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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 475 Draft 01 2018-2020AWEEMC-15 February 4,2020 FILED: Ayes: Committee Members Chung, David, Eoff, Kierkiewicz, Lee Loy, Poindexter, Villegas, and Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder—8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Richards — 1. Excused: None. ORDER OF RESOLUTIONS Res. 475-20: ESTABLISHES POLICY GOALS IN THE COUNTY OF HAWAII TO REDUCE HERBICIDE USE, REDUCE PUBLIC EXPOSURE TO HERBICIDES, AND SUPPORTS THE APPOINTMENT OF A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION Encourages the Mayor to fulfill his pledge to form a committee to guide County operations in identifying and using best practices for the management of vegetation on County property with the goal of reducing the use of herbicides. Reference: Comm. 721 Intr. by: Ms. Kierkiewicz and Ms. Lee Loy WITHDRAWN BY INTRODUCER BILLS FOR ORDINANCES ADJOURNMENT—11:21 a.m. Note: B/R, when listed next to the name of an Introducer, signifies that the Council Member has agreed to introduce legislation `By Request" on behalf of the requesting party. It does not necessarily signify support of or opposition to the proposal. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, call 961-8255 as soon as possible, preferably by January 31, 2020. If a response is received after January 31, 2020, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but we cannot guarantee that the request will be fulfilled. Upon request,this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (hereinafter "HRS") §92-3.5, the Hawaii County Council will be conducting this meeting via videoconference. If audio stream between Kona and Hilo is lost for more than a short period of time, the meeting will be terminated. Council Member will be present at the following location: Kona Council Office,West Hawaii Civic Center, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A. Page 2 i i p- 6. COUNTY OF HAWAFI STATE OF HAWAF1 Of RESOLUTION N A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING P LICY GOALS INT E COUNTY OF HAWAPI TO REDUCE HERBICIDE USE, REDUCE PUBLIC EXPOSURE TO HERBICIDES, AND SUPPORTING THE APPOINTMENT OF A VEGETATION MANAGEMENT ADVISORY C M S Na WHEREAS,the first paragraph on the fourth page of the Mayor's veto message for Bill 101, Draft 2, states, "You have this administration's pledge to form a Committee to guide County operations in identifying and using best practices for the management of vegetation on County property with the goal of reducing the use of herbicides. The function of this Committee is crucial to the success of a program that ensures the continued protection ofthe community from exposure to harmful chemicals"; and WHEREAS, Article IV, Section 4-4 of the Hawai`i County Charter allows the Mayor to appoint advisory commissions for the duration of the Mayor's term, without Council approval; and WHEREAS, such an advisory commission could draw on subject matter expertise from an inclusive array of sources, among them: the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture,the Hawaii Department of Health, the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, affected County departments and key staff, nonprofit organizations, cultural practitioners. landscaping and grounds keeping professionals, and experts on invasive species control, grants development, and fiscal management, and WHEREAS, a vegetation management advisory commission could review existing policies and monitor current practices with regards to herbicide use on County property, ensure that the County's application of herbicides follows Title 7, Chapter 6 of U.S. Code, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 149A, and manufacturer directions, review toxicity levels for herbicides used by the County, and recommend an herbicide reduction strategy that works toward eliminating public exposure to herbicides to the greatest extent possible, including a comprehensive list of herbicide alternatives that identify financial costs and benefits and impacts to public health and the environment; and WHEREAS, such a vegetation management advisory commission should continue its work beyond the Mayor's current term on December 7, 2020; and WHEREAS,the Department of Parks &:.Recreation oversees 39 beach parks, 65 parks and playgrounds, 36 gyms and recreation centers, numerous cemeteries, and one golf course, in addition to many other facilities; and iI I I I I i WHEREAS,the Department of Public Works is responsible for managing roadways, rights-of-way, flood control systems, and maintaining non-park County facilities, and uses a combination of mechanical and herbicidal methods to manage vegetation and prevent road a encroachment, maintain adequate visibility around curves and of signage, control invasive species, minimize potential for tree falls, reduce rates of animal-vehicle collisions, and reaffirms its commitment of not spraying herbicides along roads directly connected to waterways; now, therefore, E IT RESOLVEDY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF A AI`I that the County's policy goal of working toward eliminating herbicide exposure to the public,to the greatest extent possible, is established. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a policy goal of reducing herbicide use on land managed by the County, to the minimum amount necessary, as a tool of last resort, is established. E IT FURTHER RESOLVE that in order to accomplish these policies, and to guide County operations in identifying and using alternative methods for the management of vegetation on County property with the goal of reducing the use of herbicides, as stated by the Mayor, the appointment of a vegetation management advisory commission is supported. E IT FURTHER RES®LVE that the vegetation management advisory commission is urged to be constituted as soon as possible, so that it may offer input for the operating budget of the County prior to the start of fiscal year 2020-2021, and in subsequent years. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a representative of the Mayor is requested to provide the Council with updates every two months regarding the progress being made to establish the vegetation management advisory commission and the body's subsequent work, beginning in April 2020. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission is urged to address the goals and objectives laid out in the attached Exhibit A to reduce herbicide use in the County. E IT FURTHER S LVE that the findings and recommendations of the vegetation management advisory commission are requested to be transmitted to the Council by December 7, 2020, and at least semi-annually for every subsequent calendar year that the commission exists. 2 i E BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable Karry Kim, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and, if a different Mayor is elected, to the Mayor whose term begins or,.Beceriber 7, 2020. Bated at Hawaii, this day of_ 20 INT U EB BY: COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAPI C IL MEMBER, COUNTY AI` COUNTY COUNCIL KOLL CALL VOTE County ofHawaii AYES NOES ABS Ex Hilo, Hawaii CIdUNG DAVID I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by SOI I the vote indicated to the right hereofadopted by the COUNCIL ofthe. County of Hawaii on KANEAI—Ti-KLEINFELDE_R KIERkIEWICZ LEE LOQ ATTEST: POINDEXTER RICHARDS-- -- VILLEGAS Refereice: C-721/AWEEMC COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON&PRESIDING OFFICER REESOLUTi(ON NO._ EXHIBIT A County Council's goals and objectives for the Vegetation Management Advisory Commission Identify herbicides used by the County of Hawaii, quantities used, and locations of use. Create schedule of planned herbicide applications to be posted on County of Hawaii website. Develop recommended guidelines and best practices for the application of herbicides at County facilities. Provide overview of employee training including personal protective equipment(PPE), and equipment used to ensure the safety of County employees and volunteers who are applying herbicides. Review reports from pertinent government entities regarding their findings on herbicide reduction techniques, methods, costs, and results. Establish and leverage a suite of no-spray/herbicide-free maintenance options such as Friends of the Park groups, Adopt-a-Road, no-spray agreements with adjoining property owners, and requests for no spraying due to extenuating circumstances. Develop an herbicide reduction strategy to include a statement of goals and objectives, target vegetation, methods and actions to minimize herbicide use, monitoring, record keeping, ongoing communication with the public,justification of herbicide use, and recommendations for potential future legislation. Investigate the resource commitments (manpower, equipment, tools, products, etc.) necessary to adopt and successfully implement comprehensive no-spray strategies specifically targeted for actual conditions in parks and other public lands. Project financial and staffing needs commensurate with the alternate strategies recommended. Investigate the construction projects' use of herbicides, and develop reasonable and feasible guidelines regarding effective non-herbicidal vegetation management techniques.