01/23/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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> Jan. 18, 1985 MEMORANDUM e TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Mike Gleason, City Manager RE: Gypsy Moth Issue STATUS: The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) Gypsy Moth Steering Committee has submitted to the ODA Director its recommendations on the alternatives available for control of the Lane County infestation. Following a series of public hearings, the Director will select and initiate a treatment program. Under separate cover are staff memorandum, maps and copies of the ODA proposed recommendations to assist the Council in deciding whether to take a position, and if so, what position to take in this controversy. According to most recent information, the Lane County Board of Commissioners will not be taking a position on this year's treatment program, but will rather focus its attention on long term solutions to this ongoing problem. The County is aggressively seeking to locate a Bt manufacturing plant within the area and is coordinating that effort with Eugene's BATeam, the. Oregon Department of Economic Development and OSU. ~ 4It. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The treatment. controversy has become highly visible and emotional. There is a marked lack of agreement among the experts on both the potential effectiveness of Bt for the eradication of this, the largest infestation west of the Rocky Mountains, and the predicable health risks of chemical agents. Staff recommends that the Council not adopt a position at this time. If Council wishes to adopt and present a position at the Jan. 31st ODA hearing, staff recommends: 1) that the position be focused on treatment within the Eugene city limits, and 2) that it support the ODA's proposed recommendations, including aerial applications of Bt over the larger area and limited use of Orthene by ground application only in the 8 acre Franklin and 30 acre Hawkins Heights areas. REASONING: The recommended treatment within the Eugene city limits involves primarily Bt, the use of which has generated little dissent. The recommended ground application of Orthene on 38 acres is a very controlled use of a common garden pesticide. A cautious chemical application such as this, in conjunction with the broader applications of Bt, presents an approach which is as close to ideal as possible in this difficult situation. The proposed aerial application of Dimilin in the Pleasant Hill area, on hand, is a highly controversial question which staff recommends Council ~ not address until more scientific conclusions are available. ~