Public Health & Housing Committee

APPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH and HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5. 2014 Members: Alderman Gabby Rujawitz – Chairman Alderman Ken Kinsella Alderman Jim Musgrove Alderman Joe Hayden Alderman Bob White Tricia Tialdo Staff: Robert Sabo Roger Barfield Sgt Bill Herling Guests: Alderwoman Janet Schmidt Scott Zipfel David Valentine Alderwoman Melinda Hult Joy Schreiber Michael Hagberg Treasurer Dean Hardt Ryan Nonberus Alex Enyart Jacqueline Lee Jim Chadderton Mike Buettner Joan Chadderton Dianne Rogge Daryl Drennen Chairman Rujawitz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. On roll call all members were present. Alderman Kinsella made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 2, 2014 meeting, second by Tricia Tialdo. Motion carried. Public participation: Alex Enyart commented that he was in favor of the chicken ordinance. He believed that it would be good for Belleville and people could raise their own eggs. Mr. Enyart does not believe that there would be a noise issue and compared to dogs chickens produce less waste. Mike Buettner voiced his opposition to the chicken ordinance citing a three year court battle over his neighbor’s birds. Noise and sanitation problems would be the major concerns. He also stated that if an ordinance is going to be passed it should contain regulations to protect these and other nuisance problems. Scott Zipfel spoke for the ordinance citing that St. Louis allows chickens and three chickens per household would not present problems for Belleville. He advised that having chickens can be an educational experience for children. Mr. Zipfel showed a picture of what a standard chicken coop would look like. Jim Chadderton opposed the ordinance. He related that if all his neighbors in a two block radius had chickens it would total 72 in number. He would be concerned with the conditions of the coop and the chickens running loose. David Valentine was against the chicken ordinance. He advised that some people will not take care of their chickens which will cause odor problems. Steve Herbstritt is for allowing residents to have chickens. He stated that dogs are running at large in the city now causing problems and feels that people should be allowed to have chickens, Joy Schreiber was not for or against the ordinance but feels that if they are allowed it should be done by having a variance. This would narrow the field down and have only serious people getting involved with chickens. Michael Hagberg was not for or against the ordinance but believes that if allowed there should be set backs and have restrictions for lot size as well as apartment buildings. He gave an example of an apartment building with 62, units would that allow them to have 186 chickens on the premises? Mr. Hagberg also stated that this ordinance should go through legal and ordinance and have certain restrictions attached. Alderwoman Janet Schmidt stated that there were some good comments and that she was going to ask for a motion to table this ordinance until the next Health and Housing meeting in March. She related that there is a petition for allowing this ordinance that is being circulated. It has 50 (fifty) signatures at this time and they are trying to obtain 500 (five hundred). Alderwoman Schmidt advised that they are looking at putting in certain restrictions but not requiring a license. There may also be a sunset clause of two years but with the option of repealing earlier if warranted. Alderwoman Melinda Hult inquired as to what Alderwoman Schmidt would see as a common complaint with someone having chickens and what she thought the lot size restrictions should be. Alderwoman Schmidt replied probably the noise and upkeep of the coop but did not have a required lot size in mind. Alderman Bob White had a slight concern about the property values being affected if a neighbor had chickens. Committee member Tricia Tialdo believed that it would just come down to a personal preference for the individual. Alderwoman Schmidt commented that it shows that it can add to the increase of property values by people wanting to move into a city that allowed them to keep chickens. Alderman White would like to review the proposed ordinance and have further input form the Housing and Police departments. Alderman Kinsella made a motion to table the chicken ordinance until the next meeting, second by Alderman Musgrove. All members voted AYE. Motion carried. Under old business Director Sabo updated the Committee on the previous mentioned property complaints at 802 W Monroe. An e-mail was sent to the Committee relating that the ongoing issues had been addressed with citations to the owner and the derelict vehicles towed from the property. On new business Director Sabo gave the Committee an implementation and finance report on the Crime Free Housing Program. Six seminars have been conducted with 642 landlords/owners attending. Three additional seminars are scheduled in February. 1082 landlords/owners have been certified and 6669 rental properties registered. 190 landlord/owners still need to be certified. Four owners have not complied and citations were issued. $166,725 has been received in revenue with $100,538.68 in expenses to date. The Housing department is anticipating $5000.00 in additional expense and the Police Department is requesting $56,407.00 for an equipped vehicle for the Crime Free Housing Officer. Sgt Herling from the Police Department stated that there had been 268 rental incident reports since November 1st and 12 evictions resulting from the Crime Free Housing Program. An additional estimated twenty evictions were from actions by owners/landlord after receiving incident complaints at their rental units. Alderman Hayden inquired as to the implementation of information into the system and the status of the program software. Director Sabo and Sgt Herling related information is entered into the system however the program is still being adapted to provide the necessary query sheets and other operating functions. The Police Department is looking at additional program software that will link the Police Department and Housing Department with the Crime Free Housing Program. Alderman Hayden was concerned that if this program is necessary and cost efficient he does want to wait until next month to approve the expenditure and he also was concerned with the training connected to the software. Alderman Kinsella made a motion to approve the expenditures requested by the Police Department for the equipped vehicle for the Crime Free Housing Officer, second by Alderman Hayden. On a roll call vote all members present voted AYE. Motion carried. Alderman Hayden stated that for the record that he will hold his comments on the chicken ordinance until it is presented at the next meeting. Alderman Schmidt advised that she has more material that she will forward prior to the next meeting. Alderman Hayden said that with the outlay of subdivisions in his ward, (Lake Forest, Woodridge, Reunion and Westhaven) the City has been inundated with wildlife such as groundhogs, raccoons, possums and coyotes due to the food source. His concern is that chickens will bring in foxes and coyotes to these areas that might endanger small dogs and children. Alderman Kinsella made a motion to adjourn, second by Alderman White.