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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—NOVEMBER 16, 2020 7 <br /> Councilmember Holden explained the City would have to provide the purpose and direction for <br /> this committee. She indicated it would take time to draft policies and create this information. For <br /> this reason, she supported the Council holding off on forming a committee. <br /> Mayor Grant agreed the City should hold off on forming a Human Rights Committee at this <br /> time. <br /> Councilmember Holmes stated she believed waiting was the best course of action. <br /> Council consensus was to direct staff to post the police activity reports to the City's website. In <br /> addition, the Council requested staff speak to Ramsey County about receiving quarterly reports <br /> beginning in 2021 and to ask if the other contract cities were interested in starting a Diverse <br /> Civilian Review Board. Lastly, the Council was to reconsider a Human Rights Committee in six <br /> to twelve months. <br /> B. Keeping of Chickens Survey Results <br /> Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla stated at its September 21, 2020 <br /> Work Session, the City Council discussed public engagement and feedback options in regards to <br /> the keeping of backyard chickens. Council directed staff to create an online survey to gauge <br /> resident support. The survey launched on Monday, October 5 and closed Thursday, November 5, <br /> 2020. <br /> Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla reported 660 residents completed the <br /> survey. Of the respondents, 75.2 percent indicated that they were in favor of allowing egg laying <br /> hens and roughly two-thirds of respondents indicated that they had experience or knew someone <br /> with experience with raising chickens in the past. Among the respondents who indicated their <br /> support, residents stated that their interest in chickens ranged from a desire to participate in a <br /> "greener" lifestyle to providing a learning experience for kids. The most important factor was a <br /> desire to access food quality, with 71.4 percent of respondents indicating that this was either <br /> "Important" or"Very Important"to them. <br /> Community Development Manager/City Planner Mrosla explained roughly less than half of <br /> all respondents indicated that they had concerns about changing the chicken ordinance, but some <br /> respondents indicated that they were concerned changes to the ordinance may result in noisy or <br /> unsanitary situations, or situations that could attract vermin. There was no clear majority of <br /> respondents who supported the same number of chickens that should be allowed on a residential <br /> property, but the largest cohort of 45.2 percent of residents supported four (4) to six (6) chickens <br /> per property. A clear majority of residents supported a minimum distance from other properties <br /> required for chicken coops, minimum cleanliness standards for chicken coops, and the maximum <br /> or minimum size of coops and run area allowed for residential properties. Roughly half of all <br /> respondents indicated that they supported a requirement for a city-issued permit, screening for <br /> chicken coops or a run area, and restrictions for the location on a property where chickens can be <br /> housed. <br /> Councilmember Holden commented 20% of the population responded to this survey, which was <br /> a significant amount. She explained based on the results of the survey, the majority of the <br />