Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-10-2021 IPM MinutesINTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FL MAY 10, 2021 Call to Order -- The meeting was called to order by Mr. Benton at 2:46 p.m. 11. Pledae of Alleaiance was recited by all. III. Roll call Present Dr. Cox Ms. Callaghan (Zoom) Mr. Carrano Mr. Stadelman Absent Ms. Munroe — Excused Also Present: Brian Benton, Leisure Services Director Kim Haigler, Environmental Planner Joseph Perez, AV Technical Assistant Janet Graham, Technical Writer (Zoom) IV. ADDroval of Minutes — April 12, 2021 Chairman Benton asked if everyone had a chance to review the Minutes as presented. All indicated they had. Mr. Benton called for a motion. A motion approving the April 12, 2021 Minutes as presented was made by Mr. Carrano, seconded by Ms. Haigler, and approved unanimously via voice vote. V. Announcements Ms. Haigler reviewed that this Sub -Committee had discussed the use of pathogens and non -toxic live bacteria. After discussion with the AVC contractor, it was determined that, for the amount of cattail that is being treated at Garden Club Lake, it would probably be the best candidate to use the non -toxic live bacteria called Biozyme. So they are going to be adding that to the water in monthly doses. It has a slow growth rate, but it also requires repeated treatments. They are specialized bacteria that produce the exoenzymes to help breakdown the organic materials. Since the cattails area very tough plant to break down, it was considered a good candidate. City staff have also arranged INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2021 for water quality and sediment testing in three different locations in the lake, and that will be happening quarterly. So we will be able to report on that progress. VI. Public Inout Seeing no one in chambers from the public wishing to speak and hearing no one on Zoom who wished to speak, Mr. Benton moved to the next item on the agenda. VII. New Business A. AVC Spraying Contract Summary Site -based review of pests treated since December 2020 Ms. Haigler reviewed that it was discussed at the last meeting that the four -month summary of the chemicals used so far was reviewed. At that time, it was requested by Ms. Callaghan that it be also broken down by location and by the plants treated. Ms. Haigler displayed the charts on the projector for everyone to see. She reminded everyone that this is not a regular treatment program; it is a recovery program. So there was nothing much of significance shown. But, when you look at it over two years, you start to see a huge difference. We know exactly where the main problems are and what they are mainly treating and what locations were treated. She said that when she began collaborating all the data that were available just from the four months, they really showed nothing significant, as every location has been visited on a regular rotation twice just to monitor how aggressive the pest populations are, and it really does not make a good comparison until you look at it over the course of a year because different plants have different growing seasons, and we are really in a recovery sort of program. She said that in the coming months the annual report is definitely going to be broken down just the same way the two- year summary was done. Dr. Cox stated he went onto the website looking for these charts, but he could not find them. Ms. Haigler said she has not updated them yet, but the version she just reviewed is on the site now. Mr. Benton reiterated that when we have the full one-year treatment summary, it will look similar to this two-year treatment summary that is in front of the Sub -Committee presently, but it will just show the one year. Ms. Haigler agreed. She also stated that once there is a full year completed, it can be compared to a full year of the previous data. Mr. Benton drew everyone's attention to the twin ditches on the two-year treatment INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 3 MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2021 summary, it looks like it was treated 10 times. He did notice last week that there was a major duckweed issue at the twin ditches by the golf course. Ms. Haigler said the twin ditches situation is just like the Hardee Lake — they are both choke points, and when it rains the water Flows, and that is the point where the duckweed gathers. It can then be removed by the stormwater staff. Mr. Benton called on anyone in chambers who wished to speak on this item as well as anyone on Zoom who wished to speak. There being no one, Mr. Benton moved to the next item on the agenda. B. Pesticide Use Methodology Planning Pesticide Application Ms. Haigler stated that a lot of this information follows the same plan as the Parks and Properties IPM Plan. However, the plan is very unique when we deal with aquatic systems, so there are other things that must be considered. She reviewed the items which are different from Parks and Properties, especially when it comes to " Discouraged Procedure." She also explained the buffer zone and how it is different from the Parks and Propertiesplan. The buffer zone for stonnwaterisonly going tobetreated bythe aquatics contractor. Pesticide Selection Under this section, one of the main things to be addressed is herbicide resistance, which she reviewed. The environmental impact quotient (EIQ) is also going to be used, and she reviewed what these data are. Biopesticides are also addressed. They are not recommended for aquatic use. Regarding restrictions, there are no specific restricted herbicides. They will be listed by their caution labels. As to the approved pesticide list, she will review this in detail at the next meeting. iii. Treatment Notification Ms. Haigler explained that the signage will be the same for the most part as for the Parks and Properties Plan. It is somewhat different because it cannot be known a week prior to the slated application date exactly what will need to be applied. The contractor comes out and inspects, and City staff does not know more than 24 hours prior what they are going to be spraying. There is an online notification system that is being worked on, and that will be how City staff will give that notice 24 hours prior, not through the signage. The signage INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 4 MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2021 will be mainly at the public points of entry, including the kayak launches and the areas with direct access to the water. The signage will not be put on residents' private property. Ms. Haigler called for questions/comments from the Sub -Committee members. Mr. Stadelman asked if there are considerations for weather conditions. Ms. Haigler reviewed that is part of the labeled use: the product can only be used in certain wind conditions. The contractor is able to measure the wind and the temperature or the rain on site. That is all a part of the treatment sheets that are submitted. Mr. Stadelman also inquired as to whether the employee or the contractor who is doing the spraying has the authority to decide whether to spray that day or not. Ms. Haigler said yes. Mr. Carrano also commented that rainfall is extremely important because that can flush the pesticides down the drain a lot quicker. He suggested that where the wording "such as high winds" appears, "rainfall" should also be mentioned. Ms. Haigler agreed. Mr. Carrano also suggested that the wording in this paragraph, "VII. PESTICIDE USE METHODOLOGY" be changed somewhat. Ms. Haigler stated she will review the language, and discussion regarding this can be had at the next meeting. Ms. Callaghan inquired whether staff have an idea of when the City will be in the maintenance mode regarding using pesticides instead of having to play catchup. Mr. Benton explained that the maintenance mode will come into play in only the chemical area. In the mechanical removal, it will be spaced out such that the vegetation will not be as overgrown as it has been recently, and they will not have so much to catch up on. Ms. Callaghan suggested adding some text to the document such as a little more history in dealing with the moratorium, and that the City is playing catchup, and it may take a few years just to get to that maintenance goal. Mr. Benton added that in speaking to "JD," from AVC who handles a lot of the spraying here in Sebastian, we are a little slower getting to the maintenance level due to the non-use of glyphosate. Glyphosate is one of their main tools to use, specifically in the situation that the Cityis in with some of the pests that have been identified within Sebastian's system. Dr. Cox commented that he sees this plan as being of educational value to the City. These problems will not be solved all at once, but this is a good prelude to actually implementing the plan for Sebastian's stormwater system. Mr. Benton added that this is going to help staff when we get into the Master Plan for the stormwater system in continuing to move forward and improving the system. Dr. Cox added that he has been trying to find out how Martin County is doing by not using glyphosate. So far, no one has gotten back to him on that subject. He also opined that sometime in the future there will be a global ban on the use of glyphosate. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT SUB -COMMITTEE PAGE 5 MINUTES OF MAY 10, 2021 Mr. Stadelman asked if the City will be developing protocols for W and when the City may have to use the glyphosate product as a final option. Ms. Haigler stated that this Board will get into the details of the Approved Pesticide Table at the next meeting. Mr. Benton stated that he believes City staff will, at sometime in the future, have to bring that subject to this Committee. Also, in speaking with "JD" regarding this matter, JD feels that the City is hindering his company to the point of being able to gel us out of the reactionary period and being able to go to a maintenance period. That is the main goal -- to maintain the system. Extended discussion was had among Sub -Committee members and staff regarding when spraying should be done and the difficulties attendant to that. Following the discussion, Mr. Benton opened the meeting for public input on Item B, Pesticide Use Methodology. Seeing no one in chambers and hearing no one on Zoom, Mr. Benton moved to the next item on the agenda. Vill. Old Business IX. Sub -Committee Member Matters Mr. Stadelman spoke about giant Salvinia, which is the plant he was assigned to research. He stated that he noticed that there is a giant lake in Africa that is infested with this plant, and what they are using is a weevil, a type of bug that just eats that plant. He just wanted to mention this. Ms. Haigler stated there are a lot of weevils that are being tested, and it is a very long process before they can be released. If they already naturally existed in an area, it is not as long a process. Since they are not native to this area, it has to go through extensive testing before it can be released. Sometimes it passes all the testing, but we cannot raise that size population in our conditions. She added that at this point there is nothing biologically available for Salvinia. Dr. Cox announced that FWC is holding a focus group for the development of their plan for Lake Okeechobee. He will get the date and forward it to Mr. Benton XI. Items for Next Aaenda — Mav 24. 2021 A. Approved Pesticides B. Approved Pesticide Table C. Pesticide Use Methodology MIN�GRATt;� PES TM Tll. dS r meAY70' 202AGFMFNTgUg COMMt�EF dhoo nere bern9 no k., wa mad AG 6 V� voice votte, e by Mdusiness, Mr. P F BY G Meeh g ora was a�o°hsed at 2.3> p ellton l us. ndLdb fH.. Matio? to ad1ou m. an app�o� tl a Aar mobn to %9 Oa te ,� o,IY