CC_Minutes_2015_0413 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday, April 13, 2015 Page 7 Rhode addressed deer hunts by adjacent communities, as well as the Ramsey County Grass Lake Park, posted annually for a hunt each fall. As some of the sur- rounding communities began thinning the herd in their areas, Mr. Rhode suggest- ed the deer are relocating elsewhere. Jane Wilson, 2430 N St. Albans Ms. Wilson stated that she loved feeding and seeing deer and saw no bad effects from them at all; and while there may be getting to be too many, she still enjoyed it and could see no reason not to continue feeding them. Pat Carline (Jane's husband) Mr. Carline noted that the reason they started feeding deer was to give them an option other than their garden produce and landscape plants, with spraying those plants not working. While thinning the herd may be needed, Mr. Carline noted that many residents moved here because of the wildlife, opining that it was neat to have them feed at their house, even with the security light coming on whenever they arrived in the yard. Mr. Carline stated that he would have no problem if the City chose to thin the herd, but he didn't plan to quit feeding them, as they did many wildlife species in their yard. Even though they could be forced to put a stop to all of it, Mr. Carline opined that he didn't think that was necessary and was actually a plus for Roseville. Through feeding the deer, Mr. Carline estimat- ed that it had reduced the loss of their plants by about 95%. LauraSigler, 1857 Huron Avenue Ms. Seigler thanked the City for doing so much research and listening to resi- dents; and spoke in opposition to any hunt. If the issue was one of public safety with a documented number or increase in deer/automobile accidents, Ms. Seigler sated she would not oppose a hunt, but there had been no such issue found there- fore negating a hunt. Ms. Seigler opined that the majority of the community did not have a problem with deer, and noted the less than ten complaints received an- nually before 2014, and only 14 received in 2014, all within two weeks of each other. Ms. Seigler noted that deer are seeking food about the same time people are planting vegetation. Ms. Seigler also expressed concern with the carrying capacity, questioning the method in estimating whether or not it was time for a hunt or not within a two year timeframe. In reviewing the entire Ramsey County map, Ms. Seigler noted the heaviest deer population appeared to be bordering within a mile, and noted ar- eas where there was deer habitat prior to 2014 but no longer evident. Therefore, Ms. Seigler questioned the logic in using the city limits to determine deer habitat ratios, since it was a broader county issue between the I-604 and I-35W loop. Ms. Seigler stated that a lot of residents disagreed about what to do about deer, but everyone cared about their natural resources; and asked, as the City made de- cisions for the future of the City, that it be cognizant of that concern for natural