[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Saratoga Springs 3-3-1998 by L.L. No. 1-1998; amended in its entirety 2-6-2001 by L.L. No. 1-2001. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Environmental, parks and open areas protection program — See Ch. 110.
Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 155.
The existence of large numbers of wild and domestic waterfowl in Saratoga Springs presents a hazard to public health, safety and welfare. Literature from the United States Department of the Interior clearly establishes that a large waterfowl population in a small area greatly increases the dangers of disease. In such a situation, a single diseased bird could quickly spread the disease throughout the flock and thereby create serious and lasting ecological problems. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a method, in addition to and not in limitation of other lawful methods and procedures, for effective management and control of waterfowl in Saratoga Springs.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
WATERFOWL
Any birds of the family Anatidae, including brant, swans, ducks and geese.
It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, or cause to be fed, any waterfowl within the areas designated as the "Inside Tax District" in Title 11 of the Charter of the City of Saratoga Springs, except during such seasonal periods as may be established from time to time by the Saratoga Springs City Council.
It shall be unlawful for any person to release any waterfowl within the area commonly known as Congress Park in the City of Saratoga Springs, or to release any waterfowl in such a manner as to cause said waterfowl to enter said area commonly known as Congress Park.
A. 
Pursuant to § 10, Subdivision 4(a) of the Municipal Home Rule Law, the following personnel are hereby authorized to issue appearance tickets in accordance with Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York for violations of this chapter:
(1) 
Such employee or employees of the Department of Public Works as may be designated in writing from time to time by the Commissioner of Public Works.
(2) 
The Code Administrator, as defined in Chapter 8 of the City Code.
B. 
Persons authorized under this section shall issue a verbal warning in response to the first offense, a written warning in response to the second offense, and an appearance ticket in response to the third or subsequent offense under this chapter.
C. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or supersede in any manner the authority of police officers to issue appearance tickets under Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of $50 for each offense.