A LOT OF THE RESPECTS THAT I REPRESENT, IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ELDERLY PERSON THAT LEFT THEIR GATE OPEN, THEY FORGOT. MY DAD KEEPS FOR GETTING TO CLOSE THE GATE HIMSELF, RIGHT? SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, LIKE A PET COURSE, RESPONSIBLE PET COURSE, OR MAYBE SERVICE HOURS AT ACS, IF THERE'S ANY EVENTS OR WITH OUR
PARTNER AGENCIES. >> MCCARY: YEAH. I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THOUGHT THAT WE'LL EXPLORE. WE DO HAVE SOME PETS THAT ARE SO CLEVER THAT THEY ACTUALLY GET OUT BY JUMPING THE FENCE, AND WHEN THEIR OWNER COMES HOME, THEY JUMP BACK IN THE FENCE BECAUSE THEY
ACTUALLY KNOW THAT -- >> GARCIA: SOUNDS LIKE KIDS.
>> MCCARY: THEIR OWNER'S NOT THERE, SO WHEN THEY'RE CAUGHT, THEY KIND OF HAVE CHILDREN-DISPLAY TENDENCIES IN A GOOD WAY, YOU KNOW, BUT THEY'RE VERY CLEVER. THEY REALLY ARE, SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE'LL
HAVE TO CONSIDER FIRST-TIMERS. >> GARCIA: WELL, I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. MCCARY, AND TO ALL THE ACS TEAM. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER ROCHA GARCIA.
COUNCILMEMBER PELAEZ? >> PELAEZ: THANK YOU. IT'S -- IT'S NO SMALL THING. IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY BIG DEAL THAT WE HAVE A SENATOR VISITING US, AND THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS.
AND IT REQUIRES US TO PULL FROM EVERY LEVER, NOT JUST MUNICIPAL, BUT OBVIOUSLY STATE, AND IT'S A GOOD THING THAT WE'VE GOT YOU AS A PARTNER, JOSE. COUNCILWOMAN ALDARETE GAVITO, THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING, YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT UNEQUIVOCABLE SUPPORT, AND I REALLY HOPE THIS WORKS. I THINK, HOWEVER, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROOT CAUSES FOR THESE PROBLEMS, RIGHT? IT'S -- I DON'T THINK THE ROOT CAUSE IS -- THERE'S JUST PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO AREN'T AFRAID OF CONSEQUENCES, AND SO THEY JUST LET THEIR DOGS LOOSE. THAT'S NOT THE ROOT CAUSE, RIGHT? I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THESE HAPPENED, WHERE THE DOGS CHASE SENATORS WHEN THEY'RE BLOCK WALKING, WHERE YOU SEE A LOT OF STRAYS, WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 8 AND IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 9. IT'S JUST NOT. AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT, RIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S NO -- NOBODY IN THIS ROOM WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT THERE IS A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP, A STRAIGHT LINE YOU CAN DRAW, FROM POVERTY TO PROBLEMSWITH PET OWNERSHIP.
AND I'M NOT MAKING -- YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENS TO OWNERS, HAPPENS TO THEIR PETS, RIGHT, AND POVERTY IS A -- IS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN TO FAMILIES. AND I WAS JUST LOOKING RIGHT NOW, THE HUMANE SOCIETY IN THE HARRIS POLE THIS YEAR PUBLISHED A POLE THAT SAID 43% OF ALL PET OWNERS INDICATE THAT THEY'VE BEEN UNABLE TO PAY FOR THEIR PETS NEEDS AT SOME POINT BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS, RIGHT? AND THAT 20 MILLION PETS IN THE U.S. EXPERIENCE POVERTY WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND 70% HAVE NEVER SEEN A VETERINARIAN.
THEY DIG A LITTLE DEEPER AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE STUDIED THAT FOR FAMILIES
[00:25:01]
WITH PETS, FOOD, SHELTER AND MEDICAL CHALLENGES, THOSE CHALLENGES ARE TRANSFERRED ONTO ANIMALS. SOMETIMES REQUIRING VERY PAINFUL DECISIONS, INCLUDING ABANDONING THEIR ANIMALS, RIGHT? AND WE -- WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY AND PET SURRENDER, RIGHT? ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY AND PET NEGLECT, AND INSURING THAT WE SOLVE FOR PET NEGLECT, WHICH IS -- WHICH IS THE STRAY PROBLEM, RIGHT? PEOPLE LETTING THEIR DOGS OUT.YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN A VACUUM.
AND ITS -- IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE OF US TO NOT ADDRESS WHY IT'S HAPPENING, RIGHT? SO PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD DOG FOOD, PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD VETERINARY CARE, PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD, YOU KNOW, EVEN TO ACCESS SOME -- THE VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT WE PUMP OUT THERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY JUST SURVIVING, RIGHT? THEY'RE NOT BUSY OUT THERE BEING CURIOUS AND LEARNING NEW WAYS OF LOOKING AT PET OWNERSHIP. AND SO WE NEED TO -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR POVERTY PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ADDRESSING, YOU KNOW, OUR POVERTY PROGRAMS AROUND OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NETS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT ANIMALS AT EVERY ONE OF THOSE LEVELS.
MY MOM AT THE BATTERED WOMEN AND CHILDREN SHELTERED, WE LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, THAT WOMEN WILL SOMETIMES NOT SHOW UP TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO LEAVE THEIR DOGS AT HOME WITH THEIR ABUSER.
SO WE WENT AND WE TOLD THAT STORY TO P PETCO, AND PETCO BUILT US KENNELS AND THAT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. THE SAME STORY APPLIES TO HAVEN FOR HOPE. MANY PEOPLE WERE UNWILLING TO GO TO HAVEN FOR HOPE BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T TAKE THEIR ANIMALS WITH THEM.
SO NOW HAVEN FOR HOPE PROVIDES THOSE RESOURCES.
I DON'T -- I THINK WE WOULD BE MAKING A MISTAKE IF WE STOPPED HERE.
AND I GUESS THIS IS MY -- MY CHALLENGE TO YOU, COUNCILWOMAN, AND THAT IS I LOOK FORWARD TO A SECOND CCR. YOU'RE THE CHAMPIONS OF DOGS ON THIS COUNCIL. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO A SECOND CCR WHERE MAYBE WE TALK ABOUT LAYERING, YOU KNOW, THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ANIMALS IN ALL OF
OUR HUMAN SERVICES EFFORTS. >> MCCARY: COUNCILMAN,
CAN I WEIGH IN ON SOMETHING? >> PELAEZ: YEAH.
>> MCCARY: DON'T FORGET WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR ROAMING, UNRESTRAINED ANIMALS --
>> PELAEZ: YEAH. >> MCCARY: SOMETIMES WHEN OUR OFFICERS GO OUT AND THEY LOOK AT A FEW DOGS AND SAY "GO HOME," AND THEY GO RIGHT BACK TO THEIR FRONT PORCH OF THEIR HOME. AND THEN WE GIVE OUT THE CITATION THERE. BUT THE IDEA IS THAT THEY'RE OWNED PETS, WE JUST HAVE TO EDUCATE AND MAKE SURE THAT EDUCATION, WHATEVER PERIOD OF TIME, WHATEVER COMES OUT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT'S THAT BRIDGE OF EDUCATION TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT EVERYBODY IS FULLY AWARE THAT THE VOLUME'S BEING TURNED UP.
>> PELAEZ: I'M PICKING UP EVERYTHING YOU'RE LAYING DOWN, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH YOU AT ALL. I THINK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CULTURAL REALITY OF SAN ANTONIO, RIGHT? THERE IS A REASON THAT OUR SHELTERS ARE OVERFLOWING WITH PIT BREEDS, RIGHT, THE BULLY BREEDS. YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S A CULTURAL REALITY THAT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT GRAVITATE TOWARDS BUYING PIT BULLS AND ROTTWEILERS AND ALL THAT, RIGHT? THOSE DOGS BECOME VERY UNMANAGEABLE, VERY EXPENSIVE TO FEED AND MAINTAIN, AND THEN THEY START ROAMING THE STREETS.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, JOHN AND I -- WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU SAW PIT BULLS ROAMING SONTERRA, RIGHT? IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN. AND, AGAIN, WE NEED TO BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY TO PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ACS PROBLEM THAT IS GOING TO BE SOLVED BY ACS. THIS IS A SAN ANTONIO PROBLEM THAT IS GOING TO BE SOLVED BY HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE DEAL WITH ANIMALS AT OUR OWN HOMES, RIGHT, AND HOW WE VIEW ANIMALS. AND THAT IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA, RIGHT, TO GO OUT AND BUY A PIT BULL BECAUSE IT'S COOL, RIGHT? BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING COOL ABOUT A PIT BULL BEING EUTHANIZED WHEN NOBODY WILL ADOPT A PIT BULL, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HER BABIES AND THAT LITTER. SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME BRAVERY ON THE PART OF OUR STATE LEADERS, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING BUT BAIF VERRY ENCOURAGED HERE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT THE DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POVERTY AND ALSO JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE A MAJORITY LATINO CITY, WHERE WE'VE GOT A DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP WITH DOGS. NOW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU'RE POOR, YOU'RE LATINO OR WHATEVER, RIGHT, THAT YOU LOVE YOUR DOG LESS. I'VE YET TO MEET A PERSON
[00:30:01]
WHO DOESN'T LOVE THEIR PETS, RIGHT? PU WE HAVE TO HAVE A CULTURAL CONVERSATION. WE HAVE TO HAVE A POVERTY CONVERSATION.AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE ACS DO, RIGHT, NOT JUST CHASING PEOPLE AND GIVING TICKETS AND THEN -- BUT I THINK IF WE PUT OUR PEDAL TO THE METAL AND DO MORE EDUCATION OTHER THAN EVERYTHING ELSE, I THINK
WE'LL MOVE THE NEEDLE. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN.
>> PELAEZ: , COUNCILWOMAN CABELLO HAVRDA. >> HAVRDA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND THE SENATOR'S SUPPORT IN THIS. TO HEAR SENATE MENENDEZ BLOCK WALKING IN THE '90S -- BY THE WAY, IT WAS IN DISTRICT SIX AND STILL DEALING WITH THE ISSUE THIS MANY YEARS LATER.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU SAIDER LI ERIC, YOU AND THE COUNCILWOMAN -- R REALLY THE COUNCILWOMAN THAT WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.
AND KNOWING THE STATE LEADERSHIP HAS DONE THEIR BEST TO TAKE THIS UP, JUST REALLY KIND OF SHOWS HOW -- HOW MUCH HOR DIRE THE SITUATION HAS BECOME. SO I'M VERY THANKFUL TO ALL OF THE WORK IN THE ROOM TO GET US HERE. THERE'S NO QUESTION, OF COURSE, THAT STRAY AND ROAMING DOGS ARE A PROBLEM, AND I THANK YOU FOR DISTINGUISHING THE ROAMING DOGS PARTICULARLY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE LEARNED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS THAT MOST OF THE DOGS IN SAN ANTONIO ARE NOT, IN FACT, STRAY, THEY ARE OWNED.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO -- IN THE VIDEO, WHICH I ALSO APPRECIATED, YOU KNOW, WORDS MATTER, AND YOU USED THE WORD "PET GUARDIANSHIP," WHICH I THINK IS INTERESTING. BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- I THINK IN THE PAST WE'VE SEEN ANIMALS ASSORT OF, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW AS GUARDIAN OF THESE ANIMALS, IT PUTS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON OUR RESPONSIBILITY, NOT ONLY, OF COURSE, TO THAT -- TO THE ANIMAL, BUT TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE -- WE ARE THE GUARDIANS OF THAT ANIMAL. SO A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, I THINK REALLY AT THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS IS WHAT THE WORK THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR DID AT THE STATE.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE KIND OF TURNING POINT WAS THE PSEUDONYM, RIGHT, THAT WE CAN'T -- I THINK IT WAS KIND OF KICKED BACK, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SENATOR, BECAUSE OF THE -- NOT BEING ABLE TO BE ANONYMOUS, RIGHT? SO HERE, KNOWING THAT THE KEY IS THE PSEUDONYM IS SORT OF THE WORKAROUND AND HOW WE ARE ABLE TO DO THIS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS HOW I LOVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT. WE CAN KIND OF GET THOSE KIND OF NUANCES AND TURN THE TRUCK AROUND A LITTLE FASTER.
I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, TOO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE PET GUARDIANSHIP AND PEOPLE THAT OWN THEM, BUT I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, WATCHING THIS, THAT OUR ANIMALS , AND I'LL SAY SPECIFICALLY DOGS, THEY'RE VERY SWEET WITH US. WE THINK THEY'RE THE SWEETEST THINGS IN THE WORLD, BUT I REMEMBER ABOUT A YEAR AGO GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS SPECIFICALLY ON OLD HIGHWAY 90 ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING THE HOTELS AROUND THE AREA, AND THEY WOULD GO TO THE BUS STOP AND THERE WERE PACKS OF ARN MALS. SO YOUR LITTLE SWEET DOG CAN MATCH UP WITH A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DOGS, AND NOW THEY'RE PRETTY DANGEROUS, RIGHT? THEY CAN ALL BE REAL SWEET WITH THEIR OWNERS, BUT WHEN THEY JUMP THAT FENCE, THEY'RE NOW PRETTY DANGEROUS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO JUST KIND OF A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT REALLY IS ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW, TARGETING -- WE'VE FOCUSED, THIS COUNCIL, AT TARGETING FUNDING FOR ACS, AND SO WE CAN HELP SUPPORT ACS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SO ALL OF THESE INITIATIVES ARE NOT JUST WORDS ON A PAPER, RIGHT? THEY'RE IN ACTION, WE'RE ABLE TO ENFORCE.
I KNOW MUNICIPAL COURT HAS ORDERED DEFENDANTS TO TAKE PET OWNER COURSES, WHICH I THINK IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT. EDUCATION, SPAY AND NEUTER AND EDUCATION, I THINK, ARE THE KEYS TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM IN THE LONG RUN. BUT ALSO THEY -- THE MUNI COURT DID ACTUALLY GO TO ACS AND ASK THEM TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE COMMUNITY SERVICE THERE AND ACS DIDN'T HAVE CAPACITY AT THAT TIME. SO GOING BACK AS WE AS A COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT ACS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AND INCLUDING THE DOLLARS BEHIND IT. AND WE'RE IN BUDGET SEASON --
>> MCCARY: AND THAT WAS A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY? WE MISSED AN OPPORTUNITY
THEN. >> HAVRDA: YEAH,. >> MCCARY: OR MANDATED,
IT'S STILL MISSED OPPORTUNITY. >> HAVRDA: ABSOLUTELY.
THAT COULD HAVE BEEN JUST ONE OF THE WAYS THEY RESOLVE PET GUARDIAN, MAYBE THEIR SITUATION, BUT IN THE PROCESS, WE'RE TEACHING THEM ABOUT ALL
THAT. >> MCCARY: YES. >> HAVRDA: MAYBE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE. WE STILL HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT WELL AWARE IT NEEDS TO HAVE FUNDING.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE CAPACITY TO DO THAT. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS JUST TO
[00:35:01]
CLARIFY. ACTUALLY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- THERE IS A CITY ORDINANCE THAT YOUR DOGS HAVE TO BE MICROCHIPPED AS WELL, CORRECT?>> MCCARY: YES. THAT'S -- COMES ALONG WITH THE SPAY AND NEUTER
PART. JUST -- THERE IS A LAW. >> HAVRDA: YEAH.
>> YES, MA'AM, THERE IS. >> HAVRDA: IS IT A CITY ORDINANCE.
>> THERE'S A CITY ORDINANCE, ALL ANIMALS NEED TO BE MICROCHIPPED.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. SO I WONDER HOW WE CAN INVOLVE THAT IN THIS KOOFERCONVERSATION AS WELL. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CLEVER DOGS WHO JULYP THE FENCE AND COME BACK. IF THEY'RE OUT OR CAUGHT, I GUESS, PICKED U, THEN THE MICROCHIP WILL GO A LONG WAY.
BUT ALSO YOU CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO THE GUARDIAN AND SAY --
>> MCCARY: ACTUALLY, WE DO THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE OF
CAPACITY LIMITS BACK AT THE CAMPUS. >> HAVRDA: THAT'S GOOD.
THERE MAY BE SOME EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THERE AS WELL.
I'M SURE Y'ALL -- THE OFFICERS TAKE THE MOMENT TO TALK TO THE OWNER ABOUT IT, TO CHANGE MY LANGUAGE, THE GUARDIAN, BUT I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITY THERE AS WELL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLARIFYING THIS. THE ACS, WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IN THEIR CUSTODY, CAN
SPAY AND NEUTER; IS THAT CORRECT? >> MCCARY: THAT IS --
ANDY, YOU WANT TO -- >> SEGOVIA: YES, COUNCILWOMAN, THAT'S CORRECT. IN FACT, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO WITHOUT
THE OWNER'S PERMISSION. >> HAVRDA: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT MICROCHIPPING.
SO NOT MICROCHIPPING? GOT IT. GETTING BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING EA EARLIER, DOES ACS HAVE CAPACITY TO EXECUTE
THESE -- >> MCCARY: TODAY, WE DO NOT HAVE CAPACITY OR
RESOURCES. >> HAVRDA: OKAY. DULY NOTED.
OKAY. >> WALSH: BUT I THINK THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS TWOFOLD. ONE, CAPACITY THE WAY WE DO EVERYTHING NOW, NO.
THAT GOES TO THE OTHER ISSUE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE EARLIER, I THINK PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN WITH PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHAT DO -- HOW DO WE SHIFT AROUND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE FUNDING 40,000 FREE AND LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> HAVRDA: UH-HUH. >> WALSH: AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT TO DO, BECAUSE WE HAVE OWNERS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD, BUT HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE BRIDGE THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE OUR PROCESSES TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT? SO IT'S NOT JUST -- IT'S JUST NOT AN ANSWER -- IF WE WERE GOING TO KEEP DOING EVERYTHING WE KEEP DOING, THE ANSWER'S NO.
>> HAVRDA: OKAY. >> WALSH: BUT I THINK IT'S ABOUT DOING SOMETHING BETTER AND MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TACKLE WITH THE PUBLIC
SAFETY COMMITTEE. >> HAVRDA: AGREED. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS PROPOSAL IS, IT'S GETTING CREATIVE AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE DOWN THAT VEIN. SO ON THAT, AGAIN, I THANK THE COUNCILWOMAN FOR THIS PROPOSAL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SUPPORTING IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MCCARY: THANK YOU. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CABELLO HAVRDA. SO THIS IS NOT A NUISANCE ISSUE, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, AND I THINK ONE THAT IS FAR TOO URGENT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE MAULED AND KILLED IN OUR OWN STREETS.
SO THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. THANK YOU TO THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR FINDING A CREATIVE PATH THAT WE COULD EXECUTE THIS. ERIK, I WAS A LITTLE STRUCK ON THE LAST PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT RESOURCES. YOU KNOW, IN MY VIEW, IF WE'RE NOT HITTING THE TARGETS ON SPAY AND NEUTER WITH THE FOLKS THAT WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH, THOSE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS I'M FAR LESS CONCERNED ABOUT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS THAT ARE BRINGING THEIR PPETS VOLUNTARILY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT ISSUES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THIS IS PROBABLY FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. I THINK THE FIRST DOLLARS INTO OUR SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM NEED TO GO TO THIS, THAT ANY -- ANY STRAY ANIMAL THAT'S PICKED UP WITHOUT AN OWNER OR WITHOUT AN OWNER WHO'S OBVIOUSLY RESTRAINING THEIR ANIMAL, THOSE NEED TO BE THE FIRST ONES THAT WE TAKE CARE OF, BECAUSE THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY TO BE DANGEROUS
DOGS WREAKING HAVOC ON THE COMMUNITY. >> WALSH: AND EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WREAKING HAVOC ON THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GENERATING A WHOLE SLEW OF 3-1-1 CALLS AND FEEDBACK AT EACH ONE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS THAT YOU GUYS GO TO AND WE GO TO.
THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE CAUSING A LOT OF WORKLOAD.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS AS IT RELATES TO THE NEXT CONVERSATION AT PUBLIC SAFETY, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE TO OUR STAFF IN EMERGENCY ROOMS THE OF PRIORITIZING THOSE DOLLARS IN THE ACS AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET, OR MAYBE, ERIK, YOU'RE GETTING THAT DIRECTION
RIGHT NOW. >> WALSH: WELL, I THINK WE'RE GETTING THAT DIRECTION NOW, AND I THINK THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION AT PUBLIC SAFETY, SO IT'S -- >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: OKAY.
>> WALSH: I THINK PUBLIC SAFETY, THE COMMITTEE WEIGHING IN ON HOW WE PRIORITIZE, I THINK IT'S -- I THINK THAT -- I THINK WE'RE GETTING THAT
[00:40:01]
DIRECTION RIGHT NOW. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: YEAH. GREAT.
OKAY. SENATOR, DID YOU WANT TO OFFER ANYTHING?
>> JUST REAL QUICKLY. I HEARD A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT I THINK WERE VERY INTUITIVE AND DESERVE TO HAVE A RESPONSE THAT I THINK COULD BE HELPFUL. SOMETIMES WHEN WE PASS A LAW, AND, YOU KNOW, SESSION ENDS IN MAY AND IT DOESN'T -- SOMETIMES THERE'S AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT DEPENDING ON THE IMPACT AND THE ACTUAL VOTE. SOMETIMES THERE'S A SEPTEMBER 1ST EFFECT, AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S A LAW THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF CHANGES AND SOME SORT OF NOTIFICATION AND SOME ADOPTION PROCESS, WE WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST.
BECAUSE WHAT I HEARD WAS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE THE FIRST TIME -- MAYBE THEY DON'T SEE IT AS A HARM FOR THEIR DOG TO BE OUT IN THE YARD OR MAYBE THERE'S A -- THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, BUT WITH THAT GREAT CREATIVE THAT YOU HAVE, YOU COULD START VIDEOS THAT SAY, STARTING THIS DAY, IT'S NO LONGER LEGAL FOR YOUR DOG TO BE OUT. YOUR DOG WILL BE THIS.
YOU CAN SORT OF -- A WARNING C CAMPAIGN THAT COULD HELP ADOPT CHANGE BEHAVIORS EVEN BEFORE THEY GET CAUGHT AND THEY GET SOMETHING DONE.
AND THEN THERE ARE NO -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY TO DEFEND, I DIDN'T KNOW, WHEN YOU'VE HAD THIS CAMPAIGN, JUST FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH.
>> MAYOR NIRENBERG: SO I'M GOING TO NOMINATE SENATOR MENENDEZ TO JOIN
DAVID'S CREATIVE TEAM. >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO. >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: NO, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK ACS AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE FOR THIS WORK. I THINK EVERYONE HAS HEARD THE URGENCY OF IT, AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOVING THROUGH COUNCIL.
NOW, THERE IS A MOTION TO ACCEPT -- OR TO APPROVE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, SO THE NEXT STEP WILL BE THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE.
ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S AGREEMENT ON THAT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE
IN FAVOR SAY AYE. (AYES.) >> MAYOR NIRENBERG: ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANKS, EVERYBODY.
WITH THAT, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF OUR AGENDA TODAY, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 2:49 P.M. THANKS,
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.