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12. DANGEROUS DOGS — INVESTIGATION OF RELATED COSTS OF REQUIRED ACTIVITIES The Board reviewed a Memorandum of April 11, 1997: TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM : Terrence P. O'Brien, Assistant CountyAttorneg��{� Doug Wright, Director of Emergency Services t DATE: April 11, 1997 SUBJECT: DANGEROUS DOGS INVESTIGATION RELATED COSTS OF REQUIRED ACTIVITIES The Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of April 1, 1997 instructed the staff to calculate the costs for administering the "Dangerous Doge requirements as set forth in the Indian River County Code. Attached as Exhibit "A" is a conservative estimate of the cost to the County with respect to investigating and administering dangerous dogs requirements. The initial cost depends upon the action of the owner. The possible steps are as follows: 1. Owner accepts the decision of the Animal Control Director (Steps 1-7 Ex. A) costs $290. Plus Steps 12 & 13 Ex. A $110. Total $400. 2. Owner appeals decision of Animal Control Director to Director of Emergency Services (Steps 1-10 Ex. A). Costs $715 plus Steps 12 & 13 of Ex. A $110. Total costs $825. 3. Owner appeals decision of Director of Emergency Services to County Court (Steps 1-11) cost $890 plus steps 12 & 13 of Ex. A $110. Total cost $1000. Thereafter a yearly registration and verification will be required. Steps 12 & 13 Ex. A $110. The "Dangerous Dog" when impounded under Step 3 of Ex. A will not be released to the owner until a final determination has been made as to the status of the dog. Further, the animal shall not be released until all costs have been paid including the cost of boarding the animal and all requirements have been completed and verified by the animal control director. If at any step in the process the dog is determined not to be dangerous there will be no cost to the owner. If the Board agrees with the above approach a date for a public hearing of the attached ordinance should be set. If the ordinance is adopted then the attached proposed Resolution should be considered for adoption. Commissioner Adams felt the Animal Control reimbursement funds were not high enough, and Emergency Services Director Doug Wright said that staff had tried to keep the fees down to the basic minimum costs. Commissioner Adams appreciated staffs efforts to keep the charges low but thought the fees should cover all of the costs involved. Commissioner Macht felt a message needs to be sent that the Department is going to cover their costs by taking the burden from the taxpayer and placing it where it belongs, with the owners of the animals involved. MAY 69 1997 109