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San Benito amends animal shelter advisory committee ordinance and appoints members
Summary
The commission amended the ordinance to revise appointments to the animal shelter advisory committee and filled required seats: a licensed veterinarian, a county/municipal official, an animal-control officer, an animal-welfare representative and a citizen not affiliated with an animal-welfare organization.
The San Benito City Commission approved an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2418 to revise and update appointments to the animal-shelter advisory committee and then appointed members to required seats, the chief of police and commissioners said Aug. 19.
Police and animal-control staff told the commission the ordinance change adds an additional citizen member to the animal advisory committee in accordance with the Health and Safety Code requirement discussed at the hearing. The change is to "add an additional member to the animal advisory committee" and to ensure at least one appointee is a San Benito citizen "not currently affiliated with an animal welfare organization," staff said on the record.
Appointments
After the ordinance passed on second and final reading, commissioners filled the committee's seats: Doctor Allison Merrick was appointed as the licensed veterinarian; Commissioner Galvan was named as the county/municipal official appointee; Animal Control Officer Javier Coronado (spelled in the hearing as a long-serving ACO) was appointed for the operations position; Edith Thamez (president of Furry Friends RGV) was appointed as the animal-welfare-organization representative; and Linda Briones was appointed as the citizen representative who is not affiliated with an animal-welfare organization. Each appointment was made for the term shown in the agenda (08/01/2025 through 07/31/2028).
Why it matters: The advisory committee will provide recommendations to city staff and the commission on shelter operations and animal-welfare policies. Staff said the committee's composition -- including a licensed veterinarian and a non-affiliated citizen -- is intended to broaden perspectives on shelter practices and policy recommendations.
Discussion and vote
Police staff explained the ordinance amendment and recommended appointments. Commissioners nominated and seconded candidates; the commission recorded unanimous "Aye" votes on the appointments and approved the ordinance on second and final reading at the meeting.
Ending
City staff said they would notify appointees and schedule committee meetings. The commission's action completes the immediate staffing of the advisory committee as required by the ordinance change and the Health and Safety Code reference used in the staff report.
