Title
Dept/ Agency: Water and Sewer Utilities
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Exception to Public Bidding - Agreement with
Governmental Entity
Purpose: To authorize a Cooperative Service Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), Wildlife Services for white-tailed deer damage management at the Cedar Grove Reservoir
Entity Name: United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services
Entity Address: 140 C Locust Grove Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867
Contract Amount: $ 14,749.00
Funding Source: 2026 and 2027 Budget/Department of Water and Sewer Utilities
Contract Period: Commencing September 1, 2026, terminating September 30, 2027, with one (1) two-year option to extend
Contract Basis: ( ) Bid ( ) State Vendor ( ) Prof. Ser. ( ) EUS
( ) Fair & Open ( ) No Reportable Contributions ( ) RFP ( ) RFQ
( ) Private Sale ( ) Grant ( ) Sub-recipient (X ) Government Entity
Additional Information:
body
WHEREAS, the City of Newark owns the Cedar Grove Reservoir, located in Cedar Grove, NJ and Little Falls, NJ, an open and treated reservoir serving over 500,000 residents throughout the City of Newark, Bloomfield, Nutley, Belleville, East Orange, Elizabeth and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark, Department of Water and Sewer Utilities (DWSU) is responsible for its maintenance and complying with all Statutes, Regulations and Ordinances governing such potable water sources; and
WHEREAS, white-tailed deer that may come within the fenced area of the Cedar Grove Reservoir pose a threat to public health and safety and to the quality of the treated water stored therein; and
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requires that the City manage Cedar Grove Reservoir consistent with treated water quality standards to comply with the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2-ESWTR), including white-tailed deer damage management; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS) located at 140 C Locust Grove Road, Pittstown, New Jersey 08867 have asserted that they are experts in deer management and provided the DWSU with a Cooperative Service Agreement and Work Plan to conduct activities at the Reservoir described in the Work Plan and provide qualified personnel and other resources necessary to implement the approved wildlife damage management services for a total amount not to exceed $14,749.00; and
WHEREAS, all deer will be euthanized in accordance with the recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association and APHIS-WS policy; APHIS-WS will obtain all necessary permits from New Jersey Fish and Wildlife and coordinate with local law enforcement regarding safe operations; and harvested deer will be field dressed and transported to a butcher for processing and donation in cooperation with Hunters Helping the Hungry; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the DWSU desires to enter into the Cooperative Service Agreement with USDA APHIS-WS to provide white-tailed deer damage management services at the Cedar Grove Reservoir as described in the Work Plan, for a term commencing September 1, 2026, and terminating September 30, 2027, with one (1) two-year option to extend.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, are authorized to enter into a Cooperative Service Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services to provide white-tailed deer damage management services at the Cedar Grove Reservoir as described in the Work Plan, for an amount not to exceed $14,749.00, commencing September 1, 2026, and terminating September 30, 2027, with one (1) two-year option to extend.
2. The Agreement is ratified from September 1, 2026, to the date of adoption of this authorizing resolution.
3. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:30-5.5(a), Temporary Budget, attached hereto is a partial Certification of Funds issued by the Director of the Department of Finance, which states that there are available sufficient legally appropriated funds in the amount of $1,000.00 for the purposes set forth herein, in the Water and Sewer Utilities Budget under Business Unit NW037, Department ID 750, Division/Project 7502, Account #71280, Budget Ref. B2026 and which shall be filed along with the original Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk. The remainder of the funding for this contract will be subject to appropriation in the 2026 and 2027 Budgets and funds will be certified prior to services being provided by the contractor
4. A fully executed copy of the Cooperative Service Agreement shall be filed with the City Clerk by the Director of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities.
STATEMENT
This Resolution authorizes the Mayor of the City of Newark and/or his designee, the Director of the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities, to enter into a Cooperative Service Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services for white-tailed deer damage management services at the Cedar Grove Reservoir, including pre- and post-removal population surveys and the removal of white-tailed deer from within the fenced area of the Reservoir, in an amount not to exceed $14,749.00, for a term commencing September 1, 2026, and terminating September 30, 2027, with one (1) two-year option to extend.