City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2017 02 28

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SUBJECT: DATE: INTEGRATED WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN FEBRUARY 28, 2017 PAGE 2 OF 3 practices on Open Space and revisions to the IWMP. OSAB unanimously approved revisions to the Integrated Weed Management Plan as redlined in the attached, revised draft IWPM. OSAB continues to support the City's efforts in weed control. Staff agrees and supports OSAB's recommendations to approve the CSU study on Aquarius and Davidson Mesa Open Spaces. Other jurisdictions in Boulder County, Larimer County and Jefferson County are also working with CSU on this most encouraging study. Plots have been installed and the study is underway. Staff are working, with CSU, to develop educational signage for the study areas and the City website. OSAB will be updated by CSU with ongoing results when analysis is complete. CSU and staff will also be collaborating on two educational field tours for practitioners and the public. In collaboration with the City Manager's office, the Parks and Recreation Department has created a Weed Management & Herbicide Guide located on the City's website under the Parks Division and Open Space Division pages. The guide serves as an informational reference on current practices and procedures. FISCAL IMPACT: Based on the recommendations of PPLAB and OSAB, fiscal impacts will be minimal with the exception of an additional $12,000 to dedicate staff to till and pull weeds in and around playgrounds. If herbicides and pesticides are eliminated from parks and open space and if appearance and quality are to be sustained and/or improved over time, costs will increase. CONCLUSION: Staff have reviewed policies and have spoken to parks and open space staff in other communities and have also had our Integrated Weed Management Plan reviewed by peers, the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Colorado State University professionals. The IWMP provides the framework to address requirements of the Colorado Noxious Weed Act mandating eradication of all List A species occurring within the City of Louisville as well as weed management strategies necessary to combat List B and List C species. In addition, citizen surveys and citizen advisory boards have placed a high priority on maintaining and even enhancing the appearance of parks, open space, sports fields, City entries, rights-of-way and public facilities. One cost- effective tool, used by parks and open space, is herbicides with a primary focus being the control of noxious and invasive weeds. Based on recommendations from citizens, advisory board and staff review, the Parks and Recreation Department will not be using herbicides to control weeds within city playgrounds in 2017 and will place a greater emphasis on mechanical control or hand pulling of weeds. The Department also wants to move forward with two pilot projects; the use of goats, on select open space, to reduce seed production and nutrient reserves of weed species and continue working with local fire districts to evaluate, coordinate and develop a City wide fire program and CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION 3