Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: AUGUST 1, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: ERIC LEVITT, CITY MANAGER
PREPARED BY: KIM CHAUDHRY, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST SUBJECT: CITY OF FULLERTON RESPONSE TO ORANGE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT “GIMMIE SHELTER AND A POUND OF ADVICE, THE STATE OF ANIMAL WELFARE OVERSEEN BY THE COUNTY OF ORANGE”
SUMMARY
The Orange County Grand Jury released a report titled, “Gimmie Shelter and a Pound of Advice, the State of Animal Welfare Overseen by the County of Orange” with findings and recommendations requiring a response from Orange County cities that contract with OC Animal Care.
RECOMMENDATION
Review the 2022-23 Orange County Grand Jury report titled, “Gimmie Shelter and a Pound of Advice, the State of Animal Welfare Overseen by the County of Orange.” Approve response letter which is consistent with responses from other agencies.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
Staff requests approval of the attached letter which is consistent with responses from other agencies.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
DISCUSSION
The 2022-23 Orange County Grand Jury released the report “Gimmie Shelter and a Pound of Advice, the State of Animal Welfare Overseen by the County of Orange” on June 2, 2023. This report makes findings and recommendations to each of the 14 Orange County cities that contract with OC Animal Care as well as the County of Orange unincorporated areas.
The shelter at OC Animal Care can shelter up to 600 animals and has 137 authorized staff positions. OC Animal Care is one of the largest municipal shelters on the West Coast.
The Grand Jury finds three main areas of concern in the report: management of the shelter, welfare of animals under shelter care and communication and engagement with the public and the animal rescue community. The Grand Jury required City Council to provide responses to findings F4, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13 and F16 and recommendation R6 by September 1, 2023. The attached letter details the proposed City responses.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Orange County Grand Jury Report
Attachment 2 – Proposed Response Letter to Superior Court Presiding Judge 2023 OC Grand Jury Report Response – Gimmie Shelter and a Pound of Advice August 1, 2023 - Page 2