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b. Modify language for climate control requirements <br />At a City Council Work Session, it was suggested that the draft ordinance should include striking <br />the specific temperature that would be maintained in a coop. In their review, the Planning <br />Commission recommended further modification to the language to make it less prescriptive to <br />prospective licensees. Staff considered the ordinance language of neighboring communities while <br />drafting revisions to the climate control regulations. Three out of the 10 cities reviewed included <br />language for coops to be maintained at a specific temperature whereas seven cities had more <br />general for climate control; instead referencing standards such as: coops shall protect birds from <br />the weather and coops shall be fully enclosed, wind proof, and have sufficient windows for natural <br />light. <br />Staff has drafted updates to Subd. 6 A Lf to remove specific requirements for a set temperature <br />and a lightbulb while keeping the reference to a licensee providing a plan for maintaining an <br />adequate temperature. Staff has also updated the language to clarify that the plan is required at the <br />time of the initial application for the keeping of chickens/ducks and installation of a coop. On <br />September 3, the Planning Commission included these ordinance updates in their recommendation <br />to the City Council. <br />c. Modify language for maintaining a nuisance -free area for chickens/ducks <br />The Planning Commission requested that staff draft language for the maintenance of chickens that <br />is in keeping with the requirements for cats and dogs. City Code requires the owner of a cat or dog <br />to be responsible for cleaning up and disposing of animal feces in a sanitary manner. <br />Draft language in Subd 6 A. 3 states that the licensee shall be responsible for cleaning up the <br />chicken/duck keeping areas and disposing of waste in a sanitary manner. This language is in line <br />with the regulations for cleaning up litter for cats and dogs. Staff has not changed Subd. 6 A. 4, <br />which relates to chicken/duck keeping areas constituting a nuisance for adjacent properties. The <br />Planning Commission has recommended this updated draft language to the City Council. <br />d. Consider language to allow for the roaming of chickens/ducks <br />At the August meeting, the Planning Commission commented on the language is Subd. 6 A. 5 <br />which references that roaming chickens would be in violation of the conditions for keeping <br />chickens/ducks. Members of the Planning Commission noted that chickens are foragers and there <br />are benefits to allowing chickens to roam in the backyard to eat invasive insects. The Planning <br />Commission made a recommendation for staff to review possible ordinance language that would <br />allow for the roaming of chickens in a fenced area. <br />The City Code language for chickens already includes an exercise yard, defined as a larger fenced <br />area adjacent to coop and pen that provides space for exercise and foraging for birds when <br />supervised. Staff added in a provision in item Subd. 6 A.2.c. to reference an exercise yard as <br />optional and a space where chickens/ducks can roam while supervised by the licensee. <br />Page 4 of 7 <br />