08/25/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilman Williams questioned that raising the license fee would increase the number of dogs licensed in the county. Mr. Martin explained that the increased fees would e provide money for a more aggressive licensing program. He described the present pro- cedure - once-a-year mailing out of notices. Lane Humane Society, veterinarians, clinics, etc., are not willing to function as licensing agencies, he said, and it was thought that a program as outlined, making the owner responsible for seeking out the animal, requiring licensing at the pound, etc., would result in more people licensing their dogs. Commissioner Hayward expressed satisfaction with the proposed use of revenues from the licensing program for other than enforcement purposes, that a certain amount would be put into spaying, neutering, vaccination programs. She said that because of ob- jections presented in testimony before the County Commission in that regard, she felt people would be more willing to comply with licensing if a portion of the revenues was going for those programs. Councilman Bradley asked if any consideration was given to a serial levy to provide for total animal control rather than just a dog control program. Mr. Martin answered that it was considered but staff felt the cost of the dog program should more properly be borne by the dog owners than the general public. That was why staff felt each agency could determine its own public benefit and could decide whether subsidization was desired. The program was focused on the dog population, he said, because that is the major source of complaints in the urban area. General animal control was fel t to be of a more general nature and therefore should not be borne by dog licensing revenues. Councilman Keller asked for more information about the private agency, California Animal Control, listed as an alternative in the report but not recommended by staff. Mr. Martin explained that the private concern had had representatives in Lane County e and concluded they could provide a pound, enforcement, everything proposed under this program, for a license fee of $10 per dog (estimating 40,000 dogs in the county), ex- pecting about an 8% return on their investment. He said tm s type arrangement had been successful in communities ,where tried and included collection of revenues, a percentage going for the adjudication process, education and neutering and spaying programs, training, all with the use of trained personnel. In further response to Mr. Keller, he said that the $10 fee, as well as that of $9.50 under the proposed tri-agency program, included cost of construction of a pound, the only difference being that money returned from the program does not go into public funds if the pri- vate concern is used. Councilman Meyer asked for specific pros and cons of the program described. Mr.Martin answered that the main advantage would be not having to worry about dog control. Basically, it was a philosophical issue of whether to allow the private sector to function if the services can be provided at about the same cost. He said the private concern was expert and if the three agencies agreed on a uniform program and were supportive of its being handled by a private firm, then the services could be con- tracted. Disadvantages, he said, would be the issue of control. Actual supervision is further removed when services are contracted, and any changes desired would probably result in higher fees and fines or through use of general fund dollars. There is also the question of whether improvement of service would be enough to justify returning the money to the private contractor rather than into public funds. Councilman Meyer asked if staff had taken into account in its revenue projections the possibility of people getting rid of their dogs rather than paying higher license fees. Mr. Martin answered that only in passing had that been considered because it e was felt as the people population increased the dog population also would increase. It is hoped the dog population can be stablized. Figures presented were based on an estimate of 32,000 dogs being licensed under the program. Councilman Haws had the understanding that a private concern would not do everything that could be done by the public agencies. Mr. Martin said the private concern will not adjudicate offenses, they take care of everything else, including licensing. 4~" P.J?r:.I7r:. - lr:.