BOX ELDER —The Box Elder City Council directed City staff to draft a proposed ordinance that could allow residents to occupy chickens within city limits.
The recommendation followed results from two public meetings and an online poll which reported 313 residents supported allowing chickens within city limits and 138 opposed, according to city officials.
The proposed ordinance will be drafted by city staff within the next two weeks and presented to the Finance, Legal and Public Safety Committee June 3 for review. Officials said any ordinance developed would serve as a proposal with room to be revised and would not be finalized until formal council action.
The public meetings were a result of a City Council discussion on allowing urban chickens in the city limits during the March 3 regular council meeting. Following that meeting, the Council created a Chicken Task Force to gather public input, review how other communities have approached similar ordinances and engage residents in Box Elder. The Chicken Task Force included city council members, city staff, law enforcement, and community representatives.
Mayor Larson said the Chicken Task Force will not be part of drafting the proposed ordinance.
During council discussion May 19, members weighed public support against concerns about enforcement and livability.
“I am completely against having chickens in city limits. I do also believe they should be on a farm and not in a city,” Councilman Michael Knight said. “We need to do what’s right for the majority of the city.”
The City Council agreed staff should take the lead in drafting the ordinance to ensure it is legally sound and enforceable. Knight and Bixel also noted concerns raised during the public process represented a small portion of Box Elder residents.
Councilman Patrick Schubert said the results from the public meetings and online poll represented less than one-half of 1% of the city’s population and suggested that any finalized ordinance should be placed on a public ballot.
Councilman John Talich, who was previously on the fence in regard to chickens within city limits, said he is in favor of the city drafting a proposed ordinance. His main concern was the potential influx of chickens at the humane societies, but chickens are defined as livestock and cannot be taken to the humane society.
“From what I’ve heard from the people and popular opinion, we move forward and we do it at a good pace with the most protections as we can,” he said. The referenced “popular opinion” is based upon residents who voiced their opinions via the public meetings and online poll.
Due to the primary election on June 2, the Finance, Legal, and Public Safety Committee will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3. The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. the same night.
