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Draft Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2005
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Franklin, Kipnis, Weiss, DVM, Schulke, Yeager, Hamilton, Guldbech, Herndon
Absent with excuse: Commission Kennedy, Chair
Commission Franklin will chair this meeting in the absence of Commission Kennedy.
2. Public Comment
Invited Speaker Sara Cohen, Hopalong Animal Rescue - spoke about hurricane Katrina rescue efforts. HSUS is organizing the relief effort. Hopalong is working with HSUS to coordinate efforts from the Bay Area. Volunteers who know how to work with animals are needed; vans are needed to transport animals back t the bay area for fostering.
Invited Speaker Kevin Connelly, In Defense of Animals (IDA) - IDA's Project Hope in Mississippi is helping in the rescue efforts. Set up rescue station in Jackson, MS and sent teams down to Waveland. IDA has set up a rescue fund on it's web site where people can donate.
Eric Mills, Action for Animals - Important that we send money now instead of transporting supplies, which can take days.
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the August 11, 2005 Meeting.
Commissioner Hamilton moved to accept meeting minutes with changes
Seconded by Commissioner Schulke
Passed unanimously
4. Chairperson's report and opening remarks
Commissioner Franklin -
B7 Bill 861 - Passed by State assembly, waiting for signature from Governor.
B7 The Commission's findings on mandatory spay neuter are being compiled and will be sent to Supervisor Dufty.
B7 City of Clear Lake has passed mandatory spay neuter of all dogs and cats.
B7 Important to microchip your animal given the recent disaster in the gulf.
B7 Future rescue protocols must be made given the fact that many families affected by Katrina are not leaving their homes because they are not allowed take their animals with them.
5. Old Business
5a. Endorsement of legislation that would prohibit those convicted of animal abuse/neglect from having animals for up to a five-year period.
Commissioner Guldbech - The Commission does not have the ability to change the language from 3 to 5 yrs, per state law. The penalty must match the probationary period. We should try to stiffen local health ordinances. Judge always has the ability to extend the probationary period. This issue does not need to go to the Board of Supervisors.
No public comment.
5b. SF Health Code 42.3(c)(b) - Change of the time requirement for the scheduling of vicious and dangerous dog hearing dates, to be based not only on when the dog incident occurred but also upon when the dog and guardian can be found to receive notification.
Commissioner Herndon - met with Carl Friedman and two city attorneys; tweaked the language quite a bit; by next week should have final language. The final draft states that when the owner and/or dog are located, city must conduct a hearing between 15 and 90 days of locating owner and/or dog, and give 10 days notice.
Public Comment
Ron Thompson - requested clarification regarding what happens if the dog is found, but not the owner; asked if a dog could be put down even if the owner could not be found.
Eric Steinberg - commended the Commission and city attorney for trying to provide time for due process and speedy hearings. Wish there was a way to add stiffer penalties when owners fail to appear at hearing.
5c. Status update regarding the request brought to the Commission last month to assist with urging City action be taken to remove the African Clawed Frogs a pond in Golden Gate Park.
Commissioner Schulke - Called Rec. and Park Commissioner several times; spoke with President who said the Commission would have to look at protocol with regard to getting an item put on the agenda. Impression is that the Park and Rec. Commission is not very welcoming of the issue.
Public Comment
Eric Mills - has been in touch with Rec. and Park - President would be writing a letter to him as to why this issue would not be on their agenda. The pond has been drained a bit so that the frogs could be collected, but so far no action has been taken.
Miles Young - thanks Commissioner Schulke for following up with Rec. and Park. SF City Attorney suggested he go to the Park and Rec. Commission to discuss this issue.
6. New Business
a. Proposal to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the issuance of a resolution condemning the sale of bear gall bladder and bile products and the encouragement of a community relations and educational campaign regarding humane alternatives to the farming and hunting of bears for this purpose.
Commissioner Hamilton reported that bear bile is extracted and sold for traditional medicinal purpose sold mostly to Asian community. It is illegal in CA, but studies show that bear bile is being sold in Chinatown among other CA cities. SF Animal Care and Control has no authority to address this issue as it is under the jurisdiction of CA Fish and Game Department. Fish and Game does not have any wardens San Francisco. Recommends that the Commission ask the Board of Supervisors to officially recognize this problem and support an education initiative to get the word out.
Commissioner Hamilton moved to discuss this item
Seconded by Commissioner Kipnis
Passed unanimously
Public Comment
Laura Hoover - resident of SF who is concerned about this issue of bear farming; visited bear Animals Asia Foundation, dedicated to stop the practice of bear farming. Discussed the details of this practice. Will be working on education and outreach campaign to Chinese and other Asian Communities to inform them of the inhume practice to extract the bile; alternative herbal remedies; and penalties incurred for trading these substances.
Miles Young - conducted undercover investigation; need to enforce the law here in CA. No one in the field to enforce the law.
Eric Mills - worth making an effort to get a Game Warden assign to San Francisco. Ask the Board of Supervisors to assign a warden.
Commission Discussion
Commissioner Herndon - best not to ask the Board for an endorsement, but ask them for help by assigning a game warden to address all of the fish and game issues that have been brought to the Commission's attention - bear bile, frogs in Gold Gate Park, live animal markets. SF Animal Care and Control and the Police Department would then be able to assist the wardens in enforcing the law. ACC simply does not have the resources.
Commissioners Herndon and Guldbech will prepare a written request to the Board of Supervisors asking for 3 game wardens to be assigned to the city of San Francisco. The Commission will review the request at its next meeting.
7. Public Comment
Ron Cole - Mayor should include animal rescue in the city's disaster plan.
Bob O'Brian - listen to tape SB 861 is on the governors desk; SB 914 crime for anyone to sell any dog less than 8 weeks old. Hearing on USCF's violation of animal welfare act to be held at the federal building on October 14.
8. Closing Review of Task Allotment and Next Steps
1. Commissioner Schulke will continue to attend the Rec. and Park Commission meetings.
2. Commissioner Guldbech and Hamilton will work on developing language for a requesting for game wardens in San Francisco.
3. Commissioner Herndon will keep the Commission up to date on the language for SF Health Code 42.3(c)(b) .
4. Commissioners will spread the word about the work that Hopalong Animal Rescue is doing with regard to Katrina rescue efforts and inform people how they can help.
5. Commissioner Kipnis will work with the city webmaster to expand links and/or pages on the Commission's web site.
Commissioner Hamilton moved to adjourn the meeting.
Seconded by Commissioner Schulke
Passed unanimously
Meeting adjourned at 7:15.