5.m) Staff Report - Hillcrest Impound FeesIBM
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: November 17, 2015
To: City Council
From: Colleen Firkus, Treasurer
Re: Animal Control Contract Fees
Background:
In 2011 the City entered into an Animal Impound Services Agreement with Hillcrest Animal Hospital.
The contract is automatically renewed annually each January, unless a 60-day termination notice is
given by either party. The City has received an updated price list for Hillcrest's impound services. The
new prices reflect their increased labor costs due to the statutory increase in minimum wage, which will
take effect January 1, 2016.
Issue:
The Council needs to adopt the new fee schedule and consider whether or not adjust the impound fee
charged to owners?
Proposal Details:
The charges the City pays to Hillcrest are listed on the attached "Exhibit A" of this Agreement.
The charges paid by the owner of a claimed animal are also specified on "Exhibit A."
For claimed animals, all costs charged to the city by Hillcrest are reimbursed by the animal's owner,
plus the City's $100 impound fee. If an animal is not claimed and is euthanized, the costs are paid by the
City.
Fiscal Impact:
The City's impound fee has been $100 since 2011 when the agreement with Hillcrest started.
In 2014 the City's revenue for claimed animals was $1,066.46. The 2014 expenses paid to Hillcrest for
three unclaimed animals was $321.50. In addition, the City paid $1,440 for the services of an animal
control officer. The net cost to the City for animal control in 2014 was $695.04.
In 2015 the City's revenue for claimed animals to date is $659.50. Expenses to date are $1,220.50;
$140.50 for an unclaimed animal and $1,080 for the animal control officer. Net cost is currently $561.
Options:
1) Adopt Animal Impound Services Agreement "Exhibit A", and keep the impound fees at $100.00.
2) Adopt Animal Impound Services Agreement "Exhibit A", and increase impound fees.
Recommendation:
Option 1. Net animal control costs are minimal and keeping the impound fees level will encourage
people to claim their impounded dogs.