Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Council adopts ordinance banning animals and unattended people on medians, lowers median fine after amendments
Summary
After public testimony split between animal-welfare and homeless-advocacy groups, the council adopted an ordinance that defines abandonment and prohibits unattended animals and people on medians; sponsors added amendments to reduce the median fine to $50 and to clarify alternatives for people who cannot pay.
The City Council on Dec. 10 adopted an ordinance amending Santa Fe’s animal code to define "abandonment," prohibit unattended animals and prohibit keeping animals on medians. Sponsors said the changes were prompted by animal-welfare and public-safety concerns.
Councilor Signe Lindell, a sponsor, said the primary motivation was animal welfare and public safety: “I don’t think a dog on a median is a proper place for a dog to be in the middle of traffic,” she said during the debate. Councilor Pilar Faulkner and others framed the item as a public‑safety and health measure.
Several nonprof…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
