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Council flags wording concerns in draft ordinance on harvesting wildlife in city limits
Summary
After a recent community report of a buck shot inside the city, Price council discussed a proposed ordinance on 'harvesting' wildlife, with the police chief and council members urging careful wording to avoid unintended effects on trapping, archery practice and pet-control methods.
Mayor Terry raised an agenda item on an ordinance described as prohibiting ‘‘harvesting wildlife in city limits’’ after recent community concern about a buck that had been shot last year. The mayor asked the police chief and council to consider wording carefully to avoid unintended outcomes.
Police Chief (S7) told the council that the language in the draft needs precision because different controls have different legal effects: hunting in city limits is a distinct issue from trapping or permitted archery practice. ‘‘I think it’s appropriate when we just gotta be cautious on how we word it because hunting in city limits would be one thing,’’ the chief said, adding that trapping language could unintentionally remove a tool used for cats or skunks. Council members and staff agreed they should refine the verbiage and circulate a revised draft.
Council members also discussed public reaction to wildlife encounters; one council member said the department fielded reports after a large buck walked close to people and was later shot. Members asked wildlife authorities for technical input and recommended that staff circulate suggested language so the council can avoid unintended consequences for youth archery practice and for animal-control methods that are currently lawful.
What’s next: staff and council agreed to work on alternate language, consult wildlife and legal staff as needed, and return a revised ordinance draft for council consideration and public review. No vote was taken.
