1.23.2026 AWC COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES AND PACKET_FINAL.PDF
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Minutes of the Animal Welfare & Cruelty Council Subcommittee meeting held on Jan. 23, 2026, 1:00 p.m., Hybrid Meeting - Tempe City Hall, 31 E. 5th St., 3rd Floor Large Conference Room and virtually through Microsoft Teams. Members Present: Councilmember Berdetta Hodge – Chair Vice Mayor Garlid – Subcommittee Member Councilmember Adams – Subcommittee Member City Staff Present: Vanessa Lopez, Council Assistant Lisette Camacho, Deputy City Manager Keith Burke, Deputy City Manager Greg Ruiz, Deputy City Manager Eric Anderson, City Attorney Tanya Chavez, Mayor & Council Relations Director Kris Baxter, Director, Communications & Marketing Office Shauna Warner, Director, Neighborhood Services Craig Hayton, Director, Community Services Jared Morris, Director, IT Laura Calder, Director, Financial Services Kim Moncayo, Customer Relations Supervisor Alicia Fields, Senior Park Ranger Kristin Gwinn, Community Outreach Prog Coordinator Susie Steckner, Public Information Officer Alex Jovanovic, Deputy Director, Community Services Shannon Smith, Detective, Tempe Police Department John Giltinan, Commander, Tempe Police Department Daniel Troncoso, Park Ranger Ruben Wilkinson, Parks Manager Mariana Pena, Council Assistant Quincy Carrillo, Council Assistant Melissa Westbrook, Council Assistant Kimberly Sotelo, Sr. Management Assistant Minutes Animal Welfare & Cruelty Council Subcommittee Jan. 23, 2026 Members of the Public: Camp Bow Wow Dobson Ranch Mesa Darren Julian, Arizona Game & Fish Ellie Tieni, Volunteer Diane Melrose Jodi Polanski Dana Klose Debra Carpenter Agenda Item 1 – Call to Order Councilmember Hodge called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Agenda Item 2 – Public Appearances None. Agenda Item 3 – Approval of Meeting Minutes Vice Mayor Garlid motioned to approve the September 30, 2025, meeting minutes. Councilmember Hodge seconded. Minutes approved. Agenda Item 4 – Arizona Game and Fish – Darren Julian, Sr. Urban Wildlife Specialist Urban Wildlife Management Context • Urban wildlife management is as much about managing human behavior as managing wildlife populations. • Urban areas provide abundant habitat elements (food, water, shelter, and space), particularly through golf courses, parks, greenbelts, and natural washes that act as travel corridors. • Wildlife is drawn to cities due to reduced deterrence, human tolerance or feeding, and easier access to resources than in desert environments. Definition of Wildlife • Wildlife is defined under A.R.S. 17-101 and includes wild mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and related eggs or nests. • Domestic animals and nonnative species are not considered wildlife under Arizona law. Common Urban Wildlife Species • Frequently encountered species include coyotes, javelina, bobcats, foxes, skunks, raccoons, mountain lions, rabbits, rodents, deer, birds, hawks, falcons, and owls. AZ Game and Fish Response Types • On-site Response: o Reserved for immediate public health or safety threats. o Category 1 incidents may involve aggressive behavior, human injury, abnormal disease symptoms, or wildlife entering occupied structures. o Applicable species include black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, javelina, and foxes. o Wildlife involved in Category 1 incidents will be lethally removed. • Informational Response: o Most common response type. o Focus on education, prevention, and self-help strategies for residents. Conflict Prevention Strategies • Residents are encouraged to remove or restrict access to food sources and actively discourage wildlife. • Key recommendations include supervising pets, keeping pets indoors when possible, and using deterrents. • The “risk vs. reward” concept was emphasized: reducing rewards for wildlife leads to lower conflict and better outcomes for both people and animals. Relevant Wildlife Laws • Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife (A.R.S. 13-2927): o Feeding or attracting wildlife is a petty offense in counties with populations over 280,000, with exceptions for birds and tree squirrels. • Additional statutes cover self-defense, property damage caused by wildlife, and restrictions on poisoning wildlife. Wildlife Encounters • Guidance provided on safely responding to wildlife encounters, including not running, making eye contact, appearing larger, backing away slowly, and fighting back if necessary. Resources Provided • AZGFD “Living with Wildlife”: https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with- wildlife/ • Wildlife rehabilitator and wildlife control operator resources: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/39007ffff4d149fd85e1f26045dc5294 • Emergency contact numbers, including AZGFD’s 24-hour communications center and 911 for wildlife attacks or bites: https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with- wildlife/wildlife-control-businesses/, 623-236-7201 • Operation Game Thief: 1-800-352-0700 Agenda Item 5 – Call of Service Data – Kim Moncayo, Customer Relations Supervisor, Tempe 311 Staff reviewed calls received by Tempe 311 across the following categories: Animal Welfare cases, Dead Animal cases by year, and Animal-related mentions in non–City Operator cases. Animal Welfare Cases: • 2023: 53 • 2024: 38 • 2025: 31 Dead Animal Cases: • 2023: 83 • 2024: 363 • 2025: 277 The City has an active contract for dead-animal pickup, with charges determined by the weight of the animal. Animal Mentions in Non–City Operator Cases: • 2023: 58 • 2024: 246 • 2025: 204 These calls are typically referred to Arizona Game and Fish or Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. Agenda Item 6 – Bark Ranger Program – Park Ranger Dan Troncoso Staff presented an overview of the BARK Ranger Program, an educational and engagement initiative designed to promote responsible dog ownership in Tempe’s parks, preserves, and shared spaces. The program focuses on City Code awareness, trail etiquette, and heat safety, while encouraging stewardship of public lands and protection of wildlife Program Overview The BARK Ranger Program is modeled after the National Park Service’s (NPS) B.A.R.K. Ranger program and is intended to create community ambassadors who support safe pet practices and environmental responsibility Bark Ranger Program B.A.R.K. Principles The presentation outlined the four core principles of the program: • Bag and Bottle – Clean up after pets • Always on leash – Follow leash laws • Respect wildlife – Protect natural habitats • Know where you can go – Stay on designated trails and permitted areas Program Purpose Participants in the BARK Ranger Program will serve as ambassadors for: • Safe pet practices • Environmental protection • Community pride • Wildlife protection • Waste reduction • Compliance with leash laws and safety standards The Program Will Include • A welcome pack for participants • Education on trail etiquette and City Code • Invitations to dog-friendly events • Certificates and program swag • Opportunities to engage with a dog-loving community Implementation Timeline Staff reviewed the phased rollout of the program: • March 2025: Program concept development and modeling after NPS • May 2025: Leadership approval and authorization from NPS • June 2025: Development of branding and marketing materials • August 2025: Creation of ActiveNet enrollment and interest form QR code • October 2025: Distribution of pamphlets, tabling events, and social media video • November 2025: First BARK Ranger event held on November 8, with certificates issued to attendees Participation and Outreach The program is currently accepting volunteers to assist with outreach events, lead walks, and distribute supplies. Interested individuals may sign up through ActiveNet. The next Bark Ranger event will be hosted on Saturday, Feb. 14. Agenda Item 7 – Service Operations – Tempe Police Department Councilmember Hodge, along with meeting participants, posed brief questions concerning failure to contain a dog on personal property. Further discussion, including specifics relating to animal cruelty cases, was deferred to a future meeting due to time constraints. Agenda Item 8 – Future Agenda Items (Councilmembers Only) Vice Mayor Garlid and Councilmember Adams stated they’d like to invite Maricopa County Animal Care and Control to a future meeting. Councilmember Hodge said their participation is already underway. Agenda Item 9 – Adjourn Meeting adjourned at 2:02 p.m. Prepared by: Vanessa Lopez, Council Assistant, (480) 350-8748 Reviewed by: Tanya Chavez, Mayor & Council Relations Director, (480) 858-2215 Urban Wildlife Management AZ Game and Fish Department Region VI (480)981-9400 www.AZGFD.gov Darren Julian Senior Urban Wildlife Specialist Urban Wildlife Management Managing populations of wildlife Managing wildlife is easy…somewhat Urban wildlife management is about managing people Diverse people, diverse backgrounds, diverse beliefs Wildlife in the City HABITAT: food, water, shelter and space HABITAT: golf courses provide all of this, also parks, green belts HABITAT: natural washes provide travel corridors between habitats Why Not? Lack of human deterrence; indifference, tolerance, and feeding Life is easier in your neighborhood than in the desert – Higher concentrations of some species in urban areas What is Wildlife? A.R.S. 17-101. Definitions 24. “Wildlife” means all wild mammals, wild birds and the nests or eggs thereof, reptiles, amphibians, mollusks, crustaceans and fish, including their eggs or spawn. R12-4-401. Live Wildlife Definitions “Hybrid wildlife” means an offspring from two different wildlife species or genera. Offspring from a wildlife species and a domestic animal species are not considered wildlife. Common Urban Wildlife Coyotes Javelina Bobcats Foxes Skunks Raccoons Mountain lions Rabbits Quail Rodents Deer Birds Hawks & Falcons Owls What is NOT Wildlife? R12-4-401. Live Wildlife Definitions “Domestic” means an animal species that does not exist in the wild, and includes animal species that have only become feral after they were released by humans who held them in captivity or individuals or populations that escaped from human captivity. “Nonnative” means wildlife or its offspring that did not occur naturally within the present boundaries of Arizona before European settlement. “…The photos might give reference for it's size to the 8x8x16 block wall." Two Types of Response by AZ Game and Fish Dept On-site response Informational Response On-site Response Immediate public health or public safety situation – Offending animal(s) euthanized Anything below this threshold, contact a licensed Wildlife Control Operator (list available on website) Both can be expensive and time consuming and results will be short lived Category I Any incident that is judged to be an immediate threat to human health and safety because the wildlife: caused human injury displays threatening or aggressive behavior was previously captured due to prior human-wildlife conflict, and continues to cause conflicts exhibits abnormal behavior or symptoms of wildlife- borne, life-threatening disease has entered or attempted to enter an occupied dwelling or structure (includes tents) Category I Response Require an immediate on-site response only for black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, javelina, and foxes An attack or human injury will be investigated pursuant to the CAT-1 Incident Response Procedure Wildlife will be lethally removed Information Response Self-help, 2-Part approach Remove or restrict access to food sources! This includes keeping small pets safe: Keep them indoors Keep watchful eye while outdoors Provide safe structure like dog-run Actively discourage wildlife Keep wildlife wild! Indifference or tolerance will only add to the problem Risk vs. Reward Low Risk, High Reward Common in a lot of areas High Risk, Low Reward Everyone “wins” including wildlife A.R.S. 13-2927 Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area, with exceptions for birds or tree squirrels. Unlawful feeding is a petty offense. Applies in counties with a population greater than 280,000. Additional Wildlife Laws A.R.S. 17-301.01. Protection from Wildlife A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, any person may take wildlife in self-defense or in defense of another person if it is immediately necessary to protect oneself or to protect the other person… A.R.S. 17-239 Wildlife depredations… A. Any person suffering property damage from wildlife may exercise all reasonable measures to alleviate the damage, except that reasonable measures shall not include injuring or killing game mammals, game birds, or wildlife protected by federal law or regulation unless authorized under section… Poisoning of Wildlife AZGFD Regulates “Take” of Wildlife – AZ Game and Fish Commission sets seasons, locations, methods, bag limits for game species, predators, furbearers, and “other wildlife” etc. – Poisoning may be illegal “take” or illegal method or “take” in a closed area, etc. AZGFD manages wildlife populations – Wildlife is managed under the public trust doctrine – Wildlife is “owned” by the citizens of AZ Wildlife Encounter DO NOT RUN!! Make eye contact Try to appear larger Speak in low, loud tones Do not scream in a high pitch Back away slowly to an area of safety Fight Back! DO NOT RUN!! Wildlife Resources AZGFD “Living with Wildlife” webpages https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with- wildlife/ Wildlife Rehabilitators; sick, injured, or orphaned https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/39007ff ff4d149fd85e1f26045dc5294 Wildlife Control Operators; for fee services https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife- conservation/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-control- businesses/ Wildlife Resources AZGFD 24-hour Communications Center 623-236-7201 Operation Game Thief 1-800-352-0700 Wildlife Emergency: Attack or bite on human 911 Questions? www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife Bark Ranger Program January 23, 2026 Animal Welfare & Cruelty Council Subcommittee Meeting Presentation Overview What is the BARK Ranger Program? Principles and purpose What will the program include? Timeline of implementation Get Involved 1 What is it? An engaging, educational program designed to teach Tempe dog owners about City Code, trail etiquette, and heat safety. Promotes responsible dog ownership in our parks, preserves, and shared spaces. 2 The B.A.R.K. Principles Bag and Bottle Always on leash Respect wildlife Know where you can go 3 BARK Ranger Program Purpose Become ambassadors for: Safe pet practices Environmental protection Community pride Paw-sitive impact Protecting wildlife Reducing waste Ensuring safety and leash laws 5 Program Includes: By participating in the program, participants and their dog(s) will: Receive a welcome pack Learn trail etiquette Get invites to dog-friendly events Earn certificates and swag Be part of a dog loving community 4 Implementation Timeline March 2025 May 2025 June 2025 August 2025 October 2025 Brainstorming: model after National Park Service (NPS) program Approval to create program from leadership and NPS for implementation in Tempe Identity marker and marketing materials creation ActiveNet event enrollment and Interest form QR code created Distribution of pamphlets: tabling events and video for social media 6 November 2025 First event hosted on November 8th and certificates given to attendees How to Participate Currently accepting volunteers to help at outreach events, lead walks, and hand out supplies. Sign up through ActiveNet or by scanning the QR code below! 7