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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7777 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7777 OXATE To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 1993 ion Subject: ONE TAG ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAM On June 20, 1993, Mr. James Bias, Executive Director of the Humane Society of North Texas, notified Dr. James Agyemang, Animal Control Administrator, of the Humane Society's intent to request a fee increase in the kenneling contract to$5.00 per day. That request was later changed to $4.32 per day. On October 5, 1993, in Informal Report 7764, the Humane Society's request for a fee increase was presented to Council. In the report, it was noted that the fee increase requested by the Humane Society would result in a$53,460 unfunded balance for kenneling services in the Animal Control budget. Council directed staff to develop proposed fee increases that would cover the unfunded balance in the kenneling contract. The fee increase issue was addressed by the task force assembled to propose a one tag licensing program. Animal Control Licensing Program In earlier discussions concerning the animal licensing program, Council had directed staff to work with local veterinarians to develop a proposal to implement a one tag animal licensing program. Currently, when a pet owner has the pet vaccinated, a tag is issued indicating the animal's current vaccination; a second tag is acquired when the pet is licensed. A one tag system would insure a license is purchased when the pet is vaccinated. A single tag would be issued reflecting both current vaccination and current license. In addition to enhancing the health and safety benefit of licensing pets, a one tag system is anticipated to result in increased license fee revenues. This became a critical issue during the budget process when the number of days an animal is held by the Humane Society was proposed to be reduced from three to one. The one tag system revenue increase was built into the budget and the impound days remained at three (at a cost of $28,670). A task force was assembled to address the implementation of a one tag animal licensing program. The task force was comprised of three veterinarians, two citizens, the executive director of the Humane Society and three City staff members. Task Force members are listed below: Veterinarians: Dr. Scott Mellina, Dr. Richard Young, and Dr. Ted Hemenway; Citizen representatives: Ms. Kay Jennings and Mr. Frank Molano; Humane Society: Mr. James Bias, Executive Director; City staff., Ms. Kathryn Hansen, Assistant City Attorney, Dr. James Agyemang, Animal Control Administrator, and Ms. Letha Aycock, Assistant Health Department Director for Technical & Regulatory Services. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No, 7777 r To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 1993 Page 2 of 4 trix Subject: ONE TAG ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAM I$" The task force met weekly from October 14 to November 9, 1993. In discussing recommendations for the implementation of a one tag animal licensing system, it quickly became apparent that a critical issue in the licensing program was the amount charged for the license itself. As a result, the task force addressed both the issue of implementing a one tag animal licensing system and setting a fee for the animal license. Task force members felt that the amount set for a license fee was critically connected to the success of the one tag system. Task Force Recommendations/incentives On November 9, 1993 the Task Force issued a report (see attached report) endorsing the implementation of a one tag licensing system and increasing the cost of the license tag to$7.00 from$5.00. Additionally, incentives to enhance citizen and veterinarian participa- tion in the one tag licensing system were included in the report. These recommendations are listed below. Recommendations: 1. The City of Fort Worth should implement a one tag system effective January 1, 1994. 2. The City of Fort Worth should increase its current license fee from $5.00 to $7.00 per animal. 3. Participating veterinarians would collect the $7.00 license fee, retain $1.25 and forward $5.75 to the Animal Control Division. (This is a reduction from the $2.00 currently retained by the veterinarians) 4. The$35.00 lifetime license fee should be dropped and a grandfather clause should be provided to allow citizens who have purchased a lifetime license to continue to use the lifetime license. To encourage support for the licensing system, task force members proposed incentives for both veterinarians and citizens. These incentives are listed below. Veterinarian Incentives 1. Print veterinary clinic information (name and phone number) on one side of the tag. 2. Allow participating veterinarians to retain $1.25 of the $7.00 license fee. 3. Designate Animal Control Division to send license renewal notices to pet owners, 4. Advertise, at least twice a year, the need for pets to be vaccinated and licensed annually. This could be accomplished by inserting an article in the City water bill and by displaying a message in the poster partition on the back of the Animal Control vehicles. LISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7777 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 1993 ` + r k Page 3 of 4 41 fix Subject: ONE TAG ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAM Citizen Incentives 1. Provide a brochure explaining the City's licensing requirements to pet owners which can be distributed in the veterinarian's offices. 2. Maintain the current system of reducing impoundment fees for pets wearing current City license tag. 3. Provide the ability to identify a lost pet and return it to its owner. 4. Provide a lost and found information service through Animal Control Division. Follow-Up Actions For Compliance To enhance citizen compliance with the licensing ordinance, task force members endorsed these follow-up actions: 1. If a citizen fails to respond to the renewal letter notifying them of the need to renew their license, a follow-up postcard will be mailed. 2. If the citizen fails to respond to the postcard within 30 days, a citation will be issued for failure to comply with the City Ordinance. Animal Control will request the citation be dismissed by the Municipal Court should the pet owner comply within 10 days following the receipt of the citation. A phone survey of twelve veterinarians was conducted by Dr. Scott Mellina and Dr. Ted Hemenway. Over half of the veterinarians contacted responded favorably to the proposed one tag licensing program. Task Force members stressed that the success of the one tag system would be dependent on the cooperation of local veterinarians, enforcement action on the part of the City and public awareness of the one tag system. Throughout the discussions of the one tag system,the hope was expressed by Task Force members that eventually this one tag system could be implemented on a County wide basis. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the task force recommendations be approved and implemented. The revenue that is projected to be generated by the increase in license fees will cover the $28,670 included in the FY 1993-94 budget to continue three day impoundment and the $53,640 requested increase in the Humane Society Contract. Revenue projections are shown below for both a 12 month and 9 month period. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No.. 77n To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 7, 1993 Page 4 of 4 rix Subject: ONE TAG ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAM is 12 Months 9 Months 40,743 x $7.00 = $285,201 $213,901 40,743 x $1.25 (retained by Vets) - 50,929 - 38,197 $ 234,272 $175,704 License fees collected by Animal Control Division in FY 92-93 - 43,442 - 32,582 Projected revenue due to increased licensing fees $190,830 $143,122 Projected Unfunded Balance for three day impound (full year) - 28,670 - 28,670 Humane Society Contract - 53,640 - 40,230 Projected Additional Revenue 1108,520, 7,4 ,j22 If you need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact either Assistant City Manager Libby Watson or me. 2 B4obTerr I .-City��City Man ger IBT:LW:vr Attachment ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS TASK FORCE REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE TAG ANIMAL LICENSING PROGRAM In September 1993,Council directed staff to establish a task force to address the implementa- tion of a one tag animal licensing system in the City of Fort Worth. The task force was comprised of three veterinarians, two citizens, the executive director of the Humane Society, and three City staff members, as follows. Dr. Scott Mellina Dr. Richard Young Dr. Edward (Ted) Hemenway Ms. Kay Jennings, Citizen Mr. Frank Molano, Citizen Mr. James Bias, Executive Director/Humane Society Ms. Lathe Aycock, Assistant Director/Public Health Department Ms. Kathryn Hansen, Assistant City Attorney Dr. James Agyemang, Animal Control Administrator The task force, chaired by Ms. Letha Aycock, met weekly from October 14 to November 9, 1993. In addition to developing recommendations for the implementation of the one tag animal licensing system, the task force also discussed the current license fee structure. Task force members felt that the amount set for a license fee was critically connected to the success of the one tag system. After several weeks of deliberation, the task force offers the following recommendations for the implementation of the one tag animal licensing program. 1. The City of Fort Worth should implement a one tag system effective January 1, 1994. The single tag will have CITY OF FORT WORTH ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION on one side and the participating veterinary clinic information on the other side. In the initial year, two tags (City tag and veterinarian tag) will be issued because the veterinarians have already ordered their tags for 1994. Beginning in 1995, the City tag will be oph" issued by the veterinarians participating in the licensing program. 2. The City of Fort Worth should increase its current license fee from $5.00 to $7.00 per animal. Participating veterinarians will collect the $7.00 license fee, retain $1.25 and forward $5.75 to the Animal Control Division. If the projected 40,743 pets expected to be vaccinated this fiscal year are licensed, the City's projected revenue would be $234,272. Projected revenue,based on the increased fees,is shown for both nine and twelve months. This amount would be enough to offset the $53,640 unfunded balance resulting from the increase in kenneling costs. 12 Months 9 Months 40,743 x $7.00 = $285,201 $213,901 40,743 x $1.25 (retained by Veterinarians) 50.92 - 38.19 $234,272 $175,704 License fees collected by Animal Control Division in FY 92-93 42.44 - 32.58 Projected City revenue due to increased licensing fees $190,830 $143,122 Projected Unfunded Balance of kenneling services 53.64 - 40.23 Projected New Revenue $137,19 $1 28 The City of Fort Worth should repeal the section of the ordinance on lifetime license tags. Members urged the City to include a grandfather clause to cover pet owners with lifetime tags. Animal Control records indicate about 60 pet owners currently have purchased the lifetime animal licensing tag. To encourage support for a new licensing system, task force members proposed incentives for both veterinarians and citizens. These incentives are listed below. Veterinarian Incentives a. Print veterinary clinic information (name and phone number) on one side of the tag. b. Allow participating veterinarians to retain $1.25 of the $7.00 license fee. 001h, 2 C. Designate Animal Control Division to send license renewal notices to pet owners. d. Advertise,at least twice a year,the need for pets to be vaccinated and licensed annually. This could be accomplished by inserting an article in the City water bill and displaying a message in the poster area on the back of the Animal Control vehicles. Citizen Incentives a. Provide a brochure explaining the City's licensing requirements to pet owners which can be distributed through the veterinarians' offices. b. Maintain the current system of reducing impoundment fees for pets wearing current City license tag. C. Provide the ability to identify a lost pet and return it to its owner. d. Provide a lost and found information service through Animal Control Division. To enhance citizen compliance with the licensing ordinance,task force members endorsed the following actions: 1. Mail a postcard to the pet owner, notifying the owner to comply within 30 days (see attached). 2. Mail a citation to the pet owner if the animal has not been licensed within 30 days following receipt of the initial contact. Animal Control will request the citation be dismissed by the Municipal Court should the pet owner comply within 10 days following the receipt of the citation. 3 A phone survey of twelve veterinarians was conducted by Dr. Scott Mellina and Dr. Ted Hemenway to determine the veterinarians' response to the one tag system. Over half of the veterinarians contacted indicated they would support the one tag licensing program. It is the belief of the task force members that the success of the one tag system will depend on the following: 1. Cooperation of local veterinarians. 2. Enforcement action on the part of the City. 3. Public awareness of the one tag system (licensing and vaccination combined). It is the hope of the task force that eventually the one tag system will be implemented on a county-wide basis. Having completed its mission, the task force adjourned for the last time on November 9, 1993 at 8:00 PM. op", Respectfully submitted, Letha Aycock, Chair Dr. Scott Mellina Ms. Kay Jennings //- P, Dr. Edward (Ted) Hemenway Mr. Frank Molano CW Dr. Richard Young NA UtAW Mr. James Bias Ms. Kathy Hansen Dr. James Agyemang YV 001*1 4 EXHIBIT I CITY OF FORT WORTH ANIMAL CONTROL DIVISION NOTICE TO COMPLY Post Card Information This will be mailed to citizens who vaccinate their pets, but fail to purchase a city license. This will be a follow-up to the Renewal Notice. Thank you for being a responsible pet owner by vaccinating your pet. Equally as important as the vaccination is maintaining a current city license tag on your pet's collar. Our records indicate that you need to purchase a license tag for your pet. The City Code requires that all dogs and cats be vaccinated and licensed before they are four (4) months of age. Failure to obtain a license for your pet may result in the issuance of a citation and a fine of up to $500 for each day the violation continues. You may obtain a license from participating veterinarians for $7 per animal. You have thirty (30) days to purchase the license tag before a citation is issued. If you have any questions, please call Animal Control at 871-7345. Grac(as por ser responsible en vacunar a su animal. Igual de importante de vacunar es mantener una corriente de la ciudad identificaci6n en el cuello de su animal dom6stico. La ley de la ciudad requiere que todos gatos y perros sewn vacunados y licenciados antes de que cumplan 4 meses. Falta de obtener una licencia para su animal dom6stico pueder resultar en multa de $500 por cada dia que la violaci6n continue. Usted puede obtener una licencia de veterinarios participantes por $7 por animal. Tiene treinta (30) dfas para obtener la licencia antes que le resulte la multa. Si usted tiene preguntas, por favor Ilame al departarniento de Control de Animales al numero 871-7345.