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Home My WebLink About2007/07/10 Item 12 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT ~l'f:. CITY OF :mgCHULA VISTA ITEM TITLE: SUBMITTED BY: REVIEWED BY: REVIEWED BY: 7/10/07, Item J-:z, PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT TO THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE TO ADJUST EXISTING FEES FOR ANIMAL SHELTER SERVICES TO INCLUDE MICROCHIPPING AS PART OF THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FEES RESOLUTION AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE TO ADJUST EXISTING FEES FOR ANIMAL SHELTER SERVICES TO INCLUDE MICROCHIPPING AS PART OF THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FEES RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FY08 SUPPLIES AND SERVICES BUDGET OF THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE MICROCHIPPING PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES~r - ACTING ASSIST ANT CITY ER '7) CITY MANAGER 4J 4/5THS VOTE: YES IZI NO D BACKGROUND The purpose of this report is to adjust adoption fees at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, (CV ACF). The adjusted fee will be for the inclusion of a mandatory microchip as part of the animal adoption fee. The new fee wiIl be effective immediately upon approval by the Council. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because is does not involve a physical change to the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15063[c][3] of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. RECOMMENDATION 1. Council approve resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule to adjust existing fees for Animal Shelter services to include microchipping as part of the animal adoption fees. 2. Council approve resolution amending the FY08 Supplies and Services budget of the Animal Care Facility and appropriating $10,000 funds for the microchipping program. BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Not applicable. 12-1 7/10/07, Item--'---. Page 2 on DISCUSSION The City of Chula Vista has been providing animal control services since 1923. As the City of Chula Vista continues to grow, the number of stray and unwanted animals that enter the CV ACF also increases. In calendar year 2006, 9,800 animals entered the CV ACF. This represents a 6% increase over the previous year. If this trend continues, it is anticipated that 10,400 animals will enter the CV ACF in 2007. Only 30% of stray animals that enter CV ACF are reunited with their owners. The City of Chula Vista established an optional microchipping service at the CV ACF on March 16, 2004. The public that adopts a pet from the CV ACF may choose to purchase a microchip at the time of adoption for an additional fee of $15.00. The public may also have their own pet microchipped at the CV ACF for the same fee. According to shelter records, approximately 30% of the nearly 3,000 animals adopted annually receive optional microchips. Microchips are electronically implanted devices with a unique identification number that is linked to the pet owner's contact information. The placement ofa microchip vastly enhances the ability of Animal Control agencies across the nation to reunite lost pets with their owners. Some municipalities, most recently, Los Angeles County, have implemented mandatory microchipping programs for all owned pets, in an attempt to curb the overcrowding in county animal shelters (Attachment 3). CV ACF current adoption fees are $5.00 for rabbits, $50.00 for cats, and $60.00 for dogs. The services provided for these fees are spay/neuter surgery, I-year free license for dogs, and basic vaccination. k/icrochips are not ine/tlded in the ctlrrent adoptionfter. The proposed fee adjustment will include a mandatory microchip incorporated into the adoption fee for all pets adopted from the CV ACF. All public and private shelters and adoption agencies in San Diego, with the exception of Coronado, have mandatory microchips included in the adoption fees (Attachment 2). Microchipping of all adopted animals will ensure that over 3,000 adopted animals/year can be reunited with their owners if lost and will help alleviate shelter overcrowding. Current countywide adoption fees range between $50.00 - $150.00 for cat adoptions, and $60.00 -$185.00 for dog adoptions. The proposed fees below will bring CV ACF adoption services and fees closer to the municipal shelters in San Diego County, and still well below the private agencies in the county. This resolution proposes to include mandatory microchipping incorporated into adoption fees and change the master fee schedule as follows: DOGS CATS RABBITS LIVESTOCK OTHER Adoption Altered S6G $7f S>G 1M $>1217 $30 $5 Unaltered $<W 155 $<W Iff ~U17 $30 $5 Neuter Deposit $40 $40 Spay Deposit $40 $40 Rabies Shot Deposit $8 N/A Microchip fee of $15.00 for owned animals will remain the same. 12-2 7/l 0/07, Item I J- Page 3 of3 DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. FISCAL IMPACT The cost of microchips is $5.00 each that would be offset by the increased adoption fees if microchip services becomes mandatory as described in this item. It is estimated that an excess of $10,000 in increased revenues will be realized once the microchip services become mandatory which will be a positive impact to the General Fund. In an effort to accurately capture the costs of the program, at this time, staff is recommending amending the FY08 Supplies and Services budget of the Animal Care Facility, appropriating $10,000 in Other Commodities for the microchip program which will be offset with anticipated increased revenues in excess of that amount. ATTACHMENTS 1. Chapter Ill, pg. 9 of Master Fee Schedule 2. Fees Comparison 3. Los Angeles County Microchip Flier Prepared by: Dr. YorA; Animal Con/rol Manager. Genera/ Sen-kes Dept. M:\General Services\GS Administration\Council Agenda\ACF\Microchip amendment rev4.doc 12-3 CHAPTER III I ATTACHMENT Animal Control A. DOG LICENSES 1. Purchase a. For license expiring one year from date of issue 1) Altered $12.00 2) unaltered $25.00 b. For license expiring three years from date of issue 1) Altered $23.00 2) unaltered $50.00 Any dog license issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for one-half the fees required herein above for any dog if a certificate from a licensed veterinarian is presented or an affidavit is received stating that the dog has been spayed or neutered. For all licenses, the license period cannot exceed the expiration date of the rabies vaccination. 2. Penalty for Late Application/Payment The penalty authorized to be collected for late payment shall be $3.00. 3. License Replacement a. Processing fee in person - $2.00 b. Processing fee by mail- $3.00 4. License Transfer The fee for all types of dog license transfers shall be $5.00 5. Microchip Service a. $15 to implant chip in dogs/cats [Resolution 2004-083, effective 03/16/04] B. SALE OF DOGS, CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS 1. Shelter Adoptions DOGS CATS RABBITS LIVESTOCK OTHER Adoption Altered $iiQ $75 $W $65 ~$20 $30 $5 Unaltered $4G $55 $4G $55 ~$40 $30 $5 Neuter Deposit $40 $40 Spay Deposit $40 $40 Rabies Shot Deposit $8 N/A Master Fee Schedule Page 9 Part I - General Chapter III - Animal Control 12-4 ATTACHMENT. Z FEES COMPARISON Microchip Fee Dog Adoption Cat Adoption included in Microchip Al!ency Fee Fee Adoption Fee Mandatory City of Chula Vista $60 $50 No No City of Coronado $120 $50 Do not offer No microchips. Licenses mandatory for cats and do gs City of E1 Cajon $60incl. $50 incl. Yes Yes spay/neuter spay/neuter $30 over 8 yrs $30 over 8 yrs County of San Diego $69 incl. $58 incl Yes Yes spay/neuter spay/neuter $35 7+ yr $35 7+ yr (Price increase in (Price increase process at this in process at this time for all time for all County shelters) County shelters) Escondido Human $150 puppies up $150 kitten up to Yes Yes Society to 6 mo 6mo $1006mo-7yr $1006 mo-7 yr $55 7+ yr $35 7+ yr Helen Woodward $195 puppies $135 kittens No Yes $185 dogs $90 cats $25 microchip incl. spay/neuter incl. spay/neuter San Diego Humane $150 under 6 mo $150 under 6 mo Yes Yes Society $100 6+mo $1006+mo $5 microchip M:\General Services\GS Administration\Council Agenda\ACF\Fees comparison attachment, 7.10.07.doc 12-5 ATTA.CHMEI\J, _ 3 NOTICE OF MANDATORY SPAY/NEUTER AND MICROCHIPPING FOR DOGS & CO~O. LOS AHCIUI ........... c.ua AHD~ Attention dog owners! In an effort to improve public safety and reduce the number of stray dogs overwhelming our animal shel- ters, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has enacted an ordinance that requires all residents of unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County to have their dogs spayed or neutered and have an iden- tification microchip implanted in each dog. Who does this measure apply to? Anyone who lives in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County who owns a dog or dogs over the age of four months. What do you have to do? If your dog(s) is four months or older, you have to have an identification microchip implanted in the dog(s) and have the dog(s) spayed or neutered. If your pet is already altered and has a microchip, you must submit the dog's microchip number to our department to be in compliance with this ordinance. Are there any exemptions? You can qualify for an exemption if (a) your dog is a registered service dog that assists you as a disabled person, (b) your dog is used for law enforcement purposes, (c) your veterinarian will certify that spaying or neutering your dog poses a risk to its health, (d) your dog is a competition dog or a dog kept for breeding that is registered with a recognized animal registry and you either show the dog or the dog has won championships or belongs to a dog breed club with a breeding Code of Ethics required of its members. Why does my dog have to have a microchip? Microchips are a reliable, on-body animal identification system that enables animal control officers to identify lost dogs and return these animals directly to their owners. This will help the department reunite lost pets with their owners and reduce euthanasia of dogs in County shelters. Why do dogs have to be spayed or neutered? County animal shelters are overcrowded with lost, stray and unclaimed dogs and more are coming in every day. Spaying and neutering improves public safety by reducing the number of aggressive dogs at large in the community and lowers the number of dogs coming into shelters, which means fewer dogs have to be put to death. Spayed and neutered dogs are less likely to roam, become lost or be- come ill with reproductive system cancers that affect unaltered dogs. What about the costs of this measure? Free microchips and free microchip registration will be provided to every animal microchipped under this program. That cost is being underwritten by the Found Animal Foundation. Discount spay/neuter vouchers will be provided to senior citizens and persons who have a state-issued California Advantage Card. The Department of Animal Care and Control is also working with veterinarians in private practice to provide low-cost spay and neutering surgery for dogs. Later this year, County animal shelters will offer low-cost spay/neuter surgery for dogs. Our agency also will be working with a wide variety of animal welfare groups to provide low-cost spay/neuter services to dogs kept throughout Los Angeles County. What about dog license fees? We want to encourage persons who own unaltered dogs to have their pets spayed or neutered. So, the ordi- nance raises the annual license fees for unaltered dogs to $60 and altered dogs to $20. Five dollars from the unaltered license fee will be used to help finance low~cost spay/neuter support programs as a further incentive for owners to have their dogs spayed and neutered. What if I have more questions about this ordinance? You can write to the Department of Animal Care and Control at : 5898 S. Cherry Ave., Long Beach CA 90805, call us at (562) 256-7104 or go to our website at http://animalcontrol.co.la.ca.us and se~n e-mail. RESOLUTION NO. 2007- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE TO ADJUST EXISTING FEES FOR ANIMAL SHELTER SERVICES TO INCLUDE MICROCHIPPING AS PART OF THE ANIMAL ADOPTION FEES WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has been in the business of providing animal control services since 1923; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista established an optional microchipping service at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility (CV ACF) on March 16,2004; and WHEREAS, Los Angeles County has recently implemented mandatory microchipping programs for all owned pets, in an attempt to curb the overcrowding in county animal shelters; and WHEREAS, all public and private shelters and adoption agencies in San Diego County, with the exception of Coronado, have mandatory microchips included in the adoption fees; and WHEREAS, the CV ACF propose to implement a mandatory microchip program for all pets adopted from the CV ACF; and WHEREAS, microchipping of all adopted animals will ensure that over 3,000 adopted animals/year can be reunited with their owners if lost and will help alleviate shelter overcrowding. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that it amends the Master Fee Schedule as follows: DOGS CATS RABBITS LIVESTOCK OTHER Adoption Altered $@ $75 ~$65 ~$20 $30 $5 Unaltered WI $55 WI $55 ~$40 $30 $5 Neuter Deposit $40 $40 Spay Deposit $40 $40 Rabies Shot Deposit $8 N/A Jack Griffin Director of General Services Approved as to form by L//~U~ Ann Moore City Attorney Presented by J:\AttomeyIRESO\FINANCE\Microchip Amendment Reso_07-10-07.doc 12-7 RESOLUTION NO. 2007-_ RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2007/2008 SUPPLIES AND SERVICES BUDGET OF THE ANIMAL CARE FACILITY AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE MICROCHIPPING PROGRAM WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has been in the business of providing animal control services since 1923; and WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista established an optional microchipping service at the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility (CV ACF) on March 16,2004; and WHEREAS, the CV ACF is implementing a mandatory microchipping program for all pets adopted from the CV ACF; and WHEREAS, the cost of microchips is $5.00 each and this cost will be offset by the increased adoption fees when microchip services becomes mandatory. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that it amends the Fiscal Year 2007/2008 supplies and services budget of the Animal Care Facility, appropriating $10,000 in Other Commodities for the microchip program. Presented by Approved as to form by ] ack Griffin Director of General Services (-L~;l ~~ Ann Moore City Attorney J \AtlumeylRESQIFINANCEIMicl'ochip Reso::. 07-10-07 doc 12-8