Council declines to approve expanded Hawk‑on‑Hand falconry contract after debate over who should pay for service

The council considered a professional services agreement with Hawk on Hand for falconer (avian abatement) services in Downtown Hanford and surrounding areas for calendar year 2025. The proposed contract totaled $53,600.

Staff said council had previously authorized funding for the service and that a formal professional services agreement was needed under the city’s purchasing policy. Earlier direction by council had, in staff’s words, authorized the city’s general fund to pay the entire amount; the item returned so council could ratify a contract consistent with council direction.

Council members debated whether downtown Main Street (the Business Improvement District) should pay half of the cost, whether other commercial areas impacted by displaced birds should share costs, and whether the city should require an assessment district to allocate costs more broadly. One councilmember said she believed she had voted differently earlier and would prefer the city pay only half and have Main Street cover the remainder; another councilmember observed that expanding the funded area was in part a result of city actions directing birds away from downtown.

A motion to approve the $53,600 agreement funded from the general fund was made but received no second and therefore failed. Staff noted they could bring the item back at the next meeting and that Hawk on Hand’s work was ongoing; the manager said a follow‑up could be scheduled quickly if council wanted to reconsider funding allocation.

Ending: No contract was executed at the meeting. Staff will return with options on funding arrangements if council requests further consideration.