Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL, IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023 AT 5:30 PM, MUNICIPAL BUILDING I, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 50 E. CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL Mayor Brigette PRESENT: Peterson Mayor Brigette Peterson, Vice Mayor Kathy Tilque, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Chuck Bongiovanni, Bobbi Buchli, Yung Koprowski, and Jim Torgeson COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera, Parks and Recreation Director Robert Carmona CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 1. Discussion and overview of Code of Gilbert, Arizona Chapter 6 Animals, Article I, Section 6-7 related to feeding wild or feral mammals. Mayor Peterson explained the Study Session process. Parks and Recreation Director Carmona provided a presentation on the current Wildlife Feeding Ordinance. He provided a history of the Ordinance beginning in 2015 and outlined the section of the Ordinance. He talked about the addition to the Ordinance in 2018. He discussed the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program and the opportunities and restrictions. Vice Mayor Tilque asked about a grant program with nonprofits that assisted in addressing the issue within neighborhoods and asked for more information in the future. She said she was interested in that type of program if there was interest, adding she was supportive of the Ordinance due to liability as a whole; she reiterated her interest in a grant program funded 1 by the Town. Councilmember Bongiovanni asked about associated costs. Director Carmona spoke in support of combining additional information and funding. Councilmember Bongiovanni asked about any estimate in the number of cats. Director Carmona said the Town did not have an estimate currently and it was not something studied by the Town. Councilmember Koprowski asked if there were any existing conditions within Gilbert’s existing parks. Director Carmona said that information was not something that was being tracked by the Town, but that was not something they were aware of at the moment. Councilmember Buchli taked about the Humane Society and asked about their willingness to take cats and if there were any opportunities to speak to the Humane Society. Director Carmona stated that the Humane Society was no longer accepting cats and said several non-profit organizations within the community would be interested in having the conversation. Councilmember Buchli said that it was not something they could solve that night but wanted to get ideas and said it was something they needed to fix. Councilmember Torgeson asked if the TNR was legal in all parts of the town. Director Carmona said TNR was legal on private property and per the Ordinance it was not allowed on public property, rights-of-way, or parks without the discretion of the Parks and Recreation Director. Mayor Peterson talked about the land owned by the town and said said she believed in the TNR program and talked about her own experience. She restated she believed in the program and process but was open to having additional conversations to help the situation. Councilmember Anderson said he would encourage future conversations to talk about potential programs and opportunities but not to rescind the Ordinance. Mayor Peterson spoke in agreement. Director Carmona said he appreciated the feedback and would work with the team to look at some options. ADJOURN Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 5:46 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Brigette Peterson, Mayor Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk 2 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 12th day of December, 2023. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________2023. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk 3