Update on the City of Richmond’s Proposed Rodenticide Ban and New Cat Policy

Finally the Rodenticide Ban is on next week's Public Works and Transportation Committee meeting, Tuesday Jan 19th at 4pm. 

You can read more on the story in the Richmond News HERE

If approved it would go to the following Council meeting on Jan. 25th at 7pm. The agenda with item #7 can be found HERE:

Here is the wording of the item:

7.

BANNING RODENTICIDES ON CITY-OWNED PROPERTY IN RICHMOND

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

(1)

That the City discontinue the use of rodenticides on city-owned property for one year, as described in the staff report titled “Banning Rodenticides on City-owned property in Richmond,” dated December 10, 2020 from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy;

(2)

That staff assess the outcomes of the one-year ban on city-owned property and report the findings to Council;

(3)

That staff be directed to develop an integrated rodent management program, as described in the staff report titled “Banning Rodenticides on City-owned property in Richmond,” dated December 10, 2020 from the Director, Sustainability and District Energy;

(4)

That staff be directed to write a letter to the provincial Ministry of Environment, requesting that a review of the province’s existing policies that allow for the retail sale of rodenticides be conducted; and

(5)

That the 2021 rodent management transition program be endorsed with funding in the amount of $67,000, from the Sanitation and Recycling Provision, and be included in the Consolidated 5 Year Financial Plan (2021-2025).

Also In addition to the rat poison ban, Councillor Michael Wolfe has another item on the agenda next week which pertains to a new Cat Policy.

It reads:

COUNCILLOR MICHAEL WOLFE

4.

CAT EDUCATION AND POLICY

GP -19

RECOMMENDATION

That Council endorse the following resolution to modernize our cat related bylaws and provide options for enhanced cat owner education campaigns:

The City of Richmond will work to reduce the number of bird and other wildlife-related fatalities from the teeth and claws of domestic cats. This includes a referral for a staff report to provide education for cat owners and revisions to the City website and bylaws.

This will also be on the General Purposes Committee agenda meeting set for Monday Jan 19th. at 4pm.

You can read more about it HERE

This is very exciting news and I hope it passes. I will arrange to be a delegate there and present to the committee during the meeting. It has taken a long hard struggle just to get to this point.

Short-eared Owl - Melissa Hafting



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