Travis County Commissioners Court
September 29, 2009,
Item 32
Number 32 is could be and take appropriate action on interlocal between Travis County and the city of Austin for the provision of public health services for fiscal year 2010.
>> good morning, judge Biscoe, Commissioners.
this is the annual renewal of our interlocal agreement with the city of Austin for the provision of public health services, animal control and related services.
what's included in this interlocal is a wide range of services which include disease surveillance and that certainly is significant right now.
in the conversations we've been having around h1n1, so that would certainly be an example of some of the work that's being done for us.
in addition to outreach for a variety of public health-related programs, health department services that our residents receive, birth certificates, immunizations, and then, of course, the operation of animal control services throughout the county.
so we have had this agreement for many, many years with the city of Austin and you'll note in your backup that the agreement this year is a little bit under last year's agreement and has been adjusted for a variety of reasons, first and foremost some budget changes that have occurred at the city of Austin which has caused them to be able to reduce their performance.
so in the reduction of performance, there's a reduction in cost to us.
there's also the agreement between the city and the county to set administrative costs at 6.5%, which is a little bit under I think what we've been paying.
so this agreement has gone from about 2-point 9 million to 2.8 so staff recommends your approval.
>> I just wanted to address the animal control portion of this interlocal.
and first I want to thank sherri and her staff and the city of Austin staff.
as you know, we've had a number of issues just this year with animal control in the unincorporated areas.
both the city of Austin and our staff have been working very hard to address those.
one of the things, though, that I think is important for us to consider is as we are growing and the other municipalities in the -- within Travis County, some of them are getting their own animal control officers.
and we've done a good -- city of Austin working with us, we've just -- worked out a relationship with the city of Lakeway to deal with some of the problems in the area out there in the unincorporated portions.
but pursuant to that because we're having some good progress here, I would really like to move -- I'm going to put this in form of a motion, that we ask our -- sherri and her staff to work -- continue their work with the appropriate city of Austin staff and the sheriff's department and the unincorporated cities, the rest of them in Travis County, to look towards recommendations for improvement in animal control coordination.
as it comes under the umbrella of this interlocal.
and to have those recommendations back to the court by may of 2010.
such that we can take a look at those prior to the renewal of this interlocal in 2011 for the 2011 year.
did I say that right?
is that clear?
okay.
>> I'll second that.
and I think it really is probably on comprehensive approach to -- to all of us who have situations in unincorporated areas, period.
and I guess the nearest municipality would also have an opportunity to maybe even participate.
and together with the city of Austin, but I think the outreach of this because really we get calls about animals attacking all sorts of things, chickens --
>> we're not posted.
>> I'm sitting here thinking about it.
because the spirit of that is for us to try to work with other governmental entities, right?
in the animal control area?
>> look at the opportunity.
>> this is really between city of Austin and Travis County.
>> okay.
>> and the 2010 interlocal that basically is already prepared.
>> yeah.
>> I think we ought to bring that back.
that's a good idea.
that ought to be a separate item.
>> but as far as this is concerned, the posting is just dealing with and I guess sherri just dealing with the city of Austin, but I think that is something that --
>> can be brought back.
yeah.
>> this posting is kind of between Travis County and the city of Austin, and a proposed interlocal amount.
>> not looking to modify the interlocal for this year at all.
only set the stage for possible recommendations for next year's interlocal, but perhaps that needs to be posted separately.
>> yeah, I think we ought to do it next week.
>> I move approval of the current interlocal.
>> I'll second that.
Commissioner, go ahead and second that because that's part of what you were dealing with.
i'll withdraw my second.
you go ahead.
but I think it's a good idea as stated because we all have issues with animal control situations out there in the unincorporated throughout all of Travis County.
>> this has been working fine.
we're just growing and we need to look at continued opportunities.
>> and I think it's a great idea.
thank you.
>> any discussion of the motion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
>> thank you, sherry.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, sherry.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 1:30 PM
