City Council

AD HOC DEER HERD COMMITTEE MINUTES OF WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 A meeting of the Ad Hoc Deer Herd Committee was held on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 and called to order at 3:10 p.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall. PRESENT: John Brakora, Josh Penland, Roger Zielinski, Bob Hornkohl, Tom Bruce ABSENT: Barry Peterson PURPOSE: To develop a long-term strategy for deer herd management; providing recommendations to City Council. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Roger Zielinski, second by John Brakora, to approve the agenda as presented. Voice vote - Motion carried. PRESENTATIONS None UNFINISHED BUSINESS  Deer Herd Survey – General consensus to add one more late submission, bringing the total to 120 responses. Following a review of the most recent draft there was no committee consensus on what information the survey results provided. Several members felt the survey was biased toward the Humane Society’s perspective and did not present a clear answer on the question of whether to cull deer or not. Extensive discussion on the survey format and responses. Mr. Penland will add the final response, include the number of responses at the beginning of the document, and forward to the secretary for inclusion in the final report.  Draft Report to City Council – John Brakora crafted the first draft Findings of Fact Report for committee review. The final document will include the survey, committee minutes, USDA application form, and a signature page. Extensive discussion on the need for public education, the need for a deer management program, the need for citizens to learn how to help themselves, and what should be included in the report to Council. Bob Hornkohl made a motion to submit the draft prepared by John Brakora to City Council at the December work session. There was no second and no vote was taken. AD HOC DEER HERD COMMITTEE – NOVEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 1  Josh Penland does not support a cull; this should be second in importance to public education. Mr. Penland asked that his position be stated in the report to Council and that information on the need for public education is also included. Mr. Penland and all committee members were encouraged to attend the Council work session when the report is discussed. Noted that there is no budget for a deer management program in this fiscal year budget. If Council moves forward with committee recommendations it will be up to Council to decide where the money will come from. Discussion continued on the draft report. Tom Bruce arrived at 4:15 p.m. At the request of Mr. Hornkohl he will gather the number of deer/car accidents over the past five years for inclusion in the final report to Council. Sergeant Bruce also reported that the Manistee Police Department has received no feeding complaints as of this date. Following continued discussion it was decided that John Brakora would forward his current draft to the secretary who will put it into a format that works for all committee members. Committee members will have until November 13, 2015 to provide additional comments and/or language changes to the secretary. A revised draft showing language amendments will be distributed to the committee for further review. It is anticipated that the final report will be available at the December 2, 2015 committee meeting for signatures and forwarding to Council for the next available work session. NEW BUSINESS None. PUBLIC COMMENT None. COMMENTS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS None. ADJOURN The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. in the Second Floor Conference Room, City Hall. MOTION to adjourn by Bob Hornkohl, second by John Brakora to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. Cynthia Lokovich, CAP-OM Executive Secretary AD HOC DEER HERD COMMITTEE – NOVEMBER 4, 2015 PAGE 2