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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-2024 Supporting DocumentsCITY OF OCOEE elk 1 N. Bluford Avenue ocoee Ocoee, Florida 34761 116 rid. 407-905-3100 SPEAKING RESERVATION FORM NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to inspection by all persons. DATE -0-4/1(tjhj0Z41 NAME Ajor)!Co, (jy-ar) PHONE 1�1� ASS -7 V1 14 OCOEE RESIDENT YES BY"'NO El (OPTIONAL) ADDRESS Qv-ciTy_4X6ee-ZIP CODE E-MAIL Cg yon&Al � 0L Pckwa, 1. r., a-) ' - - I want to address the Board about (Please provide Item # and/or topic): QYK C, 'Inals Do you have a prepared statement, or other document(s) from which you will address the Board? No Yes if yes, please attach copy of same to this Reservation Form. jr, 111•111' 1 NIII The following time limits to speak are in effect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation - 15 minutes; citizen comments - 5 minutes per speaker; petitioner rebuttal - 5 minutes. Open to Public - Citizens Comments - 3 minutes per speaker, per meeting. IT CY OF OCOEE INNO-0.0011 t ,�v 0��\ 1 N. Bluford Avenue ocoee Ocoee, Florida 34761 116ri'd. 407-905-3100 SPEAKING RESERVATION FORM NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to iq'sgectjon,,by all persons. DATE NAME PHONE El OCOEE RESIDENT YES NO U V (OPTIONAJ-) ADDRESS N '- I V 't ;' � 'a' ZIP CODE ITY c' E-MAIL I want to addres h Bo rd aboufi (Pl ease provide Item # and/or topic): Do you have a prepared statement, or other document(s) from which you will address the Board? ' 11 No I Yes if yes, please attach copy of same to this Reservation Form. The following time limits to speak are in effect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation - 15 minutes; citizen comments - 5 minutes per speaker; petitioner rebuttal - 5 minutes. Open to Public— Citizens Comments - 3 minutes per speaker, per meeting. CITY OF OCOEE �N 0 1 N. Bluford Avenue Oco(�(� Ocoee, Florida 34761 fl.'Id. 407-905-3100 SPEAKING RESERVATION FORM NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to 1jr1s 11 �,4�ion(by,all 'ersons. DATE t/q ee -�\ NAME ct' 0" \- PHONE# f ( I 6 OCOEE RESIDENT YES 0 NOA (OPTIONAL) ADDRESS,-;/ VP CITY ZIP CODE E-MAIL I want to a dress the Board about (PI ';ase provide Item # an #or tqpiq)""' y- ly 1P Do yiu have a prepared statement, or other documents) from which(yc(u will address the Board? No Yes if yes, please attach copy of same to this Reservation Form. All proceedings before the Commission shall be governed by the Civility Code — see back The following time limits to speak are in effect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation - 15 minutes; citizen comments - 5 minutes per speaker; petitioner rebuttal - 5 minutes. Open to Public — Citizens Comments - 3 minutes per speaker, per meeting, CITY OF OCOEE 1 N. Bluford Avenue 000(>(? j Ocoee, Florida 34761 fladd. 407-905-3100 SPEAKING RESERVATION FORM NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to inspectin by all persons. DATE NAME PHONE# OCOEE RESIDENT YES NO 0 T (OPTIONAL) ADDRESS CITY f " - -,-)( ( . . .. ... . ty"; L—Z P CODE I f 44 I want to address the �oa,�d about (Please provide Item # and/or topic): Do you have a prepa ' red statement, or other document(s) from which you will address the Board? No Y s- if yes, please attach copy of same to this Reservation Form. All proceedings before the Commission shall be governed by the Civility Code — see back The following time limits to speak are in effect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation - 15 minutes; citizen comments - 5 minutes per speaker; petitioner rebuttal - 5 minutes. Open to Public — Citizens Comment - 3 minutes per speaker, per meeting. NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to inspection by all persons. We also have a printable PDF Form. Date:* 07/ 5/2O24 NAME:* Elizabeth Fricker �� � -� �781EstepCoud State: FL Email Address: |�---------- — � lizzipinter@gmail.com � I want to address the Board about (Please OCOEE RESIDENT. PH[)NE# 3866752463 !Ocoee Zip:� 34761 � You may send questions and comments to citizens@ocoee.org. Do you have a prepared statement, or other document(s) from which you File Upload will address the Board? [�� No file chosen (if yes, please attach copy of same to this Reservation Form.)* Convert to PDF? All proceedings before the Commission shall be governed by the Civility Code The following time limits tuspeak are ineffect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation ~15minutes citizen comments ~5minutes per speaker petitioner rebuttal ~5minutes. 0 en to Public — Citizens :3mn|nub*sper spaake�per meeting C\TYOFOCOEECIVILITY CODE - adopted July 1,2UO3. Pursuant toResolution No. 2003-16adopted onJuly 1'2003,the following Civility Code shall govern all proceedings before the City ofOcoee City Commission and Boards: 1. All electronic devices, including cell phones and pagers, shall be either turned off or otherwise silenced. 2. Prolonged conversations shall be conducted outside Commission Chambers. 3. Clapping, whistling, heckling, gesturing, loud conversations, or other disruptive,behavior is prohibited. 4. Only those individuals who have submitted speaker forms and who have been recognized by the Mayor (or Chair) may address comments h)the Commission (or Boand), 5. Comments at public hearings shall be limited to the subject being considered by the Commission. G.Comments atCitizens Comments shall badirected toCity issues. 7. All public comments shall avoid personal attacks, abusive language, and redundancy. 8. No person attending a Commission or Board meeting is to harass, annoy or otherwise disturb any other person inthe room. Any member of the public whose behavior is disruptive and violates the City of Ocoee Civility Code is subject to * indicates required fields. NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to inspection by all persons. We also have a printable PDF Form. Date:* � � 07/16/2024 NAME:* Christina Spillane (OPTIONAL) Address: (Please, Not a P.O. Box) State: FL OCOEE RESIDENT- 0 Yes No PHONE# �407- 4D-24O8 City: ' Winter Garden | �-----| 34787 � ! The following time limits tospeak are ineffect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation ~15minutes citizen comments ~5minutes per speaker petitioner rebuttal ~5minutes. O: 3minutes per speaker, per meeting CITY DFOC{}EECIVILITY CODE - adopted July 1.2003. Pursuant to Resolution No. 2003-16 adopted on July 1, 2003, the following Civility Code shall govern all proceedings before the City ofOcoee City Commission and Boards: 1. All electronic devices, including cell phones and pagers, shall be either turned off or otherwise silenced. 2. Prolonged conversations shall be conducted outside Commission Chambers. 3. Clapping, whistling, heckling, gesturing, loud conversations, or other disruptive behavior is prohibited. 4. Only those individuals who have submitted speaker forms and who have been recognized by the Mayor (or Chair) may address comments tothe Commission (or BVord>. 5. Comments at public hearings shall be limited to the subject being considered by the Commission. 6.Comments atCitizens Comments shall bedirected tmCity issues. 7. All public comments shall avoid personal attacks, abusive language, and redundancy. 8. No person attending a Commission or Board meeting is to harass, annoy or otherwise disturb any other person inthe room. Any member of the public whose behavior is disruptive and violates the City of Ocoee Civility Code is subject to removal from the Commission (or Board) meeting by an officer and such other action as may be appropriate. ° indicates required fields. 7/10/24.11:05AN |o=2oa NOTE: All submitted speaking reservation forms are public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and are open to inspection by all persons. We also have a printable PDF Form, Date:* | 07'102024 | NAME:*' Kara Viademonte (OPTIONAL) Address: (Please, Not a P.O. Box) 1794 Carolina Wren Drive State: FL (J) Yes [l No PHONE# /4070687171 — | Ocoee Zip: 34761 Email Address: |Kmra!N mai|oon� { °"" '""'"~v�» ' ] | want tmaddress the Board about provide Item # and/or topiul:° Community Cat TNR � _ You may send questions and comments bmcitizen . Qoyou have aprepared statement, orother dmounnentka from which you File Upload will address the Board? Ocoee Communit Cat Pro,gc--t(').,PAf (if yes, please attach copy mfsame t#this Reservation Fmrnm.)° (P Yes /l No The following time limits tospeak are 1neffect: Public Hearings: petitioner presentation ~ 15 minutes citizen comments ~5minutes per speaker petitioner rebuttal -5minutes. Open Comments: 3minutes per speaker, per meeting CITY OFDC{}EECIVILITY CODE - adopted July 1.2OU3. Pursuant to Resolution No. 2003-16 adopted on July 1, 2003, the following Civility Code shall govern all proceedings before the City ofOcoee City Commission and Boards: 1. All electronic devices, including cell phones and pagers, shall be either turned off or otherwise silenced. 2. Prolonged conversations shall be conducted outside Commission Chambers. 3. C|upp|ng, whistling, heckling, gesturing. loud conversations, orother disruptive behavior is prohibited. 4. Only those individuals who have submitted speaker forms and who have been recognized by the Mayor (or Chair) may address comments tothe Commission (or Boand). 5. Comments at public hearings shall be limited to the subject being considered by the Commission. G.Comments atCitizens Comments shall bodirected toCity issues. 7. All public comments shall avoid personal attacks, abusive language, and redundancy. 8. No person attending Commission orBoard meeting is to harass, annoy orotherwise disturb any other person inthe room. Any member of the public whose behavior imdisruptive and violates the City of Ocoee Civility Code is subject to removal from the Commission (or Board) meeting by an officer and such other action as may be appropriate. °indioatas required fields, |D=u8u 1/1 Hello Commissioners and other elected representatives of the City of Ocoee My name is Kara Viademonte. I am a resident of the city of Ocoee and a proud one at that. When I first moved here I noticed something I hadn't seen before when diving in other areas of Florida: cats. In my yard, in my neighborhood, dead on the side of the road - cats. I'm sure you've noticed them as well. They run rampant in Ocoee Hills. They are well cared for in our very own downtown area; you can go to DG Donuts and pet a cat then walk to Tollroad and get a beer and pet another one. Being an animal lover, I reached out to Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando for resources when l noticed this problem. It was there that I found out about TNVR (Trap -Neuter -Vaccinate -Return). This traps community cats, neuters them to prevent population spread, vaccinates to help prevent the spread of deadly diseases like rabies, and returns them to the communities that love them. This solution to the problem of cats is well researched. An 11 year study by the University of Florida found a 66% reduction in population and no new kittens born after the first 4 years. It's the only solution that has been proven to work to reduce cat populations, save tax payer money, and address neighbors concerns. Our neighbors in Winter Garden have seen the benefits of TNR and have partnered with Pet Alliance to bring their cat problem under control with a $50k grant. Orange county was offering all residents two cats per year until recently. Unfortunately, we have nothing like these partnerships or programs in Ocoee. As such, volunteers like myself have been doing this on our own dimes. In the Ocoee hills area alone l have TNR'd over 50 cats. And Land other trappers have a waiting list of other homeowners right here in Ocoee asking for help. And we are trying to help our neighbors and improve our community but we need your help and the cities help. I am here to beseech you to allow a modest budget of $40k in partnership with a nonprofit like PAGO or a nearby business such as Central Florida Community Pet Clinic, at the discretion of the city, to help us get this under control and improve the lives of Ocoee residents and pets. Thank you Kara Viademonte 1794 Carolina Wren Drive Please see attached documents for supporting facts about TNR. Fact Sheet: WHY TRAP -NEUTER -RETURN FOR FERAL CATS? THE CASE FOR TNR, page 2 of 5 Leaders of major humane programs all over America agree that cats live healthier, more peaceful lives after TNR. "It helps to stabilize the number of cats in the community," says Bonney Brown, executive director of the Nevada Humane Society in Reno, Nevada. "It keeps the cats healthy. They really have great lives out there doing their feral cat thing," • Trap -Neuter -Return relieves cats of the constant stresses of mating and pregnancy. "The obvious benefit of Trap -Neuter -Return to the cats is that the females don't go through cycles of producing more and more kittens, 'Their health is actually improved," says Rich Avanzino, longtime director of the San Francisco SPCA and current president of Maddie's Fund. Spaying and neutering also virtually eliminates the chance of cats developing mammary or testicular tumors. • Mating behaviors cease, like roaming, yowling, spraying, and fighting. In a 2002 study conducted by prominent researcher Julie Levy, DVM, caregivers reported that cats tended to roam less after neutering, which is beneficial for their safety and reduces conflict with neighbors.' With decreased competition for mating, the cats are also less likely to suffer injuries. A study of a feral cat colony in London conducted by leading cat biologists and TNR pioneers Dr. Jenny Remfty and Peter Neville found that cats were more affectionate towards each other after neutering, spending more time in groups and fighting less. - Cats' physical health improves. Studies have found that neutering improves feral cats' coat condition and helps them gain weight.' "...[R]esearch at the University of Florida shows that they gain weight and stray less after they've been neutered, so that's a benefit to their welfare, as well," says Dr. Levy. ® Cats are vaccinated against rabies. "The process of Trap -Neuter -Return has an immense benefit for the cats that are involved in these programs," explains Dr. Levy. "'Ibey're vaccinated, so they're less susceptible to infectious diseases." Although feral cats are healthy, vaccinations given during TNR protect them even further and help put community members at ease. a Cats live long, healthy lives. At the conclusion of the 11 -year study of the impact of TNR on feral cat colonies at the University of Florida, 83% of the cats in managed TNR colonies had been residing in those colonies for more than six years —indicating a lifespan comparable to the 7. 1 -year lifespan of pet cats.' Learn more about feral cat health at www.afleycat.org/ FeralCatHealth. ', WNIIII I 'N la the Community "I think there are several amazing benefits for communities that arise after they embrace Trap -Neuter -Return," says Dr. Levy. "One of the most substantial ones is a resolution of the conflict that... [can] surround cats in neighborhoods. Once residents understand that something is being done to control the cat population, they usually embrace having a Trap -Neuter -Return program there." ® The population stabilizes —no new Mittens! Once TNR is in place, the cats will no longer reproduce. The population will stabilize and eventually decline. ® Cats become better neighbors. Studies confirm that once TNR stops reproduction, and therefore mating behaviors, the cats' relationship with residents improves. Colonies become quieter as behaviors like yowling or fighting stop, calls to authorities about the cats decrease significantly, and community morale improves. 7,8 • Trap -Neuter -Return creates opportunities for outreach, education, and cooperation. Trap -Neuter -Return does more than just produce immediate results and boost the cats' public image. As Alley Cat Allies has found in its 20 years of experience through such on -the -ground programs as DC Cat in Washington, DC, and the Meadows of Chantilly in mzz�• • 4 a t ! I! I I I! I i N I I I I Fact Sheet: WHY TRAP -NEUTER -RETURN FOR FERAL CATS? THE CASE FOR TNR, page 4 of 5 0 Americans want humane solutions —they want TNR. More than 80% of Americans believe it is more humane to leave a cat outside than to have her caught and killed, according to a 2007 study conducted by Harris Interactive for Alley Cat Allies, Unfortunately, many people don't realize that this is exactly what happens to feral cats — they are caught and killed. Trap -Neuter -Return reflects Americans' humane ethic that cats deserve to live out their lives in their outdoor homes. Though Trap -Neuter -Return is practiced all around the country in hundreds of forward -thinking communities, catch and kill for feral cats is still the status quo in many cities. As the paradigm shifts to the lifesaving Trap -Neuter - Return approach, America's humane ethic is finally being reflected in animal control policies. In 1993, San Francisco became one of the first American cities to embrace TNR. "Money, instead of being spent on killing, [i]s now being used to protect the animals, to basically support the colony caregivers and to provide the surgeries so that we ldotAl see the wasted dollars, the waste of life, and the extra burden put on the cat -colony caregivers," says Avanzino. "It was a tragedy that needed to end, and Trap -Neuter -Return stopped it." Attempts to remove cats from an area always fail because of a natural and scientifically -documented phenomenon known as the vacuum effect. In basic terms, whenever cats are removed, new cats move in, or the surviving cats left behind, breed to capacity. Learn more at www.allcycatorg/ VacuumEffectScience. As a result of the vacuum effect, other approaches to feral cats are not only cruel and pointless, they are also completely ineffective at stabilizing the cat population. These methods include: Catch and Kill The traditional and continued approach of animal control, this futile method has been used for decades to no avail. As the Humane Society of the Ochocos in Oregon, puts it: "... Me know now, that more than 30 years of trapping and killing cats has done nothing to reduce the feral cat population." " A former president of the National Animal Control Association echoes this sentiment recognizing the ineffectiveness of catch and kill and the prevalence of the vacuum effect: "What we're saying is the old standard isn't good enough anymore. As we've seen before, there's no department that I'm aware of that has enough money in their budget to simply practice the old capture and euthanize policy; nature just keeps having more kittens." Adoption Some cats who have lived outside their entire life befriend their caregivers and make a slow steady transition to living indoors. This is not representative of the millions of cats who are not going to make the transition to living with people in homes. And, it is a time-consuming project with a very low rate of success. To suggest that A feral cats can go into homes lacks the big picture of the true behavior of cats who thrive and live their lives with their colony members. It Aso ignores the very real evidence that spending time doingTrap-Neuter-Return and fostering truly social cats will help a much greater number of cats. Learn more at www.alleycat.org/TNRiiotTNA. Relocation While it sometimes seems like an attractive option, relocation is also ineffective for the same reasons: it puts the vacuum effect into motion. And, it endangers cats' lives and causes them undue stress and suffering. Instead of trying to uproot cats from their home, the education and community relations aspect of TNR addresses concerns within the community to reach a harmonious solution. Learn more at www.allcycat.org/Relocation, 1111110111 : I , III i� IIIIIIr 'Imil 9�� U.S. Public Opon on Treatment of Stray Cats Karyen Chu, Ph.D., and Wendy M. Anderson, J.D.1 Humane An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that leaving a stray cat outside to live out his life is more humane than having him caught and put down, according to a nationally representative survey conducted for Alley Cat Allies by, Harris Interactive in April and May 2007, These results reveal a significant disparity between the public's humane ethic and the operating policy of most U.S. animal pounds and shelters.2 The current animal control policy is that it is more humane to kill a stray cat now than let him live out his life outdoors; however, this policy rests on untenable bases. While those bases will be discussed in detail below, what is most salient to note is that the so- called hurnane ethic of the animal control and sheltering system ends more cats' lives than does any other documented cause of death.' The Alley Cat Allies survey yielded responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,205 adults.' Among the questions asked were two that explored the general public's views on which would be more humane: leaving a stray cat to live outside or having the stray cat caught and put down. The first question asked was: IfYou saw a stiq cat in your community and could onl)i choose between two courses of action —leaving the cat where it is outside or having the cat caught and then put down — which would you consider to he the Tore humane option for the cat? 5 The responses, detailed below, reveal that an overwhelming majority of Americans-8 I believe that leaving a stray cat outside to live out his life is more humane than having the cat caught and killed. Respondents were then asked a follow-up question to find out whether their views would change if they knew that the cat would die in two years from being hit by a car. Respondents were specifically asked: IfYou knew that the sunny catyou saw would die in two years because it would be hit by a can which would you consider to be the most hmnane option today? U.S. Public Opinion or) Humane Treatment of Stray Cats 1 odds with the anecdotes that "prove" stray cats live harsh lives. For example, a 2006 study found that of 103,643 stray and feral cats examined in spay/neuter clinics in six states from 1993 to 2004, less than I% of those cats was cuthanized due to debilitating conditions, trauma, or infectious diseases."' A smaller study conducted in 2002 examined the body weight, body condition score, and falciform fat pads of 105 mature male cats brought to a spay/neuter clinic in Alachua County, Florida, The study revealed that "[o]verall, the cats in this study were lean but not emaciated prior to neutering."" A study examining the infectious disease rates of feral cats in Northern Florida found that "feral cats assessed in this study had similar or lower prevalence rates of infections than those published for pet cats in the United States."" While the anecdotal evidence of stray cats' harsh lives offered by the animal control and sheltering system is true in certain individual cases, single anecdotes should not be extrapolated to a policy of killing all stray cats. 'Ibis is especially true in light of the finding that most Americans believe it is more humane to leave a stray cat where he is rather than catch him and put him down, even assuming the cat will later suffer a traumatic death. An 8,000-to-10,000-Year-Old Species Cannot Be Redefined as "Indoors Only" The animal control and sheltering system erroneously paints cats as a species that belongs only indoors and in human households; it then cites the lack of such US. Pnblic Opinion on Humane Treatment of Stray Cats 3 About the Survey LM111E=A Harris Interactive conducted the study by telephone within the contiguous United States between April 24 and May 14, 2007, among 1,205 adults. The sample included an oversarriple of 202 women ages 40 or older because this is an important constituency for Alley Cat Allies. Figures for age, sex, race, education, household income, number of adults in the household, and region were weighted for the entire sample where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. As such; all data included in this report reflect the weighted percentages. All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed), measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used —as in this survey), and weighting. With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. 'Iliere is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey, and the use of this phrase should be avoided. For this survey with pure probability samples, with 100% response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 1,205 adults, one could say there is a 95% probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/— three percentage points. However, that does not take other sources of error into account. About Harris InteractiveO Hari -is Interactive is the 12' largest and fastest -growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research -driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions that lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll', one of the longest -running independent opinion polls, and for pioneering online market research methods. Tie company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe, and Asia offices; its wholly -owned subsidiary Novatris in France; and a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed -mode data collection and panel development services, as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at wwxv.harrisinteractive.com. U.S. Public Opinion ori Humane Treatment of Stray Cats 5 7920 Norfolk Avenue, Suite 600 Bethesda, MD 20814 www.alleyeat.org C,) 2010