06-24-98 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUT~S CITY COUNCIL JUN~ 24, 1998 Chester suggested that the CiCy lool< for alternative ways to manage the goose population, and reported on a study tal<ing place in Michigan where this is being done by removing some of the eggs from nests. Fahey reported that the City has received a counter petition requestin~ that the City proceed with the goose manlgement program. Linda Flatfield stated that continuation of the ~oose management program sponsored by the University of Minnesota is only a short-tenn fix and will re~uire continuous participatioi~. H~tfield indicaYed that there are many humane programs that could be tried. She indicated that Dc Cooper from the U of M is interested i~1 the eg~ program. FIatfield staYed that rounding up geese and sending them off to slau~hter is only a short-term solution. HatPield questioned this practice which she felt was the result of nuisance poop. Hatfield asked what i~~essage this was sending and again stated that there were humai~e alternltives which could be tried. Hatfield reported tl~at Michig~n is conductii~g a five-year study on the egg pro~ram. LIatfield su~gested worl<ing with residents to try humane solutions. Another option is the plantin~ of grlsses which are less palaYable to ~eese. II~tfield stressed ChaC round-ups are not the solution and the CiCy will have to do them year aRer year. Hat6eld urged the City to look at t}~is fl~om an et~hic~l standpoint. Fahey did not feel the issue was one oPethics or morals a~~d pointed out that there are good peo~te on both sides of the iss~ie. I'ahey a~reed that the egg study should be looked at 1t the time it is complete and findings are in place. However, right now the City has a uuisance problem and this is an issue that the Council has previously discussed. Fahey noted that residents cannot walk down City trliis without watching wl~ere they step. Fahey felt tl~ere was a sm11I mi~~ority willing to put up with the poop, and the lar~er majority feel it is a nuisance. Fahey feh tl~e burden was on those advoclCing a different lpproach to marshal the resources. Fahey pointed out that the City Council has had this discussion on the goose issue and unless there is a desire on the part of the Council to make some changes, the program will continue. F1hey felt ifthere was a better so(ution, someone ~ieeds to point it out. FIowever, the goose management program will not be discontinued at the expense of existing homeowners. Chester pointed out thlt re~ular birds poop on cars and on picnic tables. Chester aslced what the difference was pointing out that no one wants to ~et ride of these birds. Morelan pointed out thlt it is tlie tlegree of poop tl~at is involved. 17