TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Ted Semaan, Interim Public Works Director
Sean Roberts, Field Operations Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Management Strategies Associated with Canada Goose at Polliwog Park and Adjacent Sports Fields (No Budget Impact) (Interim Public Works Director Semaan).
(Estimated Time: 1 Hr.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council review the proposed management strategies and notes from the community meeting, and then provide direction on management strategies associated with Canada Goose at Polliwog Park and adjacent sports fields.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications at this staff. Depending on direction provided by the City Council, staff would have to assess the fiscal impact of any management strategies that are outside the regular scope of Public Works staff.
BACKGROUND:
Polliwog Park is an 18-acre public open space located in central Manhattan Beach, adjacent to Manhattan Middle School and several athletic and recreational facilities. The park features a 1.2-acre concrete-lined lake (Polliwog Lake), two playgrounds, a dog park, an amphitheater, the Manhattan Beach Historical Society museum, and several other amenities.
In recent years, Polliwog Park and nearby fields have seen a dramatic increase in the population of the resident Canada Goose.
A recent high count for the park, 95 Canada Geese, was recorded by local birder Layton Pace on January 8, 2025 (https://ebird.org/checklist/S208561197). Typical counts reported by birders in 2025 have ranged from 25 to 50 geese. These large birds forage extensively on turfgrass and produce significant volumes of fecal matter, degrading the condition of sports fields and creating negative recreational experiences for park users.
In response to multiple community complaints, the Public ...
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