August 5, 2020 Schertz Animal Care Advisory Committee MinutesSCHERZ ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2020 6:OOPM
The Animal Care Advisory Committee of the City of Schertz, Texas held a regular
meeting on February 5, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Hal Baldwin Municipal Complex
Council Chambers Conference Room, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building #4,
Schertz, Texas. The following members were present:
Committee Members Present:
Ginger Dispain, Animal Shelter Manager
Brooke Knowlton, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Allison Heyward, City Council Liaison
Marc Bane, Assistant Chief of Police, Chair
Lisa Connolly, Homes for Pets
Members not present:
Michelle Helgren, Under Savannah's Wings
Staff Present:
Steve Solitto, Sergeant
Charles Kelm, Assistant City Manager
Chief of Police Michael Hansen
CALL TO ORDER AT: 6:00 pm by Chair Asst. Chief of Police Marc Bane
ROLL CALL: See Committee Members present.
HEARING OF RESIDENTS: No residents present.
1. Minutes: Consideration and/or action regarding the approval of the minutes of the
regular meeting of February 5, 2020.
A motion was made by Ginger Dispain to approve the minutes of February 5,
2020. Dr. Brooke Knowlton seconded the motion. Motion passed. Vote was
unanimous.
2. General Shelter Update: Assistant Chief Bane provided a power point presentation
on the shelters current population, animal dispositions, staffing, significant customer
interactions, and other issues.
a. Population count on February 5, 2020 is 85
• 38 -Dogs
• 46 -Cats
• 1- Rabbit
2 -5 -2020 Minutes
SCHERZ ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2020 6:OOPM
b. FY 2019/20 Occupancy - Animal Services Intake- 404 total
• Dogs -244
• Cats -132
• Wildlife -28
c. Animal Disposition - Euthanasia
• Dogs -3, Aggressive -Human
• Dogs -1, Vet Recommended
• Dogs -2, Medical Condition
• Dogs -1, Aggressive Animal
• Cats -2, Medical Condition
• Cats -2, Untreatable Injury
• We do not euthanize for space
d. Animal Disposition - Euthanasia by Month -11 total
• October -2
• November -3
• December -3
• January-3
e. Staffing
• No vacant positions
f. Shelter Hours
• The first Monday of every month starting January 6, 2020 the shelter will
close for deep cleaning and training
• Staff will still respond to calls for service in the community
g. Customer Interactions
• November 19, 2019, took in 10 basset hounds, based on citizen complaint
• No customer complaints since last update
• Community concerns, Wildlife in yard, dead animals on roadway, animal
welfare, snakes at Civic Center from snake show (all were found), dog
bites and dogs at large
h. Randolph MOA
• Upon reviewing the MOA revision provided by JBSA- Randolph, there
were come corrections and revisions made. On September 24, 2019, the
revised document was sent back to JBSA- Randolph for their final review.
i. Facility Issues
• The current HVAC system continues to struggle. Portable AC units have
been pulled out and replaced with dehumidifiers.
• The heat is working well.
• The city owned trailer being utilized as a "Cat Quarantine" is working out
very well.
2 -5 -2020 Minutes
SCHERZ ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 59 2020 6:00PM
j. Resources
• Cat atrium for adoption room will be here next week, the week after cat
adoption kennels will be in.
0 6 more beds ordered/received; 3 beds donated through amazon wish list.
• New truck has been delivered and working on radio, computer, lighting
and getting it striped.
3. Cat Room Project Update: Sgt. Solitto gave an update on the cat room. One room
completely done. Asst. Chief Bane and Sgt. Solitto spent a day drilling holes and
worked on it. Working on solutions for dry wall to hang other boxes. Still using cat
hammocks, working out very well.
4. Adoption Trailer Update: Sgt. Solitto let everyone know that the new trailer has
arrived and provided details of the new trailer compared to the old trailer, which was
traded in to help fund this one. The new trailer has a different door, two AC units, heat,
solar panel and a water - holding tank. Took the new trailer to Touch -a -Truck event and
received a positive response. Graphics are still in the design stage.
5. Update on Foster Program: Mgr. Dispain went over the foster program at the
shelter as we currently have 14 animals including momma and her puppies and a
heart worm dog along with a healing cat in foster and have 10 active fosters we are
working with.
6. Adoption Events Update: Mgr. Dispain gave an update on adoption events. Moving
on Main is coming up in April and it was a good event last year. A Dog's Journey
will be on in Movies in the Park at the end of March and we will have the adoption
trailer at the other end of the park. Reached out to a representative at Macey's
backstage, no update on that yet. Also working with Chuy's for Kittens, Canines and
Queso.
7. HVAC/Fence/Canopy Update: Mr. Kelm let the committee know that Council has
approved $250K for city facilities over the next five years which means for the
Animal Shelter 2021 a fence at $60K and 2023 a canopy at $90K.
8. Social Media Update: Sgt. Solitto let the committee know that the Facebook page
has been getting good reviews. It is mainly utilized for new incomers and it is helping
owners find their lost pets. Paws on Patrol is also getting a lot of attention as well.
Businesses are even calling asking if we can come to their location. Devan from PA
submitted our FB page to the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers,
nominating us for Best Use of Social Media Award.
9. Inspection Results: Mgr. Dispain went over inspection results with the committee
letting them know in December we had a surprise inspection and received a perfect
inspection.
2 -5 -2020 Minutes
SCHERZ ANIMAL CARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2020 6:OOPM
10. Microchip Ordinance Presentation: Sgt. Solitto spoke about the ordinance that will
be going to City Council in coming weeks modeled after larger cities. That will
require mandatory chipping of dogs/cats that reside in the City of Schertz. The
microchips will repeal the annual licensing. It will be a one -time $15.00 fee
compared to $5.00 a year. Microchips by far are the best way to reunite dogs with
their owners, and a preventative from people dumping their dogs. Councilwoman
Heyward asked how we were going to enforce ordinance. The only real enforcement
if/when animals are brought in and the information will be given out when people
come in for new water accounts and we will promote it as much as we can after
approval. Dr. Knowlton also tells all her clients as well and gives them the
information.
11. Announcements by the Assistant City Manager: Mr. Kelm let everyone know how
pleased he was with the inspection and the positive feedback in regards to hearing
about people talking so positive about Schertz. Staffing study, along class and comp
results will be coming out shortly.
12. Announcements by Assistant Chief of Police: There were no announcements from
Assistant Chief M. Bane.
13. Announcements by Committee Members: There were no announcements from
committee members.
14. Requests by Committee Members that items be placed on a future Animal
Care Advisory Committee Agenda:
Ms. Connolly would like to talk about feral cat colonies.
Councilwoman Heyward brought up having a Citizen on committee.
More postings for meetings on social media.
15. Adjournment: Asst. Chief M. Bane adjourned the meeting at 6:33pm,
CHARLES O. KELM
Assistant City Manager
71V T: , k�W
Assistant
2 -5 -2020 Minutes