Finance & Administration Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Pat Miller, Acting Town Clerk
	PREPARED BY:	W. Wiles, Manager of By-law Enforcement & Licencing
	DATE OF MEETING:	September 20, 2004
	SUBJECT:	Keeping of Pigeons - Urban Area

RECOMMENDATION:

That the owner of pigeon operations at 14 Griffin Court be exempted from the provisions of By-law 182-96 “A by-law to prohibit the keeping of certain classes of animals and to regulate the keeping of certain other classes of animals in the Town of Markham” subject to the property owner entering into a written agreement with the Town that shall include the following conditions:

1. That permission pertains to the current owner only.
2. Pigeons are to be housed solely on the subject property.
3. A maximum of 40 pigeons be permitted on the property.
4. All structures used to house the pigeons must meet zoning lot line set-backs, building and property standards regulations.
5. Receipt of a written commitment that flights of the pigeons be restricted to twice daily between the hours of 6:00am – 10am and 7:00pm – 10:00pm.
6. Continued membership in the Brampton & Peel County Poultry, Pigeon & Pet Stock Association.
7. All pigeons must be banded with identifying leg bands issued by a club or organization.

PURPOSE:

To permit the resident at 14 Griffin Court to maintain pigeons; whereas, the existing by-law provisions do not.

BACKGROUND:

The owners of 14 Griffin Court, Nevenka and Jim Minovski keep pigeons on the property, which is located in the urban area of the Town. By-law 182-96 permits the keeping of pigeons in the rural areas only.

Mr. Minovski is a bona fide member and past president of the Brampton & Peel County Poultry, Pigeon and Pet Stock Association, and keeps pigeons. Other residents who keep pigeons in the Town, who reside in the urban area have been exempted from the by-law requirements, provided that the owner enter into a written agreement with the Town that includes the following conditions:

• That permission pertains to the current owner only.
• Pigeons are to be housed solely on the subject property.
• A maximum of 40 pigeons be permitted on the property.
• All structures used to house the pigeons must meet zoning lot line set-backs, building and property standards regulations.
• Receipt of a written commitment that flights of the pigeons be restricted to twice daily between the hours of 6:00am – 10am and 7:00pm – 10:00pm.
• Continued membership in the Brampton & Peel County Poultry, Pigeon & Pet Stock Association.

All pigeons must be banded with identifying leg bands issued by a club or organization. and staff recommend the same exemption apply in this instance.

Nine other municipalities (Mississauga, Ajax, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Brampton, Pickering, Kitchener, Toronto, and Ottawa) were surveyed and all permit the keeping of pigeons subject to a number of regulations, including a maximum number of pigeons, banding of pigeons, number of flights per day, and timing of the flights. The owners have agreed to the conditions outlined in this report.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

Pat Miller, Acting Town Clerk

Andy Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services