A Conversation With The Mayor Regarding Chicken Zoning

After the where the Council decided to not even discuss a possible regarding hens, I sent letters to a few members of City Council asking if they would meet with me, at their convenience, to discuss pretty much anything regarding chickens.

I have been working on changing the laws and just because four people at the City said "No" does not mean that I will stop working for what I see as right. After sending the emails [which are posted hereand here and shown below] I was able to meet with one, I never got a response from another, and then there is the following conversation I had with the Mayor:

[I've made no editing changes, I just put the titles to separate them and removed all the times and email address information that go along with any email]

First Letter Sent (6/23/2011   11:31AM):

Hello Mayor Voepel,

I would like to take a minute to commend your interests and attempt at
possibly changing the zoning laws with regards to urban hen raising and
urban agriculture. As you are aware there is a growing local food
movement sprouting up all over the country and the world. Some cities
are embracing the citizens new interests in sustainability, fiscal
responsibility and local economies and some are fighting against it.
  

It was great of you to to put forth the idea of changing the laws
on chickens. Chickens have become a symbol for urban sustainability,
mostly because people choose to raise them illegally inside city limits.
To allow people to do it legally is a great step forward. Although it
was voted down at the City Council meeting we cannot quit. This is what
citizens want, it’s what the world needs right now.

I would like to set up a time where I could meet with you and discuss
bringing up the chicken zoning laws again but more importantly I would
like to talk to you about drafting the new zoning laws to allow chickens
in Santee. I would be more then willing to volunteer my time to the city
to write them but first I would just like to pick your brain and see
what you  were thinking.

Thank you for granting me the opportunity to meet with you and I look
forward to hearing back from you.

-Alan Stuart
619-XXX-XXXX

The Mayor’s Response (6/23/2011   2:16PM):

Dear Alan,

This issue is dead in Santee until the next City Council is sworn in
after November of 2012. It is customary with rare exception, to NOT
bring back a defeated item until a new City Council is elected (every 2 years).
The Mayor, City  Council, City Manager and Department Heads are the only
ones authorized to put an item on our agenda.

I put the Urban Agriculture (including chickens) item on our agenda, as I often do, when I think there is enough citizen interest in an idea or

project to see what level of return interest, the City Council has.
This keeps Santee responsive to new things/ideas but does not waste
valuable staff time/money if the Council does not see merit in the item.
We have five elected representatives of the People of Santee, with often
diverse viewpoints (boy do we ever have some different viewpoints!) to
fairly make decisions that affect all of Santee residents.

Pardon the pun, but chickens are dead ducks in Santee for now.

Randy Voepel
Mayor, City of Santee

My Response (6/24/2011   3:16PM):

So does this mean you are refusing to meet with me?

-Alan

Second Letter To The Mayor (6/30/2011   5:19PM)

Hello Mayor Voepel,

I was wondering if, at your convenience, I could meet with you for just 15 minutes to discuss chickens in Santee. I have drafted up some possible regulations in new zoning laws for chickens that I would like to present to you. I would also like to hear more about what you had in mind. I really hope you can fit me into your schedule. I know you said you were, at this time, unwilling to bring up the issue but that does not mean we cannot discuss plans for the future.
Thank you for your time,

From you constituent,

Alan Staurt

The Mayor’s Response (7/1/11   11:41AM)

Alan,

What part of "dead issue" did you not understand? Please understand that I am on the cusp of "officially" being pissed off with you Sir.

Give it up until we have a new, post 2012, City council, your issue failed in this one.

Randy Voepel
Mayor

PS Now that I re-read your Email, I am now "Officially" pissed off at you. Sheesh, if you P.O. your friends, how do you handle enemies? I highly recommend you never go into politics.

My Response (7/5/11   3:30PM)

Randy,

Well that was really mean of you to say. I was just asking for your help. :(

-Alan