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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEQCB Min 1991-01-23 . . . ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL BOARD MINUTES January 23, 1991 I. CALL TO ORDER - 6: 00 p.m. I I. ROLL CALL Present: Voce, Logan, Deckner (6:20 pm) Also Present: Barry Curtis, Administrative Assistant Bob Eagle, Parks Supervisor III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. GUEST SPEAKER - BOB EAGLE, PARKS SUPERVISOR Mr. Eagle discussed his duties and responsibilities and the Public Works Department's policies regarding landscaping watering, pesticides and herbicides, fertilizers, composting and leaf blowers. Mr. Eagle's responsibilities include the maintenance of approximately 30 acres of parks and all of the City's trees. The City has one paid tree trimmer, while the city realistically needs two to three full-time trimmers. Due to lack of adequate staff many trees have gone untrimmed in recent years. Mr. Voce asked whether or not the city uses tree clippings or has a central City Yard where trimmings are saved for future use. Mr. Eagle stated that tree chips are used by the City for weed control along road sides. Many of the trimmings from the recent Gum Grove trimming are still present in the Gum Grove. The City uses chips around the City'S reservoir (on Beverly Manor) to prevent herbicide usage near the reservoir. Mr. Deckner arrived at 6:20 p.m. Mr. Voce expressed concerns with the use of any herbicides and pesticides. He expressed his concerns with ecological impacts. Mr. Deckner stated he wanted input from Mr. Eagle as to what his jOb entailed. Specifically, he wants the City to use as C:\WP51 \1lQCB\MIIIU'l'IlSl. 91( 2) . . . Page 2 few chemicals as possible. Mr. Eagle discussed the chemicals the City uses. The City uses almost no overhead spraying of chemicals. The city does almost no overhead spraying of trees anymore. The City last sprayed a couple of years ago to remove white ash flies. Mr. Eagle detailed an incident where a girl was irritated by malathion sprayed to treat white ash flies. Due to this incident the City has vastly curtailed any spraying. Several alternative methods were discussed. Mr. Deckner asked what other types of pests did the City deal with. Mr. Eagle stated mainly gophers. Mr. Deckner again asked what chemicals the City currently uses. Mr. Eagle stated the city is limited by manpower and the City handles things on a worst case by case basis. Mr. Deckner asked how water rationing will affect the city. Mr. Eagle stated that much of the City's water isn't metered but the City has cut back water by 15-20%. The City has cutback watering from 4 days a week to 3 days a week and waters exclusively in the early morning hours. Mr. Deckner asked what type of irrigation systems are planned for the new phase of Eisenhower park and whether the City could utilize underground soaker tubing. Mr. Eagle stated there is no reliable soaker system for the turf areas, but the City could use such a system in the planters. Further, all of the shrubbery is drought tolerant. The City waters the turf areas to encourage deep rooting. Mr. Deckner stated he has observed that the more organic materials he uses in his yard the better the performance of his vegetation. Mr. Eagle stated the City doesn't pick up grass cuttings in the larger turf areas. Mr. Logan asked whether the City uses leaf blowers. Mr. Eagle stated the City does use leaf blowers. They save time and water. The City directs the debris into a pile and C:\WP51\EQCB\M1IIU'l'IlSl.91(2) . . . Page 3 cleans it up. The main problem is people aren't familiar with the proper use of leaf blowers. The City needs to better educate the gardeners and homeowners on the proper use of leaf blowers. Mr. Deckner asked whether the complaints which the city has received re: leaf blowers were due mainly to debris as opposed to noise. Mr. curtis confirmed this. city staff blows the majority clippings back onto the mowed areas. Mr. Eagle said that often machines are operated at full throttle when this is rarely necessary. Mr. Logan asked why gardeners couldn't use vacuums instead. Mr. Deckner stated that the City should address recycling of green waste. The Board concluded the majority of the problem centers around lack of education re: proper use of leaf blowers. Staff will prepare proposed leaf blower educational materials for disbursement to licensed landscapers and lawn services and work with the Parks Department re: occasional instruction classes for landscapers and gardeners. Staff will research whether section 14-4 and section 14-5 can be included as proposed infractions. (NOTE: Staff will have proposed report back to the Board at its April 16 meeting.) Mr. Deckner asked Mr. Eagle whether there is adequate room at the City Yard for a 10' x 12' compost pile. Mr. Eagle said "yes". The majority of the City's green waste is from trees which the city chips for road sides, the majority of grass cuttings is left on the lawns. Mr. Voce said that mowers may eventually change toward self mulching mowers. Mr. Eagle agreed, but said it may take some time since people are used to the fresh mowed, clean look. Mr. Eagle said the whole gardening equipment industry is changing. Mr. Voce wondered if the industry might change over to vacuums in lieu of blowers. MR. Eagle said that parks are pretty much limited, to a large extent, to grass due to the typical use of a park. Mr. Voce expressed interest in working with the City to create some sort of community compost pile. Mr. Deckner asked how much organic waste the City creates. Mr. Eagle couldn't estimate but said some approach is necessary. C:\WP51\IlQCB\MlRUTES1.91(2) . . . ... .' ,. Page 4 V. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Logan moved to accept the Minutes of December 18, 1990, the motion was seconded by Mr. Voce and approved unanimously 3-0. VI . NEW BUSINESS Mr. curtis distributed more Historic Preservation Ordinances to be discussed at the next meeting. staff will contact Vector Control re: release of parasitic wasps. The Board will begin an informal survey of local historic features. VI I. BOARD CONCERNS Mr. Deckner wants the Board to prepare a resolution requ1r1ng the City to use the most benign chemicals necessary to correct a problem. VIII.STAFF CONCERNS XI. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. c: \WP51\EQCB\MlNUTES1. 91(2)