Chicken Update: petition may be in trouble
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Bountiful Backyards
Jan 22, 2009, 12:35:19 PM1/22/09
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Thought some people would be interested in this. Apologies if you got this twice.
Looks like the chicken petition has hit a potential snag.
Whats that line about begging forgiveness and asking permission?
Some good thoughts going around in this correspondence. Writing to city council and any other legwork people can pitch in on would be appreciated by the Durham HENS folks.
Fwded Message:
Hey, everybody! Hope everyone got to enjoy the snow today.
Alot was happening late last week on our issue. I have several documents to share with you; they are attached:
Work Session Agenda for 1/22 meeting
Durham County Health Dept. Memo
Report from Bonnie Estes re: Neighborhood Notification for Chicken Keeping
Staff Response to Council REquests for Information
Please take a look at these. There's a lot here.
I spoke with Julia Mullen before I received these documents. She was calling, in part, to tell us that the feeling is that our ordinance is "in trouble." The reasons for this feeling seem to be because of:
-Mayor Bell's insistence on neighbor approval
-health concerns
-enforcement concerns
Bonnie Estes's report address the neighbor approval issue. Basically, the city can't afford to do what the Mayor wants. She is suggesting that there be some kind of notification made to neighbors and they can voice their opinions about their neighbors' getting chickens in a public hearing. [Read the particulars in the attached memo.]
I spoke with Gayle Harris at the County Health Dept. (acting director) after I got her memo. She was a bit more explicit verbally. She said "Provided that these precautions are taken, there is no public health issue." So that's a relief!
It's the enforcement area that I think we might have the most trouble in. Julia thought it VERY important that we get up with Cindy Baily on this. Zoning enforcement is now raising some concerns about their ability to handle infractions. There's talk that this really should be in the animal control dept's hands, and of course, they don't want any more burden on their plates. ... I've heard a lot of folks say "animal control can't handle the problems we have with dogs in Durham and you want them in charge of handling chicken problems?!"
On a good note, I spoke with Eugene Brown on Friday and he said he wants to support us on our efforts. His only concern was that if the Public Health Dept. came out against it, he wouldn't be able to vote for it. I think the memo obliterates that argument!
Frank and I also got to bend Mike Woodard's ear on Friday night. He opened our conversation by asking "what do we have to do to get this thing passed?" So, he is definitely on board and willing to help.
Special Guest!
Amanda Arrington has agreed to come to our meeting and share some advice on how to get our ordinance passed. She is the organizer/founder of the Coalition to Unchain Dogs which won a ban on dog chaining last year. I'm looking forward to hearing how they accomplished that!
So, there's a lot to talk about tomorrow night! See you t hen!
Chris
--
Bountiful Backyards
1100 North Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919)-619-9862
Looks like the chicken petition has hit a potential snag.
Whats that line about begging forgiveness and asking permission?
Some good thoughts going around in this correspondence. Writing to city council and any other legwork people can pitch in on would be appreciated by the Durham HENS folks.
Fwded Message:
Hey, everybody! Hope everyone got to enjoy the snow today.
Alot was happening late last week on our issue. I have several documents to share with you; they are attached:
Work Session Agenda for 1/22 meeting
Durham County Health Dept. Memo
Report from Bonnie Estes re: Neighborhood Notification for Chicken Keeping
Staff Response to Council REquests for Information
Please take a look at these. There's a lot here.
I spoke with Julia Mullen before I received these documents. She was calling, in part, to tell us that the feeling is that our ordinance is "in trouble." The reasons for this feeling seem to be because of:
-Mayor Bell's insistence on neighbor approval
-health concerns
-enforcement concerns
Bonnie Estes's report address the neighbor approval issue. Basically, the city can't afford to do what the Mayor wants. She is suggesting that there be some kind of notification made to neighbors and they can voice their opinions about their neighbors' getting chickens in a public hearing. [Read the particulars in the attached memo.]
I spoke with Gayle Harris at the County Health Dept. (acting director) after I got her memo. She was a bit more explicit verbally. She said "Provided that these precautions are taken, there is no public health issue." So that's a relief!
It's the enforcement area that I think we might have the most trouble in. Julia thought it VERY important that we get up with Cindy Baily on this. Zoning enforcement is now raising some concerns about their ability to handle infractions. There's talk that this really should be in the animal control dept's hands, and of course, they don't want any more burden on their plates. ... I've heard a lot of folks say "animal control can't handle the problems we have with dogs in Durham and you want them in charge of handling chicken problems?!"
On a good note, I spoke with Eugene Brown on Friday and he said he wants to support us on our efforts. His only concern was that if the Public Health Dept. came out against it, he wouldn't be able to vote for it. I think the memo obliterates that argument!
Frank and I also got to bend Mike Woodard's ear on Friday night. He opened our conversation by asking "what do we have to do to get this thing passed?" So, he is definitely on board and willing to help.
Special Guest!
Amanda Arrington has agreed to come to our meeting and share some advice on how to get our ordinance passed. She is the organizer/founder of the Coalition to Unchain Dogs which won a ban on dog chaining last year. I'm looking forward to hearing how they accomplished that!
So, there's a lot to talk about tomorrow night! See you t hen!
Chris
--
Bountiful Backyards
1100 North Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919)-619-9862
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