Mays

As the Universal City City Council met Tuesday to discuss the future of the city animal shelter’s junior volunteer program, it did so minus councilmember Michele Mays, who has resigned from council.

Mays — a third-term councilwoman first elected in 2003 and one of the more prominent backers of the animal shelter and its plans to move into a new facility — tendered her resignation in a July 12 letter to city leaders.

“I want to be remembered as one who did her homework, became a catalyst for much that transpired, and doggedly defended the community’s best interest against all odds,” she said earlier this week.

Mays was re-elected to council twice, in 2005 and 2007, receiving the highest vote count in each run. On council for just two months into her third term before resigning, Mays said there many factors leading up to her decision.

“When I ran, I was most interested in helping the business community grow and become robust,” she said. “The shelter was in the background, as was the error-plagued golf course.

“Then,” she added, “out of the blue, the golf course had to be ‘saved’ after the flood and mismanagement; the shelter had to be justified and designed; the Land Use Plan had to be created; the zoning ordinances had to be rewritten; the comprehensive plan was put into effect; some large items had to reviewed for the bond election; and much more.”

One issue that remains close to Mays’ heart is the city’s animal shelter. Built in the early 1980s, the current facility began to show its age as the city grew, animal count increased and staffing — and money — did not.

Mays helped pushed the council to action, as a committee was formed to study the shelter, its need, and the costs associated with any improvements, additions or rebuilding.

The outcome, a $1.2 million animal shelter, was one of five bond issues approved by voters in May.

“The shelter is progressing well now. U.C. citizens made it clear they want the shelter built as soon as possible,” she said. “The council has to stay on top of this, and not relegate the oversight to the staff and some contractors.”

The city’s current issue with the animal shelter, which was part of the City Council’s agenda Tuesday, dealt with regulating and reactivating the shelter’s junior volunteer program.

A 14-year-old volunteer in mid-June received a minimal scratch from a cat while working at the shelter. But when shelter workers notified management of the minor injury, city officials suspended the program until it had more time to study the issue of minors, volunteerism and city liability.

“The current issue over volunteers … and the like will settle down. It has to, because the city cannot run the animal care and control facility operations without a large volunteer commitment of money, hours and other resources,” Mays said.

She also resigned from her role on the animal shelter committee, choosing to step away from all current city responsibilities — but don’t think that has changed her passion for the program.

“I am just happy to see the shelter become a reality. It should not matter who is on the council; what matters is doing the right thing for the community. Homes for the Homeless, headed by Aina Blake, has been working quietly in the background of the shelter for 30 years, they are the perfect example of how dedicated many people are to this shelter and our animals,” she said.

Mays expressed her thanks to her fellow councilmembers while making it clear she harbors no plans to return to city governance.

“Yes, I will greatly miss my fellow council members, the many volunteers, the loyal workforce, the animal shelter committee members and, above all, the citizens who have given me unending support these past four years and have become my friends,” she said. “Please know that I always tried my very best in every endeavor.

“Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of the debate, represent you and serve in your behalf,” she said, dding, “It was a hell-of-a ride!”