TITLE
Recommendation to approve the proposed changes to Title 6 of the Long Beach Municipal Code regarding the keeping of chickens, goats and bees.
DISCUSSION
On November 27, 2012, the City Council's Environmental Committee directed staff to develop proposed changes to the City's existing rules (contained in Title 6 of the Municipal Code) governing the keeping of chickens, goats and bees and to provide the committee with proposed revised municipal code changes at their next meeting.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, Animal Care Services Bureau, in coordination with the Office of Sustainability and City Attorney's office, drafted a set of proposed Title 6 municipal code changes. These changes were based on extensive research on the policies of other large cities in California and beyond, and reviewing of public feedback from previous Committee Meetings and two community meetings held in June of 2012. Feedback from the community has been mostly in favor of relaxing the restrictions for the keeping of these animals. However, several residents expressed concern regarding public safety issues and the welfare of keeping these types of animals in an urban environment. The attached, (attachment A), proposed municipal code changes reflect a balance of relaxing the restrictions while taking into consideration and assuring the humane treatment of these animals.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
Committee action is requested on March 18, 2013 in order to forward this item to the City Council in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with this item. If a new ordinance is adopted it could generate a minimal amount of new permit and license fees by Animal Care Services, as well as an increase in new calls for service and enforcement cases.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER