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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, October 24, 2016 <br />Page 30 <br /> <br />Mr. Brokke responded that staff’s research had indicated the baiting drew from a <br />broad area, and had proven very effective, and was done for several weeks before <br />the chosen option was accomplished. <br /> <br />Specific to selecting a number of deer and/or a location for management, Mr. <br />Brokke confirmed for Mayor Roe that the USDA had been consulted with an ini- <br />tial number of twenty deer identified for eradication, with the USDA agreeing that <br />seemed a reasonable initial target number for an estimated deer population of fifty <br />or more. <br /> <br />Willmus moved, Etten seconded, directing staff to move forward and implement <br />deer control measures via the USDA sharp shooting option. <br /> <br />Councilmember Willmus acknowledged all those coming forward over the last <br />few years to address this problem, which he noted was an ongoing issue in the <br />community that he continued to hear about frequently. Therefore, Councilmem- <br />ber Willmus opined it became a function for the city to take measures to reduce <br />the number of deer in the community. Councilmember Willmus agreed with <br />Councilmember McGehee that he would not choose the bow hunting option; but <br />clarified that he also didn’t see this as a city program or city-sponsored sporting <br />event. Councilmember Willmus stated he also didn’t much care for the trapping <br />option. Councilmember Willmus further agreed with Councilmember McGehee <br />that, while deer could carry ticks with Lyme disease, at the end of the day he <br />didn’t’ consider them 100% responsible for those contracting the disease. <br /> <br />Councilmember Willmus opined the deer management issue had clearly been <br />identified and that the city should implement the most effective mechanism to <br />control those numbers. Therefore, Councilmember Willmus opined the USDA <br />sharp shooting option was the best option. <br /> <br />Councilmember Etten stated he arrived at this difficult decision; and even though <br />loving the nature in Roseville, he also knew people were part of that nature pic- <br />ture, with many enjoying hunting and fishing as a way of life, Councilmember Et- <br />ten opined the current natural system in Roseville is out of balance and the city <br />needed to step in with appropriate control measures at this time. Councilmember <br />Etten stated that for him, deer standing their ground against people, the loss of <br />plant and trees creating negative and expensive issues, and their interaction with <br />people becoming more aggressive and dangerous, caused him to see the need for <br />rebalancing their population in Roseville. Councilmember Etten opined that the <br />loss of habitat and development along County Road C and Dale Street and along <br />S Owasso Blvd. near Lady Slipper Park, in an area already impacted by deer, had <br />exacerbated an already existing problem. <br /> <br />Councilmember Etten opined it was an appropriate action for the city to move <br />forward at this time, and to consider other areas of the city as it moved forward. <br /> <br />