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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1984-1401 . . . ORDINANCE NO. 1401 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER FIVE, "ANIMALS AND FOWL, II OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, BY ADDING THERETO ARTICLE VI, "WILD ANIMALS;" PROVIDING THAT ANY PERSON VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A MIS- DEMEANOR AND UPON CONVICTION SHALL BE FINED IN ANY SUM NOT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS ($200.00); FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: tit Section 1. Chapter Five, "Animals and Fowl," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, is hereby amended by adding thereto new Article VI, Wild Animals, to read as follows, to-wit: ARTICLE VI . Sec. 6-1. Wild Animals; caging, prohibition against running at large. (a) Wild animal as used in this section shall mean and includes any wild mammal, amphibian, reptile, or fowl which is not naturally tame or gentle but is of a wild nature or other characteristics would con- stitute a danger to human life or property if it is not kept or maintained in a safe manner or in secure quarters. Such animals shall include, but not be limited to lions, tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, wolves, alligators, crocodiles, apes, foxes, elephants, rhinoceroses and all forms of poisonous reptiles and other like animals. . (b) It shall be unlawful for anyone to keep or harbor any wild animal within the city limits unless the same is kept in a cage in a safe manner and in secure quarters or cage sufficient to contain such animal at all times. No such animal shall be housed within one hundred feet (1001) of any property line. (c) It shall be unlawful for anyone who owns, raises or keeps any wild animal to allow the same to be at large outside of its secure quarters or cage. In the event such animal is discovered outside of the secure quarters or cage, it shall be presumed that the person who owns, raises or keeps the same, wilfully allowed it to roam at large outside the secure quarters or cage. . . . Ordinance No. 1401, Page 2. (d) Any person keeping a wild animal within the city limits shall register the same with the Chief of Police within seven (7) days of bringing such wild animal within the city limits. Registration information shall include name, street address, and telephone number of the person keeping the wild animal; the kind of animal; type of quarters or cage; and location of quarters or cage on the person's premises. Section 2. Any person, as defined in Section 1.07(27), . Texas Penal Code, who shall violate any provision of the ordinance, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00). Section 3. 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 Ci ty Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Article - 6252-17, Texas Revised Civil Statutes Annotated; 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 contents and posting thereof. Section 4. If any section, sentence, phrase, clause, or any part of any section, sentence, phrase, or clause, of this ordinance shall, for any reason, be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance, and ~ it is hereby declared to be the intention of this City Council .> to have passed each section, sentence, phrase or clause, or . . . Ordinance No. 1401, Page 3. part thereof, irrespective of the fact that any other section, sentence, phrase or clause, or part thereof, may be declared invalid. Section 5. 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 . in the City of La Porte at least twice within ten (10) days after the passage of this ordinance. PASSED AND APPROVED this the 14th day of March, 1984. CITY OF LA PORTE By ATTEST: . ~.M-ct City Secretary APPROVED: .