Briefly in the news

-- June Casagrande

A citywide ordinance to stop large-scale feeding and breeding of ducks

is just one step from being a law, a decision cheered by about two dozen

residents at Tuesday’s Newport Beach City Council meeting.

The council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance, which will be

up for a final vote Jan. 8. If approved, all but the most incidental

feeding of ducks and other waterfowl will be prohibited in the city.

The ordinance was introduced by Balboa Island Councilman Steve

Bromberg, who has long listened to complaints from neighbors about one

Grand Canal house that’s also home to at least 100 ducks.

In addition to the smell and unsightliness of the droppings, the birds

also pose a health risk: Their droppings contain high levels of bacteria

that contaminate water bodies.