Despite concerns about a 14 percentincrease in the cost of animal control services, the Los AltosHills City Council last week approved a new fee structure agreementwith providers from the City of Palo Alto.
Palo Alto officials, who also provide animal control serviceson a contract basis to Los Altos and Mountain View, claimed thecosts reflected increased expenses in providing services. Butcouncil members balked at the proposed hikes and asked City ManagerJeff Peterson to investigate.
Peterson concluded the increases were justified. The major increaseis in the licensing of pets, roughly double the current fees.Pet licensing is offered for periods of one month up to 36-monthperiods. For up to six months, the cost of a new license willincrease from $10 to $20. For 13 months $24 to $32 and from 31to 36 months $44 to $50. If the pet is spayed or neutered, thelicense fee is reduced by half.
Under the new proposal, impounding of licensed dogs for the firsttime is $20, and unlicensed dogs $45. In addition, a $12 boardfee is charged for dogs and $8 for cats.
Council member Elayne Dauber said the fee structure was ridiculous.”I’m opposed to this fee scale because it’s too complex,”she said. “Let’s have a $15 license fee and be done withit. It’s too illogical.” The council approved the fee structureon a 3-1 vote with Dauber dissenting.
In a report to the town’s finance committee, Peterson said “TheCity of Los Altos staff and I have conveyed our concerns to theAnimal Control representatives at Palo Alto and I have inquiredabout the possibility of paring down the scope of animal servicesreceived.”
Fee increases are uniformly proposed for most of the servicesprovided the three cities, and staff in the other cities haverecommended fee increases. According to Animal Control personnel,none of the fees charged actually cover the cost of providingthe service because many services are subsidized by local agencies.
Peterson said an attempt to recover the full costs of the servicesprovided would likely increase noncompliance by citizens to paythe fees.
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