Title
Resolution to Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract with White Buffalo, Inc. for Combined Surgical Sterilization and Sharpshooting Management Services for the City’s Deer Population ($35,940.00 amendment/NTE total $205,940.00), Amend the FY18 Budget and Appropriate Necessary Funds ($110,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Approval is requested to appropriate additional funding for the Deer Management program and amend White Buffalo’s contract for provision of combined lethal and non-lethal deer management services under its MDNR combined management research project permit.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Program Funds were budgeted and approved in the amount of $260,000.00 for FY18 Deer Management Program costs. The same amount was planned for FY19 program costs. To meet the FY18 program objectives, appropriation of a portion of the funds ($110,000.00) originally planned for FY19 is requested now. The additional funds, available in the FY18 General Fund fund balance, would be a one-time expenditure in FY18 and a reduction to the recurring expenditure planned in FY19.
On July 3, 2017, City Council approved a two-year contract with White Buffalo, Inc. for Deer Management Program Services (R-17-258). Funding for these services was budgeted at a NTE $170,000.00/yr. White Buffalo, Inc. is providing deer management services under a research permit granted directly to White Buffalo based on a urban deer management approach proposed to and approved by the City and the MDNR.
The City of Ann Arbor is in preparing for the third year of a four-year approved lethal cull during the winter of 2018 to address the impact of deer browsing in selected areas. The City continues to work under an MDNR issued “research” permit that allows the City to incorporate sterilization of does into the overall program. In addition, the City is increasing its educational efforts and signage as part of a three-pronged strategy to deer management. The City is also continuing to invest in the collection of data to monitor the impacts of each of these efforts. The resources requested above reflect staff’s best estimate of what will be required to meet program objectives and get closer to what a maintenance program may look like in FY19.
Staff’s request is to increase White Buffalo’s contract from $170,000.00 to $205,940.00, a $35,940.00 increase reflecting primarily an increased number of deer to be culled. In addition, the City Administration is requesting the White Buffalo seek an amendment to its permit by MDNR authorizing a potential third sterilization zone. . The budget request also includes a proposed increase in the total project budget from $260,000.00 to $370,000.00, reflecting the aforementioned $35,940.00 for White Buffalo plus an additional $74,060.00 to cover staff support costs associated with the increased program and educational programming efforts. The increased costs in FY18 are planned as one-time expenditures with a similar reduction in the planned FY19 fiscal plan for the deer management program. Exact allocations for the FY19 program will be dependent upon the results achieved in FY18.
City Administration recommends the amendment to the White Buffalo, Inc. contract and the increase in the project budget to meet the objectives of the winter 2018 deer management program.
Staff
Prepared by: Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Tom Crawford, CFO/Finance and Administrative Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Howard Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City has determined that its urban deer population are creating public safety and ecological conflicts in its natural areas and neighborhoods;
Whereas, The use of culling techniques has historically been used to reduce local deer populations;
Whereas, Alternative management techniques such fertility control may be more practical in areas where culling is not feasible;
Whereas, MDNR regulations do not currently permit fertility control as a management technique for white-tailed deer populations;
Whereas, MDNR has expressed support for locally-funded fertility control research in combination with culling of localized deer populations;
Whereas, White Buffalo, Inc.is operating under contract with the City and an approved research permit from the MDNR;
Whereas, To meet the objectives of the FY18 program, Dr. Anthony DeNicola has indicated the need to utilize private parcels to supplement the use of public lands;
Whereas, The recommended program for FY18 will require additional resources than were plan for FY2018 but should reduce the resources needed for FY19; and
Whereas, Funding is available but unbudgeted in the General Fund fund balance;
RESOLVED, That City Council amend a contract with White Buffalo, Inc. for the Combined Surgical Sterilization and Sharpshooting Management Services for the City’s Deer Population in the amount from $170,000.00 to $205,940.00;
RESOLVED, That $110,000.00 of General Fund fund balance be added to the FY18 Community Services Administration expenditure budget to increase be expended in accordance with the Winter 2018 Deer Management Plan;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the above contract amendment subject to approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this Resolution, including the execution of any Letter of Authority required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in connection with permit activities on City property and Work Statements for specific program services within the approved contract amount.