SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION OF

ANIMAL CONTROL & WELFARE

Meeting Minutes March 21, 2019

 

1.              Call to Order and Roll Call

Present: Annemarie Fortier; Nina Irani; Rachel Reis; Bunny Rosenberg; Russell Tenofsky; Jane Tobin; Brian Van Horn, DVM; Shari O’Neill, DVM Absent: Lisa Wayne; Officer Ryan Crockett

2.              General Public Comment

None

3.              Approval of Draft Minutes from February 2019.

Meeting minutes approved.

4.              Chairperson’s opening remarks and Commissioners Report

No remarks

5.              New Business

A. AB-44 Statewide fur ban proposed legislation

·       Commissioner Tenofsky gave an update on statewide legislation AB-44 proposed by CA Assemblymember Laura Friedman regarding banning the sale of fur in California. Has passed through the first committee, goes to the judiciary committee on Tuesday, March 26. Fur sales banned with the exception of furs sold consignment stores or donated. Commissioner Tenofsky suggested drafting a letter of support to the Board of Supervisors pending the outcome of the judiciary committee meeting on March 26.

·       Commission voted in favor of Commissioner Tenofsky drafting a letter to the Board of Supervisors.

B. Revision to San Francisco’s Pet Tethering Ordinance

·       Commissioner Irani suggested revisiting 2005 Tethering Ordinance and included reasons for considering it noting evidence that tying up can lead to boredom, anxiety, and aggressive behavior. Local ordinances in place require a pulley system, no choke collar, 10 ft leash lead, access to water/food, and tethering not to exceed a reasonable period of time, (3 hours in a 24 period).

·       Consider prohibiting tethering during poor climate or natural disasters. Investigate is this an issue in the community?

·       Commissioner Fortier asked if tethering ordinance distinguishes between public or private property. State ordinance does and the local ordinance does not distinguish between the two.

·       Comment - Dr. O’Neill mentioned cannot be tied to stationary object but it doesn’t say if tethered all the time (even private).Leash law - 8ft must have a person on another end of the leash. Officers usually cite leash law.

·       Tethering for long periods of time outside businesses

·       Does Commission want to consider? How big an issue is this in San Francisco? What education is needed?

·       Commissioner Van Horne suggested looking at Florida’s very strict tethering laws (public/private) and what the results have been.

·       Unsure of what other municipalities in CA have done to see how it has worked and review ordinance.

·       Commissioner Tobin suggested flexibility in the application of a tethering law to the SF homeless population.

·       Commissioner Reis suggested understanding the process of complaint and follow-up. Does it go to ACC or Police? Are their neighborhoods that are experiencing it more than others.

·       Commission voted to further investigate the current ordinance and if modifications would benefit residents and dogs. Commissioner Irani will research and speak with ACC.

C. Office elections - Current open positions discussed as well as responsibilities

·       Commission voted to reappoint Chairperson Fortier as Chairperson

·       Commission voted to reappoint Commissioner Tenofsky as Vice Chairperson

·       Commission voted Commissioner Irani as Secretary with Commissioner Tobin serving as a back-up Secretary as needed.

D. Sunshine Ordinance Review

·       Chairperson Fortier noted new commissioners need to participate in online Sunshine and Ethics training. Reached out to the Clerk of the Supervisors, Ethics, and City Attorney. Although City Attorney mentioned we are not required to do the training however it was strongly recommended that commissioners do review Sunshine and Ethics training.

·       Most important review - more than two discussing outside a scheduled commission meeting is not allowed. Events open to the public are okay. Electronic communication is also limited to two.

·       Meeting discussion is limited to what is on the agenda or has been previously discussed.

·       Meetings must be posted on City website and the Library.

·       Commissioner Reis noted that commissions in the Charter are paid and therefore must comply with Form 700 detailing any conflicts of interest. ACWC is not a chartered commission.

E. Technology issues

·       Chairperson Fortier went to training and still experienced problems with logging in.

·       The current process is unreliable and likely will mean ACWC is not compliant with the requirement to post the agenda in enough time.

·       Chairperson Fortier will go to ACC to speak with City IT staff that supports the shelter.

·       Secretary and Vice Secretary will also be trained on editing website and posting agenda and audio.

6.             Old Business

·       Commissioners agreed to reach out to the Board of Supervisors and establish open communication.

·       District 1 - Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer - Irani

·       District 2 - Supervisor Catherine Stefani - Fortier

·       District 3 - Supervisor Aaron Peskin - Fortier

·       District 4 - Supervisor Gordon Mar - Van Horne

·       District 5 - Supervisor Vallie Brown - Tobin

·       District 6 - Supervisor Matt Haney - Reis

·       District 7 -Supervisor Norman Yee - Tobin

·       District 8 - Supervisor Rafael Mandelman - Reis

·       District 9 - Supervisor Hillary Ronan - Reis

·       District 10 - Supervisor Shamann Walton - O’Neill

·       District 11 - Supervisor Ahsah Safai - Irani

7.              Items to be put on the Calendar for Future Commission Meetings

a.              Reconnecting with Board of Supervisors

b.              GG Dog Run Park update

c.              Keeping tabs accessibility to website and changes

d.              SF ACC/SPCA joint staff - follow up at a later date.

8.             Adjournment (approx 6:49 p.m.)