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<br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br /> <br />To: St. Anthony Village City Council <br />From: Charlie Yunker, City Manager <br />Date: April 13, 2021 City Council Work Session <br />Request: Proposal to Adopt Wild Turkey Management Plan <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />In the fall of 2020 staff was contacted by residents that were encountering difficulties in managing wild turkeys <br />on and near their property. The turkeys were causing a nuisance to the residents and the neighborhood, and <br />deterrence techniques were not effective in relocating the flock. <br />Staff took some time to research options for removal of the turkeys and found that residents do not have <br />options for professional removal services for turkeys. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently the <br />only organization able to perform removals, and they will only do so if a city has a formal management plan in <br />place. This plan allows for a city to request a removal permit for public property, or on behalf of a <br />resident/business owner of private property, to have the USDA perform removal if determined to be necessary. <br />To date, wild turkeys have not presented a significant problem on any city-owned property. <br />Staff received guidance from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on implementing a Wild Turkey <br />Management Plan, and was provided with a template plan and a workflow document that detailed the steps <br />needed for adoption of a plan. A draft plan for the City and the workflow document are attached. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff is recommending the adoption of a Wild Turkey Management Plan in order to give private property owners <br />an option for wild turkey removal when all other avenues for deterrence have been exhausted. There is a cost <br />associated with removal, and staff is recommending that cost be the responsibility of the property owner. Staff <br />recommends not implementing a fee for the City permit, as the staff time to process is anticipated to be <br />minimal. The permit fee and removal cost can be re-evaluated at any time. <br />This also gives the City an option for removal should wild turkeys present an issue on publicly-owned property in <br />the future. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR COUNCIL FEEDBACK <br />Below are the specific items for discussion and feedback for the City Council: <br />• Does the Council support the adoption of a Wild Turkey Management Plan? <br />• Does the Council support no fee for the permit and property owners being responsible for removal cost? <br />• Any other considerations for Staff? <br /> <br />NEXT STEPS