City Council MEETING

COUNCIL VOTE 5-3ROELAND PARK CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEW BACKYARD
HEN-KEEPING PERMIT!

Questions? EMAIL: CHIRPKS@GMAIL.COM

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!






Sunday, April 15, 2012

What's all the CHIRP'in about? MY CITY HENS!

We thank all of our CHIRP (city hens in roeland park) supporters! With your EGGScellent support, we have enjoyed our backyard hens for almost a year! Yay! In that time we have found ourselves giving assistance in many ways to other hen enthusiasts in the Kansas City area. Sheri and I are spreading our wings and changing our moniker to My City Hens. Look for a new website and lots of other helpful and FUN henkeeping stuff!
 
 
 
Check out our new Facebook page and give us a "like"!
 

 
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Monday, September 19, 2011

See How Urban Hens Really Live! Feathers and Fiber Coop Tour!

Feathers and Fiber Coop Tour
 Roeland Park Community Center, 4850 Rosewood Drive, will be the starting point for the first annual Feathers and Fiber Coop Tour on September 24th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The event will be a benefit for the Roeland Park Food Pantry.  Admission will be one non perishable food item per person.  Maps will be given out at the Community Center to guide you to the coops on display.
 This event is co-sponsored by City Hens In Roeland Park (CHIRP) and the Kansas City Fiber Guild and supported by the Johnson County 4-H.  It will feature Roeland Park Coops and the hens that call them home.  There will be children’s activities including a coloring contest, the creation of a Funky Chicken Mural and an opportunity to learn about Johnson County 4-H.
 The Kansas City Fiber Guild will be knitting with GIANT knitting needles and the public will be invited to participate.  This will be a Public Art Project that may be displayed in Roeland Park.
 We will also be celebrating “Spin in Public Day” with spinning demonstrations and lessons at individual coops.  Wool and spindles will be provided.  There will also be a display of handspun yarns incorporating chicken and peacock feathers.
 Don’t forget your food donation to benefit the Roeland Park Food Pantry.  Come play and learn with us. 
Contact: Teresa Kelly      chirpks@gmail.com
CHIRP 
What's all the CHIRPin' about?  We have joined the other 65% of the major cities in the U.S. that welcome backyard hens as part of a sustainable lifestyle!
 www.chirpks.blogspot.com and City Hens in Roeland Park is on Facebook!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

2011 Feathers & Fiber Coop Crawl

City Hens in Roland Park (CHIRP) is pleased to announce our first annual Feathers and Fiber Coop Crawl.

We are partnered with the Kansas City Fiber Guild for a fun day of backyard hens, coops, spinning, and fun!

Our tour starts at the Roeland Park Community Center Gazebo and admission is a non-perishable item for the Roeland Park Food Pantry.

Drop off your food item at the Community Center and grab a map to get started.  There will be a variety of activities at the Community Center and each of the CHIRP coops. This is your opportunity to see different hens and coops in a suburban setting and learn about backyard hen keeping.

Members of the Kansas City Fiber guild will be on hand spinning fibers to yarn and much more. Look for activities and information at every stop on the tour. 

And check back as our activity list is growing!

For information please email:  chirpks@gmail.com.

Saturday, July 16, 2011

NEW! Ammended Backyard Chicken Ordinance in KCMO

COMPARED VERSION

AS AMENDED TO CODE BOOKS





ORDINANCE NO. 110479, AS AMENDED



Amending Chapter 14, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 14-15, Keeping of small animals and fowl in pens, and enacting in lieu thereof one new section of like number and subject matter pertaining to keeping of small animals and fowl in pens.



BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That Chapter 14, Code of Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, relating to the division of animal health and public safety is hereby amended by repealing Section 14-15, Keeping of small animals and fowl in pens, and enacting in lieu thereof one new section of like number and subject matter, to read as follows:

Sec. 14-15. Keeping of small animals and fowl in pens.

(a)  Location of pens; enclosure required. It shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain any chicken coop, dove cote, rabbit hutch or other pen, cage or enclosure for the housing of fowl or small animals, except dogs and cats, closer than 100 feet to the nearest portion of any building occupied by or in any way used by human beings, other than the dwelling occupied by the owner or keeper of the animals or fowl, or closer than 25 feet to the property line of the lot on which such fowl or animals are kept for sale within a bona fide produce market, commission house or store for purposes of trade and while so kept are confined in small coops, boxes or cages, or where such animals or fowl are kept for purposes of research in a laboratory. Animals and fowl so kept or maintained shall be enclosed on all sides and shall not be allowed to run or fly at large, except for homing pigeons.

(b)  Control of odors. Every coop, dove cote, rabbit hutch or other yard establishment shall be kept so that no offensive, disagreeable or noxious smell or odor shall arise therefrom to the injury, annoyance or inconvenience of any inhabitants of the neighborhood.

(c)  Storage and disposal of manure. Every coop, dove cote, rabbit hutch or other yard establishment shall be provided with a watertight and flytight receptacle for manure, of such dimension as to contain all accumulations thereof, which receptacle shall be emptied sufficiently often and in such manner as to prevent its becoming a nuisance. Such receptacle shall be securely covered at all times except when open during the deposit or removal of manure or refuse therefrom. No manure shall be allowed to accumulate except in such receptacle. All such manure, when removed from the receptacle, shall be buried with a covering of not less than six inches of earth, or, if used as fertilizer, thoroughly spaded into the ground, or shall be removed from the property.

(d) Maintenance of enclosures for fowl. All earthen yards or runways wherein fowl are kept or permitted to be shall be spaded and then limed once every three months from the month of April through the month of December. For the purpose of killing flies and other insects, all structures, pens or coops wherein fowl are kept or permitted to be shall be sprayed with such substances as will eliminate such insects.

(e)  Condition of enclosure; inspections. Any structure, pen, coop or yard wherein animals or fowl are kept or permitted to be shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, devoid of all rodents and vermin, and free from objectionable odors. The enclosed area of all such structures shall be constructed in such a way as to be dry at all times on the inside. The person maintaining any such structure, pen, coop or yard in the city does by such act of maintenance authorize the director of health to at any time inspect any such structure or premises and issue any such order as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(f)  Number of animals or fowl; keeping of roosters. Except where fowl, rabbits or other small animals are kept for sale within a bona fide produce market, commission house or store for the purpose of trade and while so kept are confined in small coops, boxes or cages, or where such animals or fowl are kept for purposes of research in a laboratory, or in areas zoned for agricultural use, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep or maintain, within 100 feet of the nearest portion of any dwelling or other building occupied by or in any way used by human beings except for a dwelling occupied by the owner or keeper of such animals, more than 15 chickens or other domestic fowl four months or more of age or 50 chicks or other domestic fowl under four months of age, or more than ten rabbits or other small animals over the age of four months, or more than 25 rabbits or other small animals under the age of four months. No rooster which crows shall be kept within 300 feet of any residence or dwelling except that of the owner or keeper.

(g)  Authority to prescribe additional regulations. As to the keeping and harboring of chickens or other domestic fowl, for whatever purpose maintained, the director of health shall have authority to promulgate regulations to provide that such shall be kept in such a manner as to prevent a nuisance or health hazard.

(h)  Special exceptions. The director of neighborhood and community services is hereby authorized to grant special exceptions to the distance requirements set forth in subsection (a) or to the number limitations set forth in subsection (f) of this section for persons who keep or maintain trained fowl such as homing or racing pigeons provided that there is goodsigned consents are obtained from the owners and sufficient cause to grantoccupants of the buildings that are within the minimum distance requirement and provided further that no special exception based upon preexisting conditions or economic conditions.shall be granted for fowl, rabbits, or other small animals kept in front yards.  Any exception granted shall be for an initial period of one year and shall be subject to bi-annualbiannual inspection by the director, or the director’sdirector's designee.  Refusal to allow such inspection by the person who has been granted the exception shall void the exception. The exception is subject to renewal every five (5) years, at which time the director shall require signed consents from the owners and occupants of the buildings that are within the minimum distance requirement in order to renew the exception. The decision of the director on whether to renew the exception may be appealed to the Property Maintenance Appeals Board, as provided for in Section 56-343, by the applicant or the homes association or registered neighborhood organization that serve the site.  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the granting of a special exception to any other subsection of section 14-15.Section 14-15. Section 88-10-08-C shall govern any conflict between the provisions of this subsection and any private homeowner covenants or restrictions.  Furthermore, no exception to the distance requirements shall be granted under this subsection if such exception creates a nuisance or health hazard. 

(i)  Nothing herein is intended to preclude any person from filing a private nuisance action for any offensive use caused by keeping small animals and fowl.

(j)  In a residentially zoned district, with the exception of R-80, the onsite sale of eggs is prohibited.



____________________________________



Approved as to form and legality:





__________________________________

                                                                        Melody CockrellBeth Murano

Assistant City Attorney

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Missouri has set up the nation's FIRST committee on URBAN AGRICULTURE!!

From Cultivate Kansas City...

The state of Missouri has set up the nation’s first ever Committee on Urban Agriculture.  The committee - five Senators and five Representatives - are charged with learning about urban agriculture and developing and recommending policies to help the state benefit from the unique contributions of urban agriculture and local food systems.

The Committee will be in Kansas City to hold a PUBLIC HEARING on URBAN AGRICULTURE. 

When: MONDAY, JULY 11, 5:30 PM
Where: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Pierson Auditorium
           5000 Rockhill Road, Kansas City

The legislators on the committee are, by and large, new to the reality and potential of:
Urban food production (home gardens, community gardens, urban farms)
Food distribution in urban communities (how does food get from the farm to the plate?
Food access (who can afford food, who can get to it easily and not so easily)
This hearing is their first step in learning about these issues and in beginning to think about how, as legislators, they might make urban agriculture a vital, thriving contributor to the health and well-being of Missouri’s residents.

YOU DON’T NEED TO TESTIFY TO ATTEND!  We want to show them how many people care about food and food production in urban communities.  It will be a unique opportunity to begin to shape the future of urban ag in Missouri. Join us this Monday!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Committee approves the changes! On to KCMO City Council

The proposed changes were approved at the June 29 Committee meeting.  Residents supporting the keeping of backyard hens have to know how important it is to rally support and make your voice heard to your City Council members in KCMO.  Please consider sending a letter and make sure you include your name and address so they are assured you are one of their constituants. Don't know your Council members? Follow this link:

http://www.kcmo.org/CKCMO/CityOfficials/CityCouncilOffice/index.htm


Here is a link to the Ordinance:

KCMO Ordinance 110479


This is a study compiled by Hugh Bartling at DePaul University in 2010:

http://www.eatwhereulive.com/chicken_ordinance_report.pdf

You can email us for more information.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Kansas City, MO Backyard Chicken Ordinance - TODAY- Public Hearing June 29, 10:30am, 26th Floor, City Hall

On the heels of Roeland Park's successful Backyard Hen special permit, KCMO is looking at a change to allow more citizens to participate in having backyard chickens. Six families in Roeland Park have backyard hens and CHIRP's journey is featured in July/August Greenability Magazine.  For those interested in supporting this important issue, please consider attending the hearing.  Many supporters backed CHIRP all along the way, some never intending on having backyard hens, but believing those who wanted to should have the opportunity.

Thank You!  It is our supporters that make all of our work successful!  Here are the details:

The Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee of the Kansas City, MO City Council will hear a proposed change to the city ordinance which regulates chickens in city limits.  The proposal would allow the Director of Neighborhood and Community Services to grant exceptions to the set-back requirements and number limits when occupants and owners of properties within the 100 foot set-back approve of the exception in writing.
 
 Read the ordinance online.
 
 This proposed change would protect the interests of adjacent neighbors and allow for responsible urban chicken-keeping.  It is an expansion of an existing process for exceptions that includes homing and racing pigeons, which has apparently worked well for the city for quite some time.  We encourage you to attend and offer support and encouragement to the Committee in considering this proposal.
 
When: Wednesday, June 29, 10:30am
Where: 26th Floor, City Hall, 414 E. 12th St. Kansas City, MO 64106
 
 If you are interested in urban chickens, you will find a great resource in CHIRP, they offer educational and networking opportunities for people interested in backyard chickens: chirpks@gmail.com or www.chirpks.blogspot.com.