Presenter/Contact
Presenter
Mark Enders, Watershed Program Manager
Contact Info
(830) 221-4639- menders@nbtexas.org
Subject Header
SUBJECT:
Title
Presentation and direction on urban wildlife management.
Body
BACKGROUND / RATIONALE:
Concerns have been noted regarding the abundance of wildlife within the City. These concerns include wildlife-related auto collisions, degraded water quality, wildlife health and Park maintenance issues. Staff has been working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to better understand management options.
Public input meetings on urban wildlife were held in February and April in cooperation with TPWD to inform the community of the concerns associated with urban wildlife and potential management options. Two online surveys were administered to obtain feedback from the community on urban wildlife and management strategies.
The Watershed Protection Plan for the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River (WPP) was developed by local stakeholders and includes wildlife management measures as a mitigation strategy to decrease bacteria loading to these waterbodies. The City has been awarded a grant through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to implement measures included in the WPP. The grant includes funding to support the implementation of specific urban wildlife management measures.
Staff is seeking direction from City Council on how to move forward with this issue.
ADDRESSES A NEED/ISSUE IN A CITY PLAN OR COUNCIL PRIORITY:
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding is available through the WPP Implementation grant to support specific wildlife management measures.
Recommendation
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the implementation of an education and outreach campaign regarding the negative impacts of wildlife feeding. Staff also recommends development and approval of a wildlife feeding ordinance. A program to reduce the population of non-native waterfowl in Landa Park is also recommended.