18 ATTACHMENT 04(A) - Laserfiche WebLink

THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED. In response to an inquiry by Chairperson Fox regarding whether any permits for wild animals such as a mountain lion, wolf, or coyote have ever been issued in Pleasanton, Ms. Amos replied that had not been found within staff s reseazch. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Blank regarding whether there was an issue of federal pre-emption in this case, Ms. Harryman replied that there was not. She added that the fact that the applicant was State-licensed as a falconer did not automatically grant the ability to keep a hawk in Pleasanton and that the City was able to regulate the matter via a conditional use permit. Chairperson Fox noted that in the emails handed to the Commission by Mr. Carl that were sent by the applicant and dated November 30, 2005 regarding "having two bunny fields and ducks nearby" and from an email sent to Steve Leeper describing hunting and training, the word "nearby" seemed to contradict staff s assertion in the staff report that hunting with the hawk is not occurring in or near residential azeas. Commissioner Blank read from an email dated August 30, 2006 regarding coping a beak at the applicant's residence, free-lofting the hawk, and tossing a live quail and how the quail "blasted this one." He noted that this implied that this occurred at the residence and if this is considered hunting. He indicated that he is assuming that the hawk's home is considered the applicant's home. He inquired what free-lofting meant and if the tossing of the live bird was done in the structure. Ms. Decker stated that she understood that there were private properties where the applicant was allowed to hunt and train Ariel, the hawk. She added that the release of the prey was part of falconry, which was both an art and a sport, as well as training the hawk to hunt and bring back prey. She indicated it is cross-purposes to release a hawk in an urban area and that it was allowed in Bishop Ranch and San Ramon with the appropriate permits. She noted that the release of live prey was part of the bird's training and that feeding a live mouse to a snake was considered to be feeding, as opposed to hunting. She added that free-lofting and the kill of live prey took place in the mew, which is large enough so that the bird can adequately spread its wings during free-lofting and exercise without being tethered. Commissioner Olson noted that this particulaz bird was near death when captured near the Oakland Airport. He viewed this as a rehabilitation project, as stated in the staff report. Commissioner Blank noted that in a source he read, when a bird was being rehabilitated by specialists for release into the wild, it was done in a controlled manner by specialists and generally not exposed to humans so as not to remove its natural, instinctive fear of humans. Chairperson Fox noted that another email described another hawk released to the wild by the applicant after two days. She inquired, based on the dates of the emails, whether the hawk had been in captivity for two years. Ms. Decker noted that the applicant had this bird for approximately two years and that it was anticipated that it would return to the wild after another EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, December 12, 2007 Page 10 of 15