Animal Services Office Strategic Plan Amendment

[Jose Chito Vela]

Colleagues,

I am very excited to see that we will have the opportunity today to approve a new five-year strategic plan for the Animal Services Office. The priority areas and goals identified in the plan directly address the most critical issues that have been consistently identified by stakeholders and my constituents over the last few years. I would like to offer a few small additions to the resolution to adopt the plan that I believe will provide transparency, accountability, and additional valuable insights and for the public and policy makers, as well as emphasize the value of responsive, flexible customer service that best serves the interests of our human and animal residents.

You can find the motion in the posted backup for Item 2 on today's agenda. The full text of the motion is below:

I move to amend the resolution to add the following “Be It Further Resolved” clauses:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The City Council supports the creation of a culture of openness to input from both ASO staff and the public, particularly with respect to areas of their expertise, on how to improve the customer service experience, which can help reduce the strain on ASO resources and staff or improve conditions and outcomes for animals and have not been given due consideration because ASO staff lack capacity and support to examine and implement changes. The City Council directs the City Manager to take the steps necessary to create such a culture.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

The City Council directs the City Manager to report to the Animal Advisory Commission and the Public Health Committee of the City Council, on a periodic basis, but no less frequently than once a year, on the status, progress, and challenges encountered for each of the six priority areas identified in the ASO Strategic Plan. To ensure that critical information is presented in a timely manner, each priority area report can be presented separately. For the relevant priority areas, the following information shall be included:

1. The ways ASO has expanded and marketed resources and education on responsible pet ownership, including microchipping, spay/neuter, and vaccination; and
2. The average length of available days in shelter/foster by species and size of dog.

The City Council also directs the City Manager to develop and implement a plan to provide the above updates more frequently to the Animal Advisory Commission, to the extent reasonably possible, such as on a quarterly basis or more.

Saludos,
Chito