[ SHOWGSD-L ] FWD: What happened at the Dallas City Council Meeting on Wednesday

From: "Ginger Cleary" <cleary1414@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Showgsd-L@Freelists. Org" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 10:14:15 -0400
Forwarded with permission.....

Ginger Cleary - Rome, GA www.rihadin.com <http://www.rihadin.com>
 "A nation of sheep begets a government of wolves." --Edward R. Murrow
GA Director RDOE
Member GSDCA
please help rescue... http://lasthopesafehaven.com/


-----Original Message-----
Let me bring you all up to speed on today's events.We were told that since
this was a "Briefing" session of the Dallas City Council that speakers would
not be allowed. They were only allowed at voting sessions of the Council.
NOT true. Speakers are invited to EACH AND EVERY session of the Dallas City
Council.the first and third Wednesdays are "Briefing" sessions.and the
Second and Fourth Wednesdays are "Voting"sessions. Only five speakers are
allowed to speak at any one session of the DCC. You must physically arrive
at City Hall as early as possible, i.e. prior to 8:15, to put your name on
the list. First come.First served. After the first five.they take a few more
names, so that if any of the original five don't or can't speak for any
reason.the next name on the list will be "bumped up" and allowed then to
speak in their slot. Time permitting, other speakers may be allowed to speak
after the afternoonagenda. Speakers are allotted three minutes, and it is
timed. We were told that "our" agenda item would not be addressed until
afternoon session. However, all the speakers were heard in the morning. That
fact was kept from us. So when we arrived after lunch, we learned we had
missed the speakers. Three for, one against. We heard NONE of it.The
specifics of the proposed ordinances were not detailed in open session. They
were presented in Executive Session, and therefore not publicly accessible.
However, in open session, each of the council members did speak of the many
of the proposed changes to code compliance (which is currently the
department under which Animal Services falls.) and it was quite apparent
that the council is in favor of passing the recommendations made by Animal
Services. The council commissioned a committee to make recommendations, and
we discovered that that was comprised of Animal Services and a local
animalwelfare/rescue group. No other groups.breeders, exhibitors, breed club
representatives, veterinarians, local dog trainers.were invited to be a part
of the committee that made recommendations to the Quality of Life committee
and to the council. In fact, many of the council members had nothing but the
highest PRAISE for this commission, their hard work, dedication,
andthoughtful recommendations.In listening to each of the council members
speak, we do have some opportunities to "turn" the council.but I just don't
know if there's time at this point. Mayor Leppert strongly supports the
proposed ordinance changes.but he really has some serious reservations about
"benchmarks". He wants a definitive timelime/measurement to see marked
improvement in theproblems that these recommendations supposedly address. He
was very hesitant to spend additional monies without having a definitive
plan for measuring success.In addition, we have at least a couple other
members of the council that are highly displeased with A/S performance to
this point. They have a failure maintaining employment stability in their
employees. They currently have and have for some time (a couple of years is
what I remember hearing.) 21 positions open. That never seem to fill. And
when they do, these positionstransfer out at the very first posting of a
position in another department. Turnover in the department is nothing short
of astronomical. The have had an opening for the #2 position for quite some
time as well. So at least we have that going for us.they are reticent to
allocate more funds to a department that is obviously dysfunctional.It was
also pointed out that the City spent 17 million dollars on their new,
state-of-the-art "Green" shelter. And for that 17 million dollars, they
still do not have an operating theatre that is capable of performing spays
and neuters. Or that has lights, or that has anesthesia capabilities. That
was a huge sore point with Councilwoman Garcia. Hard to pass
MANDATORYspay/neuter legislation when your flagship Animal Shelter can't
even perform them. HA!BUT..and this is really important.the entire council
is very comfortable with these aggressive changes. They have some REAL
problems with loose running dogs in all districts.but the council members
who led in the numbers (tracked by 311 calls) have been taking a LOT of flak
from their constituents about loose dogs. IT is a problem. They need to do
something.So they are ready to try anything.and they were never given an
opportunity to hear any other options other than what the commission
recommended. I believe this will pass, regardless. However, I don't think we
take it lying down.My recommendation is that first we band together to
attend council meetings.by the hundreds.. We need to meet prior to the
council meetings and choose five potential speakers, come up with talking
points for those five speakers.and practice. Then on Wednesday, our five
speakers, and every warm body we can muster.needs to show up at City Hall.
FOR THE NEXT THREEWEEKS. I would also highly recommend that we contact
council members and the mayor, make appointments to meet in person, and take
small groups of five or six people to each of those meetings. We need to get
FACE TO FACE with the city leaders. Faxes and e-mails right now are
ineffective. They have already made up their minds. We need to convince them
now to CHANGE their minds.Unless you are willing to band together IN FORCE,
IN NUMBERS.and show up.it's over. Unless we have a BIG VOICE and a BIG
PRESENCE over the next three weeks.these ordinances WILL be passed, make no
mistake. Hell, if we had just the membership of the three all breed clubs in
this area, or four, if FWKC would like to throw some bodies into the
mix.that would be anoverwhelming number of people. Contact your breed
clubs.contact your performance groups, or training classes. We need hundreds
of people. The speakers must be residents of the City of Dallas, but the
supporters can be from anywhere. Four of us showed up today. None could
speak. It was pitiful. Please, we need you to commit yourselves for the next
threeWednesdays. Please.Feel free to crosspost.Verjean LunenschlossLunendogs
________________________________________________________________

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[ SHOWGSD-L ] FWD: What happened at the Dallas City Council Meeting on Wednesday

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