HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 2026-5058_amends ch. 14, bird sanctuaryORDINANCE NO. 2026-5058
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, BY REVISING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO
THE CITY OF LA PORTE’S DESIGNATION AS A BIRD SANCTUARY CITY;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; CONTAINING A REPEALING CLAUSE;
PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE
SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION
SHALL BE FINED IN A SUM NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS;
PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE CAPTION HEREOF; FINDING
COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING FOR THE
EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS:
Section 1. Chapter 14, “Animals,” Article I “In General”, Section 14-2 “Penalty for violation
of chapter”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, is hereby amended to
hereinafter read as follows:
“Sec. 14-2. - Penalty for violation of chapter.
Except where another penalty is established in this chapter, any person who violates a provision
of this chapter, upon conviction in the municipal court of the city, shall be subject to a fine in an
amount established by the city and listed in appendix B of this Code.”
Section 2. Chapter 14, “Animals,” Article I “In General”, Section 14-5 “City declared bird
sanctuary; sign announcing; prohibited acts”, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte,
Texas, is hereby amended to hereinafter read as follows:
“Sec. 14-5. - City declared bird sanctuary; sign announcing; prohibited acts
(a) The city is hereby designated a bird sanctuary.
(b) The chief of police is directed to erect appropriate signs at the various entrances to the
city, indicating that the city has been designated a bird sanctuary.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to trap, hunt, shoot or attempt to shoot or molest in
any manner any bird or wild fowl, or to rob bird nests or wild fowl nests.
(d) It is an exception to the prohibition established in this section that the bird or wild fowl
is not protected under any regulations of this state or federal law, including but not limited
to European starlings, English sparrows (house sparrow), feral rock doves (common
pigeon), Egyptian geese, Muscovy ducks and Eurasian collared-doves”
Section 3. If any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance,
or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances is for any reason held to be
unconstitutional, void or invalid, the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or their
application to other persons or sets of circumstances shall not be affected thereby, it being the
intent of the City Council in adopting this ordinance that no portion hereof or provision or
vividness or invalidity of any other portion hereof, and all provisions of this ordinance are declared
to be severable for that purpose.
Section 4. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are
hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such
inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances
regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance.
Section 5. Any person who violates a provision of this ordinance, upon conviction in the municipal
court of the City of La Porte shall be subject to fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
Each day of violation shall be considered a separate offense.
Section 6. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a sufficient
written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted
at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding
this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, and that this meeting has been open to the
public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof
has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies,
approves and confirms such written notice and the contacts and posting thereof.
Section 7. This ordinance shall be effective fourteen (14) days after its passage and approval. The
City Secretary shall give notice of the passage of this ordinance by causing the caption hereof to
be published in the official newspaper of the City of La Porte at least once within ten (10) days
after the passage of this ordinance, in accordance with the City of La Porte Charter.
PASSED AND APPROVED, this, the 13th day of April, 2026.
ATTEST:
CITY OF LA P
Rick Helton, ` a or
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
/1 T7 7"t
lr
odward, �"'`tre a *lark T. Askins, City Attorney
,I a�yy0. . Q-o i/
�'" NCOL11VZ`l_��-�'—
�a