Chickens, rabbits, residency undecided

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake City Council asked for more information about possibly allowing chickens and rabbits inside the city.

The proposal was tabled during a previous meeting because Mayor Jon Lane and Councilmember Bill Ecret weren't present.

The suggestion to allow the animals came from the planning commission following a letter from Marilyn Molitor.

Presently the city defines "the keeping, permitting or harboring of any fowl, pigeons (or) rabbits" as a nuisance and prohibits it.

Planning Commission Chair Mitch Molitor pointed out at a previous meeting other cities, such as Wenatchee and Spokane Valley, have adopted ordinances allowing chickens and rabbits in the city.

Community Development Director Gilbert Alvarado asked officials in other cities about the results of the ordinance change, but hadn't received a response, he said.

"Like any type of land use regulation, inherently, there comes issues with them," he said. "I'm curious what he could report to me. I haven't gotten a response to that."

Alvarado said the planning commission's proposal only affects chickens and rabbits.

Councilmember Richard Pearce continued to oppose the proposal, saying anyone he spoke with about it hasn't wanted the change.

"I think we've been safe not having those kind of things in the city," he said. "I remember when we had them and people complained ... Two rabbits don't remain two rabbits very long."

Councilmember Dick Deane echoed Pearce saying the Moses Lake High School FFA advisors, told him five students in the last 8 years raised chickens.

"Presently they have zero students either inside the city or outside of the city that are interested in poultry," he said. "We are an urban community ... There are areas of the county where you can go out in the county, you can have your projects out there."

Councilmember Karen Liebrecht disagreed, saying it is worth trying since it only affects chickens and rabbits.

"I have somebody behind me that was harboring chickens and rabbits. There was never an odor. You didn't hear them and I just happened to hear a cluck one day and I looked over the fence and there they were," she said.

Councilmember David Curnel pointed out a dog in his neighborhood puts more fecal material in the street than four rabbits or chickens would do in a week.

"When you talk about nuisances we always have those in our community," he said. "I think the idea of only (allowing) four chickens or four rabbits, I think I can support that. I wouldn't support going any further than that."

Lane said the city annexed some homes on half-acre lots where it might be appropriate to have chickens or rabbits.

"I'm a little ignorant on the issue," he said. "My position would be I think we need to study it a little bit more. I think maybe we can see what these other communities are doing and how they arrived at that decision."

Ecret opposed the proposal, saying unless some major information was introduced, he sees a variety of problems with allowing livestock into the city.

"I see our code enforcement guys peeking through fences. I think there's a reason people live in the country (where) you can have these types of things," he said.

Ecret also pointed out people need to request annexation. The city annexes people wanting city services and if they want the services then they need to accept the city's ordinances.

Councilmember Brent Reese also opposed the proposal, saying people are likely to complain if the city allowed livestock.

Curnel suggested holding a study session on the topic. After discussing it, the councilmembers decided they wanted more information and to figure out a way to contact people interested in the subject.