Earlier today our City Attorney met with the CEQA lawyer to discuss the potential lawsuit. Later in the day our City Attorney reported on that meeting to our Council Members in closed session. I do not have any insight into either of those conversations at this time.
At tonight's 5;15 council meeting four backyard hen supporters gave a general comment speech regarding their support for backyard hens as a non agenda item. There were also people and children out front with signs and even a child dress in his chicken outfit. Too cute! (If the family messages me on Facebook with permission to post the picture on my blog I will share it with you.)
Michelle, Kirk, Ryan and myself were the speakers. I want to thank everyone for writing emails and for calling with your support for backyard hens. It does help and it is important that our elected officials know that we are active participants in our government. They were elected to represent us. Your emails and phone calls are official documented support for this topic. The Council cannot ignore that data.
I am sharing my speech with you (se below). I hope it helps explain where we are with the process and more clearly defines what we want. No action was taken at the 5;15 public session. I do not know what transpired at the 3:30 closed session. If you have any questions, reach out to me on Facebook or at thebubh@gmail.com.
Here is my speech:
"I would like to request that my Council Member, Mr. Bruce Freeman, reach out to me to discuss my concerns and viewpoints on the important topic of backyard hens. I would like to work with him to find common ground and possible compromises to lift the temporary suspension on the passed ordinance in a timely manner.
The Backyard Hen Community expects the Council to represent the majority of the residents on this topic, and stand behind the Council’s decision that approved backyard hen ownership with the safeguards and restrictions of an ordinance.
Take a moment to see the volume of calls and emails that continue to come into the Clerk's office in support of backyard hens. Our group is organized and continues to grow. We are diverse and represent all segments of Bakersfield. We are the identified and documented majority. We will continue to advocate for the legal protection to own backyard hens.
The Backyard Hen Community will not accept a rescinding of the ordinance due to a frivolous lawsuit from an unidentified, small group that has no history of environmental concern. It is obvious what this lawsuit is really about; which is control and power from people who are scared, and failed at their attempt to get what they wanted.
The waiver for CEQA is solid. It is what other cities have used with their ordinances. Chickens do not cause an adverse impact on the environment. Only a small percentage of homes will have chickens. And, of that small percentage, many of them already have chickens because owning hens in Bakersfield is an accepted practice.
It is time this Council aligns its community's practice with its ordinance by lifting the temporary suspension, and allow legal protection for hen ownership.
Rescinding the passed ordinance is not the next step to take. The next step should be to defend the decision of the Council. Or, while the ordinance is passed, and suspended temporarily, work towards meeting the needs of the concerned group by amending the passed ordinance to take into account their concerns. This is the Democratic way. A few individuals with the wealth to hire an attorney should not be allowed to dictate your policy and actions.
If the unidentified group has no desire to work towards a solution, then that shows their true intentions. They are upset about the decision the Council made, and they are obstructionists. A small and unidentified group of poor sports.
What the Backyard Hen Community has asked for, and the Council approved, is reasonable, safe, and fair; while it enhances the quality of life experiences for families. We are the majority. We are identified. We are the ones willing to work towards a solution. We are the ones you need to represent.
Thank you."
Councilman Freeman did ask for my contact information following my public comment. Hopefully we connect and begin to work together on this topic. Up to this point, he has been a clear "no" for hens.
Everyone one should be taking action to expect their elected Council Member to respond and have a dialog with them on this topic. Hold them accountable with persistent requests. We especially need to communicate with Patty Gray, Ken Weir, Chris Parlier, and Bruce Freeman. This is what it takes sometimes to be heard.
Feel free to use any of my speech to write your own editorials to the paper, to write your Council Members, and/or to share with people to recruit additional supporters.
Thank you again Backyard Hen Community! You are awesome people and friends.