JERSEY CITY -- Circuses may soon no longer be welcome in Jersey City, with the City Council next week expected to take action on a bill that would ban performances of wild and exotic animals.

If formally adopted, Jersey City would become one of a host of public entities nationwide that have passed laws aimed at circuses. Bergen County now forbids wild and exotic animal shows on county property. Rhode Island last month became the first state in the nation to ban the use of a tool used by circuses to train elephants.

The proposed law appears to be the first in New Jersey that would restrict the use of wild and exotic animals on private property.

Mayor Steve Fulop made his thoughts known in April when he took The Jersey Journal to task for promoting a circus that was visiting Bayonne.

I hate these circuses+ they shouldn't be accepted in Hudson County at all. A record of abuse+ ppl shouldn't attend https://t.co/Oi1W6aI02S — Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) April 1, 2016

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the circus visiting Bayonne prompted the new legislation to "prohibit cruel treatment of animals.

"We are following Bergen County and in order to expand forward, the first and important step is setting an example in our home city," Morrill said.

The law would not be limited to circuses: it would ban trade shows, petting zoos, carnivals, parades and more in which animals are required to perform tricks, fight or give rides.

Stephen Payne, spokesman for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey's circus, described the bill as "political grandstanding" on Fulop's part. Payne said he's not aware of any circuses visiting Jersey City.

If they did, he said, they would be subject to current state and federal laws protecting animals. When Ringling Brothers travels to Newark, Payne added, they get frequent surprise inspections from officials to see how the animals are being treated.

"We're proud of our animal care," he said.

The Humane Society of the United States is on Fulop's side here. Debbie Leahy, manager of captive wildlife protection for the animal rights group, said there are two chief problems with the use of animals in circuses.

Circuses lead to prolonged confinement for animals with little veterinary care and there is often abusive training behind the scenes, according to Leahy.

"Animals don't want to do these tricks," she said. "They are afraid not to."

The Humane Society credits anti-circus bills around the country with convincing Ringling Brothers in 2015 to announce it would phase out all elephant acts by 2018.

The council meets on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St.

Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.