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Detroit committee pauses geese-management contract after members question effectiveness
Summary
A proposed two‑year, $108,000 contract for geese management was pulled for further review after council members said they had not seen evidence the contractor’s approach is reducing populations in Palmer Park and elsewhere.
Council members stopped short of advancing a proposed two‑year geese‑management contract with Goodbye Geese LLC, instead voting to bring the item back after the beginning of the year for more information about deployment and effectiveness.
Vice chair Callaway said she has seen no improvement from the contractor’s methods in local parks and questioned whether three border collies and the current deployment schedule would reduce the geese population. "It's just not working in our community… I've not seen any decrease in the geese population in the Palmer Park area," she said, and asked for other options to be considered.
Alex Weatherup, assistant director for General Services, offered to work with Callaway’s office to gather deployment schedules and site‑specific results. "I'd be happy to work with your office between now and the beginning of the year to talk through solutions or the issues you're having," Weatherup said.
Callaway moved to bring the line item back with a date to be determined; the committee accepted the motion. Members raised concerns that a multi‑year extension could lock in spending before the city has reviewed outcomes and alternatives.
The item will not be finalized at committee; members asked administration to provide details about where and when dogs are deployed, evidence of effectiveness, and alternatives for controlling Canada goose populations before the contract is reintroduced.
