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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/21/2002 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 084, 2002, AMENDING AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 22 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 Staff Use of Trained Dogs Off-Leash within City-Designated Recreation Areas, Specifically City Golf Courses, for Control of Canada Geese. RECOMMENDATION: Staff and the Golf Board recommend adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT: 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 should be at least equally off-set by savings in labor for maintenance currently needed to clean up after Canada Geese. 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 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 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. may 2 1, 2002 DATE: 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 simply to add to the existing goose harassment actions by using the most efficient method of goose harassment being used today on many golf courses all across the country and along the Front Range, which is the use of trained dogs to scare Canada Geese into leaving the City golf courses and going elsewhere. 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. Additionally,for a number of years the DOW would"round-up"Canada Geese on the City's golf courses and take them elsewhere, but that 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 be used only between the months of April and August, in compliance with federal law regarding harassment of 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 dog,and they will eventually fly away as the cart approaches them. Generally,the dog will "work"within 50 to 200 yards of the staff member and cart. The dog(s)will stay in a maintenance building when not working. At this time, it is staff s intent to lease a trained dog for this purpose to work at Collindale (where more geese are 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. 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. ORDINANCE NO. 084, 2002 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING SECTION 4-93 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS TO ALLOW FOR STAFF USE OF TRAINED DOGS OFF-LEASH WITHIN CITY-DESIGNATED RECREATION AREAS, SPECIFICALLY CITY GOLF COURSES, FOR CONTROL OF CANADA GEESE WHEREAS, resident Canada Geese and their droppings create a nuisance on City golf courses; and WHEREAS, City golf staff have in the past tried various legal methods of harassment to chase geese off of golf courses; and WHEREAS, one of the most effective techniques of goose harassment is the use.of trained dogs; and WHEREAS, staff wish to use trained dogs to harass geese on golf courses, but cannot currently do so without violating Section 4-93 of the City Code relating to animals at large; and WHEREAS,Section 4-93 of the Code already contains exceptions for other types of working dogs, including police dogs, and search and rescue dogs; and WHEREAS, Section 4-93(2) of the Code contains typographical errors that should be corrected; and WHEREAS; the Council has reviewed the proposed amendments and the reasons therefor, and believes the amendments are in the best interests of the City. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that Sec. 4-93 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 4-93. Animals at large prohibited. (a) All pet animals,except birds, shall be kept under restraint. It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any pet animal, except birds, to permit such animal to be at large in the city. The following shall be exempt from this prohibition: (1) Dogs under the control of a public law enforcement agency (2) Dogs not under restraint in a city natural area or recreation area pursuant to an applicable permit issued under Article Vffl 0 or Article BE I of Chapter 23. (3) Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 21 st day of May, A.D. 2002, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of June, A.D. 2002. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of June, A.D. 2002. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Golf Board Minutes _,,April 17,2002 Page 2 • in, and are due to be installed next week. The netting portion of the project should hopefully be completed by May 10. SouthRidge Patio Deck and Cart Storage Building: Claire Nelms wants to know what is going on at SouthRidge. Jerry said that the Patio Deck Project is under construction and should be done by May 5. The Cart Storage Building bid should hopefully go out around May 1,with construction scheduled to be completed in September. --� Canada Geese The Board discussed using dogs on the golf courses to harass geese. Jerry explained that the City would rent a dog that has been trained to harass geese. The trainer will train our staff on how to handle the dog. Claire Nelms asked if we would have to hire additional staff and Jerry responded no. Jerry estimates the cost for this summer to be less than $2,000. Jerry explained to the Board that in order to have the dog off-leash, we have to request that the City Code be changed to allow dogs off-leash on the golf courses. On a motion by Mike Sanders, seconded by Frank Blanco, the Board voted unanimously (8:0) to 14 — recommend to City Council to Amend the City Code to allow dogs off-leash on the City golf courses for the purpose of harassing geese to go elsewhere. • Bill Rutledge then recapped last month's discussion on Canada Geese and the report Jerry received from the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Bill drafted a letter to Council from the Board regarding the resident goose population. In his letter he recommends that the Council review the provisions of the City Code as it relates to the Federal policies on the management of Canada Geese. He further stated in his memo that the goose droppings are affecting many people. His final recommendation is that the City designate employees to attend the meeting in Denver on Wednesday, May 29, to give input on the Federal Government's in-depth study on reducing the goose population in the United States. Bill then encouraged all the Board members to attend this meeting as concerned citizens and not as representatives of this Board. Jerry said that he will attend this meeting, and will invite someone from Natural Resources to go with him. Jerry thinks this issue will be solved without us taking a lead position. The Federal agency has started to work on this. Lauren DeRosa questioned whether we should include other groups without their okay. Frank Blanco wants to know if we run geese off courses,will anything keep them from going elsewhere. Answer is they'll go somewhere else. Frank wants to know if dogs know the difference between geese and mallards. Mike said the handler determines that, and the handler controls the dogs. After much discussion, the Board decided they didn't want to send this letter to City Council at this time and wanted to wait until we receive the results of the May 29 Denver meeting. On motion by Claire Nelms, seconded by Dave Johnson, the Board voted unanimously(8:0) to Table this letter until the July Meeting. • Golf Board Minutes ----->March 20,2002 Page 3 Councilman Bill Bertschy said that he agrees with what Jerry is saying. The level of golf interest on the City Council is relatively low. He said it would be great to partner with a private source,but the City itself would not probably be able to fully acquire and construct a fourth public golf course in Fort Collins. Mike also said that Link-N-Greens could possibly sell to an interested developer for non-golf purposes. The Board will continue to discuss this topic in the future. Canada Geese Jerry said that the issue of Canada Geese has again come to the forefront in the past few months. Jerry explained that Bill Rutledge has written a letter regarding his continued concerns about issues related to Canada Geese. Many folks have said that Canada Geese droppings are a health hazard, but Jerry said that until the Larimer County Health Department tells us it is a health issue, we can't legally take any action. However, the Federal Government has been inundated with complaints about Canada Geese around the country. There have been safety issues at airports. Their recommendation is a reduction of 55 percent of residential Canada Geese in this flyway. It has become very difficult at our golf courses to manage the geese. The City's ordinance states that Fort Collins is a wild bird sanctuary. We are allowed to harass the geese but not harm them. Dogs appear to be the best deterrent of the geese. At Fort Collins Country Club, they have been very successful with their dog chasing geese. We are in the process of trying to get permission to have a dog off leash at Collindale. Dave Johnson said that at a former club he worked at, they purchased two dogs for chasing geese. He said they paid$3,000 for the dogs, but they became more of a course mascot than a deterrent for the geese. Jerry said we are looking at leasing a dog. Dave said leasing is a great way to start the program. Jerry said that the Federal Government is asking for comments. Bill said that he will attend the meeting they are holding in Denver. He encourages all areas of concern. The Federal folks told him the City could get a permit to spray their eggs. He brought this to the attention of the Mayor and received no response. He doesn't understand how the City Council can turn their heads on this. He said the City employees who are working on the golf courses and the parks are being exposed. He said the City is ignoring a real problem. Bill gave a history starting in 1916 of when the treaty was written between Canada and United States. He said it is a matter of ecology, and we need to get a better handle on it. City Council has the authority to do something about this. We need to ask for a permit from the Federal Government and they will issue this permit. Manuel Jimenez asked if the City employees are aware of their health risks? Bill said yes they do know, but there isn't anything they can do about it as it is their job to maintain the golf courses and the parks. We also have a public nuisance problem and the problem is growing every year. Lauren DeRosa asked that if the City did ask for the permit, and the areas around Fort Collins don't do the same, will the geese from other areas still fly in this area? Bill said they are homebound animals and if we start the reduction they will stop nesting on the courses and revert to nesting in the agricultural areas. Golf Board Minutes —3R March 20,2002 Page 4 • Bill Bertschy said that the Council does receive comments from citizens about the geese population. He agreed that Larimer County does not believe it is a health issue. We have many citizens who are concerned about area growth, as well as those who believe that the geese population has moved closer to residential areas as a result of the growth. There are two sides to the issue. Bill Bertschy said he would be happy to present this Board's concerns to City Council. He said the City is not ignoring this. It is a problem. It creates issues on our municipal lands. Dave said that the birds have contaminated Sheldon Lake in City Park among others. Bill referred to the Smoking Ordinance in public places in Fort Collins. Fort Collins was one of the leaders in the nation in prohibiting smoking in public places, and we could be a leader in the reduction of geese in our community. On a motion by Bill Rutledge, seconded by Manuel Jimenez, the Board asked Bill Rutledge to put together a report and recommendations for the Board at next month's meeting to hopefully present to Council regarding the problem of Canada Geese, which the Board unanimously(8-0)passed. Dave said we need to mention that we will not kill existing birds but prevent future growth in our area. Election of Golf Board Officers for 2002/2003 The Board Bylaws states that the election of officers will be held in March. Mike Sanders said that he would like to step down and thanked the Board for allowing him to serve as Chairperson for the past two and a half years. Jerry thanked Mike for his outstanding leadership as the Board Chairperson. Bill Rutledge said that Mike's involvement in the Banking industry has been a tremendous asset. The election of Golf Board officers for 2002/2003 was then held, as follows: Chairperson: Dave Johnson nominated Bill Rutledge, seconded by Claire Nelms. The Board voted unanimously(8-0)to elect Bill Rutledge as Chairperson.Mike passed the gavel to Bill. Vice Chairperson: Mike Sanders nominated Dave Johnson, seconded by Frank Blanco. The Board voted unanimously(8-0)to elect Dave Johnson as Vice Chairperson. Board Secretary: Mike Sanders nominated Claire Nelms, seconded by Manuel Jimenez. The Board voted unanimously(8-0) to elect Claire Nelms as Board Secretary. Board Members and Staff Comments: Jerry explained to the new Board Members that he provides in the Board packets a monthly status report on revenues, copies of letters received from citizens, and other information. If you have any questions or comments,please call Jerry. --7+ Natural Resources Advisory Boarder-- Ma�' 1, 2002 Page 7 — > Goose Dogs Ohlson said there should be appropriate public education. We don't want to create a culture where people don't care about wildlife. We need to be sensitive with laying the groundwork. Panjabi said we don't want to be harassing wintering geese the way we do breeding geese. The wintering geese do affect other waterfowl. We need to be very sensitive. Review Council's Six Month Planning Calendar No comments. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.