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Council receives update on goat-grazing pilot; volunteers report environmental benefits
Summary
Staff outlined next steps for extending a pilot goat-grazing program and developing a phased RFP; volunteer leader Mike Kaye said the herd has grown to about 75 adults and 25 juveniles and reported positive environmental changes across more than 25 acres grazed.
The San Clemente City Council received an informational report Feb. 17 on the extension of the city’s pilot goat-grazing program, which staff said had been authorized previously with up to $100,000 appropriated for initial work.
Adam Ataman, community development director, said staff discovered scheduling, environmental and logistical considerations while preparing an RFP and is pursuing a phased approach with smaller projects to keep the pilot operating; staff expects contracts to be in place within roughly a month and recommended that the council receive and file the report.
Volunteer lead Mike Kaye told the council the program has expanded to roughly 75 adult goats and 25 juveniles, that more than 25 acres have been grazed, and that volunteers have noted ecological improvements such as increased hawk activity. "It has been a ... financially, economically, environmentally, very positive means of dealing with some of the invasive species and fire fuel load issues that we have," Kaye said.
Nut graf: Staff cautioned that $100,000 is not sufficient to scale a full wildfire-prevention program; Ataman compared possible program scale to Laguna Beach (~$2.2 million annually) and said the city’s current defensible-space budget is about $200,000. Council received and filed the informational report; a motion to receive and file carried 5–0.
Ending: Staff will continue the phased RFP process and return to council with contract details as they become available.
