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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2023-052 Resolution amending the City of Yakima Master Fee Schedule regarding Animal Control (YMC 6.20) RESOLUTION NO. R-2023-052 A RESOLUTION amending the City of Yakima Master Fee Schedule regarding Animal Control (YMC 6.20). WHEREAS, the City has previously adopted a Master Fee Schedule wherein the fees for licensing of animals are located; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to amend the fees for dog licenses, which requires them to be amended in the Master Fee Schedule; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interests of the City of Yakima and its residents to amend the Master Fee Schedule to amend the fees for dog licenses; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: Section 1. The fees for Animal Control (YMC 6.20) are hereby amended to state as follows in the City of Yakima Master Fee Schedule: Animal Control YMC 6.20 Dog License (Altered) 1 year $ 25.00 Dog License (Unaltered) 1 year $ 75.00 Dog License (Altered) 3 year $ 60.00 Dog License (Unaltered) 3 year $ 180.00 Replacement Tag $ 10.00 Dog License for Senior Citizen (62+) (Altered) 1 year $ 12.50 Dog License for Senior Citizen (62+) (Unaltered) 1 year $ 37.50 Dog License for Senior Citizen (62+) (Altered) 3 year $ 30.00 Dog License for Senior Citizen (62+) (Unaltered) 3 year $ 90.00 Kennel License $ 250.00 Kennel License — hobby kennel $ 200.00 Kennel License — late penalty fee 1/2 of the Kennel License amount Kennel License —change of owner transfer fee $ 25.00 Section 2. The appropriate administrative officials of the City is hereby directed to amend the Master Fee Schedule to reflect the amendments found in Section 1. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 4th day of April, 2023. I V Ktrna Janice Deccio, Mayor ATTEST: 61 Sonya la r Tee, City Clerk cti,,sH‘,;° BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA,WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9. For Meeting of:April 4, 2023 ITEM TITLE: Resolution amending the City of Yakima Master Fee Schedule regarding Animal Control (YMC 6.20) SUBMITTED BY: Cynthia I. Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney *Tony Doan, Supervising Codes Inspector SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Attached for your consideration is a resolution amending YMC 6.20 - City of Yakima Master Fee Schedule regarding animal control. Code Enforcement,Animal Control Officers, and City Legal have made changes to Chapter 6.20 that reflect current practices, streamline procedures, and address emergent issues. The proposed changes include: • Strengthen dangerous dog definition • Remove potentially dangerous dog classification and regulation • Remove levels of animal behavior • Unify animal impound appeal timelines • Increase and streamline dog license fees • Reduce poultry at large violations to an infraction • Increase the penalty for nauseous keeping to a misdemeanor • Increase the threshold for a barking dog violation • Add Human Responsibility for Cats section • Update the impound notice • Increase the time of license suspension to three years for problem pet owners • Recognize Community Service Officers as enforcement personnel Drafting cat owner and caretaker regulations was a challenging task. There are volumes of cat regulatory schemes from different jurisdictions. However, due to animal control and community service officer staffing constraints, the Human Responsibility for Cats section is a simple statutory framework that would provide some additional tools to encourage the reduction of feral and roaming cat populations, while holding cat caretakers responsible for creating a nauseous condition. 2 Trap-Alter-Return (TAR) (also called Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR)) programs are recognized throughout the country and are considered a humane way to manage cat populations. There is a nonprofit in the Yakima area dedicated to this practice. The proposed cat regulations allow an individual to engage in a TAR program without assuming legal ownership of the cat. The hope is that TAR will lead to an eventual reduction in the feral cat population. Dog Licensing has been adjusted to offer options for the license holder. Dog owners will be able to choose between a 1 or 3 year license duration. A prerequisite to licensing is proof of rabies vaccination. This vaccination expires every 3 years; the 3 year license option is more efficient for the City and the savings are passed to dog owners through a discounted fee. This proposed licensing language will assist in the City s plan to offer an online licensing portal that is user friendly and has the potential to increase the number of dogs that are licensed. During the January 24, 2023 Council Study Session, Council heard public comment relating to (1)funding a humane feral cat reduction program, such as TAR, (2)licensing requirements for those who sell animals and are engaged in animal breeding (3) requiring license identifications be included in advertisements for the sale of puppies. These suggestions were explored by City staff. With respect to funding a feral cat humane reduction program, staff found that other communities with such programs partner with a non-profit agency. At this time, City staff has identified grant opportunities that are most appropriate to be managed and administered by non-profit entities that provide direct spay and neutering services. Many of these opportunities have eligibility requirements that recipients be 501(c)(3)status. That said, the City is willing to provide resources in the form of letters of support and information. The City continues to be a willing partner for any organization applying for available funding. Concerning animal breeder licensing and the posting of license numbers in puppy sales ads, the city has a business license requirement in place for anyone soliciting sales. There is a revenue threshold that governs whether a license is required. Identifying and enforcing violations would be a challenge, however, staff is willing to continue to explore this topic. Enforcement of this Chapter is transitioning to the Community Service Officers of the Yakima Police Department. Those employees are in the training process. ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution. ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type D Res-Amend Animal Control Fee Schedule