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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2013.10.08 - 36757BILL DWYER Chairperson MIKE BOSNIC Vice Chairperson HELAINE ZACK Minority Vice Chairperson October 8, 2013 Chairperson Dwyer called the meeting of the Public Services Committee to order at 11:3 0 a.m., in Committee Room A, Commissioners’ Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT : Bill Dwyer, Mike Bosnic, Helaine Zack, Shelley Taub, Gary McGillivray COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Michael Spisz OTHERS PRESENT : FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Art Holdsworth, Director PUBLIC SERVICES Mark Newman, Director ANIMAL CONTROL Bob Gatt, Manager Joanie Toole, Administration Supervisor MICHIGAN PET FUND ALLIANCE Debbie Schutt, Chair Jeanne Towar, Secretary MICHIGAN STATE POLICE Michael Shaw, Public Information Officer OAKLAND PET ADVOCATES Carrie McGowan, Board Trustee Courtney Protz -Sanders OTHERS Chris Anderson BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Marcia Gershenson, Commissioner Julia Ruffin, Community Liaison Chris Ward , Analyst Jim VerPloeg, Administrative Director Tracy Stolzenfeld, Committee Coordinator PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES McGillivray moved approval of the minutes of September 24 , 2013 , as printed. Supported by Zack. Motion carried on a voice vote. PUBLIC COMMENT Commissioner Marcia Gershenson commented on the cooperation given by the parties involved working on the animal control issues. Regarding the suggestions that were given prior, she volunteered to provide the cats with brown bags for hiding and also to help lift the cat cages up. OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0470 Telephone (248) 858-0100 FAX (248) 858 -1572 PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Shelley Taub Michael Spisz Gary McGillivray PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 2 October 8, 2013 Courtney Protz-Sanders thanked the Committee and spoke about how th ings are going in the right direction. Debbie Schutt, Cha ir of Michigan Pet Fund Alliance, thanked all parties and Chris Ward for his work on the animal welfare issues. She expressed her appreciation for the partnership and ability to move forward . AGENDA The October 8 , 2013 agenda was amended to add Item 4, MR #13059 – Board of Commissioners – Adoption Policy Reform of the Oakland County Pet Adoption. Bosnic moved approval of the amended agenda. Supported by McGillivray. Motion carried unanimously on a v oice vote. AGENDA ITEMS 1. MR #13263 FACILITIES MANAGEMENT/FACILITIES PLANNING & ENGIN EERING – COURTHOUSE SOUTH ENTRANCE SECURITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT Facilities Management/Facilities Planning and Engineering is requesting a pproval of this resolution which authorizes the Courthouse South Entrance Security Enhancement Project. T he addition of a second work station is planned for processing the public through courthouse security and will be positioned to provide greater safety to the deputies on duty. The ballistic grade material for the work stations is scheduled to arrive by the end of the year; however, the project will start prior to the material arriving to minimize the waiting times to enter the courthouse . Bosnic moved to report to recommend approval of the attached sugge sted resolution. Supported by McGillivray . Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Spisz absent. 2. MR #13057 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – TRANSPARENCY POLICY FOR THE OAKLAND COUNTY PET ADOPTION CENTER AND ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER Draft amendments to Miscellaneous Resolutions #13057 and #13058 were distributed by Mr. Ward, along with MR #13059 . The resolution revisions are shown below. Zack moved to report to recommend approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Bosnic. Bosnic moved to amend the resolution as follows: MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #13057 BY: Commissioners Helaine Zack, District #18; Dave Woodward, District #19; Bill Dwyer, District, #14; Mike Bosnic, District #16; Shelley Goodman Taub, District #12; Phil Weipert, District #8; Michael Spisz, District #3; Marcia Gershenson, District #13; Gary McGillivray, District #20 IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – TRANSPARENCYTRANSPARANCY POLICY FOR THE OAKLAND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL AND PET ADOPTION CENTER To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 3 October 8, 2013 WHEREAS it is the goal of the Oakland Pet Adoption Center and the policy of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to provide an open admission no kill shelter for the homeless cats and dogs in Oakland County and as a service to Oakland County residents; and WHEREAS the policy of Oakland County is to provide full accountability and transparency in all aspects of sheltering; and WHEREAS annual reports are mandated and are currently provided by the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, voluntary monthlyhowever more frequent reports can assistto keep the public and decision makers in the measurement and development in policies created locallyinformed; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center has adopted policies to actively pursue treatment and rehabilitation for appropriate animals by offering these animals to non-profits that have medical/treatment facilities the County lacks, through transfers and adoptions at no cost, except licensing fees, and WHEREAS it is important to publicly demonstrate the progress made toward the no kill goal by statistics that indicate: • the reduction in shelter intake • the increase in the number of animals returned to owner, • the increase in the number of animals being adopted and • the reduction in euthanasia. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners requests that a regular monthly report accounting for both separate and combined numbersCommissioners, requests that the Oakland County Pet Adoption Center posts on the their home page by the 15th of each month the following information for the prior month, each previous month and year to date totals beginning January 1, 2013: • Total number of intake of cats and total number of dogs • Total number and rate of cats and dogs returned to owner • Total number and cats be posted on the Oakland County Animal Controlrate of cats and Pet Adoption Center’s website including, but not limited to:dogs adopted by animal rescue organizations • Starting Population • Return to Owner • Adopted • Transferred to other sheltersTotal number and/or rescues • Euthanized a. Healthy b. Treatable c. Untreatable/Unhealthy • Animals received within the month a. Owner Give Up b. Owner Request for Euthanasia c. Strays d. Contract • Ending Population • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in furtherance of transparency rate of cats and dogs adopted to the general public understanding the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center is requested to utilize standard terminology and definitions used in shelter management when available and appropriate. • Total number and rate of cats and dogs euthanized. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to Oakland County Executive, the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center.,. Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. DAVE WOODWARD, HELAINE ZACK, NANCY QUARLES, MARCIA GERSHENSON, JANET JACKSON, GARY MCGILLIVRAY, MATTIE HATCHETT PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 4 October 8, 2013 Supported by Taub Motion to amend carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Spisz absent. 3. MR #13058 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY PET ADOPTION CENTER AS A “NO KILL” ANIMAL SHELTER The resolution revisions are sh own below. Zack moved to report to recommend approval of the attached sugg ested resolution. Supported by Taub. Bosnic moved to report to amend the resolution as follows: MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 13058 BY: Commissioners Helaine Zack, District #18, Marcia Gershenson, District #13; Dave Woodward, District #19; Mike Bosnic, District #16; Shelley Goodman Taub, District #12; Bill Dwyer, District #14; Gary McGillivray, District #20. IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – ADOPTIONSUPPORT OF POLICIES AND REFORMS AT THE OAKLAND COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL AND PET ADOPTION CENTER AS A “NO KILL” ANIMAL SHELTER To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen: WHEREAS the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center provides care and temporary homes for thousands of animals every year, enriching the lives of our people and their families; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners is invested by law with the authority to “establish policies to be followed by the governm ent of the county in the conduct of its affairs..”; and WHEREAS in open dialogue with citizens, experts and managers of the center, members of the Public Services Committee of the Board of Commissioners have identified areas where increased support would be beneficial to the efforts of staff to fulfill their mission of finding homes for adoptable, treatable animals; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners support efforts to fulfill a mission at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adop tion Center of maintaining an open admissions shelter and to find a home for every adoptable, treatable animal possible; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners further supports efforts to aggressively pursue transfers to other facilities fo r animals that cannot find homes or care within County facilities; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners further supports efforts to maximize the use of volunteers, recruitment of foster families and encourage the non - profit community to provide for additional capacity so no animal is sacrificed due to PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 5 October 8, 2013 space concerns; and WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners understands the need for fully trained veterinary staff to treat and evaluate each animal is critical to the well -being of animals entrusted to the shelter’s care; and WHEREAS many models of success exist for the improvement of operations of shelters and Oakland County should be open to explore the best ideas from each of them to implement policies that work best locally; and WHEREAS there is a revolution – paradigm shift - occurring in the sheltering of homeless cats and dogs across the United States and in Michigan; and WHEREAS this revolution is referred to as “no kill” where the euthanasia of cats and dogs is solely reserved for the true meaning of the word, “an act of mercy” for those too ill or vicious to be rehabilitated and all healthy and treatable dogs and cats live and are rehomed; and WHEREAS there is a proven set of programs used to achieve a “no kill” status for an open admission shelter called the No Kill Equation and shelters following this formula achieve a live release rate of 90% or better of their intake of cats and dogs; and WHEREAS the No Kill Equation is based upon best practices and a problem solving proactive approach using the result of research and studies which are dispelling many long -held animal welfare beliefs such as overpopulation, predictability of behavior by breed, rehabilitatable conditions and the influence of the shelter environment on medical and behavior responses; and WHEREAS ten of Michigan’s 83 counties are following the No Kill Equation and saving 90% or more of the cats and dogs in their care; and WHEREAS a study undertaken by the No Kill Advocacy Center in 2010 found no correla tion between shelter expenditures and the ability to save lives, demonstrating that success in saving lives is not a matter of dollars and cents but instead a matter of creative and innovative management; and WHEREAS the AP Petside Poll taken in October 2011 found that 71% of Americans expect shelters to save all healthy and treatable cats and dogs in their care and reserve euthanasia for only those too ill or of danger to the community; and WHEREAS Oakland County Pet Advocates have provided public comment at Board of Commissioners’ meetings in excess of six months, demanding that the Oakland Pet Adoption Center achieve the no kill status sooner rather than later; and WHEREAS Oakland County residents expect an effective and efficient use of their tax dollar s which aligns with the problem solving approach of no kill; and WHEREAS the Oakland Pet Adoption Center has publically set as its goal to become a no kill shelter; and WHEREAS the Oakland Pet Adoption Center has demonstrated their successful ability to im prove performance by: 1. reducing shelter intake through proactive low cost spay/neuter programs for low income residents and Trap, Neuter and Return programs for free roaming cats and insuring all adopted animals are spayed/neutered prior to adoption; and 2. increasing adoptions through social media marketing, off-site adoption events, satellite locations and collaboration with rescue organizations; and 3. implementing medical protocols including efforts to physically separate dogs and cats; and leveraging community support through the use of volunteers. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners affirms its commitment to maintainsupports the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center as an open admissions shelter. in their goal to achieve a no kill status and declares it to be the policy of Oakland County government to be a no kill county. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners asks that the following policies and steps be undertaken at establishes that on or before January 2015 the PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 6 October 8, 2013 Oakland Pet Adoption Center should achieve no kill status, saving 90% or better of the shelter intake and rehoming all healthy and treatable cats and dogs. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/R egister of Deeds is requested to forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Oakland County Animal Control and Executive, the Oakland County Pet Adoption Center in the spirit of finding homes for as many animals as possible:, the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance and the No Kill Advocacy Center. 1. The maintenance of an active adoption policy that utilizes numerous programs to increase adoption and transfer rates of animals to other animal welfare organizations. Such a program should include adequate staffing t o ensure that animals in the shelter can be tracked and their status can be communicated to these organizations. This program should also include special adoption promotions, offering adoption events during off hours for working people and in different regions of the county. 2. Maintain a strong public relations and volunteer recruitment/coordination program. Through the expansion of these efforts the shelter will find a resource of assistance in areas of special need such as training foster families. With adequate staffing and enthusiasm, the shelter may find new partners and opportunities. 3. Adequate veterinary staffing is a concern that has been expressed both within the department and from concerned citizens. The staff is encouraged to participate in specialized training in animal shelter medicine. 4. The Department should pursue additional low cost or free spay/neuter programs. The Department should also consider offering these services on an occasional basis in areas of the county with the greatest economi c challenges. In the pursuit of these goals, the Department shall have the support of the Board of Commissioners if additional funding or staffing is necessary. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following policy is adopted for animals at the Oakland County Animal Control and Pet Adoption Center: No dog or cat that is determined to be either healthy or treatable by the shelter veterinarian and/or staff shall be euthanized by the shelter until the dog or cat is offered on a public listing accessible on the internet by all 501(c)(3) animal rescue organizations registered with Oakland County. Animals who for time reasons are at risk of being re -designated as unadoptable/untreatable shall be listed as such no later than ten (10) days prior to that date. All cats and dogs adopted (transferred) in partnership to rescue organizations under this policy shall have all fees waived, with the exception of licensing fees, and the animal will be spayed/neutered prior to transfer (unless medical conditions dictate other wise in which case the rescue can return at a future date for the spay/neuter procedure). No animals determined healthy or treatable shall be euthanized until such time as the shelter has reached or is in danger of reaching capacity. The shelter shall PUBLIC SERVICES COMMITTEE Page 7 October 8, 2013 aggressively pursue partnerships to provide overflow capacity in such situations. Chairperson, we move the adoption of the foregoing resolution. HELAINE ZACK, DAVE WOODWARD, MARCIA GERSHENSON, HELAINE ZACK, MATTIE HATCHETT, JANET JACKSON, NANCY QUARLES, GARY MCGILLIVRAY Supported by McGillivray. Motion to amend carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Spisz absent. 4. MR #13059 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – ADOPTION POLICY REFORM OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY PET ADOPTION CENTER Commissioner Zack explained the public health aspects of feral cats and that is the reason the resolution will be referred to the General Government Committee. Continued work regarding health issues should be done and then brought back to Public Services Committee. Commissioner Taub mentioned three parasites , including toxoplasmosis, carried by cats that are being studied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Zack moved to directly refer the attached suggested resolution to the General Government Committee for review of public health implications and to be returned back to Public Services with their findings. Supported by Bosnic. Motion to refer carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Spisz absent. COMMUNICATIONS A. Department of Public Services – Veterans’ Services Division Annual Report FY 2012 McGillivray moved to receive and file the communications. Supported by Taub. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meet ing was adjourned at 11:52 p.m. _____________________________________ ___________________________________ Tracy Stolzenfeld Jim VerPloeg Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee appr oval.