Title
Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) Recommendations Regarding Pesticide Use by the County
Recommended Action
Option 1 - I move that Council acknowledge the ESB recommendations, thank the Board for their recommendations and take no further action.
OR
Option 2 - I move that Council acknowledge the ESB recommendations, thank the Board for the recommendations and request that staff investigate/research the matter and return to Council with information, options and/or a recommendation for action within 90 days.
OR
Option 3 - I move that Council acknowledge the ESB recommendations, thank the Board for their recommendations and direct staff to implement these changes and return to Council within 90 days for consideration of approval of an implementation plan and potential follow- up budget actions.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve Option 3.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Environmental Sustainability Board recommends County Council 1) Require pesticide application information, including area to be sprayed and product that will be used, be posted in one designated county website location 72 hours in advance whenever possible or within 24 hours of application for each application and for at least 6 months after the application including the Department of Agriculture Pesticide Application Record for the particular application. 2) Stop use of any herbicide containing glyphosate on County land. 3) Prioritize and support expansion of Integrative Pest Management efforts by relevant departments to continue to actively decrease the amount and frequency of chemical use on County land.
Body
For the past year, the Environmental Sustainability Board has been researching glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that controls a broad range of weeds. The Board heard several presentations about the topic including from former ESB member Heidi Rogers which highlighted the impacts to humans, animals and the environment; from Cory Styron, Dianne Marquez, and Juan Rael on the herbicides use by Los Alamos County; and from ESB Vice-Chair Dina Pesenson asking that the ESB to consider a recommendation to stop the use of glyphosate containing products for Los Alamos County operations
On October 21, 2021, the ESB received another presentation on the Use of Pesticides in Los Alamos County from Cory Styron and Dianne Marquez of the Community Services Department, additionally Juan Rael, Traffic and Streets Manager provided information on herbicide usage for Traffic and Streets operations. At this meeting the ESB unanimously approved the recommendation to:
1) Require pesticide application information (including area to be sprayed and product) to be posted in one designated county website location 72 hours in advance whenever possible or within 24 hours of application for each application and for at least 6 months after the application including the Department of Agriculture Pesticide Application Record for the particular application.
2) Stop use of any herbicide containing glyphosate on County land.
3) Prioritize and support expansion of Integrative Pest Management efforts by relevant departments to continue to actively decrease the amount and frequency of chemical use on County land.
On December 9, 2021, the Parks and Recreation Board passed a motion to support ESB's recommendation to Council and encourage Council to direct continued development of a holistic integrated pest management plan with a 4 to 3 vote.
This item includes both a presentation by the ESB giving their recommendation and County staff presenting background of County usage, staff and budget impacts, and responses to all three recommendations.
Attachments
A - Pesticide Presentation ESB
B - Public Comments on ESB Glyphosate Recommendation
C - Approved ESB Meeting Minutes for October 21, 2021
D - Staff Presentation on Glyphosate Use