The licensing committee meeting went well. Some motions which would have put the adoption services of TAS at risk were presented by councilor Nunziata but rebuffed by the other councilors. Glenn De Baeremaeker did a great job defending Toronto Animal Services. I missed most of the deputations (11 of them) but was told they all supported TAS and everyone did a great job.
The video about Berger Blanc was also shown. It had to be stopped at one point because it was too hard to watch and someone in the audience had to leave the room because she was crying.
You can watch all the proceedings, including all the deputations, here.
Here are the Decisions passed by the committee:
Requested that the City Manager include the following in his report to the Executive Committee meeting on September 19, 2011:
a. Any opportunities for further integration of By-law Enforcement.
b. The possibility of expanding animal licensing in Toronto.
c. The possibility of updating the online licensing system.
d. The possibility of maximizing online donations to Toronto Animal Services.
e. The possibility of establishing an animal services sub-committee of the Licensing and Standards Committee.
f. The feasibility of requiring micro-chipping of dogs and cats as a requirement of licensing.
g. A review of pet licensing options, including the option of a lifetime licensing system to replace the current annual licensing fee, with micro-chipping dogs and cats as a requirement.
People, outside of staff, who spoke at the meeting:
Ken Wood
David Behan
Peter Newell, Vice-President, Toronto Humane Society
Liz White, Animal Alliance of Canada
Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director, Toronto Wildlife Centre
Stephanie Cliff, Toronto Animal Services
Darin Jackson
Michelle Ferman
Donald Steane
Deena Elieff, Toronto Animal Services Volunteer
Ferne Simkin, Toronto Humane Society Member
Monday, July 25, 2011
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The link to the proceedings is a URL 404, btw.
I think this now all goes to the Executive Committee of the City. Does anyone know if we re-submit our presentations to the Executive Committee?
Preliminary decision of the Licensing and Standards Committee is out.
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.LS6.1
Link fixed. Don't know how long it will stay up though.
Soche, I don't know for sure about re-submitting to the exec committee but I suspect not unless there is a special request from their members.
Fred, who was at this meeting? People who control the budget?
Hi Fred,
Believe Mayor's Executive Committee has decision-making power when cases are forwarded to them. Let's hope I'm wrong.
Hi Antonia, my understanding, and I could be wrong, is that today's committee suggested some motions which will be brought forward to council to vote on/act on. The motions that were suggested today did not include reductions to the core services provided by TAS. However, the executive committee apparently has final say over any and all cuts so I'm thinking they're the ones who really need to be convinced. I'm told they'll be making their final decisions in the fall.
The councilors in attendance today were: Councillor Cesar Palacio - Chair, Councillor Chin Lee - Vice Chair, Councillor Glen De Baeremaeker, Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby, Councillor Frances Nunziata, Councillor Anthony Perruzza
London, Ontario has a private Animal Control contract. Many people are really unhappy with it & have been looking at making it city owned again, perhaps run as a joint-venture with or as non-profit, also incorporating the Calgary self-funding model. The goal is to also make it a no-kill shelter.
Contact me for more info.
A recent public Animal Welfare Committee unprepared for the huge turnout & almost got rescheduled. "Sometimes council has difficulty engaging the public; sometime the public can’t engage the council. It’s too bad. The meeting was a rare show of public’s willingness to work with the city and its appreciation of having the opportunity to be heard." http://ginabarber.blogspot.com/2011/07/publics-here-where-is-committee.html#more
Newspaper article about the meeting, http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/07/19/18442461.html#.TiclmaI9wLo.facebook
HI Chris, thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
Hi Chris, very interesting articles on civic engagement. I hope we can get the same sort of public response here in Toronto.