HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-10-03 Council Minutes - Work SessionCOUNCILKENAI CITY •SESSION
OCTOBER.,
MAYORKENAI CITY COUNCIL CRAMBERS
PAT PORTER,
Council Members Present: P. Porter, J. Moore, B. Eldridge, R. Ross, R. Molloy and M.
Boyle
Council Members Absent: L. Swarner
Staff Present: C. Freas, L. Semmens, C. Graves, K. Wanamaker, R. Koch
and M. Joiner
Others Present: Larry Lewis, Jeff Selinger, Ted Spraker (retired), Fish &
Game; Jack Carver, Alaska Waste; Dave Donald, Safari
Club; and Steve Stringum, Bear Biologist
A broad discussion took place related to large, widespread bear issues throughout the
city, including:
• Identification of the problem, i.e. growing bear population within the city
limits, mostly brown bear sow and cub problems through learned behavior, etc.
• How to encourage Kenai residents to change their habits of handling
garbage.
• Suggested language to amend the city's current, and perhaps inadequate
ordinance, to require use of bear -tight containers which would assist in reducing food
availability and encourage bears to move on to natural choices of food.
Consider a grant program to residents for acquiring the bear -resistant
containers.
• Sows and cubs are not legal for harvest; moved bears either come back
or cause trouble in another community; moving bears from the area had not been
successful over the years.
• Need people to take positive reasonable measures -- lots of things can be
done to adjust bear behavior.
Encourage removing the food attraction, along with removal of the bears.
Work session ended at approximately 6:40 p.m.
Notes prepared and submitted by:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk
APPROVED BY COUNCIL