The Idaho Falls City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance that updates zoning-code definitions related to personal services and animal care and modifies rules for trash enclosures.

The changes clarify that grooming services may be distinguished from animal boarding (which has different, more intensive standards) and add gymnasiums and health centers to the personal-services definition to avoid ambiguous classifications for commercial businesses. Staff said the clarification arose after an animal groomer's request revealed the current definitions linked grooming to boarding in ways that prevented stand-alone grooming businesses from locating where retail personal services are allowed.

Trash-enclosure change: The ordinance also modifies screening and enclosure standards so that large commercial trash enclosures can be three-sided without a door, a change sanitation staff requested to avoid repeated handling on collection days. Councilors and staff said the change will ease operations for private businesses and the city's sanitation crews while preserving visual screening requirements.

The vote: Council approved the ordinance on a suspension of rules allowing immediate adoption and publication by summary.

Implementation: Staff said property owners may elect enclosures with doors if desired; otherwise three-sided enclosures located out of the front setback will meet the standard for collection operations.