Human-bear conflicts and bear-resistant trash containers
Summary
With 350 bear complaints in 2025 and Game and Fish predicting more bears this year, the council declined to spend $350,000 in contingency on 1,000 more bear-proof carts. The $130,000 grant will still fund about 400 carts in hot-spot neighborhoods, and staff will explore Waste Management contract options. Councilmembers also flagged park restroom repairs as an alternative use of the money.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed May 5, 2026.
Impact analysis
$130,000 in grant funds will still purchase roughly 400 carts; the $350,000 contingency request was rejected.
Residents in bear hot spots like Torreon, Sierra Pines, Country Club, and Hacienda Pines will get grant-funded carts.
Residents outside grant-funded areas who wanted carts will have to bear the cost or wait for future programs.
Mentions & discussions (2)
City Council - May 5, 2026
With 350 bear complaints in 2025 and Game and Fish predicting more bears this year, the council declined to spend $350,000 in contingency on 1,000 more bear-proof carts. The $130,000 grant will still fund about 400 carts in hot-spot neighborhoods, and staff will explore Waste Management contract options. Councilmembers also flagged park restroom repairs as an alternative use of the money.
City Council - Apr 21, 2026
The city got over 350 bear complaints in 2025, mostly from unsecured garbage, and Game and Fish expects more this year. A $130,000 grant will buy about 440 bear-proof trash cans for the worst-hit neighborhoods — no city match required.
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