HomeMy WebLinkAboutH Item - Direct the City Attorney to Draft an Ordinance BannCITY OF HUNTINGTON BE - ICH-
City Council Interoffice Communicati,, iANTINGFON si.Acr;, CA
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To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Connie Boardman, City Council Member tA
Date: April 26, 2004
Subject: H-ITEM FOR MAY 3, 2004, CITY COUNCIL MEETING —
ORDINANCE TO BAN THE USE OFAVITROL
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
In recent weeks concerned residents contacted the Council over the use of the bird
poison Avitrol by a concessionaire in Central Park. This poison, while usually used to
kill pigeons as was intended in this case, can also be consumed by other birds that eat
the poisoned bait.
Central Park is a very important bird area to migratory birds and attracts birders from all
over the world. In addition, the Friends of Shipley Nature Center are in the process of
restoring the Shipley Nature Center to make it even more attractive to birds. In light of
this, I was very surprised to find out that Avitrol is being used to poison birds at a facility
in the park.
I can understand the desire to control pigeons in some areas of the park, but there are
effective, non -lethal ways to discourage pigeons from roosting and nesting that don't
impact other bird species.
Currently, the use of Avitrol is legal in the city of Huntington Beach and there is nothing
to prevent the use of it again. This poison, to my knowledge, has been banned in New
York City; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Boulder, Colorado. I request the Council approve
the recommended action below to ban the use of Avitrol in Huntington Beach.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
To direct the city attorney to draft an ordinance banning the use of the bird poison
Avitrol in the City of Huntington Beach.
xc: Bill Workman
Connie Brockway
Robert Beardsley