Date of Report: Community Services Committee

Transcription

1 Report To: From: Subject: Item: Date of Report: Community Services Committee CS October 12, 2007 Stan Bertoia File: Date of Meeting: Commissioner F-7000 October 23, 2007 Public Process for the Proposed Elimination of Cosmetic Use of Pesticides on Private Property PUBLIC MEETING Ward(s): ALL 1.0 PURPOSE On April 10, 2006 Oshawa City Council approved the following motion: That staff be directed to develop a public process to develop a City of Oshawa pesticide elimination program for private property and report back to City Council in the second quarter of 2007 and this item be referred to the Operational Services Committee. On March 13, 2006 the Operational Services Committee approved the following motion: That correspondence dated February 7, 2006 from the Regional Municipality of Durham regarding the Township of Uxbridge Golf Course Policy be referred to staff to review within the City s Pest Management Program. On October 2, 2007 the Operational Services Committee approved the following motion: That Correspondence CS dated September 24, 2007, from the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee regarding the City s proposed Pesticide Policy be referred to staff in conjunction with the Pesticide Elimination Program report. The purpose of this report is to respond to City Council and Committee directions. 2.0 RECOMMENDATION That the Community Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That based on Report CS dated October 12, 2007 the public process shown as Attachment 1 be endorsed. 2. That the estimated cost of $3,000 for the proposed public meetings and mail survey be referred to the 2008 Operating Budget

2 Services Committee (Continued) Meeting Date: October 23, EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Oshawa implemented a Pest Management Program (PMP) in 2003 with the intent to improve the quality of turf on public lands while reducing/eliminating the use of pesticides. There are approximately 25 municipalities in Ontario that have now implemented a pesticide by-law for private and public property. The majority of municipalities conducted a public process for the development of a pesticide by-law. Most pesticide by-laws exempt golf courses; however, the Town of Uxbridge has created a Golf Course Policy that commits golf courses to promote better land management and environmental practices. Public consultation to inform the public and obtain input regarding the elimination of the cosmetic use of pesticides will be obtained prior to Council considering a pesticide by-law. Based on an in-depth review of actions and public processes from other municipalities, and input from the Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee, it is recommended that the public process outlined in Attachment 1 be endorsed to obtain public input prior to reporting back to City Council. The Region of Durham Health Department performed a pesticide survey in January to March They surveyed 361 homes in the Durham Region. Results from the public survey are; 38% of households applied pesticides themselves, 10% hired a company to spray their lawns and 61% supported a pesticide elimination program for private property. Region Report number MOH-17 dated April 5, 2007 indicated that the Health Department will continue to promote and support municipal activities or initiatives relating to the development of by-laws regulating the use of pesticides. The Provincial Liberal party has included, as part of their election platform, a proposal to develop a province-wide cosmetic use pesticide ban. Actual implementation of this proposal may take some time to develop and implement. 4.0 INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES Municipalities contacted include: Barrie, Brampton, Caledon, Cobourg, Deep River, Gananoque, Halifax, Kitchener, London, Markham, Newmarket, North Bay, Oakville, Orangeville, Peterborough, Pickering, Scugog, Thorold, Toronto, Uxbridge, Waterloo and Windsor. Oshawa Environmental Advisory Committee. Region of Durham Health Department.

3 Services Committee (Continued) Meeting Date: October 23, ANALYSIS City Council approved the PMP in The PMP uses Integrated Pest Management which is a process that uses pesticides as a last resort to protect human health and safety and to prevent unacceptable loss of plant species. If pests reach a predetermined threshold limit, pesticides can be used. The PMP has proven to be successful in maintaining healthy turf with very low weed counts. There are various federal and provincial laws that govern the manufacture, packaging, labeling, registration, import, export and sale of pesticides. Other legislation governs classification systems for pesticides, licensing of applicators, storage and disposal of pesticides, and requirements for notification of pesticide use. The Ontario Municipal Act allows municipalities to regulate the use of pesticides on private property for purely aesthetic purposes, as long as the by-law is not in conflict with provincial licensing and application regulations. Pesticide Positions of various associations: Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO); In May 2003 AMO created a Pesticide Task Force. A report was written and one of the recommendations is that they request that Provincial Government take leadership to uniformly and consistently address the issue of non-essential use of pesticides on lawns and gardens by homeowners and local applicators in urban municipalities across the province. Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM); Encourages the Government of Canada to work with provinces, territories and municipalities to establish a nationally consistent approach for integrated pesticide management, based on the approach set forward by FCM s National Strategy for Responsible Pest Management. Ontario Parks Association; Supports an integrated approach to pest control and the responsible use of pesticides. Landscape Ontario s position is responsible and judicious use only within a framework of Integrated Pest Management and Plant Health Care systems. Pesticides are a tool of last resort. Region of Durham Health Department; Report number MOH-17 dated April 5, 2007 provided data collected from the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) survey. The RRFSS surveyed 361 homes in the Durham Region. Results from the public survey are; 38% of households applied pesticides themselves, 10% hired a company to spray their lawns and 61% supported a pesticide elimination program for private property. Region Report number MOH-17 dated April 5, 2007 indicated that the Health Department will:

4 Services Committee (Continued) Meeting Date: October 23, 2007 o continue to promote various pest control strategies aimed at reducing pesticide use to the community, municipalities, retail outlets, school boards and other stakeholders; o continue to work with Durham municipalities on consistent approaches to reduced pesticide use including elimination of pesticides on municipallyowned properties; and o support local municipal activities or initiatives related to development of bylaws regulating the use of pesticides including providing them with credible and relevant health information. There are currently 25 municipalities in Ontario that have implemented a by-law to eliminate the cosmetic use of pesticides. There are various public process options which have been used by different municipalities. Based on a review of information gathered from other municipalities it is suggested that public meetings and mail surveys are the preferred method to receive input from the public. These pubic processes will help to gauge the public s support to eliminate the use of pesticides on private property as well as educate the public. Two public meetings having City staff and staff from the Durham Region s Health Department as facilitators is recommended. One meeting would be in the North end of the City and the second one would be in the South end. This would provide the public with opportunities to attend meetings that are located closer to their area. See Attachment 1 for a Proposed Public Process on the Proposed Elimination of Cosmetic Use of Pesticides. Surveys can include mail, the internet or telephone. The questions provided in surveys will capture public feedback. It is proposed to use mail surveys to 100 residents in each ward for a total of 700 residents being contacted. Golf courses will be considered in a separate process that will include meeting with golf course owners in order to understand their current pesticide use and to ensure they are committed to improving their environmental practices to reduce the use of pesticides. The Oshawa Environmental Action Committee (OEAC) advise that, prior to the passing of a City of Oshawa Pesticide By-law, a public process should be undertaken including public meetings with Stakeholders, Contractors, and the Regional Health Department; and that an educational component is made available to the public in relation the reasons and strategies for the ban and /or reduction of the use of pesticides in the City of Oshawa. The Community Services Committee on October 2, 2007 referred the direction of the OEAC to this report. This report responds to and includes the suggestions from the OEAC.

5 Services Committee (Continued) Meeting Date: October 23, FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The costs associated with holding two public meetings and a mailed survey would be approximately $3, RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN The Community Strategic Plan Goal B, A green and sustainable community includes specific objectives to encourage environmental management and protection. Original Signed By: Noel Hutchinson, Director Parks Services Original Signed By: Stan Bertoia, Commissioner Community Services Department SB/NH/es

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