Resident urges council to preserve 2014 backyard-chickens law; staff schedules work session and March 3 hearing

Emily Anderson addressed the Springville City Council during the public comment period to raise concerns about a staff proposal to amend the city’s 2014 ordinance permitting backyard hens and chickens. Anderson said she came with a prepared presentation and argued the staff draft “does nothing to keep the law the same” because it effectively removes about half of the first paragraph of the existing ordinance, which she said residents relied on when deciding to live in the city.

Anderson said the city’s preparedness activities and recent spikes in egg prices make backyard poultry a relevant preparedness measure for some households. She asked council to consider residents’ expectations under the existing ordinance and returned the presentation materials to staff for inclusion in the record.

City staff and the presiding official told Anderson that staff will hold a work session with the council in two weeks to present the ordinance history (not open to public comment) and that the item will be reopened for public discussion at a March 3 hearing; Anderson was invited to return for that hearing. Councilmembers recorded having received numerous emails on the subject.

The council did not take an immediate action on the ordinance change at this meeting; staff will present background material in a work session and then present recommended ordinance language at the public hearing.