Agenda - Council - 01/22/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CASE ANIMAL CONTROL CONTRACT CHANGE By: Police Chief Mike Auspos Background: Included in this case is a report titled "STATUS OF ANIMAL CONTROL IN RAMSEY". This study was done due to an announced increase in the Humane Society's contract price for contract year 1990 which began in August. This increase was at first anticipated to be quite large and was a result of the Humane Society's previous director's apparent failure to charge a rate schedule calculated to keep the organization in the black. The increase has not turned out to be as large as first thought, however, as a result of the announcement several communities began to re-examine their animal control efforts. In doing this for Ramsey, I have reached several conclusions. Conclusions: The options laid out in the attached report all have their pluses and minuses, as you will note. The Cadillac of systems, that being our own facility, is at this time, I believe, out of our reach and/or need. At such a time that the citizens demand a level of animal control services far beyond that now offered we should seriously consider this route. The joint powers arrangement with other Anoka County Communities would be very expensiye for the first ten years even though we would be building up an equity for the future. It is also a long way to drive for our future CSO's and citizens, being on the east side of Blaine. The two options stemming from private contractors are unacceptable. In one case the contractor did not supply further information after several requests and in the other, Ms. Kadlec, I am again concerned with distance as the location is Corcoran. This leaves the service that I am recommending which is the City of Anoka. I have worked with Captain Ed Wilberg of the Anoka Police Department and also Sergeant Tom Anderson. While they have not yet approached their City Council for approval of the concept, the Chief and City Manager have discussed it and their City Attorney has reviewed the contract. Sergeant Anderson and I have worked out the policy and procedures for their CSO's and our officers to follow. Using the Humane Society's billing since August 1, 1990 through November, 1990 and comparing the individual costs to the projected costs with Anoka, we would have saved $715.00 using Anoka. It appears that the joint powers group working on animal control in Anoka County is still intending to proceed and in my last conversation with Chief Nicholas from Blaine, it has a strong chance of becoming a reality. If this is the case, I believe that the Humane Society will have problems offering an animal control service to us. A principal benefit also of having Anoka perform this service is that we are adjacent to each other greatly reducing the travel time for our officers, future CSO's and citizens to get to the impound area. As to the hours of pick up, Anoka currently offers from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday with no weekend pick-up. Sergeant Anderson told me they plan to add one CSO, likely at contract time with Ramsey, if it comes about, and then increase the hours to include some Saturday and some evening hours during the week. Presently, the Humane Society picks up from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday and noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. There is one aspect of animal control costs which should be discussed at this time even though action would likely have to occur in a separate case as it involves amending the present dog ordinance. Our present ordinance levies a $50.00 fee for impoundment for the first pick up and $100.00 for the second impoundment in 12 months plus boarding costs. I find that this "fee"