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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JUNE 9, 2025 13 Councilmember Weber said on the topic of manure and cleanliness our current ordinance states daily cleaning and annual deep clean. He thinks that's impossible to enforce. He thinks saying clean and dry bedding and composting of the waste is sufficient. He said leg banding is currently required for all chickens. He has read that it can be considered inhumane for the animal. So he would like to see that removed. He thinks coop confinement and licensing is sufficient. Councilmember Rousseau has ideas on how to make the ordinance more user friendly. She was looking at 1325.07 which is Performance Standards, under subsection D. She agrees that six is a good number of hens to allow. There are a lot of guidelines vs. policy. It states it is for urban chickens and we are a suburban area. Her understanding is that six hens is a good amount of birds if you are looking to feed a family of four. Under subdivision 6A, 2A there is a 25 square foot. She understands we are looking at other setbacks. Councilmember Holden asked what is 25 square feet. Councilmember Rousseau said it is permitted within the setback. Councilmember Weber asked if he addressed the setbacks. Councilmember Holden said he addressed the coop size and minimum lot size. She wants to make sure we are comparing apples to apples. Councilmember Rousseau said there was B, as well. It said a residential property with a detached garage and an accessory structure/shed will be allowed a third accessory structure. She asked if dog kennels are considered an accessory structure. City Administrator Jagoe said they are not. Councilmembers asked for confirmation that dog kennels are not an accessory structure but chicken coops are. City Administrator Jagoe confirmed. Councilmember Rousseau said under Subdivision 6A, 2E it states the outer limit for coop, including pen and exercise yard, shall be located closer to the principal dwelling upon the property. She would like to remove that. She understands that sometimes things happen and we still will have a setback in place for that. She asked for confirmation that there is currently a 2- year license for the chickens? City Administrator Jagoe confirmed. Councilmember Rousseau said when we look at F, it said "prior to issuance of an annual license the prospective license holder must provide a plan..." so that is contradictory to the 2-year license. Under H, it states "the coop shall be constructed and maintained in a workman like manner". She would like that to be removed. She is open to looking at the standards a little further. It seems out of scope. Number 4 states "screening shall be installed around the perimeter of the area dedicated for the screening of chickens". The last sentence says "acceptable forms of screening are 6' tall, solid fence and vegetation." She would like to strike that. It seems too prescriptive with the screening since it's already in the back yard. It also states that it can't be in