HomeMy WebLinkAbout090407 ANIMAL CONTROLReport to City Council on
Processes, Fees & Policy
Animal Licensing
and
Animal Control
4 September 2007
Dave Hansen
Chief of Finance & Technology
City of Virginia Beach
What We Found
Following the Leroy Drive briefing, City staff was requested to review and
assess the current fee structure associated with the animal control mission.
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Current dog/cat licensing compliance is under 10%
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Vets now required to submit rabies vaccination data
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Current license fee caps established by General Assembly are
pre-1993
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Costs for this public safety mission are borne by the General Fund
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License renewal is thru the mail or performed at a few sites
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Impoundment fees do not escalate with additional occurrences
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Impoundment fee structure is pre-1984
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Costs of incineration are not covered by the fees
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Animal control facility is the City’s #1 facility replacement project
Compliance
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In 2006 only 23,310 dog/cat licenses were issued
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Current estimate is there are 297,850 dogs/cats in the City
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7.8% compliance rate
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Matter of convenience versus civil disobedience
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Current process is a burden
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Need a better way –need some help
Reporting Requirement
Code of Virginia 3.1-796.87:1Requires all veterinarians to provide the
City Treasurer’s Office within 45 days of vaccination, the rabies
vaccination certificate for each dog vaccinated. Effective August 07.
Opportunity for Assistance: Veterinarians collect license fees and
remit on a monthly basis along with a report of issuance.
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Voluntary
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Convenient service for their clients
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Can include cats as well as dogs
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Potential to ease reporting complexity
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$1 assistance fee
Recommendation*:Implement voluntary Veterinarian support to
authorize as appointed agents
Potential outcome:75% compliance rate for licensing dogs & cats
* Permissible for City Council action
License Fees
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Since pre-1993 the State cap is $10
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City ordinance: non-neutered/spayed = $10
neutered/spayed = $2
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2006 animal license revenue = $73,524
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City licensing has only been authorized for one year at a time
Recommendation*:Increase license fees to $7 for neutered/spayed
dogs and $5 for neutered/spayedcats. Authorize multi-year licenses
to coincide with rabies vaccinations
Potential outcome:At 75% compliance rate for licensing dogs and
cats projected net revenue will increase to $1.1M
* Permissible for City Council action
Current Impoundment Fee
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Since 1984: $25 per incident plus $10 per day
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Current first day cost is $50.05
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Current cost for subsequent days is $1.95
Recommendation*:Change impoundment fee for first day to $50 and
for each subsequent day to $2
Potential outcome:Fees will accurately cover updated operational costs
* Permissible for City Council action
Per Year License Fee Cap
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State statute caps license fee at $10
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In effect since 1984
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Does not encourage neutering/spaying
Recommendation**:Increase cap for licensing dogs/cats to $25 and
maintain encouraging differential between neutered/spayed and non-
Neutered/non-spayed licensing
Potential outcome:Allows City to raise the non-neutered/non-spayed fee
** Requires General Assembly action
Escalating Impound/Recovery Fee
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State Statute allows impoundment fee to cover operational costs
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Results in same fee for each subsequent offense
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Escalating fee structure reinforces policy of ownership responsibility
Recommendation**:Establish an escalating impoundment fee structure
1offense: $50
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2offense: $75
nd
3and subsequent: $150
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Potential outcome:Reinforces policy requiring owner management of
animal behavior
** Requires General Assembly action
Cap on Cremation Fees
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Current State Statute establishes caps on cremation fees
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$75 for animals and $25 for fowl
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Intent of State Statute is to allow recovery of costs
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Energy costs have increased significantly
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Cost highly dependent on size/weight of animal
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Costs should include a depreciation cost for life cycle replacement
Recommendation**:Eliminate cap on cremation costs
Potential outcome:Allows municipalities to recover true costs
and establish competitive rates
** Requires General Assembly action
Veterinarians as Designated Agents
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Reinforces voluntary program
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Expands reporting requirement
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Increases convenience for citizens
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Increase compliance rate
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Partners business and government
Recommendation**:allow localities to require Veterinarians
to offer sale of licenses
Potential outcome:Improve compliance rates
** Requires General Assembly action
Recommendation Summary
City Council Ordinance
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Authorize voluntary Veterinarian license fee sales
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Increase license fees for neutered/spayed dogs to $7 & cats to $5
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Authorize multi-year licenses
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Change impoundment fees to $50/first day & $2/subsequent days
General Assembly Statute
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Increase license fee cap to $25
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Authorize escalating impoundment fee of $50/$75/$150
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Eliminate cap on cremation fees
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Authorize localities to require license fee collection by veterinarians
Potential Outcome
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Align fees with operational and lifecycle costs
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Reinforce animal control policy & owner responsibility
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Improve compliance rates
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Reduce burden on real estate tax payers
Possible Implementation
FY08
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September 4: City Council Briefing
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September 11: Public Comment
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September 25: Council Decision
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November 1: Earliest effective date for City Ordinance changes
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October 15: Submit legislative agenda items
FY09
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July 1: Dedicate fee revenue to Leroy Drive Public Safety CIP
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October 1: Award contract for construction
FY10
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September 1: Open new Animal Control Facility