HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-07-113 - Licensing Fee for Dogs~/
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REPORT
Report To: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: September 24, 2007
Submitted By: Jennifer Sheryer, Assistant City Solicitor
Rosemary Upfold, Director of Accounting
Shayne Turner, Director of Enforcement
Prepared By: Rosemary Upfold, Director of Accounting
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: September 20, 2007
Report No.: FIN-07-113
Subject: LICENSING FEES FOR DOGS
RECOMMENDATION:
That Chapter 530 of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be amended to increase the dog
licensing fees to the fees charged by the City of Waterloo (Option 3 outlined in Appendix B of
Report FIN-07-113) effective January 1, 2008.
That Chapter 530 of the City of Kitchener Municipal Code be amended to include a $7 fee for a
Replacement Tag effective January 1, 2008.
BACKGROUND:
On April 17, 2007, Council approved the Animal and Dog Control and Pound Services
Agreement as well as the Spaying and Neutering Program with the Kitchener-Waterloo and
North Waterloo Humane Society for the term January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010. At that
time, Council requested staff report back in the fall to address increasing the dog license fees
and adding the licensing of cats.
Relatively speaking, the licensing of cats is a more complex issue. Staff recognizes there are
significant issues with the regulating of cats under the current by-law provisions. Staff is not
entirely sure that the licensing of cats would adequately address the current concerns. It is the
number of, and keeping of cats on a property, that poses the most significant concern at this
time. This issue will be addressed by staff in a separate report to the Finance and Corporate
Services Committee. If Council wishes a further report with respect to the licensing issue, staff
will accommodate.
REPORT:
The dog licensing fees (Bylaw 98-185) were last amended in 1998 and came into effect on
January 1, 1999. The licensing fees have not increased as the Humane Society has always
advocated an increase in fees will deter dog owners from buying licenses and will also increase
the costs to the City and the Humane Society to enforce the requirement to purchase a license.
On the other hand, the fee paid, by the City to the Humane Society for Animal and Dog Control
and Pound Services, has increased from $327,952 in 1999 to $444,465 in 2008, a 35%
increase.
A sample of the current fees charged by the City of Kitchener, compared to a number of area
and similar sized municipalities are in most categories, the lowest fees charged (AppendixA}.
As City of Waterloo and City of Kitchener dog licenses are sold by the many of the same
veterinarians and pet stores in Kitchener Waterloo, staff would recommend using the fees
charged by the City of Waterloo. However, there are several options that could be considered
by Council. (Appendix B)
Option ~ No increase for 2008
This option would keep the licensing fees the same and no additional revenue would be
generated to the City. The gap in fees between the City of Kitchener and other municipalities
would continue to increase.
Option 2 6 % increase for 2008
Council's direction for the 2008 budget was a fee increase of at least 6 percent. Option 2 would
be to increase the current licensing fees for all categories by 6%. The additional estimated
revenue to the City fora 6 % increase would be $19,000 annually.
Option 3 Use City of Waterloo Fee Schedule
Option 3 would be to increase the current fees charged to the same fees charged by the City of
Waterloo. Depending on the time of year purchased and whether the fee is a general or senior
fee, the increase would be between 20% -133%. The additional estimated revenue to the City
would be $110,000 annually.
Option 4 Phase in City of Waterloo Fee Schedule over 3 years
Over a three year period, 2008 to 2010, the City's current fees would be increased by one third
of the difference between the fees charged by the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo,
along with annual fee increases in order to have the same fee schedule as the City of Waterloo
in 2010. Depending on the time of year purchased and whether the fee is a general or senior
fee, the increase would be between 7% - 46%. The additional estimated revenue to the City
would be $38,000 annually.
The current agreement with the Humane Society stipulates, in the event that Kitchener
increases any license fee for dogs, the City is entitled to the entire amount of the increase. If the
Humane Society proves the increase in license fees has caused licensing enforcement costs to
increase, the Humane Society will be entitled to a percentage of the licensing fees equal to such
increase in enforcement costs. At this time, it is not possible to determine if there would be
additional enforcement costs. The City currently has a set fine of $125 ($100 plus $25 costs) for
failing to obtain at license. Staff would recommend that during the licensing renewal notification
process by the Humane Society, fine information is provided to dog owners.
Other municipalities also charge a replacement fee for a lost tag. Staff would recommend this
new fee be included in the City of Kitchener's Dog Licensing Fee Schedule.
These fee increases are being recommended apart from the Comprehensive Fee Report
(November 5, 2007) as the Humane Society begins to advertise and sell the dog license fees
prior to year end.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Increasing the licensing fees for dogs to be the same fees charged by the City of Waterloo
would result in additional annual revenue to the City of approximately $110,000. This increase
could be reduced by the amount of any additional enforcement costs the Humane Society
provide proof that they incurred as a result of an increase and by some dog owners choosing to
ignore the bylaw and no longer purchase a license as a result of the increase.
COMMUNICATIONS:
Kitchener Waterloo and North Waterloo Humane Society
Rosemary Upfold, CA
Director of Accounting
Jennifer Sheryer,
Assistant City Solicitor
Shayne Turner,
Director of Enforcement
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