Brainerd is a step closer to welcoming urban chickens.
The Brainerd City Council in a 6-1 vote Monday directed staffers to prepare an ordinance amendment that would allow residents up to four egg-laying chickens.
The ordinance amendment would require two readings and a public hearing in order to be approved, meaning chicken ownership would be at least a month away if the council approves the measure.
A few members of the audience spoke in favor of an ordinance allowing chickens and the council debated points of a possible ordinance.
Council member Mark O'Day said he would only support such an ordinance if it included a condition that residents receive 100-percent approval from abutting property owners prior to getting chickens.
Council member Bob Olson, who voted against, said he'd received several phone calls from residents against allowing chicken ownership in the city.
In other action, the council:
Was informed by City Administrator Dan Vogt that disciplinary action against a paid on-call firefighter has been turned over to the city's insurance carrier for legal representation.
Approved proceeding with the final design of the street and utility portion of the downtown street improvement project; requested the Brainerd Public Utilities pick up the cost for lighting as it has historically done and affirmed the items to be assessed, including street reconstruction and street amenities with property owners being assessed 30 percent of the cost. Olson, a downtown property owner, abstained from voting. The project is expected to begin in the spring of 2009.
Approved acquiring a tax forfeit lot in Buffalo Hills to be used as a holding pond and spillway and set a public informational hearing at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 for residents concerned with safety of the pond.
Approved asking the contractor to repair the sanitary sewer system in Northtown West, where several connections had broken in the 4-year-old system, before spending $29,235 to have the system repaired.
Approved a $2,130 loan and a $2,130 grant from the city's downtown revolving loan fund for facade improvements for Bob Johnson's property at 617 Maple St.
Approved a $21,000 loan and $21,000 grant from the city's downtown revolving loan fund for facade improvements for Jon and Deb Luhrs' property located at 216 S. Seventh St.
Approved matching funds of up to $7,000 for downtown holiday decorations.
Was informed by Vogt that the Brainerd Blue Thunder baseball team would no longer be in operation. The team owes the city about $1,922, and Vogt said it was his understanding that the league would be covering the expense.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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