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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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MCC4'i? ' IATTEST: _ C Robert S. Giles, Mayor
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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
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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”.
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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! "
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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."
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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,"
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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
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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. "
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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
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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"".
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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
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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
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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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 ..
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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."
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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.
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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 !
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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."
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As of 07/22 at 3:00 p.m.