Integrated Pest Management
The City of Santa Barbara adopted an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy in January 2004 to provide an ongoing specific program to further reduce the amount and toxicity of pesticides used on City property and, where feasible, to eliminate pesticide use in public areas using alternative methods.
Complete IPM Strategy Document (PDF)
2004 IPM Annual Report (PDF)
2005 IPM Annual Report (PDF)
2006 IPM Annual Report (PDF)
2007 IPM Annual Report (PDF)
2008 IPM Annual Report (PDF)
PHAER Zone Model (PDF)
What is Integrated Pest Management?
The City of Santa Barbara’s IPM policy promotes environmentally sensitive pest management while preserving assets and protecting the health and safety of the public and City employees. The purpose of this IPM Policy is to ensure that the City:
> Reduces and eliminates the use of pesticide products that pose known, likely, or probable human health or environmental risks;
>Promotes the use of non-hazardous and/or reduced risk alternatives that are protective of human health and the environment;
> Applies pesticides in a manner that protects and enhances our region’s natural resources and public health;
> Pesticide use is a model of environmental stewardship in the eyes of the public;
> Maintains a leadership role in developing both ecologically sensitive and aesthetically pleasing landscapes and structures;
> Practices a consistent standard of environmental stewardship by departments managing structures, landscapes, and other grounds;
> Establishes a program where pesticides categorized as toxic or persistent (Tier 1) are only used when there is a threat to public health, safety or the environment, or when use is warranted to prevent economic damage and only after other alternatives have been implemented and shown to be ineffective or considered and found infeasible;
> Establishes a clear criteria for pesticide use, to reduce the amount and toxicity of pesticides and eliminate pesticide use on City property and where feasible.
This IPM Strategy also provides for periodical re-evaluation of pesticides used by the City. The Strategy requires updates which outline pesticides being used in all departments and will allow employees involved in pesticide use to make conscious decisions about the control mechanism selected, to employ the use pesticides wisely, and to make full use of pesticides purchased. All departments responsible for overseeing construction projects; managing City-owned structures, grounds, landscapes; and purchasing and/or using pesticides are affected. In addition, all contractors that are applying pesticides on the City’s behalf will be required to subscribe to the IPM Strategy. Disinfectants used to protect human health are excluded.
Notification Procedures
(a) Any department that uses any pesticide shall comply with the following notification procedures:
(1) Signs shall be posted at least two working days before application of the pesticide product and remain posted at least three working days after application of the pesticide.
(2) Signs shall be posted at every entry point where the pesticide is applied if the pesticide is applied in an enclosed area, and in highly visible locations, signs will be posted around the perimeter of the area where the pesticide is applied if the pesticide is applied in an open area.
(3) Signs shall be of standardized designs that are easily recognizable to the public and workers.
(4) Signs shall contain the name and active ingredient of the pesticide product, the target pest, the date of pesticide use, the signal word indicating the toxicity category of the pesticide product, and the name and contact number for the Department responsible for the application.
(5) Signs will be bilingual in English and Spanish.
(6) Individual copies of posted signs shall be retained for record keeping purposes for one year.
(b) Departments shall not be required to post signs in right-of-way locations where public use and potential exposure is limited or on the airfield areas at the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport where public access is restricted.
(c) Posting for pesticide use at the Santa Barbara Golf Club shall consist of signs placed at the first and tenth tee and in the Pro Shop.
(d) Pesticide Free Zones established by each department will require a fourteen-day advance posting in the event an exemption is approved by the IPM Committee or Coordinator and shall remain in place three days after the application.
(e) Departments may obtain authorization from the Committee to apply a pesticide without providing a two-day advance notification in the event of a public health emergency or to comply with worker safety requirements. Signs meeting the requirements of Subsection (a)(2) through Subsection (a)(4) shall be posted at the time of application and remain posted four days following the application.
(f) The Committee may grant exemptions to the notification requirements for one-time pesticide uses and may authorize permanent changes in the way City departments notify the public about pesticide use in specific circumstances, upon a finding that good cause exists to allow an exemption to the notification requirements. Prior to granting an exemption pursuant to this subsection, the Department requesting the exemption shall identify specific situations in which it is not possible to comply with the notification requirements and propose alternative notification procedures. The Committee shall review and approve the alternative notification procedures.
(g) Departments are responsible for making pesticide use information available to staff and the public upon request. Each department shall maintain a list of all materials applied on a site-specific basis. This list shall be available at each department’s main offices or made available to the public upon request.