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Agenda 10/27/2009 Item # 6AAgenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 Page 1 of 7 TT-'"'-' (__"0UNTY OFFICE OF THE COUNTY MANAGER 3301 East Tamiami Trail • Naples, Florida 34112 • (239) 252-8383 • FAX: (239) 252-4010 October 9, 2009 Marcia Breithaupt 6924 Bent Grass Drive Naples, FL 34113 Re: Public Petition Request to Discuss Domestic Animal Services Mission Statement Dear Ms. Breithaupt: Please be advised that you are scheduled to appear before the Collier County Board of Commissioners at the meeting of October 27, 2009, regarding the above referenced subject. Your petition to the Board of County Commissioners will be limited to ten minutes. Please be advised that the Board will take no action on your petition at this meeting. However, your petition may be placed on a future agenda for consideration at the Board's discretion. If the subject matter is currently under litigation or is an on-going Code Enforcement case, the Board will hear the item but will not discuss the item after it has been presented. Therefore, your petition to the Board should be to advise them of your concern and the need for action by the Board at a future meeting. The meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Board's Chambers on the Third Floor of the W. Harmon Turner Building (Building "F") of the government complex. Please arrange to be present at this meeting and to respond to inquiries by Board members. If you require any further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact this office. Sincerely, Leo E. Ochs, Jr. County Manager LEO/jb cc: Jeffrey Klatzkow, County Attorney Marla Ramsey, Public Services Administrator Agenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 Page 2 of 7 bodinejudi om: Marcia Breithaupt [marcia@LHAPS.com] Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2009 3:26 PM To: bodinejudi Subject: FW: Request to Speak under Public Petition (w /Attach) To: Judy Bodine From: Marcia Breithaupt rmallto•Marcia@ Breithaunt orol Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 5:58 PM To: '2392524010 @maxemailsend.cwm' Subject: Request to Speak under Public Petition (w /Attach) Attn: County Manager Request to Speak under Public Petition Name: Marcia Breithaupt Address: 6924 Bent Grass Drive Naples, FL 34113 Phone: 239 - 580 -0300 Date of the Board Meeting you wish to speak: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Must circle yes or no: Is this subject matter under litigation at this time? No Is this subject matter an ongoing Code Enforcement case? No Note: If either answer is "Yes," the Board will hear the item but will have no discussion regarding the item after it is presented. if 1. Explain the recent denial from the Domestic Animal Services (DAS) Director to place the word "ADOPTION" in the mission statement. 2. Explain why the revised mission statement actually dilutes and confuses the adoption function importance (attached). (The term "positive outcome" in new statement could actually increase the number of euthanasia under this phrasing and yet be acceptable under the new phrase). 3. Emphasize the word "ADOPTION" in all locations would improve the community image of DAS as a place that adopts animals. Agenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 Please explain in detail the action you are asking the Commission to take (attach acPdNjt17 pane if necessary). 1, Revert to the previously accepted mission statement and simply add the word "ADOPTION." 2. Ask the Domestic Animal Services (DAS) Director to explain why she refused to accept the simple addition of the word "ADOPTION" in the existing mission statement per the request of the Advisory Board's vote 6 to 1. 3. Ask DAS Director to explain how her revised statement would offer better outcomes to animals and the citizens than simply adding the word "ADOPTION" to the existing statement. 4. Ask the DAS Director to explain the de- emphasis in the word "ADOPTION" yet uses the word adoption in all media advertising, and the DAS Mission Statement is clearly visible on the DAS letterhead. 5. Ask why the DAS director refuses to add the %v0rd "ADCP70N" to the mission statement when roughly one third of the budget for the facility is dedicated to "ADOPTION." 6. Ask the DAS Director to provide a full budget summary of 2008 and 2009 planned costs and income. (Collier County costs >$3 million for 112 the population of Lee County and 112 the staff of Lee County DAS yet Lee County operational budget is only $3.6 million.) 7. Ask the Commissioners to invite Lee County DAS Director in for one hour presentation on how they made cost reductions yet improved services. publicpetitionattach _155ept09.... Marcia E. Breithaupt, Owner Liberty Horne and Pet Services LLC Naples Premier Pet Sitters Naples, FL 34113 www.LHAPS.com MarciaO)LHAPS com Friend us on: www.Facebook.com/LHAPS Www.Twitter.com /LHAPS www.Linkedin,cor-n/LHAPS Tel: (239)-5130 -0300 Member of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce National Association Professional Pet Sitters ( NAPPS) Pet Sitters International (PSI) NAPPS Disaster Preparedness (DP) Committee Chair Collier County Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) Domestic Animal Service (DAS), Board Member SIN Florida Professional Dog Trainers Alliance Sponsor (Humane Society of Naples) Delta Society, Therapy Dogs Inc., Paws for Love Therapy Dog Team Member Collier Community Cat Coalition American Red Cross Pet First Aid Certified Canine and Feline Certified a'- !r , , y rc y^ r r i k L, r'K^.4 �Yyin .S a., e Agenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 August 18, 200'9 rage 5 of 7 -S Increased Adoptions -9► Education **** Increased Revenues Benefits to Existing Pets He suggemd the Committee review the documentation and hold a Workshop next m anth. 9. Mi eroebip Research PoUcy ? -tae. E. DAS Mission Statement Amanda Townsend gave a brief history of the NfIssion Statementand on a workshop that was held in the spring of 2008 in which the public interacted. Some public felt the Mission Statement was not appropriated: because. the word "adoption " was not included. She consulted with the County Attorney and County Managers Office and was determined the wording in the Mission Statement was 100% the responsibility of the Director. Anyone can contact the Board of County Commissioners and/or the Advisory Committee stating their suggestion of a change to the Mission Statement. if appropriate, the Committee would then vote on the change and suggest that change to the Director. The Director would then decide if those changes mead to be made.. Amanda Townsend explained putting the word "adoption" in the Mission Statement will not help nor influence her to make decisions differently for DAS. She stated she will do everything in her power to continue the Adoption Program and her goal was to keep the animal from coming to the shelter in the ftrstplace. She told the Committee and the Public there am several ways to accomplish that goal. The following is part of the 2010 Projects to consider. • Services for Seniors and Housing and Human Services see a need to help seniors keep their animals in their homes. Some want to keep their pet but can no longer Caro for them. She asked for a volunteer Director for the Program. • Humane Education for Children in school on pat over population and whet to do about it. Educating children will lessen animals in shsltets for future years. This Program not available at this time. She asked a volunteer to take charge of this program. • The law states every pet in the County must have a license. If people obey the law, it would increase income and if an animal becaitle loose, it would allow DAS to returnthe animal bank to the rightful owner and not cause additional shelter expense, Each license is $10, if the license is not purchased it is $10 less to cover shelter costs. Amanda Townsend read the "New" Mission Statement aloud - To protect Collier County residents and visitors from animal- related injury and zovnotic diseases, while promoting humane treatment of animals, positive outcome for shelter animals, and responsible pet ownership. Agenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 Naples News, Jeff Lyde, 10 Sep4 2009 Page 6 of 7 Thomas D. Breithaupt, TBreithaupt@botmail.com 6924 Bent Grass Dr, Naples, FL 34113 (630) -717 -0200 (preferred), or (2331 - 5903 -0300 COLLIER COUNTY DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES - WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? CITIZEN SUPPORT At the Collier Country Commissioners meeting on June 3e a remarkable outpouring of public support was given to Domestic Animal Services to block the loss of funding resulting with increased euthanasia and reduced adoption. Remarkably, the County Commissioners gave immediate financial support even while cutting other agencies government funding. But they also gave a clear directive to the DAS Board and director to seek solutions for decreased animal kills. The community clearly supported DAS in Good Faith. Unfortunately, once funding was in place, DAS has taken an odd "about face" in the treatment of local citizens regarding the ^doption process which is unexplainable. CREATIVE THINKING The DAS facility takes in over $00 animals a month yet kills 200 -300 healthy, adoptable animals every month since they are "excess inventory" This facility is truly overwhelmed with incoming animals but I do not see the actions being taken to aggressively improve the euthanasia and adoption process. Sadly, as with even the best shelters around the country, Collier DAS will NEVER be able to achieve "uro -kill" status due to the 50 -100 animals per month with accidental injuries and terminal conditions. It is the other 90% of adoptable animals that are the issue at hand today. DAS takes pride being "statistically average" compared to other counties around the country. There is no question this used to be a grade "F" facility until the current director began but a "good enough" attitude is prevalent and is strangely self - defeating being roud of a grade "C" result. Why not try for a grade "A" facility, establish solid five year action plan with annual goals of declining ills? Many county facilities around the country with ZERO government funding (compared to the $3 million in tax revenue the DAS receives) achieve ZERO euthanasia. How do they do it? Adoption, creative placement, strong code enforcement, close ties with local vets, and free adoptable animal handover to local rescues. Semple economics and lack of creative thinking appears to rule Collier DAS and its oversight — it is cheaper and easier to kill healthy animals than to carry the costs and efforts to house and adopt out animals. It takes more work and creative thinking to think outside the "cat- box ". Sadly the "we can't do that" shields come up at virtually every public suggestion. The people and facilities are there but the imaginative thinking is not and I am struggling with whom to identify for this failure. is it the director or is there simply a lost soul in the county planning process? ADOPTION Through a recent petition drive over 500 signatures were presented to the DAS board requesting DAS simply place the word "Adoption" in its mission statement to emphasize the need to refocus and improve on the adoption process. Remarkably, the DAS director without approval or oversight of the Collier DAS Board or the public had arbitrarily re-written the mission statement of a government facility spending over $3milliot a year of tax dollars yet defiantly keeps this one word out of the statement. Why? The verbal gymnastics shown in this "new" statement are written in a style the envy of the best politicians. Why? This is like McDonalds refusing to add the word "hamburger" to its menu! At the August 18 DAS meeting, the DAS Oversight Board voted 6 to l to inject this word into the mission statement. In response, the DAS director firmly stated she had the power to define the mission statement and it would NOT include the word adoption thus negating the boards recommended vote. This was a very odd act of defiance from a county government employee. Does she understand that she has pushed her "thumb in the eye" of thousands of people and animals? Why? QUESTIONS I believe the following questions need clear answers from county officials, and higher than the working staff: 1) The public asked, and DAS board voted, to include one word, "Adoption "; to the mission statement of this government facility that spends a huge fraction of its tax finds to perform. Why go through the verbal gyrations to avoid this? 2) How does any animal or person benefit from the refusal of adding the word " Adoption" to the facility that already does such a function? 3) The Collier County Commissioners instituted an oversight board of this facility in recent years due to previous inept government management. If this new director defiantly discards voted recommendations from the board over such simple issues, why does the board exist? 4) Why has the DAS director taken such a remarkable "about face" suppressing adoption only two months after she so aggressively leveraged public support using this issue? 5) Is this director simply another pawn for sortie future plan from the county? 6) Why does DAS advertise its adoption process in print media and television yet will not place the word Adoption in the mission statement which is prominently placed on their letterhead? SOLUTIONS The long term solution to DAS requires massive doses of creative thinking searching for alternative SUCCESS stories to mimic. Like 99%0 of most other government operations, looking beyond a spreadsheet, a county lawyer, or agovernment "thug" boss is not an option unless humiliated into action as with town -hall and tea party gatherings witnessed in recent months. The public does not want an adversarial position but are being pushed into it over short tam thinking with long term impacts. As for short term solutions, there is a very simple solution to current citizen frustrations —just place one word, "Adoption ", in the previously approved mission statement by the public, the DAS Advisory Board, and County Commissioners and be done with this nonsense. The director of DAS may be acting within all her legal bounds but clearly she and her boss are NOT acting within bounds °"— of "Good Faith" with their community who rallied to their support. Why? Agenda Item No. 6A October 27, 2009 Page 7 of 7 GUEST COMMENTARY An appeal to Collier County Commissioners on behalf of pets By GISELA ROWLEY Naples At the Collier County budget meetings a few weeks ago, the director of the Domestic Animal Services (DAS) presented a budget that envisaged the elimination of the animal adoption program at the county shelter. Hundreds of concerned citizens petitioned the commissioners to provide ongoing fiinding for the adoption program and the commissioners unanimously agreed to do this. Several of them explained that they had never had any intention of discontinuing the program as they considered adoption to be an important objective of the shelter. At the conclusion of the meeting Commissioner Tom Henning suggested that the public work with the DAS Advisory board to get some of their excellent ideas implemented. The first idea that the public took to the board was the suggestion that the word "adoption" be added to the department Mission statement. Anyone with any knowledge of management principles knows the importance of a mission statement that clearly defines the major objectives of the entity as a guideline for employees, management and the outside world. Hundreds of people signed a petition asking for this and about fifty people attended the most recent Advisory Board meeting to lobby for its inclusion. As the meeting was about to commence the DAS director jumped up and told a stunned audience that she had already re- written the Mission statement and it did NOT include the word "adoption ". She said her mind was made up, she had the authority to do this and it didn't matter what the public had to say or whether or not the Advisory board voted to recommend the change. Several members of the public stood up and spoke of the importance of including the word "adoption" and after discussion, the Advisory Board voted to recommend the change. And then, as the meeting concluded, the shelter director again stood up and told the room that she had already told them she had made up her mind and they had been wasting their time. Now, Commissioners, Is this the way to run a railroad? We fully recognize that the shelter director has the final say on this and other issues. But our number includes dozens of people with vast experience of both animal issues and management principles such as mission statements. There are, of course, other critical activities for the director to address such as reducing the birth of unwanted animals, but this has been known in the animal community for decades. Until success in that area is achieved, adoption is the only thing that stands between the animals and certain death. That's why it needs to be clearly and unambiguously included in the shelter's mission statement. So respectfully, and with no other choice available to us, we request that you, in whatever way you deem appropriate, reconsider the decision to reject our mission statement request. We want to work productively with the shelter staff for our mutual benefit and for the benefit of the animals. But for us to be brushed off so abruptly on something we consider vital will have a chilling effect on all our efforts.