Council approves ordinance creating Metropolitan Animal Care and Control Commission after heated debate and board of health request for review

The Metropolitan Council’s Public Health & Safety Committee approved an ordinance to establish a Metropolitan Animal Care and Control Commission on second reading as amended, with a final vote of 5 in favor, 1 opposed and 1 not voting.

Supporters said the commission is intended to provide a stable, ordinance-created governing structure for Metro Animal Care and Control (MAC) after years of staffing and facility concerns, while the Metro Board of Health asked for time to review the bill’s new language before the board’s next meeting.

Councilmember Wiener, the lead sponsor, said the amendment being considered “is nothing more than adding a couple of whereas to posture historical perspective, so that there's more clarity around what we're doing.” Wiener urged colleagues to move the bill forward and to show support for MAC staff who, she said, have been “overlooked.”

Mark Young, representing the fire/EMS side when asked about a different agenda item earlier in the meeting, described how new modules in department software help field reporting; his comments were confined to the ImageTrend contract during that portion of the meeting.

Tene Franklin, chair of the Metro Board of Health, said the board needed more time to review the revised bill language and asked the council to defer so the board could discuss the ordinance at its next meeting. Franklin said she arrived at the council meeting after receiving notice and that the board is a volunteer body that relies on adequate time and departmental communication: “What I am asking for is to allow the board of health this time and this space to review the intent, review the language before our next board of health meeting on November [13],” Franklin said.

Several council members pressed for urgency. Councilmember Bradford said MAC employees have been “working their fingers to the bone” and called for immediate action to support staff and address overcrowding and facility needs. Bradford urged the council not to delay: “We cannot wait another 2 weeks. The shelter constantly is overcapacity, which is not good for the animals and it's not good for the staff.”

Councilmember Nash, a co-sponsor, said he supported the ordinance but also supported giving the board time to review; procedural motions followed on whether to defer for one meeting or to proceed. A motion to defer the bill for one meeting failed on a 4-3 vote. Earlier, a separate motion to table the proposed deferral passed 4-3, after which the council considered the ordinance as amended.

After debate and procedural votes, the committee approved the ordinance as amended on second reading by a roll-call-style show of hands: 5 yes, 1 no, 1 not voting. The council noted the amendment added framing language and historical “whereas” clauses; sponsors said the amendment did not change the commission’s substantive structure.

The Board of Health asked for a “2-session” or at least a one-meeting deferral earlier in the discussion so board members could see the precise language and ask questions; the council ultimately proceeded without that additional review. Franklin said she remained available to discuss the ordinance with councilmembers regardless of the outcome.

Next steps: the ordinance will proceed toward third reading as required by council rules; sponsors and the Board of Health indicated they expect ongoing conversations about the commission’s role and implementation.

Votes at a glance - BL 2025-1061 (ordinance to establish the Metropolitan Animal Care and Control Commission), as amended — Passed 5 yes, 1 no, 1 not voting.