Title
Resolution Concerning Park and Nature Area Closures
Body
Whereas, In August, 2015, the City Council approved a deer cull as one portion of a deer management plan;
Whereas, The Council specified that such a cull would be restricted to public land, and would not extend to privately owned land;
Whereas, In November, 2015, the Council issued a moratorium on the ordinance that otherwise prohibits the possession and discharge of weapons on public properties during the period of January 1 and March 31 in order to effect a deer cull;
Whereas, Ann Arbor is rich in natural, wooded areas already designated as public land, and all of these areas are potentially attractive areas for deer as well as for children and adults; and
Whereas, The plan that has been developed by the City staff in collaboration with the contractor (USDA-APHIS wildlife services) involves closing many natural areas that are in heavy use by residents both during the day and during the early morning and evening hours;
RESOLVED, That all parks through which the border-to-border trail is constructed will remain open, and a deer cull will not be conducted in those parks;
RESOLVED, That certain parks shall not be used for a cull because of their value to the community for unduplicatable transit and recreation (Olson dog park; Argo park and Argo cascades and Bandemer Park); and
RESOLVED, That the cull will not be conducted between 7 am on Saturday and 7 am on Monday during the times specified for a cull.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Briere and Smith
As Amended by Ann Arbor City Council on December 21, 2015