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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 INTEGRATED PESTMANAGEMENTSUB-COMMITTEE PAGE MINUTES OF MARCH 11,2020 MEETING 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. INTEGRATED PESTMANAGEMENTSUB-COMMITTEE PAGE MINUTES OF MARCH 11,2020 MEETING 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 INTEGRATEDPESTMANAGEMENTSUB-COMMITTEE PAGE4 MINUTES OF MARCH 11,2020 MEETING 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. INTEGRATED PESTMANAGEMENTSUB-COMMITTEE PAGES MINUTES OF MARCH 11,2020 MEETING 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: jg