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HomeMy WebLinkAboutConservation Commission - 04/10/2007 APPROVED MINUTES CONSERVATION COMMISSION TUESDAY,APRIL 10, 2007 7:00 PM, CITY CENTER 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN Prairie Room COMMISSION MEMBERS: Eapen Chacko (Chair), David Seymour(Vice Chair), Ray Daniels, Laura Jester, Rita Krocak, Geneva MacMillan, Jan Mosman STUDENT COMMISSIONERS: Alesia Casanova, Lauren Mosman, Mark Muston CITY STAFF: Leslie A. Stovring, Staff Liaison (Recorder) I. ROLL CALL Chair Chacko called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. Commissioner Jan Mosman arrived late. MacMillan was absent. Student Commission Lauren Mosman was present, Casanova and Muston were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Lauren Mosman added Item VIIL A. Storm Drain Markers. MOTION: Daniels moved, seconded by Krocak, to approve the agenda as amended. Motion Carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 13, 2007 B. March 27, 2007 MOTION: Daniels moved, seconded by Seymour, to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2007 meeting as published and the March 27, 2007 meeting as amended. Motion carried 5-0. IV. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. Goose Management Plan—Dr. Jim Cooper Dr. Cooper from The Canada Goose Program, Inc. came to discuss the Draft Eden Prairie Goose Management Plan with the Commission. His associates Andrea Reyes and Tom K. attended the meeting also. Dr. Cooper stated he has almost 40 years of experience, starting with a student research project on geese at the University of Minnesota in 1968. Since then he has been working to help government agencies, residents and businesses make Conservation Commission April 10, 2007 Page 2 informed choices on goose management. The Draft Plan was intended to provide a comprehensive look at the questions surrounding goose management and the answers typically given for how to manage geese. Trapping is typically done for goose management. Canada geese are a species that lose all their flight feathers all in one short time period in early summer. Adults typically lose their feathers for 5 weeks and goslings (the young) for 10 weeks. The greatest geese-human conflicts occur at this time (93% of complaints). There are some fall complaints as geese congregate prior to migration. Winter complaints are typically where there are warm bodies of water, such as on ponds that receive cooling water or warm springs. Spring time complaints are typically noise-related as this is when they are fighting and calling, but they typically don't concentrate Geese do return to the area in which they learned to fly year after year. They are also very sociable and groups do form in smaller areas than other aquatic birds such as ducks. As geese are removed from an area, neighboring geese will slowly move in, so continued watch of these areas is required on a semi-regular basis to keep this from happening. Relocation does work if done before the young learn to fly. Geese are grazers that eat grass and forbs. Their preference for bluegrass and other short grass causes them to congregate in areas where there are lawns or other mowed areas, especially in the fall when they like wide-open areas such as ball-fields. Geese are also large birds that have few natural predators in the City. Fox rarely approach them. Coyotes would be natural predators, but are not present in significant numbers in residential areas for effective control. Dr. Cooper has done research on the health effects of goose droppings. An adult Canada goose will lay approximately 4 pounds of droppings per day. When they are flightless, this can lead to a large concentration of wastes on sidewalks, beaches and docks. The droppings contain nutrients, fecal coliform bacteria and disease organisms such as salmonella, giardia, etc. What can be done? Cities are starting to develop management programs to address this question. Egg removal or nest destruction is expensive and not effective. Harassment can be used, but it only displaces geese to somewhere else where they are not wanted (83% of the time those surveyed did not want the geese). Fencing has mixed results as it must be at least 4 feet tall and rigidly constructed so it doesn't tip over, such as chain link fences. Short electrified fences typically do not work any better as they can use their breast feathers to cushion the shock and go right through them. Methods which can work include use of a product such as Flight Control, relocation and trapping. Flight Control is a distasteful but safe chemical sprayed on lawns and beaches. The chemical compound is the same one used in products such as bubble gum and soft drinks, but geese don't like the taste of it. Manufacturers are trying to improve the product so that it is longer lasting, Conservation Commission April 10, 2007 Page 3 however it hasn't been successful and micro-organisms on the ground eat it quickly as it is high in nutrients for them. Relocation is successful for goslings captured before they learn to fly. They will call the new location "home" and stay there. Unfortunately, relocation has been so successful that no one wants them anymore. The current most successful program is trapping and processing the geese for food supplies. Adults for example are processed for food shelf distribution. The food is low in fat and nutritious and has been successful. Dr. Cooper's company always provides humane capture services as it is not only humane for the birds, but is also good for the public as they often see them at work. Historically, the number of geese has dramatically increased since 1968. In 1968 there were less than 500 geese in the Metro area. By 1984 there were 14,000 geese. Today there are more than 17,000. However, without the capture program in place they estimate that there would be approximately 250,000 geese in the Metro area. For example, Toronto started at basically the same number and now has more than 300,000 geese. The Metro area does have enough habitat to support 400,000 to 500,000 geese, so if not managed they would become a significant nuisance and health threat. Dr. Cooper went on to discuss those areas in Eden Prairie which he saw as critical for management. These include the airport, the fenced area between Highway 5 and Prairie Center Drive, the Purgatory Creek Recreation Area and Round Lake. Jan Mosman arrived at 7:43 PM Dr. Cooper recommends the following actions: • Develop a database to track complaints — Documentation of complaints or damage is required to get a permit for goose removal. • Develop a "no-feeding" ordinance — Most people will quit if they know it is not allowed and that it causes health problems for the animals. Posting in all parks will help with compliance. Also, there is no nutritional value in the grain products typically fed to geese. Geese need protein, and products such as corn are all carbohydrate. He stated it was like offering potato chips to a starving child; they will eat it but still die of starvation. • Education — Let residents know who to report complaints to and how to self- manage resident geese to decrease damage. • Set up a reporting system for aggressive geese — The lack of natural predators has led to an increasingly aggressive population of male geese has led to more attacks on humans. If anyone is attacked or hit by a goose, they should call Animal Control who could then pull a DNR permit to capture and dispose of the goose before they seriously hurt someone. Dr. Cooper stated he has been knocked out twice by aggressive geese. Conservation Commission April 10, 2007 Page 4 • Promote native buffers — Native buffers of 20 feet or more in width will deter geese from walking over shorelines as it is not their preferred habitat. However, if there are no other access routes to the nearby grass areas they do like, geese will cross over buffers that are up to 100 yards in width. Entire buffers work best for small ponds as geese typically will leave them as better places to go. • Use fences or steep, large rock rip rap in areas where there are children or elderly — These will deter geese; however they also deter other animals such as mallards, turtles, muskrats and others. Discussion continued on other items which should be included in the report. This included contingency planning, discussion of the previous and future budget requirements, and the minimum number of geese that should be present at a site before the City will send a collection team. A break was called at 8:32 PM and Dr. Cooper and his staff were thanked for coming to the meeting. B. Hennepin Village Roadway Alternative Analysis EAW Status The last public hearing for the EAW was held at the Planning Commission on April 10"'. The comment period lasted for approximately 2-1/2 hours and included many residents from the Summit Oaks piece of Hennepin Village, where the current Prospect Road segment is. Discussion also centered on whether Eden Prairie road could be upgraded within its existing corridor to avoid construction of any of the alternatives. C. City Council—Draft Meeting Schedule Two meetings are currently proposed for the Conservation Commission, one in July and one in December. Stovring stated that the schedule and scope of these sessions is still a work in progress and that she would have more information at the next meeting. Discussion followed on whether this is too often and what would be expected at each meeting. Mosman stated that the memo that would go to the Council for the meeting should include a series of discussion items or questions that the Commission may have to ensure that the Council is ready to interact with the Commissioners. Stovring stated we should also include discussion on the work plan and how we are meeting our goals and objectives. V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Recycling for City Events Stovring asked for ideas for where the Commission would like to provide recycling services and education. Mosman stated that her and her daughter Lulu would be working at the Arts & Antiques event at the Cummins Grill House in Conservation Commission April 10, 2007 Page 5 June and Sunbonnet Days in September and could help with the recycling bins at those two events. Two other ides included Diversity on the Prairie in August and Schooner Days. Stovring stated she would talk to the events coordinator in the Parks Department and see if these would work and what we would need to do. Lulu Mosman stated that she will try to get some High School environmental club members to help out also. Stovring also asked that if the Commissioners want to hand out an educational brochure that they would need to develop one for review. VIII. INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS /HANDOUTS /COMMUNICATIONS A. Storm Drain Markers Lulu Mosman asked how the program worked and whether she could coordinate a group of students to do this. Stovring explained what product is currently used as well as how it is done. Few sites have been completed in Eden Prairie and if they have an area they would like to do, all they need to do is let her know and she would supply the materials. IX. UPCOMING EVENTS A. Hennepin Village Roadway Alterative Analysis EAW— City Council 5/1/2007 B. Living Green Expo—May 5 —6, 2007 C. Landscaping Workshop—June 2, 2007 Chacko asked if assistance would be needed at the event. Stovring stated that she may need some help setting up or cleaning up, but she will bring her intern to help also. Commissioners are invited to attend if they want to learn more about these techniques. Fortin Consulting will be presenting, and they have agreed to incorporate the Blue Thumb information into the program. B. City Clean Up—June 16, 2007 Mosman and Seymour asked if advertising for the event could include information on the Twin Cities Free Market and Craig's List to provide opportunities for reusing materials rather than disposing of them. Stovring stated it would at least get into the online information for the event. X. NEXT MEETING A. May 8, 2007 Meeting adjourned at 9:09 PM MOTION: Krocak moved, seconded by Mosman, to adjourn. Motion carried 6- 0.