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6 <br /> On motion by Ms. Smith, seconded by Ms. Galvin, the ordinance carried, with the <br />addition of a $2,000 charge for the land. <br /> <br />Ms. Galvin asked staff to examine a policy for making this more consistent over <br />time. <br /> <br /> <br />REPORT : DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM <br /> <br /> Mr. Tolbert presented to Counci l on a potential deer management program. <br />Vehicle collisions, Lyme disease, landscape and garden damage, declining deer herd <br />health due to overpopulation, and public safety are among potential issues that stem from <br />deer overpopulation. Some options includ e landscape management, trapping and <br />euthanasia, bow hunting, sharpshooting, and contraception, all of which come with <br />issues. Mr. Tolbert summarized the various ways in which surrounding areas have <br />addressed deer overpopulation, with varying success. If Council believes there is a <br />problem and wants to consider action , staff recommends scheduling a work session for a <br />more in -depth discussion and a public hearing, then staff would assemble an action plan . <br />Above all else, Council should look at developing an education program. Mr. Jones said <br />Council should also have community meetings about the issue in addition to the public <br />hearing . <br /> <br /> Ms. Smith thanked citizens for contacting Council about this issue. We have <br />received a lot of good information. It i s ex tremely difficult to effectively reduce a deer <br />population. We do not have the data to determine whether we really have a problem. We <br />should not manage with any lethal methods, but with education. She brought the “Have A <br />Heart Spray Away Water Repellent Sp rinkler”, which has a detector and will spray water <br />when deer or other animals pass by it. She said she is o pposed to any physical reduction <br />of our deer population . <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with much of what Ms. Smith said , as well as her conclusions . <br />We shou ld devise proactive , nonlethal ways of addressing the issue in neighborhoods that <br />are affected by it. <br /> <br /> Ms. Galvin said one particular email from Mr. Gallagher who has worked with <br />the Wildlife Management Committee at Lake Monticello gave some good guideli nes <br />based o n research from Cornell. She agreed with using education and a City wide survey <br />to identify neighborhoods where this is a key problem. We should act though, because a <br />delay may cause more problems. <br /> <br /> Ms. Szakos said she read about a new method of sterilizing the bucks and <br />returning them to the community, which does n o t have the rebound effect some <br />population control methods have. She said Council should prepare this for next year’s <br />legislative session to see if we can make this ava ilable to us. Some intervention may be a <br />good thing, because getting hit by a car is one of the least humane ways for deer to die. <br />She asked if it is possible to get a deer count and supported conducting a survey of the