County Commissioners Hear Concerns about Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
During public comment at the Alachua County Commission meeting last week, county resident Kathleen Rupert called in about concerns regarding the Alachua County Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC).
On February 12, the chair of the AWAC reportedly stated the committee was “not concerned about where a new animal shelter is built.” The chair stated the committee’s primary goals are to “support animal care and resources and assist them with what they need to function.”
Rupert told the county commissioners they should revise the resolution establishing the AWAC since it states the board will “assist and advise the county on future animal-related policies and issues.” She said the county’s plan to establish an animal services facility with the University of Florida (UF) encompasses a policy and/or issue.
Rupert said, “Please let the public know the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee neither endorses nor opposes leasing UF for a new facility. Additionally, please define the term ‘community engagement.’ For the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, this appears to mean three minutes of public comment at the beginning of the meeting followed by maybe some response at the end of the meeting. There is no opportunity for the public to speak to any agenda items."
According to Rupert, County Manager Michelle Liberman stated she had “no responsive documents” after receiving a public records request for the site plan and code requirements of the UF-County animal services facility. Rupert asked, “How was the UF property selected, and by what criteria?”
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said, “I want to ask that we figure out a way to clarify the role of our animal services board. Evidently there's been confusion about what we expect from them and what they’re anxious to offer.”
Commissioner Anna Prizzia said, “I do want the animal welfare committee to think about the overall animal welfare policies and how we work in that area, but I think when it comes to a specific county building and land, we need to do what's best for the public on where we can find land that's affordable and makes sense for collaborations. It's not necessarily a policy decision; it's an infrastructure and budgetary decision. These public meetings provide opportunities for the public to give us input on these things, which I still think the public should and can, but the [location] of that building is not an animal welfare issue…. It might be a partner issue if people have an issue with us partnering with UF, but it's not necessarily a specific animal welfare issue. I feel like that's beyond the purview of the [AWAC] in terms of a topic they would be discussing.”
Prizzia said the AWAC should be involved in the welfare of animals at the UF-County facility and get public feedback.
Liberman said, “I can have staff send the entire board the resolution that created the [AWAC] because it has their scope…. If you feel like there's a gap in there, you can let us know.”
