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Item No: 7F Meeting Date: June 8, 2015 Type of Business: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: James Ericson, City Administrator Item Title/Subject: First Reading and Introduction of Ordinance 903, an Ordinance Amending Chapter 701 to Add Provisions for the Keeping and Raising of Poultry and Fowl in Certain Residential Districts Introduction: Over the last few years, Council members have been asked to amend the City Code to allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards. With urban chickens and urban farming a frequent topic in cities and suburbs across the country, the City Council has been asked once again to consider the potential for something similar here in Mounds View. At the May 4, 2015, Work Session, the Council heard testimony from Deb Nygaard and other residents encouraging the Council to consider amending the Code to allow for the keeping and raising of chickens. The Council directed staff to prepare language for consideration. City Code reference: The Mounds View City Code defines farm animals in Section 701.03 as follows: Subd. 2. FARM ANIMALS. Those animals commonly associated with a farm or an agricultural setting. Unless otherwise defined, farm animals shall include members of the equestrian family (horses, mules), bovine family (cows, bulls), sheep, poultry (chickens, turkeys, pheasants), fowl (ducks, geese), swine (including Vietnamese pot- bellied pigs), goats, bees, and other animals associated with a farm, ranch, or stable. Later in this same Chapter, Section 701.06 prohibits farm animals as follows: Subd. 1. Nuisance Declared: It is hereby declared to be unlawful and a public nuisance affecting the public peace, safety, and welfare for an owner within the City to keep or raise any farm animal unless the animal is currently being kept or raised on the date of the enactment of the ordinance. Discussion: Based on discussion at the May work session and subsequently at the May 26th Council meeting, Staff has prepared Ordinance 903 which incorporates all of the proposed conditions and restrictions. A new permit fee of $100 with annual renewals of $30 is being proposed, however those fees will need separate Council action. As stated in the ordinance, the resident would need to submit an application with the fee, a site plan, a coop plan (and separate coop permit if necessary) and a consent form signed by adjacent neighbors. Staff would interpret “adjacent” to mean any property adjoining or situated such that the subject backyard area is in full view, which could include lots across a street in the case of corner lots.