GLENDALE : Council OKs Hikes in Animal License Fees

Pet owners in Glendale will have to pay higher animal license fees and fines next month--the first such hike in eight years, city officials said Tuesday.

The Glendale City Council voted unanimously to approve the increases proposed by Police Chief James E. Anthony.

Those who fail to obtain a dog license from the city will have to pay a $20 fine, a sharp jump from the present fine of $3. Instead of paying $7.50 a year for a license for neutered dogs, owners will pay the new annual fee of $10. Licenses for dogs that are not neutered will jump from $15 to $20.

Other changes include the onetime horse license charge, which will go from $25 to $100.

A report by the police chief, which was reviewed by council members, showed that the city could generate $25,000 a year in additional revenue.

No figures were available Tuesday on how many licenses have been issued. But Glendale Humane Society officials said as many as 1,200 unlicensed dogs are out on the streets.

“I would say half of our contacts would turn up an unlicensed dog,” said Mike Peatrowsky, director of the Humane Society.

In other action, council members approved spending $210,000 for 12 new police patrol vehicles. The cars will replace 12 older vehicles, some with as many as 100,000 miles on them, Anthony said.

He said new cars are necessary for officer safety. The department has a total of 40 patrol units.

“The real issue to me was . . . the welfare of my officers as they are doing their duty,” Anthony said.

Police plan to sell the older vehicles and hope to raise about $20,000.

The council also authorized city staff to begin negotiations with a developer proposing to borrow $1.4 million from the city to renovate a city-owned parking structure as part of the Glendale Fashion Center renovation project.