The Public Safety Committee voted April 15 to send proposed code changes to the full City Council that would restrict unlicensed trapping of peafowl, require licensed handlers for any removals, and bar trapped birds from being released elsewhere in the city.

City animal services staff framed the measure as a response to complaints and a local increase in peafowl in a small area of east San Antonio. "We only respond to PFAL calls for PFAL if there's injury bites or cruelty to them," staff said during the presentation, and noted the department receives roughly 12–15 peafowl calls a year and about 50 in the last three years amid roughly 94,000 total calls annually.

The proposal grew from a councilmember request and neighborhood reports of unlicensed trappers removing birds and injuring them. John Gary, identified in the meeting as director for AMCAF services, told the committee the birds are concentrated in a roughly three‑ or four‑block area around Dreamhill Estates and nearby Glen Oaks. He said staff held a town hall Feb. 25 at the Bob Ross Senior Center attended by about 30 residents, with mixed sentiment: many residents want the birds to remain, while others raised concern about population growth and property damage.

Gary described a three‑phase approach staff recommended: an education campaign to discourage feeding and teach residents ways to keep peafowl off private property; an annual census to monitor population and trends (staff said an exact count is impossible but an annual estimate will be attempted); and humane trapping, to be used only in limited circumstances when the neighborhood determines the local population is too large. He said any animals removed would be taken to sanctuaries rather than released in city parks, and that staff planned updates to Chapter 5 of the municipal code to prevent city releases and to require licensed handlers.

Councilwoman Aldrete Tagabito, who introduced the council request that led to the review, said the effort began after an incident in which an unlicensed vendor placed multiple peacocks into a trailer and several birds were injured. "We realized we don't have any protections in place for peafowl," she said, and moved the code changes to full council for a vote. Chair Cabello Heberden called the voice vote; members answered "Aye" and the motion carried.

The committee did not record a second for the motion in the transcript. The proposal will next appear on the full City Council agenda for consideration; the committee did not adopt final ordinance language and noted staff will present the specific code text and any related administrative rules at a later date.

Votes at the committee were recorded by voice; the committee chair announced the motion carried following the voice vote.