Public Safety Committee Meeting Summary - December 16, 2025

The Public Safety Committee convened on December 16, 2025, to review updates on Animal Services, property crime statistics, and public safety mental health initiatives. The committee heard detailed presentations regarding strategic improvements in sterilization efforts, response times to critical calls, and the department's robust support systems for the mental well-being of first responders. Strong focus was placed on staffing vacancies, budget planning for the new animal hospital, and the critical need for expanded psychological services to address stigma and high demand.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved the minutes from the Public Safety Committee meeting held on November 17, 2025.

Public Comments & Testimony

• A member of the public commented on the feasibility of achieving zero population growth (350,000 dogs and 50,000 cats sterilized, or 40% of the population). The speaker argued that achieving this is impossible without adequate facilities and personnel, citing the East and West clinics as requiring significant daily funding ($350,000 equivalent). They urged immediate planning and budgeting for the new hospital, noting it would take at least two years and two months to become operational, and emphasized the need to start budget sessions in March.
• An audience member expressed support for the "Mega Adoption" events and the expansion of sterilization services to Saturdays to accommodate working residents.

Discussion Items

Animal Services Department Update (Director John Gary)

• Strategic Goals: The department reported a 98.8% compliance rate for citations and a goal of 80% for dangerous dog investigations, currently at 80% (up 55% from the previous 45%).
• Clinic Operations: Two new clinics (West and East) opened in March and July, respectively, with a goal of 6,000 surgeries per year. As of the report, 1,789 surgeries were completed in 2025. The West clinic began Saturday surgeries in the new year to increase capacity to 15-20 surgeries per day.
• Wait Lists: A significant backlog exists, primarily for female dogs, with wait times extending to February. The department noted 12,000 transfers and an 8.7% increase in adoptions in Fiscal Year 24.
• Community Outreach: "Block Walks" were conducted to connect with residents, providing free microchips, vaccines, and food. 75% of animals received at wellness clinics are sterilized, though the goal is to increase this percentage.
• Staffing & Resources: The department currently has 50 total positions with 44 vacancies (some being filled via training). They utilize 1350 contractors for surgeries at $1,350/day. Concerns were raised about the timeline for the new animal hospital and the need to secure funding for equipment, such as X-ray machines ($40k-$100k).
• Position of Council Members:
  • Concejal Castillo: Expressed strong appreciation for the increased sterilization and adoption efforts but voiced concern regarding the timeline for the new hospital and the need for long-term budget planning. She requested data on the percentage of animals adopted via social media and asked for clarification on the reasons owners surrender pets (primarily behavior vs. financial issues).
  • Concejal Maky Rodriguez: Stated that despite 100% response rates to critical calls, enforcement is insufficient, citing that 44% of calls were previously unresponsive. She called for proactive measures, comparing metrics from 2005 to present, and emphasized the need to move beyond "pilot" adoption programs to permanent lines of service.
  • Concejal Spear: Asked about the capacity of the clinics per day (average 50-70 pickups) and sought to understand the reasons for property surrenders (mostly behavioral).

Crime Statistics and Property Crime Analysis (Chief McManus & Chief Salome)

• Trends: FBI NIBRS data shows a 13.4% decrease in crime overall in 2025 (compared to 2024), with a 15% increase in property crimes driven by proactive enforcement. Response times have decreased to 2 minutes and 29 seconds in 2025.
• Robbery vs. Burglary: The committee discussed the legal distinction between robbery (against a person, often with a threat of violence) and burglary (against a property, victim may be absent). Robbery is a second-degree felony, while burglary can carry life sentences.
• Investigation Efficiency: There are 65 detectives for property crimes, handling an average of 12 cases per month with a 70% clearance rate (identifying the suspect). 21 detectives handle robbery cases (average 6 cases/month).
• Specific Cases: The committee reviewed the success of a serial offender caught in liquor store robberies who was responsible for 24 incidents. Technology and pawn shop databases were highlighted as key tools for recovery.
• Holiday Crime: Crime generally decreases in December, though thefts of food and alcohol remain high, often for resale.
• Position of Council Members:
  • Concejal Castillo: Questioned the inconsistency in victim communication during investigations and requested a consistent guide for families to understand the process. She expressed interest in how property crimes can be viewed through a "preventive lens."
  • Concejal Spears: Expressed gratitude for the department's work but highlighted the need for better response time strategies and the potential of the Community Crisis Response (CCR) model to reduce emergency calls.

Public Safety Mental Health Programs (Chief Fausto & Dr. Burke)

• Program Overview: The department offers the PRO (Performance, Resilience, and Optimization) program and a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. Services include psychological evaluations, crisis intervention, and chaplaincy support.
• Staffing Gaps: There is a critical vacancy for a psychologist in the Fire Department. The department currently relies on one full-time analyst and a temporary chemical dependency counselor while searching for a permanent fit.
• High Demand: There is a significant backlog for appointments due to high demand and a stigma reduction that has encouraged more referrals. Dr. Burke noted the national shortage of psychologists is a barrier, making external partnerships (military, UT San Antonio) essential.
• Position of Council Members:
  • Concejal Maky Rodriguez: Expressed deep concern regarding the vacant psychologist position and the need to invest in psychological care to retain officers. She emphasized that addressing the root causes of trauma is essential for the well-being of first responders.
  • Concejal Spears: Advocated for the immediate hiring of two psychologists to prevent operational gaps and reduce the barrier to care. She raised the issue of the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for external funding and partnerships to support veterans and first responders.
  • Concejal Castillo: Agreed that mental health investment is a priority and requested data on the number of referrals and the specific barriers to hiring professionals.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Approve Minutes: Approved unanimously.

• Agreed Next Steps:

  • Animal Services: The committee directed the department to begin immediate budget planning for the new animal hospital, including staffing and operational plans, to commence in March.
  • Data Requests: Requested detailed demographic data (zip codes) for sterilization surgeries to identify underserved areas and a formal guide for victims regarding case communication expectations.
  • Mental Health: The committee expressed strong support for filling the vacant psychologist positions and urged the staff to explore partnerships with UT San Antonio and external providers to mitigate staffing shortages.

• Observations: The committee noted a discrepancy in reported crime statistics between different data sources but acknowledged the overall positive trend in response times and clearance rates.

• Future Actions: The Public Safety Committee will review the expansion of mental health services in schools and the results of the CCR pilot program in future sessions.