Geese at Kin Beach (Vernon Matters file photo)

By Liam Verster

Goose Management

Vernon council to discuss options for goose management

Aug 14, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Vernon city council will be presented with some options for addressing the Canada goose populations at Kin Beach and Paddlewheel Park.

The Goose Management – Next Steps report from the city’s manager of parks and public spaces, outlines four options for council to pursue.

The first would be accepting the report for information without taking any action.

The second option would authorize spending up $75,000 to investigate landscape designs at the two sites to deter geese from congregating. This would be funded through the 2022 unexpended uncommitted balance.

The report noted the landscaping may reduce the number of geese at Paddlewheel Park and Kin Beach but will cause them to flock to adjacent privately-owned areas or other public areas in town, adding the costs associated with the landscape changes are unknown and “could be significant.”

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The third option would be considering a service level increase for enhanced turf cleaning at Paddlewheel Park and Kin Beach in the 2024 budget deliberations. The report stated the cleaning on the weekends from May 1 to September 30 would not exceed $30,000 and would be funded by taxation in addition to the four per cent maximum tax revenue increase.

This option would reduce the amount of waste at the two sites, but not the number of geese occupying the spaces.

The final option would see council direct staff to bring forward a service level increase consideration to install temporary barriers such as construction fencing during geese moulting season. The costs, which would not exceed $20,000 on an annual basis and be funded through taxation, would need to be considered during the 2024 budget deliberations.

The report stated the fourth option would create a visual barrier between the lake and park areas for the month of July, and would also result in geese relocating to other areas. However, it did note this may provide insight on the impacts of permanent landscape modifications and goose relocation in the future.

Council will discuss the options during its regular meeting Monday, August 14.