Lemon Grove voters will decide in November whether to restrict commercial bird sales in the city, East County Magazine reported Tuesday. The City Council voted 3-2 on May 19 to place the citizen-led initiative on the ballot rather than adopt it outright.

The proposal would require retail stores selling birds in Lemon Grove to source them from animal shelters, humane societies or nonprofit rescue organizations. East County Magazine reported that the measure would expand California's existing retail pet sale rules, which currently apply to dogs, cats and rabbits, while exempting poultry and birds raised for agricultural or backyard flocks.

Supporters gathered enough verified signatures to force council action, according to the report. The council could have adopted the ordinance, sent it to voters or requested a more detailed impact report; the majority chose the ballot route, with city staff estimating election placement could cost $25,000 to $50,000.

The debate centers on animal welfare, local business impacts and legal exposure. East County Magazine reported that Lemon Grove's city attorney warned an affected business could challenge the city, while some council members said a voter-approved ordinance could be easier to defend.

For Santee and the rest of East County, the measure is worth watching because it shows how citizen initiatives can move neighborhood-level animal-welfare issues directly into local elections. The November vote will determine whether Lemon Grove becomes an early local test case for expanding retail pet sale restrictions beyond dogs, cats and rabbits.