7D - PRAB Liaison to Integrated Pest Management Subcommittee
TO: Sarah DeSouza, Policy & Information Services, Parks & Recreation
Department
FROM: Rella Abernathy, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator
SUBJECT: Request for a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to
serve on the Integrated Pest Management Subcommittee
DATE: February 9, 2010
The city manager established an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Task Force in
October, 2002, whose role was to review the potential impacts of pesticide use on city
lands. The IPM Task Force recommended the use of an approved pesticide list, where
city staff would be limited to using the pesticides on the list, which had undergone a
review process. This list was not intended to be static and routine updates are needed as
new pests emerge, newer less toxic pesticides come to market and as older, more toxic
pesticides need to be replaced.
The city manager approved the process outlined below, based upon the recommendation
of city staff. It involves establishing an IPM Subcommittee, composed of one
representative each from the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB), Open Space Board
of Trustees (OSBT) and Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB). The IPM
Subcommittee reviews and makes recommendations of staff requests for pesticide
additions or deletions to the list.
Process to Update the Approved Pesticide List
The city manager approved the following process to update the city's approved pesticide
list:
1. Product Proposal: The proposing city department submits a recommendation to
add/delete a pesticide product(s) to the approved pesticide list to the city IPM
coordinator. This request includes the complete toxicology information, including
inert ingredients if possible. This first step is intended to screen and identify
potential concerns with each product. Products and ingredients are evaluated
against a list of criteria related to health and environmental hazards.
2. IPM Coordinator Review: The city IPM coordinator reviews the product
submissions and consults with proposing department staff and with a toxicologist
over concerns or specific restrictions. The city IPM coordinator will then prepare
information packets for the Subcommittee of each of the submitted products.
3. Placement on the approved pesticide list: Recommendations are reviewed and
voted on by the IPM Subcommittee at a public hearing. The public hearing will be
advertised in the Daily Camera, on the city website's IPM hotline and sent out to
relevant email lists. The IPM Subcommittee will submit their recommendation to
the city manager for a final decision.
4. List Updates - The IPM Coordinator will modify the list as necessary and
distribute/post the information where appropriate.
Annual Time Commitment
City staff may request updates to the approved pesticide list once a year. The IPM
coordinator will send a packet of the toxicological information, best management
practices and the justification for the addition of the requested pesticide product to
Subcommittee members. Subcommittee members will review this information and email
or phone the city IPM coordinator with any questions/concerns. The information and staff
recommendations will then be reviewed, discussed and voted on by subcommittee
members at a public hearing, which is expected to take place in March or April.
Desired Qualifications
Staff is requesting a volunteer from PRAB, EAB and OSBT who has knowledge of or an
interest in pesticides and/or IPM.