KAUKAUNA — Members of the Kaukauna Health and Recreation Committee will discuss and possibly vote on an ordinance to allow chickens within Kaukauna city limits.
Members of the public will have an opportunity to speak either before or against a proposed ordinance.
If the committee does vote, the measure then would go before the full city council for consideration.
The Kaukauna Health and Recreation Committee meets at 6:30 p.m., Monday, June 5, 2017 at the Municipal Services Building, 144 W. Second St., Kaukauna.
At its meeting May 15, 2017, the committee moved to direct the mayor to get copies of ordinances from municipalities that allow chickens and compare ordinances with staff to come up with a fee structure and an ordinance to allow chickens within the city, according to Alderman Tony Penterman.
Ordinances restricting animals in the city go back to at least 1916, according to Penterman.
The current city ordinance, Section 11.12, or the Kaukauna municipal code, prohibits chickens in the city. It reads in part:
“No person shall keep or harbor any reptiles, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, bees, or hives of bees within the corporate limits of the city. ”
There appears to be considerable support to change the ordinance.
Residents were asked to post their comments on the city’s Facebook page HERE. More than 30 comments have been posted so far, and most are supportive of some type of ordinance.
In April 2017, the Appleton City Council adopted a set of rules and passed the ordinance by an 8-6 vote.
According to a post on the city of Appleton website:
Residents may keep up to four hens. A plan showing the size and location of the chicken coop and chicken run must be submitted to the Health Department along with a $145 pre-inspection fee. Each year the permit needs to be renewed at a cost of $24. Three square feet of space is required for each chicken. The chicken run can be no greater than 24 square feet.
Coop and chicken run placement shall be at a minimum of, but not limited to, a 3-foot setback from side and rear yard lot lines. If not attached to accessory structure such as detached garage or shed, coop placement must be a minimum of 10 feet from any structure on the parcel. In addition, coops shall not be closer than twenty-five feet to a residential dwelling, church, school or business on an abutting lot.
Once an application is received by the Appleton Health Department, residents living adjacent to the applicant will be notified and can object within 14 business days. If any neighbor objects to the application, the application is automatically denied. Though the applicant can appeal the decision to the Safety & Licensing Committee.
In March, a post March 7, 2017 on the city of Kaukauna website said the Health and Recreation Committee was reviewing a request from a few interested residents who had asked the committee to consider allowing raising chickens within the city limits.
HEALTH AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
City of Kaukauna
Council Chambers
Municipal Services Building
144 W. Second Street, Kaukauna
Monday, June 5, 2017, at 6:30 P.M.
1. Correspondence.
2. Solicitor’s License to Ken Schiedermayer, Kaukauna, to sell deep fried pizza and tater tots and water.
3. Temporary Class B Retailers License to St. Katharine Drexel, 119 W. 7th Street, for annual picnic at St. Mary’s Site.
4. Temporary Class B Retailers License to Kaukauna Lions Club for Live in Hydro Park on June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 3, 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2 and 9, 2017.
5. Permission to use Second Street parking lot for farmers market.
6. Chicken ordinance.
7. General Matters.
THIS MEETING FACILITY IS BARRIER FREE.
IF REQUESTED THREE (3) DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING, A SIGN
LANGUAGE INTERPRETER WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE.
NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that a majority of the City Council will be present at the
meeting of the Health and Recreation Committee scheduled for Monday, June 5, 2017, at 6:30 P.M. to gather information about a subject over which they have decision making responsibility.
This constitutes a meeting of the City Council pursuant to State ex rel. Badke v. Greendale Village Bd., 173 Wis.2d 553, 494 N.W.2d 408 (1993), and must be noticed as such, although the Council will not take any formal action at this meeting.
Notice is hereby given that a negative quorum of the Kaukauna Utility Commission may be present at this meeting. No formal commission action will be taken.
