South Tucson Greyhound Racing
Let’s take a walk down memory lane. Here are the meeting minutes from South Tucson, circa May 2008. Not much has changed as to greyhound racing accountability and care of the greyhounds at the South Tucson, Arizona dog track.
Please note: The transcription services in the City of South Tucson were not tip-top back then. Also the minutes are very long but parts not related to the greyhound racing topic are strike out.
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Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the City of South Tucson, Arizona, held Monday, May 19, 2008, 6:00 p.m. at the City of South Tucson Council Chambers, 1601 South 6th Avenue, South Tucson, Arizona.
Council Present: Jennifer Eckstrom
Pete Tadeo
John Garcia
Paul Diaz
Miguel Rojas
Staff Present: Enrique Serna, City Manager
Ruben Villa, Finance Director
Dolores Robles, City Clerk
Richard Salaz, Personnel/Planning & Zoning
Angel Lopez, Public Works Director
Marilyn Chico, Housing Director
Sharon Hayes, Police Chief
Larry Anderson, Fire Chief
Hector Figueroa, City Attorney
Guests: Tom Taylor, CEO, Tucson Greyhound Park
Curtis Washburn, Tucson Greyhound Park
Roy Gory (sic), Pets of America (sic)
Donna Mann, Tucson Greyhound Park
Paul Queset, (sic) Tucson Greyhound Park
Jeff White, Director, Tucson Greyhound Park
Susan Via, Tucson Dog Protection
Oscar Cesenia
Clara Diaz, S.T. Explorer
Jesus Mejia
Gloria Tedo
Juan Yanez, S.T. Explorer
Natalie Romero, S.T. Explorer
Dr. Janet Forbe (sic)
Gloria Hamelitz, Director, J.V.Y.C.
Joyce Walker, Director, Pio Decimo
Jesus Fernandez, C.S.S.
Dan Eckstrom
Michelle Orduna
Mayor Eckstrom led the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Garcia led the Invocation.
ITEM #04 – ROLL CALL – All members of the Council were present except for Councilwoman Soltero and Councilman Green, who were excused.
ITEM #05 – APPROVAL OF MINUTES: REGULAR MEETING MAY 12, 2008 -Motion by Councilman Garcia to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 12, 2008. Seconded by Councilman Rojas. Motion passed unanimously.
(Addresses have been deleted for privacy. Names of spelling corrected when applicable.)
ITEM #06 – SOUTH TUCSON GREYHOUND PARK PRESENTATION – The following is the transcript of Item #06:
Mr. Taylor: Hi, my name is Tom Taylor, CEO of Tucson Greyhound Park. My address is XXXX XXXXXXX, Marana, Arizona. I have a presentation that I’d like to have four different individuals talk today on different topics on the initiative that is being proposed. (Note: The initiative refers to Tucson Dog Protection.) I’d first like to ask Curtis Washburn to please address the Council. Thank you.
Mr. Washburn: Hi, my name is Curtis Washburn. I am an operator at Greyhound Racing Kennel at Tucson Greyhound Park. I’ve been involved in the Greyhound industry for twenty-six years, ranging from the birthing and raising of Greyhounds on up to training and owning and operating a kennel.
In regards to the proposals, there’s the issue of the 3D meat, which in twenty-six years, I have come across maybe three incidences where (inaudible) these dogs are fed the meat from essentially birth as soon as they’re weaned from the mother and (inaudible). And some people choose to cook it and then wean them onto the raw meat. But it’s quite a countrywide thing. Everywhere in the country they feed this meat and with very small numbers having problems.
Another issue would be the use of testosterone to keep the females from coming into estrus, which in my experience, this is a necessity, otherwise it causes quite chaos in a kennel if the females are in season. It causes the males to fight. They sit there and fret all day, losing weight, which that part of our job is keeping a dog within two pounds of (inaudible) racing weight, which is next to impossible when you have the males fretting all day long. And this is not really; it’s been called an anabolic steroid, which is not true. It’s a hormone. It’s classified in the same classification as a steroid, but it’s not the same thing. Another issue is turnouts. It’s been proposed that we turn dogs out for up to six hours a day, or at least six hours a day, which would be, in my opinion, in 100 degree plus weather, detrimental to the Greyhound’s health. Generally, our dogs are on a set schedule. They, and they know it to a tee. They know it better than we know it. And believe me, after ten to fifteen minutes in 100 degree plus weather, they want back in in their air-conditioning. And to leave them out longer than that would be cruelty. And that’s pretty much my speel and I’ll pass it on to the next person.
Mayor Eckstrom: Okay. Does anybody have any questions?
Councilman Rojas: One question for either one. Do they have a certain age? Do they go a certain age in terms of what age they start and what age they stop or get retired?
Mr. Taylor: The national rule is they cannot run before age fifteen months. And it’s, generally, they retire between the age of four and five. It’s usually closer to four than five. Any other questions?
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Mr. Serna: The next speaker is the president of the National Greyhound, GPA, the Pets of America. (Correction: Greyhounds Pet of America or GPA) His name is Roy Gory. (Correction: His name is Rory Goree.)
Mr. Gory: Mayor, Council members, my name is Roy Gory. I’m the president of Greyhound Pets of America. We’re the nations largest Greyhound adoption program. We’ve been in business for twenty-two years. I just want to tell you a little bit about Greyhounds and what great pets they make. And if any of you are considering a new pet, please do give me a call later on. We can hook you up. But they do make great pets. And when we get these dogs from the track, they’re, a lot of times, they’re very little work we have to put into these dogs to make them pet-ready. And I’ve been involved with this for fifteen, actually, sixteen years now.
And I can attribute these dogs, their stature; their well-being is a tribute to the people at the racing industry, the breeding and the care that they give these dogs.
I also sit on the Welfare Committee of the Arizona Department of Racing. And if there are issues that need to be addressed, changes that need to be made to the welfare rules and regulations of the racing Greyhound in Arizona, there is a mechanism here in the State to take those. This welfare committee has individuals from all walks of life in the Greyhound racing industry and the welfare side. So if there is any issues that do need to be addressed, this would be the place to do it.
I can also tell you that the Arizona Department of Racing and the National Greyhound Association, which do regulate the racing dogs here in Arizona, they do a great job. Anytime I have ever seen an issue, I’ve been able to call the State Inspector from ADOR, or the NGA Inspector, and they have immediately taken care of the issue. And that’s all I think I need to say. Thank you.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Mr. Taylor: I’d like to have one of our kennel operators, Donna Mann, please address the Council.
Ms. Mann: Hi, my name is Donna Mann. I’m kenneled at Tucson Greyhound Park and have been for two years. I would like to touch a little bit on the issue of the testosterone that seems to be a real problem about the meeting we’re having tonight. Just what Curt Washburn said, it creates chaos. You could compare not giving testosterone to you and I going through our menstrual cycle monthly. You get bloated, you feel lousy. It’s harmful to the dogs to run them that way. It sincerely is. Not fair whatsoever. Just what Curt said, the males are rambunctious. Then if we did not give those shots across the board, you would have every stray in South Tucson at our kennel gates. It would be horrible. Speaking on behalf of every kennel that is kenneled at Tucson Greyhound Park, we love our dogs. We see to it that they get homes. That’s every person in here and they’re there diligently from 5 o’clock in the morning to the last race. Thank you.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Mr. Taylor: Another kennel operator that lives in South Tucson, Paul Queset. (Correction: Cuestead)
Mr. Queset: Hello, my name is Paul Queset, kenneled at Tucson Greyhound Park, XXXXX XXXXXX Avenue. And I’m going to change what I had to say ’cause I was going to talk about the (inaudible) meat, but I want to change just a little bit. I think everybody has kind of covered everything on the initiative. The point I want to bring up to you is this initiative is virtually impossible if it became law to be enforced in a person’s household. Okay? You cannot go door-to-door to see if somebody feeds raw meat or cooked meat to their dogs. You cannot go door-to-door and enter their building or their home and see if they, how’s their dog – in a crate by a certain size or not. It’s virtually impossible. You can’t do it. You’ve got important things to take care of. I’ve got three dogs at home. (Inaudible) are Greyhounds. They’re just mutts. None of my dogs want to be out six hours a day. In this heat, they’re knocking at the door. They’re scratching on it. They want to come in. So it’s my opinion that this is not an initiative to better animals in the City of South Tucson, but it is an initiative to close the Tucson Greyhound track. Because everything on this initiative has to do with us. It really is impossible for anybody to think that they can enforce this into the City of South Tucson. You just can’t go into everybody’s home that often over silly things. That’s all I have to say.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Mr. Taylor: I’d like the Director for Tucson Greyhound Park, Jeff White, to please address the Council.
Mr. White: I’ve been in the Greyhound business for about fifteen years now.
Mayor Eckstrom: I’m sorry. Can we have everybody please silence their cell phones? It’s really annoying, sorry, disruptive. Thank you. I’m sorry. Go ahead.
Mr. White: I’ve been in the Greyhound business for about fifteen years, mostly on the racing end of it. I just moved out here in January from Texas, was hired by Tucson. Most of the, everything, every state that I’ve been to, they all adhere to pretty much the same rules. There are very slight changes. And I know since I’ve been here in Tucson, I’ve noticed that our crate size, the, in the rulebook, Arizona rulebook, they require certain inches. And we’ve exceeded that by at least two inches. And now we’re being asked to even going two more inches, which sounds okay, but the cost, you know, to take that many crates and rebuild them, take them all out and where to put the dogs while we’re taking those crates out and replacing them, roughly about $50,000. And as far as the time that they’re put outside, usually, when we do a turn-out, the dogs, if you keep them out for so long, they’re even digging in the ground to try to get to the cooler ground to lay down in. And I know this is my first summer here in Tucson, and it got 101 today, I didn’t want to be outside just to walk to my car to come here. So I just really don’t think it’s right to have a Greyhound out there to where it could get dehydrated and cause cramping and everything with the Greyhounds. Thank you.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Mr. Taylor: Mayor, Council members, this initiative is unfortunate. It’s not necessary. I have some handouts I would like to give to the members. If I give it somebody, you’ll get them. I would appreciate that. So just to save time, I’ve written down a lot of things for you. But as Roy Gory had mentioned, we do have a welfare committee in the State of Arizona that looks after the welfare of the animals, and the Greyhounds. And this is where any of these concerns should be addressed. And they have been addressed at that welfare committee. And that welfare committee has not, at this point, supported these changes. The residents of South Tucson, I don’t believe, should be caught in the middle of something that doesn’t really affect them, or shouldn’t affect them. This should be done through State agency that rules and regulates the tracks. And that’s what I would hope that happens here. I want to thank you all for taking the time to listen to us. If you have any questions, I would love to answer them.
Councilman Garcia: Mr. Taylor, in regards to this measure, if this measure was to pass, how much of an affect would it have in your business there at the Greyhound Park?
Mr. Taylor: I would say the first thing would happen is we probably have to spend about $55,000 to redo all the crates. Okay? So there would be that expense. Then all the other initiatives would be affecting the actual kennel operators. The people that work 17 hours a day with these dogs, and make very little money doing it. It would affect their jobs, affect their profit, and it would affect the way they handle their kennel. And it would definitely affect the dogs. And when it affects the dog, it affects their pocketbooks. And so eventually, we’ll run them out of business and then the track will be affected.
Councilman Garcia: I see. Thank you.
Mayor Eckstrom: Is there any other question? I have a question. Can you briefly touch on the hormone thing, what would happen if it wasn’t given to the female dogs, …
Mr. Taylor: Sure.
Mayor Eckstrom: … how that would disrupt them? And would it hurt them? How that would work.
Mr. Taylor: The thing that should be asked is does the hormone shot hurt them in the first place.
Mayor Eckstrom: Right.
Mr. Taylor: Over a long period of time, yes, it’s been proven to not be good for their system if they take it over a long period of time. But obviously, these dogs are taking it for a couple of years. They only race three years. So if they take the hormone shots for three years, then they’re put out for breeding. So they’re used to breed after that. So these hormone shots aren’t going to hurt them. I talked to our State vet and asked him, “Well, if we had to live by this, what would be our alternative?” And he told me we’d have to give them this pill. Well, I said, “Okay. What’s the big deal?” And he said, “Well, the pill will kill their liver in two years.” So the alternative to what we’re doing now is more dangerous than, and we probably wouldn’t do it. And if we didn’t do it, then you’d have a situation where the females, if they came into heat, and then they’re milk dropped, etc., they would be months (inaudible). Because we couldn’t race them for at least a month or so. So this would cause, I don’t know, two hundred dogs back there not to run three months out of the year. And all they do is sit back there and eat. And I don’t think that’s what they want to do. (Who is “they?” And not make any money for the track titans.)
Mayor Eckstrom: Okay. Thank you.
Mr. Serna: Madam Mayor, members of the Council, just prior to inviting Susan Via to come up, I guess I wanted to kind of reestablish the context here, the inquiries, information shared with the Mayor and Council over the last number of weeks had been with the focus on whether or not an amendment (inaudible) animal care ordinance (inaudible) place would be beneficial and would be something that could take the place of this initiative. And it became apparent very quickly that the issues are really complicated and it’s multi-faceted, as you’re hearing today. And you’ll hear from Ms. Via there’s a lot to take into consideration so at this point, I think this is the proper place to be with regards to bringing additional information before the Mayor and Council, or a decision later by the Mayor and Council as to whether or not they would care to go into some form of amendment to our existing animal care ordinance, or just whether to let the initiative play out on its own (inaudible). So with that, I’d like to invite Susan Via to come up to offer a (inaudible) her input.
Ms. Via: Good evening, Madam Mayor, members of the Council, Mr. Serna, and everyone else. My name is Susan Via. I live on XXXX XXXX in Tucson, Arizona. And just so you know who I am, I spent twenty-five years as a State and Federal prosecutor, most recently retiring from the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona. I also served as the appointed Deputy Health Commissioner for the State of Vermont, so I am familiar with some public health issues. Dr. Janet Forbe, who is one of more than sixty Southern Arizona licensed veterinarians, who is supporting this initiative, is here and will answer your questions about the medical issues, the behavioral and health issues.
But let me just answer some of the points that came up.
There is a mistaken apprehension that we have limited cage size. Nothing in the initiative talks about cage size. We took the State regulations for what a minimum cage size, or kennel size must be for a racing Greyhound in the State of Arizona, and we added some inches to it. And we said, simply, that no dog is to be confined in that cage for more than eighteen hours in any one twenty-four hour period, unless medically necessary in the opinion of a licensed Arizona veterinarian. We are not requiring them to change cage size. Their cage size is okay with Arizona, and it’s okay with the people who drafted and proposed this initiative. So I think that’s just a mistake in apprehension.
Someone else said, it might have been, I can’t remember, Mr. Husted or Mr. Washburn, that these aren’t anabolic steroids. Well, if what they inject the females with are not anabolic steroids, then the initiative wouldn’t even apply. The initiative only applies in the administration of anabolic steroids. And the pill that Mr. Taylor talked to you about is also a steroid. It’s just a different form. Instead of an oil-based injectable, it’s table form. And Dr. Forbe can explain. We use the definition that’s contained in federal law of what anabolic steroids are and these are virtually identical to the kinds of steroids that you’ve been reading about with major league ball players and high school athletes. They have a high potential for abuse, and all, all anabolic steroids, whether injectable or in pill forms, are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. They are controlled substance and no person is supposed to possess them except with a valid prescription from either a medical doctor or a licensed veterinarian.
The track itself is not supposed to allow, under the Arizona racing rules, syringes, vials, hypodermics anywhere in the kennel except in the hands, again, of a doctor or a veterinarian. And what you heard is this is going to be expensive. If animal welfare comes down to not being able to afford to treat your dogs humanely, then perhaps you shouldn’t have dogs.
You see this in the paper when people, when dogs are seized because they’re mistreated or they’re abused or neglected or abandoned, and I would point out that several kennels at Tucson Greyhound Park, in the past, not so recent, in the recent past, people have walked away from their kennels, basically abandoning the dogs. That’s a matter of public record.
You’ve read about the things that have happened at the track. The welfare committee that Mr. Gory talked about, I spoke with Jeffrey Dauncher (Correction: Geoffrey Gonsher), who is currently the Director of the Arizona Department of Racing. According to Mr. Dauncher, they’ve had one meeting. And he told me, and this is a direct quote:
that his greatest single frustration as head of the Arizona Department of Racing, is the failure to do anything, to come together about Greyhound adoption and welfare. He can’t get them to do anything. And he contrasted it to horse adoption, and said those groups work together.
So this is why we’re putting it in the hands of people in South Tucson.
Because you have five hundred dogs who are locked up twenty-three hours a day. They’re given steroids, as Dr. Forbe will tell you that change permanently, in some cases, the females’ genitalia. They have urine retention, urine scald, pyometra (ph), which is a pus-filled uterus. These are direct results of chronic monthly steroid administration.
If steroids were so good for female dogs, every dog show breeder in the country that goes to the Westminster Kennel Club would be giving these steroids to their females. But they don’t do that. And vets don’t recommend it. And sixty Arizona veterinarians say it’s bad. It’s unethical and it’s wrong. It’s wrong for the Greyhounds. It’s wrong for a Chihuahua, and it’s wrong for a Greyhound.
With regard to 4D meat, I will provide any member of Council that wants it, a study from 2004 of the Federal Department, the F.D.A., the Division of Veterinary Medicine. And they came out with very strong recommendations that feeding raw meat to what they refer to as companion canines or captive canines, or even zoo animals and minks raised on mink farms, is dangerous and should be stopped. And let me explain something here. There is a trend now to give raw meat to dogs. Some of you may have even heard about that or read about it. But that’s human grade raw meat. The F.D.A. is not concerned with that.
They’re concerned with 4D meat. This is meat that comes from animals who are dead at the slaughterhouse before they’re even processed. They’re diseased, they’re dying, they’re cattle but can’t stand up. They’re cattle with cancer. They are carcasses of dead dogs and cats from dog pounds with their flea collars on, ground up into processed food. Now that’s in commercial pet foods, sad to say. The Kibble you buy at Wal-Mart, it’s in there. But the difference is it’s heat-treated. It’s eradicated. It’s cooked. It kills the e-coli, the salmonella, the (inaudible). And why is that important?
Do we just care about sick dogs? Well, sure we do. But there is tremendous and abundant medical literature which the F.D.A. cites that tells you that in a study of hundreds of Greyhound dogs they were able to culture salmonella in as high as 80% of those diets. This is the meat that these dogs get. And it’s only that way if it’s kept frozen until used. If it’s allowed to sit on a counter and thaw, the bacteria multiplies enormously. And what happens? Kennel workers, people walking through the kennel, people handling the bowls, people cleaning up the dog feces, all of those bacteria, all of those pathogens can be, and have been transmitted to people. These are very, very serious health issues. So much so that the F.D.A. took the unusual step of recommending that in no case should raw, uncooked 4D or 3D meat be fed to captive canines or companion canines for that matter. The only real consumers of this stuff are people in the Greyhound racing industry. The only real consumers.
So we’re leaving it up to the people of South Tucson. We’re not going to rely on State. Mr. Goncher has told us that he doesn’t have the funds to safely regulate the parimutuel industry that’s in the audit report and it’s been reported frequently in the media. They don’t have enough funds to do what they’re required to do.
Tucson Greyhound Park has been unable to adequately police itself.
You just need to go back in archives of the TV and the newspapers, and you can hear about the disappearing dogs . The dogs that were seized, infested with fleas and ticks . Unnecessary euthanasia We don’t have to go all over those. That’s why we’re leaving it up to the people. This is the essence of democracy. Let them decide. These are dogs in their city.
And I would be happy to take any questions, but I’d ask you if you have questions related to animal health and behavior, that you reserve those for Dr. Forbe because she’s certainly much more capable to answer those than I am. But otherwise, I’d be happy to answer your questions.
Mayor Eckstrom: Are there any questions?
Councilman Rojas: Ms. Via, is there an address to XXXX XXXXXXXX?
Ms. Via: Yes, XXXX. I’m sorry.
Mayor Eckstrom: Any other questions? I have a question. Is there a similar measure in the City of Tucson or in Pima County?
Ms. Via: No, because the real problem here is with these five hundred plus dogs. It is not a problem. People are not feeding uncooked 4D meat to, they may be feeding raw meat, but it’s human grade meat. It’s not 4D meat. This is specially processed in packs and sold to kennels. Racing kennels, breeding kennels, that sort of thing.
Mayor Eckstrom: And those types of kennels are not housed in the City of Tucson or in Pima County.
They may be housed in Pima County, but the real problem, the concentration of animals that are fed this meat and the danger that that poses, is, unfortunately, right here in the City of South Tucson because at any given time, you have five hundred, give or take, dogs are coming and going all the time. So you have approximately five hundred and some dogs. And I would also point out people keep talking about leaving dogs in the sun. No one is suggesting that. We’re asking that the dogs there be treated the same way you would treat a companion animal. And that is you provide them with opportunities to be out of a crate. If someone told you that they kept a dog in a crate twenty-three hours a day, you would consider that inhumane. We’re not saying that the alternative is to put them out in the sun, there are other ways to do that, including air-conditioned facilities, shade, water, all kinds of things where the animals would have outdoor runs that were in, better able to deal with the stress of living in a cage. And if cages are so wonderful for these animals, I would ask Mr. Gory why he does not recommend to all Greyhound adopters that they buy a crate and leave their adopted Greyhound in it for twenty-three hours a day. Thank you.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you. Are there any questions?
Mr. Serna: Madam Mayor, members of the Council, just (inaudible) whether if this initiative were to pass, what kind of enforcement measures would be there from the State to ensure that there was compliance.
Ms. Via: I’m sure Mr. Figueroa would be in a better position to answer this as the City Attorney, but it’s my understanding and, Hector, correct me if I’m wrong, that currently the City of South Tucson has an intergovernmental agreement with Pima County to do its animal control, and animal welfare, and animal compliance. And this would be folded in with the rest of your existing animal welfare ordinance so that violations would be investigated by Pima Animal Care and Control. And the officers from there would respond, the same way they would respond to any other cases of abuse, neglect, or maltreatment in South Tucson.
Mayor Eckstrom: So would they regularly have a scheduled time that they would go out there or …
Ms. Via: You know, …
Mayor Eckstrom: … how would that work?
Ms. Via: … it would be up to, I, I’m assuming they would do it like they do all others, which is they respond to complaints.
Mayor Eckstrom: Okay.
Ms. Via: Somebody would complain and then they would go out and they would handle it. And violations, this doesn’t change the penalty scheme. Currently, your violations for your animal welfare ordinance are misdemeanors punishable by fine and imprisonment, and this doesn’t change that at all. It would just be another, another different violation but the same scheme would be in place. And Mr. Figueroa and his associates would prosecute violations, assuming that a case were brought.
Councilman Rojas: Madam Mayor, I have a question for the young lady and/or the City Manager. And who would bear the cost of this particular enforcement?
Ms. Via: The cost, …
Councilman Rojas: (Inaudible).
Ms. Via: … the cost would be Pima County. If, because it would be your, it would be the same thing as the existing animal ordinance. Whatever you have under your IGA with Pima County, they would respond to this the same way they would respond to Oro Valley, or any other communities they have in Pima County that they have IGA’s with.
Mayor Eckstrom: Well, Mr. Serna, don’t they come out each, don’t we pay them each time they come out to the City of South Tucson?
Mr. Serna: Madam Mayor, members of the Council, the contract that we have with Animal Care Center, which as you know, was one of my departments recently, is predicated on pretty much call-outs from the community. And there’s an average number of call-outs per month that come out. And, of course, they’re under-staffed and I feel like I’m back in the budget battles at the County about how under-funded they are and under-staffed they are. So there are some, it’s a separate discussion from, you know, should the initiative pass there at least would be some mechanism to address these issues. But it probably would create, and I would have to speak with Mr. Douglas and Mr. Huckleberry, but it potentially could increase the contract amount for the City of South Tucson to pay for that.
Ms. Via: You should also be aware, and again, Mr. Figueroa, correct me if I’m wrong, that any police officer, any peace officer in the City of South Tucson has the same ability to enforce the existing animal welfare ordinance as a Pima Animal Control officer would, so either one, or both, could respond to a complaint.
(Blogger: Susan Via discussed in detail the mechanisms in place to enforce the ordinance known as the Tucson Dog Protection on pages 13 & 14 in the minutes. And no one from the City agreed to do it. The only discussion from the City was related to the potential cost. Also NO one from the City disagreed with Susan or said the City WOULDN’T do it.)
(Blogger: As an aside, protestors protested South Tucson City Hall because of their failure to enforce the Tucson Dog Protection Act which was approved by South Tucson voters in November 2008. Police stopped by the protest to tell us what we could or could not do and none of them ever heard of the Tucson Dog Protection. No trickle down from City Council. They ignored the will of the voters!)
(The rest of the meeting except is not related to greyhound racing so it’s lined out. However, at the end is more related audience participation.)
ITEM #07 – SOUTH TUCSON PREVENTION COALITION (STPC) PRESENTATION – Michelle Orduna, STPC, addressed Mayor and Council and introduced Oscar Cesenia. Mr. Cesenia provided Council with information regarding a grant by the Arizona Governor’s Office to locate alcohol retailer mapping proximity to youth. He explained the youth working on the project are from the City of South Tucson. Three of the youths are involved in the Youth to Youth, or Y to Y program, which is a drug and alcohol free prevention program and the South Tucson Explorer’s Post 317, which is a program for teenagers who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Mr. Cesenia reported in South Tucson there are 22 liquor license businesses; 15 are on-sale retailers and 7 are off-sale retailers. There are 52 youth attractions, which is defined as any place a youth can go to under the age of 21, including schools, day cares, parks, community centers, churches, restaurants, and grocery stores. Research found the establishment with the most nearby youth attraction is a restaurant called Los Portales, an on-sale vendor with 15 youth attractions within a 0.25 radius. Other businesses with high numbers of youth attractions include: Food City and Valencia Market. Clara Diaz, South Tucson Youth Explorers, addressed Mayor and Council, stating the research showed the alcohol retailer with the least amount of youth attractions is the Latin American Social Club, with 1 youth attraction within a quarter-mile radius. Ms. Diaz thanked the City of South Tucson for their assistance and Joel Gastelum for assistance in creating the map. Jesus Mejia, addressed Council and stated the project benefited the City of South Tucson youth participants in: teamwork and responsibility. Gloria Tedo stated the project benefited the youth leaders in leadership and knowledge. Juan Yanez, South Tucson Police Explorer, shared an anonymous observation made by a youth leader at the end of the project; there are too many liquor places close to youth attractions and it is affecting the youth because it is so easy to acquire liquor. Natalie Romero, stated the project has benefited the City of South Tucson community in the following ways: promoted awareness of the difference between on and off-sales of liquor retailers and how many youth attractions are in a 2.5 mile radius of alcohol retailers. The information in this project was presented during the Fiesta de la Comunidad on April 26 and given to Ruben Villa to be shared with the Mayor and Council. The project helped the youth come up with ideas for future projects, which will be youth-led and will focus on reducing under-age drinking. The youth thanked the City of South Tucson, the South Tucson Prevention Coalition, the John Valenzuela Youth Center, the South Tucson Police Department, the House of Neighborly Service, the Youth to Youth program, and the South Tucson Police Explorers for their hard work and dedication to the project.
ITEM #08 – JOHN VALENZUELA YOUTH CENTER (JVYC) PRESENTATION – Gloria Hamelitz addressed Mayor and Council and gave a presentation on the programs and services the John Valenzuela Youth Center provides to South Tucson youth. For the past 24 years, Pio Decimo Center has officially contracted with the City of South Tucson to provide summer recreation programs. Under Pio Decimo’s administration, the JVYC has upheld the most professional standards. Although the Center is not a licensed childcare facility, it follows every childcare licensing rule and regulation. The youth program has a well-rounded curriculum package offered to the youth. Five key areas the Center focuses on to develop healthy and strong children are: education; healthy bodies and minds; community involvement; a positive sense of self and culture; and the arts. The JVYC works at preventing the dropout rate from age 5 to 18, and partners with local schools on the 21st Century grant to provide one hour of strict academic tutoring and hands-on learning by certified teachers. In addition to the dropout program, the JVYC works with the University of Arizona on several projects and grants; the most popular being a project with Gamma Alpha Omega sorority called “Study with a Wildcat”. Twice a week, the youth are transported to the U of A Library for tutoring by the Gamma Alpha Omega sorority. The youth not only receive tutoring services, but they also receive advice on applying to colleges, applying for scholarships, and Gamma Alpha Omega has designated scholarships to graduating seniors. Ms. Hamelitz explained that in addition to those programs, there is an on-site tutor daily through the Federal Work Study program through America Reads. In addition, the Arizona Children’s Association and the safe havens worked together to develop the South Tucson Sports League. Youth who cannot afford to join leagues at the local parks can participate in a year-round sports curriculum which includes football, volleyball, basketball, and baseball. There is no cost to the children who participate. Ms. Hamelitz stated part of the prevention program over the years has had a strong focus on HIV prevention with the Mexican-American studies at the University of Arizona. Suicide prevention programs are offered in collaboration with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation. The Youth to Youth program meets twice a week to work on different strategies on preventing drug and alcohol abuse among their peers. The youth also participate in neighborhood clean-up efforts, National Make-A-Difference Day, National Night Out, and other projects. Along with providing youth services, the Center offers ESL classes for adults who are Spanish-speakers. The Ayuda Program is geared towards senior citizens and helps retrain the elderly to give them new job opportunities. Four years ago, the American Yes program began and provides artistic opportunities for the youth. Staff meets every month to discuss each child at length. Strategies are designed to assist youth with behavioral problems, absenteeism, etc. Ms. Hamelitz stated the JVYC is very fortunate to have a Mayor and Council who truly support the programs and services, and is committed to developing healthy children.
Joyce Walker addressed Mayor and Council and stated as the program at JVYC has grown, so have the expenses. She stated there is a need to branch out and look for other sources of funding as opposed to cutting services.
Jesus Fernandez, CFO of Catholic Community Services, stated their staff has been working with Pima County recently. The budget at JVYC is about $272,000. He stated $172,000 is for a staff of nine, including salaries and benefits; approximately $25,000 is for supplies; $31,000 for administration; and the remaining balance is for transportation, contracted services, etc. Mr. Fernandez explained this year’s available funding is about $233,000, which consists of two contracts with the City of South Tucson; one is County Parks and Recreations for $100,000, and CDBG funds in the amount $117,000. He explained private donations total approximately $6,000, and there is about $12,500 to $15,000 for a direct contract between Catholic Community Services and Pima County. Mr. Fernandez stated the total is approximately $133,000.
Mr. Serna stated Mr. Villa complimented Pio Decimo and staff for being attentive and wanting to assist in clearing up issues with Pima County and providing answers as to how funds are being spent. Mr. Serna explained that the money spent does not come close to capturing the value of the services provided and how popular the services are with the community.
Mayor Eckstrom gave her assurance to JVYC that the Center will remain open and assured them of Supervisor Valadez’s commitment to keeping the center open as well.
ITEM #09 – RESOLUTION NO. 08-25 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA, RECOGNIZING THE JOHN A. VALENZUELA YOUTH CENTER’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY MAY 17, 2008, IN MEMORY OF ITS NAMESAKE AND THE PRINCIPLES HE PRONOUNCED; AND CELEBRATING THE 24 YEARS OF YOUTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR YOUTH THROUGH FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES, PIO DECIMO, PIMA COUNTY C.D.B.G. AND PIMA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION – Motion by Councilman Diaz to approve Resolution No. 08-25 as presented. Seconded by Vice-Mayor Tadeo. Motion passed unanimously. Mayor Eckstrom asked Ms. Hamelitz and youth from the JVYC to come forward while she read the resolution. The following is the transcript of the remainder of Item #09:
Dan Eckstrom: Madam Mayor, members of the Council, my name is Dan Eckstrom. I reside at 2619 South 8th Avenue, in the City of South Tucson. I resided in this community my entire life. I was one of the first people, along with Mr. Serna, who actually thought it would be a good idea to invite Catholic Community Services and the Pio Decimo Center to actually administer the contract to run the John Valenzuela Youth Center, which later became the John Valenzuela Youth Center. I think it is indeed very unfortunate that there are some people in our community who would seek to attack the very programs in this community that make us a better place in which to live, in which to work, and in which to recreate. And I just want to take my hat off to the current leadership of the Valenzuela Center. We’ve heard all the kudos about everybody being involved with trying to save Ochoa School. I’ve got to tell you firsthand, and I think, Mayor, you will agree with me, that it was the hard work of the John Valenzuela Youth Center who actually is in partner with Ochoa, as well as the entire community. And I just want you to know that I came out of retirement to help work on the Save Ochoa School, and I want to assure you that I am also coming out of retirement to make sure that nobody messes with the John Valenzuela Youth Center. And I wanted to say that because I think it’s important that this community recognize that while there may be other issues that are virtuous to our community, this is certainly one of the issues that I think stand out and I will continue to use whatever good relationships I might have with some of my former colleagues on the Board of Supervisors to assure that funding is continued, and that those individuals who want to place a black mark on the success of this center are actually put in their right place. Thank you very much.
ITEM #10 – RESOLUTION NO. 08-26 OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, ARIZONA, APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON, ARIZONA AND THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY OF PIMA COUNTY FOR PROJECT FUNDING FOR UPS BATTERY BACKUPS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF THIS RESOLUTION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND/OR THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF SOUTH TUCSON TO EXECUTE SAID IGA AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO EXIST – Mr. Serna stated the recommendation is that Mayor and Council adopt the resolution in order to enter the IGA with the Regional Transportation Authority for the procurement and installation of the battery backups for traffic signals. Motion by Councilman Rojas to pass and adopt Resolution No. 08-26 as presented. Seconded by Councilman Garcia. Motion passed unanimously.
ITEM #11 – REPORTS – None at this time.
ITEM #12 – CALL TO AUDIENCE – The following is the transcript of Item #12:
Janet Forbe: Madam Mayor, Councilmen, my name is Janet Forbe.(Correction: Janet Forrer) I am a veterinarian of 14 years in Tucson, Arizona. And I reside at XXXX XXXXX in the XXXXXXX of Tucson. Mostly I’m here to see if you had any at all follow-up questions about the proposed initiative. Susan knows her stuff. I think she answered it well. And then on the heels of these guys, it’s hard to follow-up. They’re doing such fantastic work, (Blogger: She refers to the Valenzuela Youth Center) but I love the part about reading to the dog. And I think that that’s the sort of values that we want to instill in the children and to ask for some just modest, humane treatment of dogs that are used for racing, that are used for commercial purposes. South Tucson has such an opportunity here to really lead the way and say we care about everyone in our community. And I hope this is going to go forward well. Thank you so much.
Tom Taylor: My name is Tom Taylor. I live at XXXX XXXXX, Marana, Arizona. I wanted to invite the Council and the Mayor into our kennel compounds to observe the dogs, to see the compound, to see the way the dogs are being treated, see the food that they eat. You’re welcome any time, unannounced. We do have to get you a license by the State so we just have to have an ID. Come by my office, get an ID from the State, we’ll take you back and let you look at the dogs. We want you to see firsthand how those dogs are being treated.
And I can tell you right now that in the nine years I’ve been with the track, the dogs lives have gotten better and better and better. And I expect that to continue as long as I’m there. So thank you very much and you’re welcome, again, to the track anytime.
Mayor Eckstrom: Thank you.
Councilman Rojas: Do you have hours?
Mr. Taylor: Yes, the, I’m there from about 9:00 to about 9:00. And the kennels are open from midnight to midnight. We have a guard at the gate back there. And so we’d have to get through the guard to get to see the dogs, but you can come see me any time. The State people are usually there in the evening so I’d have to, if you gave me $20,000 I’d get the license by, from the State and I’d be able to let you in during the day.
Councilman Garcia: Would it be possible that you could send us those to our individual boxes?
Mr. Taylor: The hours?
Councilman Garcia: No, the, those.
Mr. Taylor: The little ID’s?
Councilman Garcia: The ID’s or whatever.
Mr. Taylor: Oh, I see. I have to get the ID from the State and I have to show them your ID.
Councilman Garcia: I see.
Mr. Taylor: And then the State gives me the ID for you. It’s a temporary badge so that you can go back there.
Councilman Garcia: I see. I didn’t realize that it was that complicated.
Mr. Taylor: Yeah, it is a little bit. (Blogger: “You’re welcome any time, unannounced”) Thank you.
ITEM #13 – ADJOURNMENT – Motion by Councilman Rojas that the Regular Meeting be adjourned. Seconded by Councilman Garcia. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
_________________________________ Jennifer Eckstrom, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Marie Dolores Robles, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the City Council of South Tucson, Arizona, held on the 12th day of May, 2008. I further certify the meeting was duly called and a quorum was present.
Dated this day of , 2008.
_________________________________
Marie Dolores Robles, City Clerk
You can find the minutes here.
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