PUBLIC NOTICE OF A MEETING Board of Animal Control Monday, 27, 1:00 pm Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center 2100 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL Room 2403 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3. BUSINESS/DISCUSSION a) -2015 Work Plan b) Shelter Updates 4. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS 5. ADJOURNMENT AGENDA Next Meeting: Monday, November 3, at 1:00 pm Order & Agenda Items are subject to change. Information about the Board of Animal Control is available at: www.cityofevanston.org/government/boards-commissions. Questions can be directed to Commander James Pickett, 847-866-5011. The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact the Facilities Management Office at 847-866-2916 (Voice) or 847-448-8064 (TYY).
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES Board of Animal Control Monday, 20, 1:00pm Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center Room 2403 Members Present: Chair Meredith Rives, Vice Chair Jill Cabot, Diane Valletta, Ruth Ann Hladish, Ald. Judy Fiske, Ald. Jane Grover Members Absent: none Staff Present: Deputy Chief Joseph Wazny, Commander James Pickett Guests: Linda Scott, Joan Meller, Sari Kadson Shapiro, Alisa Kaplan Presiding Member: Chair Meredith Rives CALL TO ORDER With a quorum present, Chair Rives called the meeting to order at 1:00pm APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved and seconded and the Board approved the meeting minutes of 13,. A. REPORTS 1. Vice Chair Cabot reported that the $850 Home Depot gift card donation will be used for the adoption room at the direction of the donor. 2. Ms. Kaplan reported that the repurposed computer is installed, volunteers have begun to work with it. 3. Shelter management software: Ms. Kaplan reported that volunteers have begun investigating software. Pet Point uses microchip data, has a difficult interface, and may be problematic for transitional volunteers. 4. ASPCA-funded trip to Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee: Ms. Kaplan reported that three volunteers traveled to the Wisconsin Humane Society shelter 1
DRAFT in Milwaukee. WHS adopts out 4500 dogs/year, 5500 cats/year from its three WHS campuses. Average shelter stay for dogs, including stray-hold, is 7-10 days. WHS has loosened adoption criteria, discloses behavior issues to prospective adoptive families, imposes some restrictions, adopts dogs out with written disclosure. The group also received SAFER (Safety Assessment for Evaluation and Re-Homing, http://www.aspcapro.org/safer-assessment-items) training. Ms. Kaplan recommended that the Evanston Animal Shelter's major need is for space to perform animal assessments, which will require moving stored items into a shed. The volunteers will price temporary sheds for purchase and the costs for pouring a concrete pad. 5. Ms. Kaplan reported that because of growing costs, McCormick Animal Hospital will provide only one pro bono spay or neuter procedure per day for all shelters with which McCormick works. Volunteers investigated other options for hospitals that have capacity for higher volume but with reasonable fee: PAWS charges $35/cat for spay/neuter; Treehouse charges $40-60; McCormick charges $40. Costs for dogs are higher: PAWS $120/dog, McCormick $60/dog. The Board discussed whether to increase adoption fees to cover the spay/neuter costs, investigate fees at neighboring shelters. The Board requested an updated shelter wish list. 6. Deputy Chief Wazny reported that calls to the shelter when it is not staffed will now be routed to 311 to ensure a response to residents seeking to reach the shelter. 7. Ald. Grover reported that she has contacted District 65 to inquire about donation boxes in the primary schools and that the District 65 communications person will reach out to the school principals. Chair Rives asked the volunteers to develop the wish list, bins, banners, mechanisms for this collection by November 1. B. PAWS Visit: Members of the Animal Control Board plan to visit PAWS at 1997 North Clybourne, Chicago, IL at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 22. Chair Rives will confirm and email details to board members. C. Board Work Plan: The Board began to draft its work plan to include goals and activities in: Operations, Personnel/Volunteers, Budget/Finance, Community, Policies, and Facilities. Ald. Grover will draft a work plan accordingly for further discussion. 2
DRAFT Note: Deputy Chief Wazny can be found on Twitter @EPD_DeputyChief. NEXT MEETING Monday, 27, at 1:00pm at the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:50 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Ald. Jane Grover 3
Animal Control Board DRAFT WORK PLAN -2015 Operations Goal Activities Resources/ Constraints Ensure the animal shelter is efficiently and effectively managed and staffed. Collect data on animal intake, disposition. Old computer files Volunteers information Time Frame Notes 2.5 FTE 120 Volunteers Evaluate staff activities. Staff activity reports Support a well-trained and well-informed volunteer corps. Solicit feedback from adopters, volunteers, community Prepare list of administrative functions. Evaluate and secure shelter management software. Review and revise all shelter forms. Develop training videos. Develop training manual with standards of care, policies, protocols Utilize volunteer Facebook page Schedule regular captains meetings, town hall meetings. Volunteers Staff activity reports 311 Service Center Surveys September Budget/ Finance Prepare annual balanced budget. Understand costs/revenues/ capital needs Evaluate monthly business unit accounting Evaluate fee structure Business unit accounting Business unit accounting Develop Business Plan? Community Provide public education Provide responsible pet care counseling Promote the shelter Plan and promote events Prepare adoption handouts, resource list, web links. Develop marking plan, materials 1
and animal adoption services Outreach to schools, university, families Plan and promote events Expand use of social media Policies/ Procedures Develop comprehensive policies that reflect ACB s priorties and community s values. Policies to address: Euthanasia Adoption Foster Rehab/training Medical care Exotic animals Develop Standard Operating Procedures for shelter operations and animal control Planning Establish Animal Shelter Foundation Human Services Committee, City Council approval Apply for 50(C)(3) non-profit status for foundation November Support Mayoral appointments to foundation board December Develop business plan Develop Request for Proposal (RFP) for Volunteer Animal Organization Facility Maintain and improve animal shelter facility Evaluate facility needs 2