05-14-2003 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 14, 2003 GEESE The City Administrator reviewed his report dated May 9, 2003 relative to CONTROL need for geese control meastiu-es. The Administrator pointed out that the geese have destroyed $2,500 iu plantings at the Round Lake pond. A fence had been installed around the pond last year to keep the geese out. Llowever, since its removal, the geese destroyed the plant materials. The City will need to replant this pond given its commitment to Lakeside Apartments to maintain the pond. The Administrator noted the pond that will be developed near the Market Place Shopping Center, and the fact that the same issue will arise when that pond is planted. The City has received complaints from St. John's School, St. Jude Medical, and private property owners about the geese population. St. Jude Medical is willing to participate financially in the cost of a goose round up. Fahey recommended that Dr. Cooper of the U of M proceed with the population survey. The Administrator indicated that his recommendation is that the rowed up should be done on Round Lal<e as soon as possible. However, Che results of the survey can be presented to the Council prior to the decision being made on whether or not to proceed with a round up. Fahey felt that the survey should be done, and if it is Dr. Coopers recommendation that population levels warrant a round up, then the round up should proceed. Fahey indicated that it was his opinion that geese are a nuisance and the City should tale the appropriate steps to reduce the population. Anderson asked if the plants would be an on-going issue for the City. The City Administrator repoirted that the Watershed has now indicated that the fence will have to stay in place over two growing seasons. Anderson felt that other options to control the population should be investigated, such as egg addling. Anderson felt it better to take control measures before eggs are hatched than to do a round up later. The Administrator indicated that part of the problem is that the round up was not done last year, and the goose population has expa~ided. Elvie ;Day, Lakeshore Avenue, asked how much the roundup would cost. The City Administrator replied that the survey would cost $400 and the roundup would be approximately $700 Yo $900 per site depending a1 the number of geese. Day asked why the City would proceed with a roundup if it were going to put a fence around the pond to keep the geese away from the plants. Fahey pointed out that the geese are a nuisance and the City has received complaints about the problem. Day felt the money that would be spent for 6