LAGUNA HILLS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS' CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON THEIR 5-0 VOTE FOR CHANGING THEIR CITY'S ANIMAL CARE SERVICES FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER TO THE MISSION VIEJO ANIMAL SHELTER, FOR THEIR RESIDENTS ON MARCH 22, 2016
Council Member Andrew Blount said In first grade, my class took a tour of the Humane Society. We all got on a bus and drove to the Humane Society in Colorado, and as part of the tour, we toured the kill chamber. On the bus trip back, a couple of friends and I were trying to figure out just how it was that they killed the animals. We didn't know if they shot them or if they suffocated them or if they burnt them, or whatever their process was, but it left a lasting impression on me, a very strong lasting impression. There is no way on earth that I would ever oppose, ever, any change out of the county and it gives me great pleasure today to be able to support the motion and, over the years, watching the very fine work that you've done that's one of the primary reasons that I came aboard the council in the first place. It's a wonderful night for me and I'm glad to be here.
Council Member Dore Gilbert said, I'd like to recommend that the city council direct staff to finalize all partner agreements with the City of Mission Viejo for view and approval at the April 12, 2016 City Council Meeting. (*Motion Made to Accept Staff Recommendation.) Dr. Gilbert continued, The time has come and I think we have before us a very reasonable proposal and I'm confident that Rancho Santa Margarita will probably join us and we'll be able to provide our citizens with the kind of animal care that I think a city like ours should have. Onward and forward.
Mayor Barbara Kogerman Mayor Kogerman showed the audience a huge notebook/binder and said it was full of the Grand Jury information and all the information she'd been collecting over the years about the County Shelter and added there is so much information that is so damning about the OC Animal Shelter. But to speak about the positives, about our good neighbors, the City of Mission Viejo, I'm so grateful to the City of Mission Viejo for extending this offer to us and to Sharon Cody and to Gail de Young, for running such a great shelter and setting up the volunteers and our own community's Beth Hoss for being volunteer of the year. Beth sent out a wonderful letter to the community about how the children went over and read to the animals, this is the kind of thing you can do with the Mission Viejo Shelter that you can't do maybe anyplace else. This is one of the happiest moments since I've been on the City Council. I thank you for sharing it with us tonight and I'm so excited to call for the question. She also thanked staff for all their good work on this and for helping make this happen.
Those in favor of the recommendation please say Aye. There were 5 Aye's,
The vote was 5 - 0 in favor of the Staff Recommendation to go with the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter. Everyone cheered!!!
Mayor-Pro-Tem Don Sedgwick said, I also want to offer my support for the staff recommendation. I think that all of us on the council have been hoping that somehow it would make reasonable financial sense for us to go forward with the more local, closer to home, Mission Viejo Shelter. I've always really liked the idea of being able to be part of a shelter that is smaller, more controllable, and more full of the use of volunteers who really care and are friendly. That's a good reflection on the Mission Viejo Shelter, that it attracts so many people who want to be part of it, who care for animals and their well being. It's a reflection on what's going on at the shelter itself, after the report on what was going on at the county. I spoke with so many friends who are residents of Mission Viejo and others who have been associated with that shelter. I gotta tell you that I just have not heard a negative word spoken, which is in such great contrast to the unfortunate perception that is out there for the County so I think we are all thrilled to see that there is a way in which we could prudently and reasonable go forward with this proposal that is more local, and provides us with what we believe to be better service and more localized service. It's a great day for us and wonderful for them, as Mr. Breton brought up, in that they could go forward by adding another shift and expanding a little bit to increase what they are able to offer. I'm looking forward to the partnership.
Council Member Melody Carruth said, While we have always been one of the contract cities with the County of Orange, since incorporation, I think the hearts of many of our residents have always been with the Mission Viejo Shelter. Over the years watching how well the Mission Viejo Shelter has been managed having somebody like Gail de Young and with Sharon Cody's leadership and Bob Breton and the staff they have that have been there for years, making sound financial decisions. She added that she'd had an opportunity to tour the Mission Viejo Shelter this week and was able to see the programs that were there where our residents could spend valuable time and know that they are needed, and are able to serve the community. She added it's been a long journey and it's a great pleasure to make this decision.
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