Meeting Highlights: Chicken Bill Set for Final Vote in December

Amendments to city code that would permit chicken ownership in Richmond Heights received preliminary approval Monday night by City Council. A final vote is scheduled for December.

The following is a look at the meeting as it happened. An agenda preview posted earlier Monday.

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REGULAR MEETING

8:43 P.M.: The council remains in closed session. We'll have more details about discussion that happened after the session on Tuesday.

8:19 P.M.: Jones is talking with the council about the proposed veterans memorial at the front of The Heights. He said the memorial should be focused on people who served in World War I and conflicts after it.

He is asking for the council's support in moving forward with the project.

"There is no design that's set in stone at this point," Heinz said. He said he and others are not trying to push a specific design. Rather, they want to ensure a lot of brick is involved to commemorate the city's history.

The council voted in favor of exploration of the proposal.

The council is preparing to go into closed session.

8:12 P.M.: Casey said the city's planning department could then conduct inspections on an as-needed basis.

Beck has asked Heinz to include wording indicating that the third-year permit will be good on a continuing basis.

8:09 P.M.: Mitten is asking for clarification about the annual permitting process for chickens. Beck said it's his understanding that people should show they are still in compliance on a yearly basis, even after a three-year period, without having to pay a fee after the third year.

"Why bog down our resources in doing those inspections?" District 1 Councilman Matt Casey said. He said the permit for the third year could become a continuing permit that wouldn't require people to return to City Hall on a yearly basis.

8:05 P.M.: A roll-call motion to table the chickens bill and put the issue to a city vote has been rejected by the council. District 3 Councilman Ed Notter proposed putting the issue to a vote.

The bill will be read for a second time and considered for final approval at the council's first December meeting.

District 3 Councilwoman Gina Mitten is asking for clarification about what is meant by an affected property owner.

City Attorney Kenneth Heinz indicated that he will look into the issue.

7:58 P.M.: The council has approved a bill to vacate .

7:55 P.M.: The council has authorized the mayor to sign a preliminary funding agreement with Mullenix-Richmond Heights Redevelopment Corporation.

More discussion about a PGAV item related to Mullenix is planned after the closed portion of the meeting.

7:51 P.M.: Larry Chapman of Chapman Ventures is addressing the council. He said he is in discussions with MoDOT about how he can acquire an area of land just on the north side of Dumas Street. He will meet with officials next week to get a timeline for moving forward.

He plans to come back in December to show artists' renderings of .

The council also has approved a liquor license for a new wine and food shop at 7118 Oakland Ave.

7:45 P.M.: Thomson said members of his district recently got to tour the police department facility. The meetings are held at various public facilities, including the fire department and the .

7:41 P.M.: Jones said he and several others are working on plans for a gazebo memorial to veterans in a grassy area at community center. They hope to have the memorial ready as close to city's 100th anniversary in 2013 as possible. Jones met with District 2 Councilman Jim Thomson, an architect and others Monday.

It would be developed at no cost to the city, Jones said. He indicated that a Rotary Club created a plan along these lines several years ago.

"There's a lot of strings to pull for funding and for the design work and for the material and things of that nature," Jones said. He wants the council to be part of the process.

7:37 P.M.: District 2 Councilman Mike Jones recently attended three D.A.R.E. graduations—at , and . He thanked the for "a job well done." Mayor James Beck has read a certificate of recognition for the D.A.R.E. essay winner.

The winner has read her essay before the council. We'll share a name and photo soon.

7:31 P.M.: The meeting has begun.

7:21 P.M.: The discussion is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. If you're inside at the moment, stay put—it's cold and misting outside. Also: We've got a copy of the proposed backyard chickens amendments and will post the document on the site this week for the benefit of our readers.