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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 3, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. (p - q <br />SUBJECT: Animal Ordinance Civil Penalty and Fee Increases -Second Reading <br />DEPARTMENT: Animal Services & Budget <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) , -No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Animal Control Ordinance Amendments <br />Animal Control Collection Policy <br />Amendment <br />Proposed Public Relations Plan <br />Supplemental List of North Carolina <br />Counties: Civil Penalty/Fee Comparison <br />Letter to Kennel Owners <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Bob Marotto, Director, 968-2287 <br />Donna Coffey, Budget Director, 245-2151 <br />PURPOSE: To request that the Board of County Commissioners approve on second reading <br />the following:. <br />® the amendment of the County's Animal Ordinance to update select civil penalties; <br />® the amendment of the County's Animal Ordinance to change the designation of civil <br />penalty to "fee" in several instances; <br />• the amendment to the Animal Control Collection Policy as it pertains to the collection of <br />civil penalties and fees <br />• a public relations plan that informs the public of changes in the amounts of civil penalties <br />and fees. <br />The proposed effective date of these changes is July 1, 2008, allowing asix-month period of <br />education and public outreach prior to the effective date of the change. <br />BACKGROUND: This is a proposal to increase select civil penalties and redefine several as <br />fees for the County's Animal Ordinances. The increases were recommended by the County <br />Manager during the last budget cycle on a basis of recommendation by staff and the Animal <br />Services Advisory Board (ASAB). At that time, the BOCC asked that the recommended fine <br />increases be brought back to them with an accompanying public relations plan. <br />The proposed increases apply to ordinance violations including failure to vaccinate or license <br />pets, public nuisance and animal mistreatment. Recommended increases are based upon a <br />recent study conducted by Budget and Animal Services staff that evaluated other North <br />Carolina counties' ordinance fees in comparison with Orange County. It also shows historical <br />data on civil penalties in Orange County, which have not been updated since the 1994 -1995 <br />budget cycle. <br />