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City introduces two new directors, previews building-permit software and addresses animal care data concerns
Summary
Assistant City Manager Nina Mendez introduced Joel Skidmore as animal care manager and Sharon Williams as community development director. Staff updated council on a new building-permitting software expected to enter testing with a potential May–June go-live and discussed data and public messaging issues at the animal care facility.
Assistant City Manager Nina Mendez introduced two new departmental leaders at the Jan. 21 Converse City Council meeting and updated council on multiple administrative items, including the city’s new building-permitting software and data issues at the animal care facility.
Mendez introduced Joel Skidmore as the new animal care manager. She summarized Skidmore’s background in San Antonio and Corpus Christi where he led animal services operations and investigations and expanded staffing and life-placement efforts for shelter animals. Council members questioned shelter statistics; Skidmore said capture of accurate monthly shelter populations is difficult under the current software because the system records incoming and outgoing animals but not an easily reportable “starting point,” which made December’s in‑shelter figure appear as zero in the report. He said staff are correcting the reporting method so monthly counts will be accurate.
Mendez also introduced Sharon Williams as the new community development director. Williams’ biography in the meeting record noted planning and long-range experience in Virginia and North Carolina, experience revising ordinances and comprehensive plans, grant administration, and citizen planning academies.
On the building-permitting software, staff said the council authorized purchase in June and the product is being customized to Converse’s permitting workflows. Project work includes building sequences, credit-card payment connectors, GIS mapping/address integration and contractor data migration; staff reported they are entering validation testing and that the vendor’s project manager expected a possible May or June go-live. The upgrade is intended to allow electronic submission, online payments, inspector scheduling and field inspection workflows with iPads, reducing the current manual, folder-based process.
Council members raised additional operational points: a social media post suggesting the city was not supporting the animal care facility prompted multiple citizen calls and staff removed the post; council discussed ensuring accurate messaging and adding a clear line in the shelter’s report that euthanasia is performed for medical reasons only. Staff also confirmed the farmers market organizers emailed the city stating their intent to dissolve the program.
Several grant items listed on the staff report require follow-up: the Christine B. Woll Memorial Fund (listed under library grants) and a pending grant request tied to fitness equipment (Gold’s Gym) for the fire department were noted as needing research or awaiting response.
City staff said they will continue software validation testing, update shelter reporting practices and follow up on grant and farmers market questions.
