City Council Gives City Staff Blessing to Write Up Urban Chicken Ordinance: Iowa City Daily News Links, August 1

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Gregg Hennigan of the Gazette writes that the city staff has been given the go ahead to write up an ordinance allowing urban chickens.

Hennigan also writes that the city is considering allowing sidewalk cafes.

B. Adam Burke of the North Liberty Leader writes that the Iowa City School District will consider more data before making a decision about future expansion plans. This plan will likely come from hiring more consultants.

Josh O'Leary of the Iowa City Press-Citizen writes that the University of Iowa is going to pitch a new genetics institute to the Iowa Board of Regents at their meeting later this week.

Tony Leys of the Des Moines Register writes that more than 100,000 Iowans could gain healthcare access after an expansion to Medicaid proposed by the Affordable Healthcare Act (Obamacare). Gov. Terry Branstad is on the record opposing this expansion.

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Daily Links Excerpt of the Day

The council’s unanimous consent, at a work session, does not necessarily mean Iowa City residents will get to keep chickens in their yards. Council members only told staff to move forward in drafting a proposal and did not say whether they were for or against so-called urban or backyard chickens.

Staffers will meet with people who have advocated for urban chickens and draw up a proposed ordinance. That would then go to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which would make a recommendation for the council to vote on.

The council’s conversation did shed some light on a particular aspect of the matter that could generate debate. City Manager Tom Markus is recommending that anyone who wants a chicken permit be required to get the consent of adjacent property owners.

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