Rosenberg residents may soon be paying a steeper price for letting animals run loose, not obtaining the proper permits for residential projects, and false alarms to which police respond.

At a workshop Tuesday, City Council gave the nod to the suggested rate hikes, which means the proposals will be submitted for approval at an upcoming meeting.

Animal Control Supervisor Jackie Jurasek said Rosenberg charges much less than surrounding cities when it comes to impound, boarding, quarantine and tag fees, and suggested a raise in those rates might have people thinking twice about not supervising their animals.

“It’s going to make them think long and hard,” she said.

Councilwoman Susan Euton questioned whether a fee hike would lead to more people abandoning their pets, which would mean the animals would be euthanized if they’re not adopted out form the shelter.

But Jurasek said those who would abandon their pets over the fees would do so no matter what the fee. She also said the new rates should motivate people to pick up their animals sooner, rather than using the shelter as a boarding facility.

Current rates, which Jurasek said have not been raised in at least the past 11 years, are: $2 for tags; $3 a night for boarding; $5 for impounding; and $35 for a quarantined animal.

The proposed tag fees will increase to $5 for pets who have not been spayed or neutered, and decrease to $1 for those who have. Proof of the spay or neuter must be indicated on the animal’s vaccination certificate by the veterinarian who performed the procedure.

“It is an encouragement to get your animal fixed,” Jurasek said.

Proposed boarding fees are $15 per night, jumping to $25 a night for repeat offenders; and proposed impound fees will increase to $10 for the first time and $20 for repeat offenders.

The proposed quarantine rate is $50.

Permit violation fees

As for permit violation fees, building official Fernando Garcia said it’s time for a hike.

He said any property owner or builder who intends to construct, demolish or alter a building in the city must first obtain the required permit, whether the project is building, plumbing, mechanical or electrical in nature.

Permitting, he said, is how the government regulates construction and is intended to “safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of the public.”

Garcia said about 60 stop-work orders were issued for work being done without a permit. Such projects included re-roofing, plumbing, replacing siding, installing water heaters or air conditioners, and building storage sheds.

Permit violation fees currently start at $10, and the average is $30, which Garcia said is ineffective. About 90 percent of offenders are contractors, he said.

“The ones we’re trying to get at are contractors” who know the rules, said City Manager Jack Hamlett.

“We’re trying to get to the repeat offenders,” he added.

Garcia proposed first-time offenders be issued a stop-work order and be required to pay three times the permit fee. He suggested second-time offenders be charged a $100 administrative fee and required to purchase a permit. For third-time offenders, the administrative fee would increase to $200.

False alarm fees never have been raised

Police Chief Robert Gracia said fees for false alarms have not been raised since the city adopted its alarm system ordinance in 1990.

He said while there was a 4.6 percent decrease in false alarms from 2008 to 2009, there has been a 13.8 percent overall increase since 2005. There were 1,454 false alarms to which police responded last year.

Currently, the city does not charge a business or resident for the first four false alarms, but charges $50 for each one thereafter. There is also a $160 charge to anyone who intentionally falsely activates an alarm system.

Gracia suggested raising to $100 the fee for five or more false alarms and filing liens on delinquent accounts. He said as of the close of 2009, the city was owed $3,750 in delinquent accounts for false alarms.

Mayor Joe Gurecky suggested instigating a $25 registration or permit fee with an annual $15 renewal fee to keep track of facilities with alarm systems in the city, but Euton said such actions “would be excessive.”

Councilmen Dwayne Grigar, Joe Segura and Tom Suter liked the registration idea, but felt there should be no fee attached to it.

Councilman Juan Salazar agreed, but suggested trying Gracia’s proposal for a year; so Gracia will present his proposal for approval at a future meeting.