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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 06/04/2002 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 084, 2002, AMENDIN AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 14 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: June 4, 2002FROM Jerry P. Brown ; SUBJECT: Second Reading of Ordinance No.084,2002,Amending Section 4-93 of the City Code to Allow for Staff Use of Trained Dogs Off-Leash within City-Designated Recreation Areas, Specifically City Golf Courses, for Control of Canada Geese. I RECOMMENDATION: i Staff and the Golf Board recommend adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Ordinance, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on May 21, 2002, amends the "Animals at large" section of the City Code to allow the use of trained dogs "off-leash" within City- designated recreation areas, specifically City golf courses, for the purpose of harassing resident Canada Geese into leaving the golf courses. Staff has been legally harassing Canada Geese on the City's three City golf courses for decades,and the use of trained dogs for this purpose will provide a more efficient and reliable method to help scare geese away so that the City golf courses can be properly maintained. This Ordinance also corrects two typographical errors in Section 4-93(2) of the City Code. I , , I AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 22 I• FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL DATE: May 21, 2002 STAFF: Jerry P. Brown ; SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 084, 2002, Amending Section 4-93 of the City Code to Allow for I Staff Use of Trained Dogs Off-Leash within City-Designated Recreation Areas, Specifically City Golf Courses, for Control of Canada Geese. RECOMMENDATION: I Staff and the Golf Board reco Cend lion POrdinyanonFirst Reading. I i ! FINANCIAL IMPACT: I All costs are to be paid by the Golf Fund within the existing budget. The annual costs for using trained dogs for the purpose of harassing Canada Geese will likely not exceed $2,000 per golf course, and these costs shoCCa e al s s gs in labor for maintenance currently needed to clean up Gees • EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Ordinance will amend the "Animals at large" section of the City Code to allow the use of trained dogs 'off-leash" within Cit -designated recreation areas, s ecifically City golf courses, for the purpose of harassing reside an ees t a g g courses. Staff has been legally harassing Canada Geese on t City's ee Ci rse r decades, and the use of trained dogs for this purpose will pro a m r ffic' t reliable ethod to help scare geese away so that the City golf courses can a proper y maintatned. is rdinance will also correct two typographical errors in Section 4-93(2) of the City Code. BACKGROUND: For at least two decades one of the most consistent, on-going complaints received from golfers is about Canada Geese on the City's golf courses, especially as it relates to their droppings. Several members of the Golf Board, as well as many citizens/golfers, have complained about this situation much more in the last two years. The most often repeated complaint that the goose droppings are a nuisance and interfere with their ability to play quality golf, and that these goose droppings are a health hazard. Golfers pay to play on our courses, and expect well-maintained facilities. The goose droppings have become an impediment to this purpose. In addition,maintenance crews spend extra time cleaning up the goose droppings, especially on the greens, sometimes several times each day. DATE: May 21, 2002 2 ITEM NUMBER: 22 The issue of Canada Geese health, safety, and nuisance concerns is not limited to just Fort Collins, as almost all golf courses and communities along the Front Range are dealing with the same situation. The numbers of resident Canada Geese in recent years has grown dramatically. The problem has become so severe nationally,in many areas besides golf courses,that the United States Fish & Wildlife Service is reviewing its policies on resident Canada Goose Management in the United States. Their preliminary recommendation is to reduce the population of resident Canada Geese by 55 percent in this flyway. The Fish & Wildlife Service will probably announce what actions it intends to take later this year. However, the proposal to use dogs on the City's golf courses is not intended to eliminate or reduce Canada Geese populations. It is to t os assment actions by using the most efficient method of gooLharasgn nt bet ed da any golf courses all across the country and along the Front wh is u o train dogs to scare Canada Geese into leaving the City golf coursesg e re Staff at the three City golf courses (City Park Nine, Collindale, and SouthRidge) have been legally harassing Canada Geese for decades. As required by the City Code, staff has previously acquired permits from both Police Services and the Division of Wildlife(DOW)to harass Canada Geese on our City golf courses. Federally approved methods have been used, including shooting guns into the air,exploding firecracker shells,sirens,bells,whistles,air horns,barrier flags,chasing them with carts, anti-goose chemicals, etc. However, the use of noise makers has been reduced due to neighborhood complaints. Addit' 1 y,fo u f e he W would"round-up"Canada Geese on the City's golf cour and the is he , practice was discontinued two years ago. As previously noted the use of trained dogs to chase/harass Canada Geese into leaving golf courses is a more reliable maintenance method. Trained dogs do not catch or harm geese or their eggs, but can significantly aid in reducing the daily population of geese on the golf courses. The dog will not be used between April 1 and July 31, in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations protecting Canada Geese. The dog, which will wear an identification bandana,will ride with a staff member on a cart and will chase geese (and geese only) upon command. The dog will chase them into the lakes and swim after them, which means that the geese will soon learn that the water areas on the golf courses will no longer be a safe haven. Also, the geese will begin to associate the cart that the dog rides in with the t ev MY a y as the cart approaches them. Generally,the dog will "work' ithin o 200 r e stalwhember and cart. The dog(s)will stay in a maintenance buit in hen n orki this tim t is staff's intent to lease a trained dog for this purpose to work at ndale er re gee located), and if it proves to be successful, one or two trained dogs may be purchased in the future. The Golf Board, at its meeting of April 17, 2002, voted unanimously to recommend City Council approve this request. Staff has discussed this issue with the Police Chief,the City Attorney's Office, and with the Natural Resources staff, and they do not oppose bringing this Ordinance forward for Council consideration. In addition, the Natural Resources Advisory Board reviewed this request at its May 1, 2002 meeting, and there were no significant objections. i DATE: may ITEM NUMBER: 22 Summary: . In order for us to be able to use trained dogs on the three City golf courses for the specific purpose of scaring/harassing Canada Geese into leaving the golf courses, the City Code needs to be amended. Within the Golf Division, staff believes that dogs can be a more efficient and reliable method to scare geese away so that City golf courses can be maintained for the use and purpose for which they were created. The proposed amendment will also allow for the use of dogs in other City recreation areas, such as parks and soccer or softball fields, if such use is desired in the future.