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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2021.07.22 Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTES McCall City Council Regular Meeting McCall City Hall -- Legion Hall VIA TEAMS Virtual July 22, 2021 Call to Order and Roll Call Pledge of Allegiance Approve the Agenda Consent Agenda Public Comment Work Session Reports Business Agenda Adjournment CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Giles called the regular meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Giles, Council Member Callan, Council Member Holmes, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Nielsen all answered roll call. City staff members present were Anette Spickard, City Manager; Bill Nichols, City Attorney; BessieJo Wagner, City Clerk; Erin Greaves, Communications Manager; Linda Stokes, City Treasurer; Brian Parker, City Planner; Justin Williams, Police Chief; Vlatko Jovanov, Network Administrator Also, in attendance were Fallon Fereday, Planning and Zoning Commission Chair and Christian Anderson with Zion’s Public Finance Mayor Giles led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVE THE AGENDA Council Member Nielsen moved to approve the agenda as submitted. Council Member Callan seconded the motion. In a voice vote all members voted aye, and the motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA Staff recommended approval of the following ACTION ITEMS. All matters which are listed within the consent section of the agenda have been distributed to each member of the McCall City MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 1 of 9 July 22, 2021 Council for reading and study. Items listed are considered routine by the Council and were enacted with one motion. 1. Council Regular Meeting Minutes – May 24, 2021 2. Council Regular Meeting Minutes – June 10, 2021 3. Council Regular Meeting Minutes – June 24, 2021 4. Payroll Report for period ending July 9, 2021 5. Warrant Register – GL 6. Warrant Register – Vendor 7. AB 21-187 City Licenses Report to Council Per McCall City Code: Per McCall City Code Title 4 Chapter 9, the City Council has determined the City Clerk shall be delegated the authority to process and grant or deny all alcoholic beverage license applications, other than certain circumstances involving catering permits, which the City Clerk shall review the application for catering permit for completeness and forward said application to the Police Chief. The Police Chief upon receipt of the application shall make a recommendation to the City Clerk to approve or deny the application. Whenever the City Clerk shall determine that an application for alcoholic beverage license transfer or renewal is complete, the City Clerk shall approve or deny such application. All decisions of the City Clerk shall be reported to the City Council at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting after such decision. The City Clerk is also responsible for all processing of business, taxi, snow removal, pawnbroker, child daycare licenses, vendor permits, and public event applications. Action: Council to review the License report. 8. AB 21-190 Treasurer’s Report as Required by IC 50-208: Treasurer’s report of accounts and activity of office during the month of June 2021 regarding care, management or disposition of moneys, property, or business of the City. Action: The Council shall examine the report and determine whether additional information from the Treasurer is required. 9. AB 21-186 Request Acceptance of the Federal Aviation Administration grant award for the design portion of the new East-West taxiway: As part of the Taxiway Relocation Project, the “diagonal” taxiway was removed to increase the amount of leasable space in the infield area. To maintain the aircraft flow on the northeast ramp, a new replacement taxiway has been planned. The original grant application request was for funding the entire project. However, the FAA wants to split the project over 2 years – with design occurring in CY 2021, and construction occurring in CY 2022. The FAA has set aside $162,045 for the taxiway design portion of the project. The entire AIP grant is $1,666,571.00. The funding is a 100% grant. Bids are expected to be advertised early in 2022, with construction starting on July 5, 2022. The estimated completion time is October of 2022. Action: Accept the Federal Aviation Administration grant award for the design of the new East-West taxiway and Authorize the Mayor to Sign all Necessary Documents. 10. AB 21-196 Request Approval of Hangar 523 Lease Terminations for Hafenfeld and SEICO: At the June 24, 2021 Council Meeting, Council approved a lease termination and new lease for Hangar 523. Richard A. Bush and Pamela S. Bush are purchased Hangar 523 from SEICO, LLC and are requesting a new lease for Hangar 523 and to terminate the existing lease with Bruce A. & Sylvia J. Hafenfeld. When the lease went to title, it was identified that some errors had occurred over time and some documents are needed to clean up those issues. This is the timeline and issues: (1) 2014 SEICO Purchased Hangar 523; (2) 2016 Hafenfeld purchased the hangar from SEICO – a. 2016 an error was made in that there was a lease assumption and then a new lease (Hafenfeld), instead of a lease termination (SEICO) and then MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 2 of 9 July 22, 2021 a new lease (Hafenfeld), b. To add to the issue, the lease assumption has SEICO as the assignee and should have been the assignor, and now is showing as a Title Exception; (3) On June 24th a lease termination (SEICO) and new lease (Bush) was approved by the Council – a. There should have been a Lease Termination for both SEICO and Hafenfeld. The New Lease for th Richard A. Bush and Pamela S. Bush was properly presented and approved at the June 24 Council Meeting. Action: Approve of Hangar 523 Lease Terminations for Hafenfeld and SEICO and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. 11. AB 21-193 Request to Approve the Second Extension of Agreement for City Attorney/Civil Legal Services with White Peterson Gigray & Nichols, P.A.: Council selected White Peterson Gigray & Nichols, P.A. as the city’s legal services provider and approved the contract for services effective October 1, 2019. The contract provides for annual renewal at which time the firm and the city evaluate the retainer hours used in the previous year to determine any adjustments. Staff has reviewed the retainer hours used to date for FY21 with White Peterson and supports the requested renewal at 45 hours per month of legal services. The FY22 proposed budget incorporates the new contract estimate. Action: Approve the Second Extension of Agreement for City Attorney / Civil Legal Services with White Peterson Gigray & Nichols, P.A. and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Council Member Callan moved to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Callan, Council Member Nielsen, Mayor Giles, Council Member Holmes, and Council Member Maciaszek all voted aye, and the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Giles called for public comment at 5:35 p.m. Jean Odmark of 141 E Lake Street, McCall spoke in support of the ordinance. She shared her experience regarding deer. Written Comments attached as Attachment 1. Hearing no additional comments, Mayor Giles closed the comment period. WORK SESSION AB 21-197 Title 4 Business Regulations Discussion Regarding Possible Code Amendments City Clerk BessieJo Wagner presented the Title 4 Business Regulations discussion regarding possible code amendments to Council. Staff has been reviewing the current Title 4 Business Regulations. There have been some questions as to who or what type of business needs to have a license and which businesses do not. All businesses that are within the City limits are required to have a business license; however, there are some exceptions. Staff walked through some types of businesses that are not currently called out within the code. Staff shared that by addressing these types of businesses specifically, it gives more transparency as to how these businesses are expected to operate within the City of McCall. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 3 of 9 July 22, 2021 There was a discussion regarding General Contractors and whether they should have to have a business license. The general consensus was for staff to bring back a better definition for General contractors and draft code that would separate out General Contractors in their own chapter. There was also some direction to call out Tree Removal services separate also to give better definition to expectations. The Council had no desire to separate out individual realtors or salon professionals. The way they are currently being addressed is sufficient. Council then discussed short-term rentals. Council consensus was to separate the category out and require every owner to obtain a business license to ensure compliance with Local Option Taxes and land use regulations. Council also directed staff to evaluate the fee structure for the administration of short term regulations and tax collection. If the fee changes, staff will need to provide data that justifies the fees based on the amount of work it takes to process them. Council discussed regulations regarding food trucks, produce stands, and open air markets. Council felt that there was work that needed to be done on this subject as a separate issue because nd of planning and broader implications with food trucks. Staff shared ideas of how 2 Street was designed for events and may be a good place for food trucks. Council Member Nielsen disagreed nd with the 2nd Street proposal, stating that he does not think the City should host events on 2 Street. He stated that he did not want the City to be the event coordinator for events. Staff clarified that staff would not be coordinating events except for processing the applications. City Attorney Bill Nichols recommended Food Trucks be treated as a land use matter along with licensing. REPORTS AB 21-189 McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission Annual Report to City Council Fallon Fereday, Chair, will present the McCall Area Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Commission annual report to City Council. The mission of the P&Z Commission is to make recommendations to the City Council and to the County Commissioners respecting comprehensive planning, zoning, and subdivision regulations. The P&Z Commission also applies the same to the individual proposals brought to the Commission for approval or for recommendation to Council, and, when applicable, the County Commissioners. This Commission acts in this statutory capacity as Planning and Zoning Commission under Idaho Code with respect to zoning and planning in the City proper and the McCall Impact Area. The P&Z Commission consists of seven members appointed by City Council and the County Commissioners for three-year terms, which are renewable. Meetings are ordinarily held on the first Tuesday of each month at 4:30 PM in the Legion Hall below City Hall. Members are appointed by the mayor with confirmation by the Council. Ms. Fereday shared that there were 35 board level applications to date which equaled to about 70% of last year’s total. She stated that she thinks they will end up like the numbers last year. She stated that next year will most likely be the busier year based on land divisions that have already come through. She shared that design review, scenic route, and shoreline review has been the primary workload, more than subdivisions, etc. Sign applications are now processed under their own permit application, and staff handles them and only brings to P&Z if there is an issue which seems to be working well. There is currently a vacancy for the City representative position. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 4 of 9 July 22, 2021 Council expressed their appreciation of the Commission’s work. AB 21-188 McCall Police Department Presentation of Public Safety for the 4th of July Police Chief Justin Williams provided a summarization of public safety for the 2021 Fourth of July celebration for the time frame of June 30 – July 8, 2021. The comparison was to the same time in 2019. Calls for service in 2021 were 361 compared to 250 in 2019. He stated this was due in large part to the 36 Ordinance violations – most related to parking and dogs. He also stated that with the McCall Police department’s (MPD) new computer-aided dispatch, a call for service is created every time an officer is marked out on foot patrol; therefore, it was not that there were more crimes or offenses, there were more calls due to more self-initiated activity. There were only seven liquor law violations. The MPD had 169 total traffic stops, showing a 23% increase compared to 2019. There were 151 warnings issued and 18 citations. There were 10 arrests made which is 100% increase over 2019, which had only five; of those 10, seven were DUI arrests. There were 16 misdemeanor charges and only one felony. Chief Williams stated there were no additional staff from outside agencies including no additional ISP Officers nor Valley County Deputies. Officers saw many more college–aged visitors compared to recent years. He stated that after speaking with some from this age group, the MPD learned that students from colleges in Oregon, Washington, and Utah were told through social media that th McCall was the place to be over the 4 of July and it was expected to be like “spring break” with 35,000 college students. Many of the alcohol incidents involved those under the age of 21. Communications Manager Erin Greaves gave a shout out to the sponsors who donated to the Liberty Fest event Cheap Thrills that donated give-away items for those who visited the welcome tent. To Idaho Power, Cheap Thrills and McCall Party Rentals for their assistance with outdoor movie night in the park. She thanked those who assisted at the welcome tent and stated she thought it was a fun day that was well attended. Council expressed their appreciation of the MPD officers with a special call out to Dallas Palmer and Christian Wann. It was noted that they had a very approachable demeanor with the public. Manager Greaves also mentioned Jeff Reichman with Courageous Kids and the ADA accessible area for fireworks viewing as well as mentioned the family friendly area in the Ponderosa Center sponsored by Toby’s Place. BUSINESS AGENDA AB 21-194 Library G.O. Bond Issue Preview, Discussion, and Request to Utilize a Negotiated Bond Sale Process and Authorize Zion’s Public Finance to Circulate the Request For Proposal for an Underwriter Christian Anderson with Zion’s Public Finance provided an update to the Council on the status of the City’s bond issuance. He presented an updated issuance calendar, a recommendation to utilize a negotiated sale process, and current market conditions. With the recommendation to utilize a negotiated sale, Mr. Anderson presented a proposal to select an underwriter via Request for Proposal (RFP) and requested Council authorization to circulate the RFP on July 23, 2021. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 5 of 9 July 22, 2021 Council Member Callan moved to accept the recommendation to utilize to a negotiated bond sale process. Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Callan, Council Member Nielsen, Mayor Giles, Council Member Holmes, and Council Member Maciaszek all voted aye, and the motion carried. Council Member Nielsen moved to authorize Zion’s Public Finance to circulate the RFP for an underwriter on July 23, 2021. Council Member Callan seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Nielsen, Council Member Callan, Mayor Giles, Council Member Holmes, and Council Member Maciaszek all voted aye, and the motion carried. AB 21-192 Request for Council to Adopt Ordinance 1003 Regarding Prohibiting the Feeding of Wildlife During the July 8, 2021 Council Meeting, staff presented the McCall City Council with an ordinance prohibiting wildlife feeding inside city limits. The five councilors had two decisions to make that evening, one vote to suspend the rules, referring to the actual reading of the ordinance, and the other considering its adoption. Although the Council voted 3-2 to pass the Wildlife feeding ordinance, the ordinance was not adopted due to a procedural error regarding the suspension of the rules. Idaho code 50-902 states that to pass an ordinance, the ordinance must be read three times at three different meetings, with the first two readings by Title and the third reading in full. The same code allows for the suspension of reading three times, to read by title only one time only, which requires four affirmative votes (1/2 plus one of the entire Council) for the motion to pass. The vote was an affirmative 3-2 for the suspension of the rules. Therefore, the motion should have failed, but the City Council proceeded with a single reading and vote to adopt. Since the first motion failed, the second vote to adopt the ordinance was void. Although there was a reading by Title only, the process will start over as the reading was not in the context of three readings. The process will be restarted to correct the error, with three readings at three different meetings. However, at each meeting, the Council could choose to vote for a suspension of the rules. If the motion fails, then there will be the first reading and no additional motion to adopt. Please note that only the suspension of the rules requires a ½ plus one affirmative vote. The adoption of the ordinance only takes an affirmative majority vote to pass (3-2). Council Member Callan moved to suspend the rules and read by title only, one time only Ordinance no. 1003. Council Member Nielsen seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Callan, Council Member Nielsen, Mayor Giles, Council Member Holmes, and Council Member Maciaszek all voted aye, and the motion carried. City Clerk BessieJo Wagner read Ordinance #1003: An Ordinance of the City of McCall, Valley County, Idaho, amending Title 5, Public Safety, Chapter 7, Animal Control, of the McCall City Code, to-wit: amending Section 5.7.010, Definitions, to add the following definitions: Attracting/Attractant, Birds, Edible Material, Feeding/Feed, Habituated, Public Employee, Squirrels, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Wildlife and amend the definition for Impounded; enacting Section 5.7.400, Feeding/Attracting Wildlife MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 6 of 9 July 22, 2021 Prohibition, to prohibit the feeding or attracting of wildlife within the McCall city limits and provide penalties for violation. Council Member Callan moved to Adopt Ordinance No. 1003. regarding prohibiting the feeding of wildlife, approve the publication of the summary, and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Mayor Giles seconded the motion. Discussion Council Member Nielsen stated that if the ordinance were to pass without Council requesting Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) to reconsider their actions, it would be a disservice to the community based on public comments. He stated that it seems to be the general consensus of the community to stop feeding wildlife; however, the ordinance is tied to the actions of IDFG which is out of the Council’s jurisdiction to control. Council Member Holmes Agrees with Council Member Nielsen. She stated that she has an understanding that members of the community will no longer feed the deer. She felt that the City should listen to the community and give a one-year timeframe before adopting the ordinance. Mayor Giles stated that the Council is listening and paying attention to the community. He stated that the expectation would be, if this is passed, that the City staff would work with IDFG for next steps and how the process would be managed. Council Member Callan stated that eradication was never an option, and she expects IDFG to work with the City. She also felt that it was important to move forward with the ordinance Council Member Maciaszek stated he agrees with all that has been said. He acknowledged that “leave the deer alone” was the theme of the comments. He stated the City could ask people to leave the deer alone, which means stop feeding them, especially in the winter. If people would stop feeding them in the winter, then let the deer find their way out of here before the deep snow comes. He stated that the need is for people to respect not feeding wildlife. The City needs to initiate a public relations campaign about not feeding the deer here because it is important to a lot of people on different levels. The ordinance would allow code enforcement to deal with the people who are feeding them and creating problems for neighbors, etc. He felt that people needed to shift their mentality on what the issue is really about with our community. It is important to point out that in no way was this a discussion to eradicate the deer, but rather a discussion about winter deer and people trying to domesticate the deer by feeding them. The purpose is to have the ability to address people who choose to feed the deer. Council Member Holmes felt that what Council Member Maciaszek just said was important. Council and staff do not know what will happen if they take the education route. She felt that due to the outpouring of comments it was incredibly important for the City to have the discussion of allowing our community to do the right thing before passing an ordinance. Council Member Maciaszek felt that a “Keep the deer wild” campaign over the next year should show whether a no feeding ordinance is truly needed. MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 7 of 9 July 22, 2021 In a roll call vote Council Member Callan and Mayor Giles voted aye, Council Member Holmes, Council Member Maciaszek, and Council Member Nielsen voted no, and the motion failed. AB 21-191 Request Approval of the ROS-20-03 Warranty Deed for Right of Way Dedication City Planner Brian Parker presented the requested approval of the ROS-20-03 Warranty Deed for a Right of Way Dedication. The Conditions of Approval associated with ROS-20-03 include dedicating additional right-of-way for Deinhard Lane and Jacob Street adjacent to the subject property. The site is located adjacent to both Deinhard Lane and Jacob Street between Commerce Street and Valley Springs Road. The City Attorney has reviewed the draft deed. Council Member Nielsen moved to approve the ROS-20-03 Warranty Deed for Right of Way Dedication and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents. Council Member Maciaszek seconded the motion. In a roll call vote Council Member Nielsen, Council Member Maciaszek, Council Member Callan, Mayor Giles, and Council Member Holmes all voted aye, and the motion carried. AB 21-195 Mayor and Council Compensation Discussion and Direction to Staff City Clerk BessieJo Wagner presented the discussion regarding the Mayor and Council compensation. Idaho Code 50-203 states that the officials of each city compensation are to be fixed by ordinance published at least seventy-five (75) days before any general city election. The ordinance shall be effective for all said officials commencing on January 1 following said election th and continuing until changed by a future ordinance. At the May 28 FY22 Budget Work Session, staff presented the to the Council the current monthly salary for a City Council Member is $250 and $400 for the Mayor, which were adopted in 2019. City Council Members and the Mayor also receive all benefits afforded to regular full-time employees of the City of McCall as described in the annual "Employee Benefits Guide" including Idaho PERSI retirement benefits. Council requested additional information regarding the salaries of other elected officials in other cities. The 2019 AIC Elected Officials Salary Survey reflects the current estimated populations, but the salaries are from the 2019 survey. AIC is currently conducting an additional survey for 2021 but th it will not be available until after July 29. Staff has requested that the Council review the salaries and 2019 salary survey and decide whether to direct staff to prepare an ordinance with a change in salaries or decide to leave the salaries as they are. After a brief discussion and based on salaries of Mayors and Council’s of similar sized cities and the number of meetings the Council attends, the Council directed staff to draft an ordinance changing the Council’s salaries from $250 to $800 per month and the Mayor’s salary from $400 to $1000 a month. Covid-19 Update and Review of Mask Metrics Status Police Chief Williams gave an update to Council stating that for July 22, 2021 nationally there has been a continued rise in infection rates due to the delta variant. He stated that currently the delta variant accounts for 83% of the new infections nationally. He stated that the vaccination demand has decreased; however, the vaccine is still widely available. Only 45% of the eligible population of Idaho has been vaccinated of the 12 and up population. Central District Health established a threshold of more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents of positivity weekly, and when cases go MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 8 of 9 July 22, 2021 above that level,then there is concern.Valley County is currently below that number. If the County gets above that threshold, then there is the consideration point for additional mitigation measures. Looking at the metrics currently the County is meeting two out of the four. The County is not meeting the total vaccinations of 65%as it currently sits at 58%.The bi-weekly case rate right now is at 11.9%which is greater than the metric of 5%. Staff spoke with Central District Health(CDH) and asked what concerns they had. CDH referred staff directly back to the 100 per 100,000 case infections and when the City gets to that line, they would consider reviewing if additional mitigation would be necessary. Staff will continue to monitor the situation daily. Chief Williams shared he spoke with the CEO of Cascade Medical and asked if they were feeling the pressures and if ADA County was feeling the pressures. The CEO's response was that the biggest issue that they have is with staffing shortages at regional hospitals in ADA County which directly impacts any transfers of patients,inclusive of Covid patients.He re-capped the information was similar to what had been shared previously by Dr. Irvine at St. Luke's McCall. The staffing shortages are due in part to Covid due to the number of hours medical staff have been working over the past 18 months. There is much debate nationally regarding mitigation measures now that the vaccine is widely available. It will be a discussion for the Council in the days coming if they should implement another mask mandate. Chief Williams cautioned that the Council should understand what is going on regionally as well as nationally when considering what measures to take. Upcoming Meetings Schedule Discussion Council discussed upcoming meetings. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mayor Giles adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. toomoututl MCC4'i? ' IATTEST: _ C Robert S. Giles, Mayor A 7 ,0 MA : " i0 BessieJo Way, - City C1.J MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 9 of 9 July 22, 2021 above that level, then there is concern. Valley County is currently below that number. If the County gets above that threshold, then there is the consideration point for additional mitigation measures. Looking at the metrics currently the County is meeting two out of the four. The County is not meeting the total vaccinations of 65% as it currently sits at 58%. The bi-weekly case rate right now is at 11.9% which is greater than the metric of 5%. Staff spoke with Central District Health (CDH) and asked what concerns they had. CDH referred staff directly back to the 100 per 100,000 case infections and when the City gets to that line, they would consider reviewing if additional mitigation would be necessary. Staff will continue to monitor the situation daily. Chief Williams shared he spoke with the CEO of Cascade Medical and asked if they were feeling the pressures and if ADA County was feeling the pressures. The CEO’s response was that the biggest issue that they have is with staffing shortages at regional hospitals in ADA County which directly impacts any transfers of patients, inclusive of Covid patients. He re-capped the information was similar to what had been shared previously by Dr. Irvine at St. Luke’s McCall. The staffing shortages are due in part to Covid due to the number of hours medical staff have been working over the past 18 months. There is much debate nationally regarding mitigation measures now that the vaccine is widely available. It will be a discussion for the Council in the days coming if they should implement another mask mandate. Chief Williams cautioned that the Council should understand what is going on regionally as well as nationally when considering what measures to take. Upcoming Meetings Schedule Discussion Council discussed upcoming meetings. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mayor Giles adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. ATTEST: Robert S. Giles, Mayor BessieJo Wagner, City Clerk MCCALL CITY COUNCIL Page 9 of 9 July 22, 2021 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 1 7/12/21 7:28:42 Anthony Yeamans 703 Kasper st McCall Idaho 83638 "If a position became available on the Airport Advisory Committee I would like to be considered. Why? I live with my wife Stephanie below the approach so Jets and USFS aircraft as well as personal aircraft are above us most days. Additionally, I am an aeronautical student studying ground school. I am also a college graduate with an extensive business and volunteer background. Six years as a volunteer Idaho EMT. Thanks Anthony" 2 7/15/21 16:53:11 Marlene Bailey 1090 Bellflower Place McCall ID 83638 "With reference to the deer feeding/relocating agenda item, I would think that explanation and warning would be enough to deter those who might feed the resident deer extensively. There is so much natural feed for them in Spring, Summer and Fall that no extra feeding is necessary. They are interested in our ground food for the grouse and quail but aren't compulsive about it. A nibble here and there and off they go. The deer on our hillside (the eastern moraine) stay until the 3'-4' snow pack sends them closer to town, where they seem to browse the last of the berries and leaves, before turning to lichen and even needles. It seems that safety, not residents' bird seed or grains is their objective. The deer here have never been a nuisance but have kept their distance where we can enjoy seeing them. I am sorry that there has been aggression towards small dogs or children. Our cats have been safe outside in the daytime, even when there are tiny fawns with their mothers. If dogs are on leash or in fenced yards, they should be safe. I agree with those who have written that part of the problem with deer being hurt or killed by cars is ourselves and not the deer. Don and I have never hit a deer in 25 years of living in McCall. We drive as though deer will jump out of the brush and cross the road at any moment, watching carefully and staying under the speed limits. Could there be many more of the deer crossing signs, that show the leaping deer, put up around town? Putting them near the 20 and 25 mile per hour signs would remind us all to slow down for our deer and foxes. We have seen only one mountain lion in all of these years, and that was while we were driving east of town and it was walking along minding its own business . I hope there can be a resolution that keeps this in proportion and does not result in transporting our deer. They should be able to live their lives here in their family groups within this lush forest area without our bothering them. Thank you." 3 7/15/21 22:45:55 Dr. Laurie Bower 5057 N. Lolo Pass Way Meridian ID 83646 I have lived in Idaho for over 65 years now. In that time, I have been a camper and camp counselor at Alice Pittenger, I've camped and fished along the lake, and I've stayed numerous times at a hotel in the McCall area to hike around the lake, use a boat on the lake and enjoy its beauty. It is my fervent desire, as a native Idahoan, that McCall not become another Coeur d'Alene. If you know what's happened there, developers have been allowed to take what was once public land and create Page 1 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting almost all private accesses to the lake. Please don't allow that to happen to Payette Lake. Don't make decisions based solely upon monetary benefits. Once developers get in there, McCall will never be the same again. 4 7/16/21 22:11:52 RICK RANSOM 601 Thompson McCall Idaho 83638 We moved here 2 years ago for the atmosphere, the people, and the neighborhood. We are thrilled to have the deer come through our property. We are now greeting the third generation of deer since we moved here. Please do not have the deer removed! They a a big part of the fabric of this community. 5 7/18/21 13:14:15 Tom Stewart 15346 N Horseshoe Bend Rd Garden Coty Idaho 83714 "In hearing about the plan to remove the town deer, I was very disappointed. Though I no longer live in Mccall, I did live there for twenty one years. Seeing the deer roaming around town always put a smile on my face. It was pure enjoyment. They, along with the foxes, gave the town a character of its own. Even the bears reminded you that you were in the mountains. I know most of the visitors enjoyed seeing them. You would hear them talking about it. And interacting with the visitors (a Brundage patroller for twenty years), it came out that they, the deer, were part of McCall’s character. I don’t know what brought this up. Was there complaints about them? Couldn’t have been many. Places like Banff, Alberta have wildlife living within there towns, and the wildlife are welcomed and enjoyed by thousands of visitors. Please let the town deer be. It will not be the same Mccall without them. There’s enough going on that’s changing the character of the town, don’t add to that. Thank you. Tom Stewart " 6 7/18/21 15:37:09 Linda Graham 2182 N Eureka Pl Meridian Id 83646 I have been following the story of removing and relocating the deer in the area. Being raised in Boise I have visited and recreated in McCall for over 40 years. "City Deer" have been around forever and is part of the uniqueness of McCall. Relocating the deer will not solve the problem as they will just keep coming into town. How much research has been done on this issue? What have other small mountain towns in the West done about their deer? There has to be other alternatives. I think McCall has bigger issues to address such as traffic, parking and affordable housing to tackle. Every city has a finite budget and I feel the financial resources should be spent on those people issues. 7 7/19/21 7:26:40 Pamela Johnson 4766 N Jaguar ave Boise Idaho 83713 I am not in favor of the eradicate process that McCalls Mayor is trying to pass However I think relocation is the best option! 8 7/19/21 7:31:54 Kathy Sawdy 1391 Greystone / Box 2750 McCall ID 83638 Dear City Council. Please do not allow the eradication of the deer population in the city of McCall. It seems to me to be an unnecessary expense that research shows does not work effectively. How can you remove the wildlife that comes from Ponderosa Park? Please do not spend our money on this project. I pray you do the right thing and listen to the citizens of McCall who clearly do not want this Page 2 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting to pass. I will not vote for any city council member who votes to remove the deer. LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. Your job is to listen to the citizens of McCall and do the will of the people. THANK YOU FOR VOTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE! 9 7/19/21 9:55:59 Meilani Pruitt 30908 Paradise Commons Apt 127 Paradise Commons Apt 127 Fernandina Beach FL 32034 I am very angered and saddened to here the city’s plan to cull all deer… This is barbaric and there are better, modern, educational solutions to this problem. Let’s teach people not to feed deer rather than kill them. We are above this and I hope your county is too. Please don’t be heartless. They are not a nuisance, they are a life. 10 7/19/21 10:43:47 Jenny Fawcett 1340 Ridgeway Lane McCall Idaho 83638 Ban feeding of the deer. Educate the public. Do NOT transport deer/eradicate deer. Deer come into our area for many reasons and they will continue to come into our area. We have lots of grass, flowers and vegetation they eat. Simply trapping and moving them as a one time effort simply will not work. So Fish and Game traps and moves the deer at a cost of $50,000 for this one time effort? Is this practice to be continued indefinitely? There is no common sense attached to the “science” of Fish and Game. City council, listen to the overwhelming voices of the people you purportedly represent. The vast majority are against the proposal of transport/eradication. 11 7/19/21 12:14:42 Susan McCandless 1634 lakeridge dr north, PO Box 2223 mccall ID 83638 I am writing to register opposition to the transport/eradicate the local “town” deer. Thank you for your consideration. 12 7/19/21 13:11:05 Christine Reino 129 Stibnite #7 McCall Idaho 83638 I oppose the transport/eradication of town deer!! I feel there's a way to maintain our small town atmosphere where full-time residents and visitors alike can enjoy our community that includes wildlife rather than an atmosphere about convenience or inconvenience. Please find an alternative means or simply let this issue drop entirely. 13 7/19/21 14:33:39 Lynne Hodges 1406 Club Hill Boulevard, McCall, Idaho 83638 McCall ID 83638 I oppose any proposal to transport/eradicate the local deer from McCall. 14 7/19/21 15:00:58 Scott Tunnell 1569 Warren Wagon Rd McCall IDAHO 83638 "I’m concerned that the city council is going against the wishes of the people who live, work, and play in the City of McCall and it’s Impact Area. I’m referring specifically to the council’s vote to eradicate/transport the McCall “Town Deer”. Enact a law to fine people who feed deer - fine. End it there and let nature take its course. I hope you listen to the voices of those who, via the survey, responded overwhelmingly asking the city council to refrain from eradication and transfer of “Town Deer”. Page 3 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting For the council members who didn’t listen to your constituents at the last city council meeting, I ask you to reconsider as you vote on the 22nd of July on this issue and vote no to eradicate and transport the “McCall Town Deer”" 15 7/19/21 15:43:43 Barbara Brown 1533 Warren Wagon Rd McCall Idaho 83638 Open up your hearts to what the town of McCall wants regarding the deer.This is just plain stupid...I'm against the plan. 16 7/19/21 17:32:55 Marta Paulson 624 Ruby Street McCall Idaho 83738 Let’s focus on the lack of housing in McCall and other pertinent issues instead of this nonsense of relocating the local wildlife! An entire sweet family of deer cross my backyard daily. They are beautiful and the thought of removing them is horrifying. We have never once fed them. As far as our family is concerned, it is our opinion that we are encroaching on their natural habitat of the woods and high country. I have been reading and most deer remediation programs are highly ineffective. Deer are are part of McCall life and my first memories of seeing them are from the early 60’s. I have to wonder what it is that we are doing to our beautiful McCall. Commercializing for growth? What do we love? Our fancy shrubs or the natural beauty afforded us through the wildlife and incredible natural beauty around us. We as humans should honor animals and not cause undue harm for our own selfish benefits. People come to the mountains on the off chance that they may possibly see wildlife in Nature! What have we become. I wonder. 17 7/19/21 18:15:29 Patty Hickman 1603 Davis Ave McCall Idaho 83638 "This letter is in opposition to the proposed ordinance about the removal of town deer as it is written. Not enough research has been done by the Fish and Game or the Chief of Police to make such a radical decision. If you take the Police Chief at his word the number of nuisance calls over the past 3 years average out to 19 per year. I could call the police on any given day of the week about nuisance speeders going past my house and top their numbers. As most people who have lived here for years I have educated myself on their habits and planted flowers or shrubs that I didn’t want eaten where they can’t reach them. 19 calls a year hardly justifies the removal of deer, it is much more dangerous to our people and pets to have no enforcement of the speed limits in McCall. My husband got hit by a speeding motorist right by our home, can we remove all tourists that can’t follow simple traffic laws? This rush to pass this ordinance is strictly political and wrong! There needs to be more research done by talking to all the other places across the US that have learned to coexist with their deer population. Again I will reference the City if Boulder Colorado, they have been quite successful enforcing the no feed ordinance and still coexisting with their deer. I spoke to their Senior Urban Wildlife Conservation Coordinator and got good information, it might be good for you to do the same!!! Her name is Valerie Matheson, 303-441-3004, she said she would be happy to talk to anyone that might need more information on this subject. What I am seeing here is a gun ho Chief of Police from Texas, a young Fish and Game manager, and an over zealous code enforcement officer that have made this their mission without listening to the majority of people that live here. If you don’t listen to the people that pay your salary you can and will be replaced! " Page 4 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 18 7/19/21 18:49:56 Darlene Kohout 917 Fairway Dr 14b McCall Idaho 83638 Leave our Deer alone. I have lived here since 1948 and so have the deer! MUCH longer any of you on council! Vote as your constituents demand, not tourists and developers, otherwise we will replace you! 19 7/19/21 20:52:28 E. Davis 325 valley Springs Rd McCall ID 83638 "Why do you feel this so important at this time? YOU moved into their environment- accept the herd and learn to live with them. After you remove the existing town herd, what will you do with future herds that move in? How many DO NOT ENTER signs do you plan to but up? Sounds silly- so does removing deer when you are surround by millions of acres of National Forest. Such a total waste of our tax dollars and time to pursue such nonsense." 20 7/19/21 21:00:37 ReNae Bradfield 705 Broken Rein Rd McCall Idaho 83638 "I don’t know how many times we need to voice our opinion as to why we disagree with the removal of the town deer. It seems as if you keep ignoring the comments in opposition until citizens give up commenting and do what you believe is right rather than listening to your constituents. Rather like being children to go ask mom, go ask dad, etc until the kid gives up. For the record once again: I am against removal of the “town deer” in the city of McCall. I am not opposed to fining people for feeding the deer. There has been a lot of talk about the deer becoming dependent on the feeding stations. This is not true from my observations of the deer frequenting my property just off of Thompson/Davis. They graze on the vegetation in my lot all year. They appear to be healthy and not aggressive. Yes, on occasion they eat my flowers when I forget to apply the deer repellent. At large dogs are a bigger problem in this community. Leave the deer alone and shut down the feeding stations and let us continue to enjoy the presence of these gentle animals." 21 7/19/21 21:16:56 Joseph E. Pietri 225 Valley Springs Rd. McCall Idaho 83638 "I support allowing the deer to be as they are and I’d seek the advice from Nez Perce Natural Resource Experts as they are knowledgeable with the ways of wildlife . More experienced than F&G. I’d guess . They have lGenerations of lessons from elders and active observation.l The deer were here before us and we are impacting their habitat . What is the biggest problem with them ? Please start periodic town hall meetings so you can feel the pulse of the constituents .There are too many issues confronting our region and it’s important to hear and be heard ., not have everything done essentially behind closed doors !" 22 7/19/21 21:51:42 Lea Albright P.O. Box 2741 Mccall Id 83638 I oppose the euthanasia and or relocation of deer within the McCall city limits and surrounding. Should the feeding ban be enforced this should not include or lead to harm of animals currently residing here. 23 7/20/21 5:40:23 Margo Flaherty 105 Forest Place Donnelly Idaho 83615 Very concerning the council is not paying attention to their constituents on the eradication of the local deer. More effort research and education first. Vote this down Page 5 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 24 7/20/21 6:32:22 Sharon Chaloupka 2024 S. Pacific St Boise Id 83705 Take a deep breath, step back and re-think this. Keep the deer ! They bring such peace and beauty to McCall. 25 7/20/21 8:12:09 Sandra Hurst 7040 W 32nd Ave Kennewick Wa 99338 Leave the beautiful Deer ALONE!!!! This is their home and has been for years. I love coming to McCall to visit family and friends and watch the cute deer and babies You have much bigger concerns there than getting rid of God’s beautiful creatures. Worry about things that are really destroying the town 26 7/20/21 8:31:39 Kim Batt-Lincoln 215 Roark Lane/former resident Freeport TX 77541 No on deer translocation. Please do not force this decision down the throats of residents when you could call in experts that would engender confidence in what should be done with town deer. I used to absolutely love seeing them. Part of the McCall magic. And it seems like you would have to build a fence around the town to keep these deer from being replaced by others!? Thank you. 27 7/20/21 8:32:47 We are saddened and angered regarding the apparent dismissive attitude being displayed by the effort to relocate and/or euthanize these creatures. For the many years we lived here, the deer and wildlife were a significant contribution to our perceived quality of life. Now upon returning for visits we look forward to encountering all the wildlife, deer particularly. The effort to relocate the deer is ill advised and contrary to the charm that once was McCall. 201 Roark Lane Freeport Texas 77541 See above. A big No on the proposed deer relocation. 28 7/20/21 9:14:45 Kelley Rylander 10546 West Hawk Hill Street Boise Idaho 83714 Trapping and relocating the town deer is an unbelievably ridiculous idea. The cost alone should be enough to not consider it. Is there and will there always be enough money to do this process? I used to frequent McCall and now choose other places due to so many other problems the city needs to address. If this truly happens, I won't be visiting your city again. 29 7/20/21 9:39:19 Heidi Bogert 3050 S Raindrop Boise ID 83706 I think the City Council should vote NO on reiocating/eradicating deer! They have been part of the community for many years before us! 30 7/20/21 9:57:25 Peggy Holmes 1209 N Ashland ave e Wenatchee wa 98802 Please don’t do what you have planned for the Deer in your town. They are one of the nicest points for visiting your area. I sure wouldn’t want your sweet town to be known for killing the deer. So disappointing 31 7/20/21 9:41:16 Jennie Tunnell 1569 Warren Wagon Rd. McCall Idaho 83638 I do support imposing a fine for regularly feeding deer; however I strongly oppose spending the time and WASTING the expense to relocate them. If people stop feeding them, most should adapt back to an environment where they can find nature’s provided food source (we’re surrounded by the forest, part of their natural habitat). Some will migrate out of the area either permanently or seasonally and unfortunately the weaker ones may die if they cannot adapt. That seems to be a more normal, natural and logical step to take. I personally feel that the presence of some deer in this area adds charm to our mountain town. We are living in their habitat after all, which is part of the reason why people are drawn to this area. Page 6 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 32 7/20/21 10:05:03 Sandie Schaumburg 5614 lakewood ave Caldwell Idaho 83607 Please please leave the deer and wildlife alone in the idaho mountains and towns. They were there long before any of us... they do nothing wrong in their native land. Humans have absolutely no right to do anything with any wildlife except to protect then and their land. Idaho seems to be the only state that sees a problem with them. Really Idaho use to be way better than this. If the outsiders don't like it and the way Idaho is. Please do all of us favor and leave... the native idahoans do not want to become like any other state. Enough is Enough !!!! 33 7/20/21 10:24:22 Shanafelt 960 Sylvan Creek McCall ID 83638 I am opposed to the removal of the town deer. They are not a nuisance. Prohibiting feeding is the only move that needs to be made. Leave the deer where they are. They add beauty and wonder to the town. They make people slow down. They show how close wildlife is to our city. Do not use our tax dollars to deal with a problem that doesn't exist! 34 7/20/21 10:14:28 Melinda A. Belt 821 Heritage Sq. Decatur GA 30033 "I am deeply saddened and frankly, horrified, that the city council is planning to eradicate the indigenous deer from McCall. I grew up in Idaho, and McCall is a part of my family history. My mother was married there and is resting there. The deer are a part of that community, and a vital factor for maintaining the balance of nature. Removing them is cruel and heartbreaking. Many of them won't survive the ""transport"" process. Since the mountains are their natural habitat, others will eventually arrive to take their place. If humans find the deer inconvenient, they need to consider who belongs in the area. They've coexisted peacefully for decades. Those who don't want deer in the mountains should consider staying in the city. I actually live in a large city (Atlanta), and we all enjoy the urban wildlife, including deer in our wooded neighborhoods (and tolerate the coyotes). Please reconsider your initiative. It will wreak havoc on both the environment and the community. We have enough conflict and division in our country (and in Idaho) as it is. (Please note that I grew up in Idaho, spent summer vacations in McCall, and last visited in December 2019. I'm a UI graduate, and Idaho is my true home.) Thank you for considering my input. Melinda (Mindy) Belt" 35 7/20/21 10:37:41 Wlliam Marineau 3306 Shaggy Mane Ct. McCall ID 83638 I am opposed to the removal of deer from the city limits of McCall. The deer are part of our city's vibrant color. The deer are a draw to tourism and the economy of our beautiful town. I regularly see residents and tourists alike stopping to watch the deer around town. Deer crossing the street and highway 55 do little more than slow traffic that is traveling at increasingly to high a rate of speed. I think the resolution to not feed wildlife is fine and I am not against managing a deer population that are sick but want to see the deer population remain as part of our small community. 36 7/20/21 13:31:41 Kristi Christensen 906 conifer street McCall Idaho 83638 I am vehemently against any attempt to move or eliminate deer in McCall and surrounding areas. 37 7/20/21 13:33:48 James Christensen 906 conifer street McCall Idaho 83638 I am against removing deer from McCall and surrounding areas of McCall. Page 7 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 38 7/20/21 13:51:30 Sherrie Kober 715 Fir St McCall Idaho 83638 Please leave the deer alone. Putting their lives at risk by relocating is very upsetting to me. The deer were here first and then all the people moved in so it would be very unfair for humans to move them. Of course it's a little maddening when they eat my tomato plants but that's my problem to work out because I moved into where deer have always lived. I absolutely love watching the deer here and it's part of what makes McCall so special. Spend your extra money and time on housing so we can continue taking care of the way too many people coming to town. I work at Salmon River and I typically turn away two to three people for everyone I can seat on a Tuesday or Wednesday night since many establishments are closed. All these tourists are desperate to find a place to eat. 39 7/20/21 14:38:01 Katharina Roth 14006 Comfort Road McCall ID 83638 I am all for stopping to allow deer to be fed. Can that be a beginning and can we see where this will lead? Maybe deer with lice can be treated rather than euthanized? Maybe this issue can be readdressed next year after the stop feeding the deer has been in place for a year? 40 7/20/21 14:55:33 Danielle Gray 705 Reedy lane McCall Idaho 83538 "—Please please do not “relocate” our deer, we all know the mortality rate. You folks are playing God, we have no right to move the deer, they will die, can you live with that? The deer are what makes living in the mountains so unique, Seriously will you be able to live with yourselves if you trap and stress and kill these living beings, please educate, put up signs with no feeding, give tickets for speeding you could literally give 10 a day on my street, ridiculous, let the deer do what they will, none of us have to right to make a decision when so many are opposed to this. Please listen to the McCall people who love the wildlife and want to continue to see them and for our children and grandchildren to enjoy . Danielle Gray McCall resident since 1978 " 41 7/20/21 15:08:18 Eddie Gray 705 Reedy Ln McCall Id 83638 I Have been a resident of McCall for 59 years . I am strongly apposed to the relocation of the”town deer”. I see no need to further push wild life off these lands just to make life a little more comfortable for a few! Relocation in my view will only lead to Eradication. 42 7/20/21 16:55:46 Ginny Ackley 250 Cold Creek Court McCall Idaho 83638 Please hear our cry.. Don’t do this to us..The McCall City Deer 43 7/20/21 16:56:13 Ernie Revello 504 N Samson Trail M Idaho 83638 Please ban the feeding of wildlife and allow the professionals of IF&G to do their job and manage our wildlife. No deer wintered in town until people started feeding them. 44 7/20/21 18:29:15 Jennifer Jensen 917 Camas Place McCall Idaho 83638 I am so very against any ordinance to remove or relocate the deer of McCall. This once beautiful city was their home long before we came and cleared most of it for roads, homes and businesses to the point of my no longer referring to this town as charming, but over run, by greedy humans, not deer! If there are issues with deer being hit on our roads, then invest more in enforcing the speed limit. I sit on my patio and watch as cars speed by at double the speed limit and have rarely seen a police car ever drive by, let alone a car being pulled over. If gardeners want to protect their flowers and plants there are products Page 8 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting and homemade simple deer to help with that! If you take these beautiful, peaceful animals away, what will be next? Trap and kill the birds that poop on my deck? I don’t want to live in a city that can’t appreciate and coexist with nature. I am firmly against the ordinance! 45 7/20/21 19:01:19 Phil Jensen 917 Camas Place McCall Idaho 83638 "I am against the proposed deer ordinance that is to be put to vote this week by the city council. Having the opportunity to have our children and grandchildren observe these beautiful creatures living amongst us has been what makes our city so special. This is their home. They are the locals. We are visitors and should be treated as such." 46 7/20/21 21:59:10 Deborah Garland 1656 Davis Avenue McCall Idaho 83638 "I am writing to you because of my concern about the intown deer, and the plans to eradicate them. It is interesting to me how we feel the need to control the animals in this city, when we are the only species that is actually out of control and needs controlling. Animals are not a problem until people start moving in, covering the habitat with houses, asphalt and lawns, and then deciding that the animals have no right to be here because they paid for the property. The deer are being deer, whether people feed them or not. The best food is in people’s yards, with nice flowers and green things to munch. You don’t need to feed them for them to be around. Your yard is very enticing without handouts. What makes them a problem are the impatient, rude, obnoxious people who come to a mountain community, and then want all the animals removed so they don’t have to modify their behaviors. Traffic is way too fast on all the streets in McCall, especially Davis Ave. People zoom up to the deer, then honk their horns and scare them into the ditches. They let their dogs chase and intimidate the deer. They don’t want to do simple things like plant deer-resistant trees and shrubs, which the nurseries have in supply. Or go out and look at what is still standing in the woods, uneaten, and plant that. They don’t want to learn how to coexist with the animals that have every right to be here as we do. Animals do not have a lot of choice as to where to go, how to act, or what to eat. We do. I have talked to someone in Fish and Wildlife, who actually spends time in the field, and is knowledgeable. There is no guarantee that the relocation of the deer will get them to start migrating. There is no guarantee as to how many will die from the stress. From my experience regarding parks in California, the relocation of animals, and the locking down of food supplies so they don’t have access, successfully changed the problem by killing most of the animals. The animals did not have the knowledge needed to change their behavior. They starved to death. You cannot teach the deer a new way of behaving by dumping them somewhere else. You also add problems that did not exist before. Not only are they in an area unfamiliar to them, they are among animals that don’t know or want them. Deer from one area cannot just join a herd from another area. Depending on when you do this, there may not be sufficient food for them, or the knowledge of where to go to get food in the new location. This can be a devastating decision for the deer, and the most complicated choice to make for the problem. The choice that makes sense is to leave the deer alone, and reign in the people so that all the beings in this city can live out their lives as they have a right to do. Thank you." 47 7/21/21 7:45:20 John Fawcett 1340 Ridgeway Lane McCall Idaho 83638 "Stop the deer removal. Why are we even thinking about “human kinds” further disruption of our beautiful ecosystem? I am 72 years old and deer have been in McCall my entire life. I am a Farmer with a biology Page 9 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting degree and Regan Berkley proclaims to be an expert but obviously she is not. What she is advocating makes no sense and has no common sense. We live in their territory and next year others will be back. Listen to your constituents, educate yourself, educate the citizens. As a citizen of Valley County and McCall it is vital that we take a deep breath regarding transport/eradication of our local town deer. Deer don’t know the city limits. Why do we have to mandate a decision right now when the deer have been here forever? John " 48 7/21/21 11:22:47 Patty Hickman 1603 Davis Ave Mccall ID 83638 "I just read an article about our Fish and Game manager Regan Berkeley. This article is completely contradictory to what she wants to do here. In Payette they had a pronghorn sheep problem per Regan and people wanted them removed and relocated. In this article Regan states that it would be a mistake to try to relocate them as the rate of mortality would be high. In her own words she stated that it would be a mistake to do that. So my question to her and to you what makes our deer such a dire problem? She speaks out of both sides of her mouth and I question her motives. Again let’s do some research and studies before eradication of these deer. I am really sure that she doesn’t plan to spend 10’s of thousands of dollars to try to relocate them. My thoughts are that a bullet us much cheaper and without over sight she can say that they were sick, diseased or a died due to the relocation process. This BS needs to stop and stop now! By a landslide the letters you have received are against this heavy handed approach. It is your job and duty to do what the public majority want." 49 7/21/21 12:31:00 Lisa Wood 432 Rio Vista Blvd, Unit B McCall ID 83638 "I am against the F&G plan to relocate deer. Please look for and consider a solution for coexistence that has worked in other communities. And Please! Listen to the majority of your constituents and don't presume to ""know what's best"" for us." 50 7/21/21 13:02:08 Deb Storey 1010 Northview McCall ID 83605 I want you to know, I am totally against the relocation of deer out of the McCall. They are not a nuisance or a danger to the residents or visitors of our town. The fact there is a 50% mortatlity rate when wild animals relocated to another area is not acceptable. Also if you relocate them to another area, you will be throwing off the balance of the eco system you are moving them into. This is their natural habitat, that we as human have moved into. They are the true natives - we are not. This proposed changed is one of many that will directly impact McCall and how people view the area. Don't try and urbanize McCall - that is only going to drive out the hunters, fishers, wild life enthusiasts and others who have been coming to McCall, and live in the area. From all I have read this has no purpose for conservation, or safety. Remember your Idaho or Pacific NW roots and keep the deer in McCall. - Idahoan at Heart - Deb Storey 51 7/21/21 13:54:10 Marilyn Olson 890 Timber Ridge Ct McCall Idaho 83638 "I support an ordinance to educate the public to stop feeding the deer in McCall. Please do not take action at this time to remove the deer by trapping and relocating them. I feel the public should be involved in this decision. Thank you for your time and consideration." Page 10 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting 52 7/21/21 14:42:04 Colleen Ross 915 Camas Place McCall Id 83638 "I am against the deer ordinance…There has been much false information spread to get this passed. Justin and Regan should be ashamed of them selves. They are not experts and are peppering truth with much fiction. The deer should not be moved! What office has the budget for $500-600 per deer first of all. This has been tried before and it did not work. Many deer died due to the stress of a new place, being separated from there herd and babies. Riggins being named as a place they would use kills their deer and would do the same to any that are moved there if they did survive the relocation. I believe that behind our backs a huge Culling of the Town deer will be executed. They are innocent creatures that have less and less of their own territory because we have moved in and taken over. Protect the beauty of these sweet creatures that make McCall special. What’s next the foxes, moose and elk? Thank you Melanie and Colby for trying to protect Mother Nature’s children. Put up more signs to slow down the tourists, give them tickets, Think more deeply about this perceived problem. Be openhearted and kind to God’s creatures." 53 7/21/21 16:18:36 Pamela Willett 7350 Gary Lane Boise Idaho 83714 If you have done your research, which is a requirement to make an informed decision, you will learn that transporting and relocating the deer has a very high mortality rate! Focus on important issues, such as educating the huge masses that have over run our beautiful city on how to co-exist with nature! Install wildlife crossings and monitor and ticket people speeding. OVER 800 people oppose relocation...You work for the people, do the right thing! TOTALLY AGAINST!!! 54 7/21/21 16:14:27 Steve & Judy Gleason 341 Memo Circle McCall Idaho 83638 "Regarding the feeding of wildlife and possible eradication of “our city deer”. This is ABSOLUTELY the wrong tactic to take! You have received enough feedback that you need to think twice about the decision you are about to vote on. Regan Berkley seems to have taken just the opposite stance she did in 2017 regarding the “antelope”. We have read data from Fish and Game departments in neighboring states and consensus is to leave the deer alone. We are not sure what is fueling this but your local community is not on board. The last time we checked you were voted in by your community, with the understanding our voices would be heard. That does Not seem to be the case. Please do what is right!! Our votes will count too when City Council members are elected," Page 11 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting A new submission has been received for Report a Compliment or Service Concern at 07/20/2021 7:15 PM First Name: Jodie Last Name: Moore Email Address: jodiermoore@gmail.com Address: PO Box 2491 City: McCall State/Province: ID Zip Code: 83638 Describe Your Concern: I’ve lived in McCall for 18 yrs and there have always been deer in town. I’m totally against the city council’s absurd idea to eradicate or move them. We’ve lived here peacefully with deer thus long there is absolutely no reason to change that. Please vote NO to this stupid idea. Thank you, Jodie Moore Page 12 of 12 As of 7/21/21 Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 55 7/21/21 16:54:11 Phillip Custer 691 N. Samson Trail McCall Idaho 83638 Please shelve the motion to ban deer feeding, which includes the subsequent deer relocation. Take the time to listen to the resident's ideas for solving this problem. Additional research is also needed in an effort to plan for the best solution. 56 7/21/21 18:44:20 Peggy Bryan 507 Brundage drive Mccall Idaho 83638 I can tell that the McCall deer are getting more hungry every year. I used to grow enough raspberries to share with the neighborhood. The deer did not eat the spiney bushes. Now the plants are nothing but stubs. Deer did not used to eat my asparagus. Now they do. My apple trees are nothing but bare branches as high as a deer can reach standing on its back legs. Even the mountain ash bushes that used to hide the junk under my back deck have no leaves. We didn't used to have ticks in town. The last two springs I have found them in my own yard. Yes, the fawns are cute. Maybe the town can support a few deer. But the herd continues to grow. And grow. 57 7/21/21 18:46:28 Dan O'Malley 1535 McCall Avenue McCall Idaho 83638 "I am against the proposal to ""remove""/eradicate/exterminate the deer within the McCall city limits. I have owned my house for 11 years, and the town deer have always been present in my neighborhood. I used to be a part of the feeding problem in my neighborhood, starting the winter of 2017-18. I stopped feeding the deer within a year after seeing the damage they were doing to my yard and garden. I have grown hundreds of Tulip bulbs in my yard for years. Deer love Tulips, and are capable of decimating the plants well before any of them bloom after the snow is gone. I used to pay big $$$ for a product called ""Liquid Fence"" which eliminated the deer feeding on any of the flowers/plants in my yard. Three years ago, I discovered a DIY generic formula for the same product online. I spent less than $10 to buy the ingredients, and made my own at home. It works just as well as the store bought product, and this summer, I used the last portion of the gallon mix concentrate that I made three years ago! A little education can go a long way if people don't like the deer grazing in their gardens. The last time I checked, it seemed like the people of McCall vote for and elect their mayor and city council members in order to serve the will of the people who elected them into office. A recent Star News article quoted Giles as saying something similar to ""having to take a stand in the more difficult issues"".... The way that I see it, isn't it more difficult to stand with the hundreds of people you were elected to serve who are against this proposal, rather than serve your own personal feelings/beliefs/interests? When the numbers show that hundreds of the people you were elected to serve are against a proposal, and just a few dozen people agree with your stance, isn't it the more difficult decision professionally/personally to stand with the people who do not agree with you? When the mayor strikes up a conversation with his constituents in a local business, and one of those people ask to talk about this important issue, but the mayor refuses and walks out, what are we local residents supposed to think, and how are we supposed to react? It certainly makes me think and feel that Giles has his own self serving interests and personal gain in the matter, no matter what the people he was elected to serve think or feel. This entire situation is a fiasco and wrong, and will not end well for the deer, or any person politically/professionally involved in its pursuit. Education is the answer, and cheaper and more effective than eradication. " Page 1 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 58 7/21/21 20:14:16 Jan Hamilton 702 W Lakeside McCall ID 83638 Please go slow with the deer issue and start with NO FEEDING deer in town and see if that helps. Removing all the deer from town seems a bit extravagant to say the least. For the past 47 years that I have lived in McCall , we have always lived with wildlife roaming around. We had deer on the playground and sightings of mountain lions when I was teacher in McCall. It is part of living in a mountain community. +People just need to stop feeding the deer and stop driving so fast. 59 7/21/21 20:34:45 Kim Batt-Lincoln 216 Roark Lane Freeport TX 77541 No on deer relocation. Please do due diligence before relocating deer. Can you please explain the newspaper article where your Fish and Game expert was quoted as allowing antelope to stay in Oregon after locals complained. We love the McCall deer and were 11 year McCall residents. During our current visit, viewing deer was part of the McCall magic. Please put up adequate signage about living with deer before separating their families and giving many deer a death sentence. 60 7/21/21 20:33:21 Kristy Enbysk 904 Imperial Way, Boise ID 83704 "I am baffled, appalled, and extremely disappointed in the actions of this city council (in part). for recent weeks of your leadership. Yes, this is about the town deer in McCall. I'm interested in who and why is bull-dogging this proposal without any consideration to the findings, experiences, and outcomes of the same type of situations in surrounding states. Clearly, it is NOT the best option. The survival rate of the deer is dismal and the cost is outrageous - to what end? The taxpayers, which by the way, are who you represent, have said numerous times already that they do NOT want this action taken. At what point do you, as representatives of this wonderful mountain town. listen to those that elect and re-elect this council? I've heard the term ""recall"" tossed around and I would absolutely think this is the appropriate time to get rid of those in office that refuse to listen to the voices of the town. I've done my homework and I know the voices are loud and in plenty. Wake up Council.... this is NOT a move that you want to have on your record for generations and generations to be angry about. Why not spend the money on hard hitting, on-going education to town folk, visitors, tourists via any means necessary about the woes of feeding. Isn't that a better route to initiate and try rather than mass killing of these creatures. And, you cannot deny that that is exactly what will happen. Sugar coat it as you will, these animals that have been here long before any of us, will die. You want that on your hands? We, the people have had families and friends here far longer than some of you on the council... we also have very long memories. I am deeply opposed to any proposal that ends in the result of eradicating the down deer and everyone I've talked to feels exactly the same way. Perhaps a different kind of eradication needs to happen of members of the counsel that don't care about what their townsfolk think and say. RECALL" 61 7/21/21 20:48:59 Michael Sorensen 905 Pennfield Place Caldwell ID 83605 "Why am I having to write my comment a third time to this counsel? Do you people not listen to your town people? This is in regards to the deer proposal in McCall. NO! Stop the insanity of this ridiculous idea of removing what is normal and natural in McCall. Who do you think you're speaking for? The people Page 2 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 have made their voices very clear that they do not want this. Your JOB is to listen. Please do so. If not, I believe a recall petition should be initiated for those that vote for this absurd idea. Leave the deer alone. They belong here and maybe a few of you don't." 62 7/21/21 20:52:53 Leila Farley 902 N. Imperial Way Boise ID 83704 "Leave the deer alone. They are what makes McCall special and separate from the concrete jungles that are taking over our Pacific Northwest. We have commented so many times to tell you to stop what you're doing. Why won't you listen? As an elderly woman, some of you should be ashamed of yourselves and turned over someone's knee for not listening to those that know better. You need to check your egos at the door before you pass this very unwanted proposal and then perhaps apologize to the town residents for being idiots and messing with mother nature. Live and let live, educate, and embrace the specialness that McCall has to share with visitors, tourists, and residents. and the economy that your city enjoys because of these people. Oh, and the people that elect you, and or UN-elect you. Do the right thing - vote against this terrible, terrible plan." 63 7/21/21 21:00:18 Benjamin osterwald 1603 Davis Ave McCall Idaho 83638 Please don't slaughter the incident dear. Have people slow down instead 64 7/21/21 20:55:58 Cathy J Brown 214 W Lake St. McCall Id 83638 "I do not support the removal of the deer from town. Not only are they not a nuisance they continually bring us delight. The fact that they have adapted so well to our continual encroachment in to their habitat is a success story that should be celebrated. While I do not think they should be fed artificially, if they munch on my jack-o'-lantern or low hanging Aspen leaves, I am perfectly okay. We need to live in harmony with the very wildlife that makes this place so special!!! " 65 7/21/21 22:52:49 John Segar 1031 Bitterroot Dr McCall ID 83638 I am writing to urge the council to enact fire restrictions within the city ASAP. I am a little concerned that fire restrictions were enacted on surrounding lands a week ago, and yet there are still no restrictions in town. Please enact restrictions ASAP. 66 7/21/21 22:48:59 Kathy Reinholtz 10543 Edgeway Dr Middleton IDAHO 83644 I don’t live in your community but have been an Idaho resident for over 50 years Wildlife have always been part of the charm of MCCALL.. on our visits that’s the first thing the kids, then grandkids looked for! The residents that have lived there for years have always cohabited with the deer.. never a problem until more developers and weekend residents have pushed for this change.. what’s the real agenda here?? 67 7/22/21 6:49:20 Liz Tash 13762 Horizon View Rd. McCall ID 83638 "I am totally against the City's ""plan"" to ""relocate' the town deer! To trap and transport them to Brownlee Dam, Emmett or Riggins because there have been complaints that they are a ""Nuisance"". Nuisance?? I don't believe they can survive. I am not an expert but what I am learning from experts is trapping and transporting known as translocation does not work. THAT IS NOT ""HUMANE"". Page 3 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 I work in a shop downtown and our customers are primarily tourist. I hear daily how ""charming"" to see wildlife in town. I can't speak to whether they feed them but I never hear a complaint that they are a nuisance! I realize the deer may be walking down the street sometimes but for me, it gives me moments to pause and appreciate the beauty of wildlife and where I live! I read and hear daily about the concerns of other citizens about critical issues facing McCall RIGHT NOW? Affordable housing among the first!!" 68 7/22/21 8:03:43 Rick B. Eardley 201 Roark Ln. Freeport Texas 77541 As a long time resident of Idaho and McCall I am appalled at the ill-advised and preposterous proposal to remove the deer from the City of McCall. It is so much a part of the charm of this mountain town that it is inconceivable that the deer would cease to exist in the community. So is the city prepared to build a 10’ fence all the way around the city to make certain that no wildlife return to the streets of McCall? McCall is a mountain town with all of the amenities of a mountain town , including the deer. You might as well remove all the trees and pave everything. It is beyond ludicrous to even be taking up peoples time with this inane proposal. Leave the deer alone, slow down and enjoy what McCall has to offer or go back to the city. Removing the deer is one of the most heinous threats to the integrity of McCall that is presently before you. Do the right thing. 69 7/22/21 8:41:07 Gail Draper 190 Krahn Lane McCall ID 83638 "Please do not remove the deer from McCall. Exactly who are they a nuisance to. Yes, when I lived here full time in a home I owned, I could not plant roses and other plants/flowers the deer enjoyed eating. And, yes, I had to bring my bird feeders in every night (summer AND winter) because the deer love birdseed - as do the bear, raccoons, squirrels. But weren't they all here first? And exactly why are they not migrating to lower elevations in the winter? Are their old winter homes taken over by humans also? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT ERADICATE THE DEER NOW OR EVER. Every one I have spoken to enjoy seeing them and having them here year round. Thank you." 70 7/22/21 8:56:19 Amy Leaf 14059 Pioneer Rd McCall ID 83638 I am against the removal of Deer from McCall. 71 7/22/21 8:55:12 Garianne Mabe 806 E Maine Ave Nampa ID 83686 "I support a wildlife feeding ban but DO NOT support relocation and/or euthanasia! Research shows that because of the stress involved, up to 70% of the town deer WILL NOT SURVIVE the trapping/relocation process. Save the money and use it for education and feeding ban enforcement. I'm sure McCall has more pressing needs to address and fund. Please have a heart and make the right choice. Ethically and morally DO THE RIGHT THING!!! I love visiting McCall! I often refer to McCall as my ""happy place"" largely due to the deer we see around town and at our timeshare. I love going to the mountains and experiencing the wildlife! If some of the residents of McCall don't like wildlife in their backyards, perhaps they should move elsewhere. After all, McCall is located in the mountains and the deer and other wildlife were there first! McCall and Idaho wildlife officials should be working for the wildlife, not the people that have encroached on Page 4 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 wildlife habitats. I am an Idaho native and love the charm of McCall and the occasional wildlife sightings. I have a sneaking suspicion that those raising concerns about the ""town deer"" are out-of-staters that have relocated to McCall. Please stop letting them dictate what happens in our little slice of heaven. Another thing for the city council to consider is McCall's economy. I know many people (including myself) will be less likely to visit and spend money in McCall if the deer are relocated or euthanized. I encourage officials to leave the deer and other wildlife alone if they wish to retain the special charm of McCall." 72 7/22/21 9:23:16 Glenda Mattox 13650 S Coquille St Nampa IDAHO 83651 Please leave the town deer alone.we come up every year and stay and seeing the deer is a big part of out stay. 73 7/22/21 9:28:05 Brad Bartlett 1610 S Loggers Pond Place, Apt. 16 Boise Idaho 83706 I urge you to vote no on the proposed No Feed ordinance once again. While the no feed portion is a good idea, the ensuing trapping and relocation of the deer is not. The mortality rate is going to be much higher than what the F&G representative has stated in the meetings and research in multiple surrounding states on this matter has shown it doesn't work. I have been going to McCall for well over 45 years and have never once had a bad interaction with a deer. My in-laws have 18 acres next to Spring Mtn. Ranch and there are deer there all the time. Never have we had a bad interaction with one and my kids and grandchildren have enjoyed seeing them. In the last month I have played the golf course 8 times and each time the deer have been on the course and not causing any issues. This entire rush to remove the deer seems to show an alternative motive and appears to be being driven by a small number of people. How do you continue to push this forward when over 95% of the comments are against this measure? This is a bad idea in its current form and should not be passed. 74 7/22/21 9:31:17 Deborah Wetherell 3550 KP Cove Rd McCall Idaho 83638 "PLEASE leave the deer alone. This whole process appears to be a knee jerk reaction. Work on educating the public about the deer and the consequences of feeding them. Then, use your time, money and energy to tackle the more pressing issues of affordable housing, traffic control, pedestrian safety and population growth and zoning. Other cities in this country have learned to live with wildlife residents. The human residents of McCall are certainly capable of doing the same. Pursuing your plan to eradicate the deer sends a ""your opinion is of little consequence"" message to your constituents. Step back and reconsider . . this plan is off the rails. Deborah and Robert Wetherell McCall and Star, Idaho" 75 7/22/21 9:55:25 Ron Mattox 13650 S. Coquille St Nampa, Id Idaho 83651 Please leave the deer alone. Each time we visit McCall we look.forward to seeing the.deer. We rarely have the opportunity see see animals.in the wild and look.forward to this each.visit. Thanks 76 7/22/21 9:59:18 Laurie Plummer 323 W Jefferson, #501 Boise ID 87302 Please do not let McCall succumb to growth (developers) by pushing out wildlife. Wildlife living living in conjunction with humans is what make McCall great!! 77 7/22/21 10:27:45 Donna Hoffman 850 Shelia Ln McCall Idaho 83638 Page 5 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 Please do no remove or kill the deer. I’ve lived in McCall since 1959. The deer have never been a problem. They were here before we had the population explosion. The population need to be educated. The deer shouldn’t be eradicated. 78 7/18/21 13:02:37 Julie Conrad 1423 Eagle Drive McCall Idaho 83638 "Anyone ask the ""expert"" Regan Berkley about her ""about face"" on this issue? Antelope herd in Payette will be left alone for now, Fish and Game says by KBOI News Staff Monday, March 27th 2017 PAYETTE, Idaho (KBOI) — A large group of pronghorn antelope that made its way from Oregon to Idaho over the winter will be allowed to stay in Payette. On Monday, the Idaho Fish and Game said the antelope will be left alone, despite numerous complaints from locals. “We’ve received a number of calls from citizens concerned about the pronghorn, asking us to trap and move the animals to more suitable habitat,” said Regan Berkley, Fish and Game wildlife manager. “We are equally concerned, but after weighing options, have determined that any effort to trap and move the animals might do more harm than good.” About 180 antelope crossed a frozen Snake River in mid-January. The herd eventually split up into smaller groups and at one point, 50 antelope died after consuming Japanese yew, a highly toxic shrub. Idaho Fish and Game says even if it captured all the antelope, there would could be up to a 25 percent mortality rate due to stress and capture-related injuries. “These animals have had a tough winter and remain in a weakened state,” Fish and Game wildlife veterinarian Mark Drew said. “When you add to that a high rate of pregnancy among the does in the herd, the reasonable solution is to leave the animals alone." "READ THAT AGAIN." 79 7/22/21 10:46:08 Julie Conrad 1423 Eagle Drive McCall Idaho 83638 "Mike Maciaszek, Are WE going to wait until THIS happens? Enforce the leash law that is already on the books. This has a much higher chance of happening than any deer in the McCall herd injuring an individual or child. Your 1977 example from Yellowstone Park is pathetic and embarrassing. https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/green-valley-ranch-residents-looking-for-owner- of-off-leash-dogs-after-violent-attack Green Valley Ranch residents looking for owner of off-leash dogs after violent attack :By: Sloan Dickey Posted at 10:06 PM, Jul 19, 2021 and last updated 10:26 PM, Jul 19, 2021 DENVER — It's been more than two months since an off-leash dog attack injured a Denver man and almost killed his dog, and he and his family are looking for answers. Page 6 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 Tom Pageler loves walking with his small, chipper dog named Lucky. There are plenty of open spaces for them to walk around in his 55 and up living community in Green Valley Ranch. ""We just love her personality. She wants to play all the time,"" Pageler said. ""She's full of joy."" But the last two months have been about recovery for Lucky after she was almost killed by two off-leash Rottweilers in a nearby park. Pageler says the two dogs attacked him and Lucky on May 8 as they were on a morning walk. ""I got one deep bite in my right hand. Then they got me somehow across the forehead, about a three inch gap,"" Pageler said. ""They had her in the emergency room for 12 hours that day."" Lucky suffered deep bite wounds to her shoulders and stomach. Pageler says if he had not acted quickly, Lucky could have died almost immediately. ""I could see one of them got into her, and it was a bad bite,"" he said. ""They were trying to kill her."" Denver Animal Protection is investigating the case, and Pageler and his wife, Mary, say they are trying to get answers as well. According to Denver city law, dogs are required to be secured on a leash at all times unless they are in a designated city dog park. ""You are not supposed to run these dogs off-leash,"" Pageler said. ""He does not care."" Denver police did not respond to a request for comment, but Pageler says investigators are continuing to search for the off-leash dogs' owner." 80 7/22/21 10:50:19 Julie Conrad 1423 Eagle Drive McCall Idaho 83638 "Why not put the no-feed ordinance in place then use a fraction of the funds it would take to trap and move, and euthanize, and put that toward a massive education campaign for locals and visitors alike. Brochures, social media, website update, signage all focused on ""Living With Wildlife"". If this decision to eradicate all of the town deer is allowed to move forward, it will be a tremendous mistake we will never be able to come back from. WHY THE HURRY? WHY THE RUSH? WHY RIGHT NOW? WHY SUCH A FINAL DRACONIAN OUTCOME? WHO IS SPEARHEADING THIS? SHOULDN’T THERE BE A TASK FORCE? A PUBLIC HEARING? AN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN BEFORE SLIDING DOWN A VERY SLIPPERY SLOPE OF LIKELY NO RETURN? THE CURE IS FAR WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM OR “NUISANCE” AT HAND. Do not punish the deer for a human-made problem or issue. THE CITY HAS MANY MORE PRESSING PROBLEMS THAT IT OUGHT TO BE WORKING ON: AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AIRPORT MASTER PLAN, INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES FOR SEWER AND WATER NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE TREMENDOUS INCREASE IN GROWTH, WATER QUALITY, ENDOWMENT LANDS, THE VERY REAL ILLEGAL DRUG AND METH PROBLEM IN OUR TOWN’S CORE. I’M ASHAMED AAND EMBARRASSED BY OUR CITY LEADERS THAT THEY WOULD EVEN CONSIDER SUCH A PROPOSAL AS TO ERADICATE ALL OF OUR TOWN DEER. Why are we allowing a handful of people to decide the fate of one of the most endearing traits of McCall by eradicating the local town deer? Page 7 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 I urge our City Leaders and City Officials to take a BIG step back before it’s too late…..Before we can never recover from a very poor decision. Educate, not Eradicate." 81 7/22/21 10:53:48 Julie Conrad 1423 Eagle Drive McCall Idaho 83638 "Save The Town Deer. Educate, Not Eradicate. I attended last week’s City Council Meeting in person to listen and learn more about two “proposals” the City of McCall is currently considering regarding our town deer. The first proposal is putting an ordinance in place making it illegal to feed deer and ALL wildlife in McCall with the exception of song birds. This would include all squirrels as well. The second “proposal” of much more concern due to it’s draconian measures, is giving Idaho Fish and Game the “Go Ahead” to trap, re-locate and/or euthanize all of our town deer. This will happen if our City Council votes on and passes the “illegal to feed wildlife” ordinance. This will also happen without any Public Hearing or without any public input by our full-time and part- time residents, taxpayers and visitors/tourists. Unless you speak up now. I am ok with an ordinance to ""Not Feed The Deer And Wildlife"" in McCall, I am NOT ok with the notion of trapping, transporting and/or euthanizing all of the town deer simply due to them being a “nuisance”. Just yesterday, Mama Deer (who has been giving birth to her fawns in my side yard for 12 consecutive years) and her day-old twins scampered across the fairway on the McCall Golf Course where I am a full time resident. I could hear exclamations of ""Oh Look! Baby Fawns! How Sweet! Quick, Get a Photo!” coming from men and women alike. One gentleman visiting from Arizona excitedly showed me his cell phone captures and exclaimed: ""Look! I think I got some Good Ones! I just sent them to my Grandaughter in Arizona""! I simply cannot imagine a McCall without ""Town Deer"". I've been enjoying McCall for 58 years with my family and friends at our family cabins over the years, and there have always been town deer. Can you imagine being a visitor to Ponderosa STATE PARK in the Great State of IDAHO and never being able to witness the majestic beauty of a wild deer? May as well remove the expensive signage they put throughout the Park letting visitors know of the wildlife they are ""likely to see"" in the park. Or tell them as they enter the park ""Sorry, but to see a wild deer, you will have to go to a big City Zoo”. What in the World are our City Officials thinking? And all due to the deer being a ""Nuisance""? After doing considerable research the past two weeks by talking with Fish and Game Wildlife Biologists, Wildlife Officers, and Wildlife Conflict Specialists in Idaho as well as our neighboring states of Washington, Utah, and Oregon, we have much to learn. Not only did each of these wildlife specialists call me back within 24 hours to speak with me directly, but each had come to the same conclusion, and that was that trapping and relocating deer, known as “translocation” did not work. I learned that the State of Utah suspended their translocation pilot Page 8 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 program indefinitely before it was even finished due to less than 50% of the deer surviving the stress of transport and relocation, and due to the cost ($600 to $900+ PER deer). If we allow this to happen in McCall, who will be paying for that? Certainly not Idaho Fish and Game? Certainly not the City of McCall? The Taxpayers? One wildlife officer said to me ""Fish and Game shouldn't be getting involved at all."" He also said that the ""deer belong to all of us"", and that one governmental agency should not be allowed to take that from the local residents and visitors. Each of these States websites were highly impressive with article after article of “How To Live With Wildlife”, “Minimizing Browsing Damage by Deer”, “Deer Resistant Plants For Your Mountain Garden”, “Understanding Mule Deer And Winter Feeding”, and “Don’t Feed Deer And Elk”. There are other alternatives that we can consider first before we got down a slippery slope that we can never recover from:" 82 7/22/21 10:56:05 Julie Conrad 1423 Eagle Drive McCall Idaho 83638 "There are other alternatives that we can consider first before we got down a slippery slope that we can never recover from: 1. 1. IF TRAFFIC ISSUES ARE ‘the most common problem’ with our deer as cited by Regan Berkley, McCall Fish and Game Wildlife Manager in last week’s Star News article entitled “""Oh, Deer! McCall ponders what to do with ‘town herd’, WOULD IT NOT BE MUCH MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO ACTUALY ENFORCE THE SPEED LIMIT? Well over 90% of posted speeds in the City of McCall are either 20mph or 25mph. A Fish and Game Wildlife Officer from WA stated that at those speeds there are very few deer/car collisions, and very few deer are killed or maimed to the point of needing to be euthanized. “Since 2019, the McCall Police Department has responded to 57 calls related to deer in McCall, {THIS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 19 TELEPHONE CALLS PER YEAR}, including eight car accidents {WHICH EQUATES TO 2.5 PER YEAR} and 28 calls to humanely kill severely injured deer, {WHICH EQUATES TO ~9 PER YEAR} Williams said. Last winter, Fish and Game responded to “a minimum of 30 calls” for dead or injured deer in McCall, Berkley said. {COULD THAT NOT HAVE BEEN 30 CALLS ABOUT THE SAME DEER? OR 30 CALLS ABOUT THE SAME FEW DEER IN A SEVEN MONTH WINTER PERIOD}? Why is it such an “inconvenience” for F & G to receive phone calls about wildlife such as the deer? Is that not part of their job? 2. “In recent years, the herd has attracted more mountain lions to residential areas in McCall in the winter when food is scarce elsewhere. According to Williams, The police department “continually” gets reports of mountain lions near the St. Luke’s McCall hospital…” Continually? How many reports? A few a year? In the 58 years I have been spending time in McCall (the city, mountains, and trails) and now living here full time for 12 years, I have not once seen a mountain lion. Have there always been occasional sightings during the winter or spring months? Of course. We live in a mountain town and we have been encroaching on their natural habitat for as long as we have the deer’s natural habitat. Towns and Cities from neighboring States simply post a general warning about sightings vs eradicating and entire herd of deer. Page 9 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 Will these nuisance mountain lions then be next in line for eradication? What about nuisance bears? Nuisance fox? Nuisance Elk and Moose? Nuisance raccoons and skunk? Nuisance Ravens and Stellar Jays? Where does this end? And why are we allowing a handful of City Officials decide the outcome of what is All of Ours to Enjoy? 3. “The deer also sometimes become aggressive toward people (and dogs), most often in the spring when they are caring for newborn fawns …” Of course they do. All mammals and wildlife are highly protective of their young. Again, why not educate the public on “How To Live With Wildlife” as our neighboring States do? No one should be near any wild animal whether it be a deer, bear, fox, mountain lion, moose when they have their young around. A great solution to this “problem” would be to enforce the leash law within the City limits, and educate locals and visitors on living with wildlife and keeping your distance. 4. “There is no effective way to rid the deer of the lice, so infected deer would be humanely killed by Fish and Game to avoid spreading the infestation”, Berkley said. The exotic lice species described above does not affect humans or domestic animals. Deer in captive settings have been successfully cleared of lice infestations with the use of medication. Medications exist to treat most conditions causing hair loss in deer. Many cases resolve on their own when the deer are in better condition in spring/summer due to increased food resources or with seasonal environmental changes."" According to WA Fish and Game Wildlife Specialists. 5. We supplemental feed the elk in the winter, why not the deer? ""Yes"",situations when supplemental feeding is benefici State of Utah Fish and Game. " 83 7/22/21 11:32:14 Ryan Jain 1410 Boydstun Loop McCall ID 83638 "#1 The deer are a part of our community and should be left alone. With a little research its easy to see that relocated deer is difficult, expensive and has little if any success. #2 last year a ditch and drain system was installed on my street Boydstun loop. The design allowed all water and toxic debris (oil,tar, etc) to drain into an existing wetland. after working for the Nez Perce Tribes Watershed program i have a clear understanding on how bad and illegal this is. in addition we had no drain issues prior to completion of new ditches and culverts of 2020. this decision was a waste of time and money but more so pollutes a healthy watershed. what knucklehead made this decision and why? in addition our paved loop was destroyed and replaced with gravel during this process. zero dollars were put into the loop in the last 20 years point being it received no maintenance. the people of Boydstun Loop agree our property value decreased because of this. The city claimed no money to repair our loop. meanwhile the City Hall gets a new face lift with a new parking area and landscape improvements. please explain yourself " 84 7/22/21 12:12:18 Jennifer Garland 1656 Davis Ave McCall ID 83638 Re: the deer. Please do not move or eradicate the deer. Please instead warn people who feed deer then fine if they don’t stop… as you have over the years on bears …and train/educate new and not to feed and why .. Page 10 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 85 7/22/21 12:00:30 Cary Youmans 1327 W 1845 S Logan UT 84321 McCall is my second home, spending summers at my grandmother’s cabin in KP Cove, and living here 2009-11. I was made aware of the proposal to relocate native deer during my current visit. Please DO NOT continue the practice of relocating native inhabitants for the sake of unbridled profit. This form of imperialist/capitalist oppression, of any and every species, must cease if we ever hope to authentically claim any level of morality and decency. 86 7/22/21 12:23:40 Jim, Debra, and Angela Staup 1624 Davis Ave. McCall ID 83638 "To be clear, while we have no problem not feeding the deer and support a strong educational program, we are completely against any action which will result in the trapping, relocating, and eradicating the town deer. Our thanks to Melanie Holmes and Colby Nielsen for listening to your constituents. " 87 7/22/21 11:49:17 Rena McKean 543 Mountain Street Middleton ID 83644 "Mayor and Council: I have been following the issue about feeding wildlife, removing and relocating wildlife from McCall. I couldn't be more distrubed. Obviously, I do not live in McCall but I am a sixth generation Idaho resident. I am also a frequent visitor of McCall. One of the charms of your beautiful city is the sighting of wildlife living and visiting harmoniously around the town. I can see why you might want to discourage the feeding of wildlife. However, I am extremely opposed to any relocating or erradicating of wildlife. I am so offended that you would even consider it. I am actually shocked you would even consider it. This settlement started in the forest and you have built it into a city. You build businesses and houses for people in what has been the animals' home; it is forestland. Of course, there are animals living there. People enjoy McCall because of the natural beauty and the connection to the wilderness. People wouldn't drive and fly to McCall or even live there if they didn't enjoy trees, water, and of course wildlife. The wildlife do not cause any danger to people in your city as long as they are respectful of the wildlife. There are no dangers of disease, the wildlife to not pose danger to people as long as they keep their distance, and I have actually never seen any real downfalls to having wildlife in or near the city. I am also appalled that Idaho Fish and Game reprenatives are considering this plan and I am personally following up and reminding them about the underlying ideals of our state law state law. 36-103. WILDLIFE PROPERTY OF STATE -- PRESERVATION. (a) Wildlife Policy. All wildlife, including all wild animals, wild birds, and fish, within the state of Idaho, is hereby declared to be the property of the state of Idaho. It shall be preserved, protected, perpetuated, and managed. It shall be only captured or taken at such times or places, under such conditions, or by such means, or in such manner, as will preserve, protect, and perpetuate such wildlife, and provide for the citizens of this state and, as by law permitted to others, continued supplies of such wildlife for hunting, fishing and trapping. There seems to be some alteriative motivations on what is going on in this situation. Perhaps some of our Idaho Fish & Game staff need reminded that they are paid by tax dollars. Maybe they need replaced. Regardless. I urge and demand that you not support any proposals, rules, votes, recommendations, motions, or anything that would move toward removing or erradicating any wildlife in McCall. Wildlife is here to stay in McCall. All of you can be replaced." Page 11 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 88 7/22/21 12:46:16 Mark Sherourne 13962 easy St. McCall ID 83638 I see that the transit center plans to replace their parking area with landscaping. Have you considered keeping the parking area since we are short on parking downtown? 89 7/22/21 12:51:10 Darlene Kohout 917 Fairway Dr 14b McCall Idaho 83638 ONCE AGAIN I am writing to implore you to vote AGAINST any removal of our deer! This is a travesty and in- humane! My family has had property here since 1948 and am full time resident now since 2009 and have watched this place change. DO what you were elected to do! CONTROL THE PEOPLE!! 90 7/22/21 12:40:54 Don & vivian driscoll 1407 warren wagon rd McCall ID 83638 "We are opposed to moving the town deer! Perhaps stop some of the building in town??!! We appreciate the eloquent letters from Fawcetts, Julie Conrad and others in the past weeks regarding this issue." 91 7/22/21 12:52:52 Holly Osterwald 1603 Davis Avenue McCall Idaho 83638 "I strongly oppose the no-feed ordinance and proposal to trap and relocate the town deer. There has not been adequate research on the topic, which makes the proposals to the issue uninformed and drastic. The primary reason deer are getting hit and killed within city limits is due to speeding cars, and a lack of speed limit enforcement. Many cities and towns throughout the country have successfully found a way to coexist with deer, through educated trial and error. Boulder, Colorado has successfully found a way, and yet, a subject matter expert who resides there has not been officially contacted. There are incremental alternatives that the City Council has not even considered, and the majority of citizens vehemently oppose these solutions. Please take the opinion of the McCall citizens into strong consideration before making a final decision, and PLEASE, do more research on the issue!" 92 7/22/21 13:07:15 Angela Staup 1624 Davis Ave McCall ID 84638 "To all those at the table tonight, thank you for taking the time to read my comment. As before, I implore you to table or reassess how this issue is being addressed. Do not make the deer the scapegoat. Human caused issues need to human led solutions and this is a human issue, not a deer one. I feel fortunate to have time to listen and learn from wildlife experts while I work. I feel grateful that my education in Economics focused around environmental and government issues. I had a wonderful opportunity to learn how to evaluate data. Many people are not that fortunate and perhaps that includes some of you. Time and time again education has proven to be far more effective in the long term for creating actual change and for being the fiscally responsible act. This issue is not unique to McCall. Many communities across North America have already tackled this challenge and again, the most prominent solution has been to educate the community through programs, awareness campaigns, incentives, and yes, ordinances. Page 12 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 People are not against an ordinance than only bans feeding, they are against the removal of the deer from city limits. This is a guarantee that must be made to the public for good faith to take root. As in my first letter to you all, I am wondering why there cannot be a community action committee or even a “McCall Wildlife Coalition” to bridge the gap between the public officials and the public at large. The Payette Forest Coalition has been lauded for their efforts and successes on this front. Why must a decision be made so quickly? As I heard our Mayor say to a friend I had been enjoying coffee with, sometimes progress is slow, just one step at a time is still forward movement, and it is important to set realistic goals. I implore him to follow his own words. I’d like to thank Colby and Melanie for their respectful dialogue and willingness to look at the full picture. The easy solution is rarely the ethical and successful one." 93 7/22/21 13:44:08 Tammarack Gillingham 5437 Big Willow Rd. Payette Idaho 83661 "Killing the deer is not a solution. One of the reasons I left McCall; the shoddy leadership in the city and county. Please listen to your community and exercise your job instead of your self involvement for personal gain. The deer have been there before you! " 94 7/22/21 14:17:58 Suzanne Lowe 6373 Robinson Road Kuna Idaho 83634 My vote is emphatically against eradicating deer in and/or around McCall, Idaho. I visit McCall specifically to see deer in their natural habitat. Do not relocate deer subjecting them to death. Stop the eradication of all deer in McCall. Your so called "experts" are wrong. Educate your council to protect and preserve the deer and all of McCall's wildlife. Keep the deer alive. 95 7/22/21 7:30:13 Joey Pietri 225 Valley Springs Rd. McCall Idaho 83638 "A couple of things , one thing, I'd like to express is the need to pause any approval of new developments until many of our water /sewer and trffic issues are re evaluated and are fully thought out and addressed . Housing must be considere for those who have lived her but cannot afford even entry level homes . The vacation rental situation is is great for the speculators invested here but communitymembers suffer because of it. I would like to resond to Councilman Maiciaszek's recolection of the unfortunate death of a child in Yosemite caused by a deer in a feeding attempt. With that , if you were to look at the number of boating deaths on Payette Lake since 1977 you can make an argument that Motor boats should be banned as they are a real danger. The issue really seems to be one of education . I agree with the no feeding ban but not the forced removal and transport of wild animals . We must learn to utilize ""Indigenous ways of being"", rather than impulsive traumatizing ways of dealing with this. The deer pose no threat to us . Slow down. there are open range laws in Valley county repct the wild ! Page 13 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m. Comments for the July 22, 2021 Council Meeting - 2 How about that ""pause"" here as well and seek the advice of Native people that have a real connection to wildlife over the period of thousands of years . These people have a deep knowledge in the science of wildlife management. Lets not take the typical old White European method of dealing with things by forced removal . Allow the dignity of our four legged relatives to figure their path. After all we created this situation .We difficulty of adapting . Please thouroghly give this time employ old wisdom and recruit help from the original stewards of these lands. Thank you for your consideration." 96 7/22/21 14:47:30 Connie Ickes 1915 Bear Basin Road McCall Idaho 83638 "I am writing regarding the issue of the challenges with the town herd of deer. I agree that the deer should not be fed by local residents. However, I would like the city council to explore more humane options of removing the deer. Thank you for listening to the many responses from the public." Page 14 of 14 As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m.