Amend Section 5-8 of preposed Edgewater City Code

It has come to the attention of the citizens of Edgewater that on May 18t, the City Council unanimously approved an addition to city code section 5-8, placing a ban on possession of all venomous and non-indigenous reptiles.

The State of Florida through Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over the ownership of venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern, requiring owners to apply for and to be approved for permits to keep them. This addition will do nothing to remove or keep citizens of Edgewater from owning venomous snakes or reptiles of concern.

In March of 2008 the City of Deltona tried to pass similar amendments to their city code and was told by the State of Florida that their ordinance was null and void. With this addition to Edgewater City Code the City Council will insure that the only reptiles inside city limits are reptiles of concern including large Indian or Burmese pythons, African rock pythons, Amethystine pythons, Reticulated pythons, Green anacondas, Nile monitor lizards, and venomous reptiles.

The proposed addition to city code will only hinder the owners of small, non-venomous, inoffensive reptiles. We the citizens of Edgewater ask you to remove this addition to section 5-8 of the City Code.