GLENDALE : New Law Would Ban Feeding of Pigeons

The Glendale City Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday that bans the feeding of pigeons on public property, streets and sidewalks.

The ordinance, which will appear for a final council vote next week, is a broader version of a measure that came before council members last week banning pigeon feeding only in the city’s central business district.

The ordinance will go into effect 90 days after council approval of the measure. The plan makes pigeon feeding a misdemeanor punishable by a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $250 for the third offense.

Council members expressed concern with the narrower ordinance banning pigeon feeding in the downtown area only, saying it would only transfer the pigeon problem from the business district to other parts of the city.

On Tuesday, council members voiced doubts that the ordinance can be enforced effectively.

“I think it’s a bad philosophical approach to create a law that we’re only going to enforce if we have to,” said Councilman Rick Reyes.

Other council members disagreed with Reyes, who stated the law would place the burden on senior citizens who make up the majority of persons who go to public parks to feed the fowl.

“I don’t think we are going to see swarms of pigeon control officers stampeding through the city to arrest people,” said Councilman Larry Zarian, who added the measure is meant to educate--not punish--residents.

The revised ordinance is designed to help the city cope with a burgeoning downtown pigeon population--estimated at some 10,000 birds--that messes awnings, sidewalks and ledges.

Officials resorted to the ordinance and an education campaign aimed at discouraging residents from feeding the birds after backing away from a controversial plan to contract with the county to trap and kill the birds.

The council back-pedaled from its April decision after animal rights activists and residents called City Hall to protest the county’s plan to kill the birds by putting them in a cloth sack and tying it to the tailpipe of a car with its engine running.

The council voted last week to begin its education campaign--featuring signs in business windows and along public sidewalks asking residents not to feed the pigeons.

Council members also gave city staff members the go-ahead to advertise for bids from companies that eradicate birds to find a long-term solution to reduce the city’s pigeon population.