Emily Featherston
Susan Schwartz, who opposed the feral cat ordinance, spoke to the Council and audience about a letter from the Humane Society of the United States.
The Vestavia Hills City Council voted Monday to approve an ordinance for the management of feral cats.
The ordinance allows for the city to partner with another organization for the human trapping, sterilization, treatment and possible release of feral, stray or otherwise abandoned felines within the city. It also details the penalties for those found to be knowingly feeding, housing or otherwise abetting feral cats.
The Council began considering measures to deal with the feral cat problem after multiple residents and businesses began complaining, particularly in the Cahaba Heights area.
CEO of the Greater Birmingham Human Society Allison Black Cornelius was present at the meeting to explain to the Council the measures the group will take to alleviate the problem.
Cornelius and Holly Baker, who is also with the GBHS, said they are completely confident that they can effectively and humanely solve the cat problem.
Several community members voiced their opinions regarding the ordinance and its effectiveness, as well as their concerns about the details of the GBHS’s plan.
Council member George Pierce said that the City has taken the comments from those for and against the ordinance, and that they are working to make the process as humane as possible.
“We’ve got to do it in the right way, in a gentle way, but we’ve got to do something,” he said.
Cornelius and Baker said feral cats will be trapped, evaluated by multiple members of the veterinary staff, sterilized, ear-tagged and vaccinated before being returned to near where they were found. According to state law, the cats must be held for a minimum of seven days, during which their temperament will be evaluated.
Stray or abandoned cats that are socialized will be put up for adoption.
Cornelius said that photos of all the cats collected will be posted to the GBHS’s website, so any pet owners concerned their cat may have been accidentally trapped can claim them.
For more information, visit gbhs.org.
Other Council Business Included:
- Lisa Baker was appointed to the Board of Education in a 4-1 vote. Baker will begin her five-year term in June.
- The Council voted to approve a resolution to pay of the outstanding contracts on the new City Hall facilities.
- The Council voted to accept tax levies from both Jefferson and Shelby Counties.
- The Council approved a technical, wording amendment to Resolution 4817 to change “per month” to “per cut.”
- Electronic vote-counting machines were approved for the upcoming municipal elections.
- The Council approved a resolution declaring multiple old police cars and a trailer as surplus property available to be sold.
- The Council approved a request for a power line easement at 501 Montgomery Highway to make way for the new Chick-fil-a restaurant location.
- The Council voted to rezone 1280 Montgomery Highway, the current Public Works facility, to VH B-2.
- Two ALDOT project agreements, one for the repaving of parts of Columbiana Road and one for sidewalk construction along Massey Road, Columbiana Road and Montgomery Highway were approved.
- The Council approved a conditional-use measure for a portion of Lot No. 1 at Vestavia Hills Sports Park for the construction of a city operations facility.
