GENERAL COMMITTEE

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

FROM:

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Mark Ingwersen, Manager, Parks Maintenance

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

February 14th, 2005

 

 

SUBJECT:

Pesticide Free Pilot Project Update

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Pesticide Free Pilot Project Update”, dated February 14th, 2005, be received;

 

AND THAT the current Pesticide Free Pilot Project in Ward 2 and Civic Centre, and the Cultural Practices Pilot Project at five Ward 2 parks and at the Civic Centre continue until October 2005;

 

AND THAT consideration for continued use of cultural practices in parks be addressed through the consultants report on Park Maintenance Standards in the fall of 2005;

                                                   

AND THAT the use of pesticides on Town Property be addressed through the consultants report on Park Maintenance Standards in the fall of 2005

 

PURPOSE:

This report has been prepared to provide Council with the results from the 2004 Pesticide Pilot Project in Ward 2 and the Civic Centre, and the Cultural Practices Pilot Project in five Ward 2 Parks and the Civic Centre.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Pesticide Free Pilot Project in Ward 2 began in 2001.  The application of pesticides on any Town property in Ward 2 and the Civic Centre was banned.  In 2002, the Pesticide Reduction Steering Committee recommended the implementation of a Cultural Practices Pilot Project at five park locations in Ward 2; Green Lane Park, Thornlea East Park, Windy Hill Park, Leitchcroft Commons Park, Paddock Park, and at the Civic Centre.  The following cultural practices were implemented and are currently in use at those locations:

 

Mowing:

May to October – approximately 26 cuts (5-7 day cycle) vs. normal 14 cuts (12-14 day cycle).

 

 

 

 

Aerating:

Typically aerating of parks is not part of our regular turf maintenance program.  The parks included in the pesticide free program are scheduled to be aerated three times per year, weather permitting, in May, July/August, and September/October.

 

Overseeding:

Similarly overseeding is typically not performed as part of our turf maintenance program for parks.  The parks included in the program are scheduled to be overseeded two times per year, weather permitting, in May and September, overseeding at a rate of 100 lbs/ha using a seed mix composed of 80% Majesty perennial rye grass, and 20% Raven Kentucky blue grass by weight.

 

This program is also used on sportsfields, although additional practices are added, including topdressing of major fields on an annual basis, fertilizing 4 times per year, and sodding of goalmouths and field centers as required.  The topdressing was not included in the Ward 2 pilot project because of the relatively low wear and tear and the topography of most neighbourhood parks is too uneven to use the tractor/topdresser combination.  In addition, it was determined that the additional fertilizing and sodding was not necessary due to the relatively low wear experienced in average neighbourhood parks compared to sportsfields. 

 

 

Comparison of Service Levels for Pesticide Free Cultural Practices Pilot Parks to Current Practices

 

 

 

Mow

 

Aerate

 

Overseed

 

Top Dress

 

Fertilize

Park Maintenance Pesticide Free Cultural Practices Parks

 

26 cuts

(5-7 days)

 

 

3 times/year

 

 

2 times/year

 

 

N/A

 

 

1 time/year

Standard Park Maintenance

 

14 Cuts

(12-14 days)

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

1 time/year

Major Sportsfields

 

26 cuts

(5-7 days)

 

 

4 times/year

 

 

4 times/year

 

 

1 time/year

 

 

4 times/year

 

 

 

This program has continued into 2004, and combined with favourable growing conditions experienced this year resulted in a general decrease in weed population as detailed in the following chart:

 

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

Council approved the hiring of a consultant in April 2004 to review Parks Maintenance Standards, including options for organic alternatives.  An RFP was prepared and went out to hire a consultant for the fall growing season but no responses were received, and there was insufficient time to re-issue the RFP before the turf became dormant.  The next opportunity to access the turf conditions during active growth will be May/June 2005.  The RFP for the ‘Turf Care and Maintenance Practices Review and Assessment’ is in the final stages of preparation and should be ready for release by mid February.  The RFP will require the consultant to review current park standards and conditions and make recommendations for improvements, including organic/pesticide free maintenance options in the fall of 2005.  Staff recommends that the current Pesticide Free Pilot Project in Ward 2 and the Cultural Practices Pilot Project in five Ward 2 parks and the Civic Centre continue for 2005.  The results and recommendations for maintenance standards, including options available to achieve these standards, and related costs will be addressed in the consultants report in the fall of 2005.  The options addressed will include but are not limited to the use of pesticides and the use of cultural practices and organic alternatives to pesticides in parks.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Ingham,

General Manager, Operations

 

Peter Loukes, P. Eng.

Director, Operations and Asset Management

 

 

 

 

Jim Sales,

Commissioner of Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

Q:\Commission Share\Operations and Asset Management\Reports\2005\Operations\Parks\Pesticide 2005\Pesticide Free Pilot Project Update.doc