Chicken-owners find lawmakers too hardboiled for their petition
OGDEN -- A flock of chicken-lovers cried foul Tuesday night after the city council rejected a petition to allow poultry in residential zones.
"We wanted to get legal," Teresa Buller, who along with her husband, Matthew, raises six chickens at their home at 1972 Buchanan Ave., said after the unanimous vote.
"We want to continue to get eggs, and we want our chickens."
The Bullers recently were fined $300 by the city for an illegal poultry operation.
Although the council turned down the petition, it plans to explore other options to possibly allow hens within the city.
Council Chairwoman Amy Wicks said she favors looking at issuing permits to those who want to raise chickens and determining acceptable lot sizes for poultry.
However, Councilman Doug Stephens said he opposes an ordinance that would allow chickens because it would be difficult for animal-control officers to enforce.
Bob Geier, the city's animal services director, said enforcing a chicken ordinance would be problematic for his officers, who are already overworked.
"Don't add an unfunded mandate to my people," he urged the city council. "It's not appropriate."
Chickens also cause problems, such as attracting skunks and raccoons, Geier said.
Raising chickens is prohibited in the city with the exception of some areas where it has been grandfathered in, such as parts of west Ogden, said Greg Montgomery, the city's planning director.
He said a survey of several cities that allow chickens generally have larger lots than are available in Ogden. The city's zoning department handles 10 to 15 complaints involving chickens each month, Montgomery said.
The chicken petition was hatched by Troy Campos, who raises a half-dozen hens at his home at 1437 N. Liberty Ave. Campos said he submitted the petition because he faces a fine for his operation.
"I want to give a voice to people who own chickens in the city," he told the city council.
Campos' petition sought permission to keep up to a dozen chickens over a month old. It also requested that roosters be allowed with a permit.
Campos told the city council he doesn't believe allowing chickens will pose enforcement or safety problems for animal control officers.
"I don't think chickens are going to bite you," he said.
David Wolfgram, who lives at 1041 21st St., also urged the council to allow chickens.
"There is something ... about getting free eggs," he said. "It builds on the quality of life. It's amazing for kids to see."
In another matter Tuesday night, the city council adopted a resolution to allow Channel 17 to officially start broadcasting its meetings.
Details are still being worked out with the Bill Francis, the station's manager, said John Patterson, the city's chief administrative officer.
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