Council receives 2025 integrated pest management report; staff notes pesticide‑free park zones and CO2 gopher control

Public Works and parks staff presented the city’s 2025 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) annual report at the Feb. 9 meeting. The report catalogues chemical products and safety data sheets, identifies park areas that are pest‑management free (El Carro Park, Franklin Creek Park, Heath Ranch Park, Memorial Park and Monte Vista Park), and summarizes use patterns for herbicides, insecticides and rodenticides across the city's rights‑of‑way and parklands.

Products manager Ryan Airlie said contractors provide monthly logs of chemicals used, quantities and application locations and submit required information to the county agricultural department. Staff described safety practices for field treatments, including 48‑hour advance posting when sports fields must be sprayed and a 24‑hour closure following treatment. Airlie said the city uses carbon dioxide gas for gopher control and noted that gas has proved effective and relatively humane for recurring gopher activity at some sites. Staff also said the city’s contractors employ licensed applicators and that two safety data sheets initially omitted from the packet have since been added.

Council members pressed staff on visible signage at treatment sites, limits on rodenticides to avoid secondary poisoning of pets or predators, and whether structural exclusion inspections could be used to reduce baiting. Staff agreed to follow up on posting practices for park treatments, and to pursue inspections and tighter exclusion measures where feasible. Council voted to receive and file the 2025 IPM report.