PASSED:
BY:
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION
TO ESTABLISH A DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in the 1970s, the number of deer in Ohio was estimated at
17,000, which at the time warranted programs to manage the population; over the
past 30 years, the numbers have increased dramatically, and are now estimated
at about 750,000 statewide;
WHEREAS, Amberley Village is greatly benefitted by the amount of green
space and wildlife, which enhances the quality of life in the Village; The
Village consists of approximately 2,240 acres (3.5 square miles). There
are 403 acres of green space including French Park, a City of Cincinnati public
park of 257 acres, and Amberley Green, which is an undeveloped Village-owned
property of 133 acres;
WHEREAS, the significant increase
in the number of deer in recent years requires that the Village appropriately
manage the deer population;
WHEREAS, in response to numerous
complaints relating to property damage from deer activity, Amberley Village
first implemented a deer management program in 2007, which has continued to the
present time;
WHEREAS, Council determines that it is
in the best interest of the Village and its residents, in order to protect
against property damage caused by deer, and danger to human life caused by
vehicle accidents with deer, to establish a program to maintain the deer
population at a level which is acceptable from a safety and nuisance
perspective, as well as to ensure a healthy deer herd and sustainability of
other wildlife in the Village;
WHEREAS, in the spring and summer of
2012, the Village Health, Education, & Welfare Committee conducted
informational meetings to assess and address the impact of the White Tail deer
presence in Amberley Village, as well as collected information and data from
various regional governmental agencies, including the Cincinnati Park Board,
the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the City of Wyoming, and the Amberley Village
Police Dept. on the issue of deer management;
SECTION 1:
(A) The Village will conduct a deer count by
thermal imaging technology every third year beginning in 2013. In order to control costs, the Village
Manager may enter into an agreement to share costs with the City of Cincinnati,
which owns and operates French Park within Amberley Village, as both
jurisdictions benefit from a reduced deer herd in this area.
(B) Village police are permitted to cull up
to 50 deer per calendar year without additional approval by Council. If the Village Police Department determines
that, due to increased complaints of property damage or an increase in deer
vehicle accidents, a higher number of deer should be culled, the Police
Department may make a request to the Health, Education, & Welfare Committee
to increase the number of deer culled.
(C) Deer culling shall only be conducted by members
of the Amberley Village Police Department as authorized by the Police Chief.
Culling shall be achieved by trained sharpshooters.
(D) Prior to culling, notices shall be posted
around the culling area warning persons of the activity, and all culling areas
shall be closed to the public. Culling may not be performed on private property
without written permission from the owner and a release from legal liability
approved by the Solicitor. Any such permission granted shall continue in
perpetuity until withdrawn by the owner.
(E) The
management of the deer population shall include a monitoring program which
includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:
1. Deer
Vehicle Accidents (DVA) -- Amberley Village Police will continue to monitor the
number of reported and unreported DVAs occurring within Amberley Village, and
will monitor reports of injured deer and deer carcasses collected in the
Village. The Village will collect and maintain records of deer vehicle
accidents and property damage complaints via an online form accessible on the
Village website. Residents may self-report incidents on the web form. Information
collected by the Village will be reviewed by the Health, Education, &
Welfare Committee once per calendar year in September, in order to assess
whether appropriate records are being maintained.
2. Citizen
Complaints – Residential complaints received by the Village will be entered
into a database to be utilized in monitoring progress of selected control
methods and providing guidance in recommending modifications. Complaints of
deer damage or traffic related issues can be made directly to the Administration
office or by utilizing the Deer Damage Report on the Village’s website. This
information will be provided to Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division
of Wildlife personnel.
3. Harvested
Animal Inventory – If required by the Ohio Division of Natural Resources,
pertinent data such as sex of deer, age (estimated), and weight should be
logged on each animal harvested or removed by other means. Date, time and
location should also be included if the information is available.
4. Public
Opinion Surveys –Village staff will establish a form for residents to access
online in order to self-report property damage, injured deer sightings, and
unreported DVAs. Additionally, the
Health, Education, and Welfare committee will survey residents by any available
online survey in order to gauge resident feedback regarding deer management.
5. All
data collected by the Village will be periodically reviewed by the Health,
Education, & Welfare committee not less than once per calendar year,
commencing in September 2013. Any changes or amendments to the Village deer
management program shall be made and brought before Council’s regularly
scheduled October meeting, if necessary.
SECTION 2: The
Health, Education & Welfare Committee shall revisit and review this resolution
every third year, in the year after the latest deer count, but beginning no
later than 2016.
SECTION 3: If any section, paragraph, subsection, clause or
provision of this resolution shall be declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of this
resolution as a whole, or any other part hereof.
SECTION 4: That this resolution shall take effect and be in
force at the earliest date allowed by law.
Passed this
____ day of ,
2012.
___________________________________
Mayor
Byar
Attest:
____________________________
Nicole Browder, Clerk of Council
Ordinance Vote:
Moved: _____ Second: _________
Byar ______
Wolf ______
Hattenbach ______
Muething ______
Bardach ______
Warren ______
Doering ______
I, Clerk of
Council of Amberley Village, Ohio, certify that on the ____ day of
_____________, 20 , the
forgoing Resolution was published pursuant to Article IX of the Home Rule
Charter by posting true copies of said Resolution at all of the places of
public notice as designed by Sec. 31.40(B), Code of Ordinances.
______________________________
Nicole
Browder, Clerk of Council
