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Home My WebLink About5D Special Deer HuntPRip\ U try 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake. NW 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: October 3, 2011 AGENDA M 5D PREPARED BY: Frank Boyles, City Manager PRESENTED BY: Frank Boyles AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SPECIAL DEER HUNT WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PRIOR LAKE DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing a special bow deer hunt to cull the herd in the Spring Lake Regional Park. Histo The Prior Lake City Code Section 804.500 Special Hunts states, "the discharge of a firearm in the City will be permitted by a person participating in a special hunt, which is in compliance with State law and regulations established by the Prior Lake City Council upon the recommendation of the Department of Natural Re- sources, for the purpose of reducing animal populations that create a potential health, safety or general welfare problem in the City. The Prior Lake City Council, on its own resolution, may authorize a special hunt, or a property owner may make application to the City Council to authorize a special hunt on such property owner's lands." For the last sixteen years, a special hunt has been conducted within Spring Lake Regional Park property. Since the park is now within the City limits and thirty -nine acres of the property are owned by the City, the Council's approval is being soli- cited by the County once again for the special hunt. Current Circumstances Patricia Freeman, representing the Scott County Natural Resources Department, has requested that a special deer bow hunting season be authorized by the City Council on lands within Prior Lake. The bow hunting season is tentatively identi- fied for the following dates: • October 14 — November 27 The hunt would take place within Spring Lake Regional Park land. As a safety buffer, no shooting is allowed with 25 yards (75 feet) of the property boundaries. The County works cooperatively with the Metro Bowhunters Resource Base which organizes the archers, ensuring proper training and experience. The hunt is op- erated according to State hunting statute and City of Prior Lake ordinance. Scott County establishes rules as well as regulating hunt day parking. Scott County posts signs throughout the park at key access points to inform visi- tors of the hunt and hunt periods. In addition, notification letters are sent to prop- erty owners adjacent to the regional park and city land. Security and emergency procedures are established and shared with the hunters addressing what to do if a wounded animal leaves the property, procedures for hunter injury, process for resolving disputes between hunters and who to contact at participating agencies for information. ISSUES: Over the last five years the deer population of this area has ranged from eight to 30. In 2011 six animals were observed in the park and 13 on immediately adja- cent land. In recent years, four to nine animals were killed during the hunt pro- gram. Deer can be destructive to adjacent properties if their numbers result in too much competition for food. Moreover, they can constitute a hazard for motor ve- hicles and their occupants. The special hunt is well organized and complies both with State statute and City Code as the ordinance requires. Safety precautions are taken for the benefit of the hunters, visitors and adjacent property owners. There have been no accidents associated with this event. Notification and communication procedures are estab- lished for all of the above as well. In short, the issues which could be raised by this proposal appear to have been addressed. Attached is a program summary which provides additional information. FINANCIAL With the exception of staff time, there is no cost to Scott County or the City of IMPACT: Prior Lake. ALTERNATIVES: The two alternatives available to the Council are: 1. Approve the attached resolution authorizing the special deer bow hunt for the locations and dates set forth therein. 2. Adopt the resolution with modifications. 3. Take no action and request additional information. RECOMMENDED Alternative #1. MOTION: / PRIQ\ A-4 tr1 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake. MN 55372 RESOLUTION 11 -xxx A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SPECIAL DEER HUNT FOR THE SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK PROPERTY INCLUDING 39 ACRES OF CITY -OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED THEREIN. Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, For the last sixteen years, the Scott County Department of Natural Resources has conducted a special hunt on the Spring Lake Regional Park property including 39 acres now owned by the City of Prior Lake; and WHEREAS, The purpose of the deer hunt is to thin the herd for public safety and health reasons; and WHEREAS, The hunt is conducted in full accordance with State Statute and City Code; and WHEREAS, Section 804 of the Prior Lake City Code provides for special hunts; and WHEREAS, The hunt is proposed for the following dates: ■ October 14 to November 27 WHEREAS, Safety and communication procedures have been established and a method for communication is in place. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. A special bow deer hunt is hereby approved if conducted in compliance with Prior Lake City Code Section 804 and in accordance with the "Scott County Spring Lake Regional Park 2009 White - tailed Deer Management Hunt Program Summary" (including hunt location map). PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 3` DAY OF OCTOBER 2011. YES NO M ser M ser Erickson Erickson Hedberg Hedber Keeney Keene Soukup Souku Frank Boyles, City Manager Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com SCOTT COUNTY PARKS AND TRAILS DEPARTMENT SPRING LAKE REGIONAL PARK 2011 WHITE- TAILED DEER MANAGEMENT - ARCHERY HUNT PROGRAM SUMMARY - Last Updated September 20, 2011 Program Purpose and Goals: The purpose of the Spring Lake Regional Park deer management program is to control the white - tailed deer population of the park to sustain the ecological health of the park and to assist in minimizing human -deer conflicts on adjacent properties and road -ways. The program is intended to limit over - browsing, and subsequent degradation of native plant communities and rare species, and to serve as a proactive measure in anticipation of future increased deer -human conflicts, such as collisions with cars and residential landscape damage. Over the next decade as the landscape surrounding the park transitions to a more residential and less agricultural and natural one, the animals are likely to adjust their eating habits to include residential landscaping materials and to seek more of their diet from park vegetation. As is commonly seen in newly developing areas, the change in landscape will likely not be accompanied by a reduction in deer numbers. As the rural landscape is developed, hunting opportunities become restricted, and as a result, there is often a substantial increase in animals. If sufficient habitat, whether in the form of residential lots, agricultural fields or parks is available, deer populations thrive without natural predators or hunting to limit their numbers. Hunt Program Background and Operations: This annual program has been conducted at Spring Lake Regional Park for over 16 years. The program is managed by the Scott County Parks and Trails Department, through a partnership with the non - profit, volunteer organization, Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB). The hunt is operated in partnership with the City of Prior Lake and according to state statue and requires authorization from the local jurisdiction (City of Prior Lake) through a council resolution permitting a'special hunt'. Program rules are set by the Scott County Parks and Trails Department with input from the partners, i.e. hunt days, parking. The park is not posted as closed to visitors during the hunt. This is common practice among municipalities running white - tailed hunt programs. Deer population control is accomplished using expert volunteer archers who are required to be members of MBRB. MBRB organizes the archers, ensuring proper training and experience and choosing archers through a lottery system. These services are provided free of charge to the County. The cost of the program includes Scott County staff time and miscellaneous materials. Control of the animals occurs during predetermined hunting periods, each falling within the archery hunting season determined by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In recent years, three to nine animals has been killed per year during the hunt program. An aerial census of white - tailed deer is completed annually, when weather conditions allow, for the park and adjacent properties. In 2011, 6 animals were observed within the park boundary and 13 on immediately adjacent properties. Hunt Area The hunt will take place within Spring Lake Regional Park and adjacent City of Prior Lake park land (see map). Hunt boundary is set 25 yards in from property boundaries of city and regional park land. Hunt Dates In 2010 the hunt period was shifted to occur later in the season than it had been in previously years. For 2011 the hunt period will again occur later, starting in mid - October rather than mid - September. In recent years fewer animals had been seen and fewer taken in the early part of the season (September). The hope is that by shifting the hunt period there may be an increase the success of the control. The hunt period has also been simplified to one long period rather than three separate hunting periods. • October 14 - November 27 Security and Emergency Procedures City of Prior Lake Police Department and the County Sheriff's office are informed about and asked to consult on the program by County staff. The police department and sheriff's office are notified of hunt days, hunt boundaries and program contact information. MBRB archers participating in the hunt carry badges identifying them as program participants. They are trained on proper procedures in case of non - emergency security or safety situations and follow normal procedures in case of emergency (911). In the rare event a wounded animal leaves the park property and moves into a residential area the hunt coordinators contact local police (non- emergency phone number) and track the animal in the company of local police or a conservation officer. Public Information and Notification Two weeks prior to and through the duration of the hunt, informational signs are posted throughout the park at key access points to inform visitors about the program. Notification letters are sent to property owners adjacent to the regional park and city park land. Metro Bowhunters Resource Base Metro Bowhunters Resource Base (MBRB) is a volunteer, non - profit bow hunting organization. The organization formed in 1995 for two primary reasons: to assist municipalities with the control of rapidly increasing urban deer numbers and dispel the general belief that relief from these issues could only occur through trap and kill, rifle sharp - shooting or controlled firearm hunts. MBRB organizes and provides expert volunteer archers to government agencies to assist in managing over - abundant deer populations. In order to hunt with MBRB, archers must fulfill the DNR's Bowhunter certification class and pass proficiency shooting tests. MBRB has a strict set of rules and has high standards for team work and hunting ethics. Through its partnership with MBRB, Scott County is ensured that only expert archers with the appropriate skills, behavior and safety awareness participate in the hunts. For membership or other information about MBRB Website: hW2://mbrb.org/mbrb/ Email: info @mbrb.gM - -- - - -. - - - -- ............... ...... - - -- ....................................... ....... -- Spring Lake Regional Park 2011 Special Permit Archery Hunt - Site Map This is a special permit hunt. To participate, hunters must be selected through the Metro Bowhuntera Resource new hunters. To learn more about participating in the 2012 hunt, go to: www.mbrb.org, or call 952 - 496 -8752. Boundaries shown are approximate. Map created by Scott County Parks. September, 2011 Legend Snowmobile Trail 1 ;2011 Hunt Boundary City of Prior Lake - park =Scott county regional park = Tax Parcels Special Permit Parking Site 3