1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Present Commissioners: Philip Gerrie, AnneMarie Fortier, Sally Stephens, Shari O’Neill, Susanna Russo, Ryan Young, John Denny – SFPD
Absent Commissioners: Pam Hemphill, Lisa Wayne – Rec & Park
2. General Public Comment
Richard Fong –Attended a Rec & Park hearing about planning for a dog and skateboard park underneath central freeway in SOMA. Concern about disposing of animal waste. Also a concern about unregulated feral cat colonies in Natural Areas. Wants accountability of who is feeding.
Public Comment closed
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the February 14, 2013
No Commission nor public comment.
Minutes approved unanimously as written
4. Chairperson’s Report and Opening Remarks
Comr. Stephens – Discussion of implementation professional dog walker permits was scheduled for this month but is now rescheduled for the May Meeting.
No public comment
A) Joint Zoo Oversight Committee Updates
Comr. Stephens – The ACWC has a representative on the JZ Committee. That Commission is composed of three people from the Rec & Park Commission and three people from the zoological society. A few years ago there was controversy over the zoo, conditions at the zoo and animal welfare at the zoo. As a result, two non-voting seats were established to represent concerns purely of animal welfare. One seat is from this Commission, which is myself, and the other seat is for a veterinarian with experience with large animals. That veterinarian’s name is Joe Spinelli who is retired. I report to this Commission what was discussed at the JZ Meetings. A couple of months ago, we had a presentation from Dr. Terry Maple who is consulting for the zoo about an animal-wellness initiative. The wellness initiative is shifting away from focusing on preserving species, which involved moving animals between zoos to foster breeding more animals, as opposed to the actual wellness of the animals themselves. Dr. Maple wants to focus on both the animal’s physical and emotional welfare. Animal enrichment is a current focus of an animal’s emotional welfare. At the JZ meetings he has reported on progress on looking at each animal’s enclosure. For example, the lemurs. What are they doing and what do they want them to be doing? They want to increase the animal’s activity level which is accomplished by more enrichment improving psychological wellness. They will be working with students in Masters and PHD programs from UC Davis, SF State, and University of the Pacific. The students will be monitoring the animals to learn what they are actually doing. If more activity is observed in one part of the animal’s exhibit they will see what they need to do to spread the activity throughout the exhibit. They are also concerned about repetitive stereo typing behavior observed in some animals. Usually as pacing back and forth. That behavior is often observed around feeding time. Suggestions to lessen that behavior is to feed more often, vary the feeding times, and hide the food. Animals in the wild have to look for their food. Future exhibits will have wellness features in mind. SF Zoo would like to have a conference with the Oakland Zoo within the next year. The SF Zoo has a more academic approach with students monitoring and publishing papers on their studies. The Oakland Zoo is more willing to just try practical things and see how they work. Dr Maple, and other zoo staff, will be going to a conference in June put on by the Brookfield Zoo that is a leader in the science of animal welfare. They are partnering with the Detroit Zoo that is a leader in the practice of animal welfare. They are analogous to the SF and Oakland Zoo partnerships. Dr. Maple would like the zoo to partner with humane groups in the area such as HSUS for example. HSUS wants to be involved in wellness programs in zoos nationally as well as locally as well as other groups as see what comes out of it.
A new tiger cub was born last month. Of interest was that they were able to do ultra-sound to monitor the mother throughout the pregnancy so they knew what was going on. That enabled them to monitor the health of the mother as well as the fetus. They were able to do this because they had trained her through rewards to allow the ultra-sound exams without anesthetic or medication. That was one of the first time a zoo has been able to do that. The training for the exam is a form of enrichment because they are rewarded with special meat treats. The cub is doing well. They closed the lion house since the cub’s birth to reduce noise level and provide privacy. They have left mother and cub alone so they don’t know the sex of the cub to date.
Joint Zoo meetings are usually on the fourth Thursday of the month. It is at 5 PM at the zoo. We have to be careful about having too many Commissioners there since if there are four or more it becomes a quorum and violates Sunshine Ordinance. If you want to go, send an email to me so I can be sure only three or less attend. Meetings are held every month except December and one month during summer.
The public is welcome. There is no cost, no admission fee to the zoo nor a cost to park in the lot.
Comr. Gerrie – Can you send a reminder to us?
Comr. Stephens - I will try.
Comr. Gerrie – As a non-voting member of JZ, can you serve as long as you want or is there a term limit? If you were no longer Chair or on this Commission how would that work? Is there anything written down about how that works?
Comr. Stephens – No. This Commission is responsible to appoint someone for that seat.
Comr. Gerrie – As to the quorum limit, as long as we’re not talking to each other?
Comr. Stephens – It’s complicated. If it’s a social engagement, that would be exempt from Sunshine. If it is about a subject that might come before the Commission it would apply. A quorum of us would be getting information at the same time.
Comr. Gerrie – Thank you for your service on that Commission.
Comr. Russo – Do you know what the reason was for breeding the tiger and what will happen to the tiger cub?
Comr. Stephens – That was not discussed. Generally breeding is for conservation, to increase the numbers so they don’t disappear.
Comr. Russo – To have more tigers incarcerated.
Comr. Stephens – That is a legitimate question. Is there value in keeping animals alive that have no hope of being released into the wild? I doubt it would remain at this zoo.
Comr. Russo – To be sold, traded, and moved around.
Comr. Stephens – That used to be what happened. Now, animals tend to remain in one zoo.
Comr. Young – Was there any mention of the fatal attack recently by a lion in a California wildlife center?
Comr. Stephens – The JZ Meeting was before that happened. Last year there was discussion after the shooting of dozens of animals let loose from a private zoo in Ohio. I talked with some of the zoo people who were appalled by the private zoos. I believe this took place at a sanctuary not a private zoo. The zoo people don’t have a problem with sanctuaries.
No public comment
B) Upcoming Commissioner Vacancies. Four Commissioners’ terms in office will end in April.
Comr. Stephens – Commissioner’s Hemphill, Young, Gerrie, and myself terms are up. I spoke with the Clerk of the Rules Committee. She said to come back to her to schedule in April when our terms are up. The Rules Committee is very busy. Since we are not a Charter Commission we are allowed to serve beyond when our term has technically ended. Last year, I contacted her each month, May, June, July, and was put off several months. I encourage anyone interested to apply. All applications will be kept and applicants will be contacted when a date is set. Our Commission website has the link to the form to apply for a seat.
Comr. Fortier – How will we know when a date is set?
Comr. Stephens – Only if you’ve applied will you be notified. You’ll get, at most, a two week notice. I have, in the past, sometimes sent a notice out to the Commissioners.
No public comment
5. General Public Comment
James Yorck – For every one bird killed by wind turbines, 7,000 birds are killed by domesticated cats. Why is there a constant silence over this problem?
6. & 7. Items for future Commission Meetings and Closing task allotments.
Comr. Stephens – The hearing about the professional dog walker permits will be in May.
No public comment
8. Adjournment 6PM
Respectfully submitted by Philip Gerrie
Commission Secretary
