is there working with the Hello, Everybody. Welcome. My name's Alley. Brown. I'm the chair of the Community Affairs Committee. We are going to have to be having a meeting say we're going to start with introductions will start to my left and then we'll go right. Thank you, MADAM Chair. My name is Michael Paul Hart representing District 20. Thanks, MADAM Chair, and good evening, everyone. My name is Keith Graves. I represent Council district 9 on your side. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Christian Jones District 18. Thank you. MADAM Chair, d# # # Roberts District 4. Thank you. MADAM Chair, Dan Boots. I'm sitting in and appreciate the CHAIRMAN's opportunity participate this evening. District 3. Thank you. Thank you. So tonight we're hearing one proposed Ali Brown District 10 we're hearing one proposal which is proposal number 2, 0, 8, 2025 which
proves the mayor's appointment. Amanda Hony is the director of the Animal Care Services Agency. So just to set expectations for everyone tonight. But this meeting is this is our public comment meeting on this bill. So what we're going to do is Director Tony is going to give her presentation. Counselors will then ask questions. We will then call up for public questions for you guys. Did you see these 2 things? Those and microphone so you can choose to stand other either one of those. But that way you get picked up. I know it's like the best technology in the 70's still living here at City Hall. So that's how to go. You'll get 2 minutes. There is a timer. It's the
rules of the council. So when you hit 2 minutes, I will ask you to sit down. I know it's not fun. And I know it's we're talk very fast, but it's that's how we roll through here. And then after we hear public comment questions go back to counselors and then will vote whether to send this on to the full council with a do pass recommendation. Not pass recommendation to our council meeting that happens. AUGUST 12th. I believe Levent. Sorry. So we'll go ahead and get started director, would you like to go ahead? Its mission Do love little They'll start over. Thank you, everyone for coming and allowing me to be here. My name is Amanda Hoh I am hoping you will pass to vote for me to be director of ics. Especially want to give thanks to Ali Brown counselor, New Probert first being a
sponsorship and the entire committee for having me here tonight and huge thank you to the very hard working staff ics. I'm excited to work alongside of you and some of you again and a big thank you to our volunteers whose dedication keeps our shelter operating in our animal safe. So a little bit about me, my background, I have 20 years experience in animal welfare started out in private practice in veterinary clinics, emergency clinics at the age 17 started at in the animal care. Will it back then? It was an apples, animal care and control and 2010 started as an officer move my way up to deputy director or deputy chief operations left there in 2016 and went to Greenfield Hancock, Animal Management was there for 9 years. While there I did build
a brand new shelter as well. In that time, I have certifications and euthanasia after American Humane Society spca Dog Fighting investigation. I've been through level one of Naca, shelter, medicine certifications through University of Florida and spca fema Animal Disaster Response, Lean 6 Sigma Yellow Belt. And I've been through I which is now expired we did not use that Hancock County in other aspects of public safety information. Why I chose animal welfare. Before I started in a shelter, it was I just a passion for animals and making sure they were taken care of properly and had certain standards of care. Once I started working in the other side of animal welfare,
animal welfare in a shelter setting. It was every community to serve. The state is safe, humane shelter. And what started as a job when I was 17 became a mission to improve animal care, prevent cruelty, which is something in private practice 16 quite a bit and kind of pushed me into even wanting to become an officer for Indianapolis, animal care and control and the a private practice. You were fixing the animals and then giving them back to the situations and not really helping prevent that. So getting into the law enforcement side of it. So my eyes to a whole different world actually felt like I was making a difference. Key accomplishments. While I was at Greenfield, Hancock in Loneliness, Mont, we did
design sustainable modern shelter it. We went from a double wide trailer when I first started there in a pole barn, we kept their dogs to a 13,000 square-foot building with indoor outdoor Natural light for every cat room are all rooms in general. We had designated intake areas lounges play yards. Interrupter runs for all the dogs. It was a very fun that was community involvement. They wanted something that self and not something that they kind of dreaded going to something that was seen that blocks. So we have their their input plus our So it's a very fun, inhumane design, strong community and rescue group partnerships were a big part of us there. We worked great with our rescues. They got lot of animals help through them. My oversight was hiring
training, disciplined budget, flee operations, field operations, volunteer and staff ordination public communication. It was a very small staff. So the kind of everyone shared responsibilities. But the bulk of those was on one person because we're such a small staff. We had 10 people full time. When my previous time in Indianapolis like us, it started out as an animal control officer and then rose up to deputy chief of can operations and eventually between. I believe I went through 7 directors in my 6 years that I was there did serve interim director for about 8 months, there was approximately 50 staff that I would oversee wall. I was in that position, improved processes and outreach. Ensure compliance with our da's and pharmacy licensing. Things
like that minister contract, some boosted options. We started the main event. Why was there as well? And reduced euthanasia is. Challenges that I have overcame so far old facilities. When I went to Greenfield, as I mentioned, it was a double wide trailer the cats were housed in a converted. I wish that would flood when it rain and dogs were in a pole barn. And cats were housed rabbit cages. So they all have, like I said now, natural light in the rooms, 12,000 Square foot building Cat Condos said we designed a brand new facility in Hancock County improve morale through training and communication and culture made it much more of a team effort rather this is the officers. And this is Kendall. And this is what I do. It was much more of a team effort where everyone collaborated together and work together to make
shelter run smoothly. We also encourage vote with the new shelter increase our capacity. When I first went to Greenfield, we have capacity for 24 dogs. We went temporary building while the was being built because wastewater was also taking over our spot. So we had they were demolishing our buildings. We had to go to a temporary building which was not ideal. And we can only hold 13 dogs at the time. So we had to get very creative. Our new building or the new building in Hancock County. Now, Sir, now holds 43 dogs with 6 isolation kennels for sick dogs. We never had outbreak of kennel cough while we were there due to the air systems that we put mental enrichment for the animals was
improved. Volunteers. When I first started, we have 2 dedicated volunteers. When I left, we had over. 75. That is a very small building. So we didn't need a ton of Anna van tears like we didn't do any Indy it's very staff really lay out and like it had community and expert input into that building. Looking ahead, Michael's for ics to continue our union union relationships. I worked with our union previously in my role in d and we always had a great working relationship and I hope to continue that hopefully we can boost after around support building a better structured volunteer program be very transparent, internal and external communication, regular engagement with partners and donors and things like, you know, the stakeholders in this and strengthen our advisory
board. Policy changes and priorities. I know that from short 3 days that I have been on ICs, the people I've spoken to. I know volunteer hours, my case and managed intake seemed to be the top priorities. And that's what I intend to focus on. You know, assess and see where we're at and start to make those changes and see where we need to be at. Commitment and collaboration. I'm very committed to transparency and communication. That's why the big thing for me is being very transparent. We are public servants. We are municipality. We need to extremely transparent, communication being very open so that no one is blind sided by events that we have going on in or, you know, certain challenges we're facing being very open about those so that no one is blind sided by have open
communication so we can talk about those collaboration, collaborating with the public. The community, our volunteers are rescues, stakeholders council just being very involved. And then for continuous improvement. My goal hopefully together will build a stronger, safer, more humane shelter system. Amazing. Thank Before we go to common questions, I'm going to have the 2 counselors who arrived fashionably on time. We've to do some stuff. Posley district. Well. Thank you. MADAM Chair run gives the district 8. Thank you, gentlemen. Counselors, questions council grapes. Thanks, MADAM Chair. Thank you for your presentation. Really appreciated. Directed this
particular. Department has had a lot of uncertainty and turmoil over the recent years. So can you talk a bit about the staff morale and how the our our animal friends so they don't. 3 days I've been I've walked around as much as I could. I got to meet quite a bit of the staff. Everyone seems really like a good team. The managers seeing very respected by other teams and it seems like everyone is getting along well, so I don't see any major red flags as of now I think everyone is ready for change and welcoming. They're very open to listening. I'm wanting to hear and I want to sit down with all the staff and volunteers included in that separately. But sometimes want to talk to both of them and I want to hear what the challenges are with their input is what their ideas are, because I'm very I'm 10 years removed from the place. I don't know exactly
what has been going on over the years. But I know there are challenges that we have to face and I'm ready to face those. I just want input because I feel everyone's input is valuable. And they all, you know, they're the ones doing the work. What can I do to help you Has had any impact animals or animal friends? I see mean as far as I know, they're getting walked every day right now. The animals that I seen have been in good spirits. I don't see anyone to the press for having behavior meetings every single day. We're talking about doing rounds. They've done it every day that I've been there doing rounds there, meeting. Hey, what's this dog's needs where we have it. Putting eyes on everyone every single day to make sure that we You know, the dogs are ok, the cats are okay. Counsel counsel Robert, thank you, MADAM To echo a lot of that. I think first of all,
this is a great presentation. They had all the right I think having openness to seeing, you know, where things will go when you get back in the building is getting very important. I think obviously people want to see those changes with certain policies by thing, having the perspective of you'll know good lately and you come in to be important. I also really like on detail, I've some people doubt some small things that even the council know about. But like strengthen advisory board, really just communicate with people that are, you know, smaller issues, I think are a big part of being the director is having a leadership responsibility to reach out to all the animal welfare organizations. You can be assistance to us. So any questions, but just thank you
for obviously doing is stepping up its a very hard job. I cannot imagine doing it. I think you're a great person for the position and look for supporting Thank you. Leader heart. Thank you. MADAM Chair. And I'm going echo that. I mean, I we had a conversation, you know, part of this meeting and I really got into the details. I certainly did a lot of talking that and some of the words all shared in here, right for everybody in the audience fellow councilors. This is a tough job. There's there's no doubt about You've got a lot of people behind you ready to hold you accountable. There's no doubt about that. And a lot more. You know, we've and it's a very sensitive job, right? We're talking with the lives of animals here. And there's there's multiple fast it's the job, right? There's the part where you've got the shelter, but then you've got the control that's out in the
field. And, you know, I'm very grateful that see as a candidate in the fact that, you know, it's not very often that you see people do the job. And that's what has me excited about leadership positions that you've seen it. And there's a lot of things that if you don't experience that, you don't know. I think of the big concerns that I hear through email and firms, probably some of the folks back in the crowd. There is. What it's like in the field. Not just so much in the shelter. And so really, you know, optimistic your ability to overcome some of the challenges that are here. We've seen a couple. You do have a brand-new, nice shiny facility coming into hopefully that that fix the needs of Indianapolis and that those needs are there. I guess the one question asked just to make sure that I do my diligence on that you are going to have a lot of challenges you had some in the
past. Nice to see that you're, you know, a yellow belt and 6 Sigma as well as very process oriented. It sounds like what process is the follow generally when you're faced with a challenge and how do really prepare yourself to overcome something that that is presented to you? Always take a minute to small. Much time. They need to step back, assess the situation. Whatever challenges, and then go through a list of kind of prioritizing where what what, what parity level is this? What do I need to go? What's my first route? But what is the challenge? And then once I know what challenges and understand it, finding out the best outcome for it. I mean, I know how to explain it other than just finding that best outcome. Once I figured that I need to know what the
situation, the challenge is first and then finding out what what path to move forward, how to get around that. Wonderful. Thank Council Thank you. MADAM Chair. Thank Enough for the presentation. And so you say you've been there 3 days, yes, since Monday with menu for you are policy changes and priorities match quite well with the concerns we have heard in the past. I'm sure you MAY have. If not even watch the video prior directors. Proposed director was quite a rough, the that will not happen when not. But I just want to make sure. We talk about some of those issues. You have identified them. And I appreciate that very much. But the risk beating a horse.
We'll talk about the volunteer hours. As you MAY know, they've been cut drastically and with the dedicated volunteer force we have in this city. We all love our pets are four-legged furry animals and so on. And all the other pets involved. The previous management that. Push the volunteers away personally, I think that's the exact opposite thing that should be happening. We should accept the volunteers to the greatest extent we can shortening the hours of them. Don't agree with that either. To the extent we can extend hours, get more out of kennel time for the animals. The better getting up for one walk today. You would never do that. Your own pet. What do we do it to the animals at the So I would strongly encourage. You look at expanding that to
the extent possible the volunteer coordinator has been open for 8 months. Again. Inexplicably my opinion. We'd like to see that filled quickly because that takes a lot off your positions placement. That's the idea. Manage and But also don't necessarily agree with some of the statistics we're looking at previously. I think we're somewhat doctored. Because of the intake process, of course, to euthanasia numbers go down when you're taking in far less animals. I think we need look at that one policy now about stray dogs, for example. Is it true that it's still 5 days is a league rule them for fire? I honestly would have to refer to someone in the audience
like that. Those first recent Yeah, you can imagine the burden that is for someone who has comes across a stray animal comes to the shelter, says you must hold that dog in your house with your kids, your family, your other animals for 4 days, you must feed them before you bring him back. Practically speaking, I think that's Another practical issues involved with that. But I think that's something that really needs to take a hard look at. All right. A shelter is to bring in to the shelter, not be so selective on who you That does a disservice. I suspect that have no proof understanding bill evidence if I went and brought in animal to the shelter and said, sorry, MR. Bush Community go
back and hold for 4 days. A drive around the corner and open the door. So sorry. I can pull the dog for Florida I bet intake process adds to our stray animal problem. The other side of the problem is capacity. So I think that's the challenge that I think you'll have deal with. Encourage you to look long and hard at that. And then finally, my case. The idea is you have to do a background check to coach a Little league team. But to adopt an animal. None whatsoever. And we've seen some horrific cases of animal cruelty by someone who had prior record. But no one checked the obvious public record of this person. I think that is basic animal shelter. Adoption policy. One on one and why our prior management did not adopt again is inexplicably. So I really encourage you to look at that
about adopting that process again, getting them on board. So but with that, I've been impressed with your financial it forward to working with you. I'm here to support you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Other councilors questions. Ok? I just one comment on when you're talking about transparency. So I am enough and district. My entire district sits inside the city of Lawrence writes double City. Lynch doesn't have. In shelter, right? Because this is a county. That is what we do. So I'm not sure about Southport Speedway Beach grab. So I can't speak to them, but I would love to have. A public meeting where people could come and understand Indianapolis animal care control is what the city of Florence serves. If what
serves the city of Lawrence and why that's important because I often run into that disconnect because we've been dpw dpw in the police. Lawrence police. Yeah. But the animal shelters, one, even though it's Indianapolis, not Marin County. It's You living with 2 government levels, I would love to have and host you out and also maybe I can get my colleagues on the Lawrence Council to get that feral cat ordinance moving with breezy out there. So I would love to do And I I bet you every township would love to have come through. So with that, we're going to go ahead and move on to public comment. We're all guys were good. Okay. So for over asking how h# # # party ticket. Can you convince them to turn the mic? Just so picks up site. And so uh believe operations at
Animal Care Center. So when you asked 400 straight. Out. So that So levels from but make it. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you so So for those of you would like to become a grave site of a candle, if you haven't yet, can still sign up. But can't. Oh, I'm sorry. Have to get with. Thank you, MADAM Before we have public comment, I know we're going stand for that. But I wondered if all those who are coming to make comments good enough, who they are and where they reside. Yes, you don't have to give you exact street address I don't anyone to tax themselves. But if give no township or general area, that would be nice so can go ahead read the rules and the first
3, mean, people signed up so. Before we open the floor to public comment, we would like on committee members public of a few ground rules so everyone can have a fair chance. To speak be heard. It is important that we observe each of the following rules. First speakers will be limited to 2 minutes. Second, any public comment must really relate to the agenda item under consideration. 3rd speakers who stray away from the items on consideration or become on the Fishes MAY be to be removed or move on to the next point. Attendees who cause disruption that prevent that. Committee from proceeding through tonight's agenda reasonably efficient manner will be removed. Please remember that some of these types of bringing speech or enticement to violence are protected under the First Amendment at all. We will deal with those issues if they come
up. But we do not think they will. In first with the been Jessica Pierre, Griffin. I see on to welcome you Congratulate you on wall. They are planning to review all. Here top concern. I'm serious. Prevents many animals from getting care. And as to volunteer Brown. I hope you will also be the made to the bone tear program past year. And just a cyst on tears. Know best about what we've done. Ics of the special than any other do. A large table dedicated free Here's to all. I hope we see resource. A collaborative together for the animals and help ease some of the brunt overall staff. Look forward to working with you in a fresh
start. Thank you. Years. Counselors. And while me my name is Jessica Perry tear ICs. I work with the dog's eyes. Yes, and social media account highlighting adoptable dogs in showing you need for volunteers and animal welfare. I brought and I'd like to think the counselors for listening to us earlier this year when we asked for change, I see, yes, I think we are all excited for this new chapter. We do want welcome you back to I c s and other volunteers are eager to support Want to see you succeed. We want the animals and shelter to thrive and we want the staff and volunteers to feel respected and valued and we all believe it's possible if we work together, you have a huge group of dedicated volunteers
ready to help you in any way you need. Give so many different skills and talents. You have medical professionals, lawyers, teachers, therapists, marketing communications pros and experience. Animal advocates have been holding in shelters for 10 plus years. There are people with really deep connections to their communities that can help organize fundraisers supplied or adoption of this. So please take advantage of this large group of people willing to donate their time. Their expertise willing to tap into their connections for free, restoring the volunteer hours and restarting volunteer onboarding would make an immediate impact. There are many of us were really incapable leading volunteer
orientations 6 months without new volunteers while limiting current volunteers has been extremely damaging for all involved our shelter shelter animals have so little. The fact that this year we took away some opportunities for care and enrichment terribly sad. So we are ready for a fresh start. Would love to have a collaborative supported, transparent relationship with you to Thank I wanted live in Perry Township. Welcome Amanda and I want to thank all of the counselors for listening to us. I know it's a hard time and appreciate your willingness to listen to You will see on my Facebook that I yes has the best animals tap that all the time. And I stand
by that. Sadly, animals are stress. There is no full time. Veterinarian. The staff are over. There's no volunteer coordinator and volunteer hours have been reduced. The volunteers and red to help. From JANUARY through MAY of 2024. Until that same time in 2025, there was loss of 4500 volunteer hours were mostly attributable to the reduction of powers that averages almost 30 hours per 7 days. Imagine what we could do with those hours. That's fewer hours to give enrichment to lessen the stress to provide care and to have eyes on the animals to perhaps. Head off problems in the future. Ics is a unique
shelter in our area due to the size of the structure of the facility, the demographics and the breadth of the volunteer pool. We are a unique as the only open in take shelter for Marion County. I appreciate you going to listen to us and I welcome you, Amanda. I want to work with you and I know my fellow volunteers too. I asked for mutual respect for me and my fellow volunteers and I ask you to let us know. All right. Well, shooter, I just want to make sure everyone is aware there is no public comment at Full Council Council Police I want to make Cause we don't have time to call another meeting between now and Okay. I say that within my upmost respect to our volunteers thank them for their time to come here so counselors, you
have any other questions. Ok? And council Roberts just gonna make a motion? MADAM Chair, I move recent proposal to 0, 8, The full Council do pass recommendation second we have it has been moved and second in proposal 8 to 2025 to the full council with a do pass recommendation. Al counselors in favor signal by saying Aye, aye, any opposed. Passes unanimously will be sending you to full council with a do pass recommendation and it is 607, which I am mind blown about. Director even go. We are excited because you are fish. It. Thank you all for coming tonight. And we're going to go ahead and adjourn. If