Based on the context provided for the City of Hastings, here is the transcribed townhall meeting with speaker identifications. **[0:00] Dan Wietecha:** [Roll call] Councilmember Vihrachoff? **[0:01] DawnMarie Vihrachoff:** Here. **[0:02] Dan Wietecha:** Councilmember Beck? **[0:03] Mya Beck:** Here. **[0:04] Dan Wietecha:** Councilmember Leifeld? **[0:14] Mary Fasbender:** Councilmember [Lawrence] is absent and Councilmember [Haus/Pemble] is here. Okay, let's reflect that a quorum has been established with the absence at this time of Councilmember Leifeld and Councilmember [Lawrence]. Approval of minutes—council members, are there any corrections to the minutes from the workshop or the regular meeting of May 17? **[0:45] Mary Fasbender:** Seeing none, they are approved. Comment from the audience: there are options for comments to be mailed prior to the meeting, as well as an interactive feature during the meeting. For the email comments, they have been forwarded to the Council and the receipt is acknowledged. Please recognize that items not on the agenda will not be discussed this evening. We ask the attendees in the audience to use the "raise hand" feature and they will be invited to speak one at a time. I also want to remind you that the public comment period is not intended for an extended dialogue. Is there anyone in the audience who wishes to speak to the Council at this time? **[1:40] Mary Fasbender:** Is there anyone? Yes, and I do see a raised hand—Ms. [Chatterjee]. Welcome. You are welcome; if you want to unmute, you are able to speak. You can't unmute? **[2:49] Dan Wietecha:** Any assistance, John or Mayor, I can offer? Any assistance on this one here? Sorry. Okay, you want to go out and try to come back in? It must be your internet. **[3:11] Mary Fasbender:** Yeah, it looks like she's [frozen] for the moment here. So yeah, she could come in and ask at a different [time], but her screen is frozen up at this point. All right, and I see you have Corey Coleman with us. Corey, if you can unmute... she was with us. Again, asking for raised hands in the attendees to speak at this time. **[4:27] Corey Coleman:** Corey, yes. Yes, um, I will try this. I’ve got a connection that’s not fantastic right now, but good evening Council members. My name's Corey Coleman. I’m present here once again and this week in favor of amending our current ordinance regarding the chickens on residential lots and ask that you vote and agree to approve this need. We, the residents of Hastings, ask us to be allowed a small flock of chickens without serious restrictions. **[5:02] Corey Coleman:** Since the Planning Commission staff requested as individuals who wish to have chickens would need to get their [permit] by the end of June to have [them] left when [the] party flocks... Last time I was here, I informed you all of the rules the backyard fowl present, benefits such as insect and weed control without the harsh chemicals that are toxic to our native wildlife and our already-depleted pollinator populations. They produce nutrient-rich fertilizers, fresh eggs that are nutritious, store-bought egg prices are high, and food scraps [disposal]—overall a perfect way to reduce carbon footprint for a self-sufficient, sustainable, organic, and ethical lifestyle. **[5:50] Corey Coleman:** Since May 17th, our petition has grown further and there are now a total of 230 signatures from Hastings residents. Many of those who signed are present at today's meeting to show their support of this necessary change. I think that will bring Hastings into the present era of being a self-sustainable community. I’ve turned to residents in the city on ongoing concerns of them [having] chickens, and I've done enough research to [address] concerns about potential complaints and the potential increase in demand for chicken-related reports. **[6:19] Corey Coleman:** Honestly speaking, peace and freedom in our community is that while countless other cities are able to [manage] non-issue ordinances and chickens, we in Hastings [are restricted]. In Dakota County, with over 20,000 residents not allowed chickens... in February of 2020, Apple Valley received 200 signatures and is currently in the process of reviewing, and if this goes through, Hastings will be the only city left that does not allow them. I direct—