Attachment-100420 (2)

County of Santa Clara
Animal Advisory Commission
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Minutes
Regular Meeting
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
The regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Animal Advisory Commission is called to
order by Chairperson Johnson at 7:00 p.m. in Room l57, County Government Center, 70
West Hedding Street, San Jose. A quorum is present.
Members present
Janet Alexander
Members absent
Jennifer Reding
Bambi Alexander−Banys .
Karen Johnson .
Judy Jones
1 Vacancy
Lorna Pusateri
2. Public Presentations
There are no public comments.
3. Approve minutes of March 9, 2006 meeting
Commissioner Pusateri requests that Item 5 be amended to read "...partially operational..."
and that the extra period be removed after Item 8, sentence 1. Commissioner Jones requests
that Item 4, paragraph 2, be amended to read "...a special permit is required...," and the
following sentence be amended to read "Commissioner Jones states that there have been
circuses in the unincorporated area of the County."
.
On order of the Chairperson, there being no objection, it is ordered that further
consideration of the minutes be held to later in the meeting when Commissioner Reding
arrives.
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Animal Advisory Commission
May 11, 2006
4. Accept verbal update report from Greg Van Wassenhove, Division of Animal Care
and Control
Mr. Van Wassenhove distributes copies of a spreadsheet showing the total number, by city,
of surgeries in the Spay−Neuter program, and notes that 52 percent occurred in the City of
San Jose.
.
He reports that the Housing, Land Use, Environment, and Transportation (HLUET)
Committee has agreed to consider options for prioritization with the objective to make
resources for spaying and neutering more effective. Chairperson Johnson notes that a
transmittal to HLUET is being prepared. Mr. Van Wassenhove lists options to raise co−pay
or exclude some animals, emphasizing that he is not in favor of the exclusion approach
because he believes the County program should be open to all, while giving some
preference to residents in unincorporated areas.
.
Mr. Van Wassenhove continues by reporting that the number of cats in the County Animal
Shelter is increasing. The Bascom Animal Hospital no longer spays or neuters feral cats.
.
On Commission consensus, it is ordered that the verbal update report be accepted.
.
On Commissio consensus, the agenda is taken out of order.
9. Discuss and prepare a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors on a new policy
regarding feral cats located on County−owned properties
Ms Johnson reports that Supervisor Pete McHugh requested that the Commission consider
the issue of feral cats at Reid−Hillview Airport in relation to burrowing owls and
recommend a standard policy regarding feral cats on County property. Robert Gorman, who
leases a hangar at Reid−Hillview, states that, during his 11 years at the Airport, he noticed
that the cats live at the north end of the Airport, 600 yards away from the owls at the south
end. He emphasizes the importance of neutering the cats and returning them to the Airport
to control mice, which damage airplanes.
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Animal Advisory Commission
May 11, 2006
.
Carl Honaker, Director of County Airports, explains that the burrowing owls are a species
of concern in California and that cats also get run over by planes and can damage planes.
Chairperson Johnson suggests that "cat fencing," which has a ledge to prevent cats from
climbing over, be considered to keep out pet cats from adjacent neighborhoods. Mr.
Honaker explains that cats would still be able to enter the Airport by climbing on trees and
recreational vehicles along the Airport border.
.
Mr. Van Wassenhove introduces Dr. Scott Terrill, H. T. Harvey and Associates, an expert
on burrowing owls and a member of the San Jose Bird Observatory Board of Directors. Dr.
Terrill notes that the population of burrowing owls has decreased significantly although not
yet enough to be listed as an endangered species. He explains that the owls rely on ground
squirrel burrows for protection from red−tailed hawks, eagles, and cats.
.
Commissioner Pusateri expresses the opinion that the housing development next to
Reid−Hillview Airport creates more of a problem for the owls than the cats. Dr. Terrill
notes that the State Department of Fish and Game has purchased burrowing owl habitats in
order to maintain as many populations as possible with genetic variety. In response to an
inquiry from Commissioner Pusateri, Dr. Terrill responds that burrowing nest boxes, which
provide the owls with protection from dogs, also work well for protection from cats. He
notes that the best design has been a series of escape burrows for each of the young owls.
.
Rosy Marco, Director of Town Cats, states that it is difficult to place feral cats in homes.
Carolyn Stocker, a volunteer with Town Cats, notes that there are many feral cat colonies in
the County. Supervisor McHugh reports that he received electronic mail relating to a rescue
network for homeless cats in Foster City. He expresses appreciation for the work done by
Town Cats.
.
Chairperson Johnson suggests that the Commission formulate a recommended overall
policy relating to feral cats on County−owned property. Discussion ensues and, on
Commission consensus, it is ordered that flyers be distributed to residents of areas adjacent
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Animal Advisory Commission
May 11, 2006
to airports, providing information about where to obtain cat neutering services. Mr.
Honaker offers to handle delivery of the flyers and suggests that a community meeting
could be held at Reid−Hillview Airport to provide information to residents.
.
Commissioner Alexander−Banys summarizes recommendations: cat fencing, signs, and
trap/neuter/release. In response to Commissioner Pusateri, Mr. Honaker states that, while it
would be acceptable to begin trapping the cats at the Airport, returning the cats after
neutering would be detrimental to the owl population. Chairperson Johnson states that a
research study found that feral cats tend to eat mice and other rodents before preying on
birds. Mr. Honaker agrees to review the budget to determine whether funds would be
available for cat fencing at the Airport. Commissioners discuss placement of signs, and Ms
Marco offers assistance from Town Cats for pick up and delivery of cats for neutering.
.
On motion of Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Alexander−Banys, it is
unanimously order that a recommendation be sent to the Board of Supervisors for a new
policy regarding feral cats located on County−owned properties, to specify that the first
priority of the policy will be "trap, neuter, release," to draw on expert knowledge in cases
where other species are concerned, to trap and send to another property, and, as a last resort,
euthanasia.
5. Accept verbal update report from Commissioners Alexander, Jones and Pusateri
regarding the City of San Jose Animal Advisory Committee.
There is no report.
6. Accept verbal report on The Cat Coalition
Chairperson Johnson reports that management at several mobile home parks appear to lack
interest in the problem of feral cats. She states she would like to communicate with five
parks where most of the cats are found.
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Animal Advisory Commission
May 11, 2006
7. Accept verbal report on transmittal recommending all cities to participate in the
spay/neuter program
Chairperson Johnson announces that the transmittal will be considered by the Housing,
Land Use, Environment, and Transportation Committee on May 25, 2006. The transmittal
contains a recommendation that the Board of Supervisors restrict access to the spay/neuter
program to residents of the unincorporated portion of the County and residents of cities that
participate in funding of the Program. In addition, the Transmittal contains a request that the
Animal Advisory Commission be authorized to encourage non−participating cities to
contribute to the Program.
.
(Commissioner Reding arrives at 8:27 p.m.)
3. The Commission further considers the minutes. Commissioner Reding requests that the
second sentence in Item 8 be deleted and that the words "vouchers for" be deleted from the
subject line of Item 10.
.
On order of Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Alexander−Banys, it is
unanimously ordered that the minutes of the March 9, 2006 meeting be approved, as
amended.
8. Discuss statistics on over−represented dog breeds at the shelter and methods by which
public outreach or other programs could reduce these numbers
On Commission consensus, it is ordered that the item be held to the June 8, 2006 Workship
Session.
10. Correspondence/Announcements
Commissioner Jones emphasizes the need for an evacuation plan for animals in the event of
a disaster and announces that there will be a mock evacuation, including dogs, cats, rabbits,
and other animals on July 22, 2006 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. Commissioner
Pusateri suggests that the Board of Supervisors be requested to include animals as part of
any evacuation plan.
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Animal Advisory Commission
May 11, 2006
11. Adjourn to the next Workshop Session scheduled for June 8, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in
Room l57, County Government Center, 70 West Hedding, San Jose
On Commission consensus, the meeting is adjourned at 9:15 p.m. to the next Workshop
Session scheduled for June 8, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in Room l57, County Government Center,
70 West Hedding, San Jose.
.
Respectfullty submitted,
.
Martha Jurick
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