Council deadlocks on application to install laser bird deterrents at two ponds; application fails 3-3

The Newport City Council did not approve an application to deploy laser-based bird deterrent systems at North and Southeast Ponds, voting 3-3 so the motion failed.

Director Schultz told the council the devices are a non-lethal visual deterrent intended to reduce resident goose populations and contamination of shallow reservoirs that serve part of the water system. “The major component is resident geese…they’re one to three pounds of waste a day,” Schultz said, explaining bird droppings can contribute phosphorus and water quality impairment.

Council members and residents raised environmental and health concerns. Resident Lois Vaughn Eberhard told the council she had consulted an ornithologist and raised concerns that the lasers, which can be Class 3B in power and visible as a green light, could affect “every single bird and every single mammal, every single amphibian reptile that’s within the path of the lasers.” Eberhard also questioned whether goose droppings were the primary source of water quality issues and pointed to other watershed sources such as stormwater runoff.

Councilors asked about permits, oversight and whether environmental agencies had signed off. Schultz said the technology appears in recommended best practices for bird harassment mitigation and that some more intrusive methods are not appropriate for embankment dams. He also said the state now requires the council to approve the application and that the council would likely see subsequent bids and design approvals if the application were accepted.

Councilor discussion focused on trade-offs between protecting a drinking water source and possible ecological impacts. Chief Duffy said the technology is passive and should not physically harm birds, noting that some demonstrations used handheld devices and affected bird behavior. Nevertheless, several councilors and speakers requested more environmental review and clearer evidence of net benefit.

After public comment and council discussion, the vote to approve the application tied 3-3 and the motion failed. A council member clarified that with the application the city was telling the state it would use the funds to install the lasers should the grant be approved.

The application sought state funds and, if approved, would be followed by a separate procurement and design process for installation, monitoring and any required environmental approvals.