ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Request from the City Manager to APPROVE an Intergovernmental Agreement between the CITY of PEORIA and the COUNTY of PEORIA for Full Service Animal Control Services at a rate of $2.10 per capita from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and $2.20 per capita from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
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BACKGROUND: Since May 1, 2010, the County of Peoria has provided animal control services to the City of Peoria through Peoria County Animal Protective Services (PCAPS). As part of the Agreement between the City and the County, the County will provide a number of services over and above state law:
Public Safety
• Require rabies vaccination and registration (state law)
• Quarantine biting animals (state law)
• Require animal bites to be reported (state law)
• Make determination of dangerous animals (state law)
• Prohibit animals at large
• Impound animals for attacking or intimidating people or other animals
• Impound animals for damaging property
• Investigate inhumane treatment of animals
• Investigate animal cruelty
Nuisance Abatement
• Require animals to have a collar and tag
• Prohibit abandonment of owned animals
• Confine female dogs and cats in heat
• Impound animals that cause unsanitary, dangerous, or offensive conditions
• Impound animals that chase vehicles
• Provide multiple pet license program
Animal Welfare
• Animal Welfare Reimburse livestock owners if animal (i.e. dog) kills livestock (state law)
• Provide spay and neuter education
• Provide public education on appropriate animal care
• Vaccinate animals to prevent disease
• Impound loose, stray, or abandoned animals
• Quarantine sick animals
Animal Shelter
• Offer animal adoption (state law)
• Microchip animals being adopted or redeemed to owner (state law)
• Euthanize unredeemed, unadopted, or unplaced animals (state law)
• Impound and redeem loose animals to owner
• Terminate and autopsy wild animals that bite
• Spay and neuter animals being adopted
• Euthanize diseased or injured animals
The County will respond to calls within the City limits, and where applicable pick up animals running at large. They shall handle after hour service requests within their established criteria. They shall impound all animals delivered to PCAPS by the CITY, notify the pet owners and may humanely euthanize or adopt animals after 3 days of impoundment. The County will provide the City with an annual report, and shall retain all fines, fees, boarding costs and medical fees.
The City shall continue to designate the County and PCAPS as the authorized delegates for purposes of enforcing the City’s Animal Control Ordinance. Any amendments to the ordinance would be shared with the County 30 days prior to adoption. The City retains one-third (1/3rd) ownership in the PCAPS facility at 2600 NE Perry.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The agreement would run from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2020. The per capita cost would be $2.10 per capita from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019 and $2.20 per capita from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The City population has declined since the last agreement, down to 112,833 in 2017 from 115,007 in 2010. Thus the annual contract cost will increase $7,040.30 for the first 12 months, and an additional $11,288.30 for the second year of the contract.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Initially, the City only utilized the basic animal control services contract from the County. After public outcry, the City reverted to the full service animal control services contract. Staff recommends this continue for 2018 and 2019.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The services will continue at the same levels.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City could negotiate a basic level of service with the County at a lower cost, which could result in more neighborhood complaints.
ALTERNATIVES: The alternative that the City could explore would be to hire animal control officers to enforce the City ordinances. However, by state law, the County is responsible for animal control services, while the City is allowed to perform this function. Based upon the City fiscal constraints, this is a high level of service for a very reasonable price.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Safe Peoria
2. Financially Sound City
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
2. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office