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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCLD-014-10REPORT CLERK'S DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: May 3, 2010 Report: CLD-014-10 Resolution~~~~~l0 File#: By-law#: n//f} NEWCASTLE/BOND HEAD RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION CONCERNS RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report CLD-014-10 be received; 2. THAT methods of deterring Canada Geese in municipal parks be investigated for inclusion in the 2011 budget deliberations; and 3. THAT Ken Willis, Secretary, Newcastle/Bond Head Ratepayers' Association be advised of Council's decision and forwarded a copy of Report CLD-014-10. Submitted by: Reviewed by: a ie, CMO Municipal Clerk PLB Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 REPORT NO.: CLD-014-10 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND At a recent meeting, correspondence was received from Ken Willis, Secretary, Newcastle/Bond Head Ratepayers' Association wherein he submitted the following requests for Council's consideration: 1. Is it possible to pass a by-law to stop the feeding of geese at Bond Head Beach? 2. Requesting that a sign be posted at Bond Head Beach to discourage the feeding. 3. They are disappointed that there are no plans in the near future for a disposal site for household hazardous waste, stating that this lack of a plan does not meet the requirements of their residents. 4. Requesting a meeting with appropriate staff to discuss additional tree planting on Mill Street. 2.0 CANADA GOOSE CONTROL The Municipality passed By-law 2006-126 in June 2006 which regulates, protects and controls all public parks within the municipality. Section 8 of this by-law states: "8. Protection of Wildlife No person shall in any park: (a) kill, attempt to kill, maim, injure, trap or disturb any animal, bird, waterfowl, fish, worms, or other wildlife; or (b) touch, injure or remove any nest or egg there from; or (c) feed any waterfowl." Since receiving Mr. Willis' letter, signs to discourage people from feeding the birds have been erected at Bond Head Park. There are some strategies available to the municipality should it be determined that the geese are becoming a nuisance at this or any other park. By mid-April, most female geese are sitting on their nests. Preferred sites are near water, such as small inlands, and the shorelines of ponds and wetlands. Given that geese prefer good visibility to detect predators and feed in open areas with clear flight access to ponds, lakes or marshes, natural barriers of trees, brush and shrubs can be created between the cultivated land and the wetlands. REPORT NO.: CLD-014-10 PAGE 3 Scare techniques can be used to discourage nesting and feeding as soon as the geese arrive in the spring. Techniques include noisemakers such as propane canons and sirens, visual deterrents such as scarecrows, mylar flags, and helium-filled balloons, strobe lights, recorded distress calls and the use of trained dogs and birds of prey. In researching this matter, staff contacted Bright Wings, a company that has been scaring nuisance birds for the past ten years. Through the use of birds of prey and a dog, the owner harasses the geese until they learn to vacate the site. Bright Wings has been using this method very successfully with the City of Pickering and Miller Waste for the past number of years. It is anticipated that this option of control would cost the municipality approximately $650 per week until the end of October, for a total cost of approximately $15,500. Adult geese with goslings can be kept away from designated areas with temporary barriers such as low fences marked with "Birdscare-Flash-Tape", fluttering strands of shiny Mylar tape or other highly visible matter. The barrier would be placed at goose and gosling height between the water and the area to be protected. Adults can fly over the barrier, but goslings will not follow and the adults will not leave their goslings behind. Once geese have successfully established a nest, it is illegal to destroy it or the eggs. Upon obtaining a permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service, the eggs can be sterilized by coating them with non-toxic vegetable or mineral oil, or the eggs can be shaken to destroy the developing embryo. The goose will continue to incubate her eggs beyond the normal hatching date and will not re-nest. The issue of Canada Goose deterrence was not contemplated earlier and is therefore not included in the 2010 budget. Should it be Council's desire to implement any of the above measures to deter the geese, it is recommended that it be considered during the 2011 budget deliberations. 3.0 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE Information received from the Regional Municipality of Durham with respect to the household hazardous waste is that there was no provision for the depot in the 2010 budget. It is anticipated to be up and running in 2013. The Energy- From-Waste (EFW) Host Community Agreement contains a commitment that the hazardous waste depot has to be in place within one year of the commissioning of the EFW. The EFW is not anticipated to start-up until 2013. REPORT NO.: CLD-014-10 PAGE 4 4.0 MILL STREET TREE PLANTING The Regional Municipality of Durham has confirmed that the Mill Street reconstruction project is now complete and no additional tree planting or streetscaping is going to be completed in accordance with the contract. Regional staff have been in contact with Mr. Willis and advised him of this and suggested that he speak with the contractor with a proposed plan.