Urban chickens brought up at City Council

The topic of urban chickens was again raised to Havre City Council at its monthly meeting Monday.

Havre resident Al Garver has started a petition to allow urban chickens in the city, and told Havre Daily News that he has obtained 290 signatures and he is very pleased with that.

He was out of town for Monday, but council member Denise Brewer - Garver said he met with Brewer and council member Heather Parker about his petition - brought the petition up during the public comment section of the meeting, suggesting maybe it should be put on a ballot for everyone to weigh in on.

The petition requests City Council to allow urban hens within city limits. Suggested limitations in the petition include people could have up to six hens, no roosters, aesthetically pleasing chicken coops and runs. The chickens must be shut in at night and must not be in the front yard. An annual permit from the city would also be required.

Council member Lindsay Ratliff agreed the issue could be put on a ballot so the entire city could decide instead of being debated in city hall.

"This keeps coming up ... and it just brings out maybe not the best in everybody," she said

Council member Sarah McKinnney agreed that it would be best on a ballot.

Havre Mayor Doug Kaercher said it should probably first go to the City Council ordinance committee, which could recommend it be put in an election.

No one spoke in favor of the petition, but Havre resident David Brewer spoke against it.

"I'm against it," he said. "It will attract dogs, cats, and the yards of most Havre homes are too small."

The issue was extensively debated in 2015, with City Council at that time voting down the idea 5-2.

The council Monday also approved recommendations from its Streets and Sidewalks Committee to install 15 mph speed limits from 13th Street West at First Avenue through Ridge Road and Beaver Creek Boulevard.

The Streets and Sidewalks Committee previously met April 3 with Havre Chief of Police Gabe Matosich recommending installing the new speed limits.

At Monday's meeting, committee member chair Denise Brewer said the frequency in complaints of drivers running stop signs has increased at the intersection of Boulevard Avenue and 15th Street West, so the committee is also requesting to put in a four-way stop.

"We're not sure if that will solve all the issues, but hopefully it will slow people down and make them stop and think, we sure would hate to have some kids get hit at a bus stop," Brewer said.

"It's the only three-way stop we have in the city. ... I don't know why it's not a four-way stop, it should be," Matosich added. "When the school buses stop there, the traffic just isn't stopping."

"I've worked that area a little bit myself, but I've lived there for two years," Havre Police Officer Brandon Olson said. "Speaking as not just an officer ... people have approached me personally, so that's why I'm here talking as a citizen, a member of the community ... where Ridge Road and Beaver Creek Boulevard meet, it's like Havre's malfunction junction."

The council also unanimously approved the ratification of Montana Federation of Public Employees - Havre Police Unit Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"It's been a long time coming," Kaercher said. "They're happy to have that finally settled after the last couple years."

Council also approved a request made by the Havre Area Chamber of Commerce to close some roads within city limits for the upcoming 2023 Bear Paw Marathon.

The council also approved a resolution recognizing the Havre Chamber as the local non-profit Convention and Visitors Bureau for Havre.

The next Havre City Council meeting is Monday, June 5.