DIDSBURY - Town council has given third reading to the 2021-10 Animal Control Rates Bylaw that increases cat and dog licence fees in town.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting following second reading later last month.
The Town of Didsbury’s current annual revenue from animal licence fees is approximately $15,000. Administration had recommended increasing the rates, which have remained unchanged since 2014.
Under the updated Didsbury bylaw a dog or cat licence for an intact male/female increases from $35 to $40 per year, a dog or cat licence for an altered male/female increases from $15 to $20.
Replacement tags cost $6, plus GST, and the impoundment fee is $70 per day.
The early payment incentive rate (in January) includes the altered male/female cat and dog rate of $15 and intact male/female cat and dog rate of $35. The new resident and/or new pet rate are the same.
In a briefing note to council, administration said earlier that a review of other municipalities in the district found that licensing fees vary widely depending on the community.
In a related move at the recent council meeting, council passed a motion adding a municipal policing priority of enforcement of pet owners’ responsibilities, and a motion to refer the animal control bylaws to the policy and governance committee for review and improvement, and that it be made a priority in early 2022.
In other news from the Dec. 14 meeting, councillors approved a change to the Didsbury Municipal Library Board bylaw No. 2020-12 to allow the appointment of a member of Mountain View County to the board.
The updated bylaw now reads that the 10-member library board will “include one member from the Town of Didsbury council and one member appointed by Mountain View County.”
At its recent organizational meeting, Mountain View County prioritized appointed public members over elected officials to local library boards, council heard.
“The rationale behind this is to provide additional opportunities for their residents to engage and participate in local government,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“If the county lacks citizen applications, they will appoint an elected official for consideration to be added to the library board.”
