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City Council Minutes Page 11 <br /> June 1,2015 <br /> police receives these complaints of hunters and gunshot sounds near the downtown <br /> district and residential housing. <br /> Mr. Wilson stated the intent to provide public education for use of the area, accurate <br /> and descriptive signage to ensure clear understanding to users, and he realizes there <br /> may be an increase in call reports due to the location of the land near the downtown <br /> and residential area. He stated this is a prime example of how a conservation area can <br /> exist within in a community. <br /> Councilmember Wagner stressed the need to address folks not familiar with hunting <br /> times of year with education campaigns and signage. <br /> Mr. Wilson agreed and wouldn't want to restrict those who want to take a "Sunday <br /> walk" on the property. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard noted there is limited access to property and signage at <br /> the main entrance would assist visitors to be aware of hunting activity during certain <br /> times of the year. <br /> The consensus of the council was to approve the draft hunting plan as proposed. <br /> 10.2 Deer Herd Reduction <br /> Mr. Hecker presented the staff report. He introduced Park Commissioners Dave <br /> Anderson and Mike Niziolek, and Steve Engelmeyer, employee of Cargill and the <br /> manager of the Cargill hunt. <br /> Mr. Anderson reviewed the problem of the deer population in the city and indicated <br /> the reasons behind the increase. One area discussed was resident backyard deer <br /> feeding, thereby creating herds of deer traveling through properties via city roads. It <br /> was s <br /> In combination with current practice of"back tag" program, the volunteer group <br /> suggest expansion of an area known to the Minnesota Department of Natural <br /> Resources (DNR) as deer hunting Zone 601 (near Walmart and includes the land <br /> surrounding Cargill) as a useful tool in controlling the deer herd. This would allow <br /> hunters to shoot antlerless deer with no limit. The DNR would ask for council <br /> support to allow expansion of this zone. <br /> The group would like the council support of a controlled archery hunt in Elk River <br /> parks. Mr. Anderson explained the group's intent regarding how hunters are selected, <br /> educated in a pre-hunt meeting, rules being adhered to, and which parks were being <br /> considered as hunting zones. He explained the urgency in acting upon this due to the <br /> damage the deer are doing and the already high population growth of new fawns. <br /> P O w E R E U 9 1 <br /> 1`4 f U <br />