Title
Informational Item: Pesticide Use and Integrated Pest Management Policy in the City of Alameda.
Body
To: Members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities
From: Lilian Jewell, ADA Coordinator, Public Works
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) adopted its Integrated Pest Management Policy (Policy) in June 2010, included as Exhibit 1. Policy objectives include standardizing operations to minimize reliance on pesticides that threaten water quality, create awareness of less-toxic pest management techniques, and to reduce adverse impacts to San Francisco Bay water quality from the use of specific pesticides. On an annual basis, the City’s Clean Water Program (Program) summarizes pesticide usage at sites maintained by the City as part of the Program’s annual report. This published data does not include an exhaustive list of all pesticide ingredients and instead focuses on reporting active ingredients required by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. The City’s internal records are maintained with all self-reported pesticide information. This Commission has requested an informational item about the City of Alameda’s current pesticide usage and practices. This is not a voting item and there will be no action taken by the Commission.
BACKGROUND
As stated in the City of Alameda Integrated Pest Management Policy, City departments, or third-party contractors hired by the City, that apply pesticides to public properties are responsible for following guidelines in coordinating across departments, ensuring complete training and qualifications, ensuring Policy compliance, and providing information for the Annual Pesticide Use Summary Report. Departments listed within this policy are Public Works, Recreation and Parks, the Golf Complex, Alameda Municipal Power, and Economic Development. Pesticide usage data from the departments and their third-party contractors are submitted to the Clean Water Program for annual reporting, and the requested active ingredient quantities are listed therein. This section of the Annual Report for Fiscal Years 2025-26 is included as Exhibit 2.
Policy Section 7.4 Restricted Chemicals states that the City will not use:
1. Acute Toxicity Category I chemicals as identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
2. Organophosphate pesticides (e.g., those containing Diazinon, chlorpyrios or
malathion)
3. Pyrethroids (bifenth, cyfluth, beta-cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltaeth,
esfenvalerate, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, and tralomethin), carbamates (e.g.,
carbarl), fipronil
4. Copper-based pesticides unless:
a. Their use is judicious,
b. Other approaches and techniques have been considered, and;
c. Threat of impact to water-quality is prevented.
The Policy’s objective is to reduce pesticide use and promote less-toxic pest management. This Commissions Furthermore, as of August 2026, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation issued a statement of voluntary cancellation of all pesticide products containing Paraquat-Dichloride due to ongoing health and environmental impact concerns (Exhibit 3). The City does not currently have any recorded use of pesticides made with Paraquat-Dichloride.
DISCUSSION
See Executive Summary above.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Lilian Jewell, ADA Coordinator
Exhibits:
1. City of Alameda Integrated Pest Management Policy
2. Clean Water Program Annual Report Excerpt: Section 9 Pesticides Toxicity Controls, FY 25-26
3. California Department of Pesticide Regulation Statement, August 10, 2026
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