07-13-20 Work Session Agenda and MaterialsCITY OF
KALISPELL
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION AGENDA
July 13, 2020, at 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers,
201 First Avenue East
1. Woodland Park — Restoring Back to Nature
2. Budget Work Session Response
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Persons wishing to address the council are asked to do so at this time. Those addressing
the council are requested to give their name and address for the record. Please limit
comments to three minutes.
D. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS
E. ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Next Regular Meeting — July 20, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Next Work Session — July 27, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to attend this meeting.
Please notify the City Clerk at 758-7756.
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CITY OF
KALISPELL
MEMORANDUM
Kalispell Parks & Recreation
306 1st Ave E. P.O. Box 1997
Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
(406) 758-7715 Fax (406) 758-7719
REPORT TO: Doug Russell, City Manager
FROM: Chad Fincher, Parks and Recreation Director
MEETING DATE: July 13, 2020
SUBJECT: Woodland Park - Restoring Back to Nature
BACKGROUND: The Woodland Park pond has increasingly become a topic of public
conversation over the years due to degraded pond health and the amount of waterfowl feces. The
recent adoption and removal of the domestic birds lessened the amount of waterfowl feces.
However, that was a first step in improving the pond water quality. Problems still exist in the
parks system related to migratory birds being fed by humans and other domestic animals being
abandoned at Woodland and other city parks.
Attached is an outline detailing issues related to the feeding of wild birds and discarding of
animals in city parks.
RECOMMENDATION: At the meeting, it is recommended that council review and discuss
the effects of feeding and the abandoning of animals in city parks and possible solutions,
including a civil penalty.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Consideration of implementing an ordinance prohibiting feeding of
wildlife or abandoning animals in city parks with a civil penalty, would have minimal fiscal
impact to the City at this time.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested and approved by the City Council.
ATTACHMENT: Woodland Park - Restoring Back to Nature
c: Aimee Bninckhorst, Kalispell City Clerk
Woodland Park - Restoring Back to Nature
History:
In February, we discussed issues that have affected the water quality of the pond, the
contributing factors of wildlife -human conflicts and the accumulation of feces on the pavement
and trails. The first undertaking was to remove all domestics and frankenducks to reduce the
overpopulation of introduced waterfowl. After this meeting, a group of community members
organized themselves and were able to adopt out all the domestics and frankenducks. This was
the first step to reduce the conflicts and improve water quality as outlined during that workshop.
Public Feeding:
The next step we outlined during the meeting was a need to address public feeding of the
waterfowl and other wildlife. Feeding waterfowl and other birds can be a popular pastime and is
a major cause of high urban -bird populations, especially when natural food sources are in short
supply. However, migratory waterfowl do not need handouts to exist.
Feeding of the waterfowl has compounding issues.
• Bread, chips, crackers, popcorn or other
processed foods provide little nutritional
value to waterfowl and can result in angel
wing and other deformities.
• Artificial food sources can attract large
congregations of ducks and geese to areas
that would not normally support them.
The resulting high density of birds at
artificial feeding sites like Woodland Park
result in stressful competition among
birds.
• The artificial feeding of waterfowl has also resulted in an increase in the number of gulls
at Woodland Park. They have become a secondary nuisance due to their numbers
increasing and their feces being more prevalent in the park.
• Increased concentration of feces poses health risks on land and in the pond.
Overcrowding and unsanitary conditions increases that risk.
• Artificial feeding has been known to alter or even eliminate migration patterns of
waterfowl. Migratory birds can become reluctant to leave a reliable food source despite
the onset of winter, and then struggle to survive as temperatures fall.
• Feeding waterfowl encourages them to congregate in an area and may make geese more
aggressive toward people. (Smith, Craven, Curtis 1998)
• Food that is not readily eaten by waterfowl can contribute to increased pond nutrient
load, which can trigger algae blooms. Food remaining on land decomposes, is unsightly
and a potential disease vector. Bread that is contaminated with mold can result in
additional disease issues. Steve Carr professor at Canada's Memorial University has
stated the following about mold and bread - "The second thing is, a lot ofpeople will
bring down bread that has gone bad. And when it goes bad, it has that little green mold
in it, and that mold actually causes specific diseases in ducks. It causes lung diseases, so
it's not just nutritionally bad it can just kill them outright. "
Conflicts with park users:
The overpopulation and feeding of waterfowl at Woodland Park had resulted in increasing
conflicts with park users:
• Waterfowl congregate in large numbers near the playground, walking trails and the pond
in anticipation of food. Feeding waterfowl can make waterfowl more aggressive toward
people.
• The most common complaint by park users is the large quantities of duck and geese feces
throughout the park, including in the expensive engineered fall surface wood chips and
sidewalks surrounding playgrounds. Not only is it visually unappealing, high
concentrations of feces can spread disease.
• Conflicts are still occurring with the wild birds and park users. The birds are desensitized
to humans through feeding and build nests and lay eggs in the playground areas and
continue to frequent these locations. Bird feces can still be found in and around the
playground areas.
Obiective•
To reduce the impacts of feeding waterfowl in the park and pond, while reducing park user
conflicts with migratory waterfowl. To also address public dumping of exotic nonnative species.
Typically, after Easter, there is an increase in the abandonment of domestic waterfowl, rabbits,
and chickens at the park.
Eliminate/Keduce Public t
Pros:
• Reduce the chances of waterfowl
being fed foods with little nutrient
value and contribute to diseases such
as angel wing and other deformities.
Reduce concentrated feeding as it
often leads to aggressiveness in
waterfowl.
• Reduce the secondary issue of gulls in
the park.
• Reduce artificial feeding to promote
normal migration.
• Reduce pond water quality issues
(nutrient loading) from excess feed
and feces.
Cons:
• Public has historically fed
waterfowl as a pastime in the park.
There may be pushback as some
may view it as a historical use.
• To enforce a no -feeding rule, a new
ordinance would need to adopted.
• Could be difficult to enforce due to
limited resources available and the
hours the park is open.
In August we met with an information and education program manager and a wildlife biologist
from Region One of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The wildlife biologist had dealt with urban
waterfowl issues such as ours and provided insight from their perspective. They also reviewed
and agreed with the phased approach of removing domestics and then removing feeding of the
migratory waterfowl so that they will migrate and not overpopulate the pond due to increased
food sources through the public feeding them. Since that meeting, Fish, Wildlife and Parks has
agreed to be a committed partner in helping us return Woodland Park back to nature.
-"f %1"0*46 City of Kalispell
CITY OF
ALISPELL post Office Box 1997 -Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
Telephone (406) 758-7700 Fax - (406) 758-7758
MEMORANDUM
To: Honorable Mayor Johnson and City Council
From: Doug Russell, City Manager
Re: Budget Work Session Response
Meeting Date: July 13, 2020
BACKGROUND: During our budget work sessions in May, there were several questions that staff were
requested to research and answer as it related to potential initiatives, etc. These questions and the
simplified answers received are below:
1) Can we enact rate discounts based on low-income or age -related populations?
Answer: We have limitations on rate setting based on Montana Code Annotated:
7-13-4304. Authority to charge for services. (4) The water and sewer rates, charges, or
rentals shall be as nearly as possible equitable in proportion to the services and benefits
rendered.
2) Can the Montana Air and Congestion Initiative (MACI) discretionary program be used to
fund local wood burning stove initiatives or trail construction?
Answer: In conversations with MDT representatives, the MACI discretionary program
provides equipment for cities from an MDT designated list. Trail construction and wood
burning stoves would not be eligible under this program.
3) Can the CDCG planning grant be used for a housing needs assessment and what would the
cost match be?
Answer: A housing needs assessment would be applicable for a planning grant, with the
match being on a 3 to 1 basis. It is estimated that an assessment would be around $50,000.
Thus, our fiscal match would be estimated at $12,500.
4) What is the feasibility/return on investment for installing solar generation for the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
Answer: A local solar company provided an analysis which identifies an upfront cost of
$5,470,000 with a return on investment at 25.5 years (assuming no financing costs). This
represents a cumulative reduction of the current energy system of $6,870,000. When
factoring the finance costs (at a 2.5% rate), the return on investment surpasses the 30-year
mark, as total costs rise to $7,780,000. At the meeting, I will speak more to land use that
would be required, equipment replacement, etc.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that council review the information related to the budget
questions and provide subsequent direction.