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<br /> MINUTES <br /> CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br /> NOVEMBER 23, 2009 <br /> western culture support the maintena~lce of animals. Blesener stated that <br /> there was no question as to the importance of animals, but noted that there <br /> are also concerns with the overabundance of deer in the City. <br /> Weisman reported that there are other more humane ways to control the <br /> deer population, citing field neutering and penetrating hormones as <br /> options. Weisman stated that the deer are more important than lawns and <br /> flowers. I-Ie also indicated that the deer meat is contaminated with heavy <br /> metals and questioned the donation of this meat to food shelves. <br /> Blesener indicated that the City can look into other options for controlling <br /> the deer population, but noted that those options are not the issue before <br /> the Council this evening. <br /> Don Gagne, Condit Street, reported that he has a two acre garden and <br /> reported on the amount of damage that the deer are doing to his garden as <br /> well as the forested portion of his property. Gagne reported that based nn <br /> the damage to his trees and the deer eating new growth, there will be little <br /> new tree growth over the next 40 years. Gagne felt that it would be <br /> appropriate to take out approximately 75 deer. He noted that deer are the <br /> most dangerous animas to people in the United States as a result of <br /> deer/vehicular accidents. Gagne noted the freeway system that runs <br /> through the City, and indicated that the City owes it to the people using <br /> the freeway to keep it safe. <br /> Weisman suggested the use of deer whistles on vehicles. Gagne stated <br /> that these whistles do not work. Waisted agreed, noting that he has run <br /> body shops for the past 12 years and sees many vehicles that have hit deer <br /> yet have deer whistles on them. Waisted also reported that he recently <br /> saw a deer jump the freeway fence. <br /> Blesener suggested allowing the two scheduled hunts to continue with no <br /> cap on the number of deer that could be taken. Montour noted staffls <br /> recommendation that the MBRB be allowed to take an additional 10 deer <br /> and suggested that the Council hold with that recommendation. Montour <br /> stated that it was his impression that the Council was going to proceed <br /> slowly on this issue. He indicated that he thought the cap of 12 would be <br /> workable, and was surprised that the hunters shot 10 deer in the first hunt. <br /> Boss stated that she supported an additional 10 deer as recommended by <br /> staff, agreeing that the population is close to 150. Montour pointed out <br /> that once the count is done in the spring, the City will have good numbers <br /> to justify future actions. <br /> McGraw felt that the argument will not change once the City has the <br /> numbers from the fly-over. McGraw pointed out that there are people in <br /> the City who support the culling of the herd and there are people who do <br /> I1 <br /> <br />