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Home My WebLink About9C Pet License Agenda Report Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: November 18, 2019 AGENDA #: 9C PREPARED BY: LORI OLSON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER PRESENTED BY: LORI OLSON AGENDA ITEM: Request approval of an ordinance amending chapters 2, 7 and 8 relating to pet licensing and a resolution approving a summary for publication. GOAL AREA AND OBJECTIVE: High-Value City Services 3. Ensure sufficient resources and staffing to meet service demands. DISCUSSION: Introduction This agenda item seeks approval to remove from city ordinance the requirement to license dogs and cats in Prior Lake. This recommendation was identified as part of a larger City project to comprehensively review and amend the City Code to ensure efficiency, prevent duplication, eliminate outdated language, and simplify ordinance language. History Current ordinance language states that “no person shall keep any dog or cat over 3 months of age within the City without securing a license from the City.” Under this provision, a pet license is valid for two years, requires proof of rabies vaccination, and costs $20 (fixed) or $30 (unfixed). In 2018, the City of Prior Lake issued 243 pet licenses which generated $4,170 in revenue. In 2017, 259 licenses were issued for $4,045. The majority of pet licenses are for dogs. The primary reasons municipalities license domesticated animals is to: • Ensure animals receive vaccinations against diseases such as rabies; • Help reunite a pet with its family if it gets loose and is picked up; and • Track of how many pets a person owns and how many pets are in the city. Current Circumstances Staff recommends the elimination of pet licensing for the following reasons: 1. Low compliance. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association pet calculator, a city with a population of 25,000 should have 11,750 dogs and cats. With about 250 pets licensed in Prior Lake, only 2% of owners are licensing their pets in Prior Lake. The City does not have the resources nor is it a priority to enforce the current ordinance. 2. Cost Effectiveness. The revenue generated does not cover the cost of the animal control contract nor the staff time to process licenses. The City contracts with 4 PAWS to provide animal control services in the amount of $28,000 annually. 3. Ineffective. Staff discussed this proposal with staff at 4 PAWS to get their input. 4 PAWS shared that in 10 years they have reunited a pet with an owner because of a City license about 2 times and that most loose dogs are reunited because of microchip or vet rabies tag. In addition, the majority of 4 PAWS animal control services activity in Prior Lake is not related to dogs running loose or dog bites. Rather, the majority of their work is related to injured or DOA wildlife and wildlife public safety concerns (bats, raccoons, muskrats, etc.) 4. Disease. Rabies is not the public health concern it once was due to the domestication of animals and because most pet owners inoculate their pets. Of 17 peer cities based on population and location in the metro area, four do not license pets: • Chanhassen • Crystal • New Brighton • Golden Valley FINANCIAL IMPACT: The City no longer will generate approximately $4,000 in annual revenue as a result of eliminating the pet license requirement. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Motion and second to approve an ordinance amending chapters 2, 7 and 8 relating to pet licensing and a resolution approving a summary for publication. 2. Motion and second to deny this request. 3. Motion and a second to table action and provide further direction. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Alternative #1 Page 1 of 3 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 119-13 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 2, 7 AND 8 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE RELATING TO PET LICENSING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE SECTION 104 WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS CONTAINS PENALTY PROVISIONS THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS: Section 1. City Code Section 702 is amended by revising subsection 702.700 provision (1) as follows: (1) The domesticated animal is properly licensed and has received all recommended vaccinations. Section 2. City Code Section 802 is amended by deleting the final sentence in the “Purpose” provision. Section 3. City Code Section 802 is amended by deleting subsection 802.200 in its entirety and replacing it with the following: 802.200 VACCINATION REQUIRED. Every dog and cat shall be vaccinated against rabies. Section 4. City Code Section 802 is amended by deleting subsections 802.300, 802.400, and 802.500 in their entirety and renumbering the remaining subsections in Section 802. Section 5. City Code Section 802 is amended by updating internal references as follows: • In newly renumbered subsection 802.502 (1): 802.1302 becomes 802.1002. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.803 (2): 802.1302 becomes 802.1002. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1002: 802.1103 becomes 802.803. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1200: both instances of 802.1500 become 802.1200; and both instances of 802.2000 become 802.1700. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1202 (1): both instances of 802.1501 become 802.1201. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1202 (2): 802.1501 becomes 802.1201. Page 2 of 3 • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1202 (2)(d): 802.1600 becomes 802.1300 and 802.1700 becomes 802.1400. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1303: 802.1602 becomes 802.1302. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1307: 802.1200 becomes 802.900 and 802.2000 becomes 802.1700. • In newly renumbered subsection 802.1600: 802.900 becomes 802.600. Section 6. City Code Section 802 is amended by revising newly renumbered subsections 802.802 and 802.803 as follows: 802.802 Notice of Impoundment. Immediately upon the impounding of any dog or cat with a microchipwearing a current license, the City Manager or designee shall provide written notice to the owner of such dog or cat of its impoundment and the conditions applicable to regaining custody of the dog or cat. Any oral notices shall immediately be confirmed in writing. If the animal does not have a microchipvalid license of the license is expired or the microchip has not been updated, the City Manager or designee shall make a reasonable effort to notify the last known owner of such dog or cat of such impoundment. 802.803 Method of Providing Notice: The City must give notice of the impoundment of a dog or cat by delivering or mailing a notice to the person whose name appears on the microchip registrationlicense application of the dog or cat or by posting a copy of the notice at the residence of the owner stated on the microchip registrationlicense application or by delivering the notice to a person residing on the property, and telephoning, if possible. The notice must include: Section 7. City Code Section 802 is amended by revising newly renumbered subsection 802.809 and 802.1002 by changing 5 to 10 in reference to number of days. Section 8. City Code Section 802 is amended by revising newly renumbered subsection 802.1003 as follows: 802.1003 Reclaimed Dogs and Cats. If an impounded dog or cat requires a City license, such license shall be obtained before the dog or cat is released. If the dog or cat requires a vaccination to comply with this Section as a condition of the license, the animal may be released upon payment of a $100 refundable deposit. The deposit shall be refunded upon the presentation to the City of proof of vaccination and issuance of a license. Failure to provide proof of vaccination and licensure within 20 days shall constitute a forfeiture of the deposit and shall subject the animal to impoundment. Section 9. City Code Section 802 is amended by revising newly renumbered subsection 802.1307 as follows: 802.1307 It shall be unlawful for the owner of a potentially dangerous dog to fail to comply with the requirements and conditions set forth in this subsection. Page 3 of 3 Any dog found to be the subject of a violation of this subsection shall be subject to immediate seizure and impoundment in accordance with subsection 802.900. Failure to comply will result in the revocation of the license of such animal requiring immediate removal of the animal from the City. In addition, a misdemeanor citation may be issued to the registered owner of the dog or its keeper pursuant to subsection 802.1700. Section 10. City Code Chapter 2, Fee Schedule, is amended by deleting the fees for Animal Licenses (Cats and Dogs). Section 11. City Code Section 104 entitled “General Penalty” is adopted in its entirety, by reference, as though repeated verbatim herein. Section 12. This ordinance shall become effective upon its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 18TH day of November, 2019. ATTEST: _________________________ __________________________ Jason Wedel, City Manager Kirt Briggs, Mayor Page 1 of 2 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RESOLUTION 19-141 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 119-13 AND ORDERING THE PUBLICATION OF SAID SUMMARY Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, On __________, 2019 the City Council adopted Ordinance No. ____ amending Chapters 2, 7 and 8 of the City Code relating to pet licensing; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes requires publication of an ordinance in the official newspaper before it becomes effective; and WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes also allows the publication of a summary of an ordinance if the Council finds that the summary is an accurate representation of the ordinance; and WHEREAS, The City Council desires to publish a summary of the amendments to Chapters 2, 7 and 8 of the Prior Lake City Code and has determined the publication of a summary of this ordinance will meet the intent of the statute. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. Ordinance No. 119-13 is lengthy. 3. The text of summary of Ordinance No. 119-13, attached hereto as Exhibit A, conforms to M.S. § 331A.01, Subd. 10, and is approved, and publication of the title and summary of the Ordinance will clearly inform the public of the intent and effect of the Ordinance. 4. The title and summary shall be published once in the Prior Lake American in a body type no smaller than brevier or eight-point type. 5. A complete text of the newly amended City Code will be available for inspection at City Hall or in the Document Center on the City of Prior Lake Website after December 1, 2019. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 18th DAY OF NOVEMBER 2019 VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ _____________________________ Jason Wedel, City Manager Exhibit A Page 2 of 2 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 SUMMARY ORDINANCE NO. 119-13 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE ORDINANCE NO. 119-13 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 2, 7 AND 8 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE RELATING TO PET LICENSING AND ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE SECTION 104 WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS CONTAINS PENALTY PROVISIONS The following is only a summary of Ordinance No. 119-13. The full text will be available for public inspection after December 1, 2019 by any person during regular office hours at City Hall or in the Document Center on the City of Prior Lake Website. SUMMARY: The Ordinance amends Chapters 2, 7 and 8 of the City Code relating to pet licensing by removing the City’s pet licensing requirement and fee and by updating numbering and internal references. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 18th day of November 2019. ATTEST: _________________________ __________________________ Jason Wedel, City Manager Kirt Briggs, Mayor Summary published in the Prior Lake American on the 23 day of Novmeber, 2019.