Moses Lake takes step toward racing pigeon ban

MOSES LAKE — The city moved one step closer to approving a ban on the keeping of pigeons within the city limits Tuesday night.

The city council initially voted 6-1 Tuesday to adopt changes to its nuisance codes, labeling pigeons among the animals labeled as nuisances. The proposal also clarified language to allow residents to keep caged birds within a home or business. The city will take final action on the change at the July 11 council meeting.

The council began looking into changes of its nuisance code after resident Mick Nicholas took issue with the city's definition of pigeons as fowl. Nicholas raises approximately 70 racing homer pigeons at his home off Division Street, and was asked to remove those pigeons earlier this year after a complaint of pigeon droppings by a neighbor.

Nicholas went before the council last month to propose a change to the city's code to accommodate racing pigeons like his own. He also took issue with the definition of pigeons as fowl, citing the dictionary definition which characterizes the bird as a columbiforme.

Councilman Jon Lane cast the sole vote in opposition of the change. Lane presented a plan to the council in which the city could set limits to control the pigeons, similar to what other communities have done across the country.

Lane's proposals included the requirement of identifying bands, a limit on the number of birds, and constrains on the length and time of day the birds can fly outside their lofts.

"Those are some things I've found that are regulations in other communities," Lane said.

But majority council members sided against keeping pigeons in the city, citing the nuisance of the birds in a residential area and questioned the ability to enforce any pigeon-controlling laws.

"I'm afraid that if we allow pigeons inside the city limits that we could open a Pandora's box," Councilman Bill Ecret said. "I think maybe next week we could have racing chickens."

Also at Tuesday's meeting:

? The council took initial action by a vote of 5-2 to lower the age requirement for riding motorized scooters from 16 to 12. Councilmen Richard Pearce and Dick Deane cited safety concerns in voting against the change. Final action is slated for July 11.

? Council members unanimously approved a ban on smoking in certain areas of city parks. The ban applies to the aquatic center, ball fields, farmers market and other places where people congregate within the parks.

? The council took final action limiting the continuous parking and storage of cars parked on city streets to 10 days.