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Commission defers consent item after public concern over herbicides near SF watersheds
Summary
Item 8L was removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration after public comment raised concerns that Tier 1 herbicides could be used on watershed lands; staff said pest control emphasizes trapping and manual removal, minimizes pesticide use, and will provide follow-up details and a departmental letter.
Commissioners pulled consent item 8L for separate consideration amid public concern about pesticides and integrated pest management on watershed lands.
Members of the public, led by Eric Brooks of the San Francisco Green Party, urged the commission to restrict or phase out Tier 1 herbicides near water supplies and sought nonbinding language asking the general manager to minimize such uses. Brooks said experience with the Department of the Environment shows stronger, codified language was needed to prevent continued harmful pesticide use near waterways.
Steve Ritchie, assistant general manager for water, replied that animal control work on watershed lands relies primarily on trapping and hunting rather than pesticides; for noxious weeds, staff uses a combination of manual removal and, in limited cases, certain pesticides listed in Exhibit A of the contract. Ritchie said staff tries to minimize pesticide use and offered to provide follow-up documentation and a departmental confirmation letter.
Commissioners asked staff to consult the city’s Integrated Pest Management lead and the Department of the Environment and to return with a recommendation; the item was continued to the next meeting.
