San Francisco Commission of
Animal Control & Welfare

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 10, 2011 Meeting
[Discussion/Action Item]

4.    Chairperson’s report and opening remarks
[Discussion Item] 

5.    Old Business
A)
Discussion and possible action to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors regarding the high death rate of Western Gulls in the Pier 94 wetlands area on property of the Port of San Francisco. California Fish and Game Warden William O’Brien will report on his investigation and explain his findings regarding the problem. A biologist from California Fish and Game, and a representative from the US Fish and Wildlife Service will also be present to contribute to the discussion. Kelle Karmarcik will present information about recently found birds. [Discussion/Action Item] [Commissioner Hemphill]


6.    New Business

A) Discussion and possible action to send a letter to the Board of Supervisors urging them to oppose a recently announced Preferred Alternative for a new Dog Management Plan in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) because it does not consider potential negative impacts on city parks and on dog behavior caused by the severe restrictions on off-leash areas in the GGNRA, nor does it consider the potential impact of the potential for increased surrenders of dogs (and a resulting possible increase in euthanasia rates) at city shelters because of these behavior problems. The GGNRA is currently seeking public comment on a 2,400-page Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a new Dog Management Plan released in January 2011, and the Board of Supervisors has asked for input on how they should respond as part of the DEIS public comment period. People have been able to walk their dogs legally off-leash on less than 1% of GGNRA land since 1979 (e.g., Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, Crissy Field, Baker Beach, and Lands End). The Preferred Alternative identified in the DEIS will cut the area currently available for off-leash recreation in the GGNRA by nearly 90% GGNRA-wide, and by roughly 75% on its lands in San Francisco. The Commission letter will also ask the Board to oppose the “poison pill” described in the DEIS that would automatically convert off-leash areas to on-leash or no dogs at all permanently and without the possibility of public comment on the changes if the GGNRA claims there is not enough compliance with the new restrictions. [Discussion/Action Item] [Commissioner Stephens]


7.    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.

8.  Items to be put on the Calendar for Future Commission Meetings
    [Discussion Item]

9.  Closing Review of Task Allotments and Next Steps
[Discussion Item] 

10. 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.

To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact Carla Vaughn at 252-2500 (voice) or 252-2550 (TDD) at least two working days prior to the meeting.

In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.

Policy on Cell Phones, Pagers, and Electronic Devices: The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

Know Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance: Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This Ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco's Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the Ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force. The current Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Administrator, Frank Darby Jr., can be contacted at the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689; Office (415) 554-7724; Fax (415) 554-7854; E-mail: [email protected] Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s Web site at http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine.

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.