Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes MINUTES Urban Wildlife Advisory Committee Meeting September 24, 2012 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLLCALL The meeting was called to order at 4:46 P.M. Present: LorRae Crubaugh, Steve Cummings, Doris Dehn, Loren Dieck, Michael Nigl, Steve Voss Absent: Michael Beeth, Cecil Streeter Staff: Chad Dallman, Parks Operations Manager; Trish Marks, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Nigl for approval of the August 27, 2012 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Cummings. Motion carried 6-0. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda) There were no citizen statements. BUSINESS 1)Review monthly car accident reports from Police Department Ms. Marks stated she had not received the reports for August to date. 2)Discussion on public education opportunities on wildlife management Ms. Marks stated that Mr. Nigl had provided information on crows; which she had made copies for the Committee and distributed same (said information on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). Ms. Dehn stated there is a need to get educational information out to the public relative to nuisance animals – education about deterring nuisance animals from neighborhoods and/or information on why animals do what they do. Discussion ensued as to what type of information could be provided to the public by the Committee – what types of animals show up under bird feeders (i.e., squirrels, chipmunks, etc.); what to do to attract certain animals/birds; what good is this type of animal in the environment, etc. Knowing that an animal/bird is good for the environment might make the public more tolerant. The Committee felt that the City’s website is a useful tool in getting the information out – putting links to certain information, i.e. the crow information that was recently provided by Mr. Nigl. It was the consensus of the Committee discuss at the next regularly scheduled meeting the possibility of submitting the information relative to crows (informational website links) on the City’s website. URBAN WILDLIFE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE MINUTES PAGE TWO SEPTEMER 24, 2012 3)Update on deer management projects Mr. Dallman reiterated that this project is on hold at this time and noted that he did not have any updates at this time. He stated he needs to check the City’s budget to make sure that the rental of a helicopter for the future aerial survey is included. Ms. Dehn inquired if there had been any recent complaints received relative to deer in the Quarry area? Mr. Dallman stated he had heard that recently there were 12 deer running down Devonshire Drive (by the Armory) last Saturday about 10 AM. With regard to the last culling, he had heard no formal complaints. Ms. Dehn stated she feels the adjacent neighbors are satisfied with the status at present time, but noted that most of those neighbors like seeing the deer at the Quarry. She inquired if another culling is imminent. Mr. Dallman responded that if necessary, another culling could occur. Chairman Voss stated he had received an email from Jean Suess (said email on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes) dated September 12, 2012 wherein she informed him as to current deer activity in her yard over the summer months. 4)Discussion on turkeys/wood chucks/nuisance crows in neighborhoods Ms. Dehn presented the Board with information she had obtained from the website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/turkeys/index.html relative to turkeys (said information on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). Discussion ensued relative to crows, seagulls and other nuisance birds. Ms. Crubaugh stated she is surprised that there aren’t more complaints about the seagulls since they are much more aggressive than crows. Mr. Dieck stated it would be interesting to find out where the seagulls go once the landfill is closed. Discussion ensued relative to pelicans and cormorants and the destruction that they cause along with the killing of fish and destruction of land area in the locations they inhabit. 5) Discussion on bow hunting options and funding Mr. Dallman stated that since the Committee’s last meeting, he had emailed Bryan Woodbury of the DNR, but has not received a reply. Chairman Voss inquired if bow hunting is something the Committee should continue to investigate. Mr. Cummings stated that the Committee could investigate, but budget money is very tight. But, he does feel a “back up” plan should be in place and he knows of some people that would love to be in a bow-hunting program. Mr. Dallman stated that the locations would be challenging for such an endeavor since bow hunting could not be done by major roads – programs such as that are typically done at larger airport properties and nature areas. URBAN WILDLIFE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE MINUTES PAGE THREE SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 Mr. Nigl stated because of the liability aspects, he would be reluctant to open bow hunting options up to the public; he would rather see the City continue to work with sharpshooters and the OPD with respect to cullings. Ms. Dehn inquired as to what is the hang-up with the contraception angle. Chairman Voss replied that the Wisconsin authorities do not authorize it. Ms. Crubaugh sated that the Humane Society of the United States says the City needs to work with the Wisconsin DNR who thinks it is too costly. Mr. Nigl inquired as to how the contraception tracking process would work. Ms. Crubaugh stated that the deer would have to be tagged in some fashion as done in the pilot study. The habits of the deer would need to be monitored closely as well. Mr. Dieck inquired, if the Quarry closes, what does the City do then? Mr. Cummings stated he believes that the Vulcan Quarry owners would give the property to the City for use as a park. It may take up to four years for that Quarry to fill up with water, if closed. 5)Topics for next meeting Update on educational purposes and schools worksheets  Updated car and deer accident reports  What items should be submitted for the City’s website (i.e., crow & other nuisance animals/birds  informational website links) Discussion on bow hunting options and funding  Discussion on contraceptions  CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items not on agenda) There were no citizen statements. OTHER BUSINES & ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Motion by Dieck for adjournment; seconded by Cummings. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Trish Marks Trish Marks Recording Secretary