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The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br />Request for Action <br />To <br />Parks and Recreation Commission <br />Item Number <br />14.2 <br />Agenda Section <br />Work Session <br />Meeting Date <br />September 11, 2019 <br />Prepared by <br />Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Item Description <br />Deer Feeding Ordinance <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br />Action Requested <br />Discussion of the need for an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer. <br />Background/Discussion <br />Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Dave Anderson requested a work session discussion regarding <br />an ordinance prohibiting the intentional feeding of deer. This past spring, a number of citizens raised <br />concerns about the increasing number of deer coming into their yards destroying plants, and possibly <br />increasing the likelihood of a deer-vehicle collision. <br />Four metro area cities have enacted deer/wildlife feeding restriction ordinances, Coon Rapids, <br />Bloomington, Blaine and Arden Hills. The DNR advises against feeding deer citing disease and increased <br />auto accidents. And while the DNR can enact feeding bans for wildlife issues with CWD (Chronic <br />Wasting Disease), state wildlife officials do not get involved allowing cities and counties to manage their <br />deer populations such as controlled hunts which we will host for a third year. <br />The challenges to such an ordinance are the infringement on private property rights, the difficulty of <br />police to properly enforce, the efficient utilization of policing resources in a community with over 300 <br />acres of conservation area intended to foster wildlife habitat. <br />Financial Impact <br />N/A <br />Attachments <br />Arden Hills Ordinance <br />Deer Feeding Articles and Information