Shelter staff report steady foster use, volunteer sign-ups and budget timing; cost study deferred to next year

Sandra Hill, Animal Control Manager for the Fairbanks North Star Borough, reported staffing and program updates to the Animal Control Commission on Feb. 3, including recruitment, volunteer activity, foster counts and the timing of a requested cost-benefit analysis.

Hill said an Administrative Assistant II position failed to fill on the first recruitment and will be reposted; the animal-tender position closed and interviews are being scheduled. Hill reported a first-aid class in November that the borough sponsored and noted classroom visits at Denali Elementary in November and December conducted by the animal-control officer team.

On volunteers and fosters, Hill said the shelter logged roughly 132 volunteer hours in December with 20 animals placed in 12 foster homes, and about 74 volunteer hours in January with 20 animals in nine foster homes. Hill said the borough is vetting volunteers through Human Resources and that the shelter is preparing to roll out scheduling software that will allow residents to view and sign up for specific volunteer time slots and tasks.

Commissioners asked about the volunteer program, how volunteers are vetted and what activities volunteers perform; Hill said volunteers are vetted through the borough’s normal HR process and, once cleared, can help with cleaning, laundry, dishwashing and, depending on training, walking and handling animals.

On data and trends, commissioners requested intake and demographic breakdowns to identify where owner surrenders and at-large animals come from. Hill said the shelter’s software can produce detailed reports but that report-writing takes staff time; staff asked commissioners to prioritize the specific fields they want tracked so appropriate reports can be generated.

Hill gave a brief budget update: the shelter’s recommendations were submitted to the borough administration in a Phase 2 presentation and staff are awaiting the administration’s response. A requested cost-benefit analysis was not completed before the current budget presentation because staff prioritized other operational work; Hill said the analysis will be scheduled and completed well before next year’s budget season.

During the meeting the commission approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda (which included multiple prior meeting minutes) by roll-call vote. The motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda was seconded by Commissioner Ruth Bethune; the roll call vote was 7–0 in favor.

The commission also held uncontested elections for chair and vice chair. Gail Gardner was nominated and declared elected chair by acclamation; a single nominee for vice chair was also declared elected by default and the nominees accepted the positions.