REQUEST FOR DIRECTION
DATE: September 13th, 2017 Report No. CSS-17-012
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Animal Management Bylaw
End
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
Does Council wish to revisit the Animal Management Bylaw to allow the selling of eggs from urban hens?
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That the COTW receive Staff Report No. CSS-17-012 for information, provide any additional direction to staff as the COTW considers advisable, and direct staff to prepare a report for Council's consideration.
Body
BACKGROUND:
In April of 2015 Council adopted the Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841. A part of the Bylaw that generated a lot of discussion was allowing urban hens to be kept in Esquimalt. This discussion, and divergent opinion, resulted in staff conducting an online survey regarding urban hens and the public's attitudes and wishes relating to possession of urban hens. Armed with the survey results and other sources of input, Council opted to allow a change in the number of urban hens from 4 to 7. An additional provision of the Bylaw was included in Section 32 (13) which states: "Urban Hens may be kept for personal use only and no sale of eggs, manure, meat or other products delivered from hens is permitted."
In 2015, we also saw the beginning of the Esquimalt Farmers Market. Over time, vendors have been appearing at the market selling eggs. As section 32 of the Animal Management Bylaw precludes the selling of eggs from Esquimalt based urban hens, these eggs must be coming from other jurisdictions. This has resulted in people questioning this section of the Bylaw and suggesting that perhaps eggs produced by local urban hens could also be sold at the Esquimalt Farmers Market and elsewhere.
At the August 28th, 2017 Council meeting, the following notice if motion was passed:
WHEREAS: The Township has passed the Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841, ...
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