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Malibu residents urge district to halt herbicide use, cite Phenale XL near creek at Malibu High
Summary
Residents told the board that landscaping crews sprayed Phenale XL on Malibu High grounds near a creek and urged the district to honor a prior pesticide‑free commitment for Malibu campuses; the district did not commit to reversing the contract during the meeting.
Anne Russell Shergott and Keon Shulman raised environmental and health concerns about herbicide application on Malibu High School grounds. Shergott said she observed a bright‑pink liquid sprayed near the top of the creek that runs off campus and asked what scientific advice guided the decision to use herbicide rather than alternatives.
"The substance applied is reportedly Phenale XL, a nondiscriminating herbicide being used in lieu of glyphosate," Shergott said, asking how the district evaluated risks to a closed water-reclamation system and whether the contract was negotiated with local Malibu stakeholders.
Keon Shulman, director of Poison Free Malibu and a registered nurse, reminded the board that Malibu campuses agreed to a pesticide‑free practice in 2016 and that the city’s coastal program now requires a coastal development permit for outdoor pesticide use (county/city action cited July 2023). Shulman cited medical research on pesticide exposure risks to children and urged the district to return to pesticide‑free maintenance on Malibu campuses.
Board members heard the concern and thanked commenters; no immediate contract change was recorded on the dais. Commenters requested a district response on why Phenale XL was selected, whether a coastal permit was sought, and whether alternative maintenance practices were considered.
