04/16/2013 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 04-16-2013 and contractors. The Ordinance also increases rates for the first time in more than ten years. The committee voted 2-0 to recommend approval of Ordinance 2013- -" 35 with suspension of the rules. Councilwoman Williamson, Chairwoman of the Public Safety, Health & Welfare Committee: • The Public Safety Health and Welfare Committee held three separate public meetings in Council chambers to discuss Ordinance No. 2013-17, which was originally introduced as an Ordinance establishing Section 505.19 "Domestic Farm Animals Prohibited" of Chapter 505 of the General Offenses Code entitled "Animals and Fowl," in order to prohibit domestic farm animals on parcels of land in the City less than one (1) acre, and declaring an emergency. The first meeting to discuss this proposed ordinance was held on February 12, 2013, at 7:34 p.m. Present were committee members Williamson and Schumann; Council members Brossard, Barker, Orlowski, and Kearney; Mayor Kennedy, Law Director Gareau, Finance Director Copfer, Safety/Service Director Thomas, Human Resources Director Farver, Planning/Development Director Wenger and guests. This first public meeting discussed the boundaries of the Ordinance, including lot size, number of animals and potential issues arising from nuisance issues involving noxious odors to noise. Many of the guests in attendance at the meeting were concerned with the restrictions concerning the one acre lot requirement. The committee heard from many residents who currently raise chickens on their respective properties for eggs, and those residents whose own properties are affected by nuisance conditions arising from other residents who have domestic farm animals on their properties. Many of the residents who currently raise chickens for harvesting eggs would be affected by the requirements of the proposed ordinance, as many of them currently reside upon properties less than the proposed one acre lot size requirement, and chickens were a prohibited animal in this original version. The committee also heard from owners of land on Camellia who objected to this particular proposal, as they currently raise a variety of animals on their property. The discussion was held at the table to allow a certain number of chickens, as well as reducing the lot size requirement. The lot size requirement would also include language of "contiguous parcel of land" in order to accommodate those residents whose combined properties include adjoining parcels of land. A motion was made to hold the legislation in committee, which passed 2-0. The committee would reconvene in two weeks to discuss the additional changes. The meeting concluded at 8:16 p.m. • On February 26, 2013, the Public Safety Committee met at 7:38 p.m. to continue discussions regarding the prohibition of domestic farm animals. Present at this meeting were committee members Williamson and Schumann; Council members Brossard, Barker, Orlowski and Kearny; Law Director Gareau and guests. Based upon the prior meeting discussions and council members concerns, the Law Director amended the prior version of the Ordinance and made the following recommendations: The emergency clause was removed from the Ordinance; the 4