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Resident asks to keep 12 chickens; council tables request pending attorney review
Summary
A Goodview resident asked the council to grandfather 12 chickens kept since April 2024 under the city's urban chicken ordinance (limit: five). The council rescinded an initial motion and voted to table the matter until it receives legal guidance on May 19, 2025.
Mike Dieter, who identified himself as a Goodview resident, asked the council on May 5 to allow him to keep 12 chickens on his property, saying the birds provide "healthy organic food" for his family and that he had the flock before the city's June 17, 2024 ordinance that limits properties to five chickens.
An initial motion by Councilmember Charlie Andring, seconded by Councilmember Sandra Ramirez, to leave the ordinance unchanged was placed on the floor and then rescinded at the mayor's request so the council could seek legal guidance. Councilmember Cassandra Gilliam then moved and Councilmember Andring seconded a motion to table the matter until the May 19, 2025 meeting so the city attorney can review the request and report back; the motion carried unanimously.
The minutes record the council's direction to obtain an opinion from the city attorney; the record does not state how the attorney will analyze grandfathering or whether any administrative remedies will be available. The ordinance itself, as noted in the minutes, limits properties to five chickens; Mr. Dieter said he had 12 chickens in April 2024 and asked to be grandfathered in.
