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Council weighs wildlife management budget; staff recommends baseline survey funding
Summary
Council heard staff recommendations to fund wildlife management as an ongoing program rather than reactively budgeting for culling. Staff proposed at least $6,000 for a deer survey and council signaled support for a $50,000 wildlife line item to preserve flexibility.
Council reviewed wildlife management options during the non‑departmental portion of the FY 2627 budget workshop. Joey and staff recommended the city fund a wildlife management program with baseline funding so decisions in the fall can be data‑driven rather than reactionary.
Joey recommended carrying at least $6,000 to pay for an updated deer survey by the vendor used previously. He summarized the vendor’s estimate for a potential cull if council chose that option: "So you're looking at a cost of 25,600 for four nights" to pursue a target of up to 40 deer (the vendor’s field/processing cost model was $500 per deer plus $140 per deer processor fee, with $640 per deer above the 40‑deer package).
Discussion: staff said last year’s work cost about $48,141; council members favored funding a moderate, flexible line item this year (several members expressed comfort with $50,000) so survey work is guaranteed and the city can pivot after fall survey results. Staff framed the effort as a broader wildlife management program — not only culling — that should consider ecological impacts, grazing damage and non‑count data points when deciding future interventions.
Next steps: staff will budget a wildlife management line within the general fund (survey baseline plus contingency) and present survey results and policy options when the vendor and data are available this fall.
