Present: Chairman Phillips, Alderpersons Sevenich, Walther, Seiser, Sowieja

Also Present: Mayor Wescott, C/T Schlice, City Attorney Molepske, Clerk Zdroik, Directors Disher, Gardner, Schrader, Van Alstine; Alderpersons Barr, Rackow, Molski, Nealis, Moore; Police Captain Daubert, Mayoral Assistant Molepske, Barb Martin (Journal), Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette), Matt Mattano (WIZD)

Index of these Minutes:

1. License list.
2. Stevens Point Deer Management Committee meeting of January 7, 2002.
3. Discussion on occupancy of a licensed premises by underage persons.
4. Inspection Reports

1. License list.

Ald. Sowieja moved, Ald. Sevenich seconded, for approval of the new operator/bartender’s licenses, transfer of "Class B" combination license, and temporary Class "B"/"Class B" retailer’s license.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

2. Stevens Point Deer Management Committee meeting of January 7, 2002.

Ald. Sevenich moved, Ald. Walther seconded, to approve the minutes of the Stevens Point Deer Management Committee meeting of January 7, 2002, to include the following recommendations:

(1) the number of deer to be culled in the City, (2) the location of the culling of the deer in the City, (3) making the deer culled available to City residents via registration/lottery system, (4) request the Finance Committee to allocate $4,995, to cover the expenses in connection with the culling of the deer, and (4) request Council’s permission to feed the deer for baiting/culling purposes.

Ald. Walther reported he received inquiries from constituents questioning the hiring out of the sniper/sharp shooters. The constituents were wondering if the culling of the herd could be done locally by licensed individuals, to save some money.

Ald. Barr stated the recommendation to hire Urban Wildlife Specialists came from the Village of Plover and Village of Whiting. These villages have used Urban Wildlife in the past. The DNR also has experience with Urban Wildlife and spoke highly of them. They are bonded and there should be no concern on the liability issue, the Alderman said.

Police Captain Daubert said the Police Department could not be involved in this type of enforcement so the Committee had to look somewhere else.

Ald. Sowieja asked for the number of complaints received about deer eating vegetation.

Ald. Seiser said she received some complaints from the people on the north side.

Ald. Sowieja feels the Committee is jumping a little bit ahead. He noted the car/deer accidents that took place on County Road HH which is not in the City. Without specifically knowing where the deer problems are, we are just setting up certain positions where the sharp shooters are going to be culling the herd. He is concerned about that. The hiring of sniper/sharp shooters and culling approximately 60 deer should have something to do with insurance companies. He feels the insurance companies rather than the residents will benefit from this program. With the good number of bow and arrow hunters in the area, the City could work out some programs to cull the deer herd. He feels there is a better way of taking care of this problem.

Ald. Molski said the problem also exists in her district based upon the calls she received from her constituents residing east of Green Avenue to Soo Marie Avenue. These deer are eating their gardens and shrubs. The deer can also be found on the east side, north side and south parts of her district.

Ald. Barr said he misunderstood Ald. Sowieja’s question. He also received a lot of complaints regarding damage done by the deer.

Ald. Rackow said he participated in a deer study led by the Village of Whiting several years ago. He remembers some points from the discussion that became the basis for hiring sharp shooters. When reducing the herd, the DNR said the first year there will be about 40 to 50 deer culled which will be hardly noticed, the second year the culling will be noticed and on the third year, the culling will be quite visible. The more deer there are, the more different plants they will eat. The deer will eat gardens first, then the trees and then the shrubs. Ald. Rackow said he is alarmed by the number of collisions within the City limits as reported. The deer/car accidents on County road HH are in the City limits. As far as the collisions, he believes the insurance companies have a stake at this. Even if there is no financial disadvantage to the residents, there are still the disadvantage of having the car fixed, substituting for the car, etc. The Alderman agrees that there are plenty of bow hunters here that could do the job but they are not bonded. The bow hunters have day time jobs and they cannot come when they are needed so the execution is not practical.

Ald. Sowieja said he was misinformed as far as County Road HH not being in the City. He feels the bow hunters are flexible as far as when they can hunt since most of the hunting is done before sunset.

Bob Holsman, 4711 East Maria Drive, Town of Hull, said the proposal has a lot of merit but the Committee, who has done its homework, has not done everything it could do. The Committee has not addressed the key question of what is the acceptable level of risk and damage the residents of the City should incur in order to have the benefit of watching those animals on the Green Circle trail, on bike rides and the many aesthetic and natural values that they have in the City. He said the primary reason why he bought the house is for the opportunity to observe and watch the deer on a somewhat regular basis. Mr. Holsman wants to express gratitude for the opportunity to live among deer and he is asking the Committee and later the Common Council when they consider the proposal to advance with caution, to advance with a scientific basis and to clearly articulate a policy of what criteria to weigh yard damage complaints versus vehicle accidents versus other public safety issues. Until there is a clearly established policy that enumerates those criteria and can also answer the questions of how many deer we have, what benefit culling of 60 deer would do to those who benefit from watching the wildlife, the City is on shaky ground, credibility wise, Mr. Holsman added.

Robert Winn, 4225 Janick Circle, Stevens Point, echoed Mr. Holsman’s comments. He said so far he had hit four deer, hunted for 55 years, mistakenly planted two crab apple trees which the deer trimmed nicely. He said he will trade those experiences for the opportunity to see the deer and deer tracks. He strongly objects to the consideration being thought of here tonight. He wonders what the committee has done to work with DNR to find out what plants can be suggested as being less desirable to the deer. Mr. Winn said he hates to live just amongst people. He would like to see natural areas, and appreciates deer, rabbits, and everything that is out there. He resents the human attitude that just because some animals that we have moved amongst us are causing occasional damage. As far as damage to vehicles, we have more people driving now and there are more cars. He asked that people learn to live with deer around their gardens and do not assassinate a bunch of animals

Chairman Phillips said the intention of the Committee is to limit the number of deer in the City as much as possible and not to eliminate them.

Ald. Nealis commented on behalf of his wife who feels this is also the habitat for the deer.

Ald. Rackow said there are more deer in Wisconsin now than there were before the Europeans came here. We helped create the habitat for them.

Ald. Seiser asked if the culling of the deer herd is approved, will the 60 deer be for this year only?

Chairman Phillips said yes.

Ald. Moore asked where did the culling of 60 deer come from? Why are we starting at that point?

Chairman Phillips said the Committee talked about 100 deer based on the signs the Urban Wildlife representatives saw when they toured the City based on the complaints and accident reports in various parts of the City. The Committee then decided to go to a lower number from the 100 top end and decided 60 was a good number to start with. It is the Committee’s intention to limit the number of deer, not to eliminate the deer, the Chairman added.

Ayes: Chairman Phillips, Ald. Sevenich, Walther.
Nays: Ald. Seiser, Sowieja. Motion carried.

3. Discussion on occupancy of a licensed premises by underage persons.

Ald. Seiser asked in this instance if the age limit on the occupancy is 18 and up and will ID be required?

Carol Garski, one of the owners of The Keg, 200 Isadore Street, said 18 and up is the age limit and yes ID cards will be checked.

Ald. Sowieja said it is a great idea to get the youth involved in that age group and being able to go some place. He knows that a lot of responsibilities will be put on the owners of the establishments but he feels it is good for the youth and good for the business. The Alderman added that anybody that is 18 years of age is considered adult and can make their own decisions.

Ald. Sevenich thinks it is a good idea but she has a couple concerns. She said there are some 18-year old kids that are still in high school. Tuesdays through Thursdays are school nights or sports are going on. These kids must be home at reasonable hours. She also noted that there are a lot of kids running around on her side of town that are 16 years old and are subject to curfew.

Ms. Garski said 16-year old kids will not be allowed to come in her establishment.

Captain Daubert said the Police Department will work with the City Attorney in drafting an ordinance to bring back to the Committee for next month’s meeting.

City Attorney Molepske noted that if the Public Protection Committee feels the principle is satisfactory, he will draft a simple ordinance using some areas like the use of restrooms facilities separate from those being used by individuals present on the portion of the licensed premises where alcohol beverages are being served, sold or consumed; notification of the Police Department prior to the date requested by the licensee when events involving underage will he held, etc.

Ald. Seiser said she heard of a concern that this has been allowed in the past in the city. She said the establishment was Bruisers.

Captain Daubert said it was teen night. She does not believe the Police Department was always notified when these events were going on. If the City adopts an ordinance, the Police Department will have a better handle on how to proceed.

Ald. Seiser asked if the Police Department had problems with teen nights.

Captain Daubert said no.

Ald. Rackow said since this is a new concept to the City, when the ordinance is drafted, it is advisable to have a sunset date. If it does not work, terminate and if it is working, extend.

Ald. Sowieja moved, Ald. Walter seconded, to proceed in developing an ordinance regarding this request and recommend adoption of the ordinance at the February 2002 Council meeting.

Ed Hunt, 2317 Prais Street, is speaking against the idea of adopting a new ordinance allowing that age group to be participants in facilities where alcohol is being served. He said he has been in the establishment at 200 Isadore Street but has not been in the downstairs area of the building. The overriding concern is that this age group needs places to go. There is the University Center, dorms that have activities planned, YMCA and the new movement to start the boys and girls club, and the UW students can go to the library. He questioned whether there will be advertisements of any kind of alcohol in the area or will the licensee just be disconnecting the pipe to the brewery. Adopting a new ordinance to change what we are doing regarding underage persons, opens up a possibility of less understanding of our alcohol regulations and might lead to some more serious alcohol problems. He argued that there is no basis about the underage not having enough place to go.

Ayes: Ald. Sowieja, Walther.
Nays: Chairman Phillips, Ald. Sevenich, Seiser. Motion failed.

4. Inspection Reports:

December 2001 Report
Year-End Report

Ald. Sevenich moved, Ald. Seiser seconded, to accept the December 2001 Inspection Report and the Year-End Report and place them on file.

Community Development Director handed out information on the City’s annual permit value from 1981 to 2001, showing average value per year and the 20-year total, copy attached.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

5. Adjournment - 6:45 P.M.

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