Council Item On Backyard Farm Animals Postponed

The city has postponed Monday night's scheduled City Council consideration of a proposed city law making it easier to keep backyard farm animals.

The council must instead deal with a pressing deadline on deciding what to do about the city's threatened Redevelopment Agency, according to the city manager's office.

The animals law would significantly reduce the fees and regulatory barriers for single-family homeowners to keep chickens, bees, goats and pot-bellied pigs.

A new date for council consideration of the issue has not been set. Residents can check the city's webpage on the proposed animals ordinance for the re-scheduled date.

The backyard animals law has been discussed and debated in the city for more than two years since it was brought by some residents to the Environmental Quality Committee in May 2009.

At a city-sponsored , emotions ran high and divisions deep over the issue. About 60 people attended a , when the council signaled its support for substantially easing current restrictions.

A city news release announcing the postponement said, "With the recent growth of the sustainability movement, the local food movement, consciousness regarding other environmental issues, and the general downturn in the economy, there has been a renewed interest in keeping chickens, bees, goats and other animals that can be raised for sustainable purposes and food production."

Monday night's council meeting will be devoted instead to consideration of whether to try to preserve the city's Redevelopment Agency. Please see our accompanying story on this issue.