After many public comments, both for and against Parks, Recreation and Marine’s recommendation to amend city ordinance regarding urban livestock, City Council was ultimately stalemated. Despite attempts at compromise, which led to two substitute motions, each motion vote ended in a 4-3 split, lacking the required five-vote majority to push the motion forward.
The ordinance would have changed Section 6.16.010, Chapter 6.20 and Section 6.24.010 of the City’s municpial code to relax the limitations on structures and housing for chickens, honeybees and goats. These changes would have also increased the number of chickens allowed on properties and removes the practice of de-horning goats.
As urban agriculture becomes more common across the country and especially in Long Beach, ordinances such as these have been drafted to accomodate both hobby farmers and those who require keeping animals to feed their family afforably.
Opponents of these changes insist that the city cannot handle the increased number of calls the Animal Care Services will receive nor the added number of vermin and pests increased numbers of livestock will bring. Proponents, however, indicate that these same problems exist with cats and dogs in vastly increased numbers, and that livestock make up a very small minority of problems and complaints the city receives.
Some councilmembers were not entirely convinced that enough evidence had been brought forward to support the ordinance change, and despite reassurances from 2nd District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal and City staff that the ordinance could be changed at any time.
The City Attorney’s office confirmed with the Post that if a member of city council wanted to bring the exact same ordinance changes back up for a vote at a future meeting, they can. If the councilmember wants to change the ordinances to something different, that will take a process of revision.
Absent from the meeting Tuesday were councilmembers Schipske and DeLong.
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