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Residents urge committee to reconsider ordinance allowing backyard hens; staff to research prior discussions
Summary
Two residents urged the Community Development Committee to draft an ordinance allowing a limited number of well‑managed backyard hens (no roosters), proposing permit inspections and a three‑strike enforcement mechanism; staff said past committee discussions showed mixed public input and offered to locate prior reports.
During public comment at the Community Development Committee meeting, residents pressed the committee to revisit a possible ordinance change to allow backyard hens in standard residential zones.
Elizabeth Sims (resident, Ward 6) said she drafted a proposed ordinance and advocated allowing a reasonable number of well‑controlled backyard chickens while prohibiting roosters. She suggested a permit program with initial inspections, measures to prevent predators, and a three‑strike enforcement approach for nuisance complaints. "I think that a reasonable number of restrictions on the program can address the primary complaints," Sims said, citing noise, smell and predators as the major concerns.
Carrie Shaffer (Ward 1) voiced support and compared chicken noise favorably to persistent neighborhood dogs. City staff told the committee that the topic had previously been discussed around 2017–2018 and that past committee action did not move the item to full council. Staff noted concerns about the city's capacity to add an inspection workload and said they would locate the prior report and share it with councilmembers.
Community Development Chair Jessica Lutz said she would poll councilmembers over whether to formally place the issue on a future committee agenda. No vote was taken.
