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Council hears about goat-grazing pilot and $20,000 footnote for urban–wildland clearing
Summary
Council members asked whether the budget could be used to expand fire-mitigation work; staff pointed to a $20,000 footnote for urban–wildland interface clearing and said the city is exploring grazing vendors (goats) for vegetation-abatement work.
During budget deliberations, Councilmember Bucknam asked staff whether the landscape budget had flexibility to address fire-mitigation needs that have arisen during the season. Staff pointed to a footnote in the budget that includes $20,000 for urban–wildland interface clearing and confirmed the city typically budgets this annually.
Staff also said the city has met with grazing vendors and is exploring goat grazing as a nonchemical vegetation-management option. “We do have a mechanism to broaden the efforts,” staff said, and explained that goats are effective at removing herbaceous, 'soft-tissue' plant material like mustards and artichokes. Councilmembers and staff discussed the potential of such pilots to supplement traditional fuel-reduction contracting.
