Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOES 37-05PICKERING REPORT TO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Report Number: OES 37-05 Date: December 1, 2005 Richard Holborn, P. Eng. Division Head, Municipal Property & Engineering Subject: Pesticide Use File: A 2130 Recommendation: 1. That Report OES 37-05 regarding Pesticide Use be received; and that The City of Pickering staff annually review the effectiveness of educational programs pertaining to pesticides and their use and investigate the potential for further development of community awareness, and that The City of Pickering staff continue to investigate and evaluate alternative options to pesticides for pest control on municipal properties. Executive Summary: The issue regarding the use of pesticides on non-agricultural lands can be a very contentious one with a variety of opinions across the spectrum. The City of Pickering has opted not to follow suit with municipalities such as Toronto that have adopted a bylaw banning cosmetic use of pesticides. Instead, the City of Pickering has opted to take an integrated look at how we manage municipal properties and promote community based marketing about alternatives. Proper mowing and aeration, irrigation and watering techniques, regular de-thatching and the use of organic fertilizers have reduced the City's need for pesticides. Naturalized areas within the parks have also reduced the need for treatments. All natural alternatives are investigated and utilized wherever possible and practical. In the spring of 2005 City staff delivered educational community awareness programs using a variety of means to provide residents with the information necessary to make informed decisions about what was right for their properties. Report OES 37-05 Subject: Pesticide Use Date: December 1, 2005 Page 2 Financial Implications: In 2005, the financial investment, with the exclusion of staff time, was limited with most of the expenses resulting from the Property Green Up event in June. In spring 2006, it is proposed that in addition to a Property Green Up event at City Hall, the City partner with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to host a Healthy Yards Workshop. Background: For some individuals, using an assortment of chemicals to maintain a lawn is common practice. However, times and attitudes are changing and pesticide use as a sole means to maintain a green lawn is becoming an issue in many communities. Pesticide use is becoming a contentious issue due to an increased perception about the impact some chemicals may have on the environment and our health. As a result, some homeowners are choosing to adopt environmentally sound lawn care practices and only use pesticides when absolutely necessary. There is also now a greater understanding that a healthy lawn is less likely to suffer from pest problems. To promote this perspective to a wider audience, staff have used a variety of mechanisms in the spring, summer and autumn of 2005. In March, staff participated in a Property Naturalization Workshop hosted by the TRCA Frenchman's Bay Watershed Rehabilitation Project. Approximately fifty residents attended this informative Workshop. As a guest speaker, the City's Coordinator, Environmental Awareness Programs gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled an Integrated Approach to Property Management. Within the presentation the following aspects were discussed: Importance of an integrated approach to lawn care, Preventing problems before they arise by proper mowing, watering, fertilizing, overseeding, aerating, dethatching and regular checks, - Treatment options, - Pesticides, what are they and how should they be properly used and disposed of, - Alternatives to pesticides, - What the City of Pickering is doing to maintain their properties. An educational display was also set up with free material that workshop participants could take home. Overall the event was very successful and well received by participants. Since the event in March, this educational display has been set up on many occasions with free educational material about a variety of topics, including alternatives to pesticides and integrated lawn care. In connection with Earth Day on April 22, 2005 the display was set up for one week in the main foyer at City Hall. Later that month the display, in conjunction with the Enviro-monsters Competition, was brought to the Pickering Town Centre. In May the display was once again put up at City Hall during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant announcement. CORP0227-07/01 Report OES 37-05 Subject: Pesticide Use Date: December 1, 2005 Page 3 In June, the City hosted a Property Green Up event in partnership with the Region of Durham and the Bloomers and Britches. This event afforded residents the opportunity to pick up free compost, mulch, rain gauges and educational literature pertaining to alternatives to pesticides and integrated lawn care. Attendees could also purchase blue boxes, compost boxes, and heritage and native plants. These supplies will assist residents in their effort to maintain a healthy lawn. The City of Pickering website has been another means used to promote an integrated approach to lawn care. An extensive amount of information under the header of "Property Green Up" has been placed on the website in the "Environmental Awareness" section; literature is also available for download as a PDF. In particular, information pertaining to proper lawn care and natural alternatives to pesticides is available. In addition, for those that opt for chemicals to control pests the web pages provide instructions about proper use and disposal. Lastly, the website is also used to update residents about how the City of Pickering is managing municipal properties. Another useful tool on the website has been the introduction of a "Request Form". Residents have been using this form as an online means to request information about a variety of topics. In the spring and summer, the majority of the requests received were for educational material pertaining to integrated lawn care. The requests are processed immediately and the individuals, in addition to receiving the free literature, are mailed a rain gauge and a City of Pickering tote bag stamped "Protecting our environment... Protecting our future". The Green Pages section of the City's seasonal brochures has been an excellent means to promote a variety of environmental programs and resources available to residents including workshops, environmental events, the website Request Form and educational material. It is important that City of Pickering staff are viewed by the community as leading by example. The Green Pages section of the Municipal Matters publication is used to facilitate this process. The article this summer in the Green Pages section of Municipal Matters promoted and educated staff about taking an integrated approach to lawn care at their home. The City of Pickering staff was requested to set up an environmental display at the Whitevale Community Day in October, since there was an environmental theme to the event this year. The event organizers arranged for displays from various environmental groups and ran environmentally focused games for kids. Since lawn care practices in autumn are just as important as those in spring to grow a healthy pest free lawn, the educational literature pertaining to integrated property management was provided at the display. Planning has begun for the 2006 season. In addition to building on the initiatives outlined above, it's proposed that the City partner with the TRCA to host a Healthy CORP0227-07/01 Report OES 37-05 Subject: Pesticide Use Date: December1,2005 Page 4 Yards workshop in the Duffins Creek watershed in the spring. A possible location is Claremont. TRCA has hosted Healthy Yards workshops within other municipalities and they have proved very successful. In addition, it will complement those already offered in the Frenchman's Bay watershed. The proposed 2006 budget includes an allowance for the City to subsidize the cost of Organic Lawn Care kits. The kits will contain everything a homeowner needs to start implementing more sustainable practices, such as; drought/disease tolerant grass seed for overseeding, beneficial nematodes and a hose end sprayer for grub control, a hand held weeder, organic fertilizer and a reference book on organic lawn care. The kits are valued at $120 each, but with the City of Pickering subsidizing a portion of the cost, it will make it easier and thus more likely for the residents attending to purchase the kits. City staff continues to monitor the City's green spaces for weeds as part of the commitment to the pesticide reduction program. Cultural practices such as aerating, topdressing, over seeding and fertilizing are used to encourage a strong and healthy turf grass and thus reduce the need for pesticide applications by reducing the weed populations. Where practical, and the budget allows, products recommended as environmentally friendlier are used. This would include such things as corn gluten or weed and feed and organic based fertilizers. Staff continues to investigate up to date information, practices and new products that will provide quality turf grass with minimal pesticide applications required. As outlined above various initiatives have been recently undertaken or are planned for the upcoming year. Therefore, it is being recommended that City of Pickering staff continue to annually review the effectiveness of the community educational programs pertaining to pesticides and investigate the potential for further development of community awareness. As well, it is recommended that the City staff continue to investigate and evaluate alternative options to pesticides for pest control on municipal properties. Attachments 1. Property Green Up Flyer 2. Frenchman's Bay Post 3. Friends of the Rouge Watershed Flyer CORP0227-07/01 Report OES 37-05 Subject: Pesticide Use Date: December 1, 2005 Page 5 Prepared By: Chantal Whitaker Coordinator, Environmental Awareness Programs Evere~BuntSma Director, Operations & Emergency Services Richard W. Hol,b~rn,-P. Eng. Div/i~ion Head, Municipal Property & Engineering /~ergency Services Copy: Chief Administrative Officer Superintendent, Municipal Operations Recommended for the consideration of Pickering Cit7 Council Th/0mas J. Qd~n, Ch~f/Adm~n~s~Of~er ~ CORP0227-07/01 i ~'OREPORT# 0~- c'O ~ 7-0.5 Saturday, June 11th 8:00 am - Noon City of Picketing Operations Centre 2570 Tillings Rd. Pickerir~g ERSNRD ~ Centre · Pick-up · Rel · Blue Boxes Frenchman's Bay Watemhed Rehabilitation Project ONTARIOffiik- I ........... ..,..-, ........... a 'a,va'tro, hyd Local Area H/story Program Details Event Listings All you need to know about this project is on our website! It's hard to believe it's been a year since our last project newsletter. The following pages reflect on accomplishments from autumn 2004 to September 2005. During this past year, staff have spent much of their time developing new partnerships within the Pickering community. We have great news! Funding for the two year Pickering Healthy Communities project, in the amount of $ 70,000, has been approved by the EcoAction Community Funding Program. This project will pick-up where the West Shore Habitat Initiative ends. Starting October 1st, 2005 we will initiate three community action sites, a residential homeowners and corporate challenge program. ! Highlights ... Pg ! We are pleased to announce that Hydro One has joined our list of project partners. Over the next three years we will be working with Hydro One to deliver environmental education programs that will continue to benefit the Frenchman's Bay watershed. :! The Natural Alternative ... Pg2 ~ West Shore Habitat Initiative ... Pg 3 ' Around the Bay ;A Collage ... Pg 4,5 'Hands on the Earth ... Pg 6 Volunteer Environmental Watch ... Pg 7 Thank-you, Ripples .7; .P~] 8 In November & December 2004, groups explored renewable and non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, wind and solar through demonstrations. Games and videos were also on-hand to teach these Idds about conserving energy at home. This 2nd workshop, hosted on October 25th, 2004, was attended by members of the public seeking information on solar, wind energy and home energy audits. A special thank-you to guest speakers Shoan Sorenson- TRCA, Dave Timm- TREC and Stephanie Bolton- Greensavers Iwho also donated a home audit as one of many door prizes) for sharing practical information on conserving energy. On March 21 st, past participants of the property naturalization program were invited to a follow-up session to continue the pursuit of their 'gardening dreams'. Chantal ~(/hitaker- City of Pickering, was on hand to talk about pesticide use, while John McMullen- Landscape Architect, gave us tips for implementing property plans and Colleen Cirillo- TRCA, provided practical resources for making the switch to natural gardening. Check out some of these resources for yourself by visiting the TRC~'s new Healthy Yards webtool. www. trca, on.ca/yards A spec/a/thank-j/ou to Environmental Factor for the donation of alternative lawn care products for door prizes! As part of our continued commitment to improving local water quality more yellow fish are being spotted throughout the City of Pickering. These yellow fish are a reminder that the water lived in by fish and other wildlife, and the water we use for swimming and drinking, can be polluted by the improper disposal and use of everyday household, garden, and automobile products. ~(/hen it rains, these hazardous substances are carried directly into neighbourhood streams, rivers, and lakes, usual/y untreated, from the storm sewers on your street. Local groups helped to deliver this message in April 2005 by painting yellow fish beside storm drains, adhering discs (photo to the right) to curbs and delivering flyers to local homeowners. * Environmental Games for Kids of All Ages * Learn About Active Environmental Groups in the Neighbourhood * Go on a Guided Hike Lead by a Local Naturalist * Learn about the Cultural Heritage of the Area * Meet Animals from Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary * Or go on a Guided 45 km Bike Journey a~e C°~*i~J WHERE AND WHEN Whitevale Community Centre 405 Whitevale Rd. Saturday, October 1st Starting at 10am going all afternoon To Hwy-401 & Kings[on Rd, Bring a Picnic Lunch and Blanket for the grass and sports equipment to play with new friends THEN walk up to North St. to the Heritage United Church Family Community Food Drive for more activities for the kids and refreshments all to support the local Food Bank.