05-28-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL May 28, 2014 DEER CONTROL The City Administrator reviewed his May 28, 2014 report relative to 2014 deer control. The Administrator indicated that the Metro Bowhunters Resource Board (MBRB) and the Sculley Family have asked if the City will conduct archery hunting as part of its deer control program. The Administrator reviewed aerial deer survey results for the northeast area of the City, south of the St. John's Cemetery property, and the St. Jude Medical area. Total results were 110 deer in 2010, 109 in 2011, no survey done in 2012 due to lack of snow cover, 50 deer in 2013, and 24 deer in 2014. The Administrator commented that he did not believe a permanent discontinuance of the deer control program would be possible since the deer population in 1999 was 22 deer in the northeast area of the City, and by 2010 that population had grown to 81. The City Administrator suggested that some options to consider would be: o Continue the program in the same manner as recent years; o Continue the program, but limiting it to the northeast area of the City; o Continue the program, but reducing the allowable hunt periods; o Discontinue the program for 2014 and evaluate the impact on population numbers in the 2015 survey. The Council discussed the various options presented as well as the fact that it has never been the City's intent to eradicate the entire deer population. Blesener noted that the 2014 deer survey shows no deer in the area north of the cemetery, and indicated that there are deer in his neighborhood. Based on previous information submitted, the Council felt that a deer population of 15 to 20 would be ideal for the size of Little Canada. Therefore, it was the consensus of the Council to proceed with a bow hunt during 2014 through October 31st or until a maximum of 10 deer are taken, whichever comes first. The MBRB and the Sculley Family would be allowed to conduct the hunt based on the same qualifications required in previous years. Blesener introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2014-5-95 — AUTHORIZING A BOW HUNT BY THE METRO BOWHUNTERS RESOURCE BOARD AND THE SCULLEY FAMILY AS PART OF THE CITY'S 2014 DEER CONTROL PROGRAM SUBJECT TO THE SAME QUALIFICATION PARAMETERS AS IMPOSED IN PREVIOUS YEARS WITH THE HUNT TO CEASE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 31, 2014 OR WHEN TEN DEER ARE TAKEN, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST 7