2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
At this time, members of the public may address the Council on matters not listed on the agenda within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council, provided that NO action may be taken on off-agenda items unless authorized by law. Public Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per speaker.
Dear Mayor Slater, Mayor Pro Tem Barrios and City Council Members,
I would like to express my frustrations and extreme disappointment with the lack of progress on the repairs of the gas infrastructure in our community. The safety concerns at La Veta Monterey Condominiums have been completely neglected. Multiple promises have been broken, and it appears more damage has been done to our community rather than any repairs. Countless irrigation lines, cable lines and pipes have been broken, along with trenches throughout the Middle East side of our complex that are hazardous to the residents, pets and visitors. Our community looks like a war zone and a serious injury or death is waiting to happen with the countless rebar sticking up from the ground with no protection to prevent someone from being impaled.
Mr. Dumitru kindly asked that the rebar be capped for safety concerns when we were here 2 weeks ago. Instead someone placed foam padding with duct tape that is absolutely useless. 80 rebar caps on Amazon can be purchased as low as .36 cents each, and the kind of “brainstorming” that went towards duct tape and foam padding, is similar to the “brainstorming” that was going on to prevent this catastrophe.
Our community has been without gas for nearly 40 days which provides us with warm showers or baths, cooked food, and dry laundry, and I, the community would like to know when someone competent will take over and look into the gross negligence that has been going on in our community for years.
I’m guessing the total financial impact that this will cost every homeowner, renter and real estate investor will be in the millions of dollars. It takes hours out of my family’s day to improvise not having this utility that I can be spending in better places. The challenges, costs and amount of time has been unbearable since day 1, and the way things are going now it may be months before the entire community has this basic utility restored.
I support the Findings and Recommendations of the Grand Jury on OC Animal Care.
In particular:
F4 Based upon industry standards and best practices, Orange County Animal Care kennel attendants are understaffed to meet the needs of animals under care.
F5 Orange County Animal Care’s operating policies and procedures manual is out of date.
F7 Orange County Animal Care’s Behavior Evaluation Committee evaluates dogs for euthanasia without written guidelines, policies, or procedures, resulting in inconsistent outcomes over time. Behavior evaluated euthanasia outcomes are dependent on the experience and personal considerations of the individual committee members and management rather than written objective standards.
F8 The rate of behavioral euthanasia of dogs has increased significantly over the last 2 years.
F9 Orange County Animal Care does not employ a professional or trained and certified animal behaviorist to oversee the shelter’s dog enrichment program, resulting in dogs with declining behavior being placed at greater risk of being euthanized.
F11 The termination of the Trap, Neuter, and Return program is correlated with an increase in adult cat euthanasia rate at the shelter.
F13 The current adoption appointment system restricts public access to the dog kennels, thereby limiting potential adopters’ access to all available animals.
R3 By October 1, 2023, OC Community Resources and Orange County Animal Care should review their current staffing allocations of Animal Care Attendants to reflect NACA guidelines and to provide appropriate staffing allocations for animal care, feeding and enrichment. (F3, F4)
R4 By October 1, 2023, OC Community Resources and Orange County Animal Care should review their current staffing allocations of all positions within the OCAC and reallocate resources to increase Animal Care Attendants to reflect NACA guidelines to provide appropriate staffing for animal care, feeding, and enrichment. (F3, F4)
R7 By October 1, 2023, Orange County Animal Care management should establish written guidelines, policies, and procedures as standards for evaluating animal behavior for use by the Behavior Evaluation Committee. (F5, F7)
R8 By December 31, 2023, in the interests of transparency, Orange County Animal Care management should add a representative from a rescue organization to serve as a non-voting, at-large member on the Behavior Evaluation Committee. (F7, F14)
R9 By December 31, 2023, Orange County Animal Care, OC Community Resources, and OC Human Resource Services should hire an animal behaviorist or certified dog trainers to work with aggressive animals to reduce the high rate of dogs being euthanized and enhance their adoptability. (F8, F9)
R10 By December 31, 2023, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange County Animal Care management should request that County Counsel reconsider its opinion about the shelter's former Trap, Neuter, and Return program, or seek an independent second opinion to County Counsel’s opinion, to ascertain whether the program can be re-established, or a modified version of the program can be implemented. (F10, F11)
R14 By December 31, 2023, Orange County Animal Care management should open the shelter to the public for walk throughs to maximize opportunities for the public to adopt animals under the care of the shelter. (F13)
Dear Mayor Slater, Mayor Pro Tem Barrios and City Council Members,
I would like to express my frustrations and extreme disappointment with the lack of progress on the repairs of the gas infrastructure in our community. The safety concerns at La Veta Monterey Condominiums have been completely neglected. Multiple promises have been broken, and it appears more damage has been done to our community rather than any repairs. Countless irrigation lines, cable lines and pipes have been broken, along with trenches throughout the Middle East side of our complex that are hazardous to the residents, pets and visitors. Our community looks like a war zone and a serious injury or death is waiting to happen with the countless rebar sticking up from the ground with no protection to prevent someone from being impaled.
Mr. Dumitru kindly asked that the rebar be capped for safety concerns when we were here 2 weeks ago. Instead someone placed foam padding with duct tape that is absolutely useless. 80 rebar caps on Amazon can be purchased as low as .36 cents each, and the kind of “brainstorming” that went towards duct tape and foam padding, is similar to the “brainstorming” that was going on to prevent this catastrophe.
Our community has been without gas for nearly 40 days which provides us with warm showers or baths, cooked food, and dry laundry, and I, the community would like to know when someone competent will take over and look into the gross negligence that has been going on in our community for years.
I’m guessing the total financial impact that this will cost every homeowner, renter and real estate investor will be in the millions of dollars. It takes hours out of my family’s day to improvise not having this utility that I can be spending in better places. The challenges, costs and amount of time has been unbearable since day 1, and the way things are going now it may be months before the entire community has this basic utility restored.
Please, we are asking for more help!
I support the Findings and Recommendations of the Grand Jury on OC Animal Care.
In particular:
F4 Based upon industry standards and best practices, Orange County Animal Care kennel attendants are understaffed to meet the needs of animals under care.
F5 Orange County Animal Care’s operating policies and procedures manual is out of date.
F7 Orange County Animal Care’s Behavior Evaluation Committee evaluates dogs for euthanasia without written guidelines, policies, or procedures, resulting in inconsistent outcomes over time. Behavior evaluated euthanasia outcomes are dependent on the experience and personal considerations of the individual committee members and management rather than written objective standards.
F8 The rate of behavioral euthanasia of dogs has increased significantly over the last 2 years.
F9 Orange County Animal Care does not employ a professional or trained and certified animal behaviorist to oversee the shelter’s dog enrichment program, resulting in dogs with declining behavior being placed at greater risk of being euthanized.
F11 The termination of the Trap, Neuter, and Return program is correlated with an increase in adult cat euthanasia rate at the shelter.
F13 The current adoption appointment system restricts public access to the dog kennels, thereby limiting potential adopters’ access to all available animals.
R3 By October 1, 2023, OC Community Resources and Orange County Animal Care should review their current staffing allocations of Animal Care Attendants to reflect NACA guidelines and to provide appropriate staffing allocations for animal care, feeding and enrichment. (F3, F4)
R4 By October 1, 2023, OC Community Resources and Orange County Animal Care should review their current staffing allocations of all positions within the OCAC and reallocate resources to increase Animal Care Attendants to reflect NACA guidelines to provide appropriate staffing for animal care, feeding, and enrichment. (F3, F4)
R7 By October 1, 2023, Orange County Animal Care management should establish written guidelines, policies, and procedures as standards for evaluating animal behavior for use by the Behavior Evaluation Committee. (F5, F7)
R8 By December 31, 2023, in the interests of transparency, Orange County Animal Care management should add a representative from a rescue organization to serve as a non-voting, at-large member on the Behavior Evaluation Committee. (F7, F14)
R9 By December 31, 2023, Orange County Animal Care, OC Community Resources, and OC Human Resource Services should hire an animal behaviorist or certified dog trainers to work with aggressive animals to reduce the high rate of dogs being euthanized and enhance their adoptability. (F8, F9)
R10 By December 31, 2023, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and Orange County Animal Care management should request that County Counsel reconsider its opinion about the shelter's former Trap, Neuter, and Return program, or seek an independent second opinion to County Counsel’s opinion, to ascertain whether the program can be re-established, or a modified version of the program can be implemented. (F10, F11)
R14 By December 31, 2023, Orange County Animal Care management should open the shelter to the public for walk throughs to maximize opportunities for the public to adopt animals under the care of the shelter. (F13)