Animal Services Advisory Board

Wichita Animal Services Advisory Board November 18, 2020 Meeting Minutes Board Members attending: Teresa Burks, Mike Marlett, Richard Ruth, Patrick Atkins, Vanessa Christophersen, Stephanie McCurdy, Elaine Stephen, Ti'Juana Hardwell City staff attending: Deputy Chief (D.C.) Chester Pinkston Lieutenant Santiago Hungria Community members attending The meeting was held via zoom and was live-streamed via YouTube. Approximately 45 people have viewed it online. Order of Business Meeting called to order by Chair, Vanessa Christophersen. November 18, 2020, 4:03 PM Approval of the July 2020 minutes: • Board discussion – Board members discussed the minutes from the July 2020 minutes. The July minutes are still pending and will be reviewed at the next meeting. Approval of the September 2020 minutes: • Board discussion – Board members discussed the minutes from the September 2020 minutes. • Motion – Motion to the September minutes (Motion started by Stephanie McCurdy, Second by Elaine Stephen.) • Board Action – Voted 8-0 (Motion Passes) Staff Reports • Staff report on Wichita Animal Shelter 2020 3rd quarter statistics presented by LT. Santiago Hungria. The report is attached. • Board Discussion: • Ti'Juana Hardwell: Do we know how many of these incidents were reported by mail carriers or delivery workers? • LT. Hungria: We don't have the statistics broken down by that. We can try and track down if they are reported by job occupation. • Ti'Juana Hardwell: One of the reasons for me getting on this board is that in my neighborhood area, the Ken-Mar area, there was a concern by those postal carriers having to install curbside mailboxes. There were so many of these incidents the postal workers were feeling unsafe. I'm just curious if there is any way we can get that data. • Lt. Hungria: We will look and get that information for the next meeting.  New Business 1. Election nominations for positions: A. Board Chair • Vanessa Christophersen, Nominates: Stephanie McCurdy • Richard Ruth, Seconds Nomination for Stephanie McCurdy • Motion – All in favor of Stephanie of Stephanie McCurdy as Chair for the next two years • Board Action – Voted 8-0 (Motion Passes) • B. Board Co-Chair • Teresa Burks, Nominates: Richard Ruth • Richard Ruth is unable to accept his nomination • Stephanie McCurdy Nominates Vanessa Christophersen • Richard Ruth, Seconds Nomination for Vanessa Christophersen. • Motion – All in favor of Vanessa Christophersen as Co-Chair for the next two years. • Board Action – Voted 8-0 (Motion Passes) Special Committee Reports 1. Elaine Stephen -Update Responsible pet owner pamphlet, community pet owner education. • Checked with City of Wichita Attorney: the Sub-committee meetings are subject to the Kansas Open Records Act. • The Sub-Committee did meet before knowing they are subject to KORA. The board discussed how to go about public education on pet ownership, have animals, and target digital marketing. 1. Are you ready for a pet? 2. Overpopulation. 3. Pet Identification. • The conversation will resume after Elaine communicates with the City about making it work online. • Board Discussion: previously sent out flyers with water bills about pet education. Also, a recommendation to talk to the Post Master. • (Additional Board discussion on proper procedures when locating a loose animal or turning in an unwanted pet. With recommendations for the Sub-Committee) New Business 1. Patrick Atkins: In consideration that 4 of the 6 District Advisory Boards voted down TNR. In light of that, it is obvious and apparent TNR is going on in the City. If it is against the City ordinance, then why is the City allowing it to happen? • D.C. Pinkston: I'm unclear on the question and the ordinance you are referring to. • Richard Ruth: I believe he is referring to the "You feed it; you own it," and you're not allowed to own or feed 2 or 3 without a special permit. Citizens are feeding multiple cats. • Vanessa Christophersen: The reason the TNR ordinance failed previously, it never really got off the ground and was sent out prematurely before it was fine-tuned. • Stephanie McCurdy: I was the chair at the time TNR was brought to the board. It obviously did not go well; we were ill-prepared in what the ordinance structure was and how it needed to happen. Now with new opportunity based individuals on this board who can critically think through a potential ordinance change, this is something we can work on in the future and  produce something that will not just work for people who wish to complete TNR but also, who desire to keep their community cat population to a minimum. I do think there is a happy medium, and we do need to seek that information out. • Patrick Atkins: The "You feed it; you own it" ordinance is exactly what I was referring to. I disagree with Stephanie; it's my impression the majority of citizens don't want TNR, and that is why the ordinance didn't pass. I don't think it had anything to do with not having the appropriate information or knowledge of changing the ordinance. 70% of people don't want a cat colony to be near their home. • Motion: The practice of TNR should not continue with the blessing or the money of the City. (second by Richard Ruth) • Further board discussion: • Elaine Stephen: One of the reasons the TNR ordinance was not better received is because it focused exclusively on on-owned cats. If we don't have TNR, then the feral cat population is going to continue to multiple. If we don't address the own cat population, the feral cat population is going to continue to grow. • Teresa Burks: I agree with what Elaine said; we need to turn off the faucet. I also agree with the homeowners. We live very close to a mobile home park, and people are finding litters and litters of kittens nobody wants. • Stephanie McCurdy: When you mentioned in your motion, "Without the blessing or the money of the City." Are you aware of money the City is putting forth for any TNR programs, and can you clarify what you mean by support? • Patrick Atkins: No, I haven't reviewed that budget, but it is obvious that the work with organizations such as Friends of Feral Felines and others is supported by the City. In one aspect, they are not prohibiting TNR, and in my opinion, I still think it is against the ordinance to care for feed or host a cat colony that has been Trapped, Neutered, and Returned. • Stephanie McCurdy: Are you aware of a specific instance in which Wichita Animal Services were called, and services were not rendered on behalf of the citizen that made the complaint on the cat colony. • Vanessa Christophersen: The City does not fund Friends of Feral Felines; those are based off of donations. • Richard Ruth: It is true; what it sounds like is by supporting it is an agreement that they are not going to step in and arrest anyone for doing that. There was one incident where a citizen was having a problem with cats, and the police department referred the citizen to Friend of Feral Felines. There is a need, but no services being provided. What I am saying is there are instances where individuals have called and have not received services around that. • Teresa Burks: Part of that is there is no leash law on cats. Unless there is a nuisance complaint, there City of Wichita's hands are tied. • ADC Pinkston: There is a difference between TNR and cat colonies. The City of Wichita in no way, shape, or form participates in TNR; there are private entities out there that perform that. When citizens call in and say, "We have a nuisance with cats in our neighborhood." We try to solve that problem. I understand the argument that cats are predatory or a nuisance, but TNR is not the same thing as cat colonies. • Elaine: We do have a problem with cat overpopulation; it negatively affects citizens in Wichita and the generations of cats that are left in the wild. It also negatively affects wildlife. That why to deal with cat overpopulation, it is going to take a multi-faceted approach. When we do that, over time, that is going to be the only way we can reduce the number of feral cats. • Mike Marlett: Just a hypothetical question: If we had packs of stray dogs on the street, would we be ok with neutering and releasing those dogs? • Amended Motion: Amended motion presented by Stephanie McCurdy to table this until next meeting so all can adequately prepare. (Second by Teresa Burks.) • Board Action – Voted 7-1 (Motion Passes to table until next meeting)  Old Business 2. Breeding ordinance amendment to remove the requirement for two females to require a breeder's license. • Teresa Burks- sample of amended ordinance for review – breeding ordinance amendment to remove the requirement for two females to require a breeder's license. • Due to family issues and the fact that the City shows no current interest in changing this ordinance, the issue is being dropped at this time. • Motion – Motion to adjourn the meeting • Board Action – Voted 8-0 (Motion Passes) Recommended Action: Provide comment/ Take appropriate action. Next Meeting January 20, 2020, 4:00 PM at the Kansas Humane Society Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 5:06 PM.