Horticulture and Forestry Advisory Board Minutes 2006 12 07

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Horticultural & Forestry Advisory Board Minutes December 7, 2006 Page 2 of 5 VI. Landscape Contract Specifications-Review of Scott's responses to our comments, finalize According to Chris, Scott was concerned that the contract specifications not be so detailed that they would be micromanaging a contractor's landscape maintenance decisions. Likewise, the Board does not want to become involved in micromanagement, and really has no ability to do so. For purposes of the maintenance contract, the City still does not know how much pesticide is actually used on city properties. However, we could request records from the maintenance contractor, since records need to be kept for each application. [Who will do this?] A lengthy discussion ensured regarding ways to control weeds around trees other than chemical application (i.e., RoundUp), namely, solarization and/or the use of horticultural vinegar. It was generally agreed that solarization would not be the most effective way to control weeds. Tim has had experience with horticultural vinegar. Chris expressed some reservations about the use of vinegar around trees because of potential damage to tree roots. Tim said in his experience that it is important to use vinegar with an appropriate concentration made specifically for horticultural use. Matt suggested, with Susan's concurrence, that Chris might use an area in the Arboretum as a demonstration plot for the use of vinegar to control weeds. With successful weed management in a controlled situation, such a demonstration could help move the entire city in a new direction, toward the elimination of the use of RoundUp and other commercial chemicals. Chris said he is already stretched thin, but Tim said he would be willing to work on such an experiment. Tim wondered whether weed control might be better done by an independent weed control contractor, and thought, based on his survey of public land in Louisville, that one person with a backpack sprayer could control weeds with a weekly application. The Board did not reach a definite conclusion about whether or not they recommend segregation of weed control out of the general maintenance contract. One concern about the maintenance contract was how to make the specifications biddable when the number of mowing times per year is open-ended. One suggestion was for a set number of mows and then additional mows at a price per mow. Chris thought is could be accomplished so that it would not be unfair to contractor. Tim suggested that a comment be added to the end of the maintenance specifications stating that in the future, the City will begin an active