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The Babbitt city council met on May 20 for a regular meeting and with one member absent, was not able to move forward on the proposed ordinance to allow chickens to be raised in the city limits.
An upcoming public hearing to be held at 9 a.m. did not sit well with council member Duane Lossing, who has pushed for meetings to be held in the evenings.
Lossing said the city had received an email from a property owner questioning the meeting time.
“In my opinion, it’s hard to get true public input when you have it at the time of day, when the people that have jobs and such cannot attend,” said Lossing. “I really think it defeats the purpose of having public input on these situations when a good majority of the public cannot attend these meetings.”
Council and planning commission memberJimLassisaid the meeting time was set by the zoning officer.
“If anybody can’t make a meeting, they’re always invited to write written comments,” said Lassi.
Lossing pushed for the meeting time to be changed but city staff pointed out the process would have to be restarted. Lassi said this would cause a two-week delay.
City attorney Joel Liewicki countered by saying court proceedings are only held during the day “I would note all governmental and official action, court action takes place during the working day. So as a public meeting of the city of Babbitt, it’s appropriate for it to take place at a time convenient for citizens during the day, if not like it’s being put at an inconvenient time,” said Liewicki. “There’s city business that takes place, and that takes place during business hours.”
Lossing reiterated that, “It’s placed at a time when most people that have a day job cannot attend.”
He added, “I guess I did my job to bring it up. That’s all I can do.”
The council discussed the ordinance relating to allowing people to raise chickens in town.
Lassi, who has opposed the proposal, had previously said his opposition included not wanting to deal with it through the planning commission.
At the meeting, Lassi said the zoning ordinance requires the review of the new language to city codes be done by the planning commission along with a public hearing.
“The statement you made was that the planning and as the head of the planning and zoning commission, you weren’t going to take action on the chicken ordinance,” said Liewicki. “And so it’s presented for first reading, and then it will be presented for a second reading and publication, after which time it will become an ordinance of the city.”
Lassi said the motion passed by the council did not include any details.
“You could have said, we’re going to allow 30, 40 chickens, or, you know, chicken coops 10 feet tall. There was nothing in there to regulate anything regarding the keeping of chickens. So I’m contending that this thing should go to the planning commission for their review and study and then come back to the council.
“And further, throw another monkey wrench, it’s not going to pass tonight, because I’m going to vote no. And you need four votes to pass. I’m deathly opposed to this. So you have to wait,” said Lassi.
Mayor Andrea Zupancich said when Lassi refused to work on the ordinance, city staff had to develop an ordinance with the attorney.
Liewicki pointed out the council doesn’t need to send the ordinance to planning and zoning for review if it passes the issue with a four- fifths vote.
“I disagree with your statement. (The council) can, by presentation and publication amend the ordinance,” said Liewicki. He said the difference is the city is the governing body above the planning commission.
With council member Joe White absent, Zupancich said the council would need to table the issue until the June 3 meeting.
