08-08-16 Health and Public Safety

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OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY AUGUST 8, 2016 4:43 P.M. Committee Members Present: Committee Members Absent: Other Council Present: Others Present: Agenda: Bill No. 16 -E John Voorde, Oliver Davis, Jo M. Broden Karen White, Dr. Fred Ferlic Regina Williams- Preston, Randy Kelly, Gavin Ferlic Kareemah Fowler, Jennifer Coffman, Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand, Adriana Rodriguez 10- Integrated Approach to Address Canada Geese Committee Chair John Voorde called the meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee to order at 4:43 p.m. with one item on the agenda. Bill No. 16 -60- Integrated Approach to Address Canada Geese Committeemember Oliver Davis introduced Bill No. 16 -60, explaining that the Council is still looking into this issue because this is a topic the Council has not dealt with in the past. This resolution is here to challenge us to put a plan in place so the City of South Bend will not be caught off guard. His understanding is that as of right now, the City of South Bend does not have a problem with geese. Aaron Perri, Executive Director of Parks was present along with John Martinez, the Director of Facilities and Grounds, and Gary Harrington, a Naturalist employed by the Parks Department. Mr. Perri stated that the Parks Department does not currently have any relocation plans in place for any wildlife besides mice control and things of that nature. He explained that he is proud of the fact that when things like this come across the desks of the Parks Department, they are looked at with a lens of environmental responsibility. The only decision to come across his desk related to wildlife is when the staff had issues with beavers eating the trees along the riverfront. There were a few options available such as trapping or euthanizing the beavers, but the staff ultimately realized that the trees could be protected by wrapping chicken wire around the bottom of the trees. As a result, the beavers were able to stay in their natural habitats, and the trees were safe from harm. 455 County -City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • South Bend, Indiana 46601 Phone 574- 235 -9221 • Fax 574- 235 -9173 • TDD 574- 235 -5567 • www.SouthBendIN.gov JENNIFER M. COFFMAN ALKEYNA M. ALDRIDGE EMILY SEXTON CHIEF DEPUTY/ CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY/ DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK