Ordinance - 2059ORDINANCE NO. 2059
AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
EXTENDING INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 2045
ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON KEEPING WILD
ANIMALS WITHIN THE CITY
The City Council of the City of West Covina does ordain as follows:
1. Findings. 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 stab 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.
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,
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.
Interim Urgency Ordinance No.2059
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b) This moratorium shall not apply to any circus or show involving the
temporary exhibition of wild animals when otherwise permitted under 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 one (1)
year 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 271h day of September, 2000.
I
Mayor tee qerfert
Attest � �
Gity Clerk Janes Berry
I hereby certify that the forgoing urgency ordinance was introduced and adopted by the
City Council of the City of West Covina at a regular meeting thereof held on the 27s' day of
September, 2000, by the following vote of the Council:
AYES: Howard, Melendez, Wong, Herfert
NOES: Touhey
ABSENT: None
Approved as to form:
Ci y Attorney Arnol Alvarez-Glasman
City Clerk Janet Berry