recommend a mentor?

[rosco]

All -
first, i'm not sure if this in the correct forum. if it isn't, let me know how i can move it to the correct forum.

it is a long story. In short, the unlawfulness of chickens kept on less than 1/4 of an acre w/i the ****** city limits was broadcast on TV, Radio and Newspapers over the last week. the public seems to see it as their duty to report all and any chicken owners w/ less than 1/4 acre of land in effort to prevent an outbreak or epidemic in the area.

i've finally decided to form a ****** Chicken Club as it will take a large grassroots effort to change this. or i think it will require this, in addition to other things.

i need a good game plan w/i the club to fix the ordinance under some already intense circumstances. I'm not looking to sue but regain the civil liberty of having chickens kept under sanitary conditions, irregardless of the amount of land that i reside.

Could someone serve or recommend a good mentor who might be familiar with such a feat? i think it will require someone with either experience in civil law &/or changing an ordinance that was already under intense fire.

Thank Yall Again!

rosco

 

[sune42]

I don't know if this person is on this forum, but they are doing a similar fight right now, you could try to email them.

http://www.bereachickenbrigade.com/

There was another group, but for the life of me I can't remember who they were. If I remember I will post. Good luck in your fight.

 

[rosco]

sune42 - Thank you! I will give that website a shot.

rosco

 

[lynnshens]

We started a facebook group called Chicken Legal and another group Sustainable Chattanooga. We're trying to get our ordinance changed in Chattanooga Tennessee. I called the the director of operations of animal welfare in Chattanooga a while back and she even suggested we challenge this! So, we have been putting an ordinance together based some other cities that have such an ordinance.

Here's what we have so far.
Text of proposed poultry ordinance amendment to be given to Chattanooga City Council and Mayor:

Relating to single and multiple family residences on a half acre and up:
Keeping of up to six (6) chickens is allowed, provided that:
1. The principal use is a single-family or multiple-family dwelling. It may also be a community with bylaws or agreements allowing poultry farming.
2. No person shall keep any rooster on less than 5-acres.
3. No person shall slaughter any chickens outdoors on less than 5 acres.
4. a. The chickens shall be provided with both a hen house and a fenced outdoor enclosure.
b. The chickens must be kept in the hen house or fenced outdoor enclosure at all times and shall not be allowed to run off the property.
c. The hen house shall be a covered, predator-resistant, well-ventilated structure providing a minimum of 2 square feet per chicken.
d. The outdoor enclosure shall be adequately fenced to contain the chickens and to protect the chickens from predators.
e. The hen house must be kept in a clean, dry, and sanitary condition at all times.
f. The outdoor enclosure shall be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent the accumulation of animal waste.

5. No hen house or enclosure shall be located closer than twenty (20) feet to any dwelling unit on an adjacent lot, unless both owners agree to the location. The enclosure shall also comply with the setback requirements for accessory buildings and structures.

6. Adjacent homeowners, or communities of home owners may allow the free range of poultry, provided these minimum standards are met.

 

[mdbokc]

I am stunned that west Texas has a problem with chickens in one of their towns. Good luck.

And just out of curiosity..."prevent an outbreak or epidemic" of what?

 

[Coopa Cabana]

Hopefully, there are some links here that might be useful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=316045

 

[rosco]

Quote:
yeah, who knows. it was double-talk by the health dept. i kinda understand the animal control's side if there really is an issue with chickens running wild in parts of town, but this is not the way to fix the problem.

i lost five points on my IQ listing to the city health dept that day.

 

[rosco]

Quote:
Thank you. i think this is ,,, a whole lot of information that will help!

 

[rosco]

lynnshens -

you guys are putting a lot of restrictions on yourselves. i think we will try to not suggest any limitations. actually, our's is supposedly a complaint based enforcement, which seems or says to me, "subjective enforcement." Yeah, i'm thinking the same thing. shall i send the animal control XMas cards and volunteer ..... that is it. i become friends with them! i'm gonna look into volunteering to do something for them!

this is totally against how gov't should work, but i want it to work for me. i dont' know their side of the story but i know mine. Friendship goes a long way!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

It is very common for nuisance ordinances to be enforced based upon complaints. That saves the code enforcement officers from having to patrol the streets and alleyways looking for violations. Enforcement is still based upon the written ordinance. What you essentially have is an honor system where the citizens are expected to comply with the ordinances.

Friendship with the "powers that be" resulting in unequal enforcement of the writtten ordinance is a conflict of interest and could (and SHOULD) get all involved in a LOT of trouble. Deliberately turning a blind eye if very different than enforcement based upon complaint.