TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution providing for a 60-day temporary amnesty program waiving late penalty fees for pet licenses for residents of Community Development Block Grant-designated areas;
Request City Attorney to draft a resolution providing for a 60-day temporary waiver on new pet license fees for residents of Community Development Block Grant-designated areas; and
Request City Manager to work with City staff to investigate the feasibility of utilizing available funding sources as potential offsets for any loss of revenue resulting from the temporary amnesty program and pet license fee waiver.
DISCUSSION
BACKGROUND:
In the City of Long Beach, pet owners responsible for dogs and cats over the age of four months old are required to obtain an annual pet license, which the pet must carry via a collar or microchip implant. This measure is taken to ensure household pets throughout the City are altered (spayed or neutered) and vaccinated against rabies as, except for certain exceptions, only these animals can be licensed. Other benefits of pet licensing include higher odds of reunification if the pet becomes lost, a 10-day window of care offered by Animal Care Services for the lost animal, and protection from further fines associated with unlicensed animals. The current license fees for dogs and cats are $28 and $12, respectively. The penalty fee for an expired license adds $15 to the aforementioned annual license fee.
The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), supports cities throughout the country to support the development of viable urban communities. The CDBG program aims to improve the local housing stock, create suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals. Per HUD, “low and moderate income” refers to households whose incomes do not exceed 80% of the county median income, ...
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