18 ATTACHMENT 05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Please see Exhibit H for the information provided to Mr. Carl's request along with staff's responses to Mr. Carl's questions. Mr. Carl also requested that staff type "hawk attacks" into the Google search engine and review the documented news articles on hawk attacks on humans and pets. For the Planning Commission's convenience, staff has provided those articles as Exhibit I for the Commission to review and consider. Some of the articles do reflect attacks on individuals in Canada and England, but primarily relate to hawks that are not captured, not under the care of a falconer, and that are acting in the capacity in the wild. These attacks are connected to a myriad of habitat and natural behavior related to nesting, mating, and territory, along with some response to antagonistic human behavior to the hawk. Many of the attacks are related to the sport of pigeon enthusiasts and how discouraging it is when a hawk discovers an easy food source such as this. One article did mention that the State of New York used falconry to control the loose pigeon population and found that to be very successful in the park. There were a couple of incidents where a small dog was attacked but not mortally injured. The program benefits outweighed this incident and the practice continued. There have been no reports in California or specifically, the Bay Area, of such attacks recorded. Support Carol Olson, of 632 Abbie Street, contacted staff via a-mail stating that she is in support of the applicant's request. Ms. Olson stated that her home is located fairly close to the applicants and at no time as she ever felt any threat or harm would come to her small dog that is kept outside on a daily basis. She said that an important reason they chose to live in Pleasanton is its beauty and open space. She feels that because of this openness it affords her family to marvel at animal life in its natural habitat. Ms. Olson stated that she has witnessed a large owl capturing a small rodent while driving down Abbie Street and feels that this is a part of the life cycle. She feels that the applicant is `practicing what she preaches " by using her time, resources, interest and talents, to restore the birds health in order to release it back into the wild. Bruce Rodgers contacted staff via a-mail stating that he was irritated at the amount of time and energy that the City employees are having to spend on an issue that, he felt, was generated by someone with a political grudge. He feels that the applicant did not violate any existing code or statute because none exist that apply to her situation. Mr. Rodgers feels that the applicant was forced to apply for a permit just to placate a critic with a personal compliant. He continued by saying that phrasing "trained to kill "and "vivisection of ...business " is incorrect PAUP-4, Jennifer Hosterman /Hawk Planning Commission Page 12 of 15