January 10, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION OF
ANIMAL CONTROL & WELFARE

MEETING AGENDA

(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 November 8, 2012 Meeting
[Discussion/Action Item]

4. Chairperson’s report and opening remarks

5. New Business
A) Discussion only about the issue of wildlife feeding. Many people enjoy feeding wildlife for the chance to see the animals close up and because they believe that they are helping the animals survive. However, this practice often leads to problems both for the animals and for humans also, causing population imbalances, attracting rats and creating wildlife habituated to humans and dependent on them for food. San Francisco has many areas where wildlife feeding is all too common, including Golden Gate Park (Stow Lake and elsewhere) and Lake Merced. There are laws against these practices but few signs are posted and there is little if any enforcement or education. What can be done to improve this situation and create a culture that understands that this is a harmful practice? Below are the existing laws about feeding animals in San Francisco. Should the laws be amended? Should there be fines for repeated feeding violations? [Discussion only] [Commissioners Hemphill and Gerrie]
Existing Park Code:
Sec. 5.07. FEEDING ANIMALS PROHIBITED
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or offer to any animal in any park any substance which would be likely to be harmful to it.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, or offer food or any substance to any animal in any park which is wild by nature and not customarily domesticated in the City and County of San Francisco. However, the Recreation and Park Commission may authorize the feeding of certain animals or birds in specified areas.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, or offer food or any substance to any animal in the San Francisco Zoological Gardens without specific authorization from Zoo staff.
Existing Police Code:
Sec. 486. FEEDING BIRDS AND WILD ANIMALS PROHIBITED
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed or offer food to any bird or wild animal in or on any sidewalk, street or highway of the City and County of San Francisco. It shall be unlawful to feed or offer food to any Red Masked Parakeet in any park of the City and County of San Francisco.

B) Discussion and possible action to elect Commission Officers – Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. [Discussion/Action Item] [Commissioner Stephens]

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


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.