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West Linn adopts ordinance limiting wildlife feeding after council cites public‑nuisance incidents
Summary
The council unanimously adopted Ordinance 17-56, updating the municipal code to prohibit attracting or feeding wild animals when the activity creates a public nuisance or health hazard; enforcement emphasizes education before penalties.
The West Linn City Council on Feb. 10 unanimously adopted Ordinance 17-56, which amends the municipal code to prohibit attracting or feeding wild animals when the conduct rises to a level the city defines as a public nuisance or public-health concern.
Police and code staff presented the ordinance to council after a period of community input. West Linn Police Chief (presenting) described the problem as recurring situations in which intentional feeding attracted wildlife — including skunks — that created repeated public‑health and nuisance calls. “It’s not just a prohibition on feeding animals or birds. It has to rise to the level of creating a nuisance public nuisance or health standard for the surrounding properties,” the chief said during the discussion.
Councilors said the revised ordinance is aimed at addressing repeated, documented nuisance problems rather than placing a blanket ban on common, low‑impact activities (for example, bird feeding). The code adds procedures for handling complaints, a focus on education and warnings before enforcement action, and a mechanism for abatement where a property owner fails to remedy a public-health threat.
Resident speakers argued both for and against a formal ordinance. Anthony Braco, speaking for the Robinwood neighborhood in public comment, noted neighborhood interest in the issue and urged measured enforcement; another resident questioned whether existing nuisance and trash laws already covered some of the conduct cited by police.
Councilors moved the ordinance through both first and second readings at the same meeting; both votes were unanimous. Council members said they view the measure as a limited public‑safety tool that should not criminalize ordinary, responsible wildlife feeding but will give staff clearer authority to respond to repeated and hazardous situations.
The ordinance will be codified in the West Linn Municipal Code and implemented by the police and code enforcement teams with an education-first approach; penalties and abatement steps are available when warnings do not resolve repeated nuisance conditions.
