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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 24, 2012 7:00 o'clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 12 (4. ROOSTERS - POTENTIAL ANIMAL ORDINANCE AMENDMENT, Continued) sounds that become big nuisances. Roosters can register up to 90 decibels and can be heard over half a mile away. They also will crow throughout the day. They are not easily managed like a dog can be. Shatzer stated after being lied to and mislead numerous times, they felt they had run out of options and decided to ask the City for help. It was difficult to take this step but they felt they had no choice. The loud crowing would go on all day, often every 20 seconds, and could be heard inside their home with the windows closed. The crowing happened every day. Shatzer indicated they were also very concerned that the continuous crowing would lower their property values should they ever have to sell. After the letter was sent to Mr. Gaffron on June 11th, which the City Council should have received copies of, they contacted Officer Barnes of the Orono Police Department for help. Another neighbor also contacted Officer Barnes. The citations the officer wrote and delivered to the rooster owner had no affect on stopping the rooster noise. The five to ten roosters continued their daily crowing competitions. Because the neighbor had hens and roosters, more roosters were maturing as the summer went on even though some were gotten rid of along the way. Shatzer stated they hope that an amendment made to the Animal Ordinance prohibiting roosters will provide the City with the ability to stop a situation like this from continuing and snowballing into a costly and timely legal situation such as this one. Shatzer reiterated that a number of cities and towns have had to address the noise issue caused by roosters, and many have made the decision to prohibit them. Even with the rural residential neighborhood they live in consisting of five acre lots, the homes are close together. Shatzer stated you must consider your neighbors in the choices that you make. Shatzer noted they live on ten acres and, under the City's current rules, they would be allowed 450 chickens, all of which could be roosters. Shatzer thanked the City Council for listening. Wade Shatzer, 3685 Watertown Road, stated they appreciate the efforts of Staff and the Planning Commission in making an attempt to find a reasonable solution. Shatzer stated their solution to make an amendment to the Animal Code will give the City more enforcement powers in dealing with a situation of this type. Mayor McMillan closed the public comment portion of the meeting. Mayor McMillan commented that unfortunately scientists have not been successful at creating a rooster that does not crow and noted that dogs have bark collars and can be placed indoors if they become noisy. Printup stated he does not want to see any action taken on this amendment because it should be treated as a noise violation. Printup stated the City should not change its law based on one unfortunate circumstance. Printup commented there is a move towards more organics and healthy living and that if the City prohibits roosters, it could very well lead to other restrictions. Franchot stated he understands how frustrating this situation is and that if Staff feels it is better to let the current litigation follow its course before taking action on this item, he would go along with that but would not be opposed to banning roosters if the rest of the City Council determined that was appropriate. Item #03 - CC Agenda - 10/08/2012 Approval of Council Minutes 09/24/2012 [Page 7 of 12]