How to Work with Your HOA

Now that we've convinced the city to allow hens (woot!), many of you who live in an HOA may want to try to change the board's mind about allowing hens. Most HOAs do not, at this point, allow them. The Aurora ordinance specifically says that HOAs have the right to override the city's ordinance on this issue, meaning they can say no.

If you want hens and cannot relocate to a new area, consider if you think you have a chance with your HOA. Then do what we have done with the city: talk to someone on the Board, get the word out to your neighbors, educate people (a great place is the speeches people gave at the City Council Meeting - starting at 1:00:27), get signatures from neighbors (find out if there is a specific format the HOA would like), and then present to the HOA.

From Daisy, one of our Chicks in Aurora members: "I was on the Board of Directors for an HOA, and the best way to get support, as others have said, is to talk to your neighbors first, ask them if they'd be for or against, and ask why. Then research, and have answers at the ready for when the same questions will come up in the HOA meeting later. A presentation with color graphics and photos will always help too! It's not impossible, that's the good news. We probably changed our minds and rules nearly 50% of the time based on solid facts. But the feelings of others can be very strong, and they may be the power as well, sooo... Prepare and be considerate and armed with knowledge and a smile."

It may take a while, but it's not impossible, especially as you prevent facts: well cared-for hens and well-made coops are not eye sores (cannot be seen from the front of the house at all!), and don't harbor disease or create too much noise. As HOAs see that it isn't a problem in the rest of the city, and as you educate your neighbors and get support, the likelihood of their allowing hens will increase.

Good luck!

So Impressed!! Ordinance Approved!

Thank you to the seventy or so folks who came to the City Council Meeting Monday night! Your speeches and our showing made a huge difference, and the three nays had to more or less apologize. The heartfelt speeches - including some awesome youth, a marine, and citizens from all over the city - were powerful! The ordinance was voted in - chickens will be approved in Aurora. We still have two more steps to take, but these should go through without problem. There is one more vote that has to happen but votes rarely change at this stage. When I get details from Sally Mounier I will post them. Then it has to be put into the code. Sally suggested that once it is approved, we can be fairly sure that it will become an official ordinance legalizing chickens this summer.

You did what???!!!

Nice work y'all!!

Please Call City Council Before Monday's Meeting

For our last, important push before Monday's vote (so today or tomorrow), please do the following, per Sally's urging: 

Here follows what I believe will work to impress Councilman Bob Roth.

This is a two step process:

1. Call the Aurora City Council Office at 303.739.7015 M-F between 8am – 5pm.  You will reach a live person.  Say “I am an Aurora citizen, and I am supporting the chicken ordinance.  Please count me in as in favor of allowing chickens."
2. Then ask to be connected to Bob Roth’s office.  You will leave a message saying, "My name is XXXX and I am a citizen of Aurora.  I hope you will change your mind and support letting us have a few hens.  Thank you."

This will do two things…let the council staff keep accurate, by the numbers, track of the support for or against chickens.  And two, will give Roth brief, concise messages that there is a great deal of support for chickens.

3. Lastly, I would ask the group to email Bob Roth the reason for their support for chickens.  His email address is robert.c.roth@gmail.com.  

That should have a positive affect on our efforts. 

Thanks, Sally

COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SHOW SUPPORT AND SPEAK

WE ARE THIS CLOSE BUT HAVE COME UNDER FIRE!

There is an Aurora City Council meeting on February 24th at 7:30 pm, where the ordinance to approve chickens will be voted on by council. It was approved in Study Session but can be voted down here - especially since there are members on council who are adamantly opposed and fighting dirty (twisting the truth and being really rude).

We really really really need you to show up for this council meeting. You do NOT have to speak, but are encouraged to do so. Sally Mounier is going to try and ask the supporters to stand. Bob Roth is also likely to rally people who are against this to be there (he is opposed and is organizing folks to fight it, despite the fact - and because of the fact - that we got our six yes votes we needed).

I know we are all busy and have our day to day lives, but this could really make or break us moving forward. PLEASE SHOW UP! Please consider speaking.

Sally Mounier has been working really hard to get things to this point, and is not planning on letting the ordinance stay where it is at (there are a few parts we don't really like that we have compromised on in order to get it passed.) There have to be compromises *at this point*. If this vote FAILS we will need to raise around $75,000 to *try* and get it on the ballot, during which time chickens will still be illegal. The ordinance as it stands gets our foot in the door.

Again, PLEASE COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING ON FEB. 24th at 7:30 pm. If you want to speak in support of chickens in Aurora, you have to sign up before the meeting. Rally your neighbors, your friends and anyone you know that is able to show up.

If you're on Facebook you can let us know you will be coming if you like, https://www.facebook.com/events/636012036434366/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

If it gets approved at this meeting - which it should, but again, feelings are high about the issue - then the ordinance will go through one more vote and be approved.

________________________

City Council meeting
Date/Time:	Mon, Feb 24, 2014 7:30 p.m.
Location:	Council Chambers   Map 15151 E. Alameda Parkway Aurora, Colorado 80012 Event resides in Aurora.
Contact:	Janice Napper, 303-739-7094
A Study Session will be held prior to the City Council meeting. Information regarding the time and location will be posted as it becomes available.

Want to get involved? Speak at City Council Meetings

As you may know, we now have an online petition at https://www.change.org/petitions/aurora-colorado-city-council-allow-homeowners-to-keep-chickens that residents of Aurora are urged to sign. I also have a paper/ hard copy version to share with friends and neighbors who are not online here http://www.scribd.com/doc/160359637/Petition. We would like to get signatures completed to present to council by September 16.

Our next meeting will be Monday, September 16 at 6 pm at Crawford Community Center (school), 1600 Florence St, Aurora.Bring your paper petitions.

Meanwhile, consider going to an Aurora City Council Meeting, where you will have three minutes at the beginning of the meeting (after the pledge and such) to speak on anything you want to bring up, such as your wanting the council to change the chicken ordinance and allow us to keep well tended backyard hens. The meeting dates are:

August 12 and 26

September 9 and 30

October 14 and 28

Aurora Municipal Center, Council Chambers, First Floor, 7:30pm.  

You sign up to present, in order of who signed up, at about 7:45. You don't have to be a great speaker, just get your voice heard. 

We will present our petition with final signature count to City Council in September. We aren't sure yet when we will bring the ordinance up for an official vote - we'll know when, depending on how much support we are able to muster. 

Also consider coming to Sally's Ward I meeting on  September 10, 6-8 pm at MLK library, where the At Large members will be featured. I will ask them whether they support legalizing of chickens in Aurora, so we can see where they stand. 

Here is another thing you can do:

Email (or leave a phone message)

Access Aurora - 303.739.7000 or access@auroragov.org

• Use this method giving your name and address saying you would like your statement (about why you want chickens) to be emailed to the Mayor and the entire City Council.  Use your own words, be as succinct as you can, and ask for a reply from each council member.

After you have emailed Access Aurora, give the council members 48 hours to respond, and then call them.  Again, do not take up too much of their time, but ask them for their support for allowing hens in Aurora.  They probably will not commit their support until they see the wording of the ordinance, and maybe not even then.  What you can ask them is if they were on council at the last chicken vote and how they voted.  Clea and I need to receive feedback so please email us with your comments.   Thank you very much.

Ward I

Sally Mounier – 303.625.3648 or sallymounier@comcast.net

Ward II

Renie Peterson – 303.363.6791

Ward III

Marsha Berzins – 720.838.3762

Ward IV

Molly Markert – 303.752.2614 or 303.941.2244

Ward V

Bob Roth – 720.202.2695

Ward VI

Bob Broom – 303.589.5057 or 303.693.2733

Council Members At Large

Bob LeGare – 303.819.8617 or 303.366.0113

Barb Cleland – 303.929.9855

Brad Pierce – 303.241.5559

Debi Hunter-Holen – 720.229.9165

 _____

When you contact them, or when you speak at a Council Meeting, could you please let me know? Either post a comment here with your statement, or send me an email, clea danaan at gmail dot com, no spaces etc. 

Here we go!! 

Petition to Aurora City Council, Upcoming Meetings

We have a petition! It took a bit because we wanted to make sure we were going about it the right way. We have an online petition and a paper petition. Please sign only one, but send people to sign one of them. They don't have to want chickens themselves, just be supportive of the idea. If someone likes fresh eggs, sustainable living, and the right to choose what reasonable pets a person can keep, they could be willing to sign the petition.

It asks for your address. We will not be tracking or bugging you, we just need to verify that you are an Aurora resident. We need all petitions signed by September 16th, 2013.

The link to the online petition is: http://www.change.org/petitions/aurora-colorado-city-council-to-allow-homeowners-to-keep-chickens 

The paper petition, which you can print out and share with your neighbors, is here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/160359637/Petition.

Sally Mounier has a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, Sept 10, to which chicken supporters are invited. These meetings will give us a chance to be heard, but also to determine who on council might be supportive, on the fence, or opposed to the changed chicken ordinance. Please join us at MLK library at 6 pm.

Finally, besides signing the petition, people can still call their city council representative. Most people don't know what ward they are in. To find out go here: http://apps.auroragov.org/Apps/Portal/Pages/government.cfm. Contact your ward representative and the At Large members, who represent the whole city.

Q & A for Concerns about Backyard Chickens

Why Should City Ordinance Allow Hens?

Cities all over America allow and even encourage backyard hens. They are fun, educational, and make good neighbors. Here are answers to the biggest concerns regarding backyard chickens.

Q: Aren’t chickens loud and obnoxious?
A: Hens are quieter than dogs or parrots. They do give out a baak-baak-baak noise when they lay an egg or see a predator, but it’s not early in the morning or at night and is, again, quieter than a barking dog. Roosters will not be allowed in city limits.

Q: Don’t they stink?
A: When well-cared-for as suburban pets (not as farm animals) they don't smell. This is as simple as weekly coop cleanings and daily attending to food and water, just like with any other pet.

Q: I don’t want chickens wandering around my neighbor’s yard, getting into my yard, or getting into the street. How are they contained? Is that cruel?
A: Backyard chickens lead happy, healthy lives. Kept in attractive garden coops they won't roam into neighbors' yards (like some dogs and cats do!) or the street. When we regulate backyard hen-keeping, we can establish rules like not allowing them to free range and making sure pens are secure from predators.

Q: Won’t they attract predators like coyotes and foxes? What about pests like rats?
A: Chickens kept in secure coops and runs do not attract pests or predators any more than do house cats or garden areas. Just like with dog food, their food is kept safely in secure containers and does not attract pests.

Q: I’ve heard that chickens carry avian flu. Is this true?
A: Any bird can get infected with avian influenza, but the strains that affect humans are very rare and have never been found in small, backyard flocks in the US. Most avian influenza found is in very large flocks of birds (and in the US are not the strains that can infect humans). This is true of other diseases as well, which is why store-bought eggs often contain antibiotics. Backyard hens’ eggs do not contain antibiotics, which makes them much safer to eat. Keeping hens in a secure run and coop reduces their risk of being exposed to wild birds (particularly wild waterfowl) which may be infected. The risk of salmonella is also much lower in a well-kept, small flock of suburban hens. As with caring for any pets, simply washing your hands well before and after handling or caring for chickens will vastly reduce risk of contracting any illness from them. The risk with diseases in hens is no higher than with other pets (such as after cleaning out a cat box). It is much lower than with factory farmed birds, because backyard chickens live happy healthy lives in healthy conditions.

Q: Won’t allowing hens cost the city lots of money?
A: In Longmont, CO, and in Missoula, MT, they were concerned about the same thing, and found allowing hens did not make more work or cost for the city and animal care. There are more complaints about dogs than chickens, even in cities where they are allowed.

Q: What are the benefits of chickens?
A: Composted droppings make incredible garden fertilizer: Reduce/Reuse/Recycle!

Fresh organic eggs are healthier for you and the environment: no fuel used trucking them to stores! Since hens eat a combination of weeds/grass, bugs, and grain-based feed, keeping them yourself reduces the cost of free-range, healthful eggs. Gardens and small flocks of hens help keep food secure by reducing food-borne illness and reducing the risk of tampering.
Chickens are funny, entertaining, and educational, and are easy pets to care for, great for people of all abilities.

For more information, please see www.urbanchickens.net, www.backyardchickens.com, and aurorachickens.blogspot.com.

Concerns about backyard hens?

Urbanchickens.net has some fabulous articles about hen-keeping and common concerns about legalizing backyard flocks. Here's a post about avian flu, and how backyard flocks actually help keep us safe.

Here's a great post about the cost of enforcing chicken ordinances.

I'm working on a fact sheet to answer concerns about backyard chickens. I'll have them at our meeting, Thursday, June 13^th 6-7pm – Please join me and others who are interested in passing a city ordinance allowing chickens in Aurora.  At Crawford Elementary, on Florence between 16^th and 17^th Streets.