Clovis officials to tackle backyard chicken issue

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission will, after two months, tackle an ordinance that could allow for more feathered friends in city backyards.

Ordinance 2094-2017 would expand permissions for citizens to keep female chickens in residential areas. Backyard chickens are currently allowed in the city through an ordinance last updated in 1963, but that ordinance's requirement that chickens be 100 feet or more from another person's residence or business effectively outlaws them for many Clovis residents.

Linda Cross chairs the animal control task force that penned the proposed change, with help from a group of citizens that wants more opportunities for backyard chickens. In the two months since the ordinance was first approved for introduction, Cross said she hasn't seen any change in the opinions on it.

"It's 50-50," said Cross, who will not be able to attend tonight's meeting due to an out-of-state family matter. "A lot of people think it's fine, and a lot of people are against it. There are pros and cons, but I personally don't think it's any worse than a dog or a cat."

Cross said five chickens won't have much of an impact, other than extra pets and a source for fresh eggs. Should the ordinance pass, an online community of nearly 150 people will work with the High Plains Humane Society to educate citizens on proper care of chickens.

The ordinance creates different rules for different zoning designations:

• For areas with ranchette (RA) or neighborhood conservation/livestock (NC-L) district zones, a person may keep one head of livestock and up to 25 birds (chicken, roosters, turkeys, geese, ducks, hens, guineas and game birds) per acre of land owned. None of those animals may be kept within 200 feet of another person's residence or business.

• People in residential single-family (RS) districts can keep up to five chickens, but must permit the location with the animal control department prior to placing chickens. The permit fee is $25 and must be renewed every five years.

• People in residential (R) districts are prohibited from keeping chickens on their property.

Any commercial establishment, be it hatchery or animal processing, that existed prior to the ordinance shall be allowed to continue at the same scale.

In all cases, owners must provide sanitary, secure pens for animals and not let livestock run at large. Chickens must be kept in a fenced backyard, with chickens not visible from the street.

Chicken coops must be at least 10 feet away from another person's residence or business, with access to clean food and water and food enclosed in water-tight, rodent-proof containers.

The ordinance was introduced during the commission's Aug. 3 meeting on a 6-1 vote, with Mayor Pro Tem Juan Garza absent.

Commissioner Gary Elliott cast the dissenting vote with concerns more chickens would exacerbate problems with rats, foxes and skunks and that the ordinance would add burdensome work to the city's animal control and sanitation departments. Commissioner Chris Bryant did vote for the introduction, but had concerns people would ignore the registration and payment requirements.

The introduction of the ordinance brought in a 30-day public comment period. The commission held off on bringing the item up during its September meetings, noting some commissioners wanted to weigh in on the ordinance but had schedule conflicts with those meetings.

Other business on tonight's agenda includes:

• A recommendation to move forward with a Commission on Older Adults recommendation to begin a scope of work for a new senior facility at Hillcrest Park. The city has received $300,000 from the state to begin the process. The first phase of construction is an estimated $2.5 million.

The action item also recommends creating a task force to oversee the work. The commission has held four town halls and ranks Hillcrest as the top option, ahead of the current Parkview Elementary and west of the La Casa facility near 13th and Cameo streets.

• Elections to fill three seats on the planning and zoning commission and two seats on the water policy advisory committee.

• Introduction of an ordinance establishing municipal judge compensation at 85 percent of a magistrate judge's compensation, rather than a fixed salary and a new amendment every few years.

The current compensation for municipal judge is $67,675 annually, and would increase to $71,696.80 for whoever is elected to the position in March.

The position is currently filled by Jan Garrett.

• Approval of a New Mexico Senior Olympics health promotion day Nov. 14 at Roy Walker Gym and a waiver of the one-day $250 rental fee.