The city's Law and Legislation Committee yesterday unanimously voted to move the proposal forward.

Sacramento County Public Health Officer Glennah Trochet told the committee…any risk of avian flu spreading to humans if the city allows people to own egg-laying hens…is minimal.

"It would pose a potential risk certainly to the birds and could be a health risk to humans. However that risk is very small and it could be mitigated with proper and immediate action."

Right now, the city spends about $30,000 a year looking into cases of people illegally keeping chickens.