Montgomery News

City of Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council met July 23.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Work Session of the Mayor and City Council was called to order at 7:30 PM with Mayor Jud Ashman presiding.

Attendee Name Title Status Arrived

Jud Ashman Mayor Present

Ryan Spiegel Council Vice President Absent

Neil Harris Council Member Present

Laurie-Anne Sayles Council Member Present

Michael Sesma Council Member Present

Robert Wu Council Member Absent

Staff present: City Manager Tomasello, Deputy City Manager Enslinger, Assistant City Attorney Johnson, Sustainability Coordinator Backe, Supervisor of Landscape/Forestry Kober, and Supervisor of Park Maintenance Reed.

2. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. No Work Session

Notice was given to the general public that the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg will not conduct a work session on Monday, July 30, 2018. The next regular session of the Mayor and City Council will be held on Monday, August 6, 2018, 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

3. DISCUSSION TOPICS

A. Update on Herbicide/Pesticide Use on City Properties for Weed Control

Sustainability Coordinator Backe provided an update to a previous pesticide usage presentation from January 2017 and shared information on the City’s pilot project to transition towards more natural means of lawn care. Supervisors Reed and Kober provided feedback on the pilot program including issues that have been occurring. They recommended the City return to a pre-2017 Integrated Pest Management approach to lawn care.

The Mayor and City Council thanked staff for the presentation and had several questions.

Direction was given relative to the following:

1. The focus on use of organic products can be on lawn areas until more effective products are identified; staff should actively seek information about potential new products.

2. Non-organic products (i.e. RoundUp”) can continue to be used judiciously, with an emphasis on hardscapes, planting beds and invasive plants.

3. Staff should identify one or more City properties where natural lawn care can be practiced by a professional landscape company well versed in natural lawn care.

Speakers from the public:

1. Paul Hlavinka, 19 Turnham Lane, Environmental Affairs Committee and Muddy Branch Alliance, recommended that plans to pilot natural lawn care be provided to the public for suggestions/comments.

2. Doug Wolf, 44 Beacon Hill Court, Chair of the Environmental Affairs Committee, provided support for employee training programs/certifications regarding safe use of pesticides and suggested the use of more densely planted native plants in planting areas. He also encouraged the use of adequate public notice when spraying synthetic and/or organic herbicides.

There were no other speakers from the public.

Staff was guided to return to the pre-2017 Integrated Pest Management method of lawn care with the direction to trial natural methods at one or two City sites using a private company.

Staff will continue to look for natural products as they arrive on the market.

4. CORRESPONDENCE

A. Outside

5. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the session was adjourned at 8:13 PM

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