Public Safety & Welfare Committee

CITY OF VERONA PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE COMMITTEE AUGUST 27, 2018 VERONA CITY HALL MINUTES 1. Call to order: Heather Reekie called the meeting to order at 6:17 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Heather Reekie, Katie Kohl and Evan Touchett were present. Also present: Police Chief Bernie Coughlin, Sgt. Jesse Christensen, Planning and Development Director Adam Sayre, and City Clerk Ellen Clark. Katie Brasel, representing the Tri 4 Schools Family Mud Run, was also present. 3. Approval of Minutes: Motion by Reekie, seconded by Kohl, to approve the minutes from the August 16, 2018 Public Safety and Welfare Committee meeting. Motion carried 3-0. 4. Discussion and Possible Action Re: A Special Event Permit application from Katie Brasel for the Tri 4 Schools Family Mud Run on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 5:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. This is the sixth year for the Tri 4 Schools fundraising event. Approximately 1,500 people are expected to participate. The event is held in Festival Park and Veteran’s Park, and is designed for children ages 3-13. Motion by Reekie, seconded by Kohl, to approve a Special Event Permit application from Katie Brasel for the Tri 4 Schools Family Mud Run on Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 5:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 5. Discussion Re: Creation of an ordinance relating to the keeping of chickens in the City of Verona. Mr. Sayre explained that City staff has discussed various issues regarding the keeping of chickens in the City. They are looking for some discussion and direction from the committee. This will involve public safety, and will also require amendments to the zoning code. Ordinance Sections 7 and 13 are involved in this ordinance. 7-1-22 is the licensing requirement for raising chickens in the City. This requires anyone keeping chickens to obtain an annual license, and to notify neighbors of the intent to keep chickens. Notification of neighbors is not required for renewal of the license. Written permission of the property owner is also required. The keeping of chickens will be permitted in all districts except the Heavy Industrial (HI) District. Coops must be located only in rear yards and must be set back a minimum of 15 feet from all property lines and 25 feet from streets. When questioned about allowing chickens to run in the front yard as well as the back yard, the consensus of the committee was that chickens could be allowed to run in the front yard, as long as fencing following the City’s fencing ordinance is in place. The committee also recommended that the ordinance remain consistent with the City’s fencing policy throughout.  Mr. Sayre explained that the goal is to take this to the Planning Commission on October 1st, and then to the Public Safety and Welfare Committee and the Common Council on October8th. The committee is comfortable with moving forward with the public hearing process on this ordinance. 7. Adjournment: Motion by Reekie, seconded by Kohl, to adjourn at 6:46 p.m. Motion carried 3-0. Ellen Clark, City Clerk