City Council Minutes 2000 09 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Louisville City Council Meeting September 19, 2000 Page 21. consult with Wild Places, which is the most experienced relocation service in the area. She stated that there is no other relocation area, particularly in Boulder County. Carmen Keith, 67! West Pine Street, Louisville, CO stated that she lives at Via Appia and West Pine and has been a resident for ten years. She expressed her interest in the Via Appia pr-aide dog colony. She stated that she has a dog in her yard and that for the last three or four years, has found dead prairie dogs in her back yard. She reviewed that last year the colony was to be relocated, however, the relocation was stopped. She stated that the colony by the Fire Station has now tripled in size and that prairie dogs are coming into her front and back yard and into the streets. She stated that some sort of control mechanism must be put in place to keep prairie dogs from coming onto her property. Steve Costello, 902 Grove Drive, Louisville, CO stated that his home is on the comer of Washington and Grove, underneath the power lines. He noted that he frequently sees bald and golden eagles sitting on top of the power line towers. He stated that there are no predators to manage that prairie dog colony. He noted that due to the mild winters and the absolute lack of predators, the area is overrun with prairie dogs. He stated he does not want to see calls for further management development, further plan development, or further study. He stated that the time has passed to conduct long studies on the issue and it is time to develop meaningful options, particularly when prairie dogs are invading people's homes, and the prairie dogs themselves are endangered by their own overpopulation. He stated the time to take specific action has arrived. Davidson closed the public hearing. COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Davidson explained that, with respect to the Via Appia colony, several times over the years, the City has relocated the colony to prohibit the overrunning of the area. Davidson asked Dr. Stone for confirmation that it would do no good to move the Via Appia colony until the other prairie dog colonies on surrounding private properties are also managed. Dr. Stone stated that it is unlikely that the Via Appia colony can be successfully managed or relocated because of the colony across the road at the St. Louis Parish property. Dr. Stone stated that the general recommendation of the report is that the prairie dog colonies need some sort attention. Davidson informed Dr. Stone he had heard plans to eliminate the colony from two property owners On Via Appia. Dr. Stone stated that the number of animals needing relocation from the two entry properties is small enough to be easily relocated to an existing relocation site, such as Davidson Mesa. He noted the number of animals located on the Via Appia, Fire Station No. 2 property is considerably more and 21