Very lost, need some help.

[MagsC]

In our town they are changing a lot of different ordinances in 2009. A friend of mine told me they might be completely banning chickens because of someone who is going through a lawsuit right now with one of their neighbors who's dog got in with their poultry.
I talked with the city clerk and she suggested I write up a proposal, covering all the bases on what I believe they are going to ask and trying to cover as many objections as I can.
I am SO not good at this sort of thing, if someone could PLEASE help me with the wording and such, I would greatly appreciate it.
Anyone with ideas, please pm me to discuss the specifics. Thanks so much.

 

[MagsC]

I have some ideas but not sure how to exactly word them for the city council. I am very willing to listen to suggestions.

 

[BFeathered]

Wish I could help, but I don't know what you'll need to do locally to keep birds. Perhaps referring them to BYC eggsperts would help!

 

[coffeelady3]

I would go online and search for city ordinances where poultry is allowed. It would give you some examples to show how backyard flocks can work. You can also do a search for newspaper articles about urban chickens and show them those.

Here's a link to my city's code.

http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=275

The section dealing with poultry is in the title 5 section (Health and Sanitation) If the concern is with noise, you can show how we don't allow roosters, and chickens must be kept a certain distance from neighboring houses. If the concern is that the city would be overrun with chickens, they can put a limit on the number allowed. If the concern is about chickens running loose (more prone to getting killed by dogs) then can require that the chickens are penned at all times. ie no free ranging.

That's about all I can come up with off of the top of my head.....

 

[MagsC]

Thank you! That actually helped me a lot in making a start towards this proposal. My sister works for a law firm, when I see her next week I am going to see if she can help me put it into some sort of form.
Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

 

[MagsC]

This is kind of interesting. I was talking to the city clerk the other day and she said that the dog that got the chickens was being walked on a leash by the persons house and the chickens were free ranging. I just wonder how little control someone had over their dog on a LEASH that it was able to kill more than one chicken (which is bad enough)?
That said, in town its probably better not to do the whole free ranging thing precisely because of this kind of occurence with dogs(and cats).
I get the feeling the council is set against people having chickens from the beginning so dont believe my request to update and not change the law completely will be welcome. I have some good arguments but seems like around here, people who have a little power, get greedy with it.
So I am understandably nervous.

 

[coffeelady3]

It's not the case where I live, but I've seen some people post where chickens owners have to get some sort of permit to keep birds, so the city can keep tabs on how many are out there. I've also seen cities require written permission from a certain percentage of your neighbors living within XX feet of your property. The girls are not supposed to free range within city limits, but I must admit I break that one every now and then. Just try and think of any negative situation that you can, and have a prepared solution for it. One more I just thought of, there is often some sort of distinction between chickens as pets/egg layers, and meat birds. Meat birds are a whole lot stinkier, not to mention the stigma of slaughtering birds in your backyard. Lots of people do it, but some look down upon it....

Dang, I'm good at rambling!

Good luck!

 

[whatsup chickenbutt]

well free ranging chickens in town is a little extreme, so therefore its a good bargaining tool for you. A good thing to negotiate.
I think it helps you to plead the case of keeping a small backyard CONTAINED flock, and the explain the differences in the two. That way, the city can regulate, while hobbyists can still enjoy raising a few chickens.

 

[MissPrissy]

Contact Seachick. She and her DD, Envirogirl, worked and changed their towns ordinances for poultry.

 

[MagsC]

Thank you all! You bring up some very good points I might have missed, though I am trying to be as thorough as I can, making a list. I am such a basic plain spoken person that I am glad my sister will help me with the wording of it.Sigh.