City of Green Bay Pesticide Use Policy - Final Approved 4.16.pdf

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Created: February 2024

CITY OF GREEN BAY CITY-WIDEPOLICY

Policy Title

City of Green Bay Pesticide Use Policy

Last Revised

3/21/2024

Policy Source

Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept.

Legal Review Date

2/26/2024

Sustainability Commission Approval 2/21/2024

Protection and Policy Committee Approval 3/25/2024

City Council Approval

4/16/2024

I. Purpose

It is the purpose of this policy to define best management practices, policies, and procedures within an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Policy for the use of fertilizers and pesticides on City of Green

Bay property.

II. Policy

It is the policy of the City of Green Bay to provide turf, vegetation, and pest management practices and procedures for City properties that meet the needs of all users, as well as follow applicable state and federal laws.

III. Definitions

Category A Areas Parks, recreation facilities and other city properties will have a 15% or less tolerance for pests. These areas include Bay Beach Amusement Park, athletic fields where quality turf is critical to player safety and fair play or turf areas around facilities that receive high public use or visibility. All categories will not tolerate invasive species which are listed in Wisconsin NR 40.

Category B Area Parks, recreation facilities and other city properties will have a 16-40% tolerance for pests. Included in this category are areas where turf quality and appearance are important, but not critical. Examples of these areas include the Wildlife

Sanctuary, boulevards and triangles that serve as entrances to the City, along major streets, and arterials. All categories will not tolerate invasive species which are listed in Wisconsin NR 40.

Category C areas

Category D areas

Parks, recreation facilities and other city properties will have up to a 75% tolerance for pests. All categories will not tolerate invasive species which are listed in Wisconsin NR 40.

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Stormwater management facilities will have specific management plans. The City will determine pest tolerance on a case-by-case basis.

Hard Surface Areas Sidewalks/walkways, ROW, trails, parking lots, tennis courts, basketball courts, and similar, in parks or on other City property.

Fast-release Fertilizer Formulated to release its nutrients quickly. This quick release of nutrients provides immediate nutrients to the turf.

Slow-release Fertilizer Formulated to release its nutrients over a 2–3-month period.

Pesticide Any product used to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate damage from any pest

(e.g., insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides).

Pest Any organism declared under Wisconsin Admin. Code ch. ATCP 29.02:

Organisms are declared to be pests when present under circumstances where they may be injurious to persons, property, or the environment:

1) Animals other than humans.

2) Plants, fungi, or their parts growing where not wanted.

3) Microscopic organisms or viruses other than those on or in living animals or humans

Invasive Species An organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area that can cause great economic and environmental harm. Such species are listed in Wisconsin Ch.

NR 40.

Noxious Weeds Any plant listed under Wis. Stats. §§ 23.235(1)(a) or 66.0407(1)(b), Wis. Stats.

Broad-spectrum

Pesticide

A pesticide that is effective against a wide range of species.

Selective Pesticide Products designed to control specific plants, such as broad leaf weeds, while not harming the other plant species that share common areas.

Restricted-use pesticide (RUP)

A pesticide designated as such by the EPA because it may generally cause, without additional regulatory restrictions, unreasonable adverse effects on the environment, including injury to the applicator. A restricted-use pesticide may be used only by a certified applicator.

Commercial applicator not-for-hire

A commercial applicator who applies pesticides as part of their employment but does not contract out application services. Examples include public employees.

Certified applicator A person certified by DATCP to use pesticides. A private or a commercial not-for-hire applicator must be certified to use or direct the use of restricted-use pesticides.

Integrated Pest

Management (IPM)

IPM is a unified approach that integrates all beneficial control measures into a comprehensive pest control program.

Label The information printed on or attached to the pesticide container or wrapper.

Restricted-entry interval (REI)

The time after the end of a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area is restricted according to label directions.

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IV. Discussion

This policy attempts to set standards for turf quality, invasive species control, pest control, and establish acceptable policies and procedures that will maintain quality and reduce the need for chemical treatment within these areas. This can be accomplished primarily by:

1) Giving preference to non-pesticide means of controlling pests when the effectiveness and efficiency of control is competitive with pesticide treatment alternatives as determined by

Department Directors or designated qualified employees. Alternative control methods may include but are not limited to mowing, prescribed burning, manual removal, establishment of desired vegetation, spot cutting, replenishing mulch beds, and smothering.

2) Placing mulching rings around trees and other desired vegetation to lessen the need for string trimming and pesticide use.

3) Utilizing spot application method of selective pesticide versus broadcast application.

4) Applying selective pesticides on an as needed basis instead of yearly.

5) Proper mowing and fertilization techniques as directed by product label, manufacturer, and industry standards to increase quality of turf grass and thus reducing the presence of pests.

6) Continuing education and training of staff that use or direct the use of pesticides.

7) Converting unused or underutilized areas of turf grass to desired native plant communities where possible.

V. Procedures

1. The City of Green Bay shall only provide managed turf areas in those areas and locations that are identified in Categories A, B, and C.

2. Category D, stormwater management facilities shall have their own specific management plan.

3. All WDNR NR 151.14 requirements shall be followed before the application of any fertilizer, including soil testing, development of a comprehensive turf management plan for each park, facility or property.

4. The controlled use of selective and non-selective pesticides shall be applied using the following policies and procedures.

a. The application of pesticide will only be considered when the quality of turf, plant beds, habitat health, or wood chip areas does not meet the established standards within listed categories and all other methods to improve the turf or vegetation quality are ineffective or cost prohibitive, as determined by Department Directors, or designated qualified employees.

b. Only properly trained staff or someone under their direction shall apply any pesticide in accordance with ATCP 29.26(2.a).

c. If a private contractor is used, the contracts for these services will require the contractor to comply with this policy.

d. The application of any pesticide will follow the directions on the product label.

e. Pre-application check of equipment shall take place before each application to account for weather conditions; foliar spray of pesticide will not be applied if wind is 15mph or greater.

f. Spray patterns for non-selective pesticides will not exceed 6” around any object or on either side of a fence line when using non-selective pesticides (exception for softball/baseball outfield warning track).

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g. The application of pesticide on athletic fields shall be scheduled when the fields are not scheduled for use for a minimum of 24 hours.

h. No person may cause pesticide to enter the waters of the state, either directly or through a sewer system in accordance with ATCP 29.50.

i. When necessary, pesticide products approved for aquatic applications may be used near waterways and sewers.

j. No mixing or loading of pesticides will be permitted within 8’ of a storm sewer inlet in accordance with State Statutes.

k. Only vinegar, soap and water mixture will be used around playground equipment and woodchip surfacing when effective. Effectiveness will be reviewed by qualified staff on an annual basis to maintain the level of maintenance established in the appropriate

Category.

l. Within 25 feet of food production zones, only pesticides approved under the Food

Quality Protection Act (FQPA) will be utilized.

m. Spot applications as opposed to broadcast applications will be used whenever feasible.

n. Pesticide with the best documented effectiveness will be used for the control of invasive species as defined in WDNR NR40 as needed to protect City-owned infrastructure and habitats.

5. The controlled use of fertilizers shall be applied using the following policies and procedures.

a. Fertilizers will be used when establishing or re-establishing new turf areas (sodding may be suggested more frequently).

b. The amount of fertilizer applied to parks, athletic fields or other City properties will be determined by soil testing results and standards identified in Wisconsin DNR Technical

Standard #1100 and other accepted turf management practices.

c. Fertilizers shall be swept or blown off or removed from paved areas.

d. A mixture of slow and fast release types of fertilizer will be used to be most effective.

e. Fertilizers will be applied in the fall season primarily. If deemed necessary for athletic field improvements, fertilizers may also be used in the spring and summer.

f. When possible, only slow-release fertilizers will be used near water to reduce risk of runoff.

6. Public notice of application will follow the policies and procedures listed below.

a. In accordance with State Regulations, public notice of application will be required as directed by the pesticide label and be readily visible for the documented Restricted-entry interval (REI) present on the product label.

b. Additionally, a standard notification will be readily accessible to the public, by means set by the Department Directors, for a minimum of 24 hours following the application of pesticides on turfgrass, plant beds, or large mulched areas where public recreation and/or pedestrian access occur on City Property.

c. Public notification is not required for individual tree applications within the parks or street ROW’s unless written on product label.

7. Other general turf management policies and procedures will include:

a. Mower heights will be set at 3” in City Parks.

b. Mower heights will be set between 4 – 6” in City ROW to allow equipment access.

c. A frequent mowing schedule is preferred, ideally never trimming more than 1/3 off the grass plant. Proper mowing practices eliminate 60-70% of potential weed problems.

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City of Green Bay Property Classifications

The level of maintenance in each category is subject to staff levels and availability of funding.

Category A

Areas listed in this category will have a 15% or less tolerance for pests. Tolerance for pests does not include invasive species; these will be maintained at a minimum tolerance.

• Bay Beach Amusement Park

• City Hall grounds

• Athletic Fields in City Parks

• Joannes Aquatic Center

• Resch Aquatic Center

• Colburn Pool

• City Deck

• Bay Beach Amusement Park

• Hard surface areas will have a Category A classification if both the following conditions exist:

o Undesirable vegetation that grows in cracks can create an unsafe surface for users.

o Untreated weeds in hard surface cracks can lead to surface damage.

Category B

Areas listed in this category will have up to a 40% tolerance for pests. Tolerance for pests does not include invasive species; these will be maintained at a minimum tolerance.

• Wildlife Sanctuary Publicly Accessible area

• Triangle Hill

• Fox River Trail

• East River Trail

• Baird Creek Trail

• West Side Trail

• Metro Transit operated grounds

• Fire and Police Station grounds

• Highway 41 ROW Plantings and Round Abouts

• I-43 Business Park Entrance Plantings

• Metro Boat Launch

Category C

Areas listed in this category will have up to a 75% tolerance for pests. Tolerance for pests does not include invasive species; these will be maintained at a minimum tolerance.

• Wildlife Sanctuary Natural Areas

• RDA owned property

• All Other City Parks

• Other City properties not mentioned above excluding stormwater facilities

Category D

This category includes stormwater management facilities which will have their own specific management plans. Tolerance for pests will be determined on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the individual management plan.