The City of Davis and the Davis Natural Resources Commission - Hazardous Materials Subcommittee hosted a forum on pesticide use in Davis.
Date & Time: Wednesday, December 7th at 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.
The forum discussed current herbicide and insecticide use by the City in public parks, greenbelts, City-owned open spaces and farm lands, City facilities, streets, and sidewalks as well as providing information on why pesticides are used and alternatives to reduce or eliminate continued pesticide use.
Brian Leahy, the current Director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), discussed current trends in reducing pesticide usage in municipalities. Martin Guerena, the City of Davis' IPM Specialist, discussed pesticide use and other IPM techniques used by the city, such as cultural, physical and biological practices, and least toxic pesticide alternatives, to limit pesticide use in our urban landscape while working to provide cost effective pest management services to the community. The City’s use of glyphosate and neonicotinoids was discussed.
There was be an extensive expert panel session to ask questions and/ or voice concerns about pesticide use, the City’s IPM program, and pest management service interests.
Feedback received from this forum will help drive the revision of the City’s IPM Policy which may include the reduction or elimination of pesticide use. Such change would potentially impact pest management costs and service levels at community parks, greenbelts, utilities and other City maintained facilities.
Recorded and edited by Davis Media Access.