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RECESS with the same Councilmen present. At 9:30 p.m. Mayor Garthe recessed the meeting; at 9:38 p.m. it was reconvened DOG LICENSE FEES AND THE Mr. Kenneth R. Beko PROPOSED LICENSING OF CATS of 3413 South Olive Street, objected to the increased dog license fees and suggested that stray cats are just as much of a problem to the citizens; and that if the County can run a voluntary cat licensing program, he doesn't see why the City can't. Larry Gentry, 1831 West 19th Street, stated that he had no objection to the increased pet owner fees, but that the notice said that the fee would be $5.00 more if the animal had not been neutered or spayed; that the animal must be licensed at four months of age, but that he could not find a veterinarian who would alter an animal before six months of age and some who preferred nine months of age; and that he would be required to pay a penalty for something he ?~? could not get done. !? Council referred the matter to Staff for report and re- commendation by unanimous informal agreement. CA 65 PUBLIC HEARING The Mayor announced ORDINANCE NS-1263 that the matter of a UTILITY USERS TAX utility users tax had previously been moved to the evening agenda to allow for comments from the audience and he thereupon opened the meeting fore, public hearing. Mr. Wayne Rash, 522 West First Street~, said that a new general tax is always a perilous step becaus~ it sets a precedent; that this is not the time for a new ~general tax; that a property tax increase would be prefdrable to the new utility users tax; that he sympathizes with the City's budget problems and that he suggests as an alternative proposal, another $100,000 cut in minor items from the operating budgets of 1976 and ~7 and consideration ~£ a 31 cent increase in the property tax for 1976, increased~to 36 cents the next year, plus a maxi~k~n $ percent increas~e)in salaries for City em- ployees ne~xt~l~ear. He suggested~ further that the City lobby the State le~slature for a "City Tippler Tax". Mr. Billy C. Hall; City Center Association, advised Council of the Association's opposition to a utility users tax; that they are in favor of the crime abatement program, but would prefer to fund it through additional property taxes. Councilman Ward stated that for him, in times of recession and high unemployment, it is difficult to consider new and higher taxes, but that newt.revenues are necessary to pay for the near 100 new policemen that the City needs; that the most equitable method to all categories of citizens and business people in the community to share in the cost of crime pre- vention would be the utility users tax; and that an advantage would be user tax control through controlled utilities usage. Councilman Yamamoto agreed with Councilman Ward's comments. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 306 JULY 14, 1975