02-22-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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A request to the city of Little Canada Dear Councilpersons and Mayor, It has been brought to my attention that there has been increased attention in our city for the allowance of backyard chickens. It pains me to have to write this, because can't believe that a town that has held pride in the fact that we are working class with plenty of pride of ownership in our homes cannot be trusted to hold chickens in their backyards. Many of our surrounding communities are able to enjoy the freedom of having chickens, including larger communities with smaller yard spaces ﴾such as Minneapolis and St. Paul﴿. Communities similar in socioeconomic and culture to ours have also allowed chickens ﴾such as Maplewood, Oakdale and Shoreview﴿. Chickens are an environmentally friendly way to provide food for families. Many of us working class people are on tight budgets. When people are free to raise their own eggs, they are probably also self sufficient enough to garden for themselves and take pride in their homes in yards. Also bear in mind the following facts: Chickens are fun, friendly pets with educational value for children about where food like eggs comes from They can provide food security for poor families They lay healthier eggs compared to store‐bought eggs They give gardeners high‐quality fertilizer They control flies and other pests, not add to them, and dispose of weeds and kitchen scraps that otherwise might end up in the landfill When their pen is kept clean, the smell and waste is no worse than a home with dogs or cats. There is a steady rise of urban "farming" among the younger Gen X and Millennial generations. Homeowners are doing more and more Do It Yourself work and taking on the responsibility of maintaining more than just their house on their property. We want more options to serve ourselves and our families without breaking the laws of the community and neighbors around us. I sincerely hope that the council members who are opposed to offering Little Canadians this small freedom will reconsider their views and listen to what the people of their community desire for their own quality of life. Regards, Andrea Blalock 33 E County Road C Unit 104 Little Canada, MN 55117 andrea.g.blalock@gmail.com A Blalock <andrea.g.blalock@gmail.com> Mon 1/23/2017 9:43 AM