09-09-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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It appears the majority of residents support the City’s efforts to attempt to control the population. The number of complaints about deer had been increasing prior to the program’s implementation. As we have continued our efforts and as the population has dropped, complaints have subsided. City staff has recently received comments from residents regarding the local deer population. Residents are typically concerned that the local deer population in Little Canada increases the risk of car/deer accidents or that deer are causing damage to plants and landscaping in the community. Deer Management Goal/Objectives/Policies Management Goal: Manage deer populations within the city at socially acceptable levels. Management Objectives: • Develop a management program to maintain deer populations within acceptable limits • Maintain an overall deer population of approximately 10 deer per square mile (40 deer) • Manage deer populations within the City so as not to exceed 20 deer per square mile • Reduce the number of car/deer collisions • Educate residents as to the value of deer and deer habitat; minimizing nuisance problems through planting and landscaping; and the ramifications of supplemental deer feeding • Create a uniform system for handling resident input relative to deer management • Pass an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer and other wild animals/fowl. Management Policies 1) The City will continue to contract with Ramsey County Parks & Recreation for annual aerial deer survey services. The annual survey, resident input, and the availability of suitable hunt sites shall be used as a basis for determining the extent and location of any deer removal efforts for the upcoming season. 2) Attempt to document all resident input, including phone calls, e-mails and letters. These shall be collected by the City Administrator and be provided to the City Council for its annual evaluation of the deer management program. 3) Deer removal efforts necessary to achieve City objectives shall be limited to archery and shall be conducted by the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB) or by private property owners when they have a site at least 20 acres in size and the hunters pass appropriate proficiency criteria and abide by City hunt rules. 4) Deer removal operations shall be conducted on public property where practical, and on private property where conditions are conducive to archery and of sufficient size and development is limited. Combinations of parcels to yield a site of sufficient size (ideally no less than 20 acres) and with limited development are acceptable; subject to property owner consent. 5) Notice will be mailed prior to the first removal date to all property owners whose land adjoins a proposed deer removal site. The notice shall include the dates of all hunts for that season and contact information for deer management personnel (city staff and law enforcement). 6) The City will provide deer management information to its residents through the City’s newsletter and website. RECOMMENDED ACTION: The Council should provide direction relative to whether or not a control hunt should be allowed this year. The 2020 aerial survey indicated that there was a total of 43 deer located within the Little Canada city limits. If a hunt is to be allowed, then a capped number likely makes sense given this number is only three over the deer management objective of 10 deer per square mile (40 deer).