Agenda 02/11/2014 Item #16D 3 2/11/2014 16.D.3.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a Resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-227, the Collier County
Domestic Animal Services Fee Policy, to provide for the limited waiver of fees under specific
conditions.
Objective: To uphold the Board-approved mission of the Domestic Animal Services
Department: To ensure compliance with local and State animal-related laws; to return strays to
their owners and promote the adoption of homeless animals to new families; and to work toward
ending the community problem of pet overpopulation.
Considerations: The purpose of the Board-approved Domestic Animal Services Fee Policy is to
uniformly and consistently assess user fees which will partially offset the cost of providing
domestic animal services to the taxpayers of Collier County. At times the Department's business
needs, specifically with respect to its mission of protecting public safety and preventing animal
suffering, do not align with the Fee Policy's strict prohibition against the waiving of fees.
No animal should be allowed to suffer nor member of the public be exposed to undue risk due to
an animal owner's inability to pay fees. Therefore, staff recommends amending the policy to
allow for waiver of field surrender and board for quarantine fees by the DAS Director when
doing so will prevent the suffering of an animal or ensure public safety and no reasonable
alternative to waiving the fee exists. Each waiver will be subsequently ratified by presenting a
quarterly report to the Board for approval.
An amendment to the existing fee policy (Exhibit A of Resolution 2013-227) is being suggested
as follows:
A. No Waiving of Fees. Waiving of Fees. The Board of County Commissioners
shall set all fees and charges. No fees may be waived, except as stated herein.
Fees may be waived in accordance with policies articulated herein, such as under
certain conditions upon reclaim, when fees are sponsored by donors. and fees for
service animals and animals in safekeeping. Fees for field surrenders and board
for quarantine may be waived at the discretion of the Director when to do so will
prevent the suffering of an animal or ensure public safety and no reasonable
alternative to waiving the fee exists. Such waivers shall be brought before the
Board in quarterly reports for after-the-fact ratification.
Advisory Board Recommendation: These changes were reviewed by the Domestic Animal
Services Advisory Board at their regularly scheduled meeting on January 21, 2014. The
Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners
approve these changes.
Fiscal Impact: The total DAS revenue budget is $423,500. The budget for fees subject to
waiver under the proposed action is $27,700. Of that amount staff does not expect waivers to
exceed $1,200 annually.
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Growth Management Impact: None
Legal Considerations: This item has been approved as to form and legality and requires a
majority vote for Board approval. -ERP
Recommendation: That the Board of County Commissioners adopts the proposed Resolution
amending the Collier County Domestic Animal Services Fee Policy.
Prepared by: Darcy Andrade, Interim Director, Domestic Animal Services
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COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.16.D.16.D.3.
Item Summary: Recommendation to adopt a Resolution amending Resolution No. 2013-
227, the Collier County Domestic Animal Services Fee Policy,to provide for the limited waiver of
fees under specific conditions.
Meeting Date: 2/11/2014
Prepared By
Name: CarrollKellie
Title: VALUE MISSING
1/16/2014 3:20:44 PM
Submitted by
Title: VALUE MISSING
Name: CarrollKellie
1/16/2014 3:20:46 PM
Approved By
Name: TownsendAmanda
Title: Director-Domestic Animal Services,Domestic Anima
Date: 1/28/2014 11:53:16 AM
Name: AlonsoHailey
Title: Operations Analyst,Public Service Division
Date: 1/29/2014 8:42:45 AM
Name: CarnellSteve
Title: Administrator-Public Services
Date: 1/29/2014 1:28:35 PM
Name: PepinEmily
Title:Assistant County Attorney, CAO Litigation
Date: 1/31/2014 3:44:06 PM
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Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney,
Date: 1/31/2014 4:49:47 PM
Name: FinnEd
Title: Management/Budget Analyst, Senior, Transportation Engineering& Construction Management
Date: 2/3/2014 1:55:06 PM
Name: OchsLeo
Title: County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 2/4/2014 10:27:47 AM
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2/11/2014 16.0.3.
RESOLUTION NO.2014-
A RESOLUTION OF THE COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 2013-227 IN ORDER
TO AMEND THE DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES FEE POLICY TO
PROVIDE FOR THE WAIVER OF FEES WHEN IT WILL PREVENT
THE SUFFERING OF AN ANIMAL AND NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE
EXISTS.
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2013, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2013-227 which
established a revised Fee Policy in accordance with the newly adopted Animal Control
Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, upon application of the revised Fee Policy, Domestic Animal Services
found that discretion for the waiver of a fee is necessary where it would be in the best interest of
a suffering animal, it will ensure public safety and there is no other available alternative; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Animal Services has recommended to the Board of County
Commissioners to amend Exhibit A of the Domestic Animal Services Fee Policy as attached
hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners hereby accepts the recommendations
of the Director of Animal Services.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY THAT:
Exhibit A to Resolution 2013-227 is hereby amended as depicted in the attached Exhibit
A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this policy becomes effective February 1,2014.
THIS RESOLUTION adopted this day of , 2014 after motion,
second and majority vote in favor of passage.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DWIGHT E. BROCK, CLERK COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By: By:
,Deputy Clerk , CHAIRMAN
Approved as to form and legality:•
AA. i��
Emily R. Pepin V
Assistant County Attorney
1 3-DAS-001 22/
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EXHIBIT A
COLLIER COUNTY DOMESTIC ANIMAL SERVICES
FEE POLICY
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish user fees which will partially offset the cost of
providing domestic animal services to the taxpayers of Collier County.
II. LIMITATIONS
A. . Waiving of Fees. The Board of County Commissioners
shall set all fees and charges. ... . ._ . _:, _ . Fees may be
waived in accordance with policies articulated herein, such as under certain conditions upon
reclaim, when fees are sponsored by donors, and fees for service animals and animals in
safekeeping. Fees for field surrenders and board for quarantine may be waived at the discretion
of the Director when to do so will prevent the suffering of an animal or ensure public safety and
no reasonable alternative to waiving the fee exists. Such waivers shall be brought before the
Board in quarterly reports for after-the-fact ratification.
B. Non-Fee-Related Policies. The Director of Animal Services, or designee, may
waive enforcement or application of any department policies or restrictions provided such waiver
does not conflict with applicable local, state, or federal laws and does not interfere with public
safety.
C. Promotional Sales and Advertisements. Fees may be reduced from time to time
for special promotional sales and advertisements if approved by the Director of Animal Services
and such a reduction is applied in a consistent and time-limited manner. Examples may include
but are not limited to: Two-for-one cat adoptions in June to recognize National Adopt-A-Cat
Month, or reduced adoption fees in February for senior citizens.
D. Sponsored Fees. The department may accept cash donations to sponsor fees for
needy customers. Fee sponsorship donations will be accounted for as the sale of gift certificates to
be redeemed at the time of the fee-incurring transaction. Redemption of sponsored fee gift
certificates will be at the director's discretion in accordance with the following general guidelines:
1. A customer cannot benefit from sponsored fees more than once in a twelve-month period; 2. A
customer cannot receive a benefit of more than $100 toward a reclaim transaction; 3. A customer
cannot receive a benefit of more than $30 toward a surrender transaction.
E. Service Animals. All fees associated with services provided to service animals
and service animals-in-training,as defined in F.S. 413.08, are waived.
F. Safekeeping: If an animal is impounded at the request of a first-responding
agency due to the death, medical emergency, or disaster-related circumstance of its owner or
caretaker, and that animal is claimed by the owner, next of kin, or otherwise authorized party at
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the first available opportunity, impound fees may be waived. This exception does not apply to
animals of owners or caretakers who have been arrested or incarcerated.
G. Refunds. The following fees are nonrefundable: Impoundment Fees, Owner
Surrender Fees, License Fees (except as provided for herein), and Permitting Fees. The following
fees are refundable only if service is not rendered: Mandatory Spay/Neuter Fees and Micro-
chipping Fees. Euthanasia and Cremation Service Fees may be refunded at the discretion of the
Director of Animal Services, or designee, upon written request received within 30 days of
payment or receipt of service,whichever comes first.
Adoption fees will be refunded within seven days of placement if 1) the animal is
returned to Domestic Animal mal Services or, 2) the adopter can demonstrate non-routine veterinary
medical expenses in excess of the amount of the adoption fee. Adoptions are considered "as is,"
and no expenses beyond the adoption fee will be reimbursed. Adopted animals may be returned
between the eighth and the 30th day after placement without incurring an owner surrender fee, but
the adoption fee will not be refunded. On the 31st day and all those thereafter,an owner surrender
fee will be incurred for adoption returns. Days are counted as calendar days, irrespective of
Domestic Animal Services open-to-the public hours.
III. FEES
Impoundment
Dogs, cats,and other small animals dropped-off
First occurrence $25
Second occurrence $50
Each occurrence thereafter $100
Dogs, cats, and other small animals picked up by ACO
First occurrence $40
Second occurrence $65
Each occurrence thereafter $115
Impound fees will be waived for cats and dogs reclaimed
before the end of the standard holding period, upon first
impoundment only when the animal has a current County
license at the time of impoundment.
Equine, bovine, and other livestock
Over 200 lbs., first impoundment $50
Over 200 lbs., second impoundment of same or different $75
animal from same site
Over 200 lbs., each subsequent impoundment of same or $100
different animal from same site
Under 200 lbs., first impoundment $20
Under 200 lbs., second impoundment of same or different $45
animal from same site
Under 200 lbs., each subsequent impoundment of same or $70
different animal from same site
Transportation for impounded livestock direct cost plus 50%
Daily board for all impounded animals $10
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Daily board fees will be waived for cats and dogs reclaimed
before the end of the standard holding period, upon first
impoundment only when the animal has a current County
license at the time of impoundment.
Laboratory, veterinarian, farrier, or other outside service direct cost plus 50%
expenses
Mandatory Spay/Neuter
Canine Neuter $75
Canine Spay $85
Feline Neuter $50
Feline Spay $65
Owner Surrender
Owner surrender fee, animal dropped off $10
Owner surrender fee,picked up at residence $60
Mothers surrendered with kittens or puppies will be accepted for one owner surrender fee
of$10. Kittens or puppies surrendered individually or as litters without mothers will be
charged the surrender fee per animal.
Adoption
Cat or kitten $40
Dog or puppy $65
Rescue adoption $20 or as stipulated by
MOU
Rescue transfer No charge
Other animal adoption market rate or less
Rescue adoptions may only be performed by organizations who possess a 501(c)3
standing and have an established mission statement.
Rescue transfers may only be performed by organizations that have a licensed
veterinarian on staff; organizations receiving rescue transfers assume responsibility for
compliance with F.S. 823.15.
Licenses
Spayed or neutered dog or cat $10
Unaltered dog or cat under one year $10
Unaltered dog or cat over one year $60
Blanket license for animal-related organizations and rescue No charge
organizations
Unaltered dog or cat license fee of$60 will be refunded to
the $10 spayed or neutered fee rate ($50 refund) when the
animal owner presents proof of spay or neuter within 30
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days of purchase.
Micro-chipping
Micro-chipping impounded or owned animal $15
Micro-chipping adopted animal $10
•
Animal-Related Business, Animal-Related Organization,
Rodeo, Commercial Breeder, and Non-commercial
Breeder Permits
Animal-Related Business $100
Animal-Related Organization No charge
Rodeo $100
Commercial Breeder $500
Non-commercial Breeder $200
Res I onsible Pet Ownershi I Course
Course registration fee $40
Meeting Room Rental
Meeting room, non-profit use $10 per hour
Meeting room, for-profit use $25 per hour
Additional charge if food is served $20 per event
DAS-sponsored events and governmental use No charge
The meeting room is only available during Domestic Animals Services' open-to-the-
public hours.
Euthanasia and Cremation Services
General Public
Pick-up at residence $50
Euthanasia $5
Remains disposal, no cremation $5
Cremation, no save ashes $40
Cremation, save ashes $100 +$1/lb over 100 lbs
Private cremation $200 +$1/lb over 100 lbs
Return ashes $20
Veterinarians
Remains disposal,no cremation (includes pick-up) $20
Cremation,no save ashes (includes pick-up) $50
Cremation, save ashes (includes pick-up and return ashes) $100+$1/lb over 100 lbs
Private cremation $200+$1/lb over 100 lbs
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