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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, October 08, 2007 <br />Page 6 <br />Captain Mathwig noted that the staff report included associated costs of staff li- <br />censing, paperwork, and Community Service Officers (CSO's) for transporting <br />animals to the Brighton Vet Clinic; however, that it did not include the additional <br />annual cost of $8,000 for services, which was funded from the General Levy for <br />Police Department expenses, but any revenues received were not directly reim- <br />bursed to the Police Department, but remained in the General Fund. <br />Councilmember Pust sought clarification on the annual $8,000 fee; and what was <br />charged to the animal licensee, and what was absorbed by the City. <br />Captain Mathwig noted that the anmual fee was for the City's 24-hour access to <br />the facility, and for food, water and lock-up for animals until the next business <br />day; including their care of the animals, and euthenization if necessary. <br />Ms. Carol Kougb <br />Ms. Kough advised that the facility charged $14/day for pet owners; and the Po- <br />lice Department received $10/day, which was paid by the owner, with an average <br />of 3-5 dogs/month sheltered, and sometimes more during certain seasons. <br />Councilmember Pust sought further clarification on the $8,000 fee. <br />Ms. Kough advised that there were few records available from the City's Police <br />Department; and encouraged that further review should be done, as there maybe a <br />lack of compliance with state law regarding registration and notice requirements <br />so owners can locate their stray animals more readily. Ms. Kough advised that <br />the facility must be open 4 hours/day during the week, and 4 hours during the <br />weekend for owners to pick up their animals. <br />Mayor Klausing noted that the proposed ordinance provided for lifetime licens- <br />ing, as well as a price difference for micro-chipped and non-micro-chipped pets. <br />Ms. Kough provided rationale for differential licensing and current procedures of <br />the City related to notice to pet owners every two years for rabies vaccination up- <br />dates; her strong support for micro-chipping and free lifetime licensing to encour- <br />age spayed/neutered pets to address public safety and health issues, and reduce <br />overall expenses for pet owners, and to lower administration costs for the City. <br />Dr. Laurie Ballinger stressed the importance of rabies vaccines; spaying/neutering <br />for healthier pets and fewer abandoned animals, as well as less aggressive animal <br />behavior, and overall better lifetime health of pets. Dr. Ballinger addressed uni- <br />versal database and micro-chip readers and pet scanners available for donation to <br />the City. Dr. Ballinger noted that, at her clinic, up-to-date records are kept for <br />their clients, but that some clinics required pet owners to monitor vaccination <br />