1 Climate Action Subcommittee
December 6, 2023
City-Wide
Integrated Pest Management Policy
2 • Goal of IPM
• Existing Guidance
• Impacts of product bans on operations
• Typical IPM
• Staff Recommendations
• Next Steps
Outline
3 • Pesticide: Chemical used to eradicate pests, includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc. • Glyphosate: Active ingredient in Roundup recognized as an effective herbicide. The various trade names used for
Glyphosate are based on the types of applications that they are approved for e.g., "Rodeo" is Glyphosate mixed with other chemicals for use in aquatic environments (less toxic to amphibians)
Definitions
4 • Goal is to develop a City-Wide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy
• This policy will provide guidance to staff and contractors working for the City to ensure landscapes are designed and maintained in a manner that reduces the need for fossil fuel powered equipment, herbicides, insecticides, and other
anthropomorphic inputs that have an ability to exacerbate climate change
• Ensure policy supports the City's ability to protect against increased fire severity due to invasive species and climate change
Integrated Pest Management
5 • Only applies on City-owned properties
• Is not building code dictating personal use
• Does not affect County, State, Federal, or School District owned properties
City-Wide IPM Applicability
UC Davis
study on
various
herbicides
https://ucanr.edu/bl
ogs/blogcore/postd
etail.cfm?postnum=
44211
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City Council feedback for landscape contracts:
• No use of Glyphosate, active ingredient in Roundup, used to eradicate plants
• No use of neonicotinoid insecticides
Board of Public Utilities for landscape contracts:
• Developed landscape contract that implements the Russian River Friendly Landscape Guidelines (No outright bans)
Policymaker Feedback
8 • Less control, greater infestations, potential fire fuels to accumulate
• Glyphosate (Roundup) exclusion in contracts increased costs • 2018 - $549,789/year (no ban)
• 2019 - $1,078,056/year (ban)
• Increased weeds in ballfields, civic landscapes, and street medians
Impacts of Pesticide Bans
Parks Landscapes
9 • Landscape contract costs increased by approximately $300,000 / year for Russian River Friendly Landscape
Practices
• Increased weeds in paved areas
• Increased use of grazing on levees (separate contracts) • Slight increase in weeds in restoration areas (perennial pepperweed and invasive grasses)
Impacts of Pesticide Avoidance
Santa Rosa Water properties
10 • Increased weeds in lots, in landscaped areas of lots and garages, and sidewalks where single space/multispacer meters are located • Parking opted out of the Landscape contract in 2022 to cut costs, completing all work with City staff
• If no Glyphosate (Roundup) allowed would need to add two more FTEs for an annual increase of $250,000/year to maintain current level of service
• Parking currently uses mechanical (two-stroke engine) methods to control weeds, multiple days per week, and with large scale projects coming next year this will be affected
Impacts of Pesticide Bans
Parking properties
Impacts of Pesticide Bans
Traffic Medians
• More dangerous due to staff exposure to
high-traffic areas (#1 reason for workplace
mortality)
• Increased weeds in medians
• Gives appearance landscapes are poorly
maintained
• Non-glyphosate herbicides and mechanical
removal is less effective and more
expensive
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• Increased growth of vegetation along evacuation routes and open space
• In burn scars, invasive broom and other vegetation requires vegetation control beyond mechanical means
• Excessive growth and regrowth of seasonal grasses in
medians and along right of ways
• Awarded $2.1 million HMGP grant for fuel reduction along evacuation routes (cost share 25%)
• IPM policy can support Hazardous Vegetation and Fuels Management Ordinance
Impacts of Pesticide Bans
Fire Department
13 • Removal of highly flammable invasive vegetation (e.g., Scotch and French broom) in certain areas
• Removal of dead and downed trees in burn scars
• Prohibition of certain mulch types within 30’ of a structure • Defensible Space Inspections within the entire Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area
• IPM policy should align with Ordinance
Hazardous Vegetation and Fuels
Management Ordinance
Typical IPM Policy
• Pest identification
• Research least toxic methods to
address impacts to pests
• If action needed, apply least toxic
methods first then evaluate
• If further action needed, apply next
least toxic method
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• Planting spaces with dense plantings
• Mechanical removal where possible
• Avoid problematic species where possible
• Use pesticides as a last resort and following a least-toxic approach first
Start with non-pesticide actions first
Mulched
areas to
prevent
weeds
16 Pesticide
Labels –
Signal
Words
Danger – Highly toxic
Warning – Moderately
toxic
Caution – Lowest toxicity
18 • Tolerate
• Identify disease
• Mechanical removal of diseased
parts (Spidermites)
• Spray with appropriate pesticide
• Replace with pest resistant
species (except: Luther Burbank
Gardens)
Pest Management Solutions - Insects
19 • Tolerate
• High density plantings
• Mulch 3” deep apply annually
• Mechanical removal
• Grazing
• Herbicides
Pest Management Solutions – Weeds
Mechanical
weed removal
of infields
20 21
• Tolerate
• Identify disease
• Mechanical removal of diseased
parts (Fireblight)
• Spray with appropriate pesticide
(Copper sulphate, Sulfur, or other)
• Replace with pest resistant species
(except: Luther Burbank Gardens)
Pest Management Solutions – Plant
Diseases
22 • Complete ban of neonicotinoids
• Minimize the use of all pesticides throughout the City using IPM policy
• Require staff to have Certified Pesticide Applicator to apply or supervise
Staff Suggestions on Pesticide Bans
23 • Ban Glyphosate use in most sensitive areas:
• Playgrounds
• Public gathering spaces
• Picnic areas
• Other areas with identified sensitive receptors
• Include specific exceptions
Staff Suggestions on Pesticide Bans
24 • Allow use in cases of public health and safety
• Allow use on road medians and parking structures
• Allow on ball fields that are closed for renovations, not active fields
• Allow use on invasive plants (non-routine activities) • Once objectives are achieved, decrease use or eliminate completely
Exceptions to Glyphosate Ban
25 • Create website to highlight activities to prevent pesticide use • IPM Policy
• Tips for managing pests without pesticides
• Annual report of pesticide use on city properties
• All pesticide applications will be posted prior to listed date of application
• When planning to apply pesticides, close area to the public and post signs about pesticide application
Pesticide-Use Transparency
Example
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Questions/Discussion