ORDINANCE NO. BL2013-452

An ordinance amending Title 8, Chapter 8.04 of the Metropolitan Code pertaining to the current fee schedule.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Code has set certain fees at a specified amount and has provided other fees to be set by the current fee schedule which must be approved by the Board of Health and the Metropolitan Council; and

WHEREAS, it is more efficient for the Metropolitan Government and the general public to have these two types of fees set in the same manner and maintained through a designated schedule; and

WHEREAS, the Metro Public Health Department wishes to have the ability to charge reduced adoption fees to certified organizations and reduce or waive fees where dogs are impounded and/or boarded through no fault of the owner.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Section 08.04.040 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting Subsection A in its entirety and replacing it with the following new language:
“A. Any person owning, keeping or harboring on the premises where they reside, any dog six months of age or over, shall pay to the chief medical director a fee in accordance with the current fee schedule established by Section 8.04.130(A) for each dog owned, kept or harbored. All licenses issued shall be valid for twelve months and shall expire on the last day of the month issued of the following year.”

Section 2. That Section 08.04.040 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting Subsection B(1) in its entirety and replacing it with the following new language:
“B. 1. Persons operating kennels where dogs are bred for sale shall not be required to pay the above license fee, but in lieu thereof shall pay a license fee as kennel keeper based upon the number of dogs kept by the kennel in accordance with the current fee schedule established by Section 8.04.130(A).”

Section 3. That Section 08.04.070 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following new language:
“Dog license tags issued pursuant to this chapter shall be supplied by the department of health, to be made available in its budget, out of the revenues of the metropolitan government. It shall be the duty of the owner to attach such license tag to a collar which shall be worn at all times by each dog licensed. In the event of the loss of such license tag, the department of health shall issue a duplicate tag, for which the owner shall pay a fee in accordance with the current fee schedule established by Section 8.04.130(A), and such duplicate tags shall be forthwith attached to the dog collar and at all times worn thereon; provided, that the collar may be removed in cases of hunting dogs while in chase or while in training. A dog tag shall not be transferable from one dog to another. No refunds shall be made on any dog license fee.”

Section 4. That Section 08.04.130 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following as a new sentence at the end of Subsection A:
“The fee schedule may also set forth amounts to be charged for other incidental costs, such as fees for microchips.”

Section 5. That Section 08.04.130 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following as a new Subsection E:
“E. The director of health is given the discretion to waive a portion or all of the fees imposed pursuant to this Section 8.04.130 when the dog has been impounded through no fault of the owner as determined by the director of health.”

Section 6. That Section 08.04.140 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding the following as a new Subsection D:
“D. The department of health is authorized to charge a reduced adoption fee described in this section for organizations that have applied for and received certification under health department policy.’’

Section 7. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its final passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Karen Bennett, Anthony Davis

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	May 7, 2013
Passed First Reading:	May 7, 2013
Referred to:	Budget & Finance Committee Health, Hospitals and Social Services Committee
Passed Second Reading:	May 21, 2013
Passed Third Reading:	June 4, 2013
Approved:	June 6, 2013
By: