HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 5, 1995 (75)CIW OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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AGENDA TITLE: Pet License and Animal Shelter Fees
MEETING DATE: April 5, 1995
SUBMITTED BY: Finance Director
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution No95-44 to set pet license and animal control fees.
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1608 on March 15, 1995 to regulate and control animals in the
City of Lodi and to allow license, control and permit fees. Under the City Council's budget policy, fees are
to be set subject to the following general objectives:
0 Revenues normally will not exceed the reasonable cost of providing services.
e Cost recovery goals should be based on the total cost of delivering the service.
* The method of assessing and collecting fees should be as simple as possible,
* Fee surveys should never be the sole or primary criteria in setting fees.
With this criteria the City Council may establish the cost recovery level by determining the level of benefit
and who benefits. If the service is a general public benefit which serves the needs of the City's general tax
payer, the City Council should set a low cost recovery goal. If the service is a benefit for a limited number
of City residents or exists to serve individual needs, the City Council should set a higher cost recovery
goal.
DISCUSSION
The current fee schedule (Exhibit A) was set in December 1946 for pet licenses and in 1982 for animal
redemption fees. The proposed license and fee schedule is based on the ordinance adopted by the City
Council in March 1995 and the services provided by the City for pet owners. The City Council is given
three options on which to recover the cost of the animal control program. The current cost of providing
animal control service is $93,200 per year. Current revenues are $11,900 per year. The City licenses
3,350 pets.
Option 1. Provides for 80% to 100% recovery of direct program costs assuming 8,250 pet
licenses and other fees.
APPROVED: --6;
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THOMAS A. PETERSON recycled paper
City Manager A
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Option 2. Provides for 40% to 60 % recovery of direct program costs (same assumptions).
Option 3. Provides for 10% to 30% recovery of direct program costs (Same assumptions).
High Cost Recovery Goal
The City's animal control program exists to control personal pets and to insure that these pets do not cause
a public nuisance or health hazard. The ownership of pets in an urban area is for the comfort and
enjoyment of the owner. To accommodate pet owners, the City spends approximately $93,200 per year to
insure pets are controlled and so not become a public nuisance. As such, it is the responsibility of pet
owners to finance the cost of providing this service and not the general taxpayer.
Low Cost Recovery Goal
The City's animal control program exists to protect residents from irresponsible pet owners and to insure
that pets do not become a public health and safety hazard. As such, it is in the general tax payers interest
to enforce the pet control ordinance and the program should be funded with general fund tax revenues.
Community Support
At least one community support group (Animal Friends Connection) has recommended an increase in pet
license fees as a measure to control animal population and to finance additional services. The Animal
Friends Connection has offered to provide volunteer time to this end. However, to do this, City staff will
recommend that part-time hours be authorized in future budgets to hire an administrative clerk to assist the
Animal Control Officers in managing the City's Animal Pound and to coordinate the activities of these
volunteers. This may cost the City as much as $25,000 per year in additional part-time salary. If paid for
by the increase in fees, the City will be able to provide the residents of Lodi with a quality service which
can be expanded beyond the current "catch and hold" practice at the Pound.
BENEFITS
The increase in recommended fees will provide the City with the following benefits:
e Reduce the City's subsidy for animal control services
e Establish fees consistent with surrounding jurisdictions
0 Create an incentive for neutering animals
FUNDING
Staff will request $25,000 in part time salary in the 1995-97 Financial Plan and Budget.
Dixon Flynn
Finance Director
Prepared by: Maxine Cadwallader, Revenue Manager
City of Lodi Exhibit A
ANIMAL CONTROL FEE SCHEDULE
Estimated Revenues
Other Fees
$74,250 $41,250 $24,750
Pet Store Permit
Current
Option
Option
Option
Animal Disposal
Fees
1
2
3
Pet Licenses
None
Cost
Cost
Cost
Spayed Dogs
$2/Yr
Cost
Cost
Cost
Male Dogs
$2/Yr
Female Dogs
$4/Yr
Cats
Neutered/Spayed Dogs/Cats
$3/Yr
Other Dogs/Cats
$6/Yr
Estimated Revenues
Other Fees
$74,250 $41,250 $24,750
Pet Store Permit
None
$60/Yr
$50/Yr
$40/Yr
Animal Disposal
None
$25
$20
$15
Spay/Neuter Fee
None
Cost
Cost
Cost
Identification Tag Replacement
$0.50
Cost
Cost
Cost
Estimated Revenues
Pound Fees
Redemption Fees
I st Offence
2nd Offence
3rd Offence
Boarding
Dogs
Cats
Estimated Revenues
Total Estimated Revenues
$ 500 $ 500 $ 500
$15,000 $12,000 $10,000
$89,750 $53,750 $35,250
RESOLUTION NO. 95-46
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL
SETTING PET LICENSE FEES AND OTHER
ANIMAL CONTROL FEES
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1604 as a measure to
control and regulate pets and other animals in the City of Lodi; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that the pet license fees and other
animal control fees should recover in part or whole the City cost of providing animal
control services; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined pet license fees should be set to
create an incentive for neutering animals.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council as follows:
1. Pet license fees and other animal control fees listed on Exhibit A are
hereby adopted.
2. Lite penalties charged for payment of fees are hereby set at 20% per
month and may be waived by the Finance Director on application for good
cause.
Dated: April 5, 1995
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 95-46 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held April 5, 1995 by the following vote:
AYES: Council Members - Pennino, Sieglock, Warner
NOES: Council Members - Davenport, Mann (Mayor)
ABSENT: Council Members - None
IJ C UELINE L. A
Ifin City Clerk
95-46
City of Lodi Exhibit A
ANIINIAL CONTROL FEE SCHEDULE (Resolution 95-46 dated April 5, 1995)
Pet Licenses
Neutered/Spayed Dogs/Cats/Potbellied Pigs $5/Yr
Other Dogs/Cats/Potbellied Pigs $ 1 O[Yr
Other Fees
Animal Disposal $25
Spay/Neuter Fee Cost
Identification Tag Replacement Cost
Pound Fees
Redemption Fees
I st Offence
sl�
2nd Offence
$24
3rd Offence
$30
Boarding
Dogs
S4/Day
Cats
$3/Day
Only Potbellied Pigs within the City limits of Lodi on or before March 15, 1995 may
be licensed