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Astoria council amends and adopts ordinance banning feeding of certain wildlife
Summary
Council approved a second‑reading ordinance prohibiting feeding seabirds, waterfowl and other specified wildlife; council also approved a minor text amendment to pluralize 'opossum' to 'opossums'. The ordinance passed on a unanimous roll call vote.
At the Sept. 3 meeting the council completed a second reading and adopted an ordinance amending the Astoria City Code to prohibit feeding certain wildlife within city limits, citing concerns that feeding wildlife can create public‑safety hazards, encourage dependency, and bring animals into urban areas.
City Manager Spence explained the draft adds two explicit callouts (seabirds/waterfowl) and clarifies enforcement options so each violation can be a separate offense. During the reading Councilor Davis requested a textual correction, stating, "the plural of opossum is opossums," and the council voted to amend the ordinance accordingly. Councilor Brownson moved to adopt the amended ordinance; the motion passed on a roll call vote with Councilors Davis, Brownson, Adams, Hilton, and Mayor Fitzpatrick all voting aye.
The ordinance allows discretion in enforcement and creates a pathway for civil enforcement and municipal remedies; Finance Director Hillary Norton read the ordinance language during the meeting and staff said the city manager or designee would have authority to suspend or revoke licenses or pursue civil enforcement where appropriate.
Next steps: the adopted ordinance will be incorporated into the municipal code and enforcement language will be implemented by city staff per the amended text.
