Animal License Fee IncreaseCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
June 17, 2003
~ MichaeI.C~an Milligen~al~age~
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan,~, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: Animal License Fee Increases
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides information and a proposed ordinance for increasing the
dog and cat license fees and late penalties.
BACKGROUND
Dog and cat license fees were last raised in 1998. A review of five other major cities in
Iowa reveals the following fee structure:
Des Moines Davenport Iowa City Cedar Rapids Waterloo
Spay/neuter $15 $5 $5 $10 $20
Non-spay/neuter $35 $30 $30 $30 $20
In lieu of these two factors and the fact that the Animal Control Activity should be close
to 100% self-supporting, I feel an increase in the license fees is appropriate.
DISCUSSION
Current animal license fees for both dogs and cats are $8 if the animal is spayed or
neutered, and $18 if the animal is not spayed or neutered. The proposed ordinance
increases those fees to $10 for spayed or neutered animals and $25 for non-spayed or
neutered animals. In order to promote responsible pet ownership, we are providing a
higher "disincentive" of $25 for not spayed or neutered pets. This may encourage pet
owners to spay or neuter their animals, which ultimately results in fewer unwanted Or
unexpected puppies or kittens.
Secondly, we are proposing increasing the late fee for purchasing a license from $5 to
$10. Currently, the dog license sale period is from January through March, and the cat
license sale period is July through September. Failure to renew an animal license fee
during that time results in a $5 penalty in addition to the license fee. Again, this fee
increase to $10 will provide an incentive to purchase licenses in a timely manner.
RECOMMENDATION
I recommend approving the attached ordinance increasing fees for animal licenses and
the late fees.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Approve the attached ordinance.
MRC/cj
cc: Sue Barnes, Animal Control Officer
Sec. 7-33. Dogs-License Fee:
(a) The license fee per calendar year, or fraction thereof, for a dog license shall be
eight ten dollars ($8.0010.00) for each neutered dog, either male or female, and
ekjhtee~ twenty-five dollars ($ ..... 25.00) for each male or female dog not neutered.
(b) The applicant or licensee shall furnish written proof from a licensed veterinarian
that surgical procedures have been performed that render either male or female dogs
reproduct' /4~7~ t-'aRa ~ 7Ctq- t~r,4 ,'l~:_a9 g q 7 ~ 4GGg. ~"~r~l ~ n,I
incapable of ~on. ~ .........~, ..v, .........~ ...................
1, 104 '~nn4~
Sec. 7-34. Dogs-Expiration; Renewal; Delinquent Fee:
Eft ........ ~.,. ! ...... 3 All dog licenses issued under this division shall expii'e on
December 31 of the year in which issued and shall become delinquent on March 31 of
the year due. A penalty of five ten dollars ($5.0010.00) shall be added to the required
dehnquent dog hcense. ~ .........=, v ,~
license fee for each ' - ~a7~ c,~,,~ ~ -z ,~,~
Sec. 7-35. Cats-License Fee:
(a) For licenses sold after September 30, 2003, :l:the license fee per calendar year,
or fraction thereof, shall be c!Ght ten dollars ($8.0010.00) for each neutered cat, either
male or female, and eightee~ twenty-five dollars ($!8.0025.00) for each male or female
cat not neutered.
(b) The applicant or licensee shall furnish written proof from a licensed veterinarian
that surgical procedures have been performed that render either male or female cats
incapable of reproduction. ( ......... ~ 7 ,~. c~r,4 47 aa ~ !, 2,v '~ a~ 4aaa., ~--, ~,4...,... ~..~-
c~ ~4 7-6~'r~"~ ~00! ~! 4n~ o~4~
Sec. 7-36. Cats-Expiration; Renewal; Delinquent Fees:
¢--.-*.,.- ~, ,,, ~ ~ ~'~ cAll cat licenses issued under this division shall expire on June
30 of the year following and shall become delinquent on September 30 of the year due.
A penalty fee of ffveten dollars ($5.0010.00) shall be added to the required license fee
for each delinquent cat license.
ORDINANCE NO. 49-03
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF DUBUQUE CODE OF
ORDINANCES BY AMENDING SECTION 7-33(a) DOGS - LICENSE FEE BY
INCREASING THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE FROM EIGHT DOLLARS ($8.00) TO TEN
DOLLARS ($10.00) FOR DOGS THAT ARE NEUTERED AND FROM EIGHTEEN
DOLLARS ($18.00) TO TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00) FOR DOGS THAT ARE
NOT NEUTERED; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-34 DOGS-EXPIRATION;
RENEWAL; DELINQUENT FEE BY INCREASING THE DELINQUENT FEE FROM A
PENALTY OF FIVE DOLLARS ($5.00) TO TEN DOLLARS ($10.00); AND BY
AMENDING SECTION 7-35(a) CATS-LICENSE FEE BY INCREASING THE ANNUAL
LICENSE FEE SOLD AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 FROM EIGHT DOLLARS ($8.00)
FOR CATS THAT ARE NEUTERED TO TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) AND FROM
EIGHTEEN DOLLARS ($18.00)TO TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00) FOR CATS
THAT ARE NOT NEUTERED; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 7-38 EXPIRATION;
RENEWAL; DELINQUENT FEES FROM A PENALTY OF FIVE DOLLARS ($5.00) TO
TEN DOLLARS ($10.00).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. Section 7-33(a) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to read as follows:
The license fee per calendar year, or fraction thereof, for a dog license shall be ten
dollars ($10.00) for each neutered dog, either male or female, and twenty-five dollars
($25.00) for each male or female dog not neutered.
Section 2. Section 7-34 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to read as follows:
All dog licenses issued under this division shall expire on December 31 of the year in
which issued and shall become delinquent on March 31 of the year due. A penalty of
ten dollars ($10.00) shall be added to the required license fee for each delinquent dog
license.
Section 3. Section 7-35(a) of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to read as follows:
For licenses sold after September 30, 2003, the license fee per calendar year, or
fraction thereof, shall be ten dollars ($10.00) for each neutered cat, either male or
female, and twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each male or female cat not neutered.
Section 4. Section 7-36 of the City of Dubuque Code of Ordinances is hereby
amended to read as follows:
All cat licenses issued under this division shall expire on June 30 of the year following
and shall become delinquent on September 30 of the year due. A penalty fee of ten
dollars ($10.00) shall be added to the required license fee for each delinquent cat
license.
Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect upon publication.
Passed, approved and adopted this
9th day of July ,2003.
Terrance M. Duggan, Mayor
Attest:
Jeanne F. Schneider, City Clerk
HL
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