Kelowna city council has passed the first reading of a bylaw amendment that will prohibit spiked fences in the city.

The proposed new bylaw comes after recommendations from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) to the city to consider changing fencing regulations to prevent designs that could kill or injure deer.

BCCOS cited approximately 20 instances a year in which deer are impaled or severely injured from pointed metal pickets rising above the top or mid-rails of fencing.

91裸聊视频淭hese incidents are traumatic for homeowners, the community and for the officers involved,91裸聊视频� read city staff91裸聊视频檚 report to council on May 4. 91裸聊视频淪ubsequently, staff have worked closely with the Conservation Officer Service to develop a minor change to the fencing regulations in order to prevent new metal (i.e. wrought iron) fences from having pointed pickets that can injure or kill deer and other types of wildlife.91裸聊视频�

The change will only affect wrought iron fences, as the BCCOS has not reported any problems with deer or other wildlife being injured or killed on wood fences.

The amendment is not retroactive and would not affect legal nonconforming fences that were installed before the adoption of this proposal.

91裸聊视频淗owever, it is hoped that many in the community will retrofit their fences to remove pointed pickets that could hurt wildlife,91裸聊视频� read the report.

Coun. Luke Stack asked city staff whether the amendment will pertain to shorter picketed fences in the inner city, which he says keeps the 91裸聊视频渉uman predators91裸聊视频� from piling into people91裸聊视频檚 properties.

91裸聊视频淚 can see it on the taller fences particularly at urban interfaces, but in the inner city I91裸聊视频檓 struggling to see it,91裸聊视频� he said.

The law will also apply to inner-city fences, regardless of height.

Coun. Charlie Hodge said such fences are 91裸聊视频渂arbaric91裸聊视频� and he91裸聊视频檚 seen the direct repercussions of it in his environmental work.

91裸聊视频淚t takes one experience like that to see they should never be allowed 91裸聊视频� it is cruel,91裸聊视频� he said.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said it91裸聊视频檚 a shame that the bylaw won91裸聊视频檛 be enacted retroactively. But city staff said that directive would have to come from the province.

The city91裸聊视频檚 planning and communications departments will work together to form an outreach and education program to inform the community about this issue and to provide retrofit tips and wildlife safe fencing options.

The new fencing requirements will protect deer, moose and other wildlife from being injured or killed.

The bylaw amendment will go to a public hearing at a later date.

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