The proposal -- agendized for Council discussion and possible action on July 16 -- has been discussed by the Council's Environmental Committee (Lowenthal chair, O'Donnell vice chair, Johnson member) at all of its quarterly meetings since October 2011...and in some cases has produced polarized public testimony. Tomorrow's July 16 City Council agenda item is the first time the measure will be heard by the full nine-member Council.

Friends of Long Beach Animals, which works to save animals' lives through spay/neuter programs, is likewise committed to [website flier text] "responsible pet ownership, education and humane treatment of all animals."

On March 18, 2013 two members of the Environmental Committee -- Lowenthal and Johnson, with O'Donnell absent -- directed changes in parts of a staff-drafted proposed ordinance and voted to send the result to the full Council...where it has now surfaced and can be viewed below.

Today's mass emailing from FoLBA didn't detail the grounds for its opposition, but at a June 2012 Environmental Committee meeting, some animal advocates spoke in opposition to the proposal, voicing concern about conditions for kept animals.

At a November 2012 meeting of the Environmental Committee, Long Beach Animal Care Services (animal control) staff also indicated that easing restrictions for keeping animals would bring more animals into Long Beach would mean additional calls for services. The measure's major proponent, LB Grows, has said that in San Francisco calls to animal control declined when callers learned that keeping goats and chickens was lawful.

In November 2012, the Council's Environmental Committee voted 3-0 to direct city staff to bring back a draft for discussion...with Councilman O'Donnell voicing concerns about parts of the proposal and indicating he favored additional public input.

Long Beach Grows, a non-profit "dedicated to promoting green, healthy, environmentally sustainable urban agriculture in Long Beach," was the catalyst for the original proposal to ease restrictions on egg laying poultry and goats. The group, led by 2nd district resident Donna Marykwas says it has supporters in several Council districts and isn't pleased with some restrictions remaining in the proposed ordinance text. The group's initial proposal didn't include easing restrictions on beekeeping which is independently supported by a number of backyard beekeepers, who cite the benefits of bees and downplay risks of bee stings. The bee keeping verbiage was included in city staff discussion drafts and has advanced in the now-pending proposed ordinance.

UPDATE: Long Beach Grows says in a comment on Facebook: "But we support the entire proposal, the bees as well. WIthout bees, we might all starve. But we would like fewer restrictions than in the current version of the proposal, for chickens, goats, AND bees."

Developing.

Your New Neighbors? Long Beach Council To Discuss Easing Rules For Keeping Chickens, Goats And Bees; See Proposed Ordinance Changes