The City Council took a
“short journey from infamy to celebrity” Wednesday night when it
unanimously adopted the burrowing owl mitigation plan.
The City Council took a “short journey from infamy to celebrity” Wednesday night when it unanimously adopted the burrowing owl mitigation plan.
Anthony Eulo, assistant to the city manager and the city’s dedicated environmental expert, used those words to present the plan to the council.
“The plan will establish local preserves – a ‘homeland security’ system for the owls – using the best lands first,” he said.
An appropriate preserve would include few trees, a fenced perimeter – to keep out dogs.
Vegetation will be kept short and there will be no poison used. Ground squirrels are often controlled with poison, he said.
Developers and land owners will sustain the project at $149 per housing unit and $1,045 per undeveloped acre.
Craig Breon, executive director of the Bay Area Audubon Society, which sued, then settled with the city over delays in approving the plan, suggested that all was forgiven.
“We (the city and Society) are working together well,” he said. “The plan is modest in its goals – the hope is to establish four, six or eight breeding pairs – but it is an important plan – the first of its kind in the state.
“When the first pair of owls actually breeds on site, I’ll come back and sing your praises,”
“no need for attrubiton here” Breon said.
A 1997 survey showed two to five pairs of owls; fewer now.
The city will issue a request for proposal (RFP) this summer for a third party to administer the preserve.
“We must make an effort to preserve what we cannot replace,” Councilman Greg Sellers said.
