HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3BLate13 10/19/2009L ;
From: Crump, Katie
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 8:59 AM
To: -City Clerk
Subject: FW' Animal Services regulations
Attachments: caffestimony1009.DOG; peregrine1009Bhor2.jpg
Far the book
.~'
From: Bob Dyer [mailto:nrdyer@comcast.net]
Senf Saturday, October 17, 2009: 9::05 AM
To tiffany renee; teresa barren; Pam torliatt; mike harris; citymgr; david rabbitt; david glass; Mike Healy
Subject: Animal Services regulations
I realize this has been a pain and there are bigger (more important) fish for you folk to fry.
They will be back Monday =the self-proclaimed "feral cat .women". My main concern is an effort on their part to reduce
the "PetalumalNetlands.'" as defined in the. draft ordinance. We cannot have feeding stations a few feet from the gate to
Shollenberger and expect feral cats not to snack most of the day on the wetlands' birds and small mammals. It was that
way prior to 2004.
Here are the notes I used for my testimony on October 5th. I did not submit °them for the record.
Not all our wetland birds would be subject to attacks from cats,. ladmit -such as this .bird I photographed in the Petaluma
Holding Ponds last:week. Another docent and I monitor the heron colony there for the city as well as maintain the tree
swallow boxes.
PROPOSED PETALUMA ANLMAL SERVICE REGULATIONS 9.14.110 &.9.14.120
• There are now almost 8 miles of trails in our publically-accessible wetlands
• Birders spent 32 billion annually. Arcata .attracts 150,000 annually Properly marketed, our
wetlands could draw 10,000's of thousands of paying guests
• We must keep wetlands pristine for bird-lovers and other naturalists
• The Council has been progressive in its opposition to Dutra, to protect Shollenberger and
wildlife but must also protect Shoile'nberger and the other public wetlands from feral cats
• Prior to the 2004 ordinance there were feeding stations with 25 feet of the Ellis Creek
property, and right across left freshwater channel-of S.P. I, was often criticized by birders
when conducting tours. Things are much better now.
• I support the revised ordinance. It provides protection .and proper management of cat
colonies. The definition of Petaluma Wetlands will work, The definition is solely "for
purposes of this section "[9.1,4.110] as the Petaluma River on the southwest and Lakeville
on the north and east from the. Marina to and including the holding ponds. We cannot have
feeding stations a few feet from the Shollenberger gate
• I have consulted with an environmental attorney. He said any diminution of the wetlands
from-that defined in the ordinance could trigger the need fora CEQA analysis. Also,
anything done to increase the danger to native birds would be considered "take" under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (which .covers .all native birds), and other state and federal
regulations, especially those intended to protect threatened or endangered species such as
fhe Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, clapper rail, black rail and willow flycatcher.
• It would be the height of cynicism to espouse protecting 'the 225. species of birds and
animals at Shollenberger, Afman Marsh and Elli"s Creek and. allowing feeding stations within
feet of these areas; after all, I did not invent the team "free-roaming" as applied to cats.
Norris (Bob) Dyer, 170.8 Granada Court, Petaluma, 94954. nrdyer(c~comcast.net
:_
r
~
~ _
i i `'~_, 2 ;
r ~,
~.r,z~. ,~• •~
--
-.` -. , ;
.E ~ ,i. ._ --~
_-~ ~
j
~
_
~\ ~~ .~ _ .
~
ff
`~ ti ati~ ~'~
~ ~.,
-ice ~ . _-
4` '
r~F _ - -
`s _ r
.
_ ~L ~ ^.
~ ~ _ r
!I
II
I
I
- ~ ~ _ ~ a t
- _ -. f ~
" ~ ~ ~e '
~ ;, ~
~ S~ ~ -SFr ~ ~ ~i~ry y ._ -
'~-. 1- t. 'r .~ _ ~ t .ti
': - ~-~ `