HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-11-2020 IPM MinutesINTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
SUBCOMMITTEE
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
UPSTAIRS CONFERENCE ROOM
1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FL
MARCH 11, 2020
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Benton at 3:08 p.m.
11. Roll call
Present:
Ms. Haigler
Dr. Cox
Mr. Carrano
Mr, Benton
NotPresent
Ms. Brothers — Excused
Ms. Kelly-Begazo — Excused
Mr. O'Neill — Absent
Also Present:
Janet Graham, Technical Writer
III. Aporoval of Minutes — February 19.2020
Mr. Benton asked if the committee members had a chance to review the Minutes
from February 19, 2020. As the committee members present had not reviewed the
Minutes of the February 19, 2020 meeting, approval of those Minutes was postponed until
the next meeting, March 18, 2020.
IV. Announcements
A. Only one more meeting after this
Mr. Benton stated a discussion was needed about adding a meeting on March 25, 2020
if possible. He is not sure that staff can have everything prepared and ready to go by
next Wednesday, in order to have something for the committee members to review and
approve before going to City Council. It was the consensus of those members
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present that a meeting on March 25 should be added. Dr. Cox volunteered to help staff
work on the document in the meantime.
V. Public Input
Mr. Benton called on anyone from the public who would like to speak. Hearing no one,
he dosed the Public Input section of the Agenda.
VI. New Business
A. Committee member discussion of cultural and mechanical control IPM
methods
I. Which are most applicable for active, passive, and athletic
properties?
it. Target pests of each method
III. Estimated cost for each method
Extended discussion ensued among the committee members regarding this item. Mr.
Benton stated the plan for the passive properties (which were listed in the prior video
presentation by Ms. Haigler) in the City is to only treat the playgrounds.. Only treatment
for fire ants will be done, and only the perimeter around the playgrounds will be treated,
which has already been done. There have been no other pests identified that need to be
treated in those parks as of now. Once the condition of those playgrounds gets back to
what it needs to be, they will only need spot treatment.
Dr. Cox described that plan as being a cultural solution.
Regarding the active parks (which were listed in the prior video presentation by Ms.
Haigler), so far the playgrounds have been treated. Mr. Benton stated he has some
concerns in Hardee Park and Riverview Park and somewhat less at Easy Street Park
because of the lake that Is present. In Hardee Park he has some concerns about the
center -field area, as there are some exercise groups who use that area. So there may
eventually need to be some proactive action taken there to treat fire ants. Riverview Park
is the major concern right now. Only the playgrounds have been treated. There was an
event there this past weekend, and there were reports of some fire ant bites during the
event. There are more activities coming up in the next several weeks, so he feels that
%✓erview Park should be treated because of the number of events that are held there.
Once again, only the fire ants are being treated presently.
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Regarding the ballfields, they haven't been addressed yet. Hopefully, later this week the
ballfields will be treated.
Dr. Cox Inquired as to whether staff has a threshold for how many complaints are received
before action is taken. Mr. Benton staled staff must be more proactive at Riverview Park
because of the number of people who come to that park. Different parks may have
different thresholds, and different pests will require different thresholds.
Regarding the amount of product that is used to treat the parks, Mr. Benton stated staff
strictly follows the label on the product. A new wind anemometer and a new scale have
been purchased. These are new ones that are property calibrated.
Dr. Cox Is concerned about how decisions are made as to what products are to be used.
He wants to take the guesswork out of making these decisions. Mr. Benton stated the
first conslderatlon is to identify the pest(s) in order to know how to property treat them.
The level of the pest population is also important to consider. Also, cost is a consideration.
He will get together with Ms. Haigler and the applicators and discuss these questions. He
is of the opinion that he and his staff and this committee should depend more on the
research that has been done in addition to reading the label on the product.
Discussion regarding natural and/or organic methods of addressing the pests was had.
Aeration of the soil was among the suggestions. Mr. Benton stated he plans to get turf
tires for one of their tractors, and he will be able to rent an aeration machine.
Ms. Haigler presented photos on the monitor of parks in the City and the conditions
existing there.
There was discussion regarding reducing the sod in the passive parks, especially by
introducing native plants that would give good cover and would fill in well. On the water
side of the concrete walkway, Mr. Carrano suggested changing the landscaping along the
river from sod to xeriscaping. Ms. Haigler suggested salt -tolerant grasses in that area.
These suggestions could be implemented over the long term.
Mr. Benton said staff has done a test area with the W .O.W . product and Dr. Kirchner's
product. He will bring updated photographs of those test areas to the next meeting. Dr.
Cox mentioned that he has talked to the CEO of the company that makes W .O.W., who
has agreed to have a conference call with the committee sometime in the near future.
Mr. Benton stated he has read where some communities have tried going to a vinegar -
based product to address the weeds. Use of the vinegar -based product began to change
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the pH in the soil, and employees actually complained about the effects of applying It, so
they discontinued using it. He plans to try some products in an area that will not cause
major damage, but the effects will be able to be seen on the turf grass in this environment.
Mr. Carrano stated that, no matter what is used, everything has an impact.
Ms. Haigler stated it is important for this committee to meet again after the summer
months so that they are able to immediately evaluate things that are not working
financially, culturally, etc. That way, changes can be made immediately.
Mr. Benton called for public input under this item.
Andrea Ring, Sebastian, is concerned about the moratorium being lifted on treating the
fire ants in Riverview Park. She inquired whether signs will be posted informing people
that pesticides are being used in that area. Mr. Benton said that City Council gave staff
permission to treat playgrounds across the City at the last Council meeting. The signage
Is already in place at Riverview Park, and signage is up around playgrounds that have
been treated already. He also said that presently the landscape contractors are not
permitted to do applications of fertilizer or pesticides within the City. They are only doing
maintenance right now such as mowing, etc.
VII. Old Business
A. IPM Plan
Review and discuss new changes to the draft first section of the final
report
Mr. Benton called for discussion of any changes. He is going to review some of the
numbers listed on the first page of the draft. He also stated that every contractor who is
doing business within the City will be notified in their contracts that they must follow this
Integrated Pest Management Plan within all City properties. Ms. Haigler suggested that
an Appendix A be added to the contract where the third -party contractor would
acknowledge that they had received the IPM Plan and will abide by the Plan by executing
thedocument.
Mr. Benton also addressed the Sebastian cemetery. Discussion was had as to what
classification the cemetery should be after which it was the consensus that this property
should be identified as an active park.
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Ms. Haigler emphasized that focus should be on other controls and other methods, and
chemicals as the last resort. The end result of the plan in three months should be that it
Is already being seen that less chemicals are being used.
Mr. Benton stated there will be an increase in the chemicals used on fire ants this year
because of the moratorium. So it will take more applications in order to gel the pests
under control. Thereafter, spot treatment will be done.
Dr. Cox stated that public perception is very Important. It is important that the public sees
that the City is using the minimum chemicals that are necessary. Mr. Benton suggested
a plan to implement public outreach to educate the public and to focus on transparency
of what is being done.
Vill. Items for Next Agenda
Mr. Benton staled an additional meeting will be added on March 25. He also asked that
committee members review the first six pages of the plan and be ready to approve them
at the next meeting, so that by the 25th meeting those pages will not need to be reviewed
again.
IX. Adjournment
There being no further business, Mr. Benton adjourned the meeting at 4:10 pm.
By: Date:
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