On The Agenda: Critter Control, Bees, & Chickens
On this weeks City Of The Whole agenda is a repeal of the city's animal control ordinance and revision to the regulations regarding bees and chickens.
Kent county has adopted an animal control ordinance which empowers the county's police force (the sheriff's office) to address animal control violations. However, due to state law the county only has such power where a local authority does not have its own ordinance. Repealing the city's ordinance will allow the county's police force to perform animal control enforcement within the city under its own regulations. The city will still maintain authority over specific related issues - but the related ordinances will be relocated to elsewhere in the codes so as not to interfere with the county's authority.
Some of the specific issues the city will continue to address are barking dogs and the keeping of bees or chickens. The ordinances related to bees and chickens will also be slightly modified. The "one-citizen veto" will be removed from the backyard chicken ordinance; it has already been removed from the backyard fire pit ordinance. The backyard chicken permit fee will be reduced from $58 to $25 and the term of the permit will be extended from one (1) year (annual) to three (3) years. A permit fee of $25 for bee keeping is suggested along with some revision related to the location and concentration of hives.
A presentation will be made by the city's planning and legal departments at the Committee of the whole meeting. Meetings can be watched live or after the fact on the city's Youtube channel.