Ordinance - 2045ORDINANCE NO. 2045
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA EXTENDING
INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2044
ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON KEEPING WILD
• ANIMALS WITHIN THE CITY.
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain as follows:
1. Findines. The City Council finds as follows:
a) That the City now has become an urbanized residential area; and
b) That current ordinances allowing the keeping of two wild but not
dangerous animals at one residence with a permit appear to be inconsistent
with urban, residential property uses;
c) That experts agree, as set out in the record, that wild animals generally
should not be household pets kept in a residential area but should be in a
natural setting with other animals;
d) That there have been a number of incidents in West Covina within the past
year where the presence of wild animals posed a health and safety
problem.
e) That this issue requires study and review by staff and this Council to craft
a permanent ordinance dealing with wild animals within the City;
f) That during the study period an interim moratorium on keeping certain
wild animals within the City is appropriate to prevent them from entering
residential zones of the City if they eventually will not be allowed within
West Covina or if they will be allowed subject to specific conditions;
g) That the City may adopt regulations regarding wild animals stricter than
those in the State Fish and Game Code; and
h) That this interim urgency ordinance is needed to preserve the health,
safety, and welfare of West Covina citizens as well as that of wild
animals.
i) On November 2, 1999, the City Council adopted Interim Urgency
Ordinance No. 2044, establishing a moratorium on the keeping of certain
wild animals for a period of 45 days.
j) On November 24, 1999, the City issued a report at least ten days prior to
the expiration of the interim urgency ordinance describing the measures
taken to alleviate the condition which led to the adoption of the ordinance
as required pursuant to Government Code Section No. 65858(d).
k) The City Council intends to adopt an extension of Interim Urgency
Ordinance No. 2044 for a period of up to 10 months and 15 days pursuant
• to the provisions of Government Code Section No. 65858.
1) The City Council did, on the 7°i day of December, 1999, conduct a duly
advertised public hearing as prescribed by law to consider the extension of
Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 2044.
2. Moratorium on Wild Animals.
a) Notwithstanding West Covina Municipal Code Section 6-4, or any other
provision of the West Covina Municipal Code ("Code") to the contrary,
and except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 4 of this ordinance, no wild
animal as defined herein shall be brought into, kept, harbored, possessed,
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.
Wild Animal Moratorium
December 7, 1999 — Page 2 .
liberated, or maintained in any residential zone within the City of West
Covina during the term of this ordinance and any extension thereof.
3. Definitions.
a) As used herein "animal" and "wild animal" have the same meaning as in
• Code Section 6-1 and shall include venomous or poisonous snakes or
reptiles, but shall not include birds or miniature pot bellied pigs kept as set
in Chapter 6, Article XII, Division 17 of the Code.
4. Exceptions.
a) This moratorium shall not apply to the transportation of a wild animal
through the City if adequate and secure safeguards are taken to prevent the
animal's escape and to protect the public.
b) This moratorium shall not apply to any circus or show involving the
temporary exhibition of wild animals when otherwise permitted raider this
Code.
c) This moratorium shall not apply to ongoing wild animal rescue, animal
offspring born during this time, permitted animals currently under Section
6-4, or animals under four months of age.
5. Effective Date/Term. This ordinance shall be effective immediately for up to 10
months and 15 days unless extended before that time as provided by Government
Code Section 65858.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain as
follows:
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 7'h day of December, 1999.
ayor
ATTEST:
` City Clerk(/
I hereby certify that the forgoing Ordinance was duly adopted by the City Council of the
City of West Covina at a regular meeting thereof held on the 7"' day of December, 1999, by the
following vote for the Council:
AYES: Herfert, Melendez, Touhey, Wong, Howard
NOES: None
• ABSENT: None
City Cler
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
`-'pity Attorney -I U
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\wild.animal.mor..doc