2014-12-02_PR Comm Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT Regular City Council Meeting Monday, November 17, 2014 Page 3 1 Commissioner Stoner advised that the Commission was seeking direction from 2 the City Council on specific issues with managing the deer population; with the 3 Commission to-date only exploring preliminary information on the logistics and 4 process for a managed hunt in Roseville. Commissioner Stoner noted that con- 5 siderable more discussion and direction would be needed prior to pursuing that 6 option, with the range of population densities of the deer in areas city-wide and 7 not only in one area. Commissioner Stoner offered to bring additional infor- 8 mation, including costs, control mechanism, and other options back to the City 9 Council if that was their direction. 10 11 Councilmember Willmus noted that a neighborhood group had previously ex- 12 pressed interest in some method of control; and noted the great deal of comment 13 on this subject that he’d heard during his recent campaign door knocking, and 14 confirmed that the deer population was not necessarily confined to one area of 15 Roseville, but remained an area of concern for residents. Councilmember 16 Willmus expressed his personal interest in finding out more about how other 17 communities responded to the deer population problem, including their successful 18 and/or non-successful methods, measures, and the possibility of partnering with 19 other communities in the area experiencing the same problem regionally, not just 20 jurisdictionally. Councilmember Willmus supported the Commission taking a 21 look at the problem and providing options to the City Council. 22 23 Councilmember McGehee expressed her personal and definite opposition to a 24 bow hunt within limited open space in Roseville; noting that this was not a Rose- 25 ville-specific deer herd, but area-wide, and more tracking data and information 26 would be helpful, such as from the Cities of Little Canada and Shoreview. Coun- 27 cilmember McGehee also suggested more information from the Commission on 28 how the City could help residents having considerable issues with deer devouring 29 their plantings, since the issue seemed to be less about vehicles and accidents and 30 more about eating shrubs or plantings. Councilmember McGehee suggested some 31 type of herd management option with less deadly results. 32 33 Councilmember Etten expressed his interest in hearing a variety of methods; and 34 stated he could support bow and arrow hunting as that seemed to be a safe and 35 successful in other metropolitan communities, such as Little Canada. Coun- 36 cilmember Etten also expressed interest in polling other municipalities to hear re- 37 sults of their deer herd population control methods, both positive and negative re- 38 sults. 39 40 Councilmember Laliberte spoke in support of determining the actions and results 41 of other metropolitan communities, and their current or ongoing programs. Coun- 42 cilmember Laliberte offered to mention the issue at the upcoming RCLLG meet- 43 ing. 44