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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBill No. 16-60 Addressing Integrated and Multifaceted Approaches to Canada Geese(574) 235 -5986 August 1, 2016 The South Bend Common Council 4th Floor County -City Building 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 Dear Council Members: Common Council City of South Bend Indiana Oliver J. Davis, 6th District Council Member 4th Floor County -City Building 227 West Jefferson Boulevard South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 235 -9173 Facsimile Re: Canada Geese Find in Clerk's Office AUG 012016 KAREEM H FOWLER CITY CLERK, SOUTH SEND, IN (574)235 -5567 TTY/TDD Greetings. As a member of the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee, I am introducing the attached proposed Resolution for the purposes of learning more about current City policies and for providing the opportunities for having meaningful public dialogue on policies addressing Canada geese. Recently there have been an increased number of concerns published on this topic which have raised concerns in the news media and the public. As noted in the attached Resolution, there are agencies at the state and federal level, as well as many private organizations involved. Again, since I serve on the Council's Health and Public Safety Committee, I believe it would be appropriate to hear from the City Administration, perhaps in this Committee on such items as: • What approaches is the City using to address any concerns resulting from Canada geese on city -owned properties; what metrics are used in reviewing such programs and how often are they reviewed? • How many complaints by the City which have been documented in 2015 and through July 2016 and by what departments? • How much money was budgeted last year and proposed for next year on implementing the City's methods? • Do the methods developed by the City reflect the best practices recommended by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and other best practices? • Does the City inform residents and businesses in South Bend about the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife's Canada Goose Conflict Resolution Sheet? [See: http: / /www.in.gov /dnr /fishwild /files /fw- Nuisance- Goose - Solutions - Sheet.pdf • Does the City of South Bend currently use any habitat modification techniques recommended by the DNR and are "harassment techniques" of hazing /scaring being utilized when they are documented complaints involving damage caused by Canada geese? See: http: / /www.in.gov /dnr /fishwild /3002.htm Cover Letter for the Canada Geese Resolution Page 2 • In the last three (3) years, has any department or Board /Commission of the City of South Bend applied for or authorized applying for any Trap /Transport Permit through a District Wildlife Biologist, and if answered in the positive, what were the details and results? • In the last three (3) years has any department or Board /Commission of the City of South Bend applied for or authorized applying for any Trap and Lethal Removal Permit through a District Wildlife Biologist, and if answered in the affirmative, what were the details and results? The Council's Health and Public Safety Committee may also wish to contact the Wildlife Biologist assigned to this region, Megan Dillon [mdillon @dnr.IN.gov] so that the City is updated on the latest facts on this wildlife topic. In light of the amount of questions raised by the public recently, until such a public meeting is held, the Resolution is also calling for the City Administration to put on hold any relocation and /or extermination program(s), if there are any underway or proposed. Noting that there should be a proper balance between the interactions of persons living in urban communities and natural wildlife, and as an elected public officials of our City, I urge the members of the South Bend Common Council to adopt this Resolution. If you have any questions, please contact me at 876 -6938. Thank you. Most s' cerely, Council Member O 'ver J, Davis 6th District Council Member Council Vice - President Attachment cc: Mayor Pete Buttigieg Aaron Perri, Park Superintendent Filed in Clerk's Office AUG 0 12016 P( R _EE N3A;-6 PYWLEA CITY CLERK, SOUTH 9FVD. IN RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, RECOMMENDING THAT INTEGRATED AND MULTIFACETED APPROACHES BE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED AND FURTHER DEVELOPED WHICH ADDRESS CANADA GEESE G," the South Bend Common Council notes that the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) currently employs 214 conservation officers "who serve the public and protect the natural Hoosier heritage of the State of Indiana" who are trained in specialty areas in a variety of the enforcement and non - enforcement activities; and the DNR also employs Wildlife Biologists assigned to specific regions throughout the state who work as field biologists within the DNR, Division of Fish and Wildlife; and CAC,m� the Canada goose is part of a large wild goose species which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, experienced a declining population due to the use of chemicals and excessive hunting, whose population is now rebounded after captive birds were released throughout the country increasing their presence often in urban areas especially where there is mowed grass and increased use of retention ponds; and *A airports throughout the country have developed long -term strategies to reduce conditions that may attract geese to airports. For example, the Chicago Department of Aviation continues to practice habitat management plans designed to "manipulate the landscape to deter wildlife ". Midway and O'Hare Airports also focus on storm water drainage and wild -life resistant fences which are designed so that they do not attract nesting birds; and 6X6.,4 scientific studies have shown that "goose droppings do not pose any special health threats" according to the Humane Society of the United States, with the HSUS publishing Solving Problems with Canada Geese — A Management Plan and Information Guide available at: http: / /viww.humanesociely.org /assets /pdfs /wild neighbors / canada goose ug ide.pdf; and 6A)" HSUS has developed "Synergy" where "effective plans get synergy from combing two or three Key Components — curtailing reproduction, site aversion, and habitat modification" with "effective goose management programs typically following a seasonal timeline" which.also include complementary components: "Tolerance Zones; Public Education, and Stop Feeding ", with HSUS stressing that: "Conflicts between people and Canada geese will be resolved by individuals and communities that care about the birds, the environment, and the well -being of their communities..."; and CAC,m� the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website: http:// www .in.gov /dnr /fishwild/3000.htm# notes that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 authorized the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service oversight "to manage and regulate the harvest of migratory birds in the United States ". Additionally there are four international treaties in place with Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia which make it illegal "to harvest waterfowl or other migratory birds except during the hunting season or by permit "; and Canada Geese Resolution Page 2 6A, since 1999, a federal special Canada goose permit has been in place specifically for the purpose of "management and control of resident Canada geese" with such permits being issued to State wildlife management agencies; and 6)%" in September 2006, the Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife was authorized to begin a process whereby landowners and managers of public lands could register and seek permission for egg and nest destruction activities, requiring the permit holder to file by October 31St a report with the state; and 6)6" the DNR website further stresses that "reducing damage caused by Canada geese takes the cooperation of the entire community ", and recommends a 4 -Step program focusing on: Step 1: Commitment Step 2: Take Charge Step 3: Obtain Community Support Step 4: Create a Plan of Action Biologist have weighed in noting that "answers lie in a change in perspective and landscape — like by planting tall native grasses ", which also help stabilize the banks of rivers and streams; and 6N several Indiana cities have attempted to address Canada geese concerns: ate last month the City of Mishawaka, hired a contractor certified by the DNR to "remove and kill geese from [their] golf course and from Beutter, Merrifield and Crawford parks" resulting in more than 400 Canada geese being exterminated. This year, the City of Lafayette filed for permits to relocated Canada geese. In 2015, the City of Muncie was to relocate 800 Canada geese; and Warsaw has been removing such geese for several years. Section I. The South Bend Common Council believes that there should be public discussions with the City Administration on Canada geese and how and if they are impacting our local area. In this way, integrated and multifaceted approaches, if needed can be discussed with the public, in determining what is in the best for our City. Section II. The Common Council notes that urban areas are encroaching the habitat of Canada geese, which must and should be balanced with developing positive measures for wildlife and humans to live in harmony for generations to come. The Council further believes until such a public meeting is held, that if the City Administration has any relocation and/or extermination programs underway that they be placed on hold. Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect om d after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. �AC er J. bdvis,_(Prbistrict Council Member Common Council Vice - President Kareemah Fowler, City Clerk !RPSENTS NOT APPRONM Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of S in Clerk's 0 f#ice 2016 Indiana