City Council 05-Aug-2014: Deer, Riding Arenas, …

Note all votes cast for motions were unanimous. There was a passionate discussion on Highland Urban Deer Control Program. Please refer to the formal agenda on the city website and the meeting presentation for more complete background info all issues. All decisions made were unanimous.

APPEARANCES

1. Public Comment: There were about 46 people in attendance.

With regards to the Urban Deer Management Program the arguments opposed to the program were centered on safety issues, the humane treatment of animals, perceived violations of the plan, and an assertion that most residents opposed it. Proponents cited its success in terms of safety, humane treatment of animals (as opposed to viable alternatives), property damage caused by deer, and a significant reduction of deer/vehicle collisions. In all 7 people spoke against the program (3 of which were from outside of Highland: a Salt Lake City attorney, head of Utah Humane Society, and an Alpine resident) and 3 in favor (all Highland residents). Note, I had transposed the hunting hours in the my original post on this issue; the hours should have read 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. This is probably why the attorney made a big point of the when the deer were killed as he tried to show how the hunters violated their own rules. I did have a link to the full program description which had the correct information.

Presentations Discussions

2. Highland Urban Deer Program – Brian Cook. Brian and a representative from the Department of Wildlife Resources reviewed the program with the council and attendees. Here are the key points from his presentation some of which was new information for me.

• The hunting season was extended from October 31st to December 31st with the permission of the Division of Wildlife Resources. Note, over 60% of the deer were taken in Nov and Dec. The primary reason that there were less people in the designated hunting areas later in the year. The hunters had to stop hunting if they saw or heard any people in the area.
• 74 deer were taken; none were lost.Studies show that 46% the deer are lost during a bow hunting season. However, because only expert bow hunters participated in the program and because they followed very stringent guidelines they lost none. No one witnessed the deer being taken and no evidence was left behind.
• An estimated 5,550 lbs. of ground venison was donated to the needy. This is a conservative estimate base on the following averages: average mature mule deer yields 120-150 lbs. of ground meat, yearlings 50-90 lbs. An average of 75 lbs. was used to calculate the venison donated.
• There was a 41% reduction in the number of dead deer picked up in Highland by UDOT and the WDR between Aug 1, 2012 through Aug 1, 2013 and Aug 1, 2013 and Aug 1, 2014. Over the same time period Alpine had a 33% reduction and Cedars Hills a 47% reduction. These numbers do not include deer disposed of by residents. Also missing are the number deer that were injured by collisions. Over 15% of the deer taken had suffered a previous injury.
  
  
  
  

  City	2013	2014	Change	% Change
  Highland	74	44	-30	-41
  Alpine	24	16	-8	-33
  Cedar Hills	15	8	-7	-47
  Total	113	68	-45	-40%

  
  The diamonds indicate single deer pickups and the numbers indicate the quantity of deer picked up in the general vicinity of the dot.
  
  
   
  Following the report and ensuing discussion a vote was taken to see whether or not the council wanted to consider whether or not to continue the program at the next council meeting. The council declined by a unanimous vote.
  
  Note, following the meeting a number of those who had come to support shutting down the program indicated that now that they were more fully informed they supported it.
  

CONSENT ITEMS

3. MOTION: Approval of Meeting Minutes for City Council Regular Session – June 17, 2014 —Approved an amended version of the minutes with minor corrections by Rod Mann.

4. MOTION: Approval of Meeting Minutes for City Council Regular Session – July 15, 2014—Approved an amended version of the minutes with minor corrections by Rod Mann.

5. MOTION: Approval of Meeting Minutes for City Council Tour – July 22, 2014.—Approved .

6. MOTION: MOTION: Pace Manor – Final Plat Approval.—Approved following brief discussion on access roads.

ACTION ITEMS

7. PUBLIC HEARING/ORDINANCE: Amending the Highland City Development Code – Allowing Riding Arenas in the R-1-40 District.— Approved. The change was requested by a family who wished to build a private riding arena in the back yard to allow them to ride in the winter. Current code allows for accessory building to have a footprint no larger than 5% of the property. The change is to allows private riding arenas to be built with a footprint of up to 10% of the property for lots that are greater than 2 acres. My question was if we are going to allow accessory buildings to be built on +2 acre lots with a 10% footprint why do we care what is inside the building. There was not a lot of concern because the council felt that a riding arena was sufficiently differentiated (e.g. no floors) that this specific exception was warranted.

8. ORDINANCE: Amending Engineering Designs and Construction Standards – Pressurized Irrigation Detail—Approved. This ordinance requires that all future construction include an adapter as part of the pressurized irrigation (PI) connection that would allow meters to be readily connected. Currently ~$300 of labor would be required to meters to existing PI connections. With the new system the labor cost would be about $25. Adding the adapter will cost developers about $80.
   

9. ORDINANCE: Adopting and Amending Municipal Code Chapter 13.12 – Sanitary Sewer Management Plan—Approved in concept but the staff was asked to redraft the changes to be more clear. The requested change was to include the following language in Chapter 13.12
   
   

   13.12.120 UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES
   
   UNLAWFUL DISCHARGES: IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL TO DISCHARGE ANY WATERS CONTAINING TOXIC OR POISONOUS SOLIDS, LIQUIDS OR GASES IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITY, EITHER SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER WASTES, TO INJURE OR INTERFERE WITH ANY TREATMENT PROCESS, CONSTITUTE A HAZARD TO HUMANS OR ANIMALS, CREATE A PUBLIC NUISANCE OR PRODUCE INJURY TO COMPONENTS TO THE SYSTEM.
   
   13.13.130 RIGHT OF ENTRY
   
   THE PUBLIC SERVICES DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE SHALL BE PERMITTED TO ENTER ON ALL PROPERTIES (RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND ETC.) FOR THE PURPOSES OF INSPECTION, OBSERVATION, REPAIR, MEASUREMENT, SAMPLING AND TESTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER.
   
   13.13.140 OBSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS
   
   DISCHARGE OF OBSTRUCTIVE MATERIALS PROHIBITED: IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON TO DISCHARGE INTO THE PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER ANY GARBAGE, REFUSE OR OTHER SIMILAR MATTER OF SUBSTANCE LIKELY TO OBSTRUCT THE SEWER.
   
   13.13.150 PENALTIES
   
   ANY FIRM, CORPORATION, PERSON OR PERSONS, OR ANY ACTION ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON, PERSONS, FIRM OR CORPORATION, VIOLATING ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR UP TO WHICH IS UP TO ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FINE AND SIX MONTHS IN JAIL. EACH PERSON, PERSONS, FIRM OR CORPORATION FOUND GUILTY OF A VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A SEPARATE OFFENSE FOR EACH AND EVERY DAY DURING WHICH ANY VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER IS COMMITTED, CONTINUED, OR PERMITTED BY SUCH PERSON, PERSONS, FIRM OR CORPORATION, AND SHALL BE PUNISHABLE AS PROVIDED IN THIS CHAPTER.
   
   I asked that language be included in both 13.12.120 & 140 to cite examples of offending materials (e.g. such as but not limited to disposable diapers …). 13.12.130 should be more clear with respect to what “right of entry” references (the intent is to be able to access sewer line easements on private property not enter homes) and whether or not there should be a notification requirement.

MAYOR/ CITY COUNCIL & STAFF COMMUNICATION ITEMS

10. Mayor Thompson: Discussed Country Club drive road speed reduction options. After residents complained about speeding on Country Club drive staff went out and got a quote of $8,132 for one table top speed bump (they are the most effective at reducing speed). We would need to put in two off them so traffic wouldn’t divert to the alterative route when entering and existing the Country Club. The staff also was quoted $5,198 for 2 speed sign with solar powered displays that show the speed of oncoming vehicles.

11. Mayor Thompson: Discussed options for neighbor parks that our being using sun-up to sun-down for soccer. Residents have lodged multiple complaints about noise, kids and adults taking biological breaks in plain site (these parks do not have public restrooms). The Mayor has asked staff to have a soccer organization remove these parks from their website listing public soccer fields. He also asked that an inventory of parks be done indicating which have public parking and restroom facilities. The city will likely post signs at parks without public parking and restroom facilities indicating that they may not be used for organized sports..

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Met to discuss a potential litigation issue.

LINKS

• Complete agenda with appendices for the council meeting.
• Council meeting presentation.
• Highland’s Urban Deer Control Program – For or Against? Updated