Loading...
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. Page 1 of 1 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.