HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-21-1993 - VIII-F 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. ■111-F
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 21, 1993
SUBJECT: Proposal to Fund an Animal Control Officer Position
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT:
HEALTH DIRECTOR'S OFFICE X2411
1. Proposal to Fund Animal Control
Position, Fig. 1-7. TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Chapel Hill - 96"8-4501
Mebane - 227-2031
Durham- - 688-7331
PURPOSE:
To reconsider the Manager's recommendation to approve an additional Animal
Control Officer Position; from increases in animal control fees and to consider a
Board of Health recommendation to fund the position.
BACKGROUND:
The Animal Control shelter Study Committee discussed constraints faced by Animal
Control officers while enforcing the Animal Control Ordinance. Lack of personnel
and equipment was cited as an impediment to effective enforcement. The Committee
recommended that the Health Director and the County Manager resolve this
constraint.
The demand for animal control services has increased steadily since the last
Animal Control officer was added in FY89-90. Total service activities are
expected to rise to 48,535 for FY93-94, over 39, 174 in FY90-91, the first full
year of the new ACO. The difference equals the workload of one ACO.
The increase has occurred largely in the enforcement/911 category. These
activities occur, for the most part, at night when officers are on call. The
ACO's are compensated with time and one-half off for all time spent actually
responding to calls. The amount of compensatory time given effectively reduces
the day time staff resources by 25 percent of one position.
2
This double-edged sword of increased demand and dwindling resources coincides
with the infiltration of rabies into North Carolina. All health departments have
increased the level of their rabies control activity.
Reviewing these circumstances, the Health Department Management Team and the
Board of Health agreed that a new ACO was the top priority, full-time, new
position request, above needs in Child Health, Health Education and Medical
Office support. Among the four requests the Board of Health approved in the
requested budget, the Animal Control Officer position was the one full-time new
position recommended by the Manager.
With the new position, the Animal Control Division will be able to meet the
steady increase in demand for services that we have experienced since FY89-90.
In addition we will be able to stagger schedules and extend normal working hours
to 8 p.m. and schedule after hours on-call service without accruing overtime.
Furthermore, we will reorganize animal control service delivery by districting
the county and streamlining the division of labor among existing ACO's. This
will result in greater efficiency, higher productivity, and improved response
time.
Without the new ACO we will have to cut back on the preventive work of education
and permitting and reduce non-mandated activity_ in,wildlife fescue and response
to animal nuisance complaints such as barking dogs. Furthermore, we will have ko
reduce the scope of calls we respond to at night which could result in the
Sheriff's Department receiving more nuisance and domestic dispute complaints.
The Board of Health reviewed a national survey of Animal License Fees, as well
as information from the Durham, Charlotte, Wake and New Hanover County Animal
Control Programs. These are outlined in Figure 1 of the attachments. Three
options for the differential fees for sterile and unsterile dogs and cats are
outlined in Figure 2 and were considered by the Board.
The Board considered the impact of the increased rates on owners of multiple
animals. Reduced rates are not currently available in orange, Durham and Wake
counties; however, they are available in Charlotte and New Hanover, as shown in
Figure 3. Three options for reduced rates in Orange County are outlined in
Figure 4. Figure 5 compares the current, proposed budget revenue for fees to
each of the three options and projects the net gain from each.
Figure 6 outlines the cost to fund an Animal Control Officer Position for six
months in year one and twelve months in year two. This demonstrates that all
three of the options would produce sufficient revenue to fund the increased
position. Options two and three would provide additional funding that could be
used for innovative projects such as a spay/neuter program and increased
educational activity.
Finally, the Board considered the experience of other counties in providing
exemptions to owners of guide and assistance dogs or owners who are over
sixty-two years of age. Exemptions are not currently allowed in orange, but are
allowed in some form in the other North Carolina counties reviewed, as outlined
in Figure 7.
3
In coming to a conclusion, the Board recognized that the cat population is
growing more rapidly than the dog population, as evidenced by the increased
number of cats impounded at the Animal Shelter. This year the number of cats
impounded has now exceeded the number of dogs for the first time. Given this
information, there does not seem to be any reason to continue a license fee for
cats that is lower than dogs. Furthermore, the Board decided to increase the
difference between the fee for a sterile animal and a non-sterile animal.
Therefore, the Board of Health approved the Health Director's recommendation to
establish fees as outlined in option 3, at the rate of $5.00 dollars for sterile
animals and $15.00 dollars for unsterile animals. In addition, the Board
approved a proposal that owners with more than five animals be offered a reduced
rate according to the schedule as outlined in Option 3 of Figure 4. These
reduced rates would apply to all existing animals and any new animals added
during the next three years. After a three year period, there would be no
reduced rates for additional animals added. Finally, the Board approved
exempting owners of animals with guide or assistance dogs and owners over sixty-
two years of age from license fees if they could provide proof that the animals
had been spayed or neutered.
RECOMMENDATION(S): This position was included as a recommendation in the 1993-94
Manager's Budget. The Manager recommends the approval of the
new fee schedule under Option 3 based on the following:
1. It provides a greater differential- in
fee structure for sterile and
unsterile dogs and cats and the
greater incentive to pursue spay and
neuter procedures on the part of
animal owners.
2. Requires the same fee for cats and
dogs.
3. Provides exemptions for
guide/assistance dogs and owners over
62 years of age whose animals have
been spayed or neutered.
4. The additional revenue offsets the
increased costs in administering the
Animal Control Program.
The Manager notes that additional clarity
should be provided for the proposal to
reduce rates for owners of multiple
animals.
4
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 1.
ANIMAL LICENSE FEE STUDY
NATIONAL DURHAM CHARLOTTE WAKE NEW ORANGE
AVERAGE HANOVER CURRENT
STERILE $6. 10 $5.00 $7 .50 $6. 00 $8 . 00 $5. 00
DOG
UNSTERILE $12 .30 $15 .00 $25.00 $12 .50 $8 .00 $7 .50
DOG
STERILE $5.20 $5.00 $7 .50 $6.00 $8 .00 $2 . 00
CAT
UNSTERILE $10.00 $12 .50 $25 .00 $12 .50 $8.00 $3 .00
CAT
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 2.
ANIMAL LICENSE FEE PROPOSED OPTIONS
ORANGE PROPOSED OPTIONS
ORANGE
CURRENT OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3
UNSTERILE $7.50 $10 . 00 $12 .00 $15 .00
DOG
STERILE $5.00 $5 . 00 $6.00 $5.00
DOG
UNSTERILE $3.00 $10.00 $12 .00 $15.00
CAT
STERILE $2 .00 $5. 00 $6.00 $5 .00
CAT
5
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 3.
REDUCED RATES FOR MULTIPLE ANIMALS
ORANGE
DURHAM CHARLOTTE WAKE NEW HANOVER CURRENT
6-10 ANIMALS NONE 15. 00 NONE $40.00 NONE
(per animal
for 4 up)
11-15 ANIMALS NONE NONE $60.00 NONE
16-20 ANIMALS NONE NONE $60. 00 NONE
21 UP ANIMALS NONE NONE $80. 00 NONE
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 4.
REDUCED RATES FOR MULTIPLE ANIMALS
ORANGE
PROPOSED FEES OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3
6-10 ANIMALS $50.00 $60.00 $75.00
11-15 ANIMALS $100. 00 $120.00 $150 .00
16-20 ANIMALS $150. 00 $180.00 $225.00
21 UP ANIMALS $200. 00 $252 .00 $315.00
6
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 5.
SUMMARY OF OPTIONS
CURRENT OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3
$5 - $10 $6 - $12 $5 - $15
DOGS
Sterile $26,400 $24,550 $29,460 $24 ,550
Unsterile $26,400 $32, 740 $39,288 $49, 110
CATS
Sterile $11,320 $26, 785 $32, 142 $26, 785
Unsterile $4,320 $13, 390 $16,068 $20, 085
REDUCED RATES
Totals $6, 800 $8, 196 $10,245
TOTAL $68,640 $104,800 $125,760 $129,600
CURRENT REVENUE $68,640 -$68, 640 $68,640
NET GAIN $35,625 $56,514 $62, 135
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 6.
PROJECTED EXPENDITURES
YEAR 1 YEAR 2
6 MONTH 12 MONTH
SALARY AND
BENEFITS $13, 173 $26,345
OPERATING $2,554 $5, 109
CAPITAL $4,207
EQUIPMENT
SUBTOTAL $19,934 $31,454
CAPITAL $18,400
VEHICLE
TOTAL COST $38,334 $31,454
7
PROPOSAL TO FUND ANIMAL CONTROL POSITION
FIGURE 7 .
PROPOSED EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSE FEES
ORANGE ORANGE
DURHAM CHARLOTTE WAKE NEW HANOVER CURRENT PROPOSED
GUIDE/
ASSISTANCE EXEMPT EXEMPT $1 . 00 EXEMPT EXEMPT EXEMPT
DOGS IF ALTERED IF ALTERED
62 YEARS
EXEMPT EXEMPT NONE NONE NONE EXEMPT
IF ALTERED IF ALTERED
INCOME NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE
LEVEL
•
8
LESLIE J. MANN
369 ST. MARY'S ROAD
HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278
September 9, 1993
The Honorable Moses Carey, Jr.
The Honorable Stephen Halkiotis
The Honorable Verla Inko
The Honorable Don Willhoit
The Honorable Alice Gordon
Board of County Commissioners
200 S. Cameron Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear Commissioners:
I am writing in response to last week's article in the Chapel Hill Herald concerning a
proposed increase in the pet licensing fee. As the owner-of 12 pets, I wholeheartedly approve
of such an increase and hope that the Board will also approve such a measure.
On numerous occasions, I have witnessed firsthand the need for additional animal
control assistance. Director Elma Greene and her staff do excellent work in the community,
however, a band aid approach in this field is clearly not enough. If Orange County is ever
going to stay on top of the numerous neglect/abuse/licensing/stray pet, etc. problems, then you
are going to have to be proactive, not reactive. The hiring of additional staff is one move in
the right direction.
One move in the wrong direction, however, are comments like that of Commissioner
Halkiotis who was quoted as saying in the June 25, 1993 News & Observer: "We've got worse
things to worry about than another truck chasing another little dog down I-40." As a daily
weekday commuter to Raleigh, I was both insulted and disgusted to read such a comment.
Evidently Commissioner Halkiotis is not aware of the numbers of "little dogs" that end up in
the middle of or parallel with I-40.
During a two week period last month, I saw two dogs in the median of the highway
and one running along the shoulder. In one case during morning rush hour, I could tell for
almost a half a mile that there was a dog in the median waiting to cross my direction of traffic.
I was in the fast lane and began tapping my breaks to let cars behind me know that we were
approaching a hazardous situation. Just before I reached the dog, he ran into traffic. Aside
from the fact that this dog was killed before me and I am reminded of it every day I drive to
work, there was nearly a chain reaction accident of cars braking on the highway.
In the other case when the dog was in the median of the highway, a number of people
had pulled over to try catch the dog. One of the men began walking onto the eastbound lane of
the highway to get traffic to come to a standstill so that they could herald the dog to one side
of the highway. The dog ran into the woods and was never caught.
9
Board of County Commissioners
September 9, 1993 - -
Page Two
You may see a dog on the highway and view it as an animal control problem, but I
hope these two different examples will reinforce the fact that they pose a serious hazard to the
human population. We need to have professional animal control staff available to react to
these calls as well as be a proactive force with enforcement.
I would like to hear from any of you if you are unable to support the increased
licensing fee and why. Please give me the courtesy of a response.
Based upon my knowledge of the animal community at-large, most responsible pet
owners, like myself, will support this increase. It is the irresponsible ones who will be your
most vocal critics. We definitely need additional animal control assistance in Orange County.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
/s/
Leslie J. Mann
/1rn
Enclosures (2)
cc: Health Services Director Dan Reimer
County Manager Dan Link
•
Animal intruders prompt n€7 rabies warnings ' -~ 10
•
' BY NOAH BARTOLUCCI humans and animals, Sanford On Thursday, a resident of Carr
STAFF WRITER said. But if a p'„rson is treated Street called police after spotting
raccoon and an.
CHAPEL Hill — A within 20 days of being infected, a raccoon in her house. Officers
there s a strong chance of recov- chased it out of the house with a
opossum wandered into a book ery,she said. broom,police reports said. No one
store and a house in separate was injured in the incidents.
''''t incidents last week, prompting "Bites can be serious," Sanford
1'. wildlife experts to repeat rabies said. "Even if the animal doesn't Sanford said that rabies is most
t warnings. . have rabies, it could still have a commonly found in raccoons, fox
-
l es and skunks. Because the ani-
This area is rich in wildlife and bacterial infection."
people don't realize how On Wednesday, an opossum mans are nocturnal, they rarely
active that wildlife is," said Pat entered Internationalist Books by bother . people. But Sanford
A Sanford, executive director of the climbing through the attic. Dawn stressed that children and pets.
Orange County Animal Protection Pomento, co-manager of the should be kept away from them. , .
Society. - store, said she opened the shop If a wild animal gets into the,.
y' house, she said, the smartest
and found items strewn about.
•;) to Sanford, rabies "Tapes and compact discs were thing to do is open the doors and
cases have increased in recent overturned, and there were foot- windows. Usually, . the animal .
yyears -in the Northeast United prints everywhere — even on the leaves on its own.
.'' States. No rabies cases have been "But always call animal con
computer, Pomento said. y
Oreported in Orange County since "There was a definite gamy trol,'l.Sanford said. "A cornered:;
1954.But last year, Durham Coun- - smell." animal can be dangerous."
ty Animal Control trapped a rabid . Animal control officers set a The Orange County Animal Proi.
fox. And in A4 offi of this year trap and caught the opossum tection Society will hold a rabies
Wake County officials reported Wednesday night. It.was the sec- information and vaccination din-
k that a cat had the disease. and opossum captured in the store is Aug. 29 at 1
p:m. in Canboro
Rabies is almost always fatal to in as many weeks, Pomento said.- Park. • -
-
:
C� RE ibil
1 . A story in the local •
section Monday gave the
t
incorrect location of
IMount McKinley, a •'..
1 mountain in Alaska.- '
1 Based on inaccurate `.
information provided by • :
the Orange County Animal:,.-
Protection Society, a story:r
in Sunday's North "
Carolina section -.
incorrectly stated the
number of cats that had : -
contracted rabies in Wake -:
County and the length of
the incubation period for .-
the disease. No animals .
have contracted rabies in
Wake County since 1955. .1
. The incubation period can
be as short as 10 days after
being bitten by a rabid
animal,-so people need to
i start treatment as soon as
possible.
9-ai r3
DOGS & CATS HANDLED DOGS & CATS LICENSED
BY COUNTY ANIMAL OFFICERS FY 91-92
DOGS DOGS
1,513 9.817
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\1 \\M
\\\\\\\\\\\\\V
CATS CATS
1,119 6,293
DOGS LICENSED FY 91 - 92 CATS LICENSED FY 91 - 92
STERILIZED-UNSTERILIZED STERILIZED-UNSTERILIZED
STERILIZED DOGS
STERILI ZED CATS
\\V '1\NV
\ UNSTERILIZED CATS
\\\\\\\\\\\b 757
UNSTERILIZED DOGS
ANIMALS IMPOUNDED
SOURCE: COUNTY & HILLSBOROUGH
Thousands
5
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'':%iii"=ri"., ;
riISSS:2:2I:2SR
:`'•'' 'r'?''.• 12:22:2:22:S:::::,::2
1
— \\\,\\ sous i: .–.__._-�__..._...
-1 u:u1
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0
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
Ell 87-88 ® 88-89 P.7.1 89-90 EN 90-91
Mill 91-92 = 92-93
YOUNG ANIMAL ADMISSIONS
PUPPIES & KITTENS
2000
1500 •._ .............W__. .-.._�.,_.....__-_-_��_�_�...__• .�•._ _.M._.-...M,_._,...._____,_. •_ .....__•__.......•w _._ ,-.
1 2111; . w::::::::::::ii:;:w.::
1000 .�'_.___-'__. .::•`:,;:;:;? .;; -...._.__... ;.??:ir•:>:,:: ...w._•____,..�._.
:ii:::i;;}i;: J5i i:;ii:';i:J;;i:;
.:.:.,...:.:....,..:„..::::
............:::::,....:....
iyi•ii};:}}::1
,_:. \ ,500 .---- :(::::::;:::::::::::::.::::::::,::::;:::::;:::;Ili::::::,:::::::::::::::::;::::
.'•$:•:i}iir Vii:{{
, .„ , .
:?:?:{ :::::, {i}:>:t}iii:•
- iiiii.
X ,:.:.:.:.:.:.:.::....:.:.:.:,
0
PUPPIES KITTENS
® FY 90-91 N\\\\\\ FY 91-92 € <',1 FY 92-93
ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES
COUNTY OFFICE WORKLOAD
Thousands
BO
s•.:s
30
ii
t % ; S'.\;
i" f jag
s.
ss:
0
ANIMAL CONTROL
iii P'Y 88-89 ® FY 89-90 Mil F1'90-91 F'Y 91-92
FY 92-99 n PRO.] 99-94 Mi PRO.] 94-95
ORANGE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICE ACTIVITES
PROD. PROD.
WORKLOAD DATA — FY 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95
ANIMALS HANDLED 2733 2739 2628 2926 3114 3243 4230
RABIES CONTROL 10172 10685 11657 11678 12857 13360 14436
LICENSING 9649 11095 15420 15910 17844 16000 16000
ANIMAL CRUELTY 74 180 242 252 433 272 422
ENFORCEMENT/911 5679 6630 9183 10479 13022 15416 19193
EDUCATION 0 8 54 69 34 200 240
TOTAL 28307 31337 39184 41314 47304 47443 54521
,401W- 7-27-
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P.O. Box 8181
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.
27278
Moses Carey,Jr. 732-8181
Alice M. Gordon 968-4501
Stephen H. Halkiotis 688-7331
Verla C. Insko 227-2031
Don Willhoit 644-3004 (Fax)
MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk
DATE: September 21, 1993
RE: TELEPHONE CALL FROM VICTOR RECONDO
I received a call yesterday from Mr. Victor Recondo. He
enthusiastically endorsed the recommendation for an additional
Animal Control position. He feels that with adequate staff, Animal
Control could do a better job of enforcement. He personally knows
of breeding kennels which are not licensed and dogs which do not
have dog tags. He feels that Animal Control must have the staff to
follow up on calls and complaints they receive in a timely manner.
He expressed his concern that three of the Commissioners
voted against this position at budget time He feels that this
position is important for the safety of the citizens in the county.
He feels that this is not a matter of pressure but a matter of
morality of our leaders in this community.
fs
Mr. Recondo explained that he is a concert pianist and lives
in Orange County. He asked that the Board support this position.
YOU COUNT IN ORANGE COUNTY I �~