INNISFAIL – The Town of Innisfail moved a step closer to a permanent pet hen program with the approval of the first two readings of the new Urban Hen Keeping Bylaw.
But the first two readings were not unanimously approved by council at its regular meeting on April 24 and the third reading can not go ahead in the same meeting and is postponed until May 8.
The vote for the first two readings was 4 – 2 in favour for the new Urban Hen Keeping Bylaw, with Mayor Jean Barclay and Coun. Gavin Bates opposing.
“It was just around the fact that we're removing the permission from the neighbour and I felt that was such an important component of the pilot project going forward,” said Barclay. “I think that gives a lot of comfort when you have to have permission from the neighbours.”
The pet chicken issue was back on council’s table after administration came to council on April to remind members that the two-year pilot urban hen project was ending on April 30.
After being told by administration that its review showed near unanimous support for the hen program, council asked administration to come back to council on April 24 with a draft permanent bylaw for keeping pet hens.
At the April 24 council meeting, Erica Vickers, director of corporate services for the Town of Innisfail, proposed several changes from the pilot program.
The first change is that adjacent neighbour consent should not be part of the Urban Hen Program. However, neighbour notification will be required.
“This will give the neighbours an opportunity to access the guidelines and regulations of the Urban Hen Program and understand the requirements the licence holder must follow,” said Vickers in her report to council.
Secondly, the total number of household licences allowed under the permanent program will jump to 20, compared to five under the pilot project.
“It is preferable that administration not to have to manage a lottery/deadline system to issue upcoming licences, or to keep residents on a waitlist,” said Vickers, noting the town has already seen 11 local residents who have shown interest in the program. “Last week, the City of Red Deer council was asked to remove their cap of 102 licences for similar reasons. They had over 100 people on a waitlist.”
The draft bylaw now includes a provision that the Urban Hen Licence holder must reside on the property.
If a licence holder moves away and leaves hens in the custody of renters or occupants a new application can be made by new residents to continue with the hens and coop on the property.
And finally, the fines for penalties have been increased to $250, from $115 for a first offence under the pilot project, and $230 for a second offence.
With eight days between April 30 and May 8 of no municipal guidelines or bylaw regulations for pet hen owners, Vickers said there is already a 90-day leeway built into the municipal bylaw to prevent any interim issues.
“They're still fine. We're not worried about that,” said Vickers.
