BEACHWOOD, Ohio — During a brief meeting held Monday (Oct. 7), City Council took action on two items of note, approving a deer management agreement, and hearing a first reading of legislation that would prohibit the sales of adult-use cannabis in the city.
At its previous meeting on Sept. 16, council discussed at-length the question of hiring Precision Wildlife Management to again cull deer in the late fall using the services of a sharpshooter.
During that September meeting, council also entertained the idea of studying the use of a sterilization program that has been utilized in the city of South Euclid for four years.
Council learned, however, that it would be too late to try and get started a sterilization program for the coming culling season, but, nonetheless, decided to delay a vote on approving the Precision Wildlife deal.
Councilwoman Danielle Shoykhet was particularly interested in following up on the sterilization program and, during Monday’s meeting, cast the lone vote against approving the Precision Wildlife agreement.
Councilman Joshua Mintz and Councilwoman June Taylor were not present for Monday’s meeting, so the vote was 4-1 in favor of proceeding with use of the sharpshooters.
Currently, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has informed communities that a sterilization program can only be conducted as a research project so that its effectiveness can be determined. Also, communities must gain outside funding to pay for the research project.
Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Sunny Simon, of South Euclid, played a role in bringing the sterilization program to that city as South Euclid received county funding for the project, with research undertaken by the nonprofit organization White Buffalo Inc., of Connecticut.
South Euclid also uses a sharpshooter in tandem with its sterilization program. The sterilization program in South Euclid benefits from the services of volunteer veterinarians.
Beachwood’s culling program is undertaken in partnership with the city of Shaker Heights.
Precision Wildlife is a business operated by James Mariano, a former Shaker Heights police officer, who is a sharpshooter.
A recent survey of Beachwood residents showed that 65 percent of those residents favor the idea of a continuation of the management of the deer population.
While council did not discuss deer management again before its vote Monday, resident Felicia Finklestein addressed council on the subject, urging passage of the agreement.
Noting the survey results and residents’ wishes, she said, “It’ s not appropriate to go backwards in the deer management program. You should approve and move forward with this year’s program.
As for the previous council discussion about a sterilization program, she said, “Obviously, the community should be advised of all options and given a chance to voice their preferences. While people will be able to figure out that a sterilized deer still eats and destroys landscaping, it still poops — we all know that — there is conflicting information regarding effectiveness, and I think that the council should provide a summary of all the information they gather as they research this option for if and when they offer it as a viable path for our citizens.”
Mayor Justin Berns has stated that he would talk to Shaker Heights Mayor David Weiss about the possibility of investigating a sterilization program for next year’s culling season.
This year’s program calls for the culling of 90 deer at a cost to Beachwood of $103,500.
To see the city’s deer management program, visit here.
Adult-use cannabis
Although Ohio voters approved Issue 2 last November, allowing for the cultivation, processing and dispensing of adult-use cannabis, the Ohio Legislature has allowed communities to decide whether to allow such activity within their own borders.
“I think it’s more of a home-rule issue that, even though this certainly passed the state and is state law now, to have commercial sale and distribution of marijuana, adult-use cannabis. Each individual city still has the right to determine whether or not (it is permitted),” said Councilman Eric Synenberg. “So this would be us saying Beachwood does not want to participate in (such activity), even though it’s legal, in commercial sale.”
The matter to not allow the adult-cannabis business in Beachwood was sent to council on Sept. 26 by the city’s Planning Commission. Council voted 5-0 to place the legislation on first reading.
Parking at the aquatic center
Public Works Director Chris Arrietta told council Monday that the parking lot at the Beachwood Family Aquatic Center will be closed for the next two weeks as it is resurfaced.
“So residents will have to utilize the community center lot and city hall lot to access the pickleball, tennis courts, and also the playground,” Arrietta said.
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