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Approved URBAN FARMING TASK FORCE PROCEEDINGS Regular Meeting — November 21, 2013 6:30 p.m. Present: Matt Benson, Susan Dukich Wolf, Geoff Hollimon, Bruce Howard, Allison Leding, Alyssa Lundberg, Norm Schiferl, Ken Schumann Absent: Shana Morrell Also Present: Community Development Director Grant Fernelius, Code Enforcement Supervisor Joseph Hatch, Councilmember Mary Berg, Councilmember Gina Bauman Agenda Review: There were no changes to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Member Norm Schiferl seconded by Member Ken Schumann to approve the minutes from September 26, 2013 meeting. 8 Ayes, 0 Nays — Motion Carried. Business: (A) Conduct public comment forum — conclude 9:00 pm Chair Howard stated the Task Force would accept public comment at tonight's meeting. He noted they would like everyone to be respectful, and if someone wanted to speak they should fill out a comment form and give them to staff. He stated in general they want the comments to be kept to the topic at hand and each person would have three minutes to make comment. If there was time afterwards and everyone that wanted to speak was given the opportunity to speak, then they might allow additional comments from people who already spoke. Jennifer Benson, 1151 10th Street NW, stated she believed there were a lot of opportunities the City would have if they continued to move forward with the way they have in allowing urban farming practices. She stated she has always wanted chickens and she liked the community. She stated she intended to always be the best neighbor in keeping chickens and she has had no problems with any of her neighbors. She asked that urban farming practices continue to be allowed. She stated she had a dream of the City being the forefront in educating others. She believed a lot of people were interested who have not spoken up and be heard. She stated there can be all kinds of people in a community with different interests and get along. She stated there are educational opportunities here that could be utilized to make the City shine. Kristie Kellis, 715 Forest Dale Road, stated she was one of the founders of Lost Place Acres, an urban farm in the City. She stated she moved to the City 8 years ago and after research she founded Lost Place Acres. She stated her goal was to see what they could do with urban farming and for the first five years, she had no issues with her neighbors, but after five years she started having police visits, complaints, etc. She stated through urban farming they have met many friends and she was proud of what they have done. She believed the City was stronger by allowing urban farming. She believed the City was already doing something that other cities strived to do. She stated urban chicken keeping is not an issue in the City as there was only one complaint a year which was resolved each time. She believed the City was doing a good job with what it was presently doing. Yvonne Kurtz, 1423 17'h Avenue NW, stated she had a real concern about food and the safety of it. She stated she wanted to know where her food came from and the freedom to eat food free from chemicals and genetic engineering. She stated she was concerned about food prices. She stated right now she did not have a strong desire to raise chickens on her property, but she liked the freedom to do so at some point in the future and she wanted to have that right. She stated there were neighbors of hers that she did not agree with the things they did like spraying chemicals on their lawn, but she did not complain. She stated she did not want the City Council to limit how she could provide food. She did not want the