[instrumental music]
For this favorite object, we are going to look at the constituent
email regarding the 2010 Urban Farming Ordinance.
Email collections are important historical records,
not only because they record the inner workings of City government,
but also because more and more City residents are using email
instead of pen and paper to make their voices heard.
Richard Conlin was Council President at the time of the proposed Urban
Farming Ordinance, and many constituents wrote to his account.
The ordinance included several changes: expanding zoning for community gardens
and urban farms, creating development standards, but most notably
increasing the number of chickens allowed from three to eight.
Councilmember Conlin stated, “These code changes
will strengthen our community food security.”
One of the most common issues regarded increasing the number of chickens.
One writer concerned about irresponsible owners wanted to make sure
“chicken owners know what they're doing.” “They should have a license
or certificate showing they've taking a chicken raising class
that teaches them how to care for the birds.” Another stated “the
consequence of changing this will cause suffering in chickens.
Fresh eggs are available throughout the city at farmers markets.”
The question of roosters sparked considerable opinion.
“Please do not let roosters be a part of the urban farm bill
for the obvious reason.
They do not sleep in!” [rooster crowing]
Bill Lawrence of the Seattle and King County
Environmental Health Division wrote,
“In addition to noise concerns, roosters are often aggressive towards people”
and that “prohibiting roosters should help control the keeping of fighting cocks.”
One person wrote in their opposition based on a slippery slope argument:
“First come the chickens and then the cows.”
While many were opposed,
some were quite enthusiastic about more chickens in the City.
“We benefit from their eggs and our neighbors have commented
that they enjoy hearing the periodic clucking or egg song cackling
as it lends bucolic peace to the neighborhood.” [chickens clucking]
In discussion about the ordinance, compromise was reached
as seen in this internal email to City staff from Richard Conlin:
“I have asked to include the prohibition on roosters in the revised version.”
“The relatively small number of current roosters will be grandfathered in.”
The ordinance was passed and urban farmers may now keep up to eight chickens.
[bell dings cheerfully]
New roosters are prohibited.
[buzzer sounds]
Later on, Councilmember Conlin continued to choose chickens over roosters
when asked about his meal choice at an upcoming event.
“Let's go chicken, but not a rooster.”
To learn more about the history of urban farming in the City
or how to search our email collections,
contact the Archives at archives@seattle.gov.
[instrumental music]