REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: September 27th, 2017 Report No. CSS-17-013
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Blair McDonald, Director of Community Safety Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Animal Management Bylaw - Amendment No. 1
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council gives first, second and third readings to the Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841, Amendment Bylaw (No.1), 2017, No. 2908.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Animal Management Bylaw, 2015, No. 2841
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Operational Strategy - Review Township policies and bylaws to ensure efficient processes; amend and update as necessary
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(13) 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 of motion was passed:
WHEREAS: The Township has passed the Animal Managem...
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