Revised April 10, 2024
The backstory: The City adopted Bee Safe Resolution #14-066 in 2014. The resolution supported “bee safe” policies and procedures when using chemicals on public park land.
- In 2021, the City Council learned, from a resident (starting at p. 3), that then Public Works Director, Larry Brown, was not following the parameters set out by the Resolution. In short, he was using dangerous herbicides in the parks.
- The discovery led to a flurry of Council activity to mitigate the situation.
- A lengthy work session discussion in January 2022 laid the groundwork for a contract with Integrated Pest Management Institute of North America.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a process used to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
Recent progress: At the Jan. 9, 2024 Park Commission meeting, current Public Works Director Matt Morreim, reviewed the 2023 work plan (start at p. 9, note: a lot of reading)
- A 2024 plan is being developed, and will include, in addition to turf management, addressing other invasives affecting the city, such as Canadian thistle, and an ongoing maintenance plan for keeping the buckthorn out of cleared areas as a priority.
- On Feb. 13, 2026 Park Commissioners asked about the status of IPM 2024 plan, hoping to start working on it. However, there was no update.
Meanwhile:
Prairie Restorations was contracted by the City to remove buckthorn in a portion of Freeman Park starting in late January, with completion expected by the end of February.
The City’s website, while not necessarily current, offers a few more pieces of information about the City’s vision, strategy, and timeline for managing invasives, as developed to date.
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