ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Corporation Counsel with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 4 of the CODE of the City of Peoria, Regarding ANIMAL REDEMPTION and ADOPTION FEES.
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Peoria's Municipal Code Section 4-58 proscribes specific fees for the redemption and adoption of dogs and cats that have been impounded. The City's Municipal Code Section 4-25 further provides the redemption fees for animals other than dogs and cats which have been impounded. These redemption and adoption fees principally relate to and affect the operations of the Peoria County Animal Protection Services (hereinafter "PCAPS").
PCAPS has requested that the City rescind its codified animal redemption and adoption fees. In lieu of the codified City fees, the City will defer to Peoria County to set the redemption and adoption fees by County Ordinance. The proposed fee structure will grant the County greater flexibility to set fees, including ensuring uniformity between the City and County. The County, as the operator of PCAPS, is appropriately positioned to determine redemption and adoption fees.
The proposed ordinance will also create a new fee waiver program. The existing redemption and adoption ordinances do not provide for any waiver of requisite fees. This ordinance would establish criteria for PCAPS to waive fees under limited circumstances based upon specific criteria, including the applicant's household composition, receipt of need-based public benefits, income, expenses, nonexempt assets, and any history of violations of this chapter relating to animals.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: None.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The City will rescind its codified redemption and adoption fees, deferring to the County to set them, and create a new fee waiver.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The City will maintain its existing codified redemption and adoption fees and no fee waiver will be implemented.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
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