05-14-2003 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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COMMUNITY PRIDE 1953 - 9003 MAYOR Michael I. Fahey COUNCIL Jim LaValle Matt Anderson Rick Montour Bill Blesener 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 -1600 (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 ADMINISTRATOR wwwci.litde- canada.mn.us Joel R. I- Ianson MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: May 9, 2003 RE: Geese Control I have contacted Dr. Jim Cooper regarding 2003 control of geese in the city. He has informed me that a citywide survey will cost around $400 and the cost of removal for the sites we choose at $700 to $900 each. (The survey is required to estimate crew time and cost of feeding and processing the geese once trapped and therefore, unavoidable.) The inventory of geese would be done during the last week of May (this is the time when the pairs and young will be concentrated). The survey results will be available by June 15`. Trapping will commence on June 16th and run until at least July 15. A couple of other factors for your consideration are: 1. St. John's School has called and indicated their strong support for the removal of geese on Savage Lake. (I will call them and see if they are willing to participate financially.) 2. Geese in the vicinity of Round Lake have destroyed the bulk of the pond plantings we installed last summer. (We spent about $2,500 on materials plus a lot of volunteer labor.) I believe we should attempt to replant (subject to assurances from the Watershed that the plans will eventually survive the geese). Removal would enhance the chances for success of replanting on the existing pond as well as the new, Market Place Drive pond. I believe these are the same geese that have been a problem to a number of residents along West Savage Lake and Old County Road C. I also talked with the Watershed about the ultimate survival of the plants we place in the Lakeside Apartments pond and the new pond to be constructed on Market Place Drive. I was informed that we would need to plant in smaller pockets (areas) and then fence the area to protect the plants. The fencing will need to remain up for two growing seasons so that plants can fully establish themselves. As a result, we will also need to do goose removal for at least the next two years, if not three. My recommendation is we have Dr. Cooper survey the City. I would anticipate that at a minimum, we would need to do removal at Round Lake, Savage Lake (east & west), and Pioneer Park. Other areas we have focused on in the past include St. Jude Medical (County Road B) and the Canabury Townhome area. I will call them to see if they are willing to participate financially as has been done in the past.