Animal Ordinance Survey-
Share your thoughts!
SURVEY RESPONSE REPORT
08 September 2022 - 15 September 2022
PROJECT NAME:
City of Fremont Animal Ordinance
SURVEY QUESTIONS
Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 Q1
Do you want the City of Fremont to implement a minimum distance from any property line for chicken owners?
26 (44.8%)
26 (44.8%)
32 (55.2%)
32 (55.2%)
Yes No
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Mandatory Question
(58 response(s))
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Radio Button Question
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14 Q2
Do you currently own chickens?
6 (10.3%)
6 (10.3%)
52 (89.7%)
52 (89.7%)
Yes No
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Mandatory Question
(58 response(s))
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Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 Q3
Do you want the City of Fremont to permit up to 4 beehives at a residential property? In the proposed amendment beehives would not be permitted on multi-family balconies or patios. Additionally, they must be 25 feet from any dwelling on an adjacent... 47 (81.0%)
47 (81.0%)
11 (19.0%)
11 (19.0%)
Yes No
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Mandatory Question
(58 response(s))
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14 Q4
If no, please check all reasons that apply:
Scared of being stung Bees will swarm Bees are aggressive Other (please specify) Question options
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7 8
6 6
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Mandatory Question
(11 response(s))
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14 Q5
Do you want the City of Fremont to permit goat ownership? 47 (81.0%)
47 (81.0%)
11 (19.0%)
11 (19.0%)
Yes No
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Mandatory Question
(58 response(s))
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14 Q6
If no, please check all reasons that apply:
Noise Smell Safety Other (please specify)
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3 4
5 6
7 8
9 10
11 12
9 11
2 1
Mandatory Question
(11 response(s))
Question type:
Checkbox Question
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14 Q7
Have you ever owned goats?
9 (15.5%)
9 (15.5%)
49 (84.5%)
49 (84.5%)
Yes No
Question options
Mandatory Question
(58 response(s))
Question type:
Radio Button Question
Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 CA_Native
9/08/2022 03:02 PM
Goats are great for weed control
cvalvarez
9/08/2022 03:28 PM
We already see goats grazing in Alameda Creek and at Coyote Hills. I think goats are compatible with our suburban community.
Shashi
9/08/2022 04:25 PM
Minimum distances from property lines should be removed from chicken and goat regulations. Both of these animals can be kept safely, discreetly and peacefully even if their enclosure shares a fence with a neighbor.
Specifications for fence quality in the case of
goats would be a wiser specification, for example requiring fences have reinforcing by metal posts or cemented posts. Animal control officer’s time and energy should be reserved for attending to actual disputes and animal welfare concerns and not filled with regulating fencing unless a problem
of negligence or safety arises.
Hayrene
9/08/2022 04:10 PM
I don't believe you need a large lot at all for goats; even the proposal is too restrictive; they are quieter than dogs
spencerhadley
9/08/2022 04:41 PM
We have had chickens up against our property line for years. We have relationships with all of our neighbors and continue to check in that our chickens are not a nuisance. All our neighbors have assured us that the chickens are fine where they are. If our neighbors our fine shouldn’t the City of Fremont? Same with goats. If our fences are strong and our neighbors are fine with them, I don’t think the City should intervene. Also quails should be permitted. They are even easier to keep than chickens.
jgsplat
9/08/2022 04:45 PM
The minimum distances from property lines should be removed from chicken and goat regulations.
Fence specifications and build quality
would be a better alternative to enforce rather then fence distance.
Although in a time where our enforcement agencies are already under budgeted and stretched thin, all of this seems like a ridiculous thing to enforce.
Kelly guerrero
9/08/2022 05:04 PM
I absolutely think it is ridiculous that an ordinance was passed to not allow goats. Our children are part of 4-H. There are so many benefits to having goats for residents of the city not to mention keeping brush down in an environmentally sustainable way. Distance to fence line Q8
Any additional thoughts on this amendment?
Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 should be removed as well for chicken and goat. Thank you!!! I am able to meet in person if needed.
DChittle
9/08/2022 05:07 PM
Times are changing and we need to encourage urban farming.
Dreysgroove
9/08/2022 05:11 PM
I think it is very important from a food sustainability perspective to allow homeowners a tremendous amount of latitude in keeping chickens, bees, goats, or any other livestock, animals, gardens, etc. that supports homesteading or farming practices.
Milwood1
9/08/2022 05:20 PM
The ordinance needs a provision to allow the city to require removal of animals or bees allowed by the ordinance upon receiving complaints from neighboring property owners.
The quiet enjoyment of
property should not be negatively impacted by animal noises and smells or swarming bees.
Creis2boycrew
9/08/2022 05:29 PM
I greatly value my neighbors right to raise animals and live in an eco conscience way of sustainability.
NW
9/08/2022 06:43 PM
Goats are essential to maintaining property shrubbery- it’s no secret that the area utilizes goats for fire maintenance.
Goats are easy and
not a nuisance.
chrissolsen
9/08/2022 06:58 PM
Cats and Dog kennels are allow up to the property boundary. 10ft
distance from Chicken kennels from property boundary seems unfair, and costly to pet owners.
Hank Stump
9/08/2022 07:17 PM
The need for permitting for beehives should be eliminated, or make the process easy enough for a higher compliance.
Will the proposed
system still require an armed officer to inspect the property? Sometimes facing the beehive towards the fence is the best way to get the bees to fly straight up and away, but of course that requires a solid fence, or open space on the other side.
Carol
9/08/2022 07:15 PM
Please update north Fremont dog park possibility.
Theresa
9/08/2022 08:09 PM
I think we need to tread carefully with regards to livestock in a residential area.
A person can have a 7500 square foot lot which
Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 would qualify them for these scenarios.
However, if they put, say a
400sq ft ADU on the property, would that be enough free space for the people, the animals and their messes to maintain a healthy society?
The rules for allocating ADU has already been set by the state.
ThatDude
9/08/2022 07:46 PM
Our neighbor has goats and they have never been a problem. jsandoe
9/08/2022 09:54 PM
I don't think the proposed amendment fulfills the referral from City Council to adjust the ordinance to encourage urban agriculture. It makes minimal liberalization of the existing code but offers nothing of substance. When the referral was discussed at City Council its members expressed agreement with those that said that Urban Agriculture was a positive good for the city and should be encouraged. The city already has among the most onerous regulations in the Bay Area for the regulation of agricultural animals.
If the amendment passes it still will be.
Concerning permit fees, I
understand the rationale for a permit fee for cats and dogs. The Animal Services Department performs an admirable and useful service to the community in helping to find lost pets and finding new homes for abandoned pets. To the extent that this is paid for by permit fees, it is appropriate. But agricultural animals are not pets. I don't think the authors of this amendment appreciate the difference.
Its not clear that the services provided by the Animal Services Department are appropriate for agricultural animals, not that the animals or their owners derive any benefit from the fees paid. Is the city, for example, going to help locate the owners of lost bees or find a new home if the owners cannot be located? If the owners of agricultural animals are not going to get a benefit from their permit fees, there should not be a fee.
The amended ordinance seems to
attempt to capture in regulation practices that are intended to avoid some specific nuisance complaints. It's a list of potential citations that can be used by an unhappy neighbor against their animal owning neighbor. But, if I follow the regulations to the letter, does that protect me from an unhappy neighbor? No. There still are nuisance laws. For example, I know a fellow who lost his bees because of complaints of a swimming pool owner even though there is no way to say for sure that a given bee at the swimming pool came from any given hive. The proposed regulations don't address this circumstance (nor can they), but I'll bet that complaints from swimming pool owners make up a good percentage of bee complaints every year. Though he violated no regulation and though it's not clear his bees caused any harm, he lost his bees.
Other Bay Area cities have adopted nuisance-only
regulations and adopted, quite successfully, the idea of sending in trained mediators to help resolve nuisance complaints. With respect to bees, I believe, for example, that Redwood City does this and the Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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11 of
14 mediators are volunteers from the San Mateo County Beekeepers Association. I think that urban agriculture in Fremont is best managed by minimal, sensible regulation, and sensible and informed mediation when neighbors don't see eye to eye.
SabrinaTeixeira
9/08/2022 09:34 PM
No chickens or roosters. No goats. No bees.
KalinTurri
9/08/2022 10:04 PM
Section 6.30.060 (a)..."disposition of an impounded animal ..within three (3) days" conflicts with Cal Food& Ag Code 31108 which requires "6 business days, not including the day of impoundment except in specific situations".
Olsen4
9/09/2022 09:31 AM
It is unfair to purpose minimum distance to fence line for chickens when there is nothing on dog kennels!
Dogs bark constantly in
kennels and are a problem.
Those who already have built,
nonmoveable chicken coups by fence should be grandfathered into current rules.
Unfair to change and make them rebuild their coups
Anonymous
9/09/2022 05:51 PM
Get rid of minimum distance to property line. It’s not necessary. Also there is no good argument for taking away citizens’ rights to own chickens/bees/goats. These are all beneficial animals and cause no harm to any neighbors.
annie
9/11/2022 02:15 AM
As climate change continues to worsen, promoting opportunities to interact with animals and be more sustainable through urban agriculture is going to become more important.
EKM
9/11/2022 05:44 PM
I have a few thoughts on the Animal Ordinance:
Section 6.10.040 -
Why are Fremont residents permitted to keep pigeons and doves? I have not heard of those as pets. Are they for commercial purposes? I don't think residents should be keeping animals for commercial purposes on residential property.
Section 6.40.035 (b) - Goats held
on residential property should not be used for food (dairy or meat).
No one should be slaughtering goats that they keep on their residential property. Secondly, goat milk comes from a lactating mother goat who has had a baby. Goats on residential property should not be used for their dairy. What happens to their baby? Also, how do they become pregnant? Subsection (d) provides
the males
need to be neutered?
Section 6.10.070 – Just looking for clarity on
this section:
• Is this a requirement to provide a shelter that an animal may access versus caging an animal outdoors?
Subsection (b)(3)
indicates animals may be caged outside; in which case they should Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 be provided with sufficient room to exercise their normal behaviors beyond just being able to sit, stand, and turn. • Clarify how this section on “shelter and shelter maintenance” relates to the other sections o Section 6.10.130 “Chicken Enclosure” o Section
6.40.035(f) “Goats”
I have seen a house on Mission Blvd. that has a
horse in their front yard. Their pen always looks dilapidated. What are the requirements on keeping a horse on residential property? bluepanda
9/11/2022 08:57 PM
It looks like you want move bees and goats but less chickens.
Livestocks should not be discriminated. People should have the freedom to produce their own food of their choices, as long as they don't bother others.
Profnew22
9/12/2022 09:16 AM
The city needs all the bees it can get.
arcerick
9/13/2022 09:59 AM
I Vote NO
AndyS
9/13/2022 09:10 PM
I'm concerned that the ongoing permit fees for having small numbers of bee hives or goats will improperly discourage otherwise qualified property owners. I can understand a modest one-time start up/inspection fee to make sure everything is in order, but $60 a year (or more) seems unnecessarily bureaucratic. Licensing altered pets only costs between $7 and $12 a year (each), and I assume part of that fee is to help cover the cost of catching and sheltering lost pets, as well as some administrative overhead with regard to rabies vaccination tracking. Maybe a similar small ongoing fee could be justified with goats, but not bees.
Now if someone violates the
ordinance (and their permit), that's a different matter, and I assume penalties would apply (fines or permit revocation). But in general, we should keep city fees to a minimum. Bees in particular are vital for the health of our environment and maintaining suburban hives should be encouraged as a matter of city policy. The goal should be to let people use their property in a responsible way, not to create a revenue source for the city.
Lastly, I'd like to see language allowing
exceptions for properties that are close to the size thresholds that have been set. 10,000 sq ft for goats seems rather arbitrary -- for example, my property is 9,997 sq ft, and I find it hard to believe that those 3 sq ft would make any difference.
RSchae
9/13/2022 09:49 PM
Why are we making it harder for people to own chickens. In this upcoming economy it would be beneficial to allow people on smaller lots to keep chickens as well. Surrounding communities allow Animal Ordinance Survey- Share your thoughts!
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14 chickens.
Richard Godfrey
9/14/2022 08:12 AM
Please include goat owners to determine best rules. Thank you CC
9/14/2022 11:02 AM
We should be promoting safe and considerate livestock/animal care in residential areas given proper space. Our community can benefit from access to sustainably and residentially farmed eggs, honey, goat milk.
Especially as we are losing more and more single-family homes that have gardens/green spaces, the city has become a heat island and encouraging sustainable practices in the green spaces we have left is essential to mitigating that. More emphasis on our local climate please. Of course we need affordable housing, but so much high- density housing and is making Fremont unlivable and undesirable.
Ca
9/15/2022 01:21 PM
Please enforce the codes that are already on the books! Esther Gonzalez
9/15/2022 02:16 PM
The beehive requirements proposed are still unacceptable and to limiting to our helping our pollinators survive.
How about roofs?
Optional question
(33 response(s), 25 skipped)
Question type:
Essay Question
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