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Burnsville / Boy who persevered gets to keep his chickens - TwinCities.com Burnsville / Bohr who persevered gets to keep hr's chickens Alli mal ordlranc , to (](? lc. iytlti@n By Jessica fleniiitiX j'i4sntin�r7pione.crpressccm Updatcd olhl/2009 11 �IIS2 P6fi CS' It turns out you can fight City Hall -- and win. E=specially if you're an articulate 11 -year-old with a. flock of chickens and a. lot of determination. The Burnsville City Council on Tuesday rdgl i directed staff' members to rewrite its animal ordinance- to alloy backyard chickens. Stefan Remund, who first asked the council to change the tole Sept. 45. waited patiently in the audience of u)e council's work session to learn flee fate of his birds. "! think I've learned front what this young man said in his great speech," Council IJlember Dai; Kealey said. "Looking at other communities, I look to the ones that are allowing chickens as the ones I want to follow." Stefan smiled and was visibly relieved when tko rest Of file council appeared to agree vaith Kealey. "Believe it or noi, I agree with Dan," Council IUiembcr Dan Gustafson said. "I've been around chickens, and I don't find them to be all that obnoxious. It is a food source, and I think things are changing in this country." The revised ordinance, to be passed at a future council meeting, will require a $50 permit for the birds and includes fencing requirements, restrictions on the coop, a limit of four hens and a ban on slaughtering or cockfighting. Roosters will not be allowed. The animal ordinance also will be amended to allow residents to own three dogs before they have to apply for a kennel permit- The current ordinance allows just two, and Gustafson learned in September that he was violating the ordinance. He has three dogs. City staff members had recommended that 85 percent of immediate neighbors give consent for a resident to own the birds, but the council agreed that wasn't necessary. "If we feel that chickens ate; OK, I don't think we, need the consent of neighbors," Council Member Charlie Clincton said. Animal control discovered Me Remund family's flock of seven chickens on Sept. 10. Stefau's another, Jen Remund, said a neighbor had complained- Remund misread the city ordinance befbte the family adopted the chickens and was surprised when told she'd have to get rid of them. Not only were they great for her yard and garden, Remund said, but she was spoiled by tfte five or six eggs the hens lay daily. Council members told the Family in September that they could keep their chickens until a decision was made. Since Stefan first spoke to the council, the family has received hundreds of supportive cards and e- mails from fellow chicken lovers as far away as Seattle and San Diego. Remund said many local people offered to adopt the birds. Iv.tp://rapt t �ttags.;:v m urties.eanTllacaPnrefvs ci. 114r740' Page 1 of 2 101 U24/2009