CC Minutes - 09/29/10 Work Session

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Near -Term • Dedicate City resources to increase the level of neighborhood -scale urban agricultural activities • Completion of a local food market analysis by the University of Oregon (UO) in partnership with Lane County, the City of Eugene, and Eugene Water & Electric Board • Align the recommendations from the Community Climate and Energy Action Plan with food security, urban agriculture, and related City services and planning efforts Long -Term Complete a comprehensive community food security assessment and gap analysis Complete a disaster food access and distribution analysis and plan Revise the Eugene Code to address urban agriculture and homesteading opportunities Mr. Nelson said he completed a triple bottom line (TBL) analysis of what it would take to accomplish the recommendations in the plan and found that there were positive effects for environmental and social equity, but neutral effects for economic development. He found that the plan recommendations scored high in terms of social equity if emphasis was placed in implementation on building community access to healthy, affordable, culturally affordable food; if emphasis was placed on boutique products that was not the case. The recommendations scored high in regard to the environment if emphasis was placed on organic and low- carbon farming methods rather than conventional farming methods. Based on the outcomes from the food market assessment, the economic element was marginal. Mr. Nelson called the council's attention to two draft motions regarding a related topic, the keeping of chickens inside city limits. He recalled the May 24 public hearing and the oral and written testimony received. He said following that, the Building and Permit Services Manager had suspended enforcement of the code if a complaint was based solely on the number of hens. The City continued to enforce other elements of the code related to noise and odor. The first draft motion continued that suspension at no cost to the City; the second motion directed staff to initiate code revisions at a cost of $10,000 to $40,000. Mayor Piercy solicited council questions and comments. Ms. Taylor was pleased to see the City work with the UO and use student work, suggesting it helped to improve the municipal and university relationship. She noted the close connection between the topic and the City's sustainability goals. She said that eating food produced locally had benefits for health and carbon reduction, which was important. In regard to chickens, Ms. Taylor questioned if the City would regulate the sale of eggs and if it would allow slaughterhouses on private lots. She also noted the potential of health hazards from eggs produced in unsanitary conditions. She asked if the City had heard from farmers who already produce and sell eggs. She anticipated all kinds of neighbor disputes arising. Ms. Taylor pointed out if there was no enforcement of the number of chickens that could be kept, a resident could have a whole flock of hens, which could be a problem. A constituent had pointed out to her that chicken food could attract rodents and manure both smelled bad and attracted flies. Ms. Taylor also pointed out that chickens were hard to sex when young, and she asked what happened when a chick turned out to be a rooster. Mr. Clark thanked staff and the project advisory committee. He acknowledged that a three -day food supply could be a problem in the case of emergency. He had a large garden and said he would like to see MINUTES— Eugene City Council September 29, 2010 Page 4 Work Session