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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL—SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 9 Councilmember Monson stated she understood the keeping of ducks may be similar to the keeping of chickens, but in her opinion, the keeping of ducks was approaching an agricultural use in the city. Councilmember Weber explained the Council has discussed this use over the past several months and staff has made extensive efforts to find significant differences and there has been no findings that there is a significant noise difference, transmission of disease or pests. For this reason, he supported the keeping of ducks. Mayor Grant asked if there was a difference between chickens and ducks. He noted Councilmember Monson spoke to the eggs being different. He commented he did not support turning Arden Hills into an agricultural area and explained he had concerns with ducks being unsupervised in backyards and the predators this would attract. Councilmember Holden commented she knew people who had domestic guinea hens and inquired if the City wanted to allow guinea hens. Mayor Grant did not support the City allowing the keeping of guinea hens. Councilmember Weber indicated no staff time was spent researching guinea hens but reiterated that the keeping of ducks was not any different than the keeping of chickens. Councilmember Holden explained she wanted to limit the ordinance to the keeping of chickens. A roll call vote was taken. The amendment carried 3-1 (Councilmember Weber opposed). AMENDMENT: Councilmember Monson moved and Mayor Grant seconded a motion to direct staff to draft language that ensures the City does not allow any loud or exotic bird breeds that may or may not be specific within the ordinance. Councilmember Weber explained there was no information within this planning case that the City would allow for different hens. He indicated guinea hens were a different animal. Councilmember Monson reported she would like language within the ordinance that does not allow the keeping of loud breeds of birds. Councilmember Weber was of the opinion that no evidence was presented about certain breeds of chickens that were louder. He noted there was a reference to a call duck and ducks have been removed from the ordinance. Councilmember Monson indicated this may be the case, but she wanted to have language within the ordinance for the protection of neighbors. Councilmember Holden stated she agreed with the motion but questioned how the City would define a loud chicken.