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Committee debates whether to limit outdoor feeding of wildlife after neighborhood complaints
Summary
Committee members heard complaints about residents feeding large numbers of cats and other wildlife; some members favored education while others viewed an ordinance requiring contained feeding as government overreach. No ordinance was adopted.
The committee discussed repeated neighborhood complaints about residents leaving food outdoors that attracts cats, skunks, raccoons and deer. Staff described one case in which a resident had many cats and required multiple citations; that case led to a special court session.
Staff recommended an education-first approach, explaining to residents how feeding can harm wildlife and create public-health risks. One committee member described backyard bird feeders and objected to a broad containment requirement as government overreach. The committee did not adopt an ordinance and took no action; members asked staff to continue education and handle cases individually when they pose public-health or nuisance issues.
