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Alaina Tyrer said she just moved from Michigan where her neighbors voted out a wild animal <br />zoo in the neighborhood, thought it was obscene that someone would keep a wild animal in their <br />backyard and thought hunting was a completely different issue. <br />Laura Danielson said her grandfather kept fowl, disagreed a hawk was a fowl, said she has <br />been a member of bird societies since she was 10, regards the red-tailed hawk as her favorite <br />bird, thinking of a wild bird in a cage was sad and she hoped the City could arrive at a better <br />definition. <br />Michael Pocieche said he has practiced falconry for 40 years, is on a Board of Director for <br />California Birds of Prey, said people would have a greater chance of getting struck by lightening <br />than being attacked, and spoke of his work with falcons and children. The sport is highly <br />regulated and expensive and people who have birds of prey are dedicated individuals. He <br />noted birds of prey are owned by state and federal agencies and confiscated if not treated <br />properly. <br />Janet Linfoot said all proper permits have been followed, the birds are native and not exotic and <br />Ms. Hosterman plans on releasing the bird in the future. She spoke of her experience with all <br />types of animals, said she was once attacked by a hummingbird, felt the issue was silly and <br />more important was the subject of young men and women dying in war. <br />Lee Fulton said neighbors are fearful of attacks, opposed the definition of the falcons being <br />classified as fowl, and animal control has indicated no attacks for the last 25 years in <br />Pleasanton. He observes hawks, vultures, owls, and other wild birds in his backyard, has <br />observed Mayor Hosterman's bird at the Scottish games and said it is better mannered than <br />many of the dogs in town. He supported the use permit, suggested the City change its code to <br />properly define it, and noted the many parrots and macaws allowed in yards that are a <br />disturbance. <br />Marjorie Muentz felt the argument of defining hawks as fowl is ridiculous, thought Dan Carl had <br />many objections that attempt to paint Ms. Hosterman as a criminal, thinks the issue is politically <br />motivated and hoped all Councilmembers will avoid personal attacks in their campaigns. <br />Vice Mayor Thorne closed the public hearing and recessed the meeting fora 5-minute break. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio said it is true the matter should not be political or involve <br />personalities that the Code is out of date and that it is up to the Council to interpret the law. She <br />cited the strict licensing and permits in place and said the definition could be addressed by the <br />Council. <br />Motion: Councilmember Cook-Kallio moved to issue the conditional use permit now and <br />request that staff revisit the ordinance to bring it up to date. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said he wanted to remove the applicant from how the Council is <br />analyzing this, said in looking at the evidence, staff report and testimony, he could support <br />staff's recommendation and approve the conditional use permit. He said the applicant has all of <br />the required state and federal licenses and permits to keep the hawk and practice the sport, the <br />mew or building meets all city building codes and requirements and he did not want to duplicate <br />licensing. If there are complaints or problems, he thought the matter could be brought back to <br />staff for adjustment or further mitigation and did not support changing the code as there are <br />City Council Minutes 10 January 15, 2008 <br />