MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5:30 PM
Room 408
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
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Laurie Kennedy-Routhier, David Gordon, DVM, Angela L. Padilla, Andrea Brooks, Sally Stephens
Philip Gerrie, Pam Hemphill, Vicky Guldbech, William Herndon, Bob Palacio
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Mailing Address: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place,
Room 362
San Francisco, CA 94102
Commission Voicemail: (415) 554-6074
Website: www.sfgov.org/awcc
Commission Chairperson: Sally Stephens
(Note: Public comment will be taken on each item. Items are first introduced to the Commission, and then there is public comment. After public comment, the Commission may further discuss the item and vote if it is an action item.)
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
2. General Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Commission with comments or recommendations on items within the Commission’s jurisdiction other than the items on the agenda at the beginning or end of the meeting, but not both.
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the February 11, 2010 Meeting
[Discussion/Action Item]
4. Chairperson’s report and opening remarks
[Discussion Item]
A) Report from Joint Zoo Committee
5. New Business
A) Discussion and Possible Action to inform the goat companies that operate in San Francisco about fencing practices that impact wildlife and feral cats by including this information in contracts, or by other methods. Goats are frequently used by city departments (such as the Recreation and Park and the SFPUC) to eat and therefore clear unwanted vegetation on their property. Letters about fencing practices will be sent to the Office of Contract Administration, Recreation and Park Department, Port of San Francisco, SFPUC and possibly also to other parties if we find they use fenced goats on their property. In addition, it would help Animal Care and Control to know, in advance, when goats are going to be used, and therefore, ACC should be a signatory on any goat contracts. A draft letter is attached. [Discussion/Action]
[Commissioner Hemphill and Commissioner Routhier]
6. General Public Comment
Members of the public may address the Commission with comments or recommendations on items within the Commission’s jurisdiction other than the items on the agenda at the beginning or end of the meeting, but not both.
7. Items to be put on the Calendar for Future Commission Meetings
[Discussion Item]
8. Closing Review of Task Allotments and Next Steps
[Discussion Item]
9. Adjournment
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Disability Access: Room 408 is wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART Station is Civic Center, three blocks from City Hall. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #42 Downtown Loop, the #71 Haight/Noriega, the F Line to Market and Van Ness, and the Metro stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call 923-6142.
There is accessible parking at the following locations: two (2) designated blue curb spaces on the southwest corner of McAllister Street at Van Ness Avenue; the Performing Arts Garage (entrance on Grove Street between Franklin and Gough Streets), and at Civic Center Plaza Garage.
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Attention: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Administrative Code 16.520 - 16.534) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390 Market Street, #701, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone (415) 554-9510; fax (415) 703-0121 and web site http://www.sfethics.org
Documents for Public Inspection: Any documents related to an item on this agenda that are distributed to the Commission in advance of the meeting are available for public inspection and copying at the Government Information Center, 5th Floor, SF Main Public Library, 100 Larkin St (at Grove), open seven days a week. They are also available on the Commission website: http://www.sfgov.org/awcc.
PROPOSED TEXT FOR LETTER ON GOAT FENCING
Agenda Item 5A
Animal Control and Welfare Commission
March 11, 2010
(Separate letters to be sent to the following agencies: Office of Contract Administration, Recreation and Parks Department, Port of San Francisco, SFPUC and possibly other involved parties as more information is obtained.)
We are writing to you about the practice of fencing large areas of habitat to enclose goats who are being employed to eat unwanted vegetation. Goats have been used successfully in San Francisco in this way for some time, but there are concerns about the impact on wildlife and feral cats that might be trapped inside the fencing. For years, there have been ongoing complaints from the public regarding trapped animals.
As a result of the awareness of the problems that occur for wildlife and feral cats, we would like to propose some details that are appropriate to be included in a contract with a goat company, and to be distributed as general information.
Proposed contract details for goat fencing
· Non-electrified gaps must be left in the fencing. These gaps must look significantly different from the rest of the fence. There must be at least one gap, but more than one will offer the wildlife a better chance to exit.
(The presence of these gaps may allow some wildlife to leave, but if they have previously touched the electrified fence, they may not use the gaps.)
· The fencing should not be up for more than 3 days, meaning that it will enclose a smaller area, the amount that the goats can eat in 3 days.
(In late spring / early summer mother animals often sleep away from the natal den to prevent youngsters from nursing when their new very sharp teeth are emerging. When their teeth begin to come in the mother begins to wean them from nursing...only nursing them twice a night - early eve before she goes off to forage, and again before dawn. Separating a mother from her young with an electric fence will result in the young dying in the natal den. They can't go long without nourishment.)
· There should be two containers of water for wildlife within the enclosed area, at both ends of the enclosure, so the wildlife will be more likely to find it.
· Water for wildlife (one set of the two) should be located close to the non-electrified panel so that the wildlife will be more likely to find the exit.
· Water should be placed in clean kitty litter pans. These low pans will allow access for small animals like skunks who are not climbers. Providing dog food in similar pans would also be a welcome addition for trapped wildlife, but cannot be required.
It is also our opinion that Animal Care and Control should be included as a signatory on any San Francisco contract with a goat company. There can be problems with escaping goats or injured wildlife which will require that ACC be called in to help, yet presently they are often not aware that the goats will be arriving in an area. We also recognize that some goat companies already utilize these best practices and are concerned for wildlife enclosed within the fencing.
Please respond to these proposed contract details and whether they can be included in future contracts and whether in the future ACC can be a signatory on the contracts.
Thank you for your help with this matter.
Respectfully submitted,
Pam Hemphill, Commissioner
Laurie Routhier, Commissioner
