Council Action on Jan 17

The agenda for the rescheduled council meeting was published and contains the following items both on the consent agenda which means there will be little more than announcement of these items and they will be passed as an emergency under suspension.

22. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with David Hromco to coordinate and oversee the 2012 Deer Management Program

23. Ordinance accepting the bid of Smokin-T for meat processing services related to the City’s Deer Management Program ($4.99/5-pound package)

UPDATED:

These items occurred about 40 min into the meeting.  David Hromco will be contracted for up to 150 hours, will receive a city cell phone and a city vehicle.  The meat processing bid is for 3 years.

At 46:20 into the meeting a citizen objected to the deer culling and to them being on the consent agenda.

After the citizen spoke the council round table occurred where each councilman gave condolences to a former councilman and wishing Jim Stanek well in his retirement.

The Mayor mentioned that Stanek was at city hall for 2 weeks after his retirement and that he will be getting a new job as he is only 51.  He had over 30 years at city hall and will be collecting a pubic employee retirement.

Stanek was likely to attend so everyone can wish him well and applaud his accomplishments. This isn't formally on the agenda, but it is common practice. It was expected by city officials but he did not come.


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Driver Education Reduces DVAs

Here's a press release from the Mayor of Rochester Hills describing how their driver education program has significantly reduced DVAs.

In Solon, our so called "comprehensive" plan makes no effort to use this type of low cost non-lethal approach. The only public "education" program revolves around justifying the killing program (counting deer, DVAs, and deer damage complaints).

DeerMotoristAccidentsDecrease_RochHills_2011

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How Many?

We hear there are "too many" deer, how many is too many?  The city pretends to know, but the truth is they do not know by their own admission!  They moved forward with the USDA contract to spend $128K to kill 400-500 deer (Aug 15 Council) and admitted on the record that they DID NOT have a deer count, just an estimated projection of about 1000 (they cancelled the aerial survey in March that the new Deer Mgt Plan requires).

The main justification for the killing is DVAs. Russo asked the police chief what the DVA count was, he admitted that he hadn't looked since May.  But that didn't stop the city from moving forward not only with the USDA contract but the Deer Mgt Plan that requires them to have annual deer counts and DVA counts.

The Deer Mgt Plan claims the city goal is 206-309 (final revision pg 11), so the city's goal is to kill 700-800 deer.  If the USDA killed 400, then bow hunting would need to kill as many as another 400.  If the USDA killed 500, bow hunters would have to kill at least 200.

The $128K only includes sharpshooting, it doesn't include support costs (considerable support issues, see USDA post), police overtime, and processing costs for sharpshooting.  And while the city won't be paying the bow hunters, it won't be free!  There will be costs to administer the program, to test the hunters, to insure compliance, record keeping, and of course more police overtime.

So maybe the real question isn't how many deer are too many, but how can the city commit this much money  when no numbers are really known?  You have a chance to decide by voting YES on Issue 94!

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City clarifies non-lethal alternatives

FIRST DRAFT

At the end of the short Oct 3rd council meeting, Russo asked Stanek several leading questions on the deer issue in an attempt to refute claims that the city's Deer Management Plan only paid lip service to non-lethal methods. The Oct 3 meeting is here (for now, changes occurring at city web site), Russo's comments are at 19:20 to 26:44, over 7 minutes on the deer issue which WAS NOT on the agenda.

Russo first started talking about deer being killed by DVA during mating season and how many accidents were avoided by killing them first and then a much longer diatribe about the "non-lethal" methods that were HOMEOWNER responsibility and not the city's. While listing each of the non-lethal methods, Stanek claimed that they were homeowner responsibility so that the city had no involvement in non-lethal methods. Noticeably absent from the list was any mention of the city "maintaining the Strieter Lites".

This makes the comprehensive plan just a killing plan, and that is what we've been saying all along.

A great letter to the editor is on the news site here.

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It's official, killing delayed

At the Aug 15th Council Meeting we heard Public Works Commissioner Jim Stanek say he could have a pilot bow hunting program in place by Sept 24th, the start of deer hunting season.

In a private conversation before the Safety and Public Properties meeting, Stanek indicated that the city would NOT move forward with any killing before the election.

At the end of the Safety meeting Chairman Russo talked about Deer Mgt, which was not on the agenda. He wanted to correct some "falsehoods" (interesting word, seems he got that from SolonDeer.com); He then said there would be "No culling before the election". He was interrupted and asked for clarification on hunting vs killing by any means, including a pilot program, he responded that there would be "no hunting, no bow hunting, no culling" before the election.

So it's OFFICIAL on the record, the city will not kill before the election. They've heard the public, make sure they hear you again on Nov 8th by voting YES on Issue 94.

For more details see the meeting on video here at 7:19 pm 1 hr 29 min 26 sec to the end of the meeting

It has been Russo's habit to use his position on council to discredit those who disagree with him.  He brought up the following points:

• DVA accidents since culling stopped
  Police chief said he had no new data since May at which time he thought they increased significantly, but had no exact figures
• Choosing properties
  is done on a volunteer basis, but must meet certain criteria
• Safety protocols in place
  A dedicated police officer to make sure no one enters a culling zone (they'd be trespassing)
• Hunting or Wandering
  No one will be roaming the city with deadly weapons
• Scaring the public
  by saying people are roaming the city with deadly weapons is a "falsehood"
• No "culling before the election"
  taking necessary steps to move forward IF we are going to cull
• Presumptuous to assume that everyone who signed the petition is for hunting ban
  Russo knows a number of people signed it so it could be settled once and for all
• Taking steps to insure that we can take steps during THIS hunting season without another year going by

And as usual, Russo made mis-statements too.

• He tried to say DVAs are up to justify moving forward this year, yet there are no numbers available.
• In the past neighbors could "veto" a property being used, in this USDA contract, it isn't readily apparent.
• While no one will be roaming the streets with deadly weapons, if a deer isn't killed it can wander onto someone else's property and hunters may track it off the approved property.
• It isn't about guessing how many of the 1600 will vote for Deer Preservation Act, its about ALL 1600 expressing their right to DECIDE instead of city hall.
• In order to TAKE STEPS one should have data, there IS NO DEER COUNT and no current DVA count.
• Russo erroneously thought the hunting season was Jan-Feb, its actually Sept-March.  One should know these things before they decide on them.

At 7:33 1:23:40, Russo was asked to clarify the "no culling", he responded, that there would be "no culling, no crossbow, no lethal methods".

Status: Third Draft


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Solon Contracts with USDA

City council voted 6-1 (Pelunis disagreed) to enter into a contract with the USDA.

Here's my first cursory review of the contract

• Stanek is the point man for the city (no surprise, it could have been Viland though)
• Meetings are by invite only of Stanek or USDA
  
• They can amend any time without public notice or council action (eg add captive bolt)
• They likely would have to go to council for approving more than $128K (I will get the legal ordinance language)
• USDA will kill on public and private property with needed ODOW permits
• No provision is included to require adjoining property owner permission, it seems this is at the city's discretion
• USDA will supervise their own people and activities
• All media discussions about this MUST be approved by the city AND USDA (gag order)
  
• Any legal conflicts with USDA are governed by Federal Tort law (making any legal action must less likely)
• USDA told Solon there are private suppliers (wonder if they mentioned anyone other than WB)
• Only 2/3 of the cost ($87K) is for the killing activity the other $41K is for Vehicle, Travel, Supplies, and "Program Support" (Management overhead?).
• The cost is capped at $128K for USDA billing, however the city will incur significant costs over and above $128K for items listed below.
  

Items that will take city resources in addition to the $128K

• City must obtain ODOW permits
  
• City project coordinator must be accessible by USDA via cell
  
• Stock bait sites a week before and each day of killing
  
• City Police need to ensure areas are closed and empty
• City Police need to be present while USDA is killing
• Eviscerate, clean, store deer and ice carcasses after each day's kill
• Transport deer to processing plant within 24 hours
• Maintain records and produce reports for ODOW (didn't WB do that)
  

Status: FIRST DRAFT

Check back for text of contract

See Patch Article on this issue

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Aug 15th Council

Despite objections to moving forward, council discussed the plan and had it on first reading, no action was taken, the full council was not present.  Next council is on a special date Sept 7 at 7:30 due to labor day.

The meeting video is here, public comment from 10:30 min to 13:20 min, the plan discussed (item 9)  from 25:20 min to 29 min and comments from Russo from 57:20 min to 58:50 min.

Stanek forwarded an agreement with the USDA WS to the law director for review.  The quoted price of $128K was to kill 400-500 deer.  Stanek further said that if the city of Solon had to cancel the program they would only incur costs up to that point and not for cancelling the contract.

Russo asked Stanek to correct a misstatement by the Solon Sun who editorialized that lethal and contraception methods should be used together.  Ohio law doesn't allow this effective method to be used.

Lobe warned that the ballot initiative would repeal any inconsistent measures they pass, he said he's not telling them not to go forward, he's just stating that it could be repealed.

Russo discussed how much food banks appreciate donations of venison.

Near the end of the meeting, Russo also disputed the claim that the plan concentrated on lethal alternatives, he claimed it was better than previous plans that did not mention non-lethal, that last point may be true, but it doesn't answer the initial concern - Why doesn't this plan give equal consideration to non-lethal methods. Russo defended the council's decision to move forward because the city can't assume the Deer Preservation Act will pass and need to be prepared to move forward.  The point Russo was missing is that 1600+ people spoke up to ask for this to be on the ballot.  His response was that some of the 1600 people may be against it, but again he's missing that ALL of them wanted it on the ballot.

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