City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2017 02 28

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Cityot im Louisville COLORADO • SINCE 1878 CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA ITEM 11 SUBJECT: DATE: DISCUSSION — INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN FEBRUARY 28, 2017 PRESENTED BY: JOE STEVENS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION EMBER BRIGNULL, OPEN SPACE MANAGER DEAN JOHNSON JR., PARKS SUPERINTENDENT SUMMARY: City Council asked the Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board (PPLAB) and the Open Space Advisory Board (OSAB) to review the City's Integrated Weed Management Plan and discuss herbicide use in the City of Louisville. Most recent discussions and actions include: Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board On November 3, 2016 PPLAB reviewed the current use of herbicides in Parks and a citizen petition requesting the City ban herbicide use. PPLAB elected not to engage in a comprehensive review of the City's Integrated Weed Management Plan (IWMP) at the November meeting. Parks and Recreation Department current practices and procedures were acceptable to PPLAB and PPLAB offered no additional changes or recommendations except for the possible elimination of herbicide use within playground footprints. PPLAB agreed in the upcoming meeting to discuss the pros and cons of internally restricting herbicide use within the playground footprint. On December 1, 2016 PPLAB continued discussion and voted unanimously to recommend eliminating the use of herbicides in playgrounds as a pilot program. Staff agrees and supports PPLAB's recommendation of restricting the use of herbicides within the playground footprint as a pilot program, starting in 2017. Open Space Advisory Board On December 14, 2016 Colorado State University (CSU) presented a proposal for "Extending the Duration of Annual and Biennial Weed Control on City of Louisville Open Space Properties with Esplanade Tank Mixes." The study is currently underway on other locations along the Front Range, and into Wyoming, and includes herbicide application plots and monitoring performed by CSU. Discussion included potential impacts of herbicides on soil, wildlife, and the water table. OSAB also discussed concerns with potential drift, cost and effectiveness compared to other options. OSAB voted unanimously to approve this study on Aquarius and Davidson Mesa Open Space properties. On January 11, 2017 OSAB was briefed on the previously mentioned petition being discussed and addressed by PPLAB. OSAB also reviewed 2016 weed management CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 2