Item 5: Ordinance on Urban Animal Keeping Standards

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: An Ordinance Concerning Urban Animal Keeping Standards; and Amending Sections 9.2010, 9.2682, 9.2740, 9.3115, 9.3210, 9.3310, 9.3810, 9.3910, and 9.5250 of the Eugene Code, 1971, and Section 4.996 of that Code (City File CA 12-2) Meeting Date: February 11, 2013 Agenda Item Number: 5 Department: Planning & Development Staff Contact: Kristie Brown www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-6041 ISSUE STATEMENT The City Council will hold a work session on a package of land use code amendments related to urban animal keeping within the city limits. The purpose of the work session is to allow the council the opportunity to discuss proposed changes to the draft ordinance raised by individual councilors prior to taking action at a subsequent meeting. BACKGROUND Last year, the City Council initiated code amendments related to farm animal standards. These amendments are intended to promote elements of the City of Eugene Food Security Scoping and Resource Plan, Envision Eugene and the Climate and Energy Action Plan. The Food Security Scoping and Resource Plan and the animal keeping codes from a broad range of other cities were used as a basis to develop these amendments. Code language addressing the farm animal standards was drafted, and the renaming of these standards to “urban animal keeping” was proposed, to help clarify the intent. A summary of the proposed code language as recommended by the Planning Commission is provided as Attachment A. While farm animals are currently allowed in residential zones, these amendments are intended to increase the number of farm animals allowed in an urban setting, while still addressing neighborhood livability issues. Specifically, the amendments propose the following: • Increase the number of allowed chickens, rabbits, and other fowl. • Add an allowance for two miniature goats, one miniature pig and two beehives. • Clarify and strengthen the requirements on sanitation, fencing, enclosures, and setbacks. • Allow for harvesting of chickens, fowl, or rabbits on site. On January 22, 2013, the City Council held a public hearing on this package of code amendments. Written testimony received prior to the hearing date was provided previously to the City Council and can be found at www.eugene-or.gov/farmanimals. At the public hearing, eight people spoke in support of the amendments. Seven of those eight however, also expressed concerns about specific items, including those that had been modified by the Planning Commission. S:\CMO\2013 Council Agendas\M130211\S1302115.doc