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Kingsford Heights council tables proposed chicken ordinance after residents raise outreach concerns
Summary
After confusion over a Facebook survey and questions about flyer distribution, the council voted unanimously July 14 to table a proposed ordinance on backyard chickens until the second meeting in August and to extend outreach and the comment period.
Kingsford Heights town officials on July 14 delayed action on a proposed ordinance that would allow backyard chickens after residents objected to a Facebook survey and requested clearer outreach.
Council President (the presiding official) said the town would limit public input to one comment per person per subject and noted the council's desire to avoid extended remarks. Several residents said a survey posted to Facebook by a council member's relative caused confusion over whether it was an official town effort.
"We put these flyers, let them hand them to people as they come in to pay their bill," the council president said while outlining an alternative outreach plan; he suggested extending the comment deadline to Aug. 15 to allow a full billing cycle for resident responses. Residents and councilors discussed options for distributing printed flyers at the post office, library and town hall to ensure respondents were town residents.
Councilor [mover] moved to table the chicken ordinance to the second meeting in August to allow more time for outreach and to gather survey responses; another councilor seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Why it matters: The postponement lets the council collect a more representative set of resident opinions and clarifies whether outreach was properly authorized. Councilors said they wanted to avoid taking action before reviewing midyear financials and ensuring any public-input process was clearly identified as a town initiative.
Next steps: The council directed staff to place stacks of flyers at town locations, accept returned surveys at town hall, and revisit the ordinance at the August meeting after tallying responses.
