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HomeMy WebLinkAbout032321 UA MINUTES CITY OF APPLE VALLEY URBAN AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 23, 2021 1. CALL TO ORDER The City of Apple Valley Urban Affairs Advisory Committee meeting was called to order by Chair Sharon Schwartz at 6:00 p.m. Members Present: Sharon Schwartz, Linda Blake, Sandy Breuer*, Pamela Sohlberg*, Walton Mahlum, John Vegter, and Ann Arens (arrived at 6:01 p.m.). Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Community Development Director Bruce Nordquist, Planner/Economic Development Specialist Alex Sharpe *Virtual attendee 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Schwartz asked if there were any changes to the agenda. MOTION: Breuer moved, seconded by Sohlberg, approving the agenda. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 23, 2021 Chair Schwartz asked if there were any changes to the minutes. Sohlberg advised that she was present virtually at the February 23, 2021 meeting but was not able to participate in the votes due to technical difficulties. MOTION: Mahlum moved, seconded by Breuer, approving the minutes of the meeting of February 23, 2021. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 4. ACTION ITEMS A. Approve Appointment of Officers On February 25, 2021, the City Council reappointed Sharon Schwartz and Ann Arens to the Urban Affairs Committee (UAC) for a term expiring March 1, 2024. The UAC is recommended to nominate and elect for the positions of Chair and Secretary. MOTION: Sohlberg moved, seconded by Mahlum, approving the appointment of Sharon Schwartz as Chair and Sandy Breuer as Secretary. Ayes - 6 - Nays - 0. 2 B. Animal Ordinance Considerations and Best Practices City Planner Alex Sharpe presented a brief presentation. Chair Schwartz raised the point of whether in the future the committee would need to look at the animal ordinance for all types of animals, for example, rabbits being kept in hutches. Planner Sharpe advised that rabbits are considered domestic pets currently. He also mentioned there have been questions about goats, ducks, and bees but at this time, the City Council has only directed the committee to look at chickens and other fowl. Chair Schwartz asked if keeping chickens is a current fad or is it something that is a long- term hobby. Planner Sharpe advised that the request has been around since 2014, though it has increased since the pandemic began last year, but there is no way of predicting what may occur in the future as the pandemic ends. Committee Member Sohlberg raised the point that egg-laying only lasts about 2 years for hens, so what would become of them afterwards? Would they become pets? Chair Schwartz mentioned that butchering was considered when the ordinance was looked at in 2014. Planner Sharpe advised that there are some facilities that will do butchering in the event that the City does not allow them on a residential lot. Some people will have interest in replacing their hens and others will want to keep them for the life of the animal. Committee Member Vegter said from experience that the egg production does slow down drastically after two years though they do continue to lay some eggs afterwards. Chair Schwartz mentioned that people that want the chickens for a food source would need to have a larger herd of chickens since the production of eggs tends to be low. Committee Member Vegter advised that it would depend on the size of the family and how often they are consuming eggs and that it does seem to be a more common thing as neighboring cities are allowing chickens. Chair Schwartz mentioned that the city would need to provide instructions on chickens to ensure proper care of the animals. Committee Member Vegter advised that the care for chickens is not very difficult and is even a quick tasks for kids to learn responsibility Committee Member Sohlberg mentioned that Wayne Martin mentioned at the last meeting that if bedding is wet it would need to make sure to be changed out every day so as to prevent diseases. She also asked if an 11,000 sq. ft. lot could be shown with how 3 much square footage would be used for a chicken coop going by the recommendations that Wayne Martin gave at the last meeting. Planner Sharpe advised he would have the information at the next meeting. Committee Member Blake thought that having residents take a course on keeping chickens would be beneficial as some may not know the costs that go into it and it may be a good resource before getting involved. Committee Member Arens mentioned that it would also be beneficial for residents to be able to ask questions to someone who is knowledgeable and has experience with chickens. Planner Sharpe said the U of M Extension does offer a class taught by Wayne Martin. Committee Member Breuer advised that the City does not make residents take classes to learn about raising a dog and that it may be too much to require residents to complete a class in order to raise chickens. Chair Schwartz asked whether the City has regulations on keeping dogs outside. Planner Sharpe advised that there are restrictions against keeping dogs outside unless a Conditional Use Permit for a dog run, breeding or kennel is granted. Chair Schwartz mentioned that as a homeowner she would not want to have a neighbor who kept chickens as there may be a smell and chickens could make potential buyers not want to purchase her property. Committee Member Sohlberg noted that Rebecca Weum mentioned at the last meeting that property values had increased in the cities that allowed chickens but that adjacent properties to chickens were not specifically mentioned. Planner Sharpe advised that property values and chickens will be researched and information brought forth to the next meeting. Committee Member Vegter mentioned adding food storage to the considerations as it can be attractive to other animals like squirrels and mice. Committee Member Sohlberg asked about composting and disposal of waste that Wayne Martin had spoken about in the last meeting. Planner Sharpe advised that chicken waste is not currently an accepted compost material but that it can be disposed of in the regular trash. Committee Member Vegter mentioned that there are some community drop-off sites as well. Planner Sharpe said there are these sites but they do not currently accept chicken waste. Chair Schwartz asked about on-site composting and whether that would cause a smell. 4 Planner Sharpe advised that there is no smell as long as you’re correctly composting. Committee Member Vegter mentioned composting his vegetables and there not being any smell. Planner Sharpe advised that composting vegetative matter is different than animal byproducts like bones and feces. Committee Member Arens asked if it would be possible to have a list of neighboring cities that allow chickens and how many permits have been issued. Planner Sharpe said that many cities do not issue permits but staff could look into the request. Community Development Director Nordquist said that he agreed with Planner Sharpe on not wanting to issue CUPs as it’s very rigid and runs with land use but that there is value in having a permit/license that requires participation by adjacent neighbors and could help with nuisance complaints in the future. Committee Member Breuer mentioned that Planner Sharpe had looked into the number of complaints relating to chickens by neighboring cities and that the numbers had been very small. Planner Sharpe advised that the Petitioner Rebecca Weum had collected the data but that he did follow-up with the cities as well. Planner Sharpe mentioned that the City does require all dogs to be licensed so that may be something to look into with chickens as well. Cats do not require licenses as they are considered completely indoor animals. Planner Sharpe brought up that consideration of dangerous dogs relating to chickens and looking at that aspect at the next meeting. Chair Schwartz asked whether residents are required to have fences if they have chickens. Planner Sharpe advised that would be a consideration to be looked into otherwise could also allow free-range chickens with supervision. Community Development Director Nordquist mentioned we would likely not require fenced yards for chickens as there would be a coop and a run for management and would not allow free-range chickens. Committee Member Schwartz asked how the chickens would be kept in the yard. Committee Member Vegter advised that they would be kept in either the coop or the run so they would not have access to leave a property. Committee Member Sohlberg said that the run would be in addition to the coop and would be an enclosed area that the chickens cannot leave. 5 Planner Sharpe mentioned that at the previous meeting, Wayne Martin discussed that chickens are let out of their runs to free-roam for additional exercise, so that this may be where the consideration of fenced yards comes in. Chair Schwartz asked what is done with the chickens during the winters. Planner Sharpe advised that electrical heaters are typically used on the coldest days but that some may choose to bring them inside their homes. Committee Member Breuer requested that staff bring forward a drawing showing a 350 ft. circle around a home in Apple Valley to see the requirement that Farmington currently requires. Committee Member Blake asked if adjacent property sign-offs could also be further discussed at the next meeting. Planner Sharpe advised that there were three ways this is typically done in other city ordinances: no neighbor sign-offs, only adjacent neighbor sign-offs (usually 3-4 lots), or the more extreme which is those in the 350 foot radius. CD Director Nordquist brought up parking permits being similar, for example, in household where they may have four children and each have a car, staff has the resident ask neighbors about parking additional cars about accommodating more cars. Committee Member Arens mentioned possibly just doing a flyer notifying neighbors and not necessarily asking permission. CD Director Nordquist and Planner Sharpe said that staff was not advocating for one way or the other, just that the discussion on all possible methods needed to be had. They also said that City Council may look at the Committees recommendations and then adjust to an ordinance that the Council sees fit as was done when Bagster Bags were reviewed previously. Committee Member Mahlum agreed with Chair Schwartz’s point earlier about the change in ordinance possibly opening the door for other residents to want to add other animals like goats or bees in and that this should be made aware to the City Council. Chair Schwartz asked if there was any information gathered regarding health issues and chickens. Planner Sharpe advised that most disease outbreaks are typically reduced to households and occur from a family member not washing their hands after handling the chickens. In the US, it is typically bacterial outbreaks. CD Director Nordquist mentioned that there were some salmonella outbreaks that were related to backyard chickens but noted that these risks do occur all the time, for example, when the State Fair occurs. 6 Planner Sharpe mentioned that relating back to Committee Member Mahlum and Schwartz’s point is that bees are likely the second most interested animal that residents request information on. 5. OTHER BUSINESS A. Next Urban Affairs meeting is scheduled for April 27, 2021 CD Director Nordquist acknowledged Planner Sharpe’s work with the 2020 Census as well as discussed steps taken to improve Apple Valley’s participation in the Census by use of postcards, multi-family visits by staff with Census materials and advertisements in multiple languages. From 2010, Apple Valley’s self-response rate increased by 4%. 6. ADJOURN Hearing no further comments from the Urban Affairs Advisory Committee, Chair Schwartz asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Vegter moved, seconded by Arens to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 p.m. Ayes - 7- Nays - 0. Respectfully Submitted, ____________ __ Breanna Vincent, Department Assistant Approved by the Urban Affairs Advisory Committee on 4/27/2021 . Sharon Schwartz, Chair