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HomeMy WebLinkAboutecomments_exportCity Council Meeting Meeting Time: 09-15-20 17:00 eComments Report Meetings Meeting Time Agenda Items Comments Support Oppose Neutral City Council Meeting 09-15-20 17:00 34 14 5 1 3 Sentiments for All Meetings The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment City Council Meeting 09-15-20 17:00 Agenda Name Comments Support Oppose Neutral C. 20-0378 PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 AS WELCOMING WEEK IN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA 1 1 0 0 1. 20-0395 APPROVAL OF MINUTES of January 28 and 30, 2020.1 0 0 0 8. 20-0379 PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED for September 15, 2020 4 3 0 0 9. 20-0327 LIVING WITH WILDLIFE - A PRESENTATION ON HANDLING WILDLIFE CONFLICTS 8 1 1 3 Sentiments for All Agenda Items The following graphs display sentiments for comments that have location data. Only locations of users who have commented will be shown. Overall Sentiment Agenda Item: eComments for C. 20-0378 PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING SEPTEMBER 12 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 AS WELCOMING WEEK IN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA Overall Sentiment Margaret Baker Location: Submitted At: 5:30pm 09-15-20 South Bay People Power commends and supports Chula Vista's designation as a certified Welcoming City. We reject the current culture of hate in our midst and persisting structures that continue to harm our neighbors based on their race, ethnic background, country of origin, immigration status, gender or sexual orientation, religion, language or physical or mental abilities. Unfortunately we have neighbors who still live in fear and do not feel safe in our community. Many do not feel they "belong." We are calling on the City to continue the quest to become a truly welcoming city, one the protects and promotes the civil rights and welfare of all. Agenda Item: eComments for 1. 20-0395 APPROVAL OF MINUTES of January 28 and 30, 2020. Overall Sentiment Patricia McPherson Location: 90066, Los Angeles Submitted At: 4:49pm 09-15-20 Should any of this money be for allocation to the killing of coyotes or other wild animals in Chula Vista, our organization, Grassroots Coalition is opposed to any funding for or approvals to kill coyotes or other wild animals in Chula Vista. Education to the public is foremost for protection of pets et al, The public has encroached onto our wild spaces and fires have made habitat even more sparse for coyotes and other wild animals. We must learn to protect our wildlife and tolerate the use of space to include living with wildlife. Please disallow any funding or approvals for killing coyotes or other wildlife. Thank you , Grassroots Coalition, Patricia McPherson Agenda Item: eComments for 8. 20-0379 PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED for September 15, 2020 Overall Sentiment Grace Sardina Location: Submitted At: 4:14pm 09-15-20 We are very kindly requesting you to please add the status of the Christopher Columbus statue to your agenda. Since the statue was donated to the city, we are hoping to open negotiations for the donation of the statue to be given to the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America is the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. We represent the estimated 17 million Americans of Italian heritage, dedicated to promoting our culture, our traditions, our language, the legacy of our ancestors, and our contributions to the U.S. and the world. We are sons and daughters, grandmothers and grandfathers. We are corporate executives and we are union members…young students and retirees…teachers and attorneys…doctors and firefighters…bakers and Wall Street brokers…and everything in between. We are philanthropists and we are model global citizens with purpose beyond ourselves. And we are proud and patriotic Americans of Italian heritage. We have two lodges here in San Diego county that are more than happy to assist in finding an appropriate home for the statue. We do not wish for our statue of pride to be in a place where the community lacks the understanding of its meaning and purpose. Columbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage. The statue holds great value and meaning to our culture and community in San Diego. Al Olvera Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 4:56am 09-15-20 The Bay Front Re-development included 1,600 hotel rooms w/o an ordinance the City runs the risk of allowing the STVR’s to pirate income away from these hotels & the Bay Front. STRV’s have no overhead & can charge less. Rents will also increase because corporations/individuals will buy property near the bay front and turn it into STVR's, thus forcing the people that live there to move out. If the City wants to make the Bay Front a success than it needs the authority to control irresponsible STVR’s. Precedents has already been set throughout the state and country. STVRs can co-exist in our neighborhoods but the City needs to make this a priority. Suzanne Olvera Location: Submitted At: 4:53am 09-15-20 I attended Parkview Elementary/Castle Park Jr/High, UCSD & now I work for Rohr/Collins. I have live most of my life in CV. After getting married my husband decided to move to CV because it was a nice city to grow up in. The neighborhood we chose was quiet and safe. However 5 yrs ago that changed when the home next to me was turned a short term vacation rental (STVR). We now have to endure excessive foot traffic at all hours, no parking, loud music, trespassing, trash/adult toys being left on the street & now an attempted of assault. The City is well aware of the STVR since CVPD is at this home at least once a week. Airbnb & the owner continue to provide standard response. They have “implemented many new procedures to help deter unwanted quests & keep guests who will cause issues from booking the home” & “if you feel you & your family safety is at risk, please contact the local authorities.” Airbnb & the owner pass the responsibility to the neighbors and the City to manage all the problems that they facilitate. STVRs can co-exist in our neighborhoods but the City needs to finally take a stand against the STRV corporations and irresponsible STRV owners that are make CV an unsafe place to live in. Give the people that protect & serve your constituents the ability to protect w/regard to STVR! On 8/25 the City Council unanimously made a referral to staff to look into short term vacation rentals (STVR). It’s time to make this ordinance a priority & finally make it happen! Alexandra Epstein Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 8:19am 09-14-20 Given the extreme budgetary constraints in this city, and the high numbers of city layoffs, I believe it would be more than appropriate for the Mayor, councilmembers, and other elected personnel to forgo their car allowance and cut their salaries until this emergency passes! That savings could be a start to adding funding to essential departments that have been cut severely such as Code Enforcement and Public Works. As it stands now, these crucial departments can’t respond to residents’ issues and complaints in a timely manner, if at all. Agenda Item: eComments for 9. 20-0327 LIVING WITH WILDLIFE - A PRESENTATION ON HANDLING WILDLIFE CONFLICTS Overall Sentiment Joanne Fischer Location: 91910, Chula Vista Submitted At: 6:26pm 09-15-20 I am in support of trap and release in a more rural environment. I have lost my beloved pets to coyotes and have scoured the coyotes hunting Nd hideout ground and found my kitty or parts of what used to be my cat rotting on the ground. we need to disturb them, so our neighborhoods are not their targets. Our housing developments have infringed upon their territory and their natural prey is diminishing. Too bad our pets aren't even safe in our own yards. If these coyotes become acclimated to humans, eventually their will be more human injury. I agree we need deterrents. i support trap and release. These animals are just doing what comes naturally. Too many people are luring them with wild cat colonies. This is like a buffet for the coyotes. Sarah Berger Location: 91902, Bonita Submitted At: 5:30pm 09-15-20 Trapping and killing the coyotes is counter-productive and cruel. They are a vital part of the local ecosystem. Traps can have unintended consequences of trapping other animals, such as the pets you are trying to protect. From the Humane Society, "Research suggests that when aggressively controlled, coyotes can increase their reproductive rate by breeding at an earlier age and having larger litters, with a higher survival rate among the young. This allows coyote populations to quickly bounce back, even when as much as 70 percent of their numbers are removed." There are more sensible, effective, and humane ways suggested below to control coyote populations. Please do not use our tax dollars for trap and kill. I understand the pain of losing your pet but the responsibility of protecting them is on the owner, not the native wildlife we live among. Carmen Alvarez Location: 91911, Chula Vista Submitted At: 5:27pm 09-15-20 I have lived in my home for 29 years. I have had outside pets before with no issues. The past 2-3 years has seen a turn in our peaceful neighborhoods. The expansion of building in our city has a major part in this. With building their should be responsibilities too not just the revenue it has brought to the city. I have had 2 innocent cats killed, torn to pieces, yet everyone passes the buck. When I tried to report the incident I went thru the proper channels. Animal control, which they clearly have their people saying they do not deal with those type of incidents. I have contacted County Wildlife and CA Fish & Game with no solutions. The solution we want to hear is that you will be responsible and do what you have to do to keep our city safe. I have walked into city hall twice and received no response from our mayor. I did receive a response from an assistant referring to my cats as rodents. So disappointed. The time to pass out literature is come and gone. No food is being left out or anything else to attract these predators. So clearly living with wild life is NOT working. What I do recommend is a central place to report these incidents so that the city can get something done. Your residents have been met with obstacles in this. Plus we have a lot older people losing pets who are not having their voices heard. Rebecca Dmytryk Location: 95039, Moss Landing Submitted At: 5:24pm 09-15-20 I run a successful "pest" control company - Humane Wildlife Control Inc. and have near 40 years experience handling wildlife and resolving human-wildlife conflicts. To be brief, it is not the City's duty to provide rodent control in someone's attic or aphid control in someone's yard - and it is not your responsibility to keep coyotes out of yards. However, you would become involved in responding to and cleaning up a public nuisance that was, for example, attracting rodents, and similarly, you help remedy the CAUSE for any increased coyote presence - i.e. overflowing garbage, pet food left out, birdseed feeders, feral cats. If you remove or eliminate the coyotes' access to food, their presence will diminish if not disappear. This has been proven scientifically. Contrarily, if you focus on the coyotes as the problem, it will be a never-ending battle. Remove one, another takes its place - because you're not focusing on the cause. Simple equation: 1 - 1 = 1 You will never "get rid of" the coyotes unless you get rid of what's attracting them. Not ever. So, let's educate your community about keeping safe living with coyotes, get a list of vendors who can help with coyote-proof fencing and installation of repellers and crack down on attractants throughout the city. Thank you - Rebecca Project Coyote Location: Marin Submitted At: 5:10pm 09-15-20 We recently participated in a call with Council Member Diaz regarding coyotes. He neglected to mention during the hour long call that the City of Chula Vista had recently trapped coyotes .Trapping is inhumane and cruel and does not work. Killing coyotes DOES NOT work to reduce ANY coyote populations. killing coyotes is counterproductive and a threat to healthy ecosystems.More coyotes breed at younger ages, and more pups will survive . Next year you will have more coyotes than you did before trapping. The city should adopt an effective Coyote Management Plan providing education . Education is the key Cities across Southern California are coexisting with coyotes. The City of Los Angeles banned trapping of coyotes, and instead residents work together to avoid conflicts. Some tips to keep you and your animals safe: Wildlife-proof garbage in sturdy containers with tight fitting lids. Don’t leave pet food outside. •Take out trash morning of scheduled pick up •Keep fallen fruit off the ground. Coyotes like fruit. •Keep birdseed off the ground; seeds attract rodents which attract coyotes. Remove feeders. •Keep barbecue grills clean. Clear away brush and weeds near homes •Close off crawl spaces under decks or near your home where coyotes may den. •If you frequently see a coyote in your yard, make loud noises with pots, pans, or air horns, and haze the coyote with a water hose. •Share this list with your neighbors; coexistence is a neighborhood effort. Lisa Levinson Location: 90290, Topanga Submitted At: 4:58pm 09-15-20 On behalf of In Defense of Animals, an animal protection nonprofit with 250,000 supporters including thousands in Southern California, I urge the Chula Vista Town Council to employ nonlethal coyote management strategies. I organized a meeting with Councilmember Mike Diaz and coyote conflict experts from the Humane Society of the United States, Project Coyote, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals who shared helpful resources to establish humane coyote management policies. I request an opportunity at a future meeting to invite specialists to present their time-tested resources to the Chula Vista Town Council. Trapping coyotes requires strict adherence to existing regulations such as paying for required permits and notifying property owners near trapping sites. The Chula Vista Town Council will be liable for any trapping infringements. Chula Vista 39-year resident Marie Galvez says neighborhood coyotes are shy and timid. She rescues small dogs and walks them frequently. She has never been approached by local coyotes in an aggressive manner. Please consider nonlethal humane coyote management plans instead of trapping and killing local coyotes who are an important part of healthy Southern California ecosystems. Infographic to show why killing doesn't work: http://www.projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/coyote- killing-infographic-humane-society.jpg Chula Vista can coexist with coyotes: http://www.projectcoyote.org/programs/coyote-friendly-communities/ Vernon Berger Location: 91902, Bonita Submitted At: 2:42pm 09-15-20 There is much to learn from other communities that have dealt with coyote issues. Nature and evolution have created a mechanism for survival of a coyote pack, which have one alpha male and female, the ‘breeding pair’. Only those two coyotes mate. The litters that they have are small, just a few pups. If one of the alphas are killed, it triggers a response in the pack because the pack is at-risk. All males and females mate and breed, and the litters they have are much larger. Communities that start killing coyotes often see a coyote population that’s twice as big in just a few years. So often trap and kill efforts are self-defeating and make the problem worse. Residents should focus on what has worked best: learning how to live with wildlife, protections for your yard, and what to do if you see a coyote. This includes repellents, different fencing with “coyote rollers” (see research online), etc. The city should adopt similar measures in parks and public spaces. The city should focus on getting changes made at the county and state level, including: • A variance to the fencing laws to allow fences taller than 6 feet. • A change that allows humane relocation of coyotes to a specified, suitable locations (with adequate natural resources). • Explore the possibility of live capture, spay/neuter, rather than trap and kill • Other measures as suggested by those with expertise in this area These measures are more practical, work better, and are more humane. Patty Prescott Location: 91912, Chula Vista Submitted At: 9:45am 09-14-20 Please do something to help make West Chula Vista safe....living with coyotes entering our yards, front and back yards, even jumping over our fenced yards is becoming dangerous. Cats and dogs are getting killed, and the City does nothing. If a child gets attacked and something worse happens, then maybe our City will step up and help eliminate the Coyote packs that are growing. Let’s do something positive before this happens.