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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-14-2020 IPM MinutesMINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FL JULY 14, 2020 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mr. Benton at 3:00 p.m. II. Roll call Present: Dr. Graham Cox (Zoom) Ruth Callaghan — Late Arrival (Zoom) Thomas Carrano Also Present: Brian Benton, Leisure Services Director Kim Haigler, Environmental Technician Janet Graham, Technical Writer (Zoom) Absent: Kathy Brothers -- Excused Christine Kelly-Begazo -- Excused III. Aooroval of Minutes — June 30.2020 Mr. Benton called for a motion to accept the Minutes as presented. A motion to accept the Minutes of the June 30, 2020 meeting was made by Dr. Cox, seconded by Mr. Carrano, and approved unanimously via voice vote. IV. Announcements: A. Mechanical Removal of Vegetation at Lake Hardee Area Mr. Benton reviewed that at the last City Council meeting, Council approved spending approximately $25,000.00 for mechanical removal of vegetation around the Hardee Park area in the canal system around that area. It was based off of the South Florida Water Management District contract. As soon as staff gets the dates for when that work will be done, it will be passed on to the Sub -Committee members. Mr. Carrano inquired whether it will be possible to see that being done. Mr. Benton said that it is going to be done around the Hardee Park area, and anyone should be able to INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2020 MEETING see it. He will try to get some video to show to any Sub -Committee members who cannot get to the park on the day the work is done. That information will then be available to go into the canal IPM. Mr. Benton stated that the machine that will be used is called a "Weedoo." Dr. Cox slated one of the local residents sent him photos of the Hardee Park area, and there was not much vegetation that he could see on the surface that needed to be cut. Mr. Benton said there was a major issue about two weeks ago where duckweed had basically covered the entire canal around the bridge. Since then, there has been a lot of rain, and he cannot say where it has gone. Ms. Haigler said that, as the water level rises, it separates and floats down to the other end, but the main plant is still there, and it will likely sprout back up again. B. Testing Underway for the Use of "WOW" for Aquatic Vegetation Mr. Benton reviewed that this is a product that staff has tested on grasses and weeds in a park setting, and it was highly effective. The results in most cases were better than Roundup or glyphosate when the two products were tested side -by -side. That was done approximately a year ago. The City Manager gave approval to test the WOW on some aquatic vegetation, which was done approximately two weeks ago. Hydrilla was tested at Hardee Park. Duckweed was also sprayed. The hydrilla is showing signs that the product is working. The WOW product was mixed at 10 oz per gallon of water. The label allows 16 oz per gallon. Daniel Kolodny with the Indian River Lagoon Council was involved in the application so that it was documented as to what was done. He was on site. A surfactant was not used. Because of the amount of rain in the past several days, staff was unable to track where that was located. Staff sprayed some cattails at Garden Club Park. The WOW is working really well on the cattails. Staff also tried it on pepper trees, and there were no effects visible. There has been discussion about using a higher mixture on the duckweeds if needed. Dr. Cox commented that he had used the product on a small area, and he found it to be highly effective. It was only sprayed on the plant, not in the water. C. Last IPM Sub -Committee Meeting on Monday, July 20th, at 3 p.m. Mr. Benton stated next Monday, July 20th, will be the last IPM Parks and Properties Sub - Committee meeting. If any members have comments or ideas, send them to Ms. Haigler no later than the next day so that she can get them into the agenda packet, which will go out Thursday. After the July 20th meeting, the Plan will go in front of Parks and Recreation on July 27th, the Natural Resources Board on August 4th, and then before City Council at their last meeting August 27th. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2020 MEETING V. Public Input -- None VI. New Business A. IPM Glossary of Terms Discussion of New Element Ms. Haigler reviewed that, based on suggestions and discussions, she compiled the list of terms and listed them in alphabetical order with their definitions. The terms are bold within the document. She asked the Sub -Committee members for suggestions and/or comments regarding the list. Ms. Callaghan suggested adding the EIQ/field use EIQ. Ms. Haigler agreed. She mentioned that there will also be an appendix added with the full formula, and each element of the formula will be explained. Dr. Cox asked if she would add the word "Biopesticide." Ms. Haigler stated she would. A motion to approve the Glossary of Terms as part of the IPM Plan as presented, with the addition of EIQ/field use EIQ and Biopesticide was made by Ms. Callaghan, seconded by Mr. Carrano, and approved unanimously via voice vote. VII. Old Business A. Pesticide Use Methodology Biopesticide section Mr. Benton asked if anyone had comments, feedback, or input regarding any of these five items. Ms. Haigler called attention to the Biopesticide section, Page 18. Dr. Cox suggested, if this is going to be on the website, there needs to be a reference to where to find out more about biopesticides. In particular, he would like a reference to the IFAS chart that listed the different products and a guide to their use. Ms. Haigler stated at the beginning of the Plan, it discusses the IPM education outreach and the information that will be available on the website, and it lists environmental alternatives. ii. Major edits made III. Notification signage INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 4 MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2020 MEETING Ms. Haigler explained that all the major edits that were made are highlighted in the draft included in the agenda packet. She added that the signage sample that is in the agenda packet will be a full page in the final Plan. Ms. Callaghan suggested revising the sentence in the Pesticide Use Methodology section where it reads, 'These products are most effective and pose the least risk..." Ms. Haigler suggested changing that sentence to read, 'The approved products are most effective and pose the least risk, when used as part of an IPM program, following the proper and frequent biological, mechanical, and cultural pest control methods." Ms. Callaghan agreed with that verbiage. Ms. Callaghan also called attention to the sentences under Conditional Exemptions where it reads, "Authorization may be obtained to apply a pesticide without providing a 24-hour notification in active, passive, and athletic parks. Signage shall not be required in right- of-way locations that the general public does not use for recreation or pedestrian purposes, such as median strips..." should end there. Mr. Benton stated that staff will make the changes that Ms. Callaghan suggested, including the Application Rate Selection, and will email those changes to Ms. Callaghan for her review. iv. Chemical Control Log form Ms. Haigler reviewed a few minor changes that were made and invited the Sub - Committee members to email her with any changes or questions, and she will address them. Dr. Cox asked if the applicators have seen this form. Mr. Benton said they have been using a document similar to this for the past six to eight months. V. Pesticide Exemption form Ms. Haigler stated she used a sample that she presented at the last meeting, that is from another city and simplified it. All members of the Sub -Committee approved. Mr. Benton called for a motion. A motion approving the Pesticide Use Methodology section of the IPM Plan with the edits discussed above was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Dr. Cox, and approved unanimously via voice vote. B. Data Management INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 5 MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2020 MEETING Major Edits Made Ms. Haigler reviewed that the highlighted sections reflect the changes. She included a reference to the monthly IPM log as well as the section regarding contractors and the data that they have to provide. She noted that the final Plan will contain the new contract for the contractors so that the contractors are aware that they have to relay the data back to the City. Dr. Cox asked, of all the work done, how much is done by contractors. Mr. Benton stated subcontractors handle the CRA district. That is the only area where a subcontractor is used for grounds and pest management. IPM Log Sheet Mr. Benton said that, from a staff perspective, regarding the section Manual Weed Removal, it is going to be hard to document every time staff manually remove weeds. He explained that all staff members of his department are manually removing weeds practically every day. It will be difficult to document each and every time they manually remove weeds. Extended discussion was had regarding the Manual Weed Removal section of the Log, and Mr. Benton stated he and his staff will work through this section. Mr. Benton called for a motion. A motion approving the IPM Log Sheet with the changestadditions discussed as follows: (a) adding the month and numbering the days down the side of the form, (b) entitle it "Monthly Athletic Field and IPM Log," and (c) changing the wording on page 24 of the document under the heading "Data Recording & Collection" to conform to the changes on page 26 where the document is entitled "Monthly IPM Log" was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Callaghan, and approved unanimously via voice vote. Vill. Sub -Committee Member Matters All the Sub -Committee members thanked Ms. Haigler and Mr. Benton for all their hard work on this project. IX. Staff Matters Ms. Haigler reviewed that a recommendation section will be added to the draft, and she asked that any input or suggestions by Sub -Committee members be emailed to her as soon as possible. Mr. Benton reminded everyone that Ms. Haigler needs to have any changes or recommendations to the document by the next day. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 6 MINUTES OF JULY 14, 2020 MEETING Mr. Benton announced the purchase of a new pesticide application tool to assist the applicators with spot spraying and granular spreading. This has been approved, and Mr. Benton is expecting delivery of the item in the next week. Dr. Cox asked what role, if any, can members of the IPM Sub -Committee play when presentation of the final Plan is made to the Natural Resources Board, Parks and Recreation Committee, and City Council. Mr. Benton stated that once this final Plan is approved by the Sub -Committee, presentation is going to be made to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Natural Resources Board. Their input and approval of the Plan is important so that when this Plan is presented to City Council, the Plan is approved by all three of the above groups. If when the document is presented to City Council there are any changes or recommendations by Council, Mr. Benton's recommendation will be that the document with the proposed changes by Council comes back to the IPM Sub -Committee. Ms. Haigler will make sure the Sub -Committee members will all get an agenda regarding the Parks and Recreation Committee meeting, the Natural Resources Board meeting, and the City Council meeting so that any members who desire to do so can attend in person or via Zoom and voice their support of the document. X. Items for Next Aaenda The final IPM Plan and accompanying Resolution will be on the agenda for approval at the IPM Sub -Committee meeting on Monday, July 20th. XI. Adjournment There being no further business, Mr. Benton adjourned the meeting at 4:07 p.m. Date: t /q!a°ao jg