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La Habra Heights council authorizes up to $2,500 for herbicidal treatment after resident concerns
Summary
The council voted unanimously to authorize up to $2,500 to apply environmentally preferable herbicide or pre‑emergent treatments to city-owned vacant parcels, following public concern about glyphosate use and a staff recommendation supported by a $1,000 vendor quote.
The La Habra Heights City Council on March 9 authorized a budget amendment of up to $2,500 to permit herbicidal or pre‑emergent treatment on city‑owned vacant parcels, with instructions that the contractor use environmentally friendly products and maintain required buffers from blue‑line streams.
City staff told the council it had solicited quotes and received a single bid from Coleman Landscapes for $1,000 to apply a herbicidal treatment to the identified parcels. Staff said the city typically clears those parcels several times a year and that applying a pre‑emergent could reduce recurring clearing costs (staff reported a recent full clearance cost near $10,000).
The discussion followed public comment from Cristobal Garcia, who urged the council to avoid glyphosate because of human‑health and ecological concerns and proposed alternatives including goat grazing, native landscaping and vinegar applications.
"If we affect and we distribute the herbicide to the ecosystem, it affects the whole supply chain for all the animals," Garcia said during his public comment.
Councilmembers pressed staff to specify environmentally acceptable products and to protect sensitive areas. Councilmember Greg Stoeffler suggested exploring pre‑emergent products that would reduce repeat work; councilmembers also noted a 65‑foot buffer from a mapped blue‑line stream and emphasized the contractor should avoid streamside application.
Councilmember John Pospiza moved the measure to authorize the budget amendment up to $2,500, and Councilmember Greg Stoeffler seconded. The motion passed unanimously with all councilmembers voting yes.
The council directed staff to work with the contractor to prioritize environmentally preferable pre‑emergent options, confirm setbacks from the blue‑line stream, and report back if more than the approved authorization will be required.
