Jul 27, 2023 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION

[00:00:19]

SO NOW CALL THIS MEETING, UH, THIS EXCUSE THIS WORK SESSION ON THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL ORDER THIS THURSDAY, JULY 27TH,

[ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2023 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]

UH, WE

[1. CITIZEN COMMENTS Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, prohibits the City Council from discussing, deliberating, or considering, subjects for which public notice has not been given on the agenda. Issues that cannot be referred to the administration for action may be placed on the agenda of a future City Council Session.]

I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S ANYBODY THAT SIGNS UP FOR THIS IS WORK SESSION.

OKAY.

THAT'S FOR THE WORK ALL.

SO I HAVE TWO, UH, CITIZENS THAT DID SIGN UP.

UH, FIRST WE HAVE SOPHIA LEY.

HI, I'M ACTUALLY WENDY FRENCH, THE SECOND PERSON ON THE LIST.

OKAY.

UM, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE ON, ON THE SAME TOPIC.

YES.

OKAY.

AND I BELIEVE YOU CAN, THAT THE OTHER PERSON COULD YIELD THEIR MINUTE TO YOU.

SHE WANTS TO GO NEXT, IF THAT'S OKAY.

OKAY.

JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL KNOW.

OKAY.

SO YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE.

SHE HAS ONE MINUTE.

OKAY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

THANK YOU.

UH, HI THERE.

UH, MY NAME IS WENDY FRENCH.

I'M WITH, UH, BEST FRIEND'S ANIMAL SOCIETY OUT OF OUR HOUSTON OFFICE.

UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BAYTOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, TRYING TO GET, UH, A COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM.

UH, HISTORICALLY THE TERMINOLOGY FOR A CCP COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM HAS NOTATED THAT THE BEHAVIOR IS WHAT QUALIFIES AN ANIMAL TO BE A COMMUNITY CAT, WHEN ACTUALLY THE DEFINITION OF A COMMUNITY CAT IS AN OUTDOOR FREE ROAMING CAT WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN OWNER.

THAT INCLUDES FRIENDLIES, FERALS, UM, AND UNSOCIALIZED STRAY AND HEALTHY CATS.

SO THE BAYTOWN CITIZENS DO WANT THIS TYPE OF PROGRAMMING, AND WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TO PLACE THE ORDINANCE ON THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA.

OKAY.

THANK YOU MS. FRENCH.

THANK YOU.

SO NEXT WE HAVE SOPHIA LEY.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND STATING YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD, JUST ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS SOPHIA, ER, I'M WITH BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY.

MY ADDRESS IS 9 0 1 PINE MO DRIVE, HOUSTON, TEXAS 7 7 0 0 7.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE THE LATEST UPDATE ABOUT HOUSE BILL 36 60.

THAT WAS A HOUSE BILL THAT HAS NOW CODIFIED INTO LAW TRAP NEUTER, VACCINATE RELEASE AS A LEGAL AND HUMANE METHOD OF CONTROLLING OUTDOOR CAT POPULATIONS.

IT WAS JUST PASSED IN THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE THIS PAST JUNE.

IT HAS REALLY, UH, EXCITED QUITE A FEW COMMUNITIES IN TEXAS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAMMING AND GET THAT STARTED OR EXPAND UPON TO REDUCE NUISANCE BEHAVIORS, TO REDUCE OUTDOOR CAT POPULATIONS AND REDUCE UNNECESSARY EUTHANASIA IN THE SHELTER.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL GO AHEAD AND PUT THE ORDINANCE CHANGE ON NEXT, UH, CITY COUNCIL'S AGENDA, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT DID SIGN UP TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT, WE MOVE ON TO OUR DISCUSSION

[a. Discuss and consider revisions to Chapter 14 "Animals" of the City of Baytown Code of Ordinances. ]

SO, MR. GRAY, YOU WILL KICK THIS OFF.

YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

GOOD EVENING OR AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

UH, SO THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL BE REVIEWING PROPOSED REVISIONS TO, TO THE ANIMALS, UH, ORDINANCE, WHICH IS FOUND IN CHAPTER 14.

UH, THE PRESENTATION WILL COVER THE PROPOSED REVISIONS AND WE WILL RECEIVE YOUR COMMENTS AND DIRECTION, WHICH WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT FOR A THOROUGH 30 DAY REVIEW.

AND THEN WE'LL BRING ALL OF IT BACK IN SEPTEMBER FOR COUNCIL APPROVAL.

SO THE PURPOSE, UM, OF THIS PARTICULAR ITEM IS REALLY, IT WAS A PROACTIVE ORDINANCE REVIEW TO ADDRESS CURRENT OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND ALSO A POTENTIAL FUTURE PLANNING FOR A COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAM.

SO HERE'S THE TIMELINE.

WHEN WE BEGAN THE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMITTEE, UH, YOU CAN SEE IN APRIL WE HAD A MEETING INTRODUCED, UM, PROPOSED AVIS PROPOSED REVISIONS TO ADDRESS OPERATIONAL NEEDS THAT WE'VE KIND OF ENCOUNTERED AND DISCOVERED, UM, IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'VE MOVED INTO THE SHELTER, UH, WE ALSO INCLUDED A FUTURE, UH, COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM IN THAT SAME MONTH.

SO THEN THE FOLLOWING MONTH IN MAY, WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING THAT WAS FACILITATED OPEN DISCUSSION, UM, ON THE PROPOSED REVISIONS.

WE HAD IT, WE ACTUALLY HAD IT AT THE LIBRARY, AND IT WAS HOSTED AND FACILITATED BY OUR LIBRARIAN, JAMIE.

SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING

[00:05:01]

AND THEN JUST LAST WEEK, UH, THE COMMITTEE MET TO APPROVE THE REVISIONS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS.

UM, AND SO AT THAT TIME LAST THURSDAY, UH, THERE WERE, UH, THE COMMITTEE, THERE WERE FOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT THE MEETING AND, UM, IN ATTENDANCE.

AND THEY VOTED TO APPROVE ALL THE PROPOSED REVISIONS YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT OR THIS AFTERNOON EXCEPT ONE, UH, FOR THE EXCEPTION, THEY WERE NOT ALL IN AN AGREEMENT.

UH, WHICH WE WILL COVER THAT PARTICULAR, UH, ORDINANCE REVISION IN THE THIRD PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO THE INTENTION AND GOAL, UH, OF THIS PRESENTATION REALLY IN IS IT'S IN THREE PARTS.

UM, THE MINOR CHANGES IN THE ORDINANCE LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS THE OPERATIONAL, UM, CHALLENGES AS I'D LIKE TO CALL 'EM A LITTLE BIT OF CLEANUP.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THE ITEM WILL BE LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN FEES.

SO THE FIRST TWO ITEMS ARE JUST DEALING WITH THE OPERATIONAL ISSUES.

IT'S NOT PART OF THE COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAM.

THAT WILL BE IN THE THIRD PART.

AND WE'LL ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO THAT.

I WILL SAY BEFORE I BEGIN THAT, AFTER EACH OF THE PARTS THAT WE DISCUSS, THERE'LL BE AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO PROVIDE COMMENTS, SEEK CLARIFICATION, AND PROVIDE DIRECTION.

SO THE FIRST ONE WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IS THE DEFINITIONS AND LANGUAGE OF THE, SOME OF THE ORDINANCE CHALLENGES.

UM, I DID PLACE THE RED LINE VERSION AT YOUR PLACE SO YOU CAN KIND OF FOLLOW ALONG.

I WAS GONNA TAKE KIND OF A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW, BUT I'M HAPPY TO, UM, GO DEEPER IF NEEDED.

UM, SOME OF 'EM DON'T REFLECT THE RECENT LEGISLATIVE, UH, UPDATES, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES THERE.

SOME ARE NOT OPERATIONALLY, UH, CONSISTENT.

THEY'RE INCONSISTENT.

AND THERE'S ONE, OR POSSIBLY TWO.

THERE'S TWO THAT DO NOT ADDRESS A LEGAL CONCERN.

SO WE'RE GONNA COVER THOSE.

AND SO YOU SEE HERE ON THIS FIRST ONE, IT'S AN ABANDONED ANIMAL, UH, AND STAFF FEELS LIKE WE CURRENTLY HAVE LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS THAT IN A SECTION 14 FOUR, WHICH IS, UH, UH, A CARE, UM, A CARE SECTION THAT WE HAVE IN THE ORDINANCE.

AND THEN, UM, WHAT WE'RE DOING REALLY IS TRYING TO BE MORE CLEAR AND PUT SPECIFICS IN PLACE THAT THAT WOULD ADDRESS AN ABANDONED ANIMAL.

UM, AND SO THE SECOND ONE IS ACTUALLY, UM, CERTAIN OFFENSES THAT WE WOULD SEEK.

SOME, WE'RE SEEKING SOME CLARIFICATION FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON THIS.

WE HAVE MULTIPLE SECTIONS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT USE PERSON AND OWNER INTERCHANGEABLY.

UM, SO THERE'S A DEFINITION FOR OWNER THAT INCLUDES PERSON.

SO IT'S REALLY MORE OF AN INTERNAL, UM, ASK FROM OUR SIDE TO SEE DOES IT MATTER IF WE INTERCHANGE 'EM OR, OR NOT IN THE ORDINANCE.

UM, THIS THIRD ONE IS, UH, CERTAIN ANIMALS RESTRICTED.

SO THIS WAS PUT INTO PLACE IN 20 20TH OF AUGUST, UM, IN ANTICIPATION OF, UM, THE ANNEXATION ISSUES OR, YOU KNOW, INVOLVING LIVESTOCK AND VARIOUS ANIMALS AND THE ACREAGE, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPICALLY YOU SEE IN THE ANNEXED, UH, AREAS.

SO THIS SECTION HAS NOT BEEN USED, IT'S NOT BEEN NEEDED.

UM, AND REALLY IT'S, IT'S SOMEWHAT IMPRACTICAL TO ENFORCE.

IT SEEMS KIND OF ONEROUS.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO APPLY A POINT SYSTEM TO A VARIETY OF ANIMALS AND THEN USE THE ACREAGE OF THAT PROPERTY AND THEN TRY TO USE A FORMULA TO CALCULATE HOW MANY ANIMALS SHOULD BE ALLOWED ON THAT PROPERTY.

WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN ADDRESS THAT, UH, AS, AS AS, UM, UNDER 14 FOUR, UM, NOT, EXCUSE ME, WE, YEAH, WE WE'RE ACTUALLY RECOMMENDING THIS ONE TO STRIKE COMPLETELY FEEL LIKE WE COULD ADDRESS THAT, UH, IN OTHER SECTIONS.

THIS NEXT ONE IS THE UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF AN ANIMAL, AND THAT'S JUST A CLEANUP FROM THE TETHER, UH, LEGISLATION THAT HAPPENED, UH, A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.

UH, 1436.

UM, THIS IS A MINOR CHANGE JUST TO REMOVE THE REFERENCE TO ANY POLICE OFFICER.

CHIEF STRINGER HAD NO ISSUES WITH THIS BEFORE WE PROPOSED IT.

UM, HERE'S THE WAY THAT WE REALLY NEED SOME HELP WITH ON, UM, SECTION C IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD.

IT'S, IT'S TO ADDRESS PRISONER OR DETAIN PERSONS ANIMALS.

AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FIVE DOGS, UM, THAT BELONG TO PRISONERS.

UM, WE'VE HAD ONE SINCE JANUARY, ANOTHER SINCE MARCH ONE, SINCE APRIL.

WE JUST GOT TWO IN THREE WEEKS AGO.

SO WE, WE NEED SOME LEGAL GUIDANCE, UH, TO DETERMINE WHEN THOSE ANIMALS BECOME OUR PROPERTY.

UH, SO WE'RE JUST HOLDING THEM AT THIS POINT.

UM, MAY I ASK A QUESTION ON THAT? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT I GUESS IN THE, IN, IN LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE, WHATEVER THAT ADDRESSES THAT EITHER RE REGULATORY PRACTICES? I THINK WE'D HAVE TO RESEARCH IT, GET WITH LEGAL.

OKAY.

WE'D HAVE TO RESEARCH THAT, GET WITH LEGAL ON IT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WOULD BE WITHIN OUR RIGHTS THAT

[00:10:01]

OKAY.

I DOESN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ALREADY KIND OF A, A BEST PRACTICE, I GUESS.

AND, AND, AND THERE MAY BE.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO A DIG ON IT.

OKAY.

UH, SO THE LAST ONE THERE ON THE, ON THIS SLIDE IS THE IMPOUNDMENT OF THE IMPOUNDMENT OF ANIMALS BY INDIVIDUALS.

UM, WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO REMOVE THAT SECTION AS WELL AT, WE DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, NECESSARY AND NOT VERY PRACTICAL TO ENFORCE.

AND THIS, UH, ONE ON THE TOP IS, UH, BASICALLY IT'S JUST A ONE WORD INSERTION, UM, TO INCLUDE BUSINESS.

UH, AS FAR AS THE DAYS OF IMPOUNDMENT CURRENTLY IT JUST READS THREE DAYS.

SO WE'RE GONNA INSERT BUSINESS IN BETWEEN THAT.

UH, AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS BASICALLY WE HAVE TO REVISE SOME LANGUAGE IN THE, UH, DANGEROUS DOG SECTION, UH, TO COMPLY WITH A RECENT AG OPINION.

SO AT THIS TIME, THAT'S ALL THE PROPOSED REVISIONS IN THE OPERATIONS SIDE THAT I HAVE.

AND, UH, WELCOME ANY KIND OF CLARIFICATION OR FEEDBACK OR, OR ANY KIND OF CHANGES THAT MAY BE NEEDED.

ALRIGHT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? YES, SIR.

UH, I'LL JUMP IN THERE.

UM, WAS THERE A REASON TO TAKE OR ANY POLICE OFFICER OFF, I MEAN, IT KIND OF LIMITS IF THE OFFICER'S IN THEIR FIELD AND THERE'S A STRAY DOG OR SOMETHING, AND DO THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT WITHOUT IT BEING A CODE? OR IS IT BETTER TO HAVE IT IN THE CODE? WELL, I, I WOULDN'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE CHIEF.

WE HAD IT IN THERE AND JUST TO CLARIFY WHEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE AN ANIMAL IN, UH, AND WHO SHOULD IMPOUND IT? UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES WHEN THEY HAPPEN LATE AT NIGHT OF SOME SORT LIKE THAT.

AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SHELTER IS, UH, IT'S A SECURE FACILITY.

NOT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE KEYS TO IT OR COULDN'T GET IN THERE, BUT WE JUST FEEL LIKE IT'S A, A BETTER WAY TO HANDLE THE, UH, IMPOUNDMENTS.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THEY CAN CALL AND DISPATCH US OUT AND WE'LL SHOW UP IF, IF THE NEED IS, UH, IMMEDIATE.

OKAY.

AND MY SECOND ISSUE, AND I'M I'M MENTIONING IT TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS, IS I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRISONER DETAINMENT OF, OF YOU GET, YOU DETAIN A PRISONER, ARREST SOMEBODY AND THEY HAVE AN ANIMAL WITH THEM, TURN IT OVER.

AND WITHIN THREE DAYS WE'RE DECLARING IT'S GONNA BE OURS PETS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO CONSIDER PROPERTY.

SO WE GOTTA BE REAL CAREFUL ON PROPERTY RULES AND AND LAWS AS FAR AS HOW WE APPLY THAT.

AND I KNOW IT'S KIND, WELL, IT'S, IT'S AN ANIMAL, BUT PETS, LIVESTOCK ARE PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S A TAKING AND WE JUST NEED TO BE SURE THAT THAT'S LEGALLY VETTED PRETTY WELL.

UM, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO, TO HOUSE THESE ANIMALS FOR PRO PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME.

AND IT'S A EVEN A GREATER CHALLENGE TO GET THE PRISONERS CAN OR RELATIVE OR FRIEND TO COME GET 'EM.

BUT WE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL 'CAUSE IT IS, PETS ARE CONSIDERED PROPERTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND AND THAT WOULD BE A TAKING BY THE CITY IF WE JUST SAY AFTER THREE DAYS IT'S OURS.

SO WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE ULTIMATE REASON WHY WE NEED TO GET THE LEGAL, UH, TEAM TO LOOK AT THAT THOROUGHLY JUST TO SEE WHAT, WHAT ARE OUR, UH, OPTIONS IF WE EVEN HAVE ANY, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, FIND A HOME FOR IT.

BUT YEAH, IT'S JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S COMPLICATED.

THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR.

THANKS.

ALRIGHT.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE SAYING ABOUT 14 A UM, EIGHT, EXCUSE ME, 14, EIGHT, WHERE YOU SAID THAT, UM, THIS LANGUAGE WAS ADDED DURING A TIME OF ANNEXATION.

BUT YOU, WHEN YOU WERE TALKING, YOU SAID YOU THINK THAT THE STAFF CAN HANDLE IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES UP.

UM, I, I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEANT.

I NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

OKAY, NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM.

SO THAT, THAT WE BELIEVE CAN BE HANDLED THROUGH A NUISANCE, UH, IN 1410, UH, FOR PROPERTIES THAT CREATE SOME CONDITION, UM, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO APPLY A FORMULA, UM, YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE 1410, THAT'S, WE'RE NOT, UH, ESSENTIALLY RECOMMENDED TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT SECTION, BUT I CAN READ IT IF YOU'D LIKE, JUST SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT BETTER IF IT'S NOT TOO LONG.

YES, PLEASE.

UH, IT'S NOT THAT LONG.

OKAY.

SO IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO MAINTAIN WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS ANY ANIMAL OR FOUL IN SUCH A MANNER, OR ALLOW ANY PEN, ENCLOSURE, YARD, OR SIMILAR PLACE USED FOR THE KEEPING OF ANIMALS OR FOUL TO BECOME UNSANITARY OFFENSIVE BY REASON OF ODOR OR DUST TO CREATE A CONDITION THAT IS A BREEDING PLACE FOR FLEAS OR OTHER VECTOR AND WHICH IS OFFENSIVE TO PERSONS OF ORDINARY SENSIBILITIES RESIDING IN THE VICINITY THEREOF.

OKAY.

YEAH, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.

SO JUST TO REITERATE, YOU'RE SAYING INSTEAD OF DOING THE WHOLE POINT SYSTEM THING, YOUR STAFF CAN TREAT IT MORE OF LIKE A HEALTH ISSUE OR YES, MA'AM.

A NUISANCE.

YES, MA'AM.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

[00:15:02]

ALRIGHT, SO MOVE ON TO THE SECOND PART, WHICH IS A, UH, SOME REVISED FEES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING.

UM, LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE LAST ORDINANCE UPDATE.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT QT STANDS FOR QUARANTINE, UH, THAT REALLY HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN SOME TIME.

UM, SOME OF THE OTHERS WE LOOKED AT, WE DID SURVEY SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING CITIES AND WE'RE LOW IN A FEW AREAS AND SOME DON'T REALLY COVER THE OPERATIONAL COSTS OR THE SERVICE, UH, THAT WE DO.

AND THEN HERE'S A COMPARISON CHART, UM, TO LOOK AT.

UH, YOU CAN SEE THE DANGEROUS DOG THERE IS AT THE TOP.

AND, UM, THE AVERAGE SHELTER PRICE FOR A REGISTRATION OF A DANGEROUS DOG IS EQUATES TO $67.

OUR CURRENT FEE IS $50, AND SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT TO 100 NOW THE NUISANCE DOG ANNUAL REGISTRATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER SURROUNDING CITIES THAT, UM, THAT CHARGE A REGISTRATION OR HAVE THAT I GUESS, DESIGNATION IN PLACE.

UH, WE CURRENTLY CHARGE 50 FOR THAT.

AND, AND JUST TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER ONE, WE'RE RECOMMENDED TO, UH, INCREASE THAT TO 100.

UM, THIS NEXT ONE, UM, OWNER, OWNER ANIMAL SURRENDERS.

UM, SO THAT'S THE AVERAGE IN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES, $38.

A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE AT THIS POINT.

UM, SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING TO, UH, CREATE THAT AND MAKE IT A $50 FOR OWNER ANIMAL SURRENDER.

UM, THEN THIS, THE, THE ONE BELOW THAT ARE STRAY ANIMAL SURRENDER, SO THAT'S A $25, UM, FEE.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT AS WELL.

UM, SO WE'RE PROPOSING TO HAVE A $25 FEE FOR THAT.

UM, SO THE KENNEL LICENSE IS NEXT.

UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, A LOT OF PLACES DON'T HAVE KENNEL PERMITS.

UM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A FEE OF $50 FOR ANY KENNEL LESS THAN 11 DOGS, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT TO 100.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A KENNEL FEE FOR DOGS BETWEEN THAT HAVE, IF THEY HAVE 11 TO 19 DOGS.

UH, AND THAT IS 100 CURRENTLY PROPOSING TO RAISE THAT TO ONE 50.

WE DO HAVE A KENNEL FEE FOR MORE THAN 19, OR ESSENTIALLY 20 OR MORE.

UM, IT'S JUST AT 200.

AND, UH, WE DON'T RECOMMEND CHANGING THAT OR REVISING THAT AT ALL.

UM, THE NEXT ONE IS A QUARANTINE FEE.

UM, THE AVERAGE IS $115 FOR A QUARANTINE.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, A TOTAL OF A $75 FOR A 10 DAY QUARANTINE.

UH, AND THE, THE NUMBERS BELOW ACTUALLY, UH, EQUATE TO THE, THE ABOVE NUMBER OF 75.

SO IT'S, IT'S A $25 IMPOUNDMENT FOR THE QUARANTINE.

AND THEN CURRENTLY IT'S $5 A DAY FOR THE FEED AND CARE, UH, FOR 10 DAYS BECAUSE THAT IS A, THE STATE REQUIREMENT IS A 10 DAY TIME.

UH, SO WE'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE THAT DAILY BOARDING TO $10 PER DAY AND THEN ALSO INCREASE THE QUARANTINE FEE, UH, TO 50 TO MAKE THE TOTAL QUARANTINE PRICE NOW ONE 50.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, ON THOSE PROPOSED REVISIONS.

AND THAT'S ALL THE PROPOSED REVISIONS I HAVE WELCOME FEEDBACK, COMMENTS AND DIRECTION.

YES, MA'AM.

CAN YOU GO BACK ONE SLIDE PLEASE? YEAH.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE LIST OF PRICES PLEASE? UM, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND WHY WE NEED TO DO THIS, I I AM A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT THE OWNER AND STRAY SURRENDER PRICES, UM, AS A STAFF, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS GOING TO DEFLECT PEOPLE FROM ACTUALLY BRINGING IN STRAYS OR OWNER SURRENDERS? UM, I KNOW IN OUR TOWN AND OTHER TOWNS, IT'S ALREADY COMMON PRACTICE TO SEE PEOPLE DUMPING ANIMALS, UM, IN PLACES.

SO ALTHOUGH I KNOW WHY THE FEE IS THERE, I FEEL LIKE NOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN WRITING AND WE'RE ESTABLISHING IT, IT'S GONNA CAUSE EVEN A BIGGER ISSUE WITH PEOPLE WANTING TO COME AND SURRENDER THE ANIMALS, UM, IN A HUMANE WAY.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

NO, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

UH, THE PURPOSE REALLY OF THOSE TWO, UH, FEES FOR THE OWNER AND THE STRAY.

UM, WE HAVE ANIMALS THAT GET DUMPED OFF, UM, ALL FROM DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WE JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF NOW MM-HMM .

UM, WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF DE-INCENTIVIZE THAT FOR PEOPLE JUST DUMPING THINGS.

NOW THE CHALLENGE IS TRYING TO CATCH SOMEBODY THAT DOES THAT.

UM, WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THE SHELTER AS A LAST RESORT BEFORE THEY, UM, JUST LEAVE THEIR, YOU KNOW, SURRENDER IT TO US, UM, WITH THE, YOU KNOW, THE CAPACITY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY NOW, UH, WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT WAYS TO MAYBE, UM, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO TRY TO REHOME IT, UM, BEFORE BRINGING IT IN.

UH, BUT NO, I, I AGREE.

MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THESE THINGS WE LOOK AT AND IF IT DOESN'T

[00:20:01]

UH, JUST, I MEAN, WE JUST HAD A REVIEW THREE, THREE YEARS AGO, SO, UM, MY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT ARE, UH, I JUST, TO ME, THERE'S, THERE'S ACTUALLY RIGHT BEFORE I CAME IN HERE, I HAD SOMEONE WHO SAID THEY TRIED TO SURRENDER A DOG TODAY THAT WAS LEFT AT THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY COULDN'T 'CAUSE THE KENNEL'S FULL.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IF WE ADD THE $50, UM, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A WAY THAT WE'RE CREATING TO JUST MAKE THE ANIMALS NOT OUR PROBLEM.

BECAUSE IF, IF I WAS A CITIZEN AND YOU, THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ME TO REHOME THE ANIMAL.

IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A DISCOURAGEMENT FOR MAKING IT A CITY ISSUE.

RIGHT.

DOES THAT, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? IT DOES.

OKAY.

IT DOES.

UM, BUT MOVING ON FROM THAT, MY OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE, UH, KENNEL LICENSE AND THOSE THINGS I'VE SEEN, UM, A FEW THINGS POPPING UP, UM, ONLINE WHERE THERE'S PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN WHO ARE BOARDING AND TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS AS A SIDE HUSTLE.

UM, SO WOULD THAT BE A TYPE OF BUSINESS THAT WOULD NEED TO COME IN AND GET A KENNEL LICENSE, EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE LIKE A, A DBA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT? WOULD THEY STILL NEED TO, UH, REGISTER AND PAY IF THEY ARE OUT ADVERTISING THAT THEY CARE FOR ANIMALS? YES, MA'AM.

OKAY.

MY ONLY QUESTION ON THE, ON THE KENNEL LICENSE, I THOUGHT IT WAS FIVE, I THOUGHT IT WAS GREATER THAN FIVE.

FIVE OR MORE.

UM, ON ON WHAT? I'M SORRY.

IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED A KENNEL, UH, AT ONE TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIVE.

OKAY.

BUT IF IT'S 11, IT'S 11.

BUT WHAT QUALIFIES AS FOR SOMEONE, RIGHT.

UH, WHO IS A BREEDER OR A KENNEL? IS IT FIVE? IS THERE AN 11? UH, SO THE KENNEL PERMIT IS FOR FOUR OR MORE.

OKAY.

AND SO WE HAVE THE, THE, THE BASE FEE IS FOR 11, LESS THAN 11, RIGHT.

UH, DOGS TO REQUIRE A KENNEL.

SO IF THERE, IF THERE IS SOMEONE, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I WAS ASKING WAS EXACTLY, SO IF YOU HAVE FOUR, YOU'RE CONSIDERED A KENNEL IS MY, IS THE POINT.

RIGHT? THREE, THREE OR MORE IS HOW IT'S WORDED.

BUT SO YEAH, THAT'S FOUR.

RIGHT.

YOU WOULD NEED A KENNEL.

YOU WOULD NEED A KENNEL PERMIT.

AND SO WE WOULD INVESTIGATE THAT.

AND BECAUSE I, I MEAN, I WOULD SAY I GET CALLS, YOU KNOW, MY, MY NEIGHBOR, MY NEIGHBOR HAS X AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, PETS.

AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER THRESHOLD IS THAT YOU'RE BREEDING THAT ONE TOO.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'D BE MY, THE ALSO A DISTINGUISHING FACTOR, RIGHT? 'CAUSE THERE'S SOME PEOPLE, THIS WOULDN'T BE FOUR OWNERS, RIGHT? SO IF SOMEONE HAS THREE DOGS, I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOUR.

YEAH.

OKAY.

RIGHT.

WELL, IT'D BE FOUR, BUT I THINK THERE'S ALSO WHERE YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE THE OWNER OF ALL FOUR, THAT'S ONE THING.

IF, IF YOU WERE THINK BREEDING AND KENNELING AND BOARDING, THEN THAT'S, THAT'S, THIS IS TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT, YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE MULTIPLE DOGS, RIGHT? YES, SIR.

SIR, MULTIPLE PADS.

YES, SIR.

I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

UM, I, I HAD THE SAME CONCERN WHEN I SAW THE, UH, THE FEES FOR SURRENDERS.

UM, I, I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, UM, SOMEONE COMES IN TO SURRENDER THEIR ANIMAL AND THEY'RE TOLD THEY NEED TO PAY $50, IT MAY JUST END UP ON THE STREETS.

UM, I MEAN, I GUESS THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN MONITOR AND, AND BRING THAT BACK IF WE NEED TO ADJUST.

UM, BUT FOR THE STRAY ANIMAL, I WOULD, I, I WOULD I THINK BE MORE OPPOSED TO THAT ONE OF THE TWO JUST BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S, WE'RE EITHER GONNA GET THE CALL TO PICK IT UP OR THEY'RE GONNA BRING IT IN FOR US, RIGHT.

I, I MEAN, RIGHT.

OR RIGHT.

SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF, ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, IS IT SAVING US $25 BY THEM DOING IT FOR US? I DON'T KNOW.

BUT WE'RE GONNA TURN AROUND AND CHARGE 'EM.

SO, UM, I WOULD, I I, I'M OPPOSED TO THE, THE STRAY ANIMAL SURRENDER FEE.

UM, BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION.

YEAH.

I WOULD, I WOULD ALSO AGREE.

I I THINK I CAN, I CAN UNDERSTAND THE, THE, UH, INCREASES IN THE OTHER FEES, MR. GRAY.

UM, PHILOSOPHICALLY I DON'T THINK I CAN AGREE WITH THE SURRENDERS FEE AT ALL.

NO PROBLEM.

NO PROBLEM.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT COMMENT AND FEEDBACK THAT, THAT, YES.

AND I JUST, I'M ON THE CUFFS OF SOMETHING THAT YOU JUST SAID.

UM, IF I WASN'T AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE CHARGED, IF I WAS AN OWNER SURRENDERING VERSUS A STRAY, THEN I WOULD JUST TELL YOU IT'S A STRAY.

I MEAN, YOU, IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE MONEY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO.

I MEAN, UM, SO JUST TO, TO KIND OF, UM, PUT ALL MY WORDS TOGETHER HERE, I, I'M OPPOSED TO BOTH OF THOSE FEES.

OWNER AND STRAY.

YEAH.

I'LL HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

I, I THINK THE FEE IS, IS, UH, NOT THE GREAT REWARD FOR, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET A DANKER'S PET OR WHATEVER OFF THE STREET.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

MAY ASK.

YES, MA'AM.

YES MA'AM.

AND SO WHAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR THE FEES? IS

[00:25:01]

WHAT, WHAT'S THE ULTIMATE GOAL FOR ADDING THESE TWO PARTICULAR FEES? IT'S, IT'S THE OPERATIONAL PART OF THE, UM, THE, THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS LIKE THAT.

OBVIOUSLY, IT IS A CHALLENGE TO PICK UP THE NUMBER OF STRAYS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE, THE BASIS BEHIND IT IS, UM, JUST LOOKING AT IT FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT MM-HMM .

AND THE TIME.

THANK YOU.

I'M, I'M GONNA JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON.

SAY I'M, I'M OPPOSED TO BOTH THOSE FEES AND WE TALK ABOUT OPERATIONAL ISSUES.

HOW, HOW IS CHARGING A FEE GONNA MODIFY YOUR OPERATIONAL DEMAND? WELL, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S TRYING TO, UH, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE.

WE'RE TRYING TO CONTROL THE NUMBER THAT COME IN, TRYING TO MANAGE THE INTAKE.

UM, AND UH, THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT HAS SOME BASIS FOR IT AS WELL.

JUST TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE FLOW WHEN WE'RE, WHEN 30% OVER CAPACITY OR MORE.

I UNDERSTAND.

I UNDERSTAND.

YEAH.

AND, AND AGAIN, SO WE HAVE A CITIZEN OUT THERE THAT COLLECTS THE STRAY DOG.

SO THAT ACTUALLY SAVES YOU OPERATIONAL COSTS AND TIME.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA CHARGE 'EM.

I'M, I'M TOTALLY OPPOSED TO THAT.

AND THEN AS FAR AS CHARGING A FEE FOR AN, AN UNWANTED, I, I'VE SEEN SO MANY STRAY DOGS AND CATS AND JUST ANIMALS RUNNING LOOSE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL.

SO CHARGING A FEE IS JUST GONNA ENCOURAGE PEOPLE JUST TO, IF THEY'RE NOT CHIPPED, THEY'RE JUST GONNA KICK 'EM OUT THE DOOR, WHICH IS GONNA DIRECTLY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOUR OPERATIONAL DEMANDS.

UM, THE, THE COMMENT WAS MADE EARLIER, AND I'M GONNA CHIME IN ON THAT.

UH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHARGE FEES AND STUFF LIKE THAT BECAUSE I'VE HAD CITIZENS CALL ME AND HAD A DIRECT IN IMPACT MYSELF, PEOPLE TRYING TO BRING STRAYS IN AND THEY'RE TOLD NO, WE'RE FULL.

I'M HAVING REAL HEARTBURN WITH THAT.

IT'S A TAX FUNDED OPERATION.

I GET MORE GRIEF ABOUT THE COST OF ANIMAL PATROL FACILITY AND THE LACK OF SERVICE THAN ANY OTHER OPERATION IN THE CITY.

IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY CALLS I GET.

WE'VE GOTTA, AND AGAIN, I'LL SUPPORT YOU AND YOUR GROUP WHEN, IF THEY HAVE TO EUTHANIZE ANIMALS.

SO BECAUSE OF JUST THE SHERIFF'S DEMAND THAT Y'ALL ARE OVERWHELMED, I CAN SUPPORT THAT.

I DON'T HAVE TO LIKE IT, BUT I CAN SUPPORT THAT.

I CAN'T SUPPORT THE LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE OF TELLING PEOPLE WE'RE FULL.

YOU CAN'T COME.

IT'S A TAX BASED OPERATION.

IT'S NOT A HUMANE SOCIETY THAT'S FUNDED BY PRIVATE FUNDS.

THAT DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE.

WE HAVE A CITIZEN OUT THERE THAT CALLS AND NEEDS SERVICE.

WE NEED TO PROVIDE IT.

SAME.

THAT'D BE LIKE THE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY CALLED 9 1 1 FOR A CRIME AND THEY'RE GOING, OH, WE'RE REAL BUSY.

WE CAN'T COME TODAY.

HEY, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T GO DOWN THAT ROAD.

UM, AND, AND I'VE HAD TWO PHONE CALLS THIS WEEK ON THAT SPECIFIC ISSUE, DEALT WITH ONE PERSONALLY LAST WEEK.

WE, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TRYING TO SLOW THE VOLUME.

I UNDERSTAND WE'RE TRYING TO BE THE NO KILL.

IT'S, IT'S A TREMENDOUS EFFORT.

WE'RE WE GOTTA SHIFT THAT CONCERN.

AND IF YOU WILL, BLAME AWAY FROM OUR STAFF AND AWAY FROM OUR SHELTER, Y'ALL ARE DID NOT CAUSE A PROBLEM.

YOU'RE CLEANING IT UP AND, AND WE NEED TO DEFEND YOU IN DOING THE GOOD JOB THAT YOU DO AND ENCOURAGE THAT GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SO, SO AGAIN, I I'M OPPOSED TO THE FEES, I THINK THAT'LL JUST CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS POINT TAKEN.

ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, WE'LL PROCEED.

AND NOW FOR THE THIRD PART, UH, THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM PROVISIONS, UM, OR PROPOSED REVISIONS I SHOULD SAY.

SO THIS IS, UM, IT'S GONNA BE SOME INFORMATION COMING TO YOU.

UM, THE PURPOSE BEHIND THIS, UM, IS TO REDUCE THE UNCONTROLLED BREEDING OF CATS AND REDUCE THE STRAY CAT POPULATION.

THAT'S, THAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR THIS, UM, PART OF THE PRESENTATION.

SO I WOULD LIKE NOW TO HAVE DR. ALVAREZ COME AND SPEAK TO THIS SLIDE.

HE HAD A SCHEDULED CONFLICT LAST WEEK WHEN THE COMMITTEE MET.

AND, UH, JUST I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO SHARE HIS, THE MEDICAL SIDE CARE AS A, A VETERINARIAN AND HIS EXPERTISE.

UH, FRANCISCO ALVAREZ HERE AT DVM, UM, I, UH, YOU KNOW, JUST WANTED TO KIND OF TOUCH BASE WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME GREAT POINTS BEING MADE TODAY ABOUT THE STRAY ANIMALS IN, IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

I MEAN, IT'S, UH, WE GOTTA TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON IT, RIGHT? AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PROBLEM

[00:30:01]

RIGHT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THIS PYRAMID KIND OF TALKS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING SANCTUARIES AND RELOCATING THESE CATS INTO, INTO THESE SANCTUARIES IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF TRYING TO FIX IT.

IT'S A SMALL PART OF IT, BUT IT'S A PART, YOU KNOW, AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, ANIMAL CONTROL IS TRYING TO DO BY RESCUING AND, AND ADOPTING THESE ANIMALS.

YOU KNOW, THE OTHER PART OF THIS IS WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE TRAP NEW TO RELEASE STUFF.

UM, AND WE'VE COME BEFORE YOU GUYS BEFORE AND TALKED TO YOU ABOUT IT, BUT THE BIGGEST IMPACT THAT'S GONNA BE MADE HERE IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR PETS.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE HARDEST PART, RIGHT? BECAUSE, UM, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHAT A, A, YOU KNOW, A NUISANCE DOG IS, BUT WE HAVEN'T DEFINED WHAT A NUISANCE CAT IS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING DOWN ON PAPER ON THAT, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS THAT? AND, AND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

BUT ULTIMATELY, IF, IF YOU HAVE A CAT AND YOU'RE FEEDING THE CAT AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF THE CAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S YOUR CAT.

AND YOU NEED TO GET IT SPAYED AND YOU NEED TO GET IT MICROCHIPPED AND YOU NEED TO GET IT VACCINATED.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DOWN ON PAPER AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THAT DEFINITION IS, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, HOLD, YOU KNOW, OWNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ANIMALS SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS INFLUX OF, BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THE INTAKE THERE AT THE, AT THE SHELTER.

YEAH.

IT'S WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM JUST LETTING THEIR ANIMALS BREED AND BREED AND BREED, AND THEN JUST DUMPING THE ANIMALS AND DUMPING THE ANIMALS.

SO, UM, I HATE THAT WE HAVE TO LEGISLATE RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE THING TO CONSIDER HERE.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO IT'S KIND OF BEEN, UH, SPOKEN ABOUT BEFORE, BUT THE CAT CONCERNS ARE THE INCREASING STRAY POPULATION, UH, AND THE RESIDENTS COMPLAINTS OF NUISANCE CATS.

SO THE CURRENT PROGRAM THAT BEST FRIENDS HAD, UM, WAS DONE IN A SIX MONTH PILOT PROJECT IN 2021.

AND AT THAT TIME, THEY VETTED OR SERVICED 419 CATS.

UM, SINCE THAT PERIOD HAS ENDED, UH, IT'S BEEN MORE OF AN AD HOC, UM, EFFORT SINCE THAT TIME.

AND AT THAT TIME, IN 2021, THE ESTIMATED COST PER CAT THAT WAS SERVICED WAS $13.

BUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE, UM, THE, THE VET SERVICES OR THE LABOR PART OF IT.

UM, AND AT, AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE 72 KNOWN, UH, CAT COLONIES.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS A, A SIX MONTH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS BEST FRIENDS AND WITH OUR BAYTOWN ANIMAL, UH, SERVICES DIVISION.

SO THAT WENT FORWARD.

BEST FRIENDS WOULD COVER THE VET COSTS AND THE SERVICING COSTS, AND THE, THE SERVICING COSTS ARE THE SUPPLIES, IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

UM, BEST FRIENDS WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH THE COMMUNITY CAT TRAINING.

AND THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP WOULD ALLOW THE USE OF OUR SURGICAL SUITE, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY CAT SPAY, NEUTER PROCESSING, OR THE SERVICING.

UH, THE CITY OF BAYTOWN WOULD ALSO USE ITS VOLUNTEER OR SUPERVISOR, WHICH IS A CURRENT BUDGETED POSITION, AND THAT EMPLOYEE WOULD ACT AS A LIAISON TO ASSIST AND COORDINATE SERVICING WITH A DESIGNATED BEST FRIEND'S REPRESENTATIVE, UH, KNOWN AS A CAT, UH, COORDINATOR, .

SO AFTER THAT SIX MONTHS IS, IS PASSED, UM, BASICALLY IF YOU GUYS WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, IT'S PROPOSED THAT THE CITY WOULD TAKE AND ASSUME ADMINISTRATION OF THIS COMMUNITY CAP PROGRAM.

UM, SO WE, LIKE PREVIOUSLY STATED, WE'D USE OUR VOLUNTEER SUPERVISOR, UM, THE CURRENT BUDGETED POSITION TO CONTINUE TO ACT AS A LIAISON, UH, AND COORDINATE WITH THE BEST FRIENDS COMMUNITY CAT COORDINATOR.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE BEST FRIENDS DESIGNATED COMMUNITY CAT COORDINATOR, UH, WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAPPING, DELIVERING OF CATS FOR SERVICE, AND THEN RETURNING THE CATS AFTER RECOVERY.

SO THIS IS A BIG QUESTION FOR EVERYONE.

UH, THE RESOURCES THAT'LL BE NEEDED.

UM, SO I'LL JUST SAY THERE'S, THERE'S A HIGH DEMAND FOR VETS, UH, IN THIS SPECIALIZED PRACTICE, UH, KNOWN AS SHELTER MEDICINE, UH, AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM PREFER TO WORK CONTRACTUALLY.

UM, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COMMITMENT IS TO BAYTOWN, UH, WE WOULD NEED TO COMMIT TO CONTRACTING WITH A VET TO SERVICE THE COMMUNITY CATS, BUT WE'D ALSO USE 'EM TO SERVICE OUR OWN

[00:35:01]

UM, AND THEN AGAIN, THE SHELTER SUPER, UH, EXCUSE ME, THE SHELTER'S VOLUNTEER SUPERVISOR WOULD ABSORB THE SAME DUTIES.

UH, IT'S CURRENTLY BUDGETED POSITION.

UM, AND SO THE, THE BOTTOM LINE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IS THERE REALLY, UH, WOULD BE NO NEW POSITIONS THAT WOULD BE NEEDED.

AND WE WOULD USE THE CURRENT, UH, FUNDING THAT'S IN OUR BUDGET, UH, FOR THE CONTRACT VET POSITION, UH, AND ALSO TO COVER THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND THE SERVICES WITHIN OUR EXISTING BUDGET.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN AT THIS NEXT CATEGORY, UM, THE IMPACT OF PARTNERSHIP WITH BEST FRIENDS, UM, MORE CATS, STERILIZED AND VACCINATED, SLOWS POPULATION GROWTH.

BEST FRIENDS WILL, WILL TRAIN US, UM, FOR THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

FEWER CATS EUTHANIZED ALIGNS WITH OUR NO KILL GOAL AND A MORE POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SHELTER STAFF.

ALSO, THERE'S A HIGH LIKELIHOOD OF IDENTIFYING A CONTRACT VETERINARIAN TO SERVICE OUR COMMUNITY CATS AS WELL AS OUR ANIMALS, UH, CATS AND DOGS.

SO OVERALL, I THINK THIS IS A EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UM, OBVIOUSLY THE SHELTER AND ITS OPERATIONS AND, AND AS WELL AS BEST FRIENDS TO REDUCE THE UNCONTROLLED BREEDING AND STRAY CAT POPULATION, UM, IF IT'S MOVED FORWARD WITH THE IMPACT WILL NOT BE IMMEDIATE.

IT WILL TAKE TIME.

UM, BUT THE MAIN THING IS THAT WE START SOMETHING SO WE CAN AT LEAST BEGIN THE PROCESS.

WE, WE'VE, UM, I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO WORK TOGETHER AND WE WILL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER, WE'LL NEED TO COLLABORATE, UM, AND WORK OUT SOME DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED ORDINANCES.

UM, SO SEGUEING INTO THAT, UH, LIKE DR. ALVAREZ JUST REFERENCED THAT, THAT PYRAMID THERE, UM, THE PROPOSED NUISANCE CAT DEFINITION IS IN, IN FRONT OF YOU THERE.

UM, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION LAST WEEK WHEN THE FOUR MEMBERS ATTENDED, UH, FOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE AT THE, THE MEETING.

UM, ESSENTIALLY THEY DIDN'T, ALL OF THEM DID NOT AGREE WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEFINITION.

UM, BUT STAFF BELIEVES THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR COUNSEL TO SEE ALL OF THESE, SEE THE DEFINITION, IT'S FOUR PARTS.

UM, IN ORDER TO MAKE A MORE INFORMED DECISION OF WHAT WE'RE, WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE GONNA GO.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE ARE FOUR PARTS TO IT.

UM, AND THE FIRST BULLET REALLY IS, UM, WHAT DR. ALVAREZ KIND OF SPOKE TO, UM, THAT WOULD REQUIRE CATS THAT ROAM AND ARE NOT COMMUNITY CATS TO BE FIXED.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT PYRAMID FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY, THAT IS THE MOST PROACTIVE WAY TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT, IS THAT'S THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID.

ALL THE OTHER TIERS SUPPORT IT, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S CRITICAL.

UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, UM, THE PROACTIVE FOUNDATION, UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, UM, IF YOU DON'T TAKE THAT OPTION AND YOU JUST RELY ON THE REACTIVE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, THAT, UM, ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE KIND OF PERPETUATING STRAYS TO BECOME COMMUNITY CATS.

AND SO IT JUST CONTINUES.

UH, THE CYCLE JUST CONTINUES.

AND SO REQUIRING THE, THE CATS THAT ROAM TO BE MICROCHIP, UH, AND FIXED, THEY'RE ALREADY REQUIRED TO BE MICROCHIPPED.

UM, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CATS.

WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER CATS THAT BECOME STRAYS AND BECOME POTENTIALLY COMMUNITY CATS.

UM, YOU ALSO SEE THERE'S OTHER SECTIONS SPECIFIED IN THERE, UM, THAT REMOVES THE SUBJECTIVITY AND PROVIDES SPECIFICS, UM, JUST AS WE HAVE FOR WHAT CONSTITUTES A NUISANCE DOG.

WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE FOR A NUISANCE CAT AND STAFF BELIEVES THERE'S NEEDS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEFINITION FOR IT AND NOT ALLOW THE FEEDING OF STRAYS THAT ARE NOT COMMUNITY CATS AS WELL.

UM, SO HERE BEFORE YOU NOW IS THE COMMUNITY CAT, UM, DEFINITIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE MET ON LAST WEEK AND, AND THEY WERE ALL IN FAVOR OF.

UM, SO ANOTHER THING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IS THAT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD ADDRESS COMMUNITY CATS THAT MAY BECOME A NUISANCE, UH, WHICH WAS NOT ADDRESSED REALLY BY THE COMMITTEE.

UM, AND JUST HIGHLIGHTED THERE, YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED, UM, NOT NOT THE TOP THAT'S JUST HAS AN EAR TIP TO DESIGNATE THAT IT'S, UH, STERILIZED.

THAT SECOND BULLET THERE, UM, JUST NEEDS SOMETHING ATTACHED TO IT UNLESS DEEMED A NUISANCE.

AND THAT'S WHY THAT'S PUT THERE.

THAT'S JUST, UM, STAFF FEELS LIKE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.

THIS NEXT SLIDE IS, UH, THE REST

[00:40:01]

UM, AND YOU'LL SEE LETTER A, SAME RECOMMENDATION.

LIKE I SAID, WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINITION, ANYTHING SPECIFIC FOR NUISANCE CAT.

UM, THE, THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS ITEM B, UH, SOPHIA SPOKE TO THAT, THAT'S THAT, UH, HOUSE BILL THAT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT.

THAT'S REALLY, IT'S HIGHLIGHTED, BUT IT'S IN BLUE, SO IT'S REALLY MORE FYI FOR YOU GUYS.

UM, LETTER C, SAME ISSUE AND LETTER D, SAME ISSUE.

SO ALL OF THOSE READ HIGHLIGHTED THAT UNLESS DEEMED A NUISANCE OR THE NEXT CATEGORY, THERE WERE, UM, HOW TO ADDRESS A POTENTIAL NUISANCE OF A COMMUNITY CAT.

SO WHAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT THERE IS THE FIRST TIME ONE OF THESE COM COMMUNITY CATS COMES TO THE SHELTER.

UM, WE'RE GONNA, AS A NUISANCE, IT HAS TO BE COMING IN AS A NUISANCE.

UM, WE'LL MICROCHIP IT AND LET IT GO BACK OUT, UM, TO THE, TO, UH, THE SAME COLONY.

NOW IF THAT SAME CAT COMES BACK A SECOND TIME, UM, WE WOULD REQUEST THAT IT MOVE TO A DIFFERENT COLONY.

UM, AND THEN THE THIRD TIME, IF THAT SAME CAT COMES BACK, UH, WE WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, TO REMOVE IT FROM THE CITY.

SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SET SOME STANDARDS FOR NUISANCE CAT, UM, FOR COMMUNITY CATS, AS WELL AS EVERYONE ELSE'S CATS THAT, THAT ARE FREE TO ROAM RIGHT NOW.

AND SO WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF NOT DOING OR IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM? WELL, UM, WE'LL JUST CONTINUE TO IN, YOU KNOW, THE CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN UNCONTROLLED BREEDING, UH, ESSENTIALLY SAME POSITION WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, UM, AND CONTINUE TO COMPLAINTS ABOUT STRAY AND NUISANCE CATS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE PURPOSE REALLY, IS TRY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STRAY CATS AND ALSO TO IDENTIFY, UM, WHAT A NUISANCE CAT IS.

AND I'LL TAKE, UH, SOME FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS AND DIRECTION, SOME COUNSEL ON WHICH, UH, DIRECTION AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY CAT PROGRAM WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH BEST FRIENDS.

ALRIGHT.

YES, MA'AM.

CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ON THE DEFINITION OF NUISANCE CATS? I'M SORRY, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE ON THE DEFINITION OF NUISANCE CATS? YES, MA'AM.

UM, SO ARE YOU GOING TO BE RECOMMENDING THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF NUISANCE CATS, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COMMITTEE COULDN'T COME TO A CONSENSUS? OR ARE YOU NOT RECOMMENDING ANY DEFINITION FOR NUISANCE CATS? WELL, I THINK WE NEED A DEFINITION FOR A NUISANCE CAT, AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE PROPOSAL WAS AS YOU SEE IT THERE.

UM, I JUST THINK FROM AN OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT AND RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS OF NUISANCE CATS, WE NEED TO HAVE A STANDARD OF WHAT THAT IS.

AND WE ALSO I AGREE.

I'M JUST WONDERING, IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING TO CITY COUNCIL OR IS IT GONNA BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT? WELL, I, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF THE PURPOSE IS GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK.

IF, IF YOU LIKE THE WAY THIS IS, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE THAT COMMENT AND, AND IF YOU THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, NEEDS SOMETHING ELSE ADDED TO IT, WE WILL PROVIDE THOSE COMMENTS TO LEGAL TOO.

IT'S JUST REALLY TRYING TO ASK FOR SOME FEEDBACK ON WHAT COUNSEL WILL SUPPORT AS A NUISANCE CAT AS IT RELATES TO JUST FREE ROAMING CATS AS WELL AS, UH, BEST FRIENDS, UH, COMMUNITY CAT.

I GUESS FOR ME, I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING THE PROS AND CONS OF THE ARGUMENT OF THIS, BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT IT, I'M LIKE, I MEAN, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS DEFINITION, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SOME CONTENTION OVER IT.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT IS THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS DEFINITION THAT THE GROUP COULD NOT AGREE ON SO I COULD MAKE MY OWN DECISION? WELL, THE, THE FOUR MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE IN ATTENDANCE, NOT ALL OF THEM AGREED WITH THIS.

AND SO THE, THE PROPOSALS WERE ALL SET TOGETHER WITH, YOU KNOW, THE OPERATIONAL CHANGES AND THE COMMUNITY CAT CHANGES.

AND SO IN ORDER TO GET PAST THE INDECISION OF NOT EVERYONE AGREEING WITH THE DEFINITION, UH, THEY WANTED TO PASS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE OTHER PROPOSALS WENT FORWARD.

AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AND SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, IT'S, THERE WERE FOUR OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT WERE THERE, AND THAT'S HOW THEY FELT.

COULD YOU TELL US WHAT THEY DIDN'T AGREE WITH? I THINK IT WAS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FEEDING WAS ONE OF 'EM, UM, THE DISTURBANCE.