HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/01/2025 09.B. Cost benefit analysis of animal licensing fees contributing to animal control r `y ^� ljlt
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 9.B.
For Meeting of: April 1, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Cost benefit analysis of animal licensing fees contributing to animal
control
SUBMITTED BY: Shawn Boyle, Yakima Police Chief
*Jacob Lancaster, Yakima Police Lieutenant
*Ryan Wisner, Yakima Police Sergeant
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Presentation on Community Services Officers' role in animal control enforcement &2024 cost/revenue
comparison.
ITEM BUDGETED: N/A
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 24-25: A Safe and Healthy Yakima
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
animal.control.court.summary.pdf
ANIMAL CONTROL ROLE PP.pptx
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Office of the City Attorney
City of Yakima
MEMORANDUM
March 24, 2025
TO: Mayor Byers and City Councilmembers
FROM: Sara Watkins, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Summary of 2024 Dog Ordinance Infractions
The following is a summary of the 2024 infractions and criminal non-traffic cases involving
violations of the various provisions of the animal control ordinances involving dogs and cats:
Number of Cases Filed: 164
Number of Cases Closed: 30
Amount of Fines Assessed: $100,428.43
Amount of Fines Paid: $18,061.00
Note, Cases Closed means either dismissed or paid in full. People receiving infractions and fines
are allowed to make payments. They are not closed until payment in full is received. There are
27 cases that are currently making payments towards the fine or penalty. Once a case becomes
delinquent, it is then assigned to an outside collection agency for more stringent means of
collecting payment. The remaining cases are pending, or, in the case of criminal charges, are on
warrant status or in other pre-trial hearing status.
200 South Third Street,2nd Fl. I Yakima,WA 98901
P:509.575.6030 I F:509.575.6160
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COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS' ROLE
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INCOMING COMPLAINTS EMERGENT RESPONSE
• Triage and respond based on • Arrive on scene i
urgency. • Ensure safety of
• Contact Owner, Educate on laws community/animal
governing animal ownership • Secure dangerous animal,
• Follow up on needed changes, Transport to Humane Society,
Issue citations when out of Secure in facility kennel
,Tqoliance/File criminal charges • Investigate, Cite/File criminal
charges
1
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ABUSE/NEGLECT CASES
• Respond to scene
• Document situation
• Gather evidence
• Take statements from witnesses and suspects
• Impound animals
• Coordinate with legal department
• Forward Charges
• Respond/Testify in court
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Cases/Calls Received
• Calls/YakBacks are entered into
Smart Gov SMARTGOV VS SPIL ' MAN
• Evaluated for response TOTAL CALLS/CASES
• When an issue requires an in 3000
2545
person response, a Spillman 2500 2300
case is created. CSO's educate, 2000
investigate, follow-up, 1500
cite/forward criminal charges. 1000
500 330 310
215
- 66
0
2024 2025
SMARTGOV SPILLMAN ■IMPOUNDED
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Relevant Statistics
• Dog licensing costs LICENSES SOLD
• $25/YR Altered
• $75/YR Unaltered
2024 4711
• 20% 3 year license discount
• 50% Senior citizen discount
• Fines for YMC violations
• $250 Lack of license
2023 249
• $200 Dog at large
• $300 Dog at large menancing
• $200 Lack of rabies vaccine 0 100 200 300 400 500
LICENSES
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Operating Costs
• CSOs Salaries/Benefits= $494,000 annually
• Time spent processing licenses was approximately 78 hours in 2024.
Based on salary of employee that was almost $2,000.
• Proposed Humane Society contract limits CSOs to impounding 45
animals at $275 per animal with a potential total cost of $148,500.
• Annual operating costs= 644,500
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DOG LICENSE FEES
$25,000.00
License Revenue $22,299.50
• Dog license revenue in 2023 = $10,957.50 $20,000.00
• Dog license revenue in 2024 = $22,299.50
• In 2024, the CSO team issued 164 animal $15,000.00
cites (criminal/non-criminal) with
$100,428.43 assessed in fines ($18,061 $10,957.50
paid)
$10,000.00
• It is estimated, if CSO's were only able to
focus on animal control, they could issue
at least 10 citations per month. This $5,000.00
would total approximately$150,000 in
charges per year.
$0.00
2023 2024
• Potential Revenue= $272,728
DOG LICENSE FEES
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