HomeMy WebLinkAboutCoyotes - Proposed Ordinance to prevent the feeding of coyotoA2 �
CITY OF HUNTINGT
City Council Interoffic Comm
To: Honorable Mayor and City Cou iller l5ers
From: Joe Carchio, City Council Me
Date: January 10, 2013
Subject: CITY COUNCIL ITEM FOR
MEETING — ORDINANCE T
NON -DOMESTIC ANIMALS
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
60)
ication
IY 22, 2093, CITY COUNCIL
THE FEEDING OF COYOTES,
?FOWL
During the past several years, the city has received an increasing number of complaints concerning coyote
sightings in the city. Coyotes have been observed in parks, residential neighborhoods, residential backyards
and on school campuses with children present. Family pets have been attacked and killed by coyotes,
sometimes in front of their terrified owners, and a number of speakers at City Council Meetings have spoken of
their concerns. The city has hosted community meetings concerning this problem and continues to work with
Orange County Animal Services and the Department of Fish and Game to inform and educate residents on the
issue of coyotes living in and near Huntington Beach.
The most recent community meeting was held at the Central Park Library on August 14, 2012. The meeting
was attended by over 300 residents. While there was a great deal of debate and discussion about how to
reduce the problem of coyotes living in an urban areas, there was one issue that nearly everyone agreed upon:
The growing number of complaints concerning coyotes in and near residential neighborhoods is partly the
result of people feeding non -domestic animals and waterfowl in parks and near their homes. Additionally,
some people leave unattended food for their pets outdoors which can attract wild animals.
As a reminder, at the November 19, 2012, City Council meeting, staff was directed to develop a
comprehensive brochure informing residents about the coyote population in Huntington Beach and how best to
deal with the problem. The brochure provides useful information to residents about what to do if a coyote is
encountered and discusses what to do to discourage them from coming into residential neighborhoods. The
brochures (56,000) will be inserted in the municipal utility bills throughout January and February 2013 and also
placed in community centers and library branches on a continual basis.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
In an effort to address this problem, I propose that the City Attorney and the Police Department draft an
ordinance stating that no person shall feed, or in any manner, provide food or cause to be fed any wildlife or
wild animal including, but not limited to, coyotes, foxes, opossums, raccoons, skunks, waterfowl and feral cats.
Additionally, no person shall leave unattended any food, garbage, etc. that attracts wildlife or waterfowl to a
particular location. Any person violating the ordinance would be guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in the
municipal code.
In addition, I would also propose that the appropriate signage be placed in city parks and other key locations
throughout the city to inform the public about this ordinance.
cc: Fred Wilson, City Manager Jennifer McGrath, City Attorney
Bob Hall, Deputy City Manager Ken Small, Chief of Police
Joan Flynn, City Clerk
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