Meeting Minutes
County of Marin
Integrated Pest Management Commission
Minutes for Meeting January 24, 2025
Board Members Present: Steven Swain, Rika Gopinath, Susan Hopp, Myrto Ashe, Steven Swain, Bob Mauceli, Scott Sherman, Allison Hermance, Kate Wing
Absent: Kate Wing
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m. by Chair Hopp.
Commissioner introductions.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
A member of the public commented that she is very happy with the trail work near Pacheco Valle, and would like to personally thank Damon Connolly (who is no longer at the County of Marin). A member of the public spoke to announce an herbicide (Howard Vliger) is now getting his product approved. It is finally EPA registered and registered for California. It has increased the good bacteria in the soil.
3. APPROVE MINUTES FOR MEETING HELD ON 10/25/24
M/S: Gopinath/Swain
Edits: Steven was mentioned twice, Susan Hopp was Chair. Alison with
one L.
AYES: ALL
4. Election of Officer (Action Item)
Commissioners voted to roll over the previous slate and continue to vote for
Commissioners Hopp, Ashe, and Maucelli for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.
M/S: Gopinath/Sherman
Commissioner Comments: n/a
5. Fourth Quarter Coordinator’s Report
Staff reviewed the quarterly data for October, November, and December. Reviewed chemical and non-chemical IPM practices during that period, and shared photos of volunteers practicing IPM. Exemption applications, which included Flumigard and Tri-Fol for application in February 2025, were reviewed.
Commissioner Comments:
Commissioner Ashe mentioned concerns about impacts of flumioxazin on human health.
Commissioner Sherman asked about half life, timing, and balance with manual approaches.
Commissioner Gopinath asked whether there is a language that can be added to the allowed products list to clarify that the commission does not recommend regular use of flumioxazin.
6. Allowed Products List and 2024 Annual Report
Annual Report: staff reviewed the draft 2024 Annual Report, to be edited and submitted to the Board of Supervisors in March for publication. The report included a summary of all IPM activities that took place in 2024.
Commissioner Comments:
Commissioner Gopinath suggests our graphs include old 2010 data to show reductions over a longer period of time.
Comments from Steven Swain:
1. Organic description should not say “Indoor” pest control. Just “structural”. Essentria isn’t sprayed indoors.
2. Add explanation of the process of exemption, mention environmental health.
3. PHYTOPHTHORA PH in the Middle.
Allowed Products List: staff reviewed the draft Allowed Products list for 2025. A final draft pending edits from the commission will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors in March 2025 for publication.
Commissioner Comments:
Commissioner Ashe would rather see high applications of caprilyc acid. Would like to talk to a toxicologist. She wants to know more about the process that environmental health takes when deciding whether to approve a product.
Commissioner Hermance suggests that we would rather put Flumigard as exemption and revisit to add in 2026. (Other commissioners all nodded in agreement). See last sentence of Companion Maxx section “to” should be “too”. Last sentence is missing a period. Motion to accept allowed list pending edits, including excluding Flumigard and Tri-Fol from the 2025 Allowed Products list:
Swain/Sherman
AYES: All
Motion to approve Annual Report pending edits: Swain/Hopp
AYES: All
7. IPM Achievement Award:
M/S Hopp/Ashe
AYES: All
Commissioner Comments:
Commissioner Sherman is helping to run a project for Refugia Marin, dedicated to gardens in wildlife corridors, recently got a grant for Hall Middle School to restore over 12,000 square feet with native plants. He is working with former IPM award winner Dana Swisher. Bob Maucelli, co-founder of Marin Master Gardener’s Native Plant League. Is also working with FireSmart Marin, giving presentations on improving defensible space. Barn owls in his owl box including a young pair.
Commissioner Hopp has been co-chairing Plastic-Free Marin. Now suggesting labeling for plastics in terms of health impacts. American Cetacean Society board member, kicking off speaker series with celebration of Marine Protected Areas. NOAA ecologist to speak next, with NMBMS who has done exploration in submarines, and discovered a new type of octopus.
Commissioner Sadlier is celebrating 28 years of Green Jeans Garden Supply next month.
Commissioner Gopinath is working with Beyond Pesticides working to teach staff about organic management of natural grass turf, especially as opposed to artificial turf. Also working with cities and organizations on IPM ordinances.
Commissioner Ashe is writing a book. She did some research on pesticides for this book. She learned about the impacts of pesticides being increased by declining bat populations, which also correlated with increased infant mortality.
Commissioner Hermance says there is a very low preponderance of bats who test positive for rabies. Wildcare is sending out a fire awareness email in regards to fuels management and nesting season. The primary timing for fire mitigation warnings is April, which is nesting season. 80% of patients for wildlife hospitals are in April through August. Wildcare is collaborating with FireSmart Marin. Recommends pruning in winter. Recommend fuels management in December.
Commissioner Swain. Invasive shothole borer and mediterranean shothole borer has now been found in central California, and is moving rapidly. Invasive shothole borer targets 17 species of riparian trees, including valley oaks. Will have workshop April 8. Need to get together with other counties, talk to county commissioners, have the dedicated space to build horizontal grinder that will essentially crush it into chips. This will kill the beetles, but it only takes a few to start a new colony. In places where this has taken hold, trees will often sprout from their root systems, with some resistance. We will see box elder disappear, but willows coming back more strongly.
New Parks Director Chris Chamberlain stopped by to say hello, thank the commission, and re-introduce himself.
Motion to adjourn at 11:51
Next Meeting: April 25, 2025 9 am. Location TBA.