Bernalillo County delays vote on glyphosate policy, sets March 25 deadline for vegetation-management plan

Bernalillo County commissioners on Feb. 25, 2025, unanimously voted to postpone consideration of a proposed resolution (AR 2025-26) that would rescind the county's 2019 glyphosate moratorium and allow temporary, targeted spot use of glyphosate while officials complete an Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan.

The item drew extended public comment, technical presentations and questions from commissioners about enforcement, training and fiscal effects. After staff requested 30 days to incorporate additional input, a motion to defer consideration until the board's March 25 meeting passed 5-0.

Why it matters: County parks, road medians and other landscapes have seen increased weed growth since the 2019 moratorium, staff and union speakers said. The county's proposed plan would combine landscape design changes (converting problematic gravel/cobble xeriscapes to denser native plantings), nonchemical methods, and narrowly targeted herbicide applications as a temporary measure while longer-term alternatives are implemented. Supporters say the approach would reduce labor and safety risks for maintenance crews; opponents warned of health and environmental risks.

Staff presentation and proposal

County Manager Cindy Chavez introduced the item and said Parks, Recreation and Open Space sought a one-year extension to finish an Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan. Natural Resources Section lead Colleen Bronson told the commission the 2019 moratorium halted glyphosate use and left crews relying primarily on manual and mechanical removal, increasing labor needs and complaints about weed growth. Bronson said the resolution's intent is narrow: "this resolution asks for an additional time of 1 year to complete the integrated vegetation, management and maintenance plan, and for the temporary targeted and spot use" while the county finalizes alternatives and landscape conversions.

Bronson and other staff detailed elements of the plan: an expanded integrated pest management component focused on species- and landscape-specific strategies; landscape design standards and a capital plan to convert gravel/cobble xeriscapes (which collect wind-blown seed and become "weed nurseries") to denser native plantings; peer-reviewed research review; and coordination with New Mexico State University, the state Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders. Staff said the plan aims to reduce overall pesticide use, improve public and worker safety in hazardous areas (for example, medians beside high-speed roads) and restore habitat and water-conserving landscapes.

Public comment and technical concerns

Public speakers were split. Peggy Norton, a member of the citizen steering committee that helped draft the resolution, said the 2025 text addressed many of the committee's concerns but cautioned: "This does not eliminate concerns with the risks of using glyphosate." She described the committee's work on implementation guidance and said she supports a limited, temporary approach while alternatives are developed.

County park maintenance worker Billy Lucero, representing AFSCME Local 1461 and Parks, Recreation and Open Space staff, urged the board to approve limited spot use for safety and efficiency: "Approval of the resolution allowing spot use of glyphosate would allow and help make our efforts more effective and efficient for controlling weeds." He said licensed applicators and PPE are already required when herbicides are used.

An online commenter identified as "Miss Ward" spoke for FAIR and summarized public-health concerns: "Evidence that glyphosate harms human health has been mounting," she said, citing settlement activity, the EPA's withdrawal of an interim registration review decision in 2022 and studies linking exposure to adverse outcomes.

Commissioner questions and staff clarifications

Commissioners pressed staff on several operational and oversight points: who audits compliance and how often, the plan's timeline, definitions of "high-need" and "hazardous" landscapes, training for line crews, and the financial trade-offs between labor-intensive mechanical control and limited chemical use.

Staff said the county will produce a midyear progress report and the final integrated plan within one year if the board approves the direction, and that reporting related to publicly funded tax-credit developments and other matters is already subject to state audits. Staff also estimated pre-2019 chemical spending for Parks at about $50,000, and described peer-city examples in which targeted chemical use was part of broader habitat restoration efforts (Bronson cited the City of Tucson's collaboration with Tucson Audubon).

Board action and next steps

After discussion, staff asked for additional time to circulate proposed amendments and to consult line staff and community stakeholders. A motion to defer consideration of AR 2025-26 until the March 25, 2025 commission meeting passed on a 5-0 roll call.

If the item returns in March, staff said they will circulate proposed language and allow further public input, then deliver a mid-year progress update and, if approved later, implement the IVMMP and begin prioritized landscape conversions and training. The county presented the delay as intended to build community trust and refine the plan's species- and site-specific controls.

Ending

The board concluded the item by scheduling the matter for March 25 and asking staff to share amendments and to coordinate closely with the steering committee, academic partners and field crews. The deferred vote preserves a one-year window for staff to complete an Integrated Vegetation Management and Maintenance Plan that staff say will ultimately reduce reliance on pesticides while addressing worker safety and weed control in high-priority areas.