Enid commissioners table animal-impoundment code change after brief discussion; resident urges more animal-welfare staff

The Enid City Commission voted to table consideration of an ordinance that would amend the municipal code’s animal-impoundment language and fee schedule, saying they wanted additional research before taking action. The motion to table carried 7-0.

The ordinance at issue was described on the record as an amendment to the municipal code ("2024, Title 2, Finance and Taxation, Chapter 6, Fee Schedule, Article 9, Public Safety and Emergency Services, Section 2-6D-2, animal impoundment") to remove a reference to a suspense account and to align the code with governmental accounting standards. The commission did not debate the ordinance’s merits at length before voting to table it "to do a little bit more research." (Motion to table was made and seconded on the floor.)

The matter drew a related public comment later in the meeting. Terry Clark, of 1760 East Cherokee Avenue, urged the commission to expand Enid Animal Welfare’s staff so the department could reduce the number of stray animals and save more lives. "If animal welfare was expanded and more staff added to the payroll, there would be less strays on the street and more lives would be saved," Clark said during the one-minute public-comment slot.

The commission’s action on the ordinance was procedural: the item was postponed for further study rather than adopted or rejected. No new fee schedule or specific staffing changes were adopted at the meeting. The record indicates the tabling was intended to give staff and commissioners time to gather additional information before the commission takes a substantive vote.

Until the commission returns the ordinance to the agenda and votes on it, the current municipal code language and the existing Enid Animal Welfare staffing levels remain in effect.