HomeMy WebLinkAbout#15 - Sunfish Lake Archery Hunt STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 7, 2021
REGULAR
AGENDA ITEM: 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Deer Management Hunt
SUBMITTED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director REVIEWED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council authorize a 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Archery Deer Management Hunt? BACKGROUND: The County has determined a deer management hunt is needed to control the deer herd in the Lake Elmo Park Preserve and Sunfish Lake Park properties. As in the past, the City of Lake Elmo has cooperated in a joint effort hunt with the County Lake Elmo Park Preserve. The City of Lake Elmo Park Commission has reviewed and made its recommendations for the hunt areas, dates and weapon options. Following City Ordinance NO. 08-244, the City Council can allow by resolution, hunting on City-owned property, the resolution adopted by the City Council will outline the dates, times and conditions of the hunting activates that may occur and will include a map of the authorized locations PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: The County has determined a deer management hunt is needed to control deer numbers on the County Lake Elmo Park Preserve and City of Lake Elmo’s Sunfish Lake Park properties.
The County and City will be working with the Metro Bow Hunters Association in managing the archery hunt on the public properties. This would relieve some of the burden from Staff when it comes to selecting competent and capable hunters. The Metro Bow Hunters Association does have liability insurance and will
list the City as an insurer. No additional City Insurance changes appear to be needed to allow hunting.
The park will be closed during the hunts, the two north entrances to the park will be barricaded and signed, maintaining one controlled access into the park off Stillwater Lane N.
All hunter must follow State hunting regulations. The dates selected for the first hunt are Monday, October 25th to Wednesday October 27th 2021. Stand set up will be on the 24th, stand take down on the 28th. The dates for the second hunt are Monday November 8th to Wednesday November 10th 2021. Stand set up for this hunt will be on November 7th and stand take down will be on November 11th. A hunter orientation will occur at the Nordic Center in the Lake Elmo Park Reserve on Tuesday, September 21st at 6:30pm to share important items as it relates to Sunfish Lake Park.
The plan for communication will include letters to all neighbors ahead of time, signage at the park entrances two weeks prior to the hunt, a press release, posts will be included on the city web site, Facebook page, the Fresh, MORC’s website and Sally Mana Zara communication sites.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City is not expecting a financial impact if the hunt is allowed.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending that the City Council Approve a Resolution Approving
the 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Deer Management Hunt. . The recommended motion for this action is as follows:
“Move to approve Resolution No. 2020-096, Approving the 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Deer Management Hunt.” ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution 2021-096 Approving the 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Archery Deer Management Hunt. 2. 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Archery Deer Management Hunt– Location Map.
3. 2021 Sunfish Lake Park Archery Deer Management Hunt Schedule.
CITY OF LAKE ELMO
WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2021-096 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2021 SUNFISH LAKE PARK ARCHERY DEER MANAGEMENT HUNT
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Elmo wishes to manage the deer population within the city
limits of Lake Elmo; and, WHEREAS, the deer population can result in a number of conflicts between deer and people; and,
WHEREAS, deer in urban areas, for the most part, lack natural predators to control deer populations and deer in large numbers can cause significant habit damage; and, WHEREAS, all Metro Bow Hunter selected competent and capable hunters must follow
state hunting regulations and city/county direction; and,
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 08-244 allows, by resolution, hunting on City-owned property; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Public Works Director, together with Washington County and the Metro Bow Hunters Association, will conduct an archery deer management hunt located in Sunfish Lake Park
to occur October 25, 26, 27 and November 8, 9, 10 in the year 2021. ADOPTED BY THE LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021.
CITY OF LAKE ELMO
By: __________________________ Charles Cadenhead (Seal) Mayor ATTEST:
________________________________ Julie Johnson City Clerk
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Sunfish Lake Park - Archery Deer Harvest
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0 0.25 0.5 0.75 10.125 Miles
Legend
Trail open to public
No hunting zone 100' buffer
Turf Trail
single track trail
City Park Boundary
Designated Hunter Parking & Access
Trails closed to public
2021 Sunfish Lake Park Deer Management Hunt Schedule
Stand set up Hunt dates Stand take down Sunday Oct 24th,2021 Mon Oct 25th- Wed Oct 27 Thur Oct 28th Sunday Nov 7th, 2021 Mon Nov 8th - Wed Nov 10th Thur Nov 11th