HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Councilmember Item - Councilmember O'Connell - RequestiCITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
r:�� City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Billy O'Connell, City Council Member
Date: October 7, 2015
Subject: CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM FOR THE OCTOBER 19, 2015,
CITY COUNCIL MEETING — COMMUNITY MEETING REGARDING
COYOTE -RELATED INCIDENTS
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Recently, there has been a great deal of public discussion about the increase in coyote
sightings and animal attacks Many people have been reporting to both the police and
online how their animals have been attacked by coyotes in Huntington Beach Some
have expressed concern for their personal safety Several other nearby cities have
been wrangling with the same issue Earlier this year in Irvine, there were coyote
attacks which resulted in injured kids
Currently, Huntington Beach's policy has been focused on hazing and habitat
modification techniques, and resorting to trapping only in extreme cases where coyotes
have endangered people Huntington Beach has trapped on two occasions in the last
five years, once in 2010 and again in 2013, with mixed immediate results and debatable
long-term results
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Due to the increased local activity surrounding coyote -related incidents, including
attacks on pets and incidents with people, I move to direct the City Manager to convene
a community meeting with experts to weigh all options available to control the coyote
population in Huntington Beach The meeting should include an overview of the
problem, public comment, and expert opinions on available options The meeting will
serve as an information gathering only, no policy decisions would be made at the
meeting
Xc Fred Wilson, City Manager
Ken Domer, Assistant City Manager
Joan Flynn, City Clerk
Robert Handy, Police Chief
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