2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 March 13, 2008
5:36 PM
1. Call to order and Roll Call
Present, Commissioners: Laurie Kenndy-Routhier, Sally Stephens, Christine Garcia, Andrea Brooks, Pam Hemphill, Philip Gerrie, Mara Weiss DVM, Vicki Guldbech – ACC
Absent, Commissioners William Herndon – SF Police, Bob Palacio – SF Rec & Park
Comr. Stephens – Item 7A is not clear on our intention to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors concerning the zoo therefore we will not be able to take action on that item. We can discuss the item.
2. Public Comment
None
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the February 14th, 2008 Meeting
Approved unanimously without changes.
4. Chairperson’s report and opening remarks
Comr. Stephens – Three commissioners terms due to expire at the end of April, Comr. Routhier, Garcia, and Dr. Weiss. Applications for renewal or appointments from the public should be submitted to the Rules Committee a week before April 17th, which is the earliest meeting date.
Propose discussion of affects on animals of spraying for apple moths for next meeting.
Comr. Hemphill – Current concern is sprayings affect on people not animals. Not much is known on how it might effect animals because they cannot report symptoms.
Comr. Stephens – Concern of spraying is affects on people and on animals that have compromised immune systems. Supports a speaker on that issue next month.
Comr. Gerrie- Issue affects several counties and is being taken up on the State level. Our addressing the issue in a month might be redundant.
Comr. Hemphill – Would prefer to focus on known and researched problems such as affect of rodenticides on wildlife.
Comr. Stephens – Would like to find out any information about affects on animals because spraying, once started, will be repeated often over several years. Will invite speakers to next months meeting.
Comr. Hemphill – Company that makes pesticide is called Checkmate, based inOregon .
Comr. Garcia – Would like to find out if Checkmate has done any tests on animals.
5. Committee Reports/Commissioner’s Reports
A) Update on approaches to stop illegal fireworks on July 4th from disturbing nesting birds at Stow Lake, Lake Merced, Heron’s Head, and Agua Vista Park
Comr. Hemphill – Received e-mail from Dennis Kern at Rec & Park. Stated that there is now 24/7 coverage with ten new officers. Stow Lake should be easy to check on.
Public comment 5A
Richard Fong – Concerned about safe place to board pets on July 4th away from fireworks . Animals get stressed and nervous.
6. Status and tracking of letters of recommendation approved by Commission, requesting action by Board of Supervisors
A) Update on status of Commission’s recommendation that Board of Supervisors pass a resolution in support of Nov. 8th State ballot initiative requiring egg-laying hens, calves used for veal, and pigs used for breeding ,be given enough room to turn around and lay down.
Comr. Gerrie – On February 26th Board of Supervisors passed the resolution unanimously. Mayor signed it on about March 11. The file # is 080249. Enacted # is 0096-08
6A Public comment
Dr. Elliot Katz – In Defense of Animals – Reminds Commission of the responsibility to remind public of the slaughter of meat and dairy animals.
7 Old business
A) Discussion and possible action on animal welfare issues as SF Zoo. Draft documents outlining concerns and solutions will be discussed. Also, discussion and possible action to draft a letter to the SF Zoological Society requesting a response to Commissions’ questions.
Comr. Stephens – Third meeting of ACWC to discuss this issue. Error in wording of this item stops us from taking action on this item tonight to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors. We can work on the draft letter however. Zoo officials have not been able to come to Commission meetings although they were invited to the Feb14th and Feb 29th meetings as well as this March 14th meeting.
Comr. Gerrie - Supports Comr. Brooks draft letter’s three points;, 1. To make animal welfare the priority at the zoo, 2. To form a Board appointed “Zoo Oversight Commisison” focused on animal welfare at the zoo, 3. Transition into a rescue zoo. Concern now is to speed our letter to the Board so that they can hold hearings and make recommendations before the June Lease Agreement between the City and the Zoological Society is renewed. Hope to complete and agree on draft tonight and meet again within a week for action to vote on this item. Likens condition of some zoo animals as to being in solitary confinement. Rebukes zoo officials for dismissing criticisms for not being from zoo “experts”.
Comrs. Weiss & Routhier also support Comr. Brooks draft letter.
Comr. Hemphill – Supports draft letter but would like to focus on the language of the three additional support pages.
Comr. Brooks – Feels draft letter may be sufficient to send to Supervisors.
Comr. Hemphill – Concern over grizzily exhibit when grizzilies grow to full size and outgrow their enclosure. Language in support document should mention that.
Comr. Brooks –Wants to keep cover letter brief. Likely to be read by Supervisors.
Supporting pages may not be read.
Comr. Routhier – Additional pages should include letters by zoo experts and Zoo Master Plan concerns. Possibly adding zoo DVD to show condition of animals versus writing about them. Wants to focus on encouraging Supervisors to hold public hearings which will bring out more details which will help them on deciding what action to take. That is our objective.
Comr. Hemphill – Questions several sentences of supplement pages as to accuracy or redundancy.
Comr. Gerrie – Doesn’t feel a need to work on language of supplement. Cover letter is most important . Supervisors just need to hold hearings and hear from experts and the public.
Comr. Garcia – Supports sending cover letter on its own as soon as possible. Contains an air of immediacy. Sentence could be added that supplement is available upon request.
Comr. Stephens – Wants to include supplemental material. If Supervisors don’t read it, their aides will. Supplement is a filter for key issues that will be raised at hearings. Better to give more information up front than less.
Public comment 7A
Deniz Bolbol – Supports rescheduling to vote as soon as possible on sending the letter. Supports sending supplements as well including letters from zoo experts if can be done quickly.
Mark Ennis – Supports sending cover letter to Supervisor and not getting hung up on supplement. Zoo officials have had time to respond to Commission but chose not to.
Justin Barker – Supports rescues zoo. Urges Commission to take a strong stance against current zoo management and independent oversight committee. Wants accountability of money misspent from 1997 Zoo Bond.
Eric Brooks – SF Green Party – Supports adding supplement. Supplement gives details to adding ‘zoo oversight’ or preferably ‘zoo transition’ commission.
Sabrina Cushing – Supports expediting draft to Supervisors.
Dr. Ron Cole – Supports zoo experts include zoo keepers. Wants supplement to include clean water for all animals and find companions for solitary animals.
Anna Aviolis – Supports Commissions’ draft. Zoo animals need more vet. care. Zoo needs new management. Animals need to be respected.
Karen Snook – IDA – Supports draft letter. Would change “make animal welfare a priority” to “animal welfare the priority” .
Nidi Singh – Wants to move ahead to send draft letter. Not to worry about lack of response from zoo officials. They will come to Supervisor hearings. Feels this effort is significant.
Dr. Elliot Katz – IDA – Past efforts to remove elephants from zoo were stonewalled by zoo officials. Sense of immediacy to stop zoo animal suffering. Quicker Commission moves will balance procrastination of zoo officials.
Lee Sinclair – Refuses to take her children to the zoo. Prefers to go to animal sanctuaries. There, the focus is on the animals. “Rescue” carries a level of responsibility. “Zoo” carries a level on entitlement.
Lisa Holcroft – Supports rescue zoo. Her dog is a ‘rescue dog’ and has been received with compassion and love by strangers.
Douglas - Wants immediate action for animal welfare.
Pat Covella – Action for animals can’t happen soon enough.
7 A Commissioner Discussion
Comr. Garcia – Question on Sunshine Ordinance notification requirements for special meeting.
Comr. Stephens – 72 hours notice if held in City Hall. Two weeks notice if held elsewhere. Can be held as long as enough voting Commissioners can attend to make a quorum.
Comr. Hemphill – Wants to work on wording of supplement tonight.
Comr. Gerrie – Agrees with Comr Brooks that the supplement is not a priority that needs to be worked on.
Comr. Routhier – Personally not concerned about supplement due to ongoing networking with Supervisors. Respects differing viewpoints on it. Suggests going over supplement to exclude possible controversial sections or topics.
Comr. Hemphill – Requests wording changes in supplement. “Commission testimony” to “public testimony regarding the zoo” Concerned about the grizzily exhibit being cited as a rescue role model but will be inadequate when the bears are full grown.
Comr. Stephens – Explains 2% requirement of capital expenditures be used for purchasing public art and that the zoo should be exempt from that to improve exhibit conditions.
Comr. Hemphill – Questions basis of statement by Joel Parrott on improving animal exhibits will drive attendance up. Questions inclusion of wildlife rehab center funding be separate from general zoo monies.
Comr. Gerrie – Against inclusion of whole wildlife rehab section. Effort should go to a separate location on Lake Merced.
Comr. Hemphill – Supports inclusion of wildlife rehab in supplement. Zoo has facilities.
Comr. Brooks – Clarifies that supporting zoo wildlife rehab center would take away from the Lake Merced rehab effort by Jamie Ray’s ROMP.
Comr. Stephens – Concern that money for a separate non-profit rehab center would not be viable. Not enough demand for two wildlife centers. Would prefer zoo as best place for wildlife rehab.
Comr. Brooks – Willing to strike section if it is a problem.
Comr. Hemphill – Would like to keep it in because it has a better chance at the zoo.
Comr. Gerrie – Makes a motion to put it to a vote- to include or strike wildlife rehab section. Motion to include in supplement passed. Four in favor. Two abstained. One against. Suggest wording be changed to start with “consider” developing wildlife etc.
Suggests revised supplement and cover letter be posted on Commission’s website before next special meeting.
8. Public Comment None
9. Calendar Items
Comr. Stephens – Will look into Dept of Ag. representative coming to speak about apple moth spraying.
10. Closing Review of Task Allotment and Next Steps.
Comr. Brooks – Schedule special meeting next week to vote on letter to Supervisors. Only agenda item for next regular meeting is the apple moth issue.
Adjournment 7:20 PM
Respectfully submitted by
Philip Gerrie
Commission Secretary