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<br />of these issues were addressed in one section dealing with this particular issue, it would be <br />more clearly understood by applicants. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky questioned the value of adding a section that would require an owner to <br />have the chickens inoculated if available because inoculations sometimes have negative <br />consequences or for people with 4-H projects, it could be costly and unnecessary for the <br />environment in Pleasanton. He asked staff for its reason in including this requirement in the <br />proposed ordinance? <br /> <br />Mr. Iserson said several Planning Commissioners raised concerns that people might be <br />concerned about the spreading of the Avian Influenza and it wanted to add language to address <br />it to eliminate any concerns. He agreed with Mr. Brozosky that if the Federal or State <br />governments required inoculations, it would be required whether or not it was included in the <br />proposed ordinance. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky wanted to eliminate a preconceived fear that was not based on fact. He <br />believed the real risk to Pleasanton if the Avian Influenza did spread would not be spread by <br />chickens and would be spread by wild birds in the community. He asked staff why it believed it <br />was not necessary to allow people to have more than six chickens or if it was open to requiring <br />a conditional permit for anything over six chickens, which would give someone with a large <br />backyard flexibility. He believed R-1 One-Family Residential zoning districts carried everything <br />from a zero lot line up to five or six acres in Pleasanton. <br /> <br />Mr. Iserson said the largest R-1 One-Family Residential zoning district is the minimum of <br />40,000 square feet. The overriding drive on the part of staff was to respond to the public <br />hearing process and the fact that it seemed to reflect other neighborhood issues that were <br />raised during the discussion about chickens. Staff believed if it could develop a set of rational <br />standards then it would accomplish the same thing as it would with requiring a conditional use <br />permit/public hearing and avoid some of the neighborhood entanglements that sometimes <br />result. He noted that staff is being asked by the business community and at times decision <br />makers, to try and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and the goal was to include standards in <br />the Municipal Code and avoid public hearing processes, staff reports and notifications. It did not <br />mean that a conditional use permit could be reserved for those instances that are rare where <br />someone who lives on a large lot might want to keep more than six chickens. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky said he wanted to simplify the process for standard projects such as the 4- <br />H Club, which is why he brought this matter to Council initially. He was aware of residents who <br />have large lots who are keeping more than six chickens and he wanted to allow residents in R-1 <br />One-Family Residential zoning districts to have this ability. <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern asked staff if a City ordinance existed based on zoning for the number of <br />animals that a resident may keep? <br /> <br />Mr. Iserson said household pets are limited to dogs and cats and a resident is allowed to <br />have a combined total of four dogs and/or cats and after that, it is defined as a kennel and <br />kennels are not allowed in a single-family residential neighborhood. Staff is informed of this <br />violation if it receives code enforcement complaints and it responds accordingly. <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern did not understand how the amount of keeping chickens versus dogs was <br />measured as dogs take up more room, are noiser and can do more damage. <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council <br />Minutes <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />01/03/06 <br />