06-25-07 Item 7C, Wild Animal Mgmt Policy Recommendation

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City Council Wild Animal Management 2 . Water Quality: In the 1998 Comprehensive Plan, under the Protected Resources Section, pages 65 and 66, it states: Lake Management requires the collective and collaborative resources of the residents, a variety of governmental agencies, and the institutional and commercial property owners within the area. To date, there has not been a coordinated effort between the City, Watershed District, Ramsey County and the Lake Improvement Associations to address water quality issues. The City may be the appropriate agency to pull together the various lake associations and government agencies to take further actions to protect lake water quality. This information seems to state that water quality is important to the City and encourages associations to address water quality issues. It appears that Lake Johanna hnprovement Society is attempting to do that through their Goose Removal Program. . Public Resource: The Committee feels strongly that Lake Johanna is a public resource that should be protected. The consensus was that the City should share in the responsibility. . Public Health Coucerns: The Committee feels that public health is a safety concern. Therefore, the support request from the Lake Johanna hnprovement Society seems appropriate based on the direction given to staff in October of 2006. The PTRC is aware that the City is in a difficult position when it comes to groups and organizations requesting donations to help support wild animal management. The committee expressed a willingness to draft a Wild Animal Management Policy to help address the various requests, should the Council so desire. Fiuaucial Implications If the City Council chooses to contribute to the Lake Johanna hnprovement Society, this contribution has in previous years been charged to the General Fund - Mayor and Council - Miscellaneous Community Projects. However, due to the direction given in 2006, there was no money allocated to this line item for 2007. This amount could be absorbed within another line item in the Mayor Council budget. Another possible funding source could be to utilize the Storm Water Fund, as water quality has been identified as a concern. Staff Recommendation Staff is requesting direction from the City Council on how to proceed with the Lake Johanna hnprovement Society request and on the possibility of requesting assistance from the PTRC in drafting a Wild Animal Management Policy.