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Rock Springs council tables animal ordinance after public comment on backyard chickens
Summary
After public testimony about backyard chickens, goats and shelter capacity, the Rock Springs City Council voted to table a proposed ordinance amending the city's animal code while a mayor-appointed committee continues work.
The Rock Springs City Council on April 1 voted to table a proposed ordinance amending Article 3.5 of the city code on humane control and regulation of animals after more than an hour of public petitions about backyard chickens and goats.
The council's decision pauses the third reading of Ordinance 20-25-5 and sends the matter back to a mayor-appointed committee that council members said still is gathering information. Councilor Rosati moved to table the ordinance; Councilor Thompson seconded, and the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
Why it matters: residents and city staff told the council the change could affect enforcement workload, shelter capacity and public-health concerns. Supporters said lifting restrictions would let residents keep chickens for food-scrap diversion and small-scale food production; opponents and staff warned the city is not yet prepared for increased enforcement or animal intake.
Several residents urged the council to allow backyard poultry. "Hi guys, I'm Amanda Margrave. I am pro chicken," Amanda Margrave told the council, citing calls to Green River and other Wyoming cities where animal-control officers reported few chicken-related complaints. Margrave cited an NPR article and said Canadian commercial poultry operations differ from U.S. farms in size and barn construction.
Tom Gagnon, a Lowell subdivision resident, urged alternatives to herbicide weed control and praised pilot goat grazing work in Bitter Creek, saying goats had cleared vegetation without chemical use. "I have 300 friends. They're goats," Gagnon said, describing volunteer and contractor activity along the creek.
City animal-control officer Candy Folks said the department has limited capacity and that increasing permitted backyard animals could strain operations. She told council members that, in January, the shelter held 51 dogs while the facility has 19 dog kennels and that the shelter is currently operating with one full-time animal-control officer and a new hire in training. "I don't have an opinion on the chickens. They can have them. They cannot have them," Folks said, explaining concerns about intake space, handling of roosters, predator attraction and staff time required to measure and inspect coops.
Folks also said some enforcement tasks could require warrants if residents deny access, adding time and officer resources to a workload she described as already heavy. She noted that neighboring Green River employs two full-time and two part-time ACOs, while Rock Springs currently has only one fully trained ACO on duty.
Council discussion focused on giving the mayor's committee time to finalize recommendations. At the end of the meeting a council member reported that the committee was scheduled to meet April 9 to continue work.
The ordinance remains tabled; no new date for third reading was set.
Ending: Councilors and residents said they expect further discussion once the committee reports back, including potential language changes, enforcement plans and a review of shelter and staffing needs.
