CC_Minutes_2015_0413 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,April 13, 2015 Page 11 Councilmember Laliberte opined that the DNR carrying capacity of between 15 — 19 seemed extreme to her. Councilmember Laliberte, in reviewing the area shad- ed and making up the .77 square miles for deer habitat in Roseville, found that problematic as well. Councilmember McGehee seconded the discomfort with such an ordinance as ex- pressed by Councilmember Laliberte and how it would be structured and work in reality. Councilmember McGehee stated that she was fine with the two years of monitoring, but would not be prepared to fast track a program at the end of that timeframe without embarking at that point on further review, and would not sup- port having the guns loaded and ready if and when this ordinance went into effect. Councilmember McGehee agreed that one problem she had with such an ordi- nance was that it wasn't particularly enforceable, while something could perhaps be brought forward that would better do so. Councilmember McGehee reiterated her support for more education versus law and punishment, opining that people on both sides of the issue could benefit with their individual attention to the issue and community control by those actively feeding deer at this time. Councilmember McGehee further reiterated her preference for the City having an aggressive edu- cation campaign and see where things stood in two years based on that campaign and what happened with the City of Maplewood's control efforts. Councilmem- ber McGehee agreed with Councilmember Laliberte in questioning the DNR car- rying capacity calculations, noting that since the complaints were only up by four, and resulting in 15-20 deer since those complaints were documented, to her it seemed to result in a tempest in a teapot. Councilmember Etten asked staff to report to the City Council on how effective neighboring communities were finding their ordinances, and whether they were finding their levels of enforcement appropriate or other findings. Councilmember Etten opined that the City of Roseville was not attempting to go out on a limb, and expressed confidence that an ordinance could be drafted that would work. Councilmember Etten stated that he didn't see this as being a tremendous problem for the City, but also considered having such an enforcement mechanism in place and readily available was important by initiating a feeding ban to determine if that affected the deer herd. Without such a mechanism in place, Councilmember Etten noted that nothing would or could occur if that wasn't evident, while allowing a timeframe to determine if the feeding ban was working, with the hunt available as an option if found necessary. Councilmember Laliberte spoke in support of a feeding ordinance if it made sense and did not serve as a burden on all members of the community in an attempt to favor only a few. Councilmember Laliberte agreed to the importance of an educa- tion component, offering her support to that proposal (page 5) for a deer clinic similar to those held about coyotes as a way to deal with the issue.