Agenda - 09-16-2003-6b - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 16, 2003 Action Agenda Item No. b - SUBJECT: Process for Addressing Humane Society of the United States Report on Animal Sheltering DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): HSUS Report -Major Issues Identified by Staff Proposed Task Force: Charge and Composition INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, County Manager, ext. 2300 Gwen Harvey, Asst. Cty. Manager, ext. 2300 Rosemary Summers, Health Director, ext. 2412 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To consider a central grouping of major issues contained within the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Report on Animal Sheltering, and the possible creation of a representative task force to undertake a thorough review of the Report and submit its recommendations to the BOCC by the first BOCC meeting in January 2004. BACKGROUND: The Board of County Commissioners authorized the HSUS to conduct an assessment of animal control and animal sheltering services paid for by Orange County government. The Commissioners, the Board of Health, and the Board of the Animal Protection Society, Inc. heard a presentation by HSUS staff on August 28, detailing the release of the Report and its recommendations for improvement. Staff has concluded an initial review of the Report and developed a central grouping of the major issues as an attachment to this abstract. Staff acknowledges that the Report is rich in observations, recommendations, and discussion of ten fundamental areas, from shelter maintenance to general financial issues. It is; therefore, very difficult for staff alone to make conclusions on relative priority or how one recommendation potentially impacts or alters another. That is why the attachment the BOCC is receiving is essentially a categorization of the major issues and not a strict analysis. Staff believes it could be beneficial, given the magnitude of information involved and public importance of the topic, that the BOCC consider establishing a medium by which the Report could be addressed thoroughly, thoughtfully, and in as transparent a manner as possible, with staff support. An example would be the creation of a task force, as suggested by HSUS, but customized and given a charge that reflects the will of the Board, current conditions, and local circumstances.