INNISFAIL - The survey results are in and an overwhelming majority of Innisfailians are giving the thumbs-up to allow pet chickens in town.
However, despite the results from the town's extensive month-long stakeholder feedback survey, conducted online and in print between Sept. 19 and Oct. 17, council could still say no to the results.
Council accepted the survey results as information at its Oct. 22 regular meeting. Administration will bring the results back to council on Nov. 12 but without a recommendation. Council is not expected to vote on the controversial urban chicken issue until late November.
"I still feel chickens really don't belong in town," said Coun. Glen Carritt, following council's Oct. 22 regular meeting when the survey results were presented. "Sometimes these public polls only show a very low percentage and we could end up with what I call a mob rule instead of making educated decisions because not everybody participates in these types of surveys."
Carritt said he's still leaning to voting against urban chickens if administration presents a report to legalize them in town. "At this time I believe I would, yes," said Carritt.
The survey results, from a total vote of 627 -- a community response rate of 7.35 per cent -- showed 411 (66 per cent) were in favour of allowing pet chickens in the community against 204 (32 per cent) who said no. There were 12 citizens (two per cent) who voted they were unsure. From the total numbers of votes, 43 were non-residents, with 36 (84 per cent) voting in favour of allowing urban chickens in Innisfail. Five voted against with two registering unsure.
"I am still on the fence on this one because the results of the survey are a little different than what I have been hearing talking to people. I haven't made up my mind yet," said Coun. Danny Rieberger. "It is just an information process, right. It is not a plebiscite."
However, Coun. Jean Barclay said she is prepared to accept the survey results and vote to move ahead with an urban chicken program for the community.
"That is why we do public participation. It was an overwhelming yes. That is why we go to the people," said Barclay, adding her implementation preference is to start an urban chicken program with a designated number of licences and make sure there is adequate monitoring. "If you look at other communities, in Edmonton I know the program was so successful they actually expanded it."
The survey results also showed that a majority of pro-urban chicken voters want one licence per 500 residents for a maximum total of 15 or 16 based on the town's population of just under 8,000. The survey also noted 182 voters opted for a maximum of six chickens per house, while 174 said four, 29 voted for two and 47 chose "other."
For voters rejecting urban chickens, their top concern was odour with 205 votes, followed by noise with 169, illness/disease with 152, esthetics/appearance followed with 139 , "other" with 119 and 54 under safety concerns.
"I don't know how many of those are out there. You go to any of the coffee shops. You go anywhere. They've had chickens, been around them and they have no use for them in town," said Mayor Jim Romane of Innisfailians he's personally encountered who oppose an urban chicken program. The mayor said he would "think hard" about how he would vote, but later conceded there was a "good" response rate for a public survey and accompanying widespread publicity about the issue for several months.
"I am probably thinking I am going to go with the majority response to the survey....with reservations," he said.
In the meantime, two other elected members, councillors Gavin Bates and Doug Bos, wanted more information before committing themselves.
"I assume we are going to be presented with a case that says, 'allow them,' and a whole bunch of guidelines on what that means, allow four, allow six, allow them in certain neighbourhoods, allow them everywhere, allow them in duplexes -- I don't know" said Bates. "Until I see that and help through my questions and craft what that looks like then I will make that decision."
Bos was in Banff on Oct. 22 and had not read the survey report when he was contacted late last week. Coun. Donnie Hill was not immediately available for comment.
