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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – AUGUST 17, 2020 6 Councilmember Holmes said it was addressed several years ago but the Council felt the majority of the residents didn’t want them. Since that time a petition was emailed to her but she thinks a number of residents are still not interested because a suburban environment isn’t conducive for raising chickens. She is not for changing the ordinance. She didn’t know how they would enforce the rules and that once people go back to work, or once winter is here people may have a different opinion. Also coyotes and hawks is another disadvantage for chickens. Mayor Grant felt it could be an issue for the neighbors. Part of raising chickens is having a chicken coop that neighbors have to look at. Along with winter and caring for fowl. He would have to have some pretty severe ordinance language. City Administrator Perrault clarified that he believes there is a petition online but no petition has been formally submitted to the City by the petitioner. Councilmember Holden said she thought it was sent to all the Councilmembers around April. She has had residents talk to her about this and so felt there should be a discussion regardless if there was a petition. Councilmember Scott said he knew of a few residents that had chickens. One had problems keeping them contained, another neighbor had them and a coyote or some other animal got into them. He felt that by allowing them it could actually increase the coyote problem. Another person in another city said the chickens would bite him. For the people he knows that have had chickens it didn’t end well, so he wouldn’t support a change. Councilmember Holden asked how big would a coop have to be to have 2 or 3 chickens, and would a coop be that ugly when people look at stuff in people’s backyards anyway. She felt they should charge a permit fee, and if they get complaints they can no longer have them. The last time they reviewed this no cities allowed chickens but things have changed. Maybe they need a public meeting to discuss. Councilmember McClung had heard from people supportive and others not interested. He felt an ordinance would have to be crafted restrictively and carefully, and a permit on a year to year basis. Councilmember Holmes said our enforcement staff is busy enforcing our current ordinances and ordinances are difficult to enforce. Responsible owners won’t be the problem. There could be coops falling into disrepair and odor issues. Most people she’s talked to are not on board with chickens. Mayor Grant said he is still leaning to no chickens. Councilmember McClung there are a number of residents that are asking for this and he is a bit more open to it. Councilmember Holden noted the Council is split 3-2 so she will bring it up again next year.