Norris OKs ordinances on animal waste control, change of meeting time
Norris police will be able to cite pet walkers who don’t clean up their animals’ waste from public or private property, with a possible $50 fine, according to an ordinance approved on first reading by the City Council on Monday night.
The council members also approved on first reading an ordinance that would change the start time of the City Council’s regular meetings to 6 p.m. from the current 7 p.m., but keep the date as the second Monday of each month.
Both measures still must be considered and approved on second reading for them to take effect, with a public hearing to be set on each before the final vote. In Monday’s meeting, both ordinances passed without opposition, but Councilman Chuck Nicholson was not present and did not vote.
The animal waste measure was part of proposed changes to the city’s existing dog and cat ordinance, as recommended by the Norris Animal Commission. A second change would allow for a three-week “trial period” for the adoption of cats and dogs from the Norris Animal Shelter.
During the first three weeks after the day of the adoption, the adopter would be allowed to return the animal to the shelter, but would not receive a refund of the adoption fee. As the rules now stand, all adoptions are considered to be final at the time of the transaction.
Also in the proposed ordinance is a rule that would prohibit someone from calling ahead to put a “hold” on an animal before coming into the city offices to complete the adoption. Adoptions would be strictly on a first come, first served basis.
Council members were told that the animal waste pickup requirement would apply to any property except that of the pet owner, and would technically cover dogs and cats.
But because most people don’t “walk” their cats, city officials conceded that enforcement of the measure most likely would be mainly for owners of dogs that leave waste while being walked.
The measure to change the monthly meeting time was initially proposed by Councilwoman Loretta Painter, during the council’s April regular meeting.
City Manager Adam Ledford said Monday night that he had researched the issue and found that while the monthly meeting day is set in the city’s charter, the start time is not mentioned. He said it could be set by ordinance.
Painter said she recommended the time change because council meetings have been lasting three hours or more in recent months, making for a very late end time.
Mayor Chris Mitchell said he supported changing the start time to an hour earlier, but only as long as the council doesn’t take that as a cue to extend the meetings by an additional hour – still ending as late as they have been.
Also Monday night, the council:
• Delayed a first reading of the city’s 2023-24 fiscal year budget ordinance until a special called meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, May 22.
The delay was to allow Leford to incorporate some changes recommended by the council in the draft measure that was up for consideration Monday night.
• Passed on final reading a comprehensive new city personnel policy, which the council and city administrators have been working on for more than a year.