A mayoral town hall was held ahead of the Aug. 1 Osceola City Council meeting for the purposes of discussing Osceola’s urban chicken ordinance.
Since May, Osceola City Council has been looking at the possibility of making changes to Osceola’s urban chicken ordinance, found in 55.17, which permits up to six laying hens, no roosters, per property. The discussion was originally brought to council at the May 16 meeting, where it was asked if they might consider allowing those children who participate in 4-H and live within Osceola city limits to have more than the limit of six, and of different varieties of poultry. 4-H’ers can bring 16 birds to the county fair, not counting breeding pairs, and classes can include: chickens (including roosters), guineas, quail, pheasant, turkey, duck, goose, dove, pigeon and more.
It was suggested to create a waiver system for 4-H projects, where the 4-H participant would put down a deposit and sign a waiver that would only be good for projects to be kept during the 4-H season. At the end of the waiver period - county fair, or state fair if they went on - the city’s code enforcement officer would go to the residence to ensure the poultry were gone, and the deposit would be returned.
Council decided they needed more time to look into the different possibilities, with some council members expressing concern at certain residences having larger quantities of birds, as well as only allowing waivers for certain groups of people. The urban chicken ordinance was suspended at the time for 90 days.
Mayor Thomas Kedley reported to council the town hall was very productive, with several ideas given on how the ordinance could be tweaked to accommodate 4-H students. Some of the different suggested ideas were: limiting the number of poultry by person and household; developing a 4-H waiver program; changing the language from urban chicken to urban poultry or fowl; finding farm sponsors outside of city limits to keep the poultry and increasing the allowable number in the current ordinance.
Another idea was that instead of amending the urban chicken ordinance, to look instead at adding language to the current livestock ordinance to address 4-H poultry projects. Those would be on a case-by-case basis, with an application process for the 4-Hers to follow. In that scenario, 4-H projects would only apply to poultry, not larger livestock. Rabbits would not be taken into consideration as they are considered pets in the Iowa Code.
“My recommendation…I’m seeing a language change from chicken to fowl, or chicken to poultry and leaving the number as is and then allowing any 4-H student…come and petition, and then they present their project,” said Kedley, adding it would be an educational experience for the students in civic learning.
After discussion about ordinance changes and establishing fine schedules, council decided to forgo any decision at that time, instead directing city staff to work on incorporating proposed changes into the ordinance for council review.
Public hearing set
Council approved 4-0 setting a public hearing for the Aug. 15 regular meeting regarding the sale of city-owned real estate; councilman Doug Gay voted no.
The two properties in question are 107 West Webster and 204 North Main, both of which had buildings that had previously been deemed dangerous and demolished. The lots went to bid in July, with minimum bid amounts of $1,000 on each lot. A public hearing for sealed bids received was held at the Aug. 1 meeting.
Only one bid was received for both lots from Paula McClaflin in the amount of $500 total. McClaflin plans to do some landscaping and beautification of the areas, as well as install a concrete pad to place dumpsters on for the apartment building located by the lots.
As the amount bid was below the recommended amount, city staff could not recommend council to accept the bids. City administrator Ty Wheeler told council that they could choose to put the properties back out to sealed bid, or hold a public hearing for the city’s intent to sell the two lots to McClaflin for the $500. After a public hearing, the council may choose to sell to McClaflin, or go in a different direction.
The public may make comments at the public hearing on Aug. 15, or submit them via email or in writing to city hall. There were no comments made at the Aug. 1 public hearing regarding the sealed bid.
Minutes
The Aug. 1 minutes and the notice of public hearing are both available in the legal section of this newspaper and on the city’s website.