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Council asks staff to study adding integrated pest‑management steps to development projects after resident concerns
Summary
Councilor Robinson asked the city manager to explore requiring IPM (integrated pest management) measures on construction projects after residents reported rodent concerns; the council approved the request and asked staff to examine pre‑construction inspections and mitigation steps described by specialists.
The City Council on Tuesday approved a request from Councilor Robinson for the city manager to explore requiring integrated pest‑management (IPM) measures as part of development projects, after residents raised concerns about disturbed rodent burrows linked to construction.
Councilor Robinson said residents in the Sunnyvale area and near the Apple Orchard reported increased rodent activity and conveyed findings from a specialist who recommended site inspections, burrow detection and targeted eradication where burrows are found. "Rats almost always burrow underneath or against an existing structure to provide shelter and security," Robinson said, relaying the specialist's guidance.
The specialist recommendations, as recounted to the council, included a three‑month visual inspection regime for large projects, inspection for burrow systems and droppings, and use of a carbon‑monoxide gas product (described in testimony as "Burrow X") to eradicate rodents when large burrow systems are found. Speakers also noted a preference for non‑coagulant rodenticides and treating chemical rodenticides as last‑resort measures.
The council voted to ask the manager and appropriate departments to adopt options that would incorporate IPM steps into development project processes and permitting. The motion passed by the council requires staff to examine potential procedural changes (preconstruction inspection requirements, monitoring during excavation, and specifications for mitigation), and to report back with options.
Ending: City departments will prepare guidance for how IPM measures could be integrated into project review and permitting; no mandatory regulatory language was adopted Tuesday.
