2015.04.07 Worksession Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Gundlach reported that the City does have the right to issue property owners citations on a daily basis until their property was brought into compliance with City Code. She explained that properties were typically brought into compliance quickly given the fact there was a threat of a misdemeanor. Councilmember Bauman was in favor of licensing chickens in the City of New Brighton. Gundlach suggested the Council consider how residential lots would be impacted by chicken coops as proposed within the Ordinance. She noted that any structures over 200 square feet would require a building permit. She expressed concern with having large chicken coops on residential lots in the City. Lotter asked how staff could help the Council move forward. Additional discussion ensued regarding the reasonable number of chickens that should be allowed on residential lots in the City. Councilmember Bauman, Mayor Jacobsen and Councilmember Jacobsen agreed to allowing up to six chickens for properties 20,000 square feet or less, 12 chickens for 20,000 to 45,000 square feet lots and 24 chickens for lots over 45,000 square feet. Councilmember Burg suggested that lots under an acre be allowed to have 12 chickens and lots over an acre be allowed to have 24 chickens. Councilmember Strub proposed having 6 chickens for lots less than 20,000 square feet, 9 chickens for lots between 20,000 and 45,000 square feet and 18 chickens for lots over 45,000 square feet. Councilmember Bauman stated she could support these three categories. The Council further discussed buffering and placement of chicken coops. Councilmember Bauman was in favor of having chicken coops at least 25 feet from bodies of water, with a vegetative buffer. Gundlach reported that the Shoreland Ordinance would supersede the urban farming Ordinance after it was approved. She asked if commercial ditches should be buffered from chickens. She noted that she could provide the Council with a map with all of the wetland layers in the City. Councilmember Jacobsen believed that the Shoreland Ordinance would address this concern. Councilmember Strub asked if the resident could take the City to court for over regulating this issue and not allowing homeowners to utilize their property. Lotter explained that he would run this issue by the City Attorney have would have a response for the Council at a future meeting. He believed that residents could always hire an attorney and try to make a claim. Councilmember Bauman appreciated the Council's discussion this evening and believed that the Ordinance was moving in the right direction. Councilmember Strub questioned when the Ordinance would be enforced.