HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - Non-Agenda
Orozco, Norma
From:Romina Y <romina.yamashiro84@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 3:02 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Orange county Animal Care center situation
Hello,
My name is Romina and I am an independent Cat trapper and rescuer. I help with the efforts of TNR (Trap,
Neuter/Spay and Return) particularly in the city of Santa Ana where I reside.
The community cat population has increased exponentially every since OC Animal Care stop their TNR/RTF
program - Since then cats have continued to have kittens and a lot of those kittens are endinging up at the
shelter, which is overwhelming the system, and also overwhelming us rescuers, trappers and fosters because we
don't want to see them put to death..... Not only that, the city of Santa Ana is probably paying astronomical fees
to OCAC for boarding, medical care and euthanasia....where all of this could be prevented by alloting a small
portion of what you are already paying them to actually prevent cats from procreating by SPAYING AND
NEUTERING.
By safely re-introducing a TNR/RTF program back to OCAC, these cats can be brought in, spayed, neutered,
vaccinated and chipped and returned to their original place within 24 to 48 hrs. This can cost the city
significantly less than what they are paying now AND not only that, but the shelter won't have so many sick and
injured kitties coming in because the birthing cycle will be stopped.
Andi Bernard and Monica Schidmt have refused to meet with our team on more than one occasion. They seem
to prefer charging the cities astronomical fees without any care of actually fixing the problem from the root.
I would like the city of Santa Ana to consider meeting with our group of trappers and rescuers to come up with
a solution that will not only help the thousands of cats in the streets, but also would create a more sustainable
and animal welfare oriented animal shelter.
This opportunity can also help the residents of Santa Ana greatly by providing actual no cost/low cost spay and
neutering services.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions or if you want to discuss a possible meeting.
Thank you so much,
Romina Yamashiro
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Orozco, Norma
From:Romina Y <romina.yamashiro84@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 2:51 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Fwd: OC ANIMAL CARE CENTER
Hello,
What is being done about the OC Animal Care Center? They’ve kept tax-payer money via their City Contracts
and have failed to provide any services to the public for the last 18 months.
They have created an enormous cat overpopulation explosion by stopping the Return-To-Field program based
on misguided information from people fraudulently claiming to represent the OC rescue community and
threatening lawsuits.
I have email correspondence from hundreds of OC residents requesting help with stray cats and kittens because
the OC Animal Care Center told them there was nothing they could do and to just leave unfixed cats outside
enabling them to breed uncontrollably. I brought this to the attention of the Huntington Beach City Council in
June of 2020 and nothing was done about it. I can provide email correspondence.
Second Chance Pet Adoptions is, for the first time in 20 years of doing cat rescue in Orange County, unable to
help anyone because our financial resources have been depleted due to paying for the services the OC Animal
Care Center was supposed to be providing.
Orange County should reimburse Second Chance Pet Adoptions and other rescues for the veterinary care paid
for residents whose cities contract with the OC Animal Care Center because it was the responsibility of the
County and OC Animal Care Center to help the animals and both failed to do their jobs.
Sincerely,
Deanna Shapiro, Board Member
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Please Spay & Neuter Your Pets!
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Orozco, Norma
From:Romina Y <romina.yamashiro84@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 2:51 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Fwd: QUESTION: Virtual Town Hall for an Update On Our First 100 Days Serving
Orange County’s Second District!
Attachments:Stopping TNR is Inhumane AND Abandonment.jpg
Hello,
I would like to present the question for our Virtual Town Hall regarding the impact both in animal
welfare and overall costs endured to Cypress, Huntington Beach, Rossmoor, Fountain Valley, and
other Unincorporated Areas within the 2nd District Zoning utilizing OC Animal Care; who has ceased
all forms of TNR (trap neuter return) programs since January of 2020. We are facing a significant
hurdle on multiple fronts since the inept and indecisive changes in policy to no longer perform any
TNR program, and yet not accept adult stray cats; leaving them unaltered and abandoned to colonize
and reproduce at alarming rates.
This creates a significant toll financially on Orange County Tax Payers, as well as creating a feline
pandemic within these communities. By not accepting young/adult stray cats and not performing
sustainable TNR services, we are leaving unaltered cats out at large to breed indefinitely and
drastically increase our already problematic feline population. And once that stray cat has a litter of
kittens (OCAC only accepts kittens and sick/injured cats), her and the litter (that could have easily
been avoided through TNR) are then brought in to OC Animal Care to impact costs and labor for
housing, as well as burdened on to the rescue community who are already waist deep in animals
within Orange County OCAC is disregarding.
Myself and a large portion of the Orange County population are alarmed by these continued actions
from OC Animal Care, so much so that petitions and peaceful protests have been conducted against
the facilities unchanged decision. In terms of cost, anyone with a high school diploma and a C
average in basic math should be able to understand processing managing, and possibly euthanizing
a mother cat and litter of 10 or more kittens is more costly than performing one simple spay and
returning the animal to its original location. Additionally, by OC Animal Care not performing this
service, members of the general public which lack funding and knowledge are attempting to care for
these unaltered cats on their own. Just recently, a member of Orange County was found to have
several stray cats on her property, which when combined with all litters accounted for 50 cats and
kittens, from just one small area within Orange County.
These actions by OC Animal Care were based on a 'cease and desist' letter from a small handful of
activists who lack understanding of animal welfare needs on a municipal level to stop RTF (return to
field). However, OC Animal Care not only ceased RTF services, but also used these cease and desist
notice as an excuse to close TNR programs as well. Additionally, those same activists presented the
cease and desist letter to 3 other neighboring counties; and all other counties continued their TNR
programs as their legal teams are experienced laws pertaining to animal welfare; and how California
Penal Code, 597s has no implications with a TNR program.
To summarize:
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OCAC is stating TNR goes against California Penal Code, 597s, which is does not as seen by all
other neighboring Counties within California that have been performing TNR and continuing to do so.
OCAC is stating it is a financial burden, although funding has been allocated for TNR in our OC
Community Resources budget long before they moved to their new $35 million dollar facility. And
standard economics justify spaying one cat is more cost effective than caring for the cat, her kittens,
and all other kittens that continue to multiply.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: No Kill Advocacy Center <info@nokilladvocacycenter.org>
Date: Tue, Jun 29, 2021 at 7:13 AM
Subject: TNR/RTF is Legal in California
To: <Andi.Bernard@occr.ocgov.com>, <Monica.Schmidt@occr.ocgov.com>
Cc: <Dylan.Wright@occr.ocgov.com>, <Cymantha.Atkinson@occr.ocgov.com>,
<Lisa.Bartlett@ocgov.com>, <donald.wagner@ocgov.com>, <doug.chaffee@ocgov.com>,
<Andrew.Do@ocgov.com>, <Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com>
Andi Bernard
Director, Orange County Animal Care
1630 Victory Rd.
Tustin, CA 92782
Dear Mr. Bernard,
We are writing in response to an email sent to volunteers and rescuers that Orange County Animal
Care has discontinued its community cat sterilization (i.e., TNR/RTF) because of the belief that it is
illegal in California; namely, that it violates the cruelty law against abandonment. It does not.
California's Food & Ag Code Sec. 31105 mandates that counties shall provide for "The taking up and
impounding of all dogs which are found running at large..." but there is no parallel provision for
rounding up healthy community cats and agencies are not compelled by law to do so. CA Pen. Code
Sec. 597.1 (c) (1) only requires cats to be taken in if they are injured and, even then, the statute
mandates that they be taken to a veterinarian for "proper care and \[to be\] given emergency
treatment." And given that custody of cats through trapping is only done while contemplating the cat's
re-release, if the cats are healthy, re-releasing the cats as part of a community cat sterilization
program lacks the kind of general or specific intent that the animal cruelty laws require.
As prosecutors across the state and country have noted, the abandonment statute is,
\[D\]irected at those people who dump their pets and those individuals who move from an area and
leave their pets behind. If an animal is returned to the area where it is being fed, it would be a greater
injustice to find that these animals had been abandoned so that no action to spay/neuter the animals
would be taken by anyone.
The reasons for this are obvious. First, community cat sterilization improves, rather than threatens,
the health and safety of cats. This includes providing a physical exam, vaccination(s), and other
medical services to improve the quality and longevity of their lives.
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Second, these cats often have caregivers.
Third, most of these cats are not lost. They are outside, but they get lost when they are taken to a
shelter. Returning them to where they were trapped merely returns them home.
Fourth, even if they were lost when they were picked up, the likelihood of being reunited with their
families is greater for cats if they are allowed to remain where they are rather than being admitted to
the shelter. In one study, cats were 13 times more likely to be returned home by non-shelter means
(such as returning home on their own) than by a call or visit to a shelter. And another study found that
people are up to three times more likely to adopt cats as neighborhood strays versus adopting from a
shelter.
From a policy perspective, if the concern is harm to cats (which is what the animal cruelty laws, of
which the abandonment statute is a part, contemplate), the risk of death is lower and the chance of
adoption higher for cats when they are sterilized and returned than when cats are impounded in a
municipal shelter facility, where they face the very real threat of harm (i.e., killing). As such,
community cat sterilization increases reclaim by families or adoption into a new home better than
impoundment does.
Given this, it is not surprising that the American Bar Association, the nation's largest association of
legal professionals, has embraced community cat sterilization, finding the practice legal in
jurisdictions which also have laws proscribing abandonment. This is also why municipal shelters
across the state, and across the country, and the majority of companion animal humane
organizations in the country, embrace community cat sterilization programs.
Mr. Bernard, aside from the legality of such programs, it should also be noted that community cat
sterilization is good policy that:
Improves the quality of life for community cats;
Reduces intake and killing of community cats;
Reduces complaint calls to animal control;
Reduces illness in the shelter;
Reduces spending (and waste of taxpayer money); and,
Increases opportunities to expand lifesaving of other animals, such as dogs, too.
You can find more information about the benefits in our guide for shelter managers and
policymakers: nokilladvocacycenter.org/community-cat-program.html.
In the interim, we hope that we have addressed any misgivings the agency has about the legality of
community cat sterilization and the importance and benefit of retaining a program whose cancellation
will result in unnecessarily increasing the killing of cats.
Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Nathan J. Winograd
--
No Kill Advocacy Center
www.nokilladvocacycenter.org
6114 La Salle Ave. 837 Oakland CA 94611
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____________________________
Greetings all,
As many of you may be aware, it is the understanding of OC Animal Care that Trap Neuter Release
(TNR) and Return To Field (RTF) programs are considered to be willful abandonment of an animal
pursuant to California Penal Code, 597s. With the information currently available, releasing unowned
and unmonitored animals into the community to fend on their own constitutes abandonment. The law
does not specify exceptions for unsocialized or feral cats, or any other domestic animal. The only
exception listed pertains to native wildlife and cats are not defined as native wildlife.
With that being said, OC Animal Care is committed to helping animals in our community and to
addressing the needs of our residents to the extent that such actions are consistent with applicable
law. It is also important to note OC Animal Care is not the only animal care service provider in
Orange County. OC Animal Care serves 14 cities and the unincorporated area, sharing the
responsibility of caring for animals with 20 other jurisdictions. We are working internally to identify
and develop options that support public safety and animal welfare.
While we can't allocate resources to TNR, we are happy to consider other programs and
perspectives. To give those interested an equal opportunity to provide feedback beyond
TNR/RTF, we will be gathering information from various stakeholders in the community and
would like to hear from you. We encourage your ideas and input be directed in writing to OC
Animal Care Director, Andi Bernard (Andi.Bernard@occr.ocgov.com) so we can continue to
work together on the behalf of animals in Orange County. After gathering written feedback from
stakeholders, we will internally discuss next steps and be sure to follow-up with the community.
Warm regards,
Andi Bernard
Director, OC Animal Care
Office: 714-796-6414
1630 Victory Road, Tustin, CA 92782
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Orozco, Norma
From:Romina Y <romina.yamashiro84@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 2:50 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Fwd: TNR support by OCAC has helped me in the past please bring TNR back PLEASE
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: claudine de giacomo <claudinedegiacomo@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 19, 2021 at 4:57 PM
Subject: TNR support by OCAC has helped me in the past please bring TNR back PLEASE
To: <monica.schmidt@occr.ocgov.com>, <Andi.Bernard@occr.ocgov.com>,
<OCCRocpetinfo@occr.ocgov.com>, <Dylan.Wright@occr.ocgov.com>,
<Cymantha.Atkinson@occr.ocgov.com>, <Andrew.Do@ocgov.com>, <Doug.Chaffee@ocgov.com>,
<katrina.foley@ocgov.com>, <vsarmiento@santa-ana.org>, <pbacerra@santa-ana.org>, <TPhan@santa-
ana.org>, <dpenaloza@santa-ana.org>, <JessieLopez@santa-ana.org>, <Janet.Brown2@mail.house.gov>
Hello,
I am a testimony of how OCAC TNR support helped keep my feral colony of 8 cats ages 2 through 15. It was
so beneficial to be able to bring to you a couple of my cats that needed to be fixed and have them returned to
live in harmony around my property. I did give the options to have adopted out. They were returned and i fell
in love and they are fed and happy but are NOT out having kittens, Not out fighting other male cats, etc. I
provide food water and shelter and when necessary, vet visits.
If it were not for the help of OCAC TNR that was offered in the past, I would most likely be having problems
with kittens being born and male cats fighting.
Since all my females are spayed one by OCAC and one male neutered by OCAC and returned, I rarely attract
other ferals.
I cannot express the IMPORTANCE OF TNR enough. I have also worked with small rescue groups that are in
need of assistance to spay and neuter and rely heavily on the vouchers.
TNR SAVES LIVES and PREVENTS OVERPOPULATION. I have been to your shelter prior to COVID and
was amazed at how clean and pleasant your facility was. There should not be the amount of euthanasia that I
am reading about.
I have lived in Orange County my whole life and my family owns a couple properties here. I would appreciate
and be proud to know that OCAC will again support local residents, and rescues by offering the TNR program
once again. There will be less suffering and less death for animals in our community.
Also, many residents in my Santa Ana neighborhood will gladly provide food and water to stray cats especially
since they help keep rodents away. The only thing the residents don't have ability or time to do, is responsibly
spay and neuter. TNR at OCAC will positively help the Santa Ana community and control the population of
feral suffering cats.
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Please, please, please bring back the TNR program.
Thank you,
Claudine DeGiacomo
8
Orozco, Norma
From:info@unitedartistsofsantaana.org
Sent:Tuesday, July 20, 2021 11:28 AM
To:eComment
Cc:Sarmiento, Vicente; Penaloza, David; Phan, Thai; Lopez, Jessie; Bacerra, Phil; Mendoza,
Nelida; Ridge, Kristine; Gomez, Daisy; Hernandez, Johnathan; !City Clerk
Subject:e-comment: United Artists of Santa Ana Statement on Art Walk
United Artists of Santa Ana Statement on Art Walk
Dear Mayor, City Council and City Manager,
After participating in the July 14 Downtown Inc. input session on Art Walk, United Artists
of Santa Ana is making a statement on the matter due to the serious ongoing concerns
about the event expressed by the community in the discussion.
While many participants acknowledged the need and importance of the Art Walk to
promote Santa Ana and serve its residents, there were numerous concerns over
Downtown Inc.’s mishandling of the event, which included the following:
The focus of the Art Walk as run and marketed by Downtown Inc. promotes
drinking in the downtown over real benefit and service to Santa Ana artists, arts
organizations and galleries
Art Walk’s vendor booths and musical performances do not meet the real
professional needs of local artists, organizations, and galleries
The shift of the Art Walk audience to alcohol-focused partying after 8pm and
increase in crime during the event creates an unsafe environment for families,
youth and female vendors
Downtown Inc. refuses to acknowledge or address criticism and concerns from
members of the community who have experienced problems with the event
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There is a lack of public accountability for Downtown Inc. regarding addressing
complaints and problems with the event
There exists a questionable relationship between Downtown Inc. and East End
Partners leadership which needs to be investigated and audited, and concerns
were expressed over the use of public BID funding to promote the private interests
of East End Partners
Problems with the way Downtown Inc. has run Art Walk have been ongoing for at
least ten years.
The problematic focus on Downtown Inc.’s running of Art Walk mirrors the
problems with alcohol-related marketing of the East End, as seen in events at The
Yost, East End Block Party and the association with reckless promoters such as
Top Acid
There is a need for the City of Santa Ana to run Art Walk and to create a structure
that provides real equity, accountability and service to Santa Ana’s artists,
residents and arts sector
The cultural and economic potential for Art Walk is not being realized because of
how it is being run by Downtown Inc., and it is time for a new vision
The community needs to support and provide input to the Santa Ana Arts
Commission’s current Ad Hoc Committee on Art Walk in order to ensure that
community feedback results in an equitable event and new structure, and is not
co-opted by Downtown Inc. or East End Partners to prolong a dysfunctional and
exploitative event
We as United Artists of Santa Ana ask that an investigation and audit be
conducted examining Downtown Inc. and East End Partners’ relationship,
leadership, business practices and use of public funds.
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Additionally, we request that John Lambeth, President & CEO of Civitas, be
contracted to provide training to city staff on proper BID structure and
oversight. Please see Mr. Lambeth’s bio below.
We submitted this statement as a public comment to the Arts Commission on July 15,
and requested a response from staff regarding these two items within two weeks of that
date and no later July 29, 2021.
Sincerely,
- United Artists of Santa Ana
www.unitedartistsofsantaana.org
John Lambeth Bio
President & CEO
https://civitasadvisors.com/home/about/staff-biographies/
Mr. Lambeth is an attorney who specializes in creating and operating business
improvement districts. He was the primary author of the Property and Business
Improvement District Law of 1994 and assisted with the creation of the first property-
based improvement districts in California. He is a frequent speaker on tourism
improvement districts and property and business improvement districts. Mr. Lambeth
has been involved in all aspects of district formation and modification, including
outreach, plan development, and petition and ballot drives. He formerly served as clerk
to the Honorable Malcolm M. Lucas, Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
3
Orozco, Norma
From:Lorena Mojarra <lasmojarra81@gmail.com>
Sent:Monday, July 19, 2021 1:53 PM
To:eComment
Subject:Comment for City Council meetin 7/20/21
Categories:Correspondence
Councilmembers in regards Ward 3 and Ward 6
The reason for my email is to make you aware of all the homeless affecting our 1st Street area going down to
Lyon Street. It seems there is no city control for these types of individuals. At times you can see them just
completely blocking the sidewalks and they are playing some sort of gambling game. Not only does this make
my city bad it also makes it look unsafe. I drive past this everyday. I can't imagine people in our community just
taking a stroll down their street. Some of these homeless individuals look like they are not even from our city
itself. Another thing that doesn't help is there are 3 smoke shops within Ward 3 and Ward 6. All these smoke
shops are just attracting the wrong crowds in our communities. Why is the city of Santa Ana allowing such
businesses to operate so close to each other? Something needs to be done to improve our quality of life. We
deserve better! These smoke shops need to be closed immediately. My other comment is our city parks are
being occupied by homeless people living out of their cars. For example Jerome Park has vehicles parked that
look undriveable. The bathrooms are their hangout therefore us residents can’t even use them safely nor are
they clean. The city needs to add patrolling to protect us.
Thank you,
Lorena M.
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