Committee reviews code enforcement process, asks staff to study urban animal‑feeding rules after residents report rats and deer feeding

Wausau’s inspection staff reviewed the city’s property code‑enforcement process on Sept. 15 and the Public Health and Safety Committee asked staff to review animal‑feeding regulations following resident reports that ground feeding of deer has led to a rat problem in parts of the city.

Bill, an inspection staff member, told the committee that the most common violations are tall grass, exterior yard conditions and vehicles; staff now use a software system to log complaints, automatically workflow inspections and send standardized notice letters. Bill said about 97% of cases are inspected within two days of complaint intake and that the office issues roughly 5,000 letters a year, with most cases self‑correcting after the first notice. He said the office issued about 360 citations last year, and 14 summons/complaints; raze orders occur roughly three to four times per year.

Committee members said residents frequently assume the city can quickly abate property problems; staff emphasized that formal abatement of major structural problems or salvage vehicles often requires circuit court authority and is a much longer process than a municipal citation. Bill described the typical workflow: complaint intake, an inspector visit and a written notice with a five‑day compliance period (mail time can add several days), reinspection and then a second notice and citation if noncompliant.

During public discussion, Committee member Becky raised a sustained problem in the Riverview neighborhood where residents reported people placing buckets of grain on the ground to feed deer; she said the feeding has coincided with an increase in rats and that some homeowners reported spending $5,000–$10,000 to remediate foundation infestations. The committee reported DNR contact and prior court cases involving feeding. Staff and elected members said there may be a policy gap between state DNR enforcement and local municipal authority for urban feeding situations.

The committee asked staff to review Wausau’s current urban‑feeding ordinance and related enforcement tools, and to return with recommended code changes if necessary. Members discussed options such as limiting ground feeding, restricting feeding to raised feeders or expanding an existing urban‑feeding ban to cover additional species. The committee asked staff to bring back a focused agenda item in the coming months so policies can be in place before spring when visibility of outdoor violations typically increases.

The presentation also covered education and outreach: staff said they distribute informational packets, meet with landlords and apartment associations and try to keep enforcement nonconfrontational. Committee members emphasized the role of neighborhood reporting and asked residents to provide specific addresses when filing complaints to help inspectors access rear yards and alleys for evidence.

The committee agreed by consensus to direct staff to research the urban‑feeding rules, identify any enforcement gaps, and prepare recommended code amendments or policy options for a future meeting.