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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes MINUTES Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Meeting April 23, 2012 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLLCALL Mr. Dallman introduced the new Committee member, Doris Dehn. The meeting was called to order at 4:46 P.M. Present: LorRae Crubaugh, Steve Cummings, Doris Dehn, Loren Dieck, Michael Nigl, Paul Sobralski, Cecil Streeter, Steve Voss Absent: Michael Beeth Staff: Chad Dallman, Parks Operations Manager; Trish Marks, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Dieck for approval of the February 27, 2012 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Cummings. Motion carried 7-0. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda) There were no citizen’s statements. BUSINESS 1)Review monthly car accident reports from Police Department Ms. Dehn inquired as to the boundaries of the City limits. Ms. Marks stated she would have zoning maps available at the next meeting. Discussion ensued relative to the different herds within the City limits. 2)Discussion on public education opportunities on wildlife management Mr. Streeter stated he did not have any updated information at this time. He stated he will be retiring at the end of June from the Chamber of Commerce and will have more time to work on this project in the fall. He will have more time available to be able to sit down with some biology teachers and prepare some worksheets for this project. His thought is to have a question/answer type format using the City’s plan as content – i.e., what the public should do if they see a fox within the City limits and who they should call or if they should just leave the animal alone. Ms. Dehn inquired if the worksheets would contain educational aspects about the animals and their practices? Mr. Streeter stated no that’s not the intent; the worksheets would be just about how to handle problematic animals. URBAN WILDLIFE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE MINUTES PAGE TWO APRIL 23, 2012 3)Update on deer management projects Mr. Dallman stated he is continuing to work with the Urban Wildlife Specialist and the Vulcan Quarry owners. The culling ended on March 23 with a total of 12 deer being culled. He stated he is updating a quarterly report and the permit is good until December 31, 2012. After construction season, they most likely will do another culling in the Quarry and other areas, if necessary. Ms. Crubaugh inquired as to how many cullings were done in the Quarry area. Mr. Dallman stated there were a total of 4 cullings and they culled 12 deer. Mr. Nigl inquired if there was a reason the cullings were stopped. Mr. Dallman stated that construction season began and people were coming in/going out of the Quarry area. Discussion ensued relative to possible lotteries for deer cullings, defining budget costs and managing deer herds. Ms. Dehn inquired if cullings were the only option. Chairman Voss stated the Committee had already gone through all the options and outlined them in the Management Plan. He noted the Committee/City does not want to be in the deer management business. Discussion ensued relative to the other two herds within the City limits (transient deer) and it was the consensus of the Committee that the Vulcan Quarry deer are the ones that the Committee is more concerned about. Ms. Crubaugh highlighted comments made by Stephanie Boyles Griffin relative to contraceptives noting they are 99% effective and the animals don’t have to be touched. She noted that the first step that needs to be taken is working with the DNR to see if they would be willing to do a 50% matching grant. She inquired if there would be a possibility of the DRN considering contraceptive measures? Mr. Dallman stated he couldn’t answer for the DNR and noted that he has not communicated with them on the subject. Ms. Dehn stated she lives in the Vulcan Quarry area and the neighbors were upset about the cullings. Mr. Nigl stated if this years hunt is an example of the success (only 12 deer culled), then the Committee needs to look at other avenues. There is a need to eliminate the problem of the deer and the cullings (sharpshooters) aren’t solving the problem. The Committee may need to look at a 2-fold system and contraception may be that second avenue. Discussion ensued relative to the contraception form of managing a herd and Mr. Dallman stated that it takes 30 yards maximum to shoot a contraceptive dart and it is not a pleasant experience and is hard to do. Mr. Dieck inquired how does one know which deer are darted and which ones are not. Chairman Voss stated the Committee looked at the amount of habitat it takes to support how many deer and noted that the Committee wanted to bring the herd to a management level with the option to use contraceptives if able to do so. He stated he would not like to get involved with trapping in a captive area. URBAN WILDLIFE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE MINUTES PAGE THREE APRIL 23, 2012 Mr. Dallman stated he would contact the DNR to see what avenues the Committee could pursue and approximate costs for each. He suggested that the Committee compile a list of questions they would like to pose to the DNR and then he could arrange for a conference call. 4)Topics for next meeting Discuss educational purposes and schools worksheets  Updated car and deer accident reports  Discussion about turkeys, pelicans, and wood chucks  Update on deer management  Update from Bryan Woodbury of the DNR relative to contraceptives  CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items not on agenda) Cindy Smith, 1345 Kensington Avenue, stated she has not been seeing many deer in her yard lately since the Vulcan Quarry has been doing blasting work and that keeps the deer away. OTHER BUSINES & ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Motion by Streeter for adjournment; seconded by Cummings. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:10 PM. Respectfully submitted, Trish Marks Trish Marks Recording Secretary