HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-03-02 Agenda with BackupCity Council
City of Denton
Meeting Agenda
City Hall
215 E. McKinney St.
Denton, Texas 76201
www.cityofdenton.com
Work Session Room11:30 AMMonday, March 2, 2020
WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 11:30 A.M. IN THE WORK SESSION ROOM
After determining that a quorum is present, the City Council of the City of Denton, Texas will convene in a
Work Session on Monday, March 2, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall,
215 E. McKinney Street, Denton, Texas at which the following items will be considered:
WORK SESSION
1. Work Session Reports
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding a proposed
agreement with Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
ID 20-171A.
Exhibit 1 Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2 Ordinance 2000-087
Exhibit 3 Ordinance 2015-239
Exhibit 4 List of KDB Programs and Events
Exhibit 5 FY 2019-2020 Keep Denton Beautiful Funding Overview
Exhibit 6 Draft Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Agreement
Exhibit 7 Presentation
Attachments:
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding updates to the
Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM).
ID 20-425B.
Exhibit 1 Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2 Presentation
Exhibit 3 Integrated Pest Management Plan
Exhibit 4 Peer Review Summary
Exhibit 5 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Peer Review
Exhibit 6 IPM Institute Peer Review
Exhibit 7 Non Toxic Neighborhoods Peer Review
Attachments:
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Electric, Water
and Wastewater Management Study performed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions,
LLC.
ID 20-508C.
Exhibit 1 - Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2 - Management Study Presentation
Attachments:
Page 1 Printed on 3/4/2020
March 2, 2020City Council Meeting Agenda
NOTE: The City Council reserves the right to adjourn into a Closed Meeting on any item on its
Open Meeting agenda consistent with Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, as amended, or
as otherwise allowed by law.
C E R T I F I C A T E
I certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the bulletin board at the City Hall of the City of
Denton, Texas, on the 28th day of February, 2020 at 11:20 a.m.
__________________________________________
CITY SECRETARY
NOTE: THE CITY OF DENTON'S DESIGNATED PUBLIC MEETING FACILITIES ARE
ACCESSIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. THE CITY
WILL PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION, SUCH AS SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS FOR THE
HEARING IMPAIRED, IF REQUESTED AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE
SCHEDULED MEETING. PLEASE CALL THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 940-349-8309 OR
USE TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICES FOR THE DEAF (TDD) BY CALLING 1-800-RELAY-TX
SO THAT REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION CAN BE ARRANGED.
Page 2 Printed on 3/4/2020
City of Denton
Legislation Text
City Hall
215 E. McKinney St.
Denton, Texas 76201
www.cityofdenton.com
File #:ID 20-171,Version:1
AGENDA CAPTION
Receive a report,hold a discussion,and give staff direction regarding a proposed agreement with Keep Denton
Beautiful, Inc.
City of Denton Printed on 3/2/2020Page 1 of 1
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City of Denton
_____________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
ACM: Sara Hensley, Assistant City Manager
DATE: March 2, 2020
SUBJECT
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding a proposed agreement with Keep
Denton Beautiful, Inc.
BACKGROUND
In February 2018, an audit report on the City’s working relationship with the Parks Foundation was
presented to City Council. Audit findings included the need to define the relationship between the City and
the Parks Foundation, create formalized financial policies and procedures, and establish regular reporting
requirements. Using the feedback provided in the Parks Foundation audit as a guide, a presentation
highlighting the need to establish formal agreements between non-profit support agencies and the City of
Denton was made to City Council on May 1, 2018. Following that presentation, Council directed staff to
proceed with the development of such agreements. Staff drafted an agreement with the Denton Parks
Foundation, which was then used as a model to draft agreements with Friends of the Denton Public
Libraries, Denton Animal Support Foundation, and Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
On Oct. 9, 2018, staff presented information to Council on the status of an updated agreement with Keep
Denton Beautiful, Inc. It was noted that the main concern was that the roles and responsibilities of the
nonprofit and City staff were not clear under the current agreement (Exhibit 3). Following the presentation
and discussion, Council directed staff to continue working with Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. to update the
partnership agreement, which clearly defined the roles of the nonprofit and City staff.
Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. is an affiliate of Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful, and its
mission is to engage the community in creating a clean and beautiful Denton. Keep Denton Beautiful’s
main goal is to enhance the environment and quality of life in the Denton community through programming
in three areas: 1. Litter prevention and cleanup, 2. Urban forestry education and plantings, and 3.
Beautification projects (murals, gardens, etc.).
An 11-member Council-appointed advisory board was established in 1991 to provide programming
guidance and support to the City’s Keep Denton Beautiful efforts. The Keep Denton Beautiful Board
obtained their 501(c)(3) tax exemption status in 1995 and became the Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Board
of Directors. After becoming a non-profit agency, the Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Board of Directors
transitioned to an independent non-profit board and suspended their formal advisory relationship with the
City Council.
In March of 2000, the City Council passed an ordinance (Ordinance 2000-087 – Exhibit 2) authorizing an
agreement between the City of Denton and Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. The agreement, which was most
recently updated in 2015 (Ordinance 2015-239 – Exhibit 3), does not clarify the role or reporting structure
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
for Keep Denton Beautiful staff or specify the relationship between the City of Denton and Keep Denton
Beautiful, Inc.
Although the organizational and funding structure has evolved, the City of Denton has funded in -house
staff to support Keep Denton Beautiful initiatives since 1987. In September 2019, the City’s Keep Denton
Beautiful division was reorganized under the Parks and Recreation Department and the number of KDB
City staff was reduced from 3.5 FTEs to 2 full-time positions. The City’s KDB division has a Fiscal Year
2019-2020 operating budget of $292,770 funded out of the Solid Waste Fund (FY2018-19: $406,613).
As directed by City Council, staff prepared a new draft agreement with Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.,
attached as Exhibit 4. The proposed agreement is for a term of one year with an option to renew annually
pending an annual presentation to Council.
In working with the Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Board of Directors, staff have refined the terms and have
completed the updated agreement for Council consideration during the Jan. 28 City Council meeting.
Article I of Exhibit 6 outlines services provided by Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc., including the following:
• Presenting and receiving approval of an Annual Plan that outlines planned programming and
fundraising activities for the upcoming fiscal year;
• Planning and coordinating fundraising and marketing activities with the City for mutually agreed
upon programs;
• Maintaining records and accounts that accurately documents all funds received and costs incurred
by Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.;
• Preparing gift and pledge records in accordance internal financial procedures;
• Preparing quarterly and annual reports on items such as donations, disbursements, volunteer hours,
and in-kind services provided; and
• Engaging an independent certified public accounting firm to conduct a financial audit every three
years.
In addition, Article II of Exhibit 6, outlines the obligations of the City of Denton including the following:
• Providing funding for an Executive Director salary of $50,000;
• Providing approximately 100 square feet of office space and necessary utilities to operate;
• Providing storage and meeting space for Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. to carry out its functions and
obligations to the City;
• Identifying projects and initiatives where Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. can provide fundraising and
volunteer support;
• Continue providing funding support in the annual operating budget;
• Continue collecting and disbursing donations made to Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. on City utility
bills;
• Continue allowing City staff to assist with program management, volunteer recruitment, grant
applications, and responsibilities as defined in the City’s updated job descriptions; and
• Maintaining exclusive authority to make all decisions regarding the use of City funds, City sta ff,
and other City resources.
Any additional financial or in-kind support that the City provides to Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. outside of
the services outlined in the annual agreement should be approved by the City Council in the form of a
Service Agreement.
OPTIONS
Staff has identified the following options and is requesting direction from the City Council on how to
proceed:
• Option 1: Do not proceed with an agreement with Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
• Option 2: Make recommendation modifications to the draft as directed by City Council
• Option 3: Proceed with finalizing the draft agreement
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1 Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2 Ordinance 2000-087
Exhibit 3 Ordinance 2015-239
Exhibit 4 List of KDB Programs and Events
Exhibit 5 FY 2019-2020 Keep Denton Beautiful Funding Overview
Exhibit 6 Draft Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Agreement
Exhibit 7 Presentation
Respectfully submitted:
Gary Packan
Director of Parks and Recreation
Prepared by:
Autumn Natalie
KDB Program Manager
KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL PROGRAMS & EVENTS
PROGRAMS
KDB, Inc. programs are funded through community support in the form of mon etary and in-kind donations,
sponsorships, and grants.
ADOPT-A-SPOT (year-round): This program is designed to promote volunteer investment in the
cleanliness of city roadways, parks, and other public properties. Selected sites may also be landscaped.
Participating groups are asked to clean an assigned stretch of roadway or park on a quarterly basis.
CHILDREN’S ARBOR DAY (April): Each year, in conjunction with the Denton Redbud Festival Arbor Day
celebration, KDB offers free Redbud tree seedlings and tree planting education presentations to
participating Pre-K and third grade classes in Denton. Approximately 1,200 seedlings are distributed
annually through this program.
CIGARETTE LITTER PREVENTION PROGRAM: Launched by Keep America Beautiful (KAB), the Cigarette
Litter Prevention Program aims to reduce the prevalence of Denton’s number one most littered item,
cigarette butts. The program’s primary function is to encourage proper butt disposable by placing
cigarette receptacles in common smoking areas. Through grant funding from KAB, KDB has placed 25 in -
ground receptacles and 20 Sidewalk Buttler (post-mounted) receptacles around downtown Denton, the
Fry Street area, and in Quakertown Park. The receptacles are regularly emptied by volunteers and KDB
staff and then shipped to be upcycled into items like park benches.
COMMUNITY APPEARANCE INDEX (August): KDB cleanup locations are guided by an annual
Community Appearance Index that gauges Denton’s most littered areas. A one-day windshield survey
performed by volunteers and staff provides accurate data to rate the community’s overall litter levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS: KDB’s Environmental Education Grants Program provides
grant funding for school-based environmental learning projects. The Environmental Education Grants
Program awards $2,500-3,000 in grant funds annually, with a maximum of $500 per applicant school.
Sample projects include outdoor learning centers, butterfly gardens, farm -to -table vegetable gardens,
recycling education programs, and more.
KDB PUBLIC GARDEN: KDB maintains one public garden space within the Denton city limits – the Denia
Wildflower Garden at Denia Rec Center. Since the garden was established, volunteers of all ages have
donated their time to maintain it and help it flourish. Volunteers weed, cut back plant material, lay down
mulch, and participate in other gardening work; in exchange, they receive educational information from
KDB about native plants, Denton’s soil and ecology, and earth -friendly gardening techniques.
MEETUP CLEANUPS: KDB’s most popular year-round volunteer opportunity, the Meetup Cleanups
program provides volunteers with cleanup supplies (bags, gloves, litter grabbing tools, and vests) to
collect litter in the community. This program is ongoing, and volunteers can schedule their cleanup on -
demand.
KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL PROGRAMS & EVENTS
MURAL ART INITIATIVE: The Mural Art Initiative is a community beautification initiative, created to
inspire civic pride and abate graffiti in Denton’s public spaces by painting new murals throughout the city.
KDB, with input from Denton volunteers and community members, launche d this effort in 2015 and have
since commissioned four public murals.
NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS: The purpose of the Neighborhood Beautification Grants
Program is to support Denton residents in their efforts to create a clean and beautiful Dento n community;
to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods; and to invest in a shared sense of identity and place. This
program provides funding for projects satisfying one or more of the three mission focus areas of KDB –
litter prevention, reduction of waste, and community beautification. Applicant groups who meet the
eligibility requirements may request up to $1,000 in grant funds.
YARD OF THE MONTH (March to October): Each month during the program year, several Yard of the
Months are selected by district by KDB volunteer judges, based on appearance, design, and curb appeal.
One Business Yard of the Month is also selected.
EVENTS
KDB, Inc. events are funded through community support in the form of monetary and in-kind donations,
sponsorships, and grants.
ANNUAL APPRECIATION EVENT (October): Each year to thank its donors and volunteers, KDB’s hosts
an appreciation event with dinner and awards honoring our top KDB supporters. This event allows the
organization the opportunity to thank the individuals and groups that do so much for KDB’s cause.
COMMUNITY TREE GIVEAWAY (third Saturday in October): Each year KDB gives back to the
community by offering free trees to Denton residents to plant on their private property. The Giveaway
takes place at the Landfill. Approximately 700 trees are given away through this program annually.
DENTON REDBUD FESTIVAL (April): In 1993, the 73rd Texas Legislature recognized Denton as the
Redbud Capital of Texas. To celebrate, Keep Denton Beautiful revived and re-imagined a former Texas
Woman’s University event, the Redbud Festival. The modern-day Denton Redbud Festival is Denton’s
official Arbor Day event, featuring Arbor Day celebration activities, tree and plant sales, food vendors,
home improvement and gardening education, and children’s environmental activities. There are
approximately 75 vendor booths and approximately 3,500 Denton residents in attendance each year.
FUNDRAISING EVENTS: KDB’s programs are funded solely through community support from individuals,
businesses, civic organizations, and the City of Denton. Events like business mixers, membership events,
and North Texas Giving Day provide opportunities to share KDB’s mission with local supporters.
GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP (March): An annual cleanup event that results in thousands of volunteers
removing several tons of litter from more than 100 miles of streets, waterways , and public spaces in
Denton.
KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL PROGRAMS & EVENTS
DENTON TREE INITIATIVE PROGRAMS
Launched in 2016 in response to a Council request, the Denton Tree Initiative (DTI) is a citywide tree
planting partnership between KDB, Inc. and the City of Denton that aims to increase Denton’s tree canopy
by offering free trees, forestry education, and tree planting incentives to Denton residents, businesses,
neighborhoods, and schools. The DTI programs are funded through the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund.
ARBOR DAY SCHOOL CAMPUS PLANTINGS (April): Expanded from KDB’s long-running Children’s
Arbor Day Program, this program offers up to two three-inch caliper shade trees for Denton ISD and
Denton-area school campuses and includes delivery and planting services.
CITIZEN FORESTER TRAINING PROGRAM: Created by the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council, the
Citizen Forester Training Program provides individuals with 36 combined hours of classroom instruction
and hands-on field training in urban forestry practices. The purpose of the course is to train individual
citizens to become certified to restore, enhance and protect Denton’s urban forest.
FREE TREE CLASSES (April): A mini tree giveaway event at Denton’s official Arbor Day Celebration, the
Denton Redbud Festival. Denton residents are invited to complete a 30-minute tree-care class led by
Certified Arborists and receive a free three-gallon tree to take home. This is a one-day-only opportunity,
held on site during the Denton Redbud Festival.
TREE REBATES (October – May): The Tree Rebate Program is one of six programs under the Denton Tree
Initiative, a campaign from KDB and the City of Denton designed to increase Denton's tree canopy by
offering free trees, forestry education, and tree planting incentives to Denton residents, businesses,
neighborhoods, and schools. Rebates for planting trees are available to City utility customers when
planting a qualifying native or adaptive tree species within the city limits.
TREE YOUR BLOCK (fall and spring): Tree Your Block is a neighborhood-based tree giveaway program
that targets Denton neighborhoods with lower -than-average tree canopy cover. Through this program,
KDB works directly with neighborhood volunteers and residents to host a one -day tree giveaway event at
a convenient location right in their own neighborhood.
TREES MEAN BUSINESS (October – May): A giveaway program targeting tree plantings on business
properties in Denton. Applicant businesses are eligible to receive up to five free three -inch caliper shade
trees, which includes delivery and planting services.
City Division Budget
2014-2015
Actual
2015-2016
Actual
2016-2017
Actual
2017-2018
Actual
2018-2019
Actual
2019-2020
Budget
Personal Services $239,150 $245,663 $256,879 $222,655 $287,047 $187,585
Rent of Building --$40,194 $37,242 $46,900 $49,500 $54,000
Materials and Supplies $12,720 $22,454 $19,959 $10,781 $12,400 $6,000
Maintenance and Repair $432 $882 $0 $0 $9,372 $0
Insurance $2,786 $2,806 $1,217 $2,903 $3,972 $2,714
Miscellaneous $305 $480 $293 $164 $600 $200
Operations*$11,020 $9,719 $7,842 $8,962 $16,375 $11,396
Interfund Transfers $51,562 $29,829 $23,010 $33,907 $27,347 $30,875
Total City Budget $317,975 $352,027 $346,442 $326,273 $406,613 $292,770
*Utility and janitorial added in 2018-2019 budget; were previously paid out of SWR main utility object code and Fleet Services
KDB, Inc. Income Proposed
Corporate Sponsorships*$9,950 $9,750 $9,000 $7,008 $11,000 $14,800
City Sponsorships
City of Denton Contract Payment $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Denton Municipal Electric $11,500 $11,500 $12,050 $11,500 $8,000 $11,500
Watershed Protection $8,000 $9,000 $9,500 $6,500 $7,000 $7,000
Solid Waste and Recycling --$2,500 --------
Subtotal for City Sponsorships $29,500 $33,000 $31,550 $28,000 $25,000 $28,500
Total Corporate and City Sponsorships $39,450 $42,750 $40,550 $35,008 $36,000 $43,300
Grants $13,000 $8,900 $9,000 $14,000 $14,500 $15,000
Memberships, Individual Contributions, Campaigns $14,260 $5,103 $10,172 $11,140 $15,493 $12,450
Merchandise, Third Party Donations, Special Events*$14,886 $16,441 $19,014 $11,432 $11,950 $9,325
Interest Earned $1 $1 $1 $3 $6 $3
Total KDB, Inc. Income $81,597 $73,195 $78,737 $71,583 $77,949 $80,078
*World Wear Project and Metals-to-Cash discontinued during FY 2017-2018
2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020
Total City Sponsorships $29,500 $33,000 $31,550 $28,000 $25,000 $28,500
Total Non-City Sponsorships and Other $52,097 $40,195 $47,187 $43,583 $52,949 $51,578
Percent KDB, Inc. Programs City Funded 36%45%40%39%32%36%
Percent Programs Funded by Other Sources 64%55%60%61%68%64%
Total KDB, Inc. Income and City Budget $399,572 $425,222 $425,179 $397,856 $484,562 $372,848
Percent Total City Funded 87%91%89%89%89%86%
Percent Total Funded Other Sources 13%9%11%11%11%14%
Data compiled by Autumn Natalie and current as of Jan. 3, 2020
Summary of KDB, Inc. Program and Event Funding Sources
Does not include Denton Tree Initiative income or expenses
Keep Denton Beautiful Budget/Income Information
FY14-15 to Present
STATE OF TEXAS §
§
COUNTY OF DENTON §
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF DENTON
AND KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of the __________ day
of ___________________, 2020 between the City of Denton, a Texas home-rule municipal
corporation, (the “City”) and Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc., a Texas not for profit corporation
(“KDB”). (The City and KDB are collectively referred to as the "Parties" and separately as a
"Party")
WHEREAS, KDB incorporated on April 13, 1995 as a Texas non-profit corporation to
improve and maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the community through education, public
outreach, and the coordination of volunteers;
WHEREAS, on April 19, 1996, the US Internal Revenue Service granted KDB tax-
exempt status under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as a qualified 501(c)(3)
organization;
WHEREAS, KDB is an approved affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc.;
WHEREAS, pursuant to KDB’s Bylaws, as revised and adopted on January 16, 2020,
KDB's specific purposes are to: engage the community in creating a clean and beautiful Denton;
implement and maintain the Keep America Beautiful, Inc. system in Denton; and solicit and
receive contributions of monies, services, products, property, and facilities from private and public
sources and to disburse said funds for the accomplishment of the mission of Keep Denton
Beautiful, Inc.;
WHEREAS, in furtherance of its specific purposes, KDB defines programs, events,
activities, projects, and initiatives as set forth in Exhibit “A” (separately "KDB Program" and
collectively, “KDB Programs”) throughout the year in the City of Denton;
WHEREAS, the collaboration between governments and non-profit organizations
promotes volunteerism and engagement;
WHEREAS, it is often necessary for the City to obtain volunteer services from outside
sources to assure that the City fulfills the needs and expectations of its citizens;
WHEREAS, the City and KDB will coordinate to maximize the benefit of partnership
interests to serve the needs of the citizens of Denton to improve the quality of life and protect the
environment for the benefit of all; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement establishes a governing document defining the relationship
and operations of the City and KDB and ensuring accountability regarding the financial
transactions by and between the City and KDB;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises, ter ms, and provisions
contained herein, and for the considerations expressed herein, the City and KDB mutually AGREE
to the following:
ARTICLE I
OBLIGATIONS OF KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL, INC.
A. KDB Programs. KDB staff and KDB board members shall provide oversight and
strategic direction for the KDB Programs.
B. Annual Plan. An Annual Plan as set forth in Exhibit “B” will be developed in cooperation
between the City and KDB, outlining KDB’s activit ies for the upcoming year. The Annual
Plan will consist of community outreach, coordination of volunteers, and implementation of
events. In addition, the plan will outline how KDB plans to utilize any and all funding
provided to KDB for staff expenses and program related activity. Prior to being implemented,
the Annual Plan must be approved by both the City Council and KDB board. Adjustments
may be made as needed only by consent of both the Denton City Council and KDB board
throughout the course of the year.
C. Fundraising. KDB shall design, formulate, and execute fundraising activities to secure,
administer, and provide funds for the KDB Programs in accordance with following procedures
and requirements:
1. KDB shall have full control over the use of any funds received through their sole
fundraising effort ("KDB Funds") and shall be responsible for the full administration of
KDB Funds.
2. KDB shall obtain approval of the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee,
prior to holding any special event or donor and sponsor recognition events at City
facilities.
D. Executive Director. KDB will hire, train, and provide oversight to an Executive Director
with the duties as set forth in Exhibit “C.” This position will provide activities such as, but not
limited to, support of the KDB board, financial oversight, fundraising, and day-to-day
operations of KDB, to carry out the functions of KDB in accordance with this Agreement. The
Executive Director is an employee of KDB and shall not be considered to be an employee or agent
of the City and shall not be entitled to any payment or benefit from the City on account of services
performed pursuant to this Agreement.
E. Accounting and Administration.
1. KDB shall provide an annual report to the Cit y Council summarizing KDB’s
programming, financial information and benefit to the City, including itemized donations,
contributions, and in-kind contributions to the City.
2. Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, KDB shall perform all
necessary accounting, banking, financial, and administrative functions for its operations.
The City shall not provide accounting or bookkeeping functions for KDB.
3. KDB shall retain all books, records, documents, and reports pertaining to the
fundraising, donations, and services provided to City under this Agreement for a period of
five (5) years from the date of record.
4. Every one (1) year prior to the renewal of this Agreement, KDB shall retain an
independent certified public accounting firm to: account for and audit all funds and
properties received; and render a report to the Board of Directors of KDB and to the City
Council.
5. KDB shall adhere to all KDB financial po licies. If City staff requires funds for KDB
Programs, the City shall provide a memorandum to KDB with attached invoices and
supporting documentation and KDB shall process payment in accordance with its policies
and procedures. KDB shall prepare, maintain, and preserve accurate gift and pledge
records and tax receipts.
F. Conflict of Interest. KDB covenants that:
a. Neither it nor any member of its governing body presently has any interest, direct
or indirect, which would conflict in any manner or degree with t he performance of
services required to be performed under this Agreement ;
b. In the performance of this Agreement, no person having such interest shall be em-
ployed or appointed as a member of its governing body;
c. No member of its governing body or its staff, subcontractors, or employees shall
possess any interest in or use his/her position for a purpose that is or gives the ap-
pearance of being motivated by desire for private gain for himself/herself, or others;
particularly those with which he/she has family, business, or other ties;
d. No officer, member, or employee of KDB and no member of its governing body
who exercises any function or responsibilities in the review or approval of the un-
dertaking or carrying out of this Agreement shall participate in any decision relating
to the Agreement which affects his personal interest or the interest in any corpora-
tion, partnership, or foundation in which he has direct or indirect interest ; and
e. It shall perform annual conflict of interest disclosures for its Board, Directors, and
employees that identify business relationships, investments, compensation ar-
rangements, and family.
ARTICLE II
OBLIGATIONS OF THE CITY OF DENTON
The City of Denton will provide the following:
A. In-Kind Contributions.
1. The City shall supervise employees reasonably necessary for the City to meet its
obligations under this Agreement to facilitate the KDB Programs and the Annual Plan
in cooperation with the KDB Board of Directors and volunteers. The existence,
allocation, and job descriptions of City staff are subject to change at any time within
the sole discretion of the City.
2. The City shall provide office space, storage, and meeting space as available, for KDB
to carry out KDB operations, KDB Programs, functions, and contractual obligations
to the City.
3. The City shall provide utilities, telephone service, and access to public WIFI
reasonably needed by KDB to carry out its activities as authorized in City’s annual
operating budget.
B. Annual Allocation of Personnel Funds. Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents
($50,000.00) shall be paid to KDB by the City in fiscal year 2019-20 to be utilized for the
sole purpose of the employment of a KDB Executive Director. This amount may be
prorated at the City’s discretion based on a vacancy of the KDB Executive Director
position.
C. Annual Allocation of Program Funds. The City shall annually allocate and disburse the
following amounts to KDB on or before the first (1st) day of November of each year during
the term or any extension of this Agreement. These funds shall be restricted for KDB
Programs which serve a legitimate public purpose and will not be used in KDB Operations.
a. Ten Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($10,000) from Solid Waste & Recycling
funds.
b. Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($11,500) from Denton
Municipal Electric funds.
c. Six Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and No Cents ($6,500) from Watershed
Protection funds.
D. Administrative Assistance. City staff shall direct all KDB contributions to the KDB
Executive Director or KDB’s designated representative. City staff shall not receive cash
designated for KDB. The City shall have no responsibility for lost, stole n, or misplaced
payments for KDB. A receipt of money donated to the City, on behalf of KDB, will be
documented through a written donor agreement or receipt , recording donations received
by the City and related expenses into the City’s recordkeeping software.
E. Grant Writing Staff Assistance and Limitations. City staff shall give guidance,
cooperate, and assist KDB with the writing of any grant applications which are mutually
beneficial to the City and KDB.
F. Disbursement of Donations. The City shall disburse any funds collected by the City on
behalf of KDB (such as through the utility bill) to KDB within thirty (30) days of the end
of the fiscal year in which the funds are received by the City.
G. Cooperation for Applications and Awards. The City shall give guidance, cooperate, and
assist KDB to prepare affiliate reports for Governor ’s Community Achievement Awards;
Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful Affiliate awards; all other
documentation required for Denton to maintain its Tree City USA status; and other grants
and awards that may further the mission of KDB and the City.
H. Amendment to Funding. Upon request from KDB or the City, and with approval of the
City Council, this Agreement may be amended as needed in regard to the supplement of
the annual allocation and disbursement of funds for the performance of the KDB Program
and administrative funding in this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
COORDINATION OF KDB PROGRAMS AND PARTIES' OBLIGATIONS
A. Implementation of Programs. The City employees assigned by the City to meet its
obligations under this Agreement shall cooperate and partner with the KDB Board of
Directors in implementing the KDB Programs.
B. City Employees. Any personnel employed by the City shall be employees of the City and
shall not be employees of KDB. The City shall be solely responsible for the supervision,
management , and control of City employees and any payroll, taxation, or other
employment obligation, if any, incident to their work. All work performed by or on behalf
of the City or by City employees under this Agreement, including the employees described
in Section II. A of this Agreement, is the responsibility of the City and not KDB.
C. KDB Employees. Any personnel employed by KDB shall be employees of KDB and shall
not be employees of the City. KDB shall be solely responsible for the supervision,
management , and control of KDB employees and any payroll, taxation, or other
employment obligation, if any, incident to their work. All work performed by or on behalf
of KDB or by KDB employees under this Agreement, including the employees described
in Article I. D. of this Agreement, is the responsibility of KDB and not the City.
D. KDB Volunteers. Any personnel volunteering on behalf of KDB shall be deemed
volunteers respectively of KDB. Employees of the City may volunteer with KDB when
no conflict of interest is present . City of Denton employees must comply with the City’s
Volunteer Impact Program (VIP) policy (#107.06) and Ethics policy (#10.00).
ARTICLE IV
THE TERM OF AGREEMENT
To the extent allowed by state law, this Agreement shall be effective from the execution date and
shall remain in full force and effect until September 30, 20 20. This Agreement may be renewed
for one (1) additional one (1) year period if the City and KDB agree in writing to extend the
term of this Agreement prior to the termination of the first term. The City or KDB shall have
the right to terminate the Agreement, in whole or in part, without cau se any time upon thirty (30)
calendar days’ written notice. Upon receipt of a notice of termination, KDB shall promptly cease
all further work pursuant to the Agreement, with such exceptions, if any, agreed to by both Parties
in writing at the time notice of termination is given.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND ASSURANCES BY THE PARTIES
A. Joint Representations. KDB and the City represent and warrant the following upon which
the other may reasonably rely in entering into this Agreement:
1. KDB is a Texas non-profit corporation separate and independent from the City.
2. This Agreement does not in any way constitute a principal-agent relationship
between the City and KDB. Neither the City nor KDB will assert control over the
other.
3. In the absence of an agreement providing otherwise, title to any fixture donated by
KDB to the City and installed on City owned property shall vest in the City upon
completion of construction or installation and acceptance by the City and the City
shall bear the cost of maintenance or replacement of such fixture. This representation
includes, but is not limited to, beautification projects such as trees, plants, and
shrubbery planted on City property, as well as fixtures, signage, and receptacles.
4. Nothing herein shall be considered a work-for-hire or conveyance of KDB's
intellectual property to the City.
B. KDB Representations. KDB represents and warrants the following upon which the City
may reasonably rely in entering into this Agreement:
1. KDB has been established as a non-profit corporation, formed under the laws of the
State of Texas and qualified as tax-exempt under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
KDB shall maintain its status as a tax-exempt organization under state and federal law
to ensure that donations to KDB may qualify as deductible, charitable contributions
for its donors.
2. Neither KDB nor any member of its governing body presently has any interest, direct
or indirect, which would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of
KDB's services under this Agreement.
3. KDB has no authority to supervise, direct, control, or demand that a City employee
perform any function on behalf of KDB. If not otherwise governed by a service
agreement approved by the Denton City Council, a KDB request fo r administrative
support of KDB by a City employee shall be submitted to the Parks and Recreation
Department Director, who shall have discretion to approve such request. All support
of KDB by a City employee shall be accounted for as an in-kind contribution of the
City to KDB.
4. KDB will not appoint a person having an interest as described in Section 2 above to
KDB's governing body during the Term of this Agreement.
5. No member of KDB's governing body or its staff, subcontractors, or employees shall
possess any interest in or use his/her position for a purpose that is or gives the
appearance of being motivated by desire for private gain for himself/herself, or others;
particularly those with which he/she has family, business, or ot her ties.
6. KDB will follow all applicable laws and City procedures including city and building
code requirements during KDB Program-related activities conducted on City property.
7. All work performed by or on behalf of KDB is the responsibility of KDB and not the
City. KDB shall not be deemed liable for any act, omission, or obligation of the City,
and the City shall not be deemed liable for any act, omission, or obligation of KDB.
8. This Agreement does not grant KDB a right to use the City's name or tradema rks.
C. City Representations. City represents and warrants the following upon which KDB may
reasonably rely in entering into this Agreement:
No officer, member, or employee of City, and no member of its governing body, who
exercises any function or responsibilities in the review or approval of the undertaking or
carrying out of this Agreement shall participate in any decision relating to the Agreement
which affects his personal interest or the interest in any corporatio n, partnership, or
foundation in which he has direct or indirect interest.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNITY
KDB AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND DEFEND THE CITY,
ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND
ALL CLAIMS OR SUITS FOR INJURIES, DAMAGE, LOSS, OR LIABILITY OF
WHATEVER KIND OR CHARACTER, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION
WITH THE PERFORMANCE BY KDB OR THOSE SERVICES CONTEMPLATED
BY THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING ALL SUCH CLAIMS OR CAUSES OF
ACTION BASED UPON COMMON, CONSTITUTIONAL, OR STATUTORY LAW,
OR BASED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, UPON ALLEGATIONS OF NEGLIGENT OR
INTENTIONAL ACTS OF KDB, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS,
VOLUNTEERS, SUBCONTRACTORS, LICENSEES, AND INVITEES.
In the event any damage is caused to the equipment or facilities provided by the City hereunder,
by the negligence or improper conduct of KDB, its agents, volunteers, subcontractors , or
employees, KDB shall cause the said damage to be repaired at its own cost and expense within
thirty (30) days of notice. This obligation does not extend to damage caused solely by the City, or
any employee, contractor, agent, volunteer, or other representative of the City.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICE
Any notice or other written instrument required or permitted to be delivered under the terms of
this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered, whether actually received or not, when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, return receipt
requested, or via electronic mail, hand-delivery or facsimile, addressed or sent to KDB or City, as
the case may be, at the following addresses:
CITY KDB
City of Denton, Texas Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
Attn: City Manager Attn: President
215 E. McKinney 601 E. Hickory St. Suite B
Denton, TX 76201 Denton, TX 76205
Todd.Hileman@cityofdenton.com president@kdb.org
Either Party may change its mailing address by sending notice of change of address to the other at
the above address by certified mail, return receipt requested.
ARTICLE VIII
RIGHT TO AUDIT
The City, at its sole expense, shall have the right to audit and make copies of the books, fundraising
activities, pledges, donations, gifts, statements, financial records, and computations pertaining to
funds provided to KDB by the City. KDB shall retain such books, records, documents , and other
evidence pertaining to the Agreement period for five (5) years thereafter, except if an audit is in
progress or audit findings are yet unresolved, in which case records shall be kept until all audit
tasks are completed and resolved. These books, records, documents and other evidence shall be
available, within ten (10) business days of written request. All books and records will be made
available within a 50-mile radius of the City of Denton. The cost of the audit will be borne by the
City. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a material breach of th is
Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
ETHICS
KDB will adopt and comply with policies regarding code of conduct, conflicts of interest , and
potential conflicts of interest consistent with this Agreement and the existing City Denton Ethics
Policy applicable to City employees.
ARTICLE X
ADMINISTRATION OF AGREEMENT
The President of KDB shall be the officer responsible for administration of the Agreement for
KDB. The City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, shall be the City staff member
responsible for the administration of this Agreement on behalf of the City.
ARTICLE XI
NO ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement is solely between the Parties and cannot be assigned to another party without the
express advance written approval of the non-assigning Party.
ARTICLE XII
MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT
No modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the
Parties.
ARTICLE XIII
GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE
This Agreement is subject to, governed by, and shall be construed under the laws of the State of
Texas. Venue of any suit or cause of action arising under this Agreement shall be exclusively in
Denton County, Texas.
ARTICLE XIV
SEVERABILTY
If any provision of this Agreement is found or deemed by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered severable from the remainder of this Agreement,
and shall not cause the remainder of this Agreeme nt to be invalid or unenforceable. In such event,
the Parties shall reform this Agreement to replace such stricken provision with a valid and
enforceable provision which comes as close as possible to expressing the intention of the Parties
respecting the stricken provision.
ARTICLE XV
INTEGRATION
This Agreement, together with any attached exhibits or documents, constitutes the entire
understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. This
Agreement replaces and supersedes any prior discussions, negotiations, agreements, and
understandings.
ARTICLE XVI
CAPTIONS
The captions of this Agreement are for informational purposes only and shall not in any way affect
the substantive terms or conditions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XVII
NON-WAIVER OF RIGHTS
Failure of a Party to require performance by another Party under the Agreement will not affect the
right of such Party to require performance in the future. No delay, failure, or waiver of either
Party’s exercise or partial exercise of any right or remedy under the Agreement shall operate to
limit, impair, preclude, cancel, waive, or otherwise affect such right or remedy. A waiver by a Party
of any breach of any term of the Agreement will not be construed as a waiver of any continuing or
succeeding breach.
ARTICLE XVIII
NO WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
The Parties expressly agree that no provision of the Agreement is in any way intended to constitute
a waiver by the City of Denton of any immunities from suit or from liability that the City of Denton
may have by operation of law.
ARTICLE XIX
AVAILABILITY OF FUNDING
The awarding or continuation of this Agreement is dependent upon the availability of funding. The
City’s payment obligations are payable only and solely from funds appropriated and available for
this Agreement. The absence of appropriated or other lawfull y available funds shall render this
Agreement null and void to the extent funds are not appropriated or available. In the event of none
or inadequate appropriation of funds, there will be no penalty nor removal fees charged to the City.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and KDB have executed this Agreement in duplicate original
counterparts, the City acting by and through its duly-authorized City Manager, and KDB acting by
and through its duly-authorized undersigned officer, on this the day of _____________,
2020.
CITY OF DENTON
____________________________________
TODD HILEMAN, CITY MANAGER
ATTEST:
ROSA RIOS, CITY SECRETARY
BY: __________________________________
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
AARON LEAL, CITY ATTORNEY
BY: _________________________________
KEEP DENTON BEAUTIFUL, INC.
____________________________________
MANNIX O’CONNOR, PRESIDENT
THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN
BOTH REVIEWED AND APPROVED
as to financial and operational
obligations and business terms.
_________________________
Signature
_________________________
Title
_________________________
Department
Date Signed: ______________
Exhibit A – Solo page
EXHIBIT A
KDB PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
KDB develops and makes recommendations on issues related to the appearance and environment
of Denton, Texas. KDB organizes and implements programs, projects, and educational
opportunities in the areas of litter abatement, community beautification, urban forestry, and
environmental awareness.
KDB Programs include but are not limited to the following:
Denton Redbud Festival;
Great American Cleanup;
Community Tree Giveaway;
Yard of the Month;
Adopt-A-Spot;
Garden Workdays;
Beautification Projects;
Tree Planting Programs;
Litter Prevention programs;
Environmental Education and Neighborhood Beautification Grants;
Special Cleanup Activities; and
Sponsorship and Appreciation Events.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
1
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
EVENTS
Community Tree Giveaway (October 19, 2019)
The Community Tree Giveaway (est. 1999) is a one-day free tree distribution event offering native shade trees to Denton residents. A
total of 700 trees are distributed, with seven different species offered, all of which are drought-tolerant, and native or well-adapted
for Denton soils and climate. The program is limited to Denton residents, and participants must register in advance to receive a tree.
Great American Cleanup (March 21, 2020)
The Great American Cleanup (GAC) (est. 1987) is Denton’s largest city-wide litter cleanup event with more than 2,500 participants
annually. GAC is part of an annual, nationwide litter cleanup effort led by Keep America Beautiful, and Denton is one of more than
20,000 communities that participate each spring. Free cleanup supplies – including trash and recycling bags, litter grabbers, and vinyl
gloves – are provided at no cost to registered volunteers. The network of cleanups concludes with a Volunteer Appreciation Party
hosted at Quakertown Park.
Denton Redbud Festival (April 4, 2020)
The Denton Redbud Festival (est. 1996), Denton’s official Arbor Day Celebration, is a free home and garden festival with live music,
food, vendors, entertainment, tree and plant sales, free trees, and educational workshops. With 2,500+ attendees annually, the event
co-hosts SCRAP Denton’s annual TRASHion Fashion Runway Show. The festival celebrates Denton’s designation by the 73rd Texas
State Legislature as the "Redbud Capital of Texas."
Children’s Arbor Day (typically April – on hold in 2020 due to staff reduction)
This event offers forestry education presentations to pre-K and third graders in Denton-area schools. The children receive free
Redbud seedlings to plant at home. Schools where many children do not have a yard in which to plant a tree may receive campus
trees (3-gallon size). Presenters are volunteers, many of them certified Master Gardeners or Citizen Foresters. This event is supported
solely through corporate sponsorships.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
2
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
EVENTS CONT.
Annual Appreciation Reception (early to mid-August)
KDB, Inc. hosts this event each year as a thank-you to the year-round volunteers that make the programs and events possible.
Awards are given in several volunteer/sponsor categories. Sponsorships, donations from local businesses, and gift card donations are
used for the event.
Business Mixer (early August)
An annual Business Mixer for its current business members and local businesses to learn more about opportunities to support KDB,
Inc.
City of Denton Events:
Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting (Nov. 2, 2019)
This fall, KDB, Inc. plans to collaborate with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department to host its first Texas Arbor Day
volunteer event to plant 50+ trees at South Lakes Park. KDB staff is tasked with promoting the event, coordinating
volunteers, coordinating event-day tasks, and other tasks as needed.
Scout Day/STEAM Event (Feb. 2, 2020)
KDB hosts a table and activity at this STEAM event hosted by the Sustainability Division (previously hosted by Solid Waste
& Recycling).
State of the City (Jan. 23, 2020)
KDB tables this annual event to provide information to residents about its services. No donations are accepted at this
event.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
3
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
PROGRAMS
Adopt-A-Spot (year-round)
Adopt-A-Spot is a recurring cleanup program for individuals or groups at a designated roadway location with a two-year
commitment that requires four cleanups per year. KDB staff provides a brief orientation, supplies, and a location assignment.
Measurable outcomes are gleaned from a post-cleanup report.
Yard of the Month
Yard of the Month runs annually from March to October featuring beautiful yards in eight residential districts and one business
district for the city each month relying on public nominations of properties. Volunteer judges review nominations, identify a
qualifying yard when no public nominations are received, handle 90% of communications with the owner of the property, place the
sign, and take photos of the winning yards.
Meetup Cleanups (year-round)
Meetup Cleanups are year-round, one-time volunteer opportunities for residents to clean up a street, park, waterway, or trail in
Denton. KDB staff provides a brief orientation, supplies, and a location assignment. Measurable outcomes are gleaned from a post-
cleanup report.
Environmental Education Grants (awarded annually)
KDB, Inc. provides up to $3500 in funding for school-based environmental learning projects. Both public and private schools in the
City of Denton and Denton ISD are eligible to apply. Sample projects include: outdoor learning centers, school murals, campus
beautification, tree planting projects, butterfly gardens, vegetable/food gardens, rainwater collection, and recycling education
programs.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
4
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
PROGRAMS, CONT.
Neighborhood Beautification Grants (awarded annually)
KDB, Inc. provides up to $2,500 in project funding each year for neighborhoods, nonprofits, and other community groups seeking to
achieve one or more of the following: Improve neighborhood public spaces; Beautify the community; or Nurture a shared sense of
neighborhood identity and community pride. Sample projects include neighborhood entryway signs and landscaping; community
garden projects; place making/pop-up events, and mural art.
Denia Garden/Garden Workdays (at least quarterly)
KDB, Inc. provides beautification and educational opportunities by maintaining the WaterSmart™, native plant and wildflower
demonstration garden at the City of Denton’s Denia Recreation Center. At least four times annually, workdays are scheduled with
volunteers to clean up, weed, and mulch the garden. KDB provides gloves, tools, water, and snacks to volunteers, as well as a tutorial
on the importance of landscaping with native and adapted plants, and proper garden maintenance techniques.
Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (year-round)
Staff oversees this program by coordinating volunteers who conduct cigarette scans and clean the cigarette receptacles, and
managing the grant funding received from Keep America Beautiful (KAB). The Cigarette Litter Prevention Program’s focus is to
maximize cigarette butt receptacle use and minimize butts littered on the ground. KDB hosts a cleanup the first Monday of each
month and holds quarterly cigarette litter scans. These scans measure effectiveness of the receptacles in diverting butts from
becoming litter. The program is funded solely by grants from KAB, which pays for the marketing materials, cigarette receptacles, and
any other miscellaneous costs. FY20 Scan Dates: Oct. 7, Jan. 6, March 16, and May 4.
Community Appearance Index (mid-August)
To fulfill requirements of Keep America Beautiful, staff conducts an annual Community Appearance Index to assess the state of litter
in Denton through a visual assessment of the community’s roadways. Staff coordinates volunteers who perform the all-day scan,
which is conducted each August.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
5
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
PROGRAMS, CONT.
Mural Artscapes Initiative (annual)
Keep Denton Beautiful, with input from Denton volunteers and neighborhoods, has launched a new effort to create painted mural
artwork in key gateway points and neighborhood areas around Denton. The Artscapes Mural Art Initiative targets high traffic and
graffiti-prone sites for new murals, using a street art aesthetic to achieve the following goals: beautify and enliven public spaces,
abate graffiti, and inspire community action to keep our city clean and beautiful.
Denton Tree Initiative Programs
The DTI programs are run by COD staff without program or funding oversight from KDB, Inc. Executive Director or Board of Directors.
KDB, Inc. assists with program promotion and implementation.
The Denton Tree Initiative, funded through the City of Denton’s Tree Mitigation Fund, is designed to increase Denton's tree canopy
and plant trees on private property by offering free trees, forestry education, and tree planting incentives to Denton residents,
businesses, neighborhoods, and schools. The Denton Tree Initiative is comprised of six programs:
1. Tree Rebate Program (Annual; Oct. – May)
The program incentivizes Denton Municipal customers to purchase and plant qualifying trees for a potential $50 rebate
per tree, to a maximum of five trees per household. KDB staff promote this program, communicate with local nurseries,
and process rebates.
2. Tree Your Block (fall and spring)
The Tree Your Block Program provides free trees to Denton residents for planting on private, residential properties. This
program offers a neighborhood-centered tree giveaway opportunity, with KDB, Inc. hosting a mini-giveaway on site right
in a neighborhood.
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
6
Event dates shown are subject to change due to weather, holidays, conflicting events, budget constraints, or other unforeseen conflicts.
Created by Program Manager Autumn Natalie on behalf of KDB, Inc. – Updated 2/27/2020
PROGRAMS, CONT.
3. Trees Mean Business (fall and spring)
This program provides Denton businesses, non-profits, government organizations, and churches with the information and
resources to plant trees on their property, and help them thrive. Through this program, KDB provides tree planting
education and up to five trees per commercial planting site, per program year, to selected applicants in the Denton city
limits. Free tree delivery and planting are included as part of the program.
4. Arbor Day Campus Plantings (April)
In celebration of National Arbor Day and Earth Day in April, schools and educational institutions are eligible to request
trees (including delivery and planting) for school campuses within city limits or on Denton ISD property.
5. Denton Citizen Forester Training (On hold in 2020)
This certification program, through a partnership with the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council, provides 36 hours of
forestry education in advanced tree biology, planting, and care through hands-on field activities and classroom instruction
delivered by top urban forestry professionals. After the six-class course, Citizen Foresters are thoroughly trained to assist
with a variety of tree-related activities, including tree maintenance, educational workshops, tree plantings, and tree
giveaway programs.
6. Free Tree Classes & Giveaway (April 4, 2020)
Held annually at the Denton Redbud Festival, Denton residents are eligible to take home a free three-gallon size tree after
attending a 30-minute tree care class. Tree recipients must agree to plant the tree within the Denton city limit
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
7
Summary of In-Kind and Cash Donations provided by City of Denton
Department Donated Services and/or Goods In-Kind
Value
Cash
Sponsorship
Solid Waste &
Recycling
Department
Community Tree Giveaway:
• Use of the front and back parking lots of SW
Admin Building, meeting room, and restrooms
• Use of Landfill property
• Use of (1) Kubota
• SW employee (1) to operate forklift (1 -2 hrs.)
• SW employee (1) day of event
Great American Cleanup:
• (4) SW employees & (2) rear-load trucks (one
recycling, one trash)
• Free landfill day coordination: SWR waives tipping
fees at the landfill for Denton residents and GAC
participants (with Denton Driver’s License)
~$8,300 $10,000
(annual city
contract
payment)
Beneficial Reuse Community Tree Giveaway:
• DynoDirt coupons for 700 event participants
Denia Rec Center Garden Workdays:
• Five (5) cubic yards of mulch
Membership Program:
• One (1) free bag of DynoDirt compost
~$3,852.50
$0
Tech Services
Department:
Radio Comm.
Use of 10-15 radios for Community Tree Giveaway,
Great American Cleanup, and Denton Redbud Festival
No set cost $0
Denton
Municipal
Electric
Community Tree Giveaway: $2,500
Great American Cleanup: $1,500
Denton Redbud Festival: $2,500
Mural Art Initiative: $1,500
Neighborhood Beautification Grants: $3,500
$0 $11,500
Denton
Watershed
Protection
Great American Cleanup: $3,500
Denton Redbud Festival: $2,000
Environmental Education Grants: $500
Neighborhood Beautification Grants: $500
$0 $6,500
Parks &
Recreation
Department
Great American Cleanup & Denton Redbud Festival:
• Use of the Denton Civic Center/Quakertown Park
• Waived event deposits (2)
• PARD employee (1) building attendant event
~$9,642 $0
Denton Fire
Department
Great American Cleanup & Denton Redbud Festival:
• Waived carnival permit fees (2)
$400 $0
Total In-
Kind Value
Total Cash
Sponsorships
$22,195 $28,000
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
8
CITY OF DENTON STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
• Events & Programs (primary lead)
o All planning and coordination tasks associated with programs and events are
completed by City of Denton staff with support from KDB, Inc. Board of Directors
and board committees.
• Marketing (assist when appropriate)
Staff assist with promotional needs as related to programs and events and contribute
content for the following, as needed:
o Monthly KDB newsletter
o KDB social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
o KDB website/blog
o Designs/Artwork
o Press releases
o Paid advertising (print and electronic)
o Printing and distribution of promo materials
• Meetings (attend when appropriate)
Staff attend as ex-officio members and contribute information and updates as needed:
o KDB, Inc. board meetings (monthly)
o KDB, Inc. board committee meetings:
▪ Executive Committee (quarterly)
▪ Fundraising & Membership Committee (monthly)
▪ Events & Programs Committee (monthly)
▪ Special Projects Committee (monthly)
• Assisting with Award/Grant Writing (primary lead)
o Governor’s Community Achievement Award (annual)
o Keep Texas Beautiful Awards (annual)
o Keep American Beautiful Awards (annual)
o Union Pacific Foundation grant (annual)
o Various grants as identified
• KDB, Inc. Financials & Fundraising (no assistance)
No funds will be collected or managed by COD staff:
o Forward all check requisitions, invoices, and sponsorship and donation inquiries
to Executive Director or appropriate board member
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
9
• Volunteer Coordination (primary lead)
o Volunteer tasks involve coordinating interested individuals and groups with
available opportunities. Depending on the needs of the potential volunteer, their
knowledge of KDB, and the coordination needed within their group (larger
groups equate to more waivers, a more variable schedule, etc.) the extent of
communication varies.
KDB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RESPONSIBILITIES (PROPOSED)
• Events & Programs (assist as needed)
o All planning and coordination tasks associated with each program or event are
completed by City of Denton staff with support from KDB, Inc. Board of Directors
and board committees.
• Marketing (primary lead)
KDB shall be responsible for managing the following:
o Monthly KDB newsletter
o KDB social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
o KDB website/blog
o Designs/Artwork
o Press releases
o Paid advertising (print and electronic)
o Printing and distribution of promo materials
• Organizing and Leading Meetings (primary lead)
o KDB, Inc. board meetings (monthly)
o KDB, Inc. board committees
▪ Executive Committee (quarterly)
▪ Fundraising & Membership Committee (monthly)
▪ Events & Programs Committee (monthly)
▪ Special Projects Committee (monthly)
• Award/Grant Writing (assist when needed)
o Governor’s Community Achievement Award (annual)
o Keep Texas Beautiful Awards (annual)
o Keep American Beautiful Awards (annual)
o Union Pacific Foundation grant (annual)
o Various grants as identified
Annual Plan: FY 2019-2020
10
• Fundraising (sole party responsible)
o Sponsorships
▪ Identifying sponsorships for upcoming programs and events
▪ Requesting City of Denton sponsorships (annual)
▪ Arranging meetings with potential sponsors and board members
▪ Coordinating in-kind sponsorships
o Memberships & Donations
▪ Processing KDB, Inc. memberships (annual donations) and outright
donations
▪ Coordinates membership drives, give back nights, etc.
▪ Coordinates participation in North Texas Giving Day, an annual
fundraising day for nonprofits in North Texas
▪ Handles all monies associated with donations and membership sales
o Merchandise Sales
▪ Processes any merchandise sales that benefit KDB, Inc.
▪ Handles all monies associated with merchandise sales
▪ Stores and inventories merchandise owned by KDB, Inc.
• KDB, Inc. Financials (sole party responsible)
o Making deposits, paying invoices, receiving donations, etc.
o Recording all transactions in accounting software
o Creating monthly financial reports for KDB Inc. Board of Directors
o Working with KDB, Inc. Treasurer to reconcile monthly financials
o Assist with updating financial policies and tracking documents as needed
• Volunteer Coordination (assist when needed)
o Volunteer tasks are primarily handled by COD staff. However, the KDB, Inc.
Executive Director and Board of Directors shall supervise volunteers during
programs and events as necessary.
Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Job Description
Title: Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Executive Director
Reports to: Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc. Board of Directors
Definition: Responsible for the management and leadership of the Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and facilitates the operations of the nonprofit Keep Denton Beautiful,
Inc. Works with City of Denton/KDB Program Manager to plan and implement programming. Keep
Denton Beautiful operates under a public-nonprofit partnership agreement between the City of Denton
and the nonprofit Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.
Essential Functions:
Management/Supervisory Responsibilities
• Works to uphold and facilitate KDB, Inc.’s mission, vision, and values, as established by the all-
volunteer KDB, Inc. Board of Directors
• Facilitates the contractual service agreement between KDB, Inc. and the City of Denton to ensure
deliverables and expectations are satisfied
• Facilitates the work of the KDB, Inc. Board of Directors through coordination of monthly board
meetings, assembling board packets and financial reports, and tracking progress toward strategic
goals
• Assists with Board member recruitment, orientation, and training to ensure best practices and
compliance with nonprofit governance, legal, ethical, and fiduciary responsibilities
• Works with the KDB, Inc. Board to develop and implement an annual Strategic Action Plan
• Works with KDB Program Manager to develop and implement an annual Work Plan, approved by
City Council and Management.
• Serves as the primary affiliate liaison to Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful
• Ensures compliance with Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful “affiliate good standing”
requirements, including but not limited to the preparation of semi -annual and annual program
output reports, an annual cost-benefit analysis, and grant reports
• Monitors industry trends and best practices in nonprofit management, fund development, program
administration, and other relevant areas. Attends training and conferences to enhance skills and
establish KDB as a leader across all aspects of programming and operations
• Maintains regular and punctual attendance
Fiscal Responsibilities
Exhbit C_KDB, Inc. Executive Director Job Description
Page 2 of 4
• Under the direction of the KDB, Inc. Board of Directors, prepares and adheres to KDB, Inc.’s 501(c)(3)
nonprofit budget; compiles monthly financial reports; and completes analysis and reporting of
budget trends and issues
• Plans and organizes nonprofit fundraising and revenue collection activities to underwrite KDB’s
programs including, but not limited to: the KDB, Inc. Membership Program; program sponsorships;
researching, writing, and managing grant proposals; and planning and coordinating annual
fundraising events
• Keeps accurate and up-to-date records for all nonprofit income, expenses, and financial activity.
Works with the KDB, Inc. Board Treasurer to maintain and submit records for external IRS 990
preparation and audit
Program Responsibilities
• Facilitates the COD/KDB Program Manager in the strategic development and implementation of
KDB programming
• Conducts annual evaluations of programs to gauge mission-focus, effectiveness, and impact
• Creates, enhances, or discontinues programming as needed to adhere to KDB’s mission strategic
plan, and budget resources
• Works collaboratively with City staff, community agencies, and oth er stakeholders to ensure the
promotion, implementation, and success of all programs
Community Relations Responsibilities
• Represents KDB in the community
• Works with KDB Program Manager to develop strategy-related decisions for the main
communication channels for KDB, including but not limited to the KDB website, blog, social media,
and print materials
• Seeks out public speaking and writing opportunities to promote KDB in the community
Additional Duties:
• Performs other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications/Acceptable Equivalency:
• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Environmental Science, or
similar field
• A minimum of 5 years progressively responsible management experience
OR
• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Environmental Science, or similar
field
• A minimum of 2 years progressively responsible management experience
OR
Exhbit C_KDB, Inc. Executive Director Job Description
Page 3 of 4
• Any combination of education, experience, and/or certifications that will provide the necessary
knowledge and skills to be an effective Executive Director
Core Competencies:
• Ability to provide strong leadership and direction for staff, board, and volunteers at various
experiences and skill levels
• Ability to establish positive and collaborative relationships to ensure the success of KDB and its
programs
• Ability to maintain high attention to detail in a fast-paced environment, while coordinating multiple
projects, programs, and operations simultaneously
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to perceive political relationships within the organization and community, and responds
appropriately to minimize conflict, maintain professionalism, and uphold the positive image of KDB
• Ability to solve problems, make independent decisions, and consistently produce high quality work
from general direction
• Ability to develop and work within budgetary guidelines
• Working knowledge of business software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Conditions of Employment:
• Must have a valid Class “C” Driver’s License prior to employment (must obtain Texas Class “C” driver’s
license within 30 days of hire per state law)
• Must pass a drug test, driver’s license check, criminal history background check, and social security
number verification check
• Must be able to work outside of normal business hours as required
Preferences:
• Previous experience managing community boards or commissions
• Previous experience as a nonprofit organization administrator or director
• Knowledge of nonprofit and municipal budgeting principles
• Understanding of program evaluation, surveying, and other basic research applications
• Bilingual in Spanish and English
Physical Requirements:
Overall Strength Demands: The italicized word describes the overall strength demand of the functions
performed by the incumbent during a typical workday.
• Sedentary – lifting no more than 10 pounds
• Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carry up to 10 pounds
• Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds, carry up to 25 pounds
• Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds, carry up to 50 pounds
Exhbit C_KDB, Inc. Executive Director Job Description
Page 4 of 4
• Very Heavy – lifting more than 100 pounds, carry more than 50 pounds
Physical Demand Codes: The following describes if the incumbent is expected to exert the following
physical demands during a typical workday and the overall frequency.
Codes for “how often”:
Y = Yes
N = No
E = extensive (100-70%)
M = moderate (60-30%)
I = infrequent (20-10%)
A = almost never (<10%)
Task: Code:
1. Standing: M
2. Sitting: E
3. Walking: M
4. Lifting: I
5. Carrying: I
6. Pushing/Pulling: I
7. Overhead Work: I
8. Fine Dexterity: M
9. Kneeling: I
10. Crouching: I
11. Crawling: I
12. Bending: I
13. Twisting: I
14. Climbing: I
15. Balancing: Y
16. Vision: Y
17. Hearing: Y
18. Talking: Y
19. Video Display: Y
20. Other:
Machines, Tools, Equipment and Work Aids:
The essential functions of this position require the use of personal computers, visual presentation
equipment, and other related office equipment.
Environmental Factors:
The essential functions of this position are performed in an office environment, in public presenter-type
forums, special events, workdays, and other outdoor activities.
This job description is not an employment agreement, contract agreement, or contract.
Management has exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.
33 Years of Keeping Denton Beautiful
March 2, 2020 1ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Exhibit 7
Differences between
KDB Division & KDB, Inc.
Keep Denton Beautiful, Inc.City of Denton | KDB Division
Overview
7-member Board of Directors (unpaid volunteers)
501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Reports to KDB, Inc. / Executive Committee
FY2020 Budget: $79,578
Primary Objective: Set annual plan for KDB programs and
events, fundraising, and nonprofit management.
2 FTEs (Program Manager; Program & Volunteer
Coordinator) within Parks and Recreation Dept.
Reports to City Council
FY2020 Operating Budget: $292,770
Primary Objective: Manage and implement KDB and City
programs and events.
Responsibilities
•Board operations (meetings, committees, policies and
procedures, etc.)
•Strategic direction for annual KDB programs and events
•Financial management & annual audit
•Fund development
•Program and volunteer assistance
•Program management, planning, and coordination
•Volunteer coordination and supervision
•Marketing and outreach
•Grant and award writing
•Board meetings (ex-officio members)
•City budget management
2ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Keep Texas Beautiful Affiliate Structures
Organizational Structure
40%
31%
20%
9%
City-structured/funded
Standalone Nonprofit
City-structured/funded with Nonprofit Board
Committee or Board within an Organization 3ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
⚫1990-2008: Awarded $525,000 in beautification grants for median landscaping projects
on University Drive (1990), Dallas Drive (1993), Fort Worth Drive (1997), Carroll Boulevard
(2002), and Loop 288 (2008)
⚫2000: Wrote the grant for the Environmental Crimes Unit for the Denton Police Dept.
(7-year program prosecuted environmental felonies)
⚫2001: Pioneered curbside recycling for Denton residents
⚫2002: Awarded $27,644 in grants for the landscaping irrigation on the Downtown
Square
⚫2015: Began the Denton Tree Initiative to plant trees with tree mitigation funds;
1,462 trees planted on private property (not including 2,250 from Tree Giveaway)
⚫2015-2018: Completed major mural projects, some at the request of the City
⚫Awards Received: Tree City USA (29 years), Scenic City Gold Certification, Keep Texas
Beautiful Gold Star Affiliate, and Keep America Beautiful Presidents Circle
Highlights from 33-year Partnership
between KDB and City of Denton
4ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
KDB, Inc. Income History
FY 2015-2020
KDB, Inc. Income
2014-2015
Actual
2015-2016
Actual
2016-2017
Actual
2017-2018
Actual
2018-2019
Actual
2019-2020
Proposed
Budget
Corporate Sponsorships $9,950 $9,750 $9,000 $7,008 $11,000 $14,800
City Program Funds
City of Denton Contract Payment $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
Denton Municipal Electric $11,500 $11,500 $12,050 $11,500 $8,000 $11,500
Watershed Protection $8,000 $9,000 $9,500 $6,500 $7,000 $6,500
Solid Waste and Recycling --$2,500 --------
Grants $13,000 $8,900 $9,000 $14,000 $14,500 $15,000
Memberships, Individual Contributions, Campaigns $14,260 $5,103 $10,172 $11,140 $15,493 $12,450
Merchandise, Third Party Donations, Special Events*$14,886 $16,441 $19,014 $11,432 $11,950 $9,325
Interest Earned $1 $1 $1 $3 $6 $3
Total KDB, Inc. Income $81,597 $73,195 $78,737 $71,583 $77,949 $79,578
*World Wear Project and Metals-to-Cash fundraisers discontinued during FY 2017-2018 (City of Denton decision)
5ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
City of Denton Staff
Budget History FY2015-2020
City Division Budget
2014-2015
Actual
2015-2016
Actual
2016-2017
Actual
2017-2018
Actual
2018-2019
Actual
2019-2020
Budget
Personal Services*$239,150 $245,663 $256,879 $222,655 $287,047 $187,585
Rent of Building**--$40,194 $37,242 $46,900 $49,500 $54,000
Materials and Supplies $12,720 $22,454 $19,959 $10,781 $12,400 $6,000
Maintenance and Repair $432 $882 $0 $0 $9,372 $0
Insurance $2,786 $2,806 $1,217 $2,903 $3,972 $2,714
Miscellaneous $305 $480 $293 $164 $600 $200
Operations***$11,020 $9,719 $7,842 $8,962 $16,375 $11,396
Interfund Transfers $51,562 $29,829 $23,010 $33,907 $27,347 $30,875
Total City Budget $317,975 $352,027 $346,442 $326,273 $406,613 $292,770
*Elimination of 1.5 FTEs; **Building lease ends Dec. 2020 and KDB staff vacated offices 10/5/19
**Utility and janitorial added in 2018-2019 budget; were previously paid out of SWR main utility object code and Fleet Services
6ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
FY 2019–2020
Budget Breakdown
•*Proposed Executive Director salary ($50,000 prorated) is not included in budget figures.
•KDB Funding Sources include individual contributions, annual memberships, KDB fundraisers, merchandise sales, third -party
donation programs, and grants.
36%
64%
FY20 Program
Budget
City-
Funded
KDB-
Funded 86%
14%
FY20 Total Budget
City-
Funded
KDB-
Funded
100%
0%
FY20 Staff &
Operations Budget
City-
Funded
KDB-
Funded
City: $28,500
KDB: $51,578
City: $321,270*
KDB: $51,578City: $292,770*
KDB: $0
7ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Highlights from FY2019
8ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
$100,222
Value of
Volunteer Hours
2,011 Trees
Distributed to
Denton Residents
732 Acres
Cleaned in Denton
4,059
Volunteer
Hours
Donated
19,259 lbs.
of Trash
Collected
(9.6 Tons)
206 Miles of
Denton Streets
Cleaned
2,166
Volunteers
246 Activities
FY2019 Program Results
9ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
21st Annual Community Tree Giveaway (Oct. 27, 2018)
•700 trees (7 species) given away to Denton residents
31st Annual Great American Cleanup (March 23, 2019)
•Rescheduled due to inclement weather (first time in 31 years)
•2,600 volunteers registered (523 rescheduled date); 3.5 tons of litter collected
26th Annual Denton Redbud Festival (April 13, 2019)
•Estimated 2,150 attendees
Children’s Arbor Day (April 22 & 23, 2019)
•13 presentations; 1102 participants/Redbud seedlings given away to DISD
students
Cigarette Litter Prevention $5,000 Grant (Installed Sept. 2019)
•20 new receptacles installed around downtown square and Fry Street area
Eagle/77 Railroad Bridge Mural (Commissioned Nov. 2018)
•Largest mural to date and beautifies major entrance to downtown Denton
FY19 Program Highlights
10ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Moving Forward in 2020
11ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
22nd Annual Community Tree Giveaway (Oct. 19, 2019)
•650 trees (8 species) given away to Denton residents
Texas Arbor Day Tree Planting at Dog Park (Nov. 2, 2019)
•85 volunteers planted 76 trees at North Lakes Dog Park
Cigarette Litter Prevention Program (Fall 2019/Winter 2020)
•3 scans/cleanups; estimated 39,050 cigarette butts collected and recycled
Future PARD Collaborative Projects (Winter/Spring 2020)
•Mills Road roadway cleanup -252 lbs. of litter collected
•Adopt-A-Spot –7 new locations/signage in Parks and along rail trails
•Villages of Carmel property cleanup (future park)
•Mills Road property cleanup (future East Lakes Park)
•Tree trimming at South Lakes Park
•Wildflower seeding projects
Bell/Robertson Railroad Bridge Mural (Spring 2020)
•Collaboration with COD Public Art Committee to recreate Foundation of Our
History mural along Robertson underpass
FY20 Program Highlights
12ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Highlights from Proposed
Contract
⚫Contract runs through Sept 2020; to be reviewed each budget cycle
⚫Annual Plan to be submitted and approved each year by City Council
⚫Improves delineation of responsibilities between City of Denton employees and
Board of Directors
⚫Removes Conflict of Interest on part of City of Denton employees
⚫Third-party certified accountant will perform an annual audit for KDB
⚫City employees will not manage KDB financial records, or handle or solicit any funds
⚫Eliminates rental office space (vacated Oct. 2019)
⚫Redefines job descriptions for city employees assigned to KDB programs
⚫Defines new role of Executive Director;employed by KDB, Inc. Board of Directors
(salary request: $50,000)13ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
Recent and Future KDB
Actions
Past
❖May 2019: KDB Program Manager Julie Anderson resigned (May 2019)
❖Sept. 2019:
❖City’s KDB Division relocated from Solid Waste to Parks and Recreation Dept. (PARD)
❖Eliminated KDB Event & Outreach Coordinator (1 FTE) and Program Intern (0.5 FTE)
positions
❖Oct. 2019: City staff moved from Railyard offices to City Hall East
❖Nov. 2019: Promoted Autumn Natalie as KDB Program Manager
❖Fall 2019 Programs and Events completed: 1) 22nd Annual Tree Giveaway; 2) 2nd Annual
Texas Arbor Day with PARD; 3) Inaugural KDB + You Film Contest; 4) KDB Grant Programs
Current
❖Implementing Spring 2020 program/fundraising season: 1) Great American Cleanup; 2)
Denton Redbud Festival; 3) Membership Drive/Fundraiser 4) PARD collaborative projects
❖Execute updated agreement
Future
❖Hire Executive Director (est. hire date: March/April 2020)
❖Develop FY 2020-2021 Annual Plan
❖Present FY 2020-2021 Budget and Contract (Summer 2020)14ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
City of Denton Staff
Recommendations
⚫Consider approval of the updated KDB, Inc.-City of Denton
Contract Agreement
⚫Consider an annual payment to fund KDB, Inc. Executive
Director (hired and supervised by the KDB, Inc. Board of
Directors); $50,000
⚫Consider approval of the proposed FY2019-2020 Annual
Plan
15ID 20-171, March 2, 2020
City of Denton
Legislation Text
City Hall
215 E. McKinney St.
Denton, Texas 76201
www.cityofdenton.com
File #:ID 20-425,Version:1
AGENDA CAPTION
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding updates to the Integrated Pest Management
Program (IPM).
City of Denton Printed on 2/28/2020Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
City of Denton
_____________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
CM/ DCM/ ACM: Sara Hensley, ACM
DATE: March 2, 2020
SUBJECT
Receive a report, hold a discussion and give staff direction regarding updates to the Integrated Pest
Management Program (IPM).
BACKGROUND
On May 2, 2019, Parks and Recreation (PARD) staff presented City Council with an updated IPM program
and was given direction to move forward. The IPM program is a decision-making process to determine pest
levels and tolerance thresholds and combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize
health, environmental, and financial risks. The program takes a holistic approach in maintenance to meet
the multi-faceted landscapes, diverse needs, and expectations of park users.
Under the updated IPM, Park Maintenance (PM) has applied a more focused approach to improving and
maintaining a healthy soil environment that attracts beneficial organisms and promotes a more robust turf
which will naturally help to combat both insect and weed pests. Innovative methods such as the use of goats
to reduce invasive privet have been used to explore alternatives to chemical interventions. Additionally, the
pilot project at Denia Park implementing cultural, natural, and organic practices continues.
During a Council discussion on September 17, 2019, regarding IFB 7099 and th e purchase of products for
landscape fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides under the approved IPM list, PARD was
directed to continue to evaluate alternative products to continue reducing the use of chemical products.
Interest in implementing the IPM program citywide was also discussed.
PARD initiated the process of having peer reviews performed on the updated IPM to evaluate the program,
assess the feasibility in citywide implementation, and obtain feedback on product use. Three organizations
were identified based on their recognized knowledge and expertise in the field: Texas A&M Agrilife
Extension, IPM Institute of North America, and Non Toxic Neighborhoods.
For over 40 years, AgriLife Extension has been involved in the education and promotion of IPM strategies.
The Extension’s Texas IPM Program provides research-based information from scientists in partnering
agencies. The Texas IPM Program in partnership with the Texas Pest Management Association operates 23
IPM units across the state. Their purpose is to facilitate and expand the implementation of IPM and to help
producers increase net profits while reducing pesticide use and reducing production risks. Janet Hurley
serves as Denton’s regional representative and Janet Laminack as the county representative. Both reviewed
the IPM and provided feedback (Exhibit 5).
The IPM Institute of North America is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit formed in 1998 to improve
sustainability in agriculture and communities through market-based mechanisms based in IPM and other
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
sustainable practices. Their mission is to improve sustainability using marketplace demand as an incentive
for increasing the adoption of IPM and other best practices in agriculture, landscapes and public and private
facilities. Increasing IPM adoptions and other best practices works towards improving working conditions,
reducing greenhouse gases, improving air quality, water quality and soil health and reducing risks to health
and the environment from pesticide and nutrient use. Thomas A. Green, Ph.D, is president of IPM Institute
of North America and reviewed the revised IPM. Recommendations are provided in Exhibit 6.
Non Toxic Neighborhoods’ (NTN) is also a non-profit with a stated goal to protect every child from
exposure to pesticides. NTN assists and provides resources to municipalities, school districts, and
communities in switching to proven and organic land management. NTN recently merged with Farmer’s
Footprint, a coalition of farmers, educators, doctors, scientists, and business leaders with a focus on
regenerative agricultural practices. Kim Konte of NTN provided PARD with a draft progressive pest
management (PPM) document and playbook for implementation (Exhibit 7). PARD is currently partnering
with NTN in establishing a second pilot site for organic landscape maintenance at Avondale Park.
Feedback from the peer reviews were positive and favorable. Major recommendations included:
• Two new goals supporting pesticide use reduction and plan continuity
• Priority of interventions and pesticide use
• Convert strategies to standard operating procedures
• Substitute active ingredients for product names in the approved pesticide list
• Include a process for evaluation and reporting
• Add soil testing to maintenance program
• Define and provide details in identified areas to give clear direction / guide in procedures
A matrix summary was developed outlining comments and recommendations from each organization with
staff’s response and status of each recommendation (Exhibit 4). The matrix is color coded to correspond
with significant revisions to the IPM in Exhibit 3. Similar recommendations made by two or all three of the
organizations are highlighted in red. Other revisions include discontinued use of all herbicides in
playground areas, the use of signage to notify citizens of spot spraying with the presence of blue dye , and
an update to the approved list of pesticides. Additionally, the revised document reflects a citywide plan to
encompass all City owned property.
The results of the peer reviews and the recommended revisions were shared with the community focus
group convened to review the original IPM. The group agreed with the recommendations and updates made
to the plan. Several members expressed interest in continuing to participate in the ongoing review of the
plan as proposed in the updated document.
PIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
Council Presentations – January 9, 2018, February 13, 2018, and May 7, 2019
Informal Staff Report – August 24, 2018, July 19, 2019, and August 9, 2019
Committee on the Environment / Parks, Recreation and Beautification Board – May 6, 2019
EXHIBITS
Exhibit 1 Agenda Information Sheet
Exhibit 2 Presentation
Exhibit 3 Integrated Pest Management Plan
Exhibit 4 Peer Review Summary
Exhibit 5 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Review
Exhibit 6 IPM Institute Peer Review
Exhibit 7 Non Toxic Neighborhoods Peer Review
Respectfully submitted:
Laura Behrens
Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
Prepared by:
Laura Behrens
Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
Denton IPM Peer Review Recommendations Direction
Integrated Pest
Management
Program
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Denton IPM
Click on the model to interact
•Property managed by Parks and
Recreation Department (PARD)
•Focus Group
•Research
•Tailored
•Goals
•Elimination of glyphosate
•Denia Pilot Site
•Approved May 2019
Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) Program is a decision-
making process to determine pest
levels and tolerance thresholds
and combines biological, cultural,
physical, and chemical tools to
minimize health, environmental,
and financial risks.
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Denton IPM
Click on the model to interact
Mowing Fertilization Labor / Water
Truck
Sub Product
Spot Spray
Sub Product
Broadcast
Topdressing Total
Class A & B Class A & B Class A & B Park System Park System Park System FY 19-20
$248,400 $40,000 $80,000 $1,200 $11,500 $80,000 $461,100
Cycles began
2/17.
Contracts
out for bid.
PO open.
Prepared for
season.
PO open.
Prepared for
season.
Current expenditures
approximately $3,000.
Out for bid.
Dyno Dirt,
Dyno Soil,
Sand, and
Lava Sand.
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Denton IPM
Click on the model to interact
•Peer Review Conducted
•Citywide IPM
•Focus Group Review
•January 8, 2020
•City Council Review
•March 2, 2020
•Park Board Review
•March 2, 2020
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Peer Review
•3 Peer Reviews
•Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
•IPM Institute of North America
•Non Toxic Neighborhoods
•Revised Document with Recommendations
•On-going Evaluation
•Product use
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
3. Your own solar system -papercut modelsRecommendation
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
•Identify strategies as standard
operating procedures (SOP’s)
•Update licensed applicator
requirements
•Outline minimum standard for PPE
•Define drift
IPM Institute of North America
•Program to plan
•Pest management for structural
facilities
•Include goal for program sustainability
•Expand record keeping to non-chemical
interventions
•Add specifications to Strategy 16 on
playgrounds
•Clarify neonics use in pollinator
protection strategy
•Include “aesthetics” component in
thresholds for consistency
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
3. Your own solar system -papercut modelsRecommendation
Non Toxic Neighborhoods
•IPM to Progressive Pest
Management (PPM)
•Add goal to eliminate / minimize use
of EPA level pesticides
•Secure contract service for 3rd party
monitoring of property conditions
•Outline pest controls based on
property type
Common Recommendations
•Define / outline “organic” in
community garden
•Add fire ants to Strategy 16 and 17
•Include soil testing in maintenance
strategies and procedures
•Include process for program
evaluation and reporting
•Use active ingredient vs. product
name in approved product list
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
3. Your own solar system -papercut modelsRecommendation
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Deliverable / Action Status
Provide terminology clarifications.Revised document; various Completed
Identify "Strategies" as standard operating procedures (SOP).Revised document; p. 15 Completed
Update Texas Dept. of Agriculture Applicators License requirements. Revised document; p. 17, p. 22, p. 45 Completed
Outline minimum standard for personal protective equipment.Revised document; p. 30, p. 114 Completed
Define "drift" and set clear standard.Revised document; p. 42, p. 44, p. 112 Completed
Include a finish time of pesticide application on record form.
No action taken. PARD utilizes the required Texas
Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Record for
documentation of pesticide applications.
Completed
Cross reference Strategy 8 with Strategy 12 for consistency in pesticide
requirements.Revised document; p. 27 Completed
Define "organic" methods in community garden plots to set clear
requirements and expectations.
Revised document; p. 43. Update community garden rules
and user agreement.
Completed; community
garden rules update in-
progress.
Include fire ants in Strategy 16 and Strategy 17.Revised document; p. 47, p. 49 Completed
Consider alternative terminology for "non-toxic" in Strategy 17 as
natural products can be toxic to plants/insects/animals. Revised document; p. 50 Completed
Replace product names with active ingredients on approved product
list.Revised document; Appendix 1-4 Completed
Include additional rodenticides for variation in use and effectiveness.Revised document; Appendix 1 Completed
Include soil testing in Appendix 5 Maintenance Schedule and Control
Methods.Revised document; p. 12 Completed
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
3. Your own solar system -papercut modelsRecommendation
IPM Institute of North America Deliverable / Action Status
Rename document to "plan" rather than "program". Document outlines approach that makes up
the policy.Revised document; various Completed
Clarify scope of plan -applicable to PARD vs. COD assets.Draft document -COD policy on maintenance of city-owned property.Completed
Consider developing a process for program evaluation -how often and by whom.Develop evaluation process and include in document; p. 5 Completed
Add strategy for program evaluation and reporting. Develop goals and performance measures
related to chemical use.
Include goals and performance measurements for annual reporting. Include language in document;
p. 5 Completed
Include pest management of structural facilities in future revisions.Consider / determine city-wide goal of structural pest management plan.Under Evaluation
Consider Green Shield Certification for structural pest management.Consider / determine city-wide goal of structural pest management plan.Under Evaluation
Consider explaining role of Community Focus Group for the reader to understand and appreciate
their role.Review / discuss appropriate platform for information such as website. On-going
Add a goal for the document that facilitates its sustainability and commitment to IPM approach
through leadership changes and staff transitions.Revised document; p. 4 Completed
Include practice of soil testing in approved strategies / methods.Revised document; p. 12 Completed
Include possible health, safety, and environmental effects as indirect costs in plan costs Revised document; p. 13 Completed
Expand record keeping to include non-chemical interventions.Revised document; training; p. 5, p. 24 Completed
Review exemptions for spot spraying and notices for blue dye application.Revised document; training / education; p. 21, p. 47 Completed
Include more specific guidelines about pesticide application around Community Gardens. Revised document; p. 43. Update community garden rules and user agreement.Completed
Consider adding specifications to Strategy 16 Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber
Playground Areas such as use of weed barrier and depth of mulch.Revised document; p. 47 Completed
Add spiders and fire ants to Strategy 17 Venomous Insect Management; clarify "non -toxic"
products as nonchemical products can be toxic to insects; add to approved product list.Revised document; p. 49-51 Completed
Suggest addressing management of dog feces, signage, and disposal containers at off leash area;
address fleas and ticks.
Include language on signage and available disposal equipment for dogs; reference City ordinance; p.
52-53 Completed
Consider clarifying the use of neonics in Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection from
prohibition to "pose unacceptable risk" due to low risk use of some products. Revised document; p. 55 Completed
Capture Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection B 1-5 in Strategy 2 or at top of
strategy list.
Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection B 1-5 is outlined in more detail under Approved
Pest Management Strategies p. 11-12. Completed
Replace product names with active ingredients on approved product list.Revised document; Appendix 1-4 Completed
Consider changing "control" to "management" and "Pesticide Program" to "Pest Management" for
consistency with philosophy and practice.Revised document; Appendix 5 Completed
Best practice 1" per week irrigation is a single application per week; less frequent / more water
promotes deeper root growth.Confirmed current practice is the recommended best practice.Completed
Clarify / include aesthetics as an action threshold for consistency throughout.Revised document; Appendix 5 Completed
Suggest more detailed description of exact location of pesticide spills.Pesticide Spill Incident Report does include a field for "Exact location of incident" and a narrative.
Staff training.Completed
Miscellaneous additions to glossary terms and clarification of specific terms.Revised document; Appendix 9 Completed
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
3. Your own solar system -papercut modelsRecommendation
Non Toxic Neighborhoods Deliverable / Action Status
Transition from IPM to PPM (Progressive Pest Management.
A review of the proposed PPM revealed a shared
philosophy and many of the same methods as an IPM.
Capture elements of PPM in revised document; p. 4, p. 8-9
Completed
Establish PPM Commission for quarterly review/discussion of PPM;
Annual report and update.
Develop evaluation and annual reporting process to include
in document; p. 5 Completed
Goals to include elimination and minimization of EPA level pesticides.Revised document to include goal; p. 4 Completed
Principles and policy sections Basic tenets captured in various strategies of IPM. Completed
Prevention statement Captured in design, plant selection, and nature of site
sections; p. 11-12 Completed
Secure the contracted services of a third party for regular pest /
condition monitoring of property and determine control tactics as
needed.
Site monitoring is currently conducted by Park
Maintenance staff. Feasibility of a contracted service
provider would require further analysis.
Future evaluation
Outline non-chemical control measures.Measures are captured in the IPM Methodology; p. 11-14 Completed
Outline pest controls based on different types of property.Revised document; p. 8-9 Completed
Approvals and application of chemical pesticides section.Measures are captured in the strategies.Completed
Records and reporting Measures are captured in the strategies.Completed
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Direction
•Formation of standing IPM Committee
•Similar structure to Focus Group
•Minimum 8 members
•Meet annually
•Avondale pilot site
•Non Toxic Neighborhoods
•Present proposed updates to Council
•Receive direction
•Incorporate final comments in revised document
•Formally adopt plan in the form of a resolution
•Strategies will serve as standard operating procedures
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
Denton IPM Peer Review Recommendations Direction
Integrated Pest Management Q&A
Laura Behrens
Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation
Laura.Behrens@cityofdenton.com
03/02/2020 ID 20-425
City of
Denton
Approved by City Council 5/2019
Integrated Pest Management Plan
Integrated Pest Management Plan
1 | P a g e
It is important for the City of Denton to be environmentally conscious in providing safe and well-
maintained facilities and landscapes for all visitors. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan
provides a holistic approach to achieving the stated goals considering health, environmental, and
financial risks. The intent of the IPM plan is to be a living document with continued evaluation and
updates to meet current and future needs.
A special thank you to City of Denton staff in the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD), Park
Maintenance Division, Environmental Services, and the Citizen Focus Group who committed their time
and talent to the development of this document.
IPM Focus Group
Nathan Hansard University of North Texas / Field Specialist
Cynthia Maguire Texas Womens University / Native Plant Society of Texas
Bob Harris Denton County Master Gardeners
Adelaide Bodnar Master Naturalist
Bill Hartley Denton County Beekeepers Association
Cindy Hiegel Master Gardener
Carol Soph Denton Resident
Ed Soph Denton Resident
Gene Kastens Denton Youth Sports Association
Heather Massengale Denton Youth Sports Association
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Table of Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. 4
Mission Statement ................................................................................................................................... 4
Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Asset Management .................................................................................................................................. 5
Evaluation and Reporting......................................................................................................................... 5
Integrated Pest Management .................................................................................................................. 5
Pesticide Use ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Safety ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Laws and Regulations ............................................................................................................................... 9
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 11
Approved Pest Management Strategies ................................................................................................ 11
Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method .............................................................................. 13
PEST MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ................................................................... 15
Outline of Strategies .............................................................................................................................. 15
Licensing and Training ............................................................................................................................ 17
STRATEGY 1: Licensing, Certification, and Continuing Education of Pest Management Personnel 17
Pest Management Procedures ............................................................................................................... 19
STRATEGY 2: Management Methods for Pest Problems .................................................................. 19
STRATEGY 3: Pesticides Approved for Use by City of Denton Personnel ......................................... 20
STRATEGY 4: Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site ......................................................................... 21
STRATEGY 5: Pesticide Application on City Property and Street Rights-of-Way ............................. 22
STRATEGY 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping .......................................................................... 24
Pesticide Material Management ........................................................................................................... 25
STRATEGY 7: Use of Remaining Pesticide Solutions and Rinses ....................................................... 25
STRATEGY 8: Storage and Transportation of Pesticides ................................................................... 27
STRATEGY 9: Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers and Unusable Pesticides ............................. 28
Safety Measures and Emergency Response .......................................................................................... 30
STRATEGY 10: Use of Protective Clothing and Equipment ............................................................... 30
STRATEGY 11: Emergency Information Concerning Accidental Pesticide Exposure ........................ 31
STRATEGY 12: Pesticide Spill Response ............................................................................................. 33
Targeted Pest Management................................................................................................................... 40
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STRATEGY 13: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management ........................................................................... 40
STRATEGY 14: Pesticide Applications around Community Gardens................................................. 43
STRATEGY 15: Waterways Pest Management ................................................................................... 44
STRATEGY 16: Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber Playground Areas ................. 47
STRATEGY 17: Venomous Insect Management ................................................................................. 49
STRATEGY 18: Dog Area Pest Management ...................................................................................... 52
STRATEGY 19: Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection ................................................................ 54
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 56
APPENDIX 1: Approved Pesticide List for City Property and Parks Use ............................................... 56
APPENDIX 2: Athletic Field Services Approved List ............................................................................... 72
APPENDIX 3: City Urban Forestry Approved List ................................................................................... 86
APPENDIX 4: Natural Areas Approved List ............................................................................................ 93
APPENDIX 5: Maintenance Schedule and Pest Management Methods ............................................... 96
APPENDIX 6: Pesticide Spill Incident Report ....................................................................................... 107
APPENDIX 7: Product Label and Safety Data Sheet ............................................................................ 108
APPENDIX 8: Emergency and Information Phone List ......................................................................... 110
APPENDIX 9: Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 111
APPENDIX 10: Revisions ....................................................................................................................... 117
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan is a decision-making process to determine pest levels and
tolerance thresholds and combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize health,
environmental, and financial risks. This plan uses extensive knowledge about pests, such as infestation
thresholds, life histories, environmental requirements, and natural enemies to complement and
facilitate biological and other natural control of pests. It coordinates the use of pest biology,
environmental information, and available technology to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by
the most economical means, while posing the least possible risk to people, property, resources, and the
environment.
Mission Statement
The mission of the City of Denton’s Integrated Pest Management Plan is to manage pests that are
harmful to the health, function or aesthetic value of park landscapes and public health in a manner that
is efficient, effective, environmentally-responsible, and with careful attention to the safety of the public
and department employees.
To accomplish this, the principles of Integrated Pest Management are endorsed. This approach uses
multi-faceted strategies that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
Goals
The goal and intent of this plam is to produce an evolving and living document that provides a method
and approach to guide the maintenance of public property and land. The focus and goals are:
• Strive to better connect communities to nature and enhance sustainability through conservation
practices. Areas of focus include promoting sustainable practices and strategies that address the
effects of climate change, preserving wildlife, growing a next generation of environmental
stewards, and supporting programs and policies that encourage a commitment to conservation.
• Minimize the use of EPA level pesticides by applying in a targeted manner and only if deemed
necessary when pests cannot be managed by other methods.
• Create and maintain a safe environment for visitors and staff that protects and preserves
natural resources, park facilities, and amenities through design, operations, and education.
• Ensure stewardship of the public’s resources through fiscal accountability, responsible planning,
and effective management.
• Educate and promote natural areas and cultural practices through programing such as organic
community gardening, community tree plantings, and litter abatement.
• Create an active learning environment using design such as interpretative signage with a focus
on natural and historical education.
• Provide a natural, healthy, educational, and social environment and ensure all people have
access and are meaningfully involved in the development and use of park and recreation
programs and spaces.
• Facilitate a sustainable IPM plan and program that endures leadership and staff transitions
through thorough documentation of the policy, plan, actions, and results.
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Asset Management
The City of Denton (COD) is a municipal government and is the steward of over 3,000 acres of land
containing public buildings, operational facilities, electrical substations, parks, waterways, drainage,
easements, and right-of-ways. Park properties make up approximately 2,000 acres of the municipal
property. Park Maintenance is charged with taking the lead in operating and maintaining the diverse
selection of property and landscapes in a safe, attractive, healthy, and useful condition.
City owned properties represent a major component of the city’s capital assets and the City recognizes
its responsibility to protect and preserve this public and economic investment to the best of its abilities.
The City also recognizes its responsibilities to its employees and the general public and seeks to employ
the highest professional standards in the performance of its duties. To manage pests on City owned
land, COD personnel shall utilize the principles of Integrated Pest Management.
Evaluation and Reporting
The IPM plan is meant to be a living document that evolves with organizational, environmental, and
technological changes. The plan will be evaluated in full every 3 years by an established IPM Committee
of stakeholders identified by the Director of PARD or designee. Stakeholders would include but are not
limited to representatives from gardening groups, local educators, governmental agencies, partner
organizations, field experts, and engaged citizens at a minimum of 8 serving members.
It is PARD’s goal to meet with the committee on an annual basis to keep the group updated on IPM
activities and receive feedback on recommended and proposed changes. Legal, regulatory, procedural,
and administrative changes can be made in the interim review period. All changes must be documented
on Appendix 10: Revisions of the plan.
PARD will assess the effectiveness of the plan and the progress of stated goals by developing relevant,
meaningful, and measurable performance indicators. Goals and measures will include pesticide risk
reduction and reducing pesticide use through the tracking of chemical and non-chemical interventions.
The indicators will be drafted on an annual basis during the budget process and reported quarterly.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the major strategies used by PARD in the maintenance of
park lands. There are many definitions of IPM, the following is from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency for its publication, “EPA Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals1:”
“IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest
control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical
means with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. The
goal of IPM is to manage pests and the environment so as to balance costs, benefits,
public health, and environmental quality. IPM systems use all available technical
information on the pest and its interactions with the environment. Because IPM
programs apply a holistic approach to pest management decision-making, they take
1 EPA Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals. Page 315 and
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/9101AIKB.PDF?Dockey=9101AIKB.PDF
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advantage of all appropriate pest management options, including, but not limited to
pesticides. Thus, IPM is:
• A system using multiple methods;
• A decision-making process;
• A risk reduction system;
• Information intensive;
• Cost-effective; and
• Site specific.”
IPM makes use of cultural practices, environmental factors, pest growth patterns and life cycles,
ecological interaction, human contact, mechanical removal and, finally, pesticides to control harmful
organisms.
The COD defines Integrated Pest Management as the coordinated use of pest and environmental
information along with available pest control methods, including biological, cultural, physical, and
chemical methods, to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and
with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
• Integrated means that all feasible types of control strategies are considered and combined as
appropriate to solve a pest problem.
• Pests are unwanted organisms that are a nuisance to man or domestic animals, and can cause
injury to humans, animals, plants, and property, and have a significant economic impact. Pests
reduce yield and/or quality in vegetation ranging from flower beds, to lawns, trees, and sports
fields.
• Management is the process of making decisions in a systematic way to keep pests from reaching
intolerable levels. Small populations of pests can often be tolerated; total eradication is often
not necessary, or feasible.
Based on the above, the IPM plan consists of the following steps:
1. Identification of the issue. Identification of the pest, level of infestation, and an evaluation of
the site will determine what action is needed, if any.
2. Consultation. This involves defining the roles of the people involved in the pest management
equation (i.e. Certified Pesticide Applicator, Park Manager, Urban Forester, Park Supervisor,
Superintendent, and Department Director) to assure understanding and communication
between them.
3. Management objectives. Staff must determine the management objectives for a given site in
order to solve the pest problem(s). This can be done by establishing maintenance classifications
and standards with an outlined schedule to meet maintenance needs. Project and property
priorities relevant at the time must also be considered. A Strategy review includes determining if
a species is native or exotic, locating the management zone, and evaluating the chances of
successful management.
4. Set the action thresholds. These are points when pest populations or environmental conditions
indicate that action must be taken in order to prevent the pest population from crossing a pre-
determined injury threshold; no action is taken until the threshold is reached unless it is
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determined that conditions pose a threat to health and safety or the infestation is detrimental
to plant material / vegetation.
5. Non-chemical control. In this step, action is taken to modify the pest habitat to reduce the
carrying capacity of the site, exclude the pest, or otherwise make the site’s environment
incompatible with the needs of the pest. This step, which involves applied ecology with support
from cultural and biological methods.
6. Pesticide action. If no-pesticide actions are not available or insufficient, the appropriate
pesticide action is taken. All efforts should made to (a) use the least toxic, most effective, most
efficient application technique that provides the longest dwell time in contact with the pest, (b)
apply when the pest is in its most vulnerable stage, and (c) carry the least possible hazard to
people, property, and the environment.
7. Evaluate. This means checking the post-treatment results of the habitat modification or
pesticide treatment actions by periodically monitoring the site and pest populations.
8. Records. For each site, records should be kept of pest management objectives, monitoring
methods and data collected, actions taken, results obtained, and pesticides used. Records of
actions taken will be documented in the appropriate record management system.
IPM is a decision-making process to determine if, where, when, and how pest control practices should
be applied. And, in the short term, modification of direct pest control practices (such as reducing
pesticide use through spot spraying strategies and replacing undesirable chemicals with more
environmentally friendly materials) can provide valuable benefits in reducing the use of pesticides.
The IPM process first determines if a pest needs to be managed, and if so, how best to do it. Key
elements are information gathering, well-informed decision making and monitoring of results. The IPM
process promotes effective, low-risk management strategies to manage pests. The controls used in this
plan include biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods and materials; often a combination of
methods is used. Methods selected to manage specific pest populations are evaluated by licensed and
trained professionals. The methods employed conform to recognized standards established and
endorsed by state and federal regulatory agencies, state educational institutions and organizations.
Key elements of an IPM program are information gathering and informed decision-making.
Horticulturists, botanical specialists, park technicians, foresters, and arborists are skilled in identifying
and evaluating pest problems. When pest problems occur that are unusual or beyond the scope of in-
house experts, advice is obtained from other qualified sources such as state universities, Texas
Department of Agriculture, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts. Texas Pesticide
Applicators License continuing education courses reinforce employee skills and provide current
information concerning laws, safety, pests, and current IPM methods.
COD employees monitor levels of pests to arrive at the best solution for managing a pest problem.
When pest management methods are implemented by trained IPM personnel, the results are solutions
that are economically and environmentally responsible. This provides the public with safe, healthy, and
aesthetically pleasing park areas.
Pesticide Use
Pesticide is a general term for any substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any pest. Park pests consist primarily of unwanted vegetation and invasive weeds, but can also include
insects, disease organisms, rodents, and other organisms. To manage these pests, COD personnel select
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the best methods available. When it is necessary to use pesticides as part of an IPM approach, risk is
minimized by careful product selection and application. When developing and updating the IPM
program, the best expert scientific opinion is relied upon on to inform staff about potential materials
and methods. Assessments from regulatory agencies, state university departments in Texas, scientists
and other experts in the field provide much useful specific information. The City turns to these
recognized experts for credible science-based information. Staff also stays current with the latest
pertinent studies as part of our process. By basing decisions on these authoritative sources best
solutions can be obtained within the IPM framework.
Pesticide applicators are required to comply with all pesticide label directions, federal, state, and local
pesticide regulations, applicable safety laws, and City policies. Misuse of pesticides will not be tolerated.
Pesticides not labeled or listed (refer to Appendices 1-4) will not be covered in detail within this
document, but pesticide applicators are required to use additional precaution and label directions, if
present, for all applications.
In executing the IPM methodology, pesticides are to be utilized in a prioritized approach on City
properties as follows:
Parks and Playgrounds
1. Organic pesticides and / or Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed substances; and
2. EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact.
Facilities / Buildings Landscaping
1. Organic pesticides and / or Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed substances;
2. EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
3. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
4. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest.
Rights of Way (Street medians / parkways)
1. Organic pesticides and / or Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed substances;
2. EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
3. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
4. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest.
Other City Property
1. Organic pesticides and / or Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listed substances;
2. EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesticides only when deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
3. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest;
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4. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health an
economic loss when other methods do not adequately control the pest.
Safety
When pesticides are being applied in on City property by City personnel, notification signs are posted at
points of entry to the treated areas. When pest management equipment is being used and materials are
being applied by COD employees, all appropriate worker personal protective equipment is provided for
use. Use of such equipment is an important part of safely applying pesticides as well as using mechanical
equipment. COD employees work with the Watershed Protection Division to protect the city’s water
supply from all types of contamination. When pesticides are contemplated to be used near waterways
and drainage areas, the Watershed Protection Division will be notified. When necessary, application of
pesticides downstream of stream banks or within waterways would be done using aquatic-labeled
pesticides, following the IPM process and label directions, and with the approval of the field supervisor.
Laws and Regulations
Several Federal and State agencies regulate the use of pesticides. The City conforms to all pesticide laws
and regulations and allows only Texas State Licensed Pesticide Applicators to apply pesticides of any
kind on city property. In this way COD exceeds the standards established within Texas state law. To
obtain a Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator's License, applicators must pass a series of tests given by
the Texas Department of Agriculture. The Texas Department of Agriculture does allow non-licensed staff
to apply pesticides when it is incidental to their primary duties.
Once licensed, applicators must renew their license, annually for noncommercial applicators, and take
the required amount of continuing education units needed for the type of Pesticide Applicator’s License
held. Applicators are required by law to record specific information when applying pesticides and keep
records for a minimum of 2 years. The Texas Department of Agriculture’s designated forms are utilized
for these purposes.
Decontamination Sites
Employers must provide sites so that workers and handlers can wash pesticides and residues from their
hands and body. Decontamination supplies must include:
• Enough water for routine and emergency whole-body washing and for eye flushing;
• Soap;
• Single-use towels
Decontamination materials are also available in each applicator’s vehicle. It is the responsibility of the
applicator to ensure adequate supplies are maintained in the vehicle.
The decontamination materials may not be located in an area under restricted entry unless they serve
handlers working in that area. In this case, all materials must be protected from contamination.
Emergency Assistance
If there is reason to believe that a handler or worker may have been poisoned or injured by pesticides,
an employer must promptly make transportation to an appropriate medical facility available to that
person. Be prepared to provide the victim and medical personnel with:
• The product name, EPA registration number, and active ingredient(s);
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• All first aid and medical information from the label;
• A description of how the pesticide was used; and
• Information about the victim’s exposure.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Employers must provide handlers with the PPE as listed on the pesticide label. The employer must:
• Maintain PPE in a clean and operational condition;
• Make sure it fits correctly;
• Make sure handler wears and uses the PPE correctly;
• Provide a clean place to put on and remove PPE, and store personal clothing;
• Not allow worker to wear or take-home PPE;
• Take action to prevent heat-related illness while PPE is worn.
Cleaning and Maintaining PPE
Employers must make sure:
• PPE is cleaned according to manufacturer’s instructions, inspected, and repaired before each
use;
• PPE that is non-reusable or cannot be cleaned, must be disposed of properly;
• Clothing drenched with pesticide labeled DANGER or WARNING are discarded;
• PPE must be washed and dried properly, and stored separately from personal clothing;
• Respirator filters, cartridges and canisters are replaced as often as required. The handler
employer must make sure anyone cleaning PPE is informed of possible pesticide residues on
PPE, of the potentially harmful effects of pesticides, and of the correct ways to handle and clean
PPE.
Equipment Safety
Handler employers must make sure that equipment used for mixing, loading, transferring, or applying
pesticides is inspected and repaired or replaced as needed. Only appropriately trained and equipped
handlers may repair, clean, or adjust pesticide handling equipment that contains pesticides or pesticide
residues.
Environmental Protection
The City of Denton operates under the Pesticides General Permit (PGP, TXG870000) administered by the
TCEQ. The purpose of this permit is to regulate the discharge of pesticides to the waters of the United
States. Within the City, reporting for PGP compliance is coordinated through the Watershed Protection
Division. Any potential adverse incidents involving pesticides should be immediately reported to
Watershed Protection and/or PARD. Pesticide use within the City is also tracked to maintain compliance
with the PGP.
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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY
Approved Pest Management Strategies
Examples of possible and available management strategies among the many methods are listed in the
prevention of pest problems.
• Strategy and planning;
• Cultural practices, avoidance measures, and physical means to manage pest problems; and
• Mechanical practices, trapping, biological controls, and use of natural and synthetic pesticides.
All the IPM measures are evaluated and considered together to select the best overall solution to a pest
problem.
Strategy
Management of pests through adoption of Strategy can be highly effective and low in cost. Such policies
can often eliminate problems before they begin. Some examples are:
• Prioritization of parks for control measures may be considered. Different park areas may have
varying standards of acceptable care and appearance. Determining whether a particular park
area requires control of pests and the level of that control must take these differences into
account. Careful attention to public desires and public needs must be part of this prioritization
process.
• Establishment of thresholds for action and the tolerance level for different pests are part of the
IPM process. These thresholds vary according to plant, pest, site, and park classification.
Determinations of action thresholds are made on a case-by-case basis.
Design
Proper park design is a major way that pest problems can be avoided. While no landscape can be
designed to be free of pest management needs, such considerations need to be part of the planning
process. Examples are:
• Elimination or modification of problematical areas;
• Avoiding the use of potentially invasive species;
• Proper and adequate spacing of plant material to reduce the incidence of pest problems;
• Maintenance of species diversity and elimination of monocultures in plantings where possible;
• Elimination of alternate hosts for diseases; and
• Establishment of overstory, thick groundcovers and other design techniques benefiting both the
establishment of plants and the reduction of weed problems.
Plant selection
Plant selection is critical in minimizing pest management needs both short- and long-term. Criteria for
plant selection include:
• Right plant, right place.
• Use of disease or pest resistant or tolerant plant species or varieties; and
• Removal of invasive or pest-susceptible plants and replacement with varieties of native or
adapted pest resistant plants.
• Consideration will be given to native plants under favorable conditions and design goals.
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Cultural practices
Proper cultural practices are essential in establishing healthy landscapes and can often help to maintain
their resistance to pest problems. Examples are:
• Knowledge of the cultural requirements of plants to best provide proper conditions for optimum
plant health and resistance to pests.
• Soil testing and amendment as indicated by test results to promote plant health and
prevent/avoid pest issues that can result from or be exacerbated by nutritional imbalance.
• Adequate site preparation before landscape installation. This can include soil improvements,
pruning of surrounding vegetation, grade adjustments, drainage improvements, and installation
of irrigation systems.
• Use of disease resistant grafting rootstock or scion wood.
• Proper timing and use of water to reduce over or under watering.
• Proper timing and use of fertilization to eliminate over and under-fertilization.
• Use of cover crops to improve soil structure and reduce soil erosion.
• Rotation of plant species in nursery areas to reduce the buildup of pests.
• Aeration, over-seeding, and top-dressing to improve turf health and suppress weeds.
• Raking and debris removal to remove pest sources.
• Pruning and plant removal to promote air circulation and light penetration for plant health.
• Removal of diseased, infested, damaged, or dead wood.
• Mulching for weed reduction, water retention, winter protection and root zone improvement.
• Fan placement for improved greenhouse air circulation.
Mechanical and physical controls
Mechanical and physical methods are often employed to manage pests. Examples are:
• Mechanical edging of turf.
• Mechanical clearing of weeds in rough areas.
• Hand weeding in shrub beds.
• Weed wrenching or loping, or chain sawing invasive trees.
• Mowing of rough turf areas for vegetation control.
• Traps such as yellow sticky boards for greenhouse insects and traps for mammalian pests.
• String trimming to control unwanted vegetation.
• Disinfecting materials or equipment to prevent spread of pests.
Biological controls
Where applicable, biological control is useful to manage pests. This is the use of living organisms to
reduce pest populations. These organisms are often also referred to as beneficials, natural enemies or
biocontrols. They act to keep pest populations low enough to prevent significant environmental and
economic damage. Examples are:
• Introducing insect or disease parasitoids, predators, and microbial products to control pests.
• Minimizing the use of disruptive techniques and materials in landscapes that may destroy
natural pest control organisms.
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Naturally derived and synthetically derived pesticides
Pesticides are derived from many sources. They vary widely in their characteristics and must be
examined individually to determine their suitability within the IPM approach. Examples are:
• Placement of pheromone traps.
• Disinfecting materials or equipment to prevent spread of pests.
• Application of naturally and synthetically derived pesticides.
Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method
When choosing a pest management method or pesticide material from the approved lists located in
Appendix 1-4, all personnel should consider the following factors and any additional factors relevant to
the selection.
Nature of the site
• Erosion susceptibility and potential movement of soil through runoff;
• The intended use and function of the landscape;
• The feasibility of the method given the area and scope of the problem;
• The relative importance and public expectation of a site or plantings; and
• Site conditions such as soil type, grade, drainage patterns, and presence of surface water.
Possible health and safety effects
• Consider both short- and long-term toxicological properties and any other related potential
health effects of the materials or methods, both to the applicator and the public;
• Equipment operation safety issues for both the operator and the public; and
• Worker safety and worker injury issues involved with carrying out the method.
Possible environmental effects
• Consider both acute and chronic toxicity and any other related potential effects of the material
or method to non-target organisms including mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, invertebrates
and other organisms;
• Environmental effects from potential bioaccumulation;
• Potential impacts to non-target plants and other organisms from materials or methods;
• Potential impacts to federally listed, threatened or endangered species; and
• Possible introduction or establishment of invasive plants.
Costs
• Costs of the material or method;
• Application and labor costs;
• Length and quality of pest control;
• Feasibility of using a particular method or product; and
• Indirect cost from aforementioned health, safety, and environmental effects.
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Characteristics of the product
• Target pests and target sites of the product being used;
• Possible residual effect, decomposition pathways, rates, and breakdown products;
• Volatility and flammability;
• Product formulation and package size;
• Leachability, solubility, and surface and soil bonding characteristics of the product;
• Ease of cleaning equipment after use; and
• Positive and negative synergistic effects of pesticide combinations.
Special considerations
• Application equipment availability;
• Method of delivery;
• Current and anticipated weather conditions;
• Previous pesticide applications to the site and the interval between treatments; and
• Possible development of pest resistance to a particular management method or material.
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PEST MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Outline of Strategies
Licensing and Training
Strategy 1 LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OF PEST MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL – Defines the required State of Texas licensing requirements, recertification
obligations, and training for applicator personnel.
Pest Management Procedures
Strategy 2 MANAGEMENT METHODS FOR PEST PROBLEMS- Establishes the IPM methodology
and approved strategies.
Strategy 3 PESTICIDES APPROVED FOR USE BY CITY OF DENTON PERSONNEL- Describes the
approval process for pesticides and details certain pesticides and their control methods.
Approved product lists for each unit are in the appendices.
Strategy 4 NOTIFICATION OF PESTICIDE USE AT A SITE- Outlines the on-site notification
procedures to be used before, during and after applications.
Strategy 5 PESTICIDE APPLICATION ON CITY PROPERTY AND STREET RIGHTS OF WAY- Establishes
procedures on how to apply pesticides on all City property.
Strategy 6 PESTICIDE APPLICATION RECORDKEEPING- Outlines recordkeeping standards for
applications.
Pesticide Material Management
Strategy 7 USE OF REMAINING PESTICIDE SOLUTIONS AND RINSES- Outlines how
residual pesticides and rinsates are handled.
Strategy 8 STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF PESTICIDES- Defines methods and procedures
for storage of pesticides.
Strategy 9 DISPOSAL OF EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS AND UNUSABLE PESTICIDES-
Establishes provisions for surplus or contaminated pesticides and empty containers.
Safety Measures and Emergency Response
Strategy 10 USE OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT- Describes appropriate
personal protective clothing and equipment for use by personnel when handling or
applying pesticides.
Strategy 11 EMERGENCY INFORMATION CONCERNING ACCIDENTAL PESTICIDE EXPOSURE- Defines
the procedures followed in responding to inquiries from employees and the public
regarding pesticide exposure.
Strategy 12 PESTICIDE SPILL RESPONSE- Outlines procedures for unintended releases of
pesticides on or off City properties. Outlines responsibilities, training, reporting,
methods, and materials involved.
Targeted Pest Management
Strategy 13 TURF BROADLEAF WEED MANAGEMENT- Describes procedures, rationale, and approval
process for management of broadleaf weeds in maintained park turf areas.
Strategy 14 PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AROUND COMMUNITY GARDENS- Outlines procedures
and limitations of pesticide applications adjacent to PARD Community Garden sites.
Strategy 15 WATERWAYS PEST MANAGEMENT- This Strategy defines specific practices, methods
and materials approved for use alongside, and within aquatic sites.
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Strategy 16 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERED WOOD FIBER PLAYGROUND AREAS -
Defines special pest management practices in wood chip-surfaced playground areas.
Strategy 17 VENOMOUS INSECT MANAGEMENT- Describes how venomous insects such as
wasps, bees and hornets on parkland are addressed.
Strategy 18 DOG AREA PEST MANAGEMENT- Specifies how pest management in designated
dog areas is carried out.
Strategy 19 INSECTICIDE USE AND POLLINATOR PROTECTION- This Strategy defines specific
practicesand methods when dealing with pollinators, including bees and other insects.
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Licensing and Training
STRATEGY 1: Licensing, Certification, and Continuing Education of Pest
Management Personnel
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the education, training, licensing, and certification requirements for applicators
who are applying pesticides, or supervising others applying pesticides.
BACKGROUND
State pesticide applicator licensing assures a level of expertise and familiarity with pest management
practices and pesticide materials. The City is committed to maintaining a high level of expertise in our
workforce and chooses to exceed the minimum standards. The continuing education requirements of
state licensing also help to keep personnel up-to-date on pest management theory and practice. All
personnel applying pesticides as their primary duty on City property is required to maintain a Texas
Department of Agriculture applicators license. The Texas Department of Agriculture does allow non-
licensed staff to apply pesticides under the supervision of a licensed applicator and/or the application is
not a restricted-use and state limited-use pesticide and regulated herbicide under label directions when
it is incidental to their primary duties.
STRATEGY
All COD personnel applying pesticides or herbicides as their primary duty shall be certified as state
pesticide applicators by passing the Texas Department of Agriculture examinations. Applicators are
required to recertify every year by obtaining five continuing education credits; with one credit each from
two of the following categories: laws and regulations, integrated pest management or drift
minimization. To maximize the value and relevance of the recertification training, the City will actively
seek out educational opportunities for staff.
The ultimate responsibility for maintaining a valid applicator license is with the applicator. Pesticide
applicators will be kept informed of approved supplemental education to meet continuing certification
and licensing requirements. Unless special arrangements and approvals have been made, all applicators
must be full-time employees. Regardless of licensing status, no seasonally employed staff members shall
apply pesticides on park land, unless approved by a Park Manager, following a request from the
supervisor of the seasonal employee.
Any personnel who do not apply pesticides as their primary duty, and are not licensed applicators, can
apply pesticides as per Texas Department of Agriculture for incidental use. Incidental Use is defined as
“A pesticide application on an occasional, isolated, site-specific basis that is incidental to the primary
duties of an employee and involves the use of general use pesticides after instruction as provided by
rules adopted by the Structural Pest Control Service.” This means that if during the course of their
normal duties, i.e. mowing, daily service or maintenance, and they find an infestation of fire ants or
wasps, they are allowed by law to apply pesticides to protect visitors or employees. The application of
the chemicals must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s label.
In all cases of incidental use, the employee should use the least hazardous, effective method of
controlling pests. If chemicals are to be utilized, they must be applied in strict accordance with
manufacturer labels of "General Use" products being used. Applications made inconsistent with the
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label requirements of the general use product may result in penalties being assessed against the
individual and/or the certified noncommercial applicator or technician responsible.
Recertification Requirements
Licensed commercial, noncommercial and NCPS applicators are required to recertify every year by
obtaining five continuing education credits; with one credit each from two of the following categories:
laws and regulations, integrated pest management or drift minimization.
Change of Information
The Texas Administrative Code (rule 7.20) requires all licensees to notify the department within 30 days
of any change in the information provided as part of the application for a license. Licensees must submit
a change of information form that is signed. You can scan the signed form and email it to
license.inquiry@TexasAgriculture.gov, faxed to 800-909-8534 or mail it to Texas Department of
Agriculture, Licensing Division, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711. This will ensure you receive licensing
information from TDA.
Recordkeeping
Commercial, noncommercial and NCPS applicators shall maintain records of all pesticide applications as
required by all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
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Pest Management Procedures
STRATEGY 2: Management Methods for Pest Problems
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes the principles governing the City’s approach to pest management for all its
lands.
BACKGROUND
COD utilizes the principles of Integrated Pest Management in managing land under its care. IPM is a
coordinated decision-making process that uses the most appropriate management strategy on a site-
specific basis. The IPM process first determines if a pest needs to be managed, and if so, how best to do
it. Key elements of an IPM program are information gathering, well-informed decision making and
monitoring of results. Through proper decision making, the IPM process promotes effective, low-risk
management strategies to manage pests.
The management techniques used in an IPM plan include biological, cultural, physical, and chemical.
Often a combination of methods is used. The following terms are used as defined:
Threshold is used to describe a level of pest presence above which unacceptable amounts of negative
plant health impacts, negative environmental impacts, negative effects on infrastructure and assets,
intolerable aesthetic impacts, or undue safety risks are likely to occur.
Action level is the point at which control measures are necessary to prevent a pest population or its
impact from exceeding the threshold.
STRATEGY
COD shall employ integrated pest management principles in managing pest problems. Managers,
Supervisors, Landscape Technicians, and other licensed applicators shall monitor plant health status,
landscape conditions, and the presence of unwanted vegetation. They will assess appropriate thresholds
and determine action levels on a site-by-site basis. All licensed applicators shall use approved
management strategies to determine an effective, feasible, and economically sound pest management
method that does not create undue risk to the public or the environment.
If a pesticide is chosen as the best method for pest management, licensed applicators shall choose
appropriate materials only from the list of Approved Pesticides specific to their work unit found in
Appendices 1-4. The suitability of the material, nature of the site, potential health and safety effects,
potential environmental effects, overall costs, characteristics of the product and any other special
considerations related to the situation shall be taken into account in this process. After control
measures have been made, the site should be monitored to assess any impact and the efficacy of the
measures taken.
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STRATEGY 3: Pesticides Approved for Use by City of Denton Personnel
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes oversight procedures over all pesticide materials available for use on City
property. It defines the process of selection of pesticides that are approved for use on City property.
BACKGROUND
Pesticides vary widely in their characteristics and not every legally registered pesticide may be
appropriate for use on city land. Pesticides must be carefully evaluated for their suitability for IPM use
before they are included on a work unit approved list. Only properly evaluated pesticides are placed on
approved lists specific to individual work units.
Parks and Recreation experience and IPM principles show that it is more desirable to have a specialized
selection of products that target specific pests, rather than a smaller number of general-purpose
pesticides. This aids in limiting the effects of the control to the target pest only. It aids in reducing the
number of resistant pests that may arise from continued use of a small number of controls. It also leads
to an overall reduction of pesticide usage required.
STRATEGY
The PARD Director and Superintendent shall maintain a list of pesticides approved for use by City
personnel on City property. Once approved, the list “Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method,”
shall be used in choosing the proper pesticide for a given purpose. Pesticides shall be chosen after
assessing toxicological impacts, environmental impacts, efficacy, feasibility, cost, and all other pertinent
aspects of their use within an IPM approach. The PARD Director and Superintendent shall be available
for consultation in choosing a pesticide that best meets a defined need.
Only pesticides from the approved lists shall be chosen, unless approved otherwise from the PARD
Director and Superintendent. The lists shall be reviewed on an ongoing basis so that they are as up-to-
date as possible. Any pesticides that are proposed for addition or deletion from the list shall be
approved by the PARD Director and Superintendent. The PARD Director and Superintendent will remain
current with EPA registration and review activities. A pesticide deleted from the general approved list
but placed on the “Use Up Do Not Restock List” is approved for use within specified units until current
supplies are exhausted unless otherwise noted. All federal and state pesticide laws shall be adhered to.
Deletion of a pesticide due to loss of federal or state registration will be upheld as per the schedule set
by law. Use of unauthorized pesticides or use of pesticides for unapproved or illegal applications will
be cause for disciplinary action. Strategy adheres strictly to all label requirements concerning safe,
legal and effective use of pesticides.
Applicators must ensure that any pesticides utilized conform to the appropriate approved list. Special
consideration is to be taken when implementing pest management methodologies in areas designated
as environmentally sensitive areas (ESA).
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STRATEGY 4: Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for notification of applications for all pesticide materials being
applied by personnel.
BACKGROUND
COD understands that citizens may want to be informed of pesticide applications. Label requirements
for pesticide applications may also mandate that entry to treated areas be avoided for a specific
interval. Citizens may also wish to find out further information about pest management activities
occurring at a public site. To satisfy these needs, all pesticide applications in areas open to the public or
accessible to the public for use will be accompanied by notification signage and/or site identification
method so that citizens are made aware of the treatment.
STRATEGY
It is the Strategy of the City of Denton to notify citizens of pesticide application sites using various
methods of notification. The primary method is the placement of on-site signs. These signs are posted
at the time of application and placed in clearly visible locations, at conspicuous entries and/or
application sites. Signs will remain posted for a minimum of 48 hours after the application. The intent
of the placement of the signs is that visitors will encounter them before they have had an opportunity to
enter the treated area. The ONLY exception to the sign postage is for spot spraying applications made
with a backpack sprayer, hand-held pressurized sprayer, or granular insecticide targeting an immediate
threat (i.e. fire ants). Due to the nature of spot spraying, it may not be feasible to post signage at every
location such as along sidewalks for cracks and crevices spraying or single mound/nest treatment for
insects. Signage will be used notifying park visitors of spot spraying in the area when it is performed in
active, populated areas open to the public.
Blue dye will be added to all spot spray application, so visitors can easily identify the areas that have
been sprayed. Dye will not be used for broadcast applications. If an entire lot or tract has been spayed, it
will be noted on the posting signs.
PARD will utilize other methods of notification such as electronic postings and public notices placed in
public buildings and recreational centers. Notices of broadcast spraying will be posted on the PARD’s
website and/or other applicable communication platforms. The notice will include the location and date
of the spraying and the product that was used. A staff contact will be listed to provide additional
information upon request.
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STRATEGY 5: Pesticide Application on City Property and Street Rights-of-Way
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for applications for all pesticide materials being applied by COD
personnel.
BACKGROUND
It is the Strategy of the City of Denton for their employees to apply pesticides in a legal manner and to
adhere strictly to all precautionary requirements for their use. This Strategy outlines procedures for
pesticide application on public lands and street rights-of-way that are maintained by COD employees. All
EPA registered pesticides are accompanied by a legal label specific to each product that defines all legal
uses. Pesticides must be used according to these label directions.
STRATEGY
The pesticide must be used only on sites and targets specified in the label. Higher dosages, higher
concentrations, or more frequent applications than the label allows for are not permitted and is against
federal law. Directions for use, safety, mixing, diluting, storage, and disposal, as well as any restrictions
on re-entry must be met.
The following criteria shall be met when applying pesticides. Some of these are addressed more
specifically in other policies.
• The label is the law.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be used wherever indicated and it must be
maintained in a workable and safe condition.
• Spray equipment shall be maintained in a safe and operational condition. Where applicable,
spray equipment shall be calibrated regularly.
• Anti-siphoning devices shall be used when filling large spray tanks.
• “Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method” will be used in making choices.
• Pesticides used shall be chosen from the approved lists as provided for the appropriate work
units.
• Pesticides shall be applied only when appropriate weather conditions exist.
• Notification signs shall be posted in areas where pesticides are being applied.
• All applications shall be recorded on approved application record forms.
Process for Utilizing Pesticides on City Property or Street Rights-of-Way
i. A COD employee identifies or is informed of a pest problem.
ii. Thresholds and action levels are determined by a licensed applicator or supervisor for the
specific pest problem in question.
iii. Management strategies are determined by a licensed applicator. Special situations may require
expertise from outside the City such as university diagnostic laboratories.
If pesticides are to be used:
1. Choose the pesticide using the “Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method,” and
“Approved List of Pesticides” for the appropriate work unit.
2. Check application equipment for safety and mechanical problems, and ALWAYS calibrate before
each use.
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3. Check weather conditions. Applications should be done when appropriate wind conditions exist
to minimize drift and volatilization. Adjustments should be made for spray droplet size and
pressure if conditions warrant. No application should take place where there is unacceptable
drift.
4. Post notifications as required except for spot spraying or mound treatment of ants, to inform
the public of the application. For specific rules, see the Notification Strategy.
5. List re-entry specifications on the signs if required by the label.
6. Apply material according to the label and in accordance with state and federal regulations.
7. Record applications of pesticides on the approved forms.
8. Remove signs after the label designated re-entry requirements have been met or after 48 hours
has passed since the application. This is usually when the liquid pesticide has dried, unless
indicated otherwise on the label.
9. Evaluate the results of management measures.
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STRATEGY 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes recording and reporting procedures for all pesticide applications taking place
on City property by COD personnel, or any other agency, department, company, or individual whether
they are acting as a contractor or acting in a voluntary (approved) manner.
BACKGROUND
Detailed recordkeeping is an essential part of IPM implementation, and is vital in communicating,
reporting, and analysis of pest management activities. State law requires that written records be kept
for pesticide applications. The law requires that licensed applicators record the details of pesticide
applications and keep these records for two years. These records must be stored in a central location
and be available for review.
STRATEGY
It is the Strategy of the City to record and retain records of all pesticide applications performed on City
land. Each application event will require an application form to be completed. The PARD Superintendent
should review these on a periodic basis. A master file of these records shall be kept at a central location,
such as the office where the licensed applicators work out of and maintained by their supervisor. Each
operating unit shall keep a record file related to pesticide applications by their own personnel.
Information regarding application of pesticides to city property by state certified applicators who work
for a bonded company and who have been contracted for application shall also be recorded including all
information fields required by the TDA. Copies of these records must be provided to the PARD
Superintendent upon request.
The following information must be included on the recording forms for each pesticide application by a
COD employee: Date of application, application start time, location of site treated, name of applicator,
state license number, temperature, wind conditions, equipment used, target pest, total area treated if
applicable, names and EPA numbers of all products applied, mix ratio / rate of product per unit, total
volume of material applied, coverage rate where applicable, and aquatic buffer designation where
applicable.
At the end of each calendar year, all pesticide records will be submitted to the PARD Superintendent for
pesticide reporting. These will then be collated onto a single form and submitted no later than March to
the Watershed Protection Coordinator.
Equally important is the recordkeeping of non-chemical interventions. While not legally required, non-
chemical interventions are the basis for evaluation, management, and action thresholds of IPM. Data
collection and recordkeeping of non-chemical interventions is essential in demonstrating compliance
with IPM principles and the effectiveness of actions taken. Staff will document non-chemical
interventions in the appropriate record management system for analysis and reporting.
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Pesticide Material Management
STRATEGY 7: Use of Remaining Pesticide Solutions and Rinses
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for the use and disposal of any pesticide remains generated by COD
applicators. It outlines methods for use of remaining pesticide solutions and rinses in a legal and safe
manner.
BACKGROUND
Applicable laws require that all pesticide solutions and rinses be applied to target areas according to
label directions. These solutions and rinses may also be disposed of at an authorized pesticide disposal
site. It is the goal of COD to conduct our pesticide operations so that disposal of remaining material is
not necessary.
STRATEGY
Pesticide solutions and rinses should be applied according to the label directions, and to legal target
sites so there are no pesticides remaining. This shall be accomplished by accurately gauging the amount
of pesticide needed for the job. COD promotes the use of advance planning to minimize the number of
times it is necessary to switch pesticides in spray equipment. In order to reduce the amount of excess
rinsate, it is the Strategy to rinse equipment only at the end of the spray cycle or when changing to
pesticides that are incompatible with those in the tank. It is a legal requirement to fully label all tanks
and sprayers containing leftover pesticides at the end of each day.
PROCEDURES
Following are some considerations to make before beginning an application to assure the proper
amount of pesticide is mixed. Advance considerations:
• Weather conditions and predictions.
• Acreage/square footage of the job site.
• Calendar: special events, mowing, irrigation, etc.
• Type and size of the equipment appropriate to do the job.
When applying the pesticide use the following procedures to reduce and safely store the rinse solution.
These are secondary to label information and State and Federal regulation.
• Mix only enough pesticide solution to do the job that day.
• Use up all pesticide, applying until the tank is empty, or no more solution is coming through the
nozzle.
• If pesticide mix remains, completely label the tank or sprayer with legal labels for the products
used. Also mark the current concentration for each product, the date, and the name of the
applicator.
• When resuming spray applications, the next time, either use the leftover material, or add
dilution water and circulate the mix thoroughly before adding new concentrate.
• If spray tank rinsate is created, store the rinsate as make-up water for the next day. The next
day's pesticide should be compatible or the same. The same labeling requirements pertain to
the rinsate mix.
Rinse the sprayer if the following conditions apply:
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• It is necessary to use a pesticide incompatible with that previously used.
• It is the end of a spraying cycle.
Use the following rinse process:
1. Read the pesticide label. The following should not conflict with label information or State or
Federal regulations. Contact your supervisor if you see a conflict or have questions.
2. Wear protective clothing, as listed on the label when handling pesticides, pesticide containers,
or pesticide equipment.
3. Fill the spray equipment approximately ¼ full with clean water. Shake or agitate so that all inside
surfaces are washed. If possible, use the spray hose to rinse the inside surface of the tank. These
procedures should coincide with all labels.
4. Spray the rinse water out of the spray equipment onto an approved target area. Rinse water
should be run through all hoses, booms, etc. Filters should be cleaned. Because of the dilute
nature of the pesticide in the rinse water, a coarse spray can be used and is recommended to
save time. Do not “pond” or saturate the soil.
5. If the tank is to be stored, repeat step 3 and 4 above two times until the tank is clean.
Cleaning motorized, mechanical sprayers:
1. No pesticide solution shall be left in the tank or any other moving part overnight.
2. Equipment must be cleaned according to manufacturer’s recommendation and in accordance to
label recommendations.
a. This ensures longevity of equipment and safety measures should the equipment need to
be worked on.
b. This prevents an environmental hazard should the tank, hoses, or pump begin to leak.
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STRATEGY 8: Storage and Transportation of Pesticides
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the method and procedure for storage of pesticide materials for all COD locations
and personnel.
BACKGROUND
Attention to the proper storage is vital to assure public and employee safety, as well as to protect the
investment in their purchase. Several agencies are involved in regulating aspects of pesticide storage. No
single agency has comprehensive authority. Agencies involved include State of Texas Department of
Agriculture, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas
State Fire Marshall, and the Denton Fire Department. Pesticides will be stored and transported in a
manner that reduces the risk of spills, exposure, theft, degradation, contamination, or loss.
STRATEGY
Pesticides or pesticide containers shall be kept in secure and safe locations in accordance with existing
laws. They shall be kept in a secure location and, if possible, in a temperature controlled, well-ventilated
area. Areas used for storage shall be labeled and designated for use by work unit supervisors.
Pesticides shall be safeguarded from environmental damage such as extreme temperature,
photodecomposition or moisture. All pesticides in storage shall be inspected regularly and, if necessary,
rotated on the shelf to assure that the oldest dated items are used first.
Storage of pesticides shall be in accordance with applicable laws. Individual sites may store pesticides if
they are in spill-proof and lockable cabinets and labelled as pesticides.
Pesticides being transported shall be appropriately and safely secured in the vehicle. Only licensed
applicators shall transport pesticides. Appropriate spill response supplies, as outlined in Strategy 12,
must be immediately available. Pesticides shall not be transported in passenger cabs of vehicles where
alternatives exist, such as truck beds, truck boxes or vehicle trunks.
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STRATEGY 9: Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers and Unusable Pesticides
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the method and procedures for the disposal of pesticide containers and unusable
pesticides or those pesticides whose registrations have been totally or partially suspended.
BACKGROUND
COD considers proper disposal of unusable pesticides and pesticide containers of the utmost importance
to the safety of employees, the public, and the environment. Several governmental agencies regulate
pesticide disposal. No one agency has comprehensive authority. Agencies involved include the Texas
State Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection
Agency, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. COD will comply with all relevant laws
governing the proper disposal of these materials.
STRATEGY
COD shall dispose of pesticides and empty pesticide containers in accordance with all State and Federal
regulations and label recommendations. Disposal of pesticide containers and unusable pesticides not in
accordance with this Strategy will be cause for disciplinary action.
PROCEDURES
Read the pesticide label. The following steps should not conflict with label information or state and
federal regulations. Contact your supervisor if you determine a conflict or have other questions. Always
wear protective clothing when handling pesticides or pesticide containers, as directed on the label.
For non-rigid containers including bags, sacks, and boxes
1. Pesticide material must be emptied into application equipment to the extent made possible by
physical agitation of the container.
2. Visually verify that residues have been removed.
3. Multiple-rinse non-rigid containers such as paper lined with plastic or foil.
4. Place in a plastic bag and mark as to contents.
For rigid containers such as plastic, glass, or metal
1. Pesticide material must be emptied into application equipment to the extent possible by
pouring, then visually verifying that the residues have been removed.
2. The container must be rinsed with clean water until clean; the rinse water being poured into the
spray equipment. Empty the pesticide and all rinsates into the sprayer before the full amount of
diluting water is added to the spray equipment.
3. Place in a plastic bag and mark as to contents.
Storage of Containers
1. Containers must be stored in plastic bags in a secure area until they can be taken to a secure
collection site. The Park Maintenance Complex is a designated secure collection site.
2. Containers must be transported to and placed in the designated secure container box at the
Park Maintenance storage area. Each container product name and size must be recorded by a
licensed applicator on the designated form at that time.
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3. An inventory of products will be maintained by City staff. For each container, record the date,
name of the pesticide, quantity and size of the container. These records shall be kept at the site,
and copies forwarded to the PARD Superintendent and the City’s Risk Manager as required.
Disposal of Unusable Pesticides
Unusable pesticides are ones that: 1) are damaged through vaporization, freezing, infiltration of
moisture to containers or photo decomposition; 2) have exceeded their shelf life; or 3) have visually
changed their composition or structure in some manner.
1. A Department Manager and/or Supervisor should be informed of plans to dispose of pesticides
and of results of the disposition.
2. The Department Manager and/or Supervisor responsible for land management will contact the
TDA, the manufacturer or dealer and/or a licensed consultant and find out if the product is still
usable.
3. If the pesticide has less activity due to long storage, moisture, or freeze damage, follow the
recommendations of the dealer, manufacturer, or licensed consultant and use procedures in
this Strategy as they apply. One option could be to apply the material realizing that full control is
not achievable using the damaged pesticide.
4. If this option cannot be followed legally, follow recommendations of the dealer or manufacturer
or licensed consultant. It is not legal to transfer damaged or altered pesticides to another party
for use. It may be necessary to arrange for disposal of the pesticide in a manner recommended
by TCEQ.
5. The Pesticide Licensed Applicators are responsible for properly disposing of pesticides according
to law and TDA. A record of these disposals should be kept on file for three years.
Disposal of Pesticides with Totally or Partially Canceled Registrations (or those which have been
removed from approved use)
1. The Department Manager and/or Supervisor responsible for land management shall keep up-to-
date on the pesticide regulatory news and respond to pending actions appropriately to minimize
or eliminate stocks of unusable pesticides.
2. If unusable pesticides remain in stock, staff will follow recommendations of the regulatory
agencies, manufacturer or dealer in finding a legal user for the pesticide. If the pesticide is
unopened and/or still retains its integrity it may be possible to transfer the pesticide to a legally
registered bureau, agency, or group to use.
3. It may be necessary to dispose of the pesticide in a manner recommended by TDA and TCEQ.
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Safety Measures and Emergency Response
STRATEGY 10: Use of Protective Clothing and Equipment
PURPOSE
This Strategy outlines the requirements for the use of protective clothing and equipment by COD
personnel when undertaking pest management activities.
BACKGROUND
Use of pest management tools, equipment, and materials may require the use of personal protective
equipment (PPE). Use of such equipment is necessary to provide an adequate measure of safety for the
applicator. This protective equipment will be clearly defined in the legal pesticide label directions or
directives in equipment manuals. When such directives exist, they must be adhered to. Use of
appropriate protective equipment may not be so clearly defined for all pest management methods, and
in such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicator to determine and employ adequate safety
equipment.
STRATEGY
Personnel engaged in the use of pest management tools, equipment, or materials shall follow all
clothing and equipment requirements required to ensure their safety. When using pesticides, the label
directives for use of PPE must be adhered to. Use of related power and mechanical equipment must be
accompanied by appropriate PPE as determined by equipment manuals or supervisor's directives.
Minimum PPE standards are:
• Long sleeve shirt
• Long pants
• Closed-toe shoes with socks.
Required personal protective equipment appropriate to satisfy specific pesticide label requirements
shall be provided by COD to employees for their use. This may include, but is not limited to: respiratory
protection, eye protection, coveralls, rain gear, mixing aprons, chemically resistant boots, gloves, head
protection, and hearing protection. Time will be made available to wash up before lunch and at the end
of the work shift. The applicator is responsible for cleaning, storing, and maintaining PPE and equipment
in a safe and useful manner. Applicators may also provide their own additional PPE if desired, if such
equipment and its use has been previously approved by their supervisor.
If applicators apply organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in amounts and frequencies
determined by Natural Agricultural Safety Data base to require cholinesterase blood tests, PARD will
provide for these tests. This testing monitors the potential depletion of the enzyme cholinesterase in the
blood, an indicator of exposure to these materials.
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STRATEGY 11: Emergency Information Concerning Accidental Pesticide Exposure
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for the proper response to employee and citizen inquiries regarding
accidental exposure to any pesticide material used by COD staff. It defines the City's response to
inquiries concerning adverse health effects as a possible result of accidental exposure to pesticides.
BACKGROUND
The City's handling of public inquiries should be prompt, professional, and well-supported. While staff
can answer general questions, the City does not have medical professionals on staff to address specific
medical questions relevant to accidental exposure. This expertise is readily available in the health care
community. Therefore, concerns of this nature will be referred to qualified medical personnel for
resolution.
STRATEGY
COD will inform applicators of proper procedures to be taken in case of pesticide exposure. Anyone
inquiring about pesticide exposure will be referred to his or her own personal physician, the Central
Texas Poison Center (CTPC), or the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). A list of these
authorities and their phone numbers are listed in the appendices.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information about all hazardous substances in the workplace is available to all
personnel. This information includes symptoms of exposure, and procedures for handling overexposure
to individual pesticides. If symptoms of illness occur during or shortly after applying pesticides, the CTPC
should be contacted or the individual should receive medical attention immediately.
Non-emergency questions received shall be referred to the appropriate COD staff member who will
provide information to the questioner or refer them to qualified individuals or sources for further
information.
PROCEDURES
• Use planning to avoid emergencies and to expedite aid should an accident occur.
• Be informed of the symptoms of exposure and the decontamination steps necessary in case of
accidental exposure.
• Use all safety procedures and protective gear as recommended on the label.
• Have a copy of the appropriate label available when applying or transporting pesticides
(concentrated and dilute.)
In case of a medical emergency related to suspected pesticide exposure:
• Handle any emergency situation as per First Aid instructions, or label and SDS.
• Call for emergency backup if necessary.
• Refer to Central Texas Poison Center.
• Take a label for reference for medical personnel if it is necessary to leave the site.
• Inform your supervisor as soon as possible.
• Inform the immediate supervisor or department manager as soon as possible.
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In response to a non-emergency inquiry:
• Respond to questions to the best of your ability.
• Refer detailed or technical questions to the appropriate COD staff member.
• Inform your supervisor.
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STRATEGY 12: Pesticide Spill Response
PURPOSE
This Strategy outlines the objectives, training requirements and procedures COD personnel should
follow in response to an accidental release of pesticides. This applies to all COD staff involved in
applications of pesticides, handling of pesticides, or acting in a communications response role during a
spill incident.
BACKGROUND
Several state and federal regulations apply to an unintentional release of pesticides. Several state and
federal regulations apply to an accidental release of hazardous materials. The Department of
Transportation (DOT) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulate the transport of hazardous
waste resulting from a spill and the release of chemicals if it occurs when they are being transported.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
protect the environment through regulation concerning prevention of and response to the
contamination of water, land, and air resulting from a pesticide spill. They are also tasked with the
responsibility to make sure that the pesticides are properly disposed of. These regulations are
incorporated into the procedures outlined here. Through its Pesticide Spill Response Strategy, the City
strives to take a leadership role as a steward of public land and of the environment.
STRATEGY
The primary method by which COD reduces pesticide spills is through prevention. Through planning,
preparation, adherence to good work practices, and increased awareness of the potential results of a
spill, the possibility of a spill occurring is minimized.
City personnel will respond in accordance with all governmental regulations, including those of DOT,
EPA, TCEQ, OSHA, and this Strategy should an accidental release of a pesticide occur. In performing
emergency activities following a spill, protection of both employees and the public, is of great concern,
as is protection of property and the environment.
Anyone liable for a spill shall immediately clean up the spill or release. The cleanup must use the best
available methods to achieve the lowest practicable level of contamination.
OSHA, which is concerned with worker protection, has two regulations governing spills. The first one,
Hazard Communication, applies to incidental spills that present a low potential of hazard to the worker,
the public and the environment. Included are small spills of dilute pesticides, spills of material with
granular formulations, and lower toxicity materials. The other regulation, Emergency Response, applies
to incidents with a high degree of hazard such as large spills of dilute material, pesticides with higher
toxicity, and concentrates in a confined space.
An incidental spill becomes an Emergency Response when:
1. The release or spill significantly impacts another agency's functions;
2. The incidental spill precipitates evacuation or curtailing of work;
3. The event causes a negative impact on neighboring facilities or the community; or
4. The spill involves a coordinated effort by local first responders.
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Only licensed pesticide applicators can transport or apply pesticides. They will receive training and
equipment that will allow them to respond to incidental spills. Spills that require an Emergency
Response will be handled by a local HAZMAT team.
An assessment and evaluation of the quantity, hazardous level, and impact of each spill will be
conducted. Spills will be reported as required by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. Staff will
coordinate response and reporting activities with the local HAZMAT team, the Emergency Management
Coordinator, and the Director of Environmental Services.
The spill need not be reported immediately if it occurs on a surface impervious to the hazardous
material and is fully contained, and if it is completely cleaned up without further incident, including
repairing the cause of the spill. The immediate supervisor or department manager will determine
whether these agencies should be contacted.
Particular attention should be paid to ensure that a pesticide does not pollute the water supply. A
primary aim in following the procedures outlined here is to recover and reuse as much of the spilled
pesticide as possible. Any absorbent or other contaminated material from which the spilled pesticide
cannot be recovered is hazardous waste and must be labeled, stored and disposed of properly.
RESPONSIBILITY AND TRAINING
Three levels of spill response have been identified. The levels and their training requirements are
described below:
Level Description and Training
Level I is for individuals who come into indirect contact with pesticides and their use. They must be able
to recognize and respond to an emergency by obtaining and passing on information, and by making the
appropriate notifications. They will not take an active role in containment and clean up procedures.
People at this level will have sufficient training to acquire competency in the following areas:
1. Familiarity with CHEMTREC6 (provides access to technical experts on chemical products and
hazardous materials and maintains a large database of Material Safety Data Sheets. CHEMTREC
can be reached at (800) 424-9300) and an understanding of their own role in an emergency.
2. An understanding of pesticides as hazardous substances, and the risks associated with them in a
spill.
3. The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous material in an emergency.
4. The ability to recognize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate
notifications.
People in this category include those managers supervising land maintenance and management
operations. These individuals will receive additional training to familiarize them with their role in the
case of an emergency.
Level II is for licensed applicators that apply or transport small volumes of low to moderately toxic
pesticides. This level includes response to incidental spills. Individuals at this level are trained to prevent
spills from occurring. Should one occur, they are trained to stop the release, keep it from spreading, and
do cleanup. Most licensed pesticide applicators are in this category.
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Individuals at this level will receive training in addition to pesticide applicators, along with hazard
communication and respiratory protection training. They must exhibit competency in the following
areas as well as those listed in the base level.
1. Familiarity with activities which promote spill prevention.
2. Familiarity with the Spill Response Program and their own role in an emergency.
3. Knowledge of safety and health hazards of hazardous materials in a spill.
4. An understanding of basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.
5. Knowledge of work practices that employees can use to minimize risks from hazards.
6. Selection and use of proper personal protective equipment.
7. Identification of symptoms that may indicate overexposure to hazards.
8. Implementation of basic decontamination procedures.
9. Performance of basic control, containment, and clean-up techniques.
10. Skill in determining when a spill is fully cleaned up.
Level III training includes individuals who apply or transport over 50 gallons of dilute pesticides, or more
than 1 gallon or 10 pounds of concentrate with a danger label. They are trained to stop the release, keep
it from spreading and do cleanup.
1. Knowledge and use of spill prevention techniques for larger equipment.
2. Knowledge of hazard and risk assessment techniques.
3. An understanding of basic hazardous materials terms.
4. An understanding of basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.
5. Selection and use of proper personal protective equipment appropriate for more toxic
pesticides.
6. Implementation of decontamination procedures.
7. Performance of control, containment and clean up techniques.
This level includes the department managers and supervisor directly overseeing landscaping and ground
maintenance and who will be coordinating with officials on notifying regulatory agencies, documenting
incidents, ensuring that the cleanup is complete, and making arrangements for disposal of hazardous
waste.
SPILL PREVENTION
COD personnel will employ a variety of practices to reduce the potential of a pesticide spill. These will
include the following:
Purchasing
When procuring chemicals, a factor in determining which chemical formulation to purchase will be the
ease with which it can be cleaned up in the event of a spill. Types of packaging and formulations that
may help to prevent a spill from occurring will be factors as well. Characteristics of the pesticide, such as
toxicity and reactivity that may affect the seriousness of a spill, will also be considered.
Preparation
Planning, training of personnel, and acquisition and maintenance of equipment and supplies will be
done to reduce the risk of a spill occurring, and to minimize damage should one occur. For example,
regular preventative maintenance will be done on sprayers, replacing hoses and valves before they wear
out.
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Work Practices
COD personnel will use practices to minimize the potential for a spill to occur, and to ease clean up
should one occur. For example, pesticides should be placed in a leak-proof container while being
transported.
PESTICIDE SPILL PROCEDURES
Pesticide spills can pose serious threats to human health and cause significant environmental
contamination. A thorough knowledge of the appropriate steps to take in the event of a spill will allow
you to minimize the potential for adverse effects and may save you a great deal of money in expensive
cleanup costs. Always be prepared to handle spills before they occur. It is a good idea to have a spill kit
in storage and mixing areas. Contamination can greatly increase when delaying response to a pesticide
spill.
Spills may be relatively minor, involving one or a few leaking containers. However, major spills, such as
when a sprayer overturns spilling its contents, can and do occasionally occur. Regardless of the
magnitude of the spill, the objectives of a proper response are the same.
1. ASSESS the situation
2. CONTROL the spill.
3. CONTAIN the spill.
4. CLEAN IT UP.
5. DOCUMENT the spill.
(NOTE: Should a release of a pesticide occur, the following guidelines shall be used: Do not clean up the
spill if you are not properly trained, if you don’t have proper protective equipment or if doing so would
endanger your health or safety.)
ASSESS THE SITUATION
1. Out of Control Release:
a. Tell bystanders to remain at a safe distance.
b. Call 911. Ask for fire; describe the situation as a hazardous materials spill. If there are
injured people, ask for an ambulance. If chemical injury is involved, be certain that a
copy of the label accompanies the victim.
c. Assist injured people. Remove contaminated clothing immediately.
d. Determine whether there is an imminently hazardous situation that you can take steps
to correct. (For example, it may be appropriate to move the truck away from a
waterway or heat source.)
e. Contact supervisor.
f. If the spill is on a roadway, set up DOT reflectors upwind of spilled materials and divert
traffic if possible.
g. Remain on site and update the Denton HAZMAT Team as new information develops.
2. Controllable Release and there are no injuries:
a. Tell bystanders to remain at a safe distance and initiate control and clean up procedures
outlined in CONTROL THE SPILL. You should be also putting on any PPE necessary.
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3. Report the Spill
Notification will depend on the hazard level of the product spilled, the nature of the spill and
state regulations. Part of preparation should be to know the cleanup procedure and reporting
sequence for each product. A supervisor should be notified immediately. As a rule, the
Emergency Management Coordinator, Risk Manager, and Watershed Protection Department
should be notified for all reportable spills.
When you notify authorities of an emergency, have the following information:
• The name and phone number of the contact person at the facility where the spill occurred;
• The location of the spill and if water is threatened;
• The name of the chemical spilled;
• If the product is known to be acutely toxic;
• The estimated quantity spilled;
• The extent of injuries or exposure;
• The cause of the spill;
• Action taken to control and contain the spill;
• Planned cleanup procedures, evacuation and other precautions; and
• When the spill occurred.
CONTROL THE SPILL
When attempting to control the flow of the chemical, do not expose yourself unnecessarily. Always
carry protective clothing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and spill containment equipment when
transporting pesticides. Use this equipment when pesticide emergencies occur.
1. Put on protective equipment.
2. Do not allow the material to enter a drain. Survey the area to see if there is a need to place a
dam to protect a sewer drain or another waterway. If the pesticide does enter a drain, reduce
the flow as much as possible, and call Watershed Protection at 940-349-7123 immediately. If
not available 940-349-7000.
3. Stop the flow of the chemical.
• If the spill is from a leaky container, position the container to prevent additional spillage.
• If the spill is from a leaky valve, isolate the valve and depressurize the tank.
• If the spill is from a broken hose shut off valve or pump it may help to loop the hose back
into the tank.
• If there is a rupture, use duct tape or any other material (such as rags or a patch) to stop the
flow of a chemical.
4. Contain the spill using absorbent material. Call the Denton HAZMAT Team to request additional
supplies, resources, and assistance if needed.
5. Change or add to your protective equipment as necessary. Put contaminated protective
equipment in a plastic bag to transport to your work unit for cleaning. Follow proper
decontamination procedures for protective equipment.
CONTAIN THE SPILL
After the leak has been controlled as well as possible, contain the spilled material in as small an area as
possible. With liquid spills, construct a dam to prevent the chemical from spreading. It is particularly
important not to allow any chemical to get into any body of water, including storm sewers. Do not hose
down the area; this will cause further spread of the chemical. Liquid spills can be further contained by
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spreading absorbent materials such as fine sand, vermiculite, sawdust, or clay over the entire spill. For
absorbing small spills and minor leaks, kitty litter is particularly useful. (NOTE: Avoid the use of sawdust
or sweeping compounds if the pesticide is a strong oxidizer. Such a combination presents a possible fire
hazard.)
CLEAN UP THE SPILL
After the spill has been contained, consult with the Denton HAZMAT Team and Watershed Protection on
clean up.
1. For dry material, sweep up the pesticide.
2. For a liquid spill, materials such as absorbent dikes, pillows, and towels can be used to absorb a
product.
3. For concentrate spills on pavement, after picking up as much as possible, contain the area and
wash the pavement with a small amount of water. Absorb this diluted pesticide and reclaim it.
4. If the soil has been contaminated, contact the Denton HAZMAT Team. The department
manager, your supervisor, and you will determine to what degree cleanup should proceed using
COD personnel. You may be asked to remove the contaminated soil. If so, scoop up enough soil
to completely remove the pesticide. Place unusable material in a container labeled “Hazardous
Waste”. Coordinate the disposal of the material with the Denton HAZMAT Team and/or Risk
Management.
5. Contact the Denton HAZMAT Team if it has not been done already. Have the Spill Incident
Report ready so that your supervisor and the manager can evaluate the situation.
DOCUMENT THE SPILL
1. Complete a Pesticide Spill Incident Report.
2. A copy of the report will be filed with the department manager and supervisor directly
overseeing landscape and ground maintenance operations.
3. All Pesticide Spill Incident Reports will be reviewed by the department manager and supervisor.
A debriefing of the incident will be held with staff and additional training will be provided based
on the nature of the incident.
4. Restock the Spill Kit
Pesticide Spill Kit Response Equipment
The following items must be immediately available to all persons applying or transporting pesticides:
1. Hard copies or mobile access to the following information:
• Chemical labels for materials being transported;
• SDS for chemicals being transported clipped to front of binder;
• Pesticide Spill Response Procedures and Incident Report;
• A DOT Emergency Response Guidebook; and
• Emergency phone numbers
2. A radio, other two-way communication device, or cellular phone if there is the potential of a
spill occurring that would require assistance.
3. Personal protective equipment appropriate for handling the pesticides being applied or
transported in the event of a spill.
4. An eyewash either on the truck or on site and immediately available in the case of an
emergency.
5. Tools and supplies to make repairs to the application equipment and to stop leaks.
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6. A means of picking up spilled material. Depending on the formulation this may include
absorbent material, broom and dustpan, or shovel.
7. Plastic recovery bags and ties for the material and for contaminated personal protective
equipment.
8. A jug of water and detergent.
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Targeted Pest Management
STRATEGY 13: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the management of weeds in the turf areas of City property and the use of
selective turf herbicides by an applicator.
BACKGROUND
For turf to function in the manner it was intended, appropriate maintenance standards may require
management of weeds within these sites. While the subject of overall turf health is a topic too complex
to cover in detail within this Strategy, the management of weeds in designated turf sites shall be
regulated by this Strategy. Designated turf sites generally include active park areas, athletic fields, and
high traffic / high visibility locations such as City Hall. Other City property may be designated as needed
or prioritized.
The establishment and maintenance of quality turf requires a proper site, good root zone conditions,
optimum fertility levels, adequate irrigation, correct mowing practices, and other factors. COD relies
primarily on attention to these sites and cultural factors in maintaining turf and minimizing the density
of weeds. Adherence to good cultural practices aids in development of healthy stands of turf which
resist establishment of weeds. Selective herbicides can also be used as effective tools to reduce or
eliminate populations of weeds in turf as part of an overall program of turf health maintenance.
Examples of turf health practices currently employed include:
• Proper siting.
• Site and soil preparation.
• Drainage improvements.
• Pruning of adjacent plants for increased sunlight penetration.
• Proper selection of grass varieties.
• Core aeration.
• Overseeding.
• Mulch mowing to leave clippings on site.
• Mowing at the proper height and frequency.
• Proper irrigation practices.
• Proper fertilization.
• Application of selective broadleaf and grassy herbicides.
STRATEGY
Turf plays various important functions in our land management. When an area has been determined to
be maintained as turf, it is the Strategy of PARD to do so primarily through the implementation of
proper planning, cultural, and mechanical practices. These practices are generally adequate to keep the
population of turf broadleaf weeds at acceptable levels. At certain sites these practices alone may not
be adequate to keep broadleaf weeds at acceptable levels. An acceptable level of turf quality and
tolerance of weed infestation varies with the site. The threshold at which controls may be necessary
shall be determined on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration such factors as location, public
expectation, the manner of activities taking place on the turf, the history of previous control attempts,
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and stresses placed upon the site. The management effort must consider and employ all applicable
cultural and mechanical methods as components of a plan to return the turf to an acceptable level of
quality. Goals of these methods may include reducing soil compaction, improving soil structure, seeding,
increasing drainage capacity, and encouraging healthy and vigorous turf growth through proper
fertilization.
PROCEDURES
For proper IPM, it is essential that there be proper coordination between all the components of turf
health management. To ensure this coordination, land maintenance and management supervisors will
consult with staff stakeholders such as department representatives and program supervisors /
coordinators to understand the use, expectation, and level service the area will require. All applicators
will work with land maintenance and management supervisors to identify pest threats and determine
the appropriate course of management.
Appendix 5 outlines the general maintenance schedule for turf management. Several factors can affect
the adherence to the schedule including but not limited to the following:
Special Considerations
By its nature, the use of herbicides in turf requires their application to sites that have varied, and direct
public uses, often involving children and pets. These applications must be carefully planned to allow for
careful adherence to the pesticide label directives, and to minimize any potential impacts on these
users.
Time of Day
Applications should be made during the best time of day to avoid public use, high temperatures, and
wind. Applications can be made as early in the day as possible or after park hours. Applicators should
consider off schedule timing, such as shifting work hours so that spraying can be completed before
conditions and park use makes applications problematic. Minimizing public inconvenience and public
concern should be of paramount importance.
Scheduling Conflicts
Any proposed applications should consider the expected use of the area for that date and time, such as
nearby school activities, recreation activities, athletic field scheduling, park special events, and all other
anticipated uses.
Signage
Notification signage is of utmost importance in turf applications. The nature of a typical turf site is open
and with easy public access. As stated in the Integrated Pest Management Program Notification of
Pesticide Use at a Site Strategy 4, signage should be adequate to inform any park user approaching the
area.
Seasonal Timing
Wherever possible, applications should be timed to coincide with the ideal time for turf weed control.
This is typically during the spring and fall months, where weed growth is active and conditions leading to
turf stress, such as dry and hot weather, are not present. Integral to IPM is knowing specific weed life
cycles in order to have effective control.
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Drift
Drift is the movement of spray product from an area of application to any unintended site. Drift can
occur in the form of droplets during application or as vapors after application. Minimizing drift is critical
in turf weed applications. Use of boom sprayers instead of backpack sprayers may increase the potential
for drift. Great care should be taken to minimize any possible drift. Caution must be taken at wind
speeds of 10 MPH or more. Application is prohibited at wind speeds of 15 MPH or above. Read and
follow the product label directions carefully for all products. Applications should cease if any drift
inducing condition becomes apparent. Use of appropriate pressure, correct nozzles and other
techniques should be employed to minimize creation of small spray particles that may drift.
Targeted applications
Where warranted spot spraying for turf weeds should be employed. While there are sites that will
require an overall broadcast application, there are sites where only certain areas will require treatment.
Applications should be focused on the target weed as much as practicable.
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STRATEGY 14: Pesticide Applications around Community Gardens
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable and unacceptable use of pesticides within and near park areas
designated as community gardens.
BACKGROUND
Pest management in or near park areas designated as community gardens necessitates special
considerations. The Community Garden Program’s participants have varying levels of knowledge about
pest management methods and have differing views about the use of pest management materials.
Community garden plots are near one another and may change ownership from year to year.
Community gardens also produce edible crops which dictate special constraints in managing pests. For
these reasons, a special Strategy was formulated and defines the acceptable use of pesticides within
Community Gardens.
STRATEGY
• PARD staff will work in coordination with the Community Garden Committee to establish
guidelines regarding garden plot use by participants of the program.
• PARD staff shall establish internal guidelines regarding pesticide use by participants of the
program.
• PARD aims to dedicate 50% of the community garden plots for organic gardening. The use of
non-organic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers is prohibited.
• The plots will be strategically located to protect the integrity of organic methods and practices.
• Park employees are asked to take all precautions necessary to keep applications, including any
drift, of all pesticides at a minimum from the outside perimeter of Community Garden sites.
• Mechanical means, such as cutting, hoeing and mulching, are the preferred method to remove
or control weeds in the Community Garden sites and perimeters.
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STRATEGY 15: Waterways Pest Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for use of any pesticide materials being applied by COD personnel
adjacent to, or upon Denton’s waterways.
BACKGROUND
This Strategy was written in conjunction with Watershed Protection division’s personnel. The intent is to
protect water quality in Denton’s streams and reservoirs.
STRATEGY
It is the strategy of the City to use all measures to protect the city water supply from contamination
through pesticides. COD employees will provide any information needed by the Watershed Protection
division and will notify them prior to any spraying of pesticides within or near creeks, rivers, streams,
lakes, or any waterways. Some of the regulations in the strategy deal with the following:
• Applications of pesticides will not be made if conditions resulting in drift are present.
• The Watershed Protection division will be notified if there is a spill or accident that causes
unplanned release of pesticides into waterways or environmentally sensitive areas. Refer to
Strategy 12 for the appropriate response actions.
• The applicator will contact the Watershed Protection division when known pesticide
applications will be made in areas inside or near creeks, rivers, streams, lakes, or any waterways.
The information should include the pesticides expected to be used, the locations of use, and the
frequencies of application.
GENERAL GOALS AND PHILOSOPHY
COD recognizes the special importance of the rivers, streams, ponds, water quality facilities and
wetlands that fall under our stewardship. The sensitive nature of such habitats, their plant and animal
communities, and their direct link with other waterways require that we establish specific policies to
ensure their health. The IPM outlines special procedures and clear guidelines and limitations regarding
maintenance methods and materials for both these waterways and the public lands adjacent to them.
An integrated approach will be used in all landscape management decision making
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, MATERIALS AND LIMITATIONS FOR PARKS
WATERWAYS AND BUFFERS
Definitions
The buffer zone referred to in this Strategy is defined as a corridor of land between the top of the
stream bank and the edge of the waterline at the time of application.
Application Equipment Used
Pesticide delivery for all listed areas in this Strategy will be carried out by hand with directed, low
volume, single wand sprayers, wiping, daubing and painting equipment, injections systems, or drop
spreaders. Typically, this is done by backpack sprayers, but may also include sprayers with larger fill
tanks as long as the same kind of hand application methods is used. These methods of delivery result in
low volume applications and low-pressure spraying. This minimizes the formation of fine mists that
might be carried off target. These practices ensure that applied materials will reach targeted plants or
targeted soil surfaces.
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Pesticide Drift
When applications of pesticides are being made within the buffer zone, great care will be exercised in
the process. Managing drift is of particular importance when surface waters are nearby. Equipment used
in the application shall employ all necessary methods to limit drift.
Nozzle size, pressure regulation, droplet size, and height of spray wand, are all techniques that can be
modified to reduce unwanted drift of pesticides.
Spray applications will not be allowed in the buffer area when:
• Wind speed is above 5 mph, and
• Wind direction or activity would carry pesticides toward, or deposit them upon open water.
Pesticides Available
To more clearly regulate any possible aquatic impacts, the pesticides available for use in buffers and
aquatic sites will be reduced in scope from the general park list. Only aquatic-labeled pesticides may be
used within buffer zones or waterways. Choice of pesticides utilized take into account any possible
effects on aquatic life as well as tendencies to move in the environment. In addition, applicators must
research the impacts of each pesticide before use and get approval from the direct supervisor.
Materials available for tree injections in buffer zones:
In the event a pest or disease threatens the health of important and valuable trees within a buffer zone,
there may be a need to treat them. Instances of this occurring are rare. However, in these special cases,
the use of injectable pesticides may be employed when necessary, with the following limitations. The
pesticide applied must be delivered by methods that inject or otherwise distribute the material entirely
within interior tree tissues. Pesticides will not be injected into the soil surrounding the tree. Tree
surfaces will not be sprayed or treated with pesticides. The insecticides and fungicides used in these
injection systems shall be approved by the PARD Manager in consultation with the Watershed
Protection Coordinator and the Urban Forrester. The intent and limit of this exception to the approved
buffer zone pesticide list is to allow only the insecticides or fungicides necessary to combat direct
threats to the health of valuable trees.
Materials for all other areas:
Approved pesticides may be used outside the waterway and buffer zones, where not otherwise
prohibited by this Strategy.
Recordkeeping Requirements
All regular application recordkeeping requirements will be adhered to for all pesticide applications. This
includes date and the time intervals of the application, temperature and wind conditions, location of
application, materials used, concentrations used, amount applied, coverage rate, equipment used,
applicator full name and license number. In the event an unlicensed staff member performs an
application under the license of a holder, the unlicensed staff member’s full name will be included in the
records.
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Personnel Requirements
All those applying pesticides must be Texas Department of Agriculture licensed applicators. Application
of pesticides to aquatic sites will only be done by licensed personnel who have received an additional
aquatics license certification.
Changes to the Strategy
A need may arise for modifications or additions to this Strategy. There are several methods available to
accomplish this. PARD representatives will develop an IPM strategy to deal with the threat. If this
strategy involves the need for any pesticide applications within buffer zones or waterways that are not
already outlined in the current Strategy, PARD will consult with Watershed Protection regarding the
proposed modifications.
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STRATEGY 16: Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber Playground Areas
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing vegetation in playgrounds areas. In all our IPM
activities, PARD seeks to minimize any potential impacts to our park users while still providing
responsible, effective, and efficient care for our facilities. Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) playground
areas focus attention on our activities and require a special set of best management practices to benefit
both PARD and park users.
BACKGROUND
The Department is transitioning over to Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) as its preferred playground safety
surface. EWF is from a virgin wood source and must prove to be non-toxic and free of foreign debris. It
is comprised of randomly sized wood fibers, the majority of which do not exceed 4 inches in length and
meets ASTM and CPSC guidelines for safety surfacing and ADA accessibility. As EWF consists of specially
manufactured wood chips, they also pose a special need for more attention for staff to address the
following approved vegetation management methods and materials in these specific areas.
STRATEGY
All PARD personnel are required to adhere to this Strategy when they are undertaking weed
management activities in playground areas and their immediate borders or margins. Weed control in
these play areas will be accomplished primarily through the use of the wood chip mulch over layered
rock and weed fabric. To function as both a safe surface for play and as an effective weed barrier, this
chip layer should be kept at the established specification depth. If the mulch layer is not adequate for
weed control it should be amended as soon as is practicable. Mulch layers that have broken down over
time and provide a medium for good weed growth should be replaced or amended with fresh chips.
Spraying of herbicides will not be used to control vegetation in play areas.
Manual weeding is usually adequate to keep weeds from establishing within the chipped areas. Effort
shall be made to respond quickly to weed presence so that this kind of control will be feasible and
effective.
Specifications for layering of weed barrier material are as follows:
• Weed fabric barrier over leveled ground
• 2” diameter rock at 4-6 inches in depth
• Weed fabric barrier over rock layer
• EWF at 9-12 inches in depth
Use of powered weed control equipment, such as line trimmers and tillers, may be used in chipped
areas to control weeds, but careful attention to the dangers they present must be taken. This kind of
equipment should not be used when nearby park users may be put at risk. Playground/turf interface
borders will be maintained by hand or mechanical means. Establishment of a structured border is
preferred and encouraged for installation where possible as it provides a lower maintenance interface
between play areas and turf. These structures also reduce weed and turf infiltration.
The need to control other pests, such as insects or diseases, can occur. One example would be the
presence of stinging insects such as yellowjackets and fire ants in the play area. In these circumstances,
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the use of a targeted insecticide to eliminate the immediate safety hazard may be required. All other
applicable pest management policies and approved pesticide lists apply in this case.
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STRATEGY 17: Venomous Insect Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing venomous insects such as hornets, wasps,
yellow jackets, bees, and fire ants in COD landscapes and grounds. While these insects will not always
cause problems, their presence in some locations, such as playgrounds, can create immediate and
serious public and staff safety issues. More importantly, individuals with bee and wasp venom allergies
may be presented with life-threatening situations if they are stung. To properly address these safety
concerns, employees may be faced with the need to apply insecticides within a short time frame. These
control activities and use of insecticide require adherence to the special rules outlined in this Strategy.
BACKGROUND
Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets may quickly establish nests above and below ground in both natural
areas and in developed parks. Not every wasp or bee nest creates a problem for our users or staff.
Public threat is dependent on insect species, nest location, time of year and other factors.
Yellowjackets and some wasp species can be particularly aggressive towards people, especially near
their nests. Other wasps, such as paper wasps are less aggressive and are more benign depending on
location of their nest. Honeybee swarms generally do not create a large stinging potential as bee
behavior is altered during this time. Nest location is also important when determining threat. Nests
located near walkways, buildings, playgrounds or similar sites are more problematic than those located
in remote areas. Nests in areas where vegetation management or restoration planting is being carried
out can also create problems. Wasp behavior may also vary with the time of year. Yellowjackets will
exhibit increased defensive behavior as the season progresses. Normally, yellowjacket and paper wasp
colonies only live one season. Honeybee nests usually persist from year to year.
Red imported fire ants or Solenopsis invicta are an invasive species common in many areas of Texas. Red
imported fire ants are very aggressive, deliver painful stings, and can pose a threat to people, animals,
and plants. The ants are normally found in mounds but can also nest deeper in the ground. There is no
method of eradication and control can be difficult if not treated properly.
STRATEGY
Evaluation
When wasp or bee nests and fire ant mounds are discovered on COD property, staff should evaluate the
safety threat they pose. If the nest or mound is considered to create a safety hazard for park users or
staff, isolation and control measures should take place. Nests and mounds that create an immediate
hazard, such as those near playgrounds, community centers, walkways, trails and work sites, should be
addressed as soon as possible. Other criteria that may constitute a hazard are nests and mounds that
have been disturbed and sites with aggressive insects. Nests occurring within inhabited structures such
as community centers create an immediate safety hazard and control of these should be immediately
referred to a qualified professional contractor.
Isolating nests or swarms
Where possible, nests or swarms that present an immediate public hazard should be isolated by either
signage, cones, taping, flagging, or by other means, so that the area of danger can be avoided. The
barriers used in isolating the insects should stay in place until the nest is eliminated or the swarm is
removed. Make sure that signage is in place to warn the public.
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Honeybee swarms and nests
When discovered, honeybee swarms should be marked as described above until the bees have been
collected. Qualified bee removal businesses should be contacted to collect the swarm. Honeybee
swarms should not be sprayed with insecticides. Unless location of the nest presents a hazard,
honeybee nests should be tolerated where possible. If removal is required, qualified contractors should
physically remove nests when feasible. Spraying of honeybee nests should be a last resort.
Spraying wasp and hornet nests
Aerosol jet stream products labeled for use on wasp and hornet nests can be effective against both
yellow jackets and paper wasps, but they must be used with extreme caution. Non-toxic and non-
chemical products can also be effective in eliminating nests. Wasps will attack when they sense an
application to their nests, and even freeze-type products are not guaranteed to stop every individual.
For this reason, extreme caution must be used when nest applications are taking place. The following
practices should be adhered to:
• Nests should be sprayed at night or before dawn, when all members of the hive are present and
most passive. Daytime spraying is not recommended except in certain emergency cases where
the public is not placed at risk from increased hive activity.
• Nests should not be disturbed before treatment. Disturbed nests should not be approached.
• Nest location should be isolated as described above. Isolated area devices must be left up until
the nest has been eradicated.
• Nests that are situated high in trees, or in otherwise difficult to access locations should be
treated by professional contractors, or by qualified staff in the Urban Forestry department. Do
not attempt to control a nest if you cannot easily do so.
• Nests in structures, building, tree cavities, etc., should be treated by professional contractors
only.
• Staff may use a non-toxic formula or wasp and hornet spray that is available at the local store,
providing that they follow the directions on the label for use. Approved sprays will contain
synthetic pyrethroids as their active ingredient. Products with other active ingredients are not
approved for use by staff.
• All applications shall be documented as per the Strategy 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping.
Approved applicators
In general, staff with valid TDA pesticide applicator licenses with an insecticide category endorsement
should be the designated employees carrying out applications. However, there may be instances where
these employees are not available, and a nest presents an immediate health and safety threat to the
public or staff. In these instances, available personnel with TDA pesticide applicator licenses of any
category are approved to use jet spray wasp and hornet products to treat nests. In rare emergency
safety situations where no licensed personnel are able to respond in a timely fashion, other personnel
may be approved to carry out an application, but only if they have had prior supervisor approval, prior
training in the safe use of these sprays, and instruction in the proper management of wasps and bees.
Staff members with known wasp or bee allergies will not carry out any wasp or bee control.
Use of traps
When venomous insects are a continuing serious problem at a site from year to year, use of traps to
target emerging queens/ swarms can be considered. Trapping queens / swarms during the emergence
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period has the potential to provide an overall reduction in the venomous insect population for the
season. Traps should be installed, monitored, and removed by experienced staff or under Texas Apiary
Inspection Service (TAIS) permitted activity.
Fire ants
For an effective long-term treatment of fire ants, AgriLife Extension recommends using a two-step
method of broadcast applications of bait followed by individual mound treatments when necessary. The
broadcast treatment of ant bait is recommended in the spring and fall, followed by individual mound
treatments on an as-needed basis. The individual mound treatment can be performed with a liquid
drench, dust, or granular form of insecticide.
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STRATEGY 18: Dog Area Pest Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing pests in City of Denton dog parks. Park users are
invited to bring their dogs to recreate in the parks, either as a designated off-leash area (OLA), or as an
on-leash area, therefore pest management in these areas needs to reflect this use. Pest management
decisions, methods, and material use should be carried out in a way that maintains public and dog safety
and allows for responsible stewardship of park property.
BACKGROUND
There are many sites in the City of Denton parks, some are fenced, some are unfenced, and all are open
from 6 AM to 10 PM. All sites are signed with dogs on or off leash. For the purposes of this Strategy, OLA
sites consist of:
1. An officially designated fenced dog off-leash area, including the fence line.
2. An officially designated unfenced dog off-leash area within the boundary markers.
By their nature, and from the impact of concentrated dog activity, OLAs can create pest management
problems such as increased weeds in turf and the need to control weeds along fence lines. Other pest
issues that arise in OLAs are the presence of noxious, poisonous, allergenic, or incompatible weeds,
venomous insects, and parasitic insects (fleas) and arachnids (ticks). Proper management of these pests
needs to be clearly defined to minimize any potential risks to dogs and their owners and to minimize
interference with OLA use by the public.
STRATEGY
Expected pest management issues arising in the OLAs consist of:
• Weeds along fence lines, in tree circles, in shrub beds, around park structures and amenities,
and in the turf.
• Management of allergenic or poisonous weeds such as poison ivy.
• Venomous insect management.
• Fleas and ticks
OLAs may need to be closed temporarily so that necessary maintenance work can be performed.
Temporary signage will be located at OLA boundaries or fencing to alert users in advance of closures.
Pesticide applications will be accompanied by notification signage and mandated reentry intervals as
defined in Strategy #4 (Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site).
Herbicide use in fenced OLAs
When it is necessary to apply herbicides within fenced OLAs, great care should be used to time and
locate the application to minimize interference with public use. Ideally herbicide use should be as
infrequent as possible and would take place when dogs are not present. When herbicides are to be used
inside fenced OLAs or along the interior or immediate exterior of their fence lines, the OLA should be
closed, and dogs excluded. Closure should be maintained until the reentry requirements as mandated
on the product label have been satisfied. This interval typically requires that people and pets be kept out
of the area until the sprayed surface has dried. Normal application notification signage as mandated in
Strategy #4 should be used. To the extent possible, additional temporary signage will be located outside
OLA fencing to alert users in advance of closures.
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Herbicide use in unfenced OLAs
When it is necessary to apply herbicides within unfenced OLAs, great care should be used to time and
locate the application to minimize interference with public use. Ideally herbicide use should be as
infrequent as possible and would take place when dogs are not present. Standard notification as
mandated in Strategy #4 (Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site) must be employed. Label directives for
reentry must be adhered to, and dogs and people must be excluded from application areas until the
interval has been satisfied. Since unleashed dogs are difficult to exclude from large areas, this may
necessitate applications that are small in scope to allow for this level of oversight. To the extent
possible, additional temporary signage will be located outside OLA boundaries to alert users.
Turf broadleaf control
OLAs taken out of service may receive selective herbicides as part of an overall turf renovation program
but only within the oversight of Strategy 16: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management and the specific
approval process it requires.
Use of pre-emergent herbicides
To be an effective barrier to weed seed germination, pre-emergent herbicide sites need to be left
undisturbed after they are applied. Since the activity of dogs in an OLA disturbs soil surfaces and reduces
or eliminates the effectiveness of a pre-emergent application, their use in areas of concentrated
disturbance sites, such fenced OLAs, is often not effective. However, there may be need for pre-
emergent use in less intensively impacted areas.
Insecticide use
As is the case at most park properties, general insecticide use is not expected in areas that dogs are
permitted to be, either as an off-leash or on-leash area. However, there may be emergency situations
created by the presence of venomous insects such as yellow jackets, wasps, bees, fire ants, fleas, and
ticks. These pests can create serious safety issues for people and their pets. Control of venomous insects
must take place as described in the Venomous Insect Management Strategy. Nest demarcation
guidelines and the response process as described in that Strategy are of heightened importance in these
areas since dogs not in control by their owners may be at increased risk from an active nest site. Any use
of insecticides to manage other identified best will be performed under the guidelines of applicable
strategies and the approved product list.
Mechanical equipment
All aspects of park user safety and dog safety should be considered when determining a particular weed
control method for a given site. Mechanized weed control equipment such as string trimmers can create
hazards such as flying rocks and debris. Dogs may be at risk when they approach the work area. Care
should be exercised when using this equipment.
The use of disposable bags to collect dog feces assists in the management of insects and other pests.
PARD requires all pet owners to collect and dispose of dog feces on park property. This requirement is
enforced through City ordinance and posted park rules. Disposable bag dispensers are available at
designated dog parks and throughout the park system. Additionally, PARD may schedule additional
clean-ups to assist in this effort.
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STRATEGY 19: Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices in the management of insects that consider the health and
well-being of pollinators and enhances habitats.
BACKGROUND
The City has been a member of Bee City USA since 2016, and the City became the first Monarch City USA
in Texas in 2018. Pollinators, including bees and other insects, play a vital function in both agricultural
and natural systems. Their conservation is an important element in the IPM program. Use of any
insecticide in the landscape has the potential to impact pollinators in both direct and indirect ways,
therefore great care must be taken when considering the use of any insecticide. In most cases, insects
do not threaten the long-term health or viability of turf, trees and shrubs and do not require active
management. This strategy provides a process to begin to determine if an insect pest should be
managed, and if so, what method or material is the most responsible choice.
STRATEGY
INSECT MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING ELEMENTS:
A. Assess insect impact and significance
The significance of problematic insect impacts must be determined before active management is
considered. The primary IPM approach to insect management is to tolerate the presence of the insect
where possible. The vast majority of insect infestations do not threaten the long-term health or viability
of park trees and shrubs. Many are simple nuisance infestations or cause only marginal harm. Others
may present only short-term impacts or are merely unsightly. These kinds of insect problems do not
threaten the intended function of the green asset to a significant degree. The proper IPM approach for
these pests is tolerance of the pest, or replacement of the plant with a non-susceptible plant when
possible. Therefore, in these instances, insecticide use is not warranted.
Insecticide use can be considered for pests that present significant risks to the long-term viability or
essential function of important plant assets. They can also be considered for use in the case of insects
that threaten the health and safety of citizens in which case response may need to be rapid and
effective. The way these insecticides are chosen and employed must adhere to the careful pollinator
stewardship practices detailed within this policy.
B. Evaluate all IPM methods and materials
If insect control interventions are determined to be required, all IPM approaches must first be evaluated
for suitability. These include:
1. Planning/Design: Where feasible, eliminate the problematic plants and replace them with
naturally resistant plants. If a plant is unsuitable for the conditions at a site, it may increase its
susceptibility to a specific insect problem. The best long term IPM approach is to employ plants
suited to the existing growing conditions.
2. Cultural: Cultural practices that either improve the growing conditions or are protective of the
planting can be important elements in the management of some kinds of insects.
3. Physical: Various physical approaches such as the use of barriers are generally minimal in impact
to non-targets and may offer adequate control of certain pests.
4. Biological: For certain insect pests, a reliance on biological controls may be possible. Where
feasible, this can offer the ideal long-term solution to pest problems. Special attention to good
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stewardship of naturally occurring insect predators should be made. There are also instances
where commercially reared insect predators can be released to combat a specific pest.
5. Natural and synthetically derived insecticides: Insecticides can be part of an IPM approach, but
careful attention must be made in choice and use. In general, the least ecologically disruptive
and lowest risk materials should be favored but the full complexity of IPM assessment rationale
must be considered before choice and use. These considerations include but are not limited to:
a. Potential safety and health risks of the product as it will be applied, both in the short
and long term.
b. Potential environmental risks, including risks to non-target organisms including bees and
pollinators.
c. Potential disruption of the landscape, garden, natural area, and urban forest ecosystems
including impacts on natural insect predators.
d. Individual insecticide characteristics such as toxicity, persistence, bioavailability, break
down products, volatility, inert ingredients, and environmental movement.
e. Differing application methods, such as injections, sprays, and drenches.
f. Efficacy of the insecticide, and the need for repeated treatments.
g. Feasibility of use to address a specific pest.
h. PARD will not approve the use of neonicotinoid products or other insecticides used in
such a way as to pose unacceptable risk to non-targeted bees or other pollinators.
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: Approved Pesticide List for City Property and Parks Use
Following are lists of pesticides that are approved for use on City and park property. A
comprehensive IPM approach allows for the choice of ideal materials for specific needs. IPM
also anticipates the need to managing pest resistance with rotations of products with differing
modes of action rather than relying on a “one material fits all” approach. Most of the pesticides
are not used in a typical year or are used in a minimal way.
It is also important to understand that pesticide applications are used after many other IPM
strategies have first been either employed or considered. Most pest management practices
never involve the use of pesticides. Similarly, a majority of land never receives any kind of
pesticide application. Other IPM strategies the City employs include prevention of pests
through strategy, design and selection, and management of pests through cultural practices,
physical means, and mechanical methods.
All pesticides available for use must first be placed upon an approved list after undergoing a
review process that carefully examines the individual characteristics of the product and
whether it would be an appropriate addition within our program. Issues of efficacy, public
health and safety, potential environmental impacts, overall plant health requirements, land
management needs, and other concerns are taken into account during this process. Applicators
within a specific work unit must then make their choices of materials from their own approved
list. Individual work units have different responsibilities and pest management requirements for
the lands under their care. The individually tailored approved lists reflect these differences.
The following lists of approved pesticide materials are specific to each work unit. Applicators
must choose only from currently listed products. Only state licensed applicators may apply
pesticides on City property. Use of pesticides by non-licensed personnel, such as, but not
inclusive of, wasp spray and fire ant powder, may be used as an incidental application. Use of
pesticides must occur under adherence to the Integrated Pest Management Plan and program
policies and oversight. Pesticide use must adhere to all product label directions.
Format:
Active ingredient / concentrations / product trade name / signal word / description of purpose
and use within IPM program.
COD USE APPROVED LIST
Areas of pest management: Pocket, neighborhood, community, and city parks. Open space /
trails. Cemeteries. Landscaping. Facility turf lawns. Utility property. Right-of-ways.
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Active Ingredient(s) Concentration(s) Product Name Signal Word Description
Herbicides
Thiencarbazone-
methyl, Iodosulfuron-
methyl-sodium,
Dicamba
8.7% / 1.9% /
57.4%
Celsius WG Caution Safe and effective
control of both a
large list of
broadleaves and
many grassy
weeds. This is our
primary choice
due to its
effectiveness and
safety level.
Sulfosulfuron 75% Certainty Caution Controls many
grassy weeds. It
will be used
primarily for
nutsedge, both
purple and
yellow.
Glufosinate
ammonium
24.50% Cheetah Pro Caution Control of
undesirable plant
vegetation,
including
emerged annual
and perennial
grass, sedge and
broadleaf weeds.
Corn kernel, protein
based nitrogen
9.8% / 60% Corn Gluten Meal N/A Pre-emergent to
control broadleaf
and grassy weeds
Iron HEDTA
(FeHEDTA)
26.52% Fiesta Caution Controls
broadleaf weeds,
disease, moss,
algae, and lichens
in turf through
iron toxicity. Not
for application in
temperatures
greater than 85.
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Fluazifop-P-butyl 24.50% Fusilade Caution Selective post
emergent that
controls
unwanted
perennial and
annual grass
weeds such as
Bermuda grass
without injuring
desirable
broadleaf plants;
primarily used in
landscape beds.
Isoxaben 75% Gallery 75 DF Caution Used on shrub
beds, tree circles,
and other areas.
Can be used in
combination or
rotation with
oryzalin to
broaden the
spectrum of
weeds prevented.
Triclopyr: 3,5,6-
trichloro-2-
pyridinyloxyacetic
acid, butoxyethyl
ester
61.60% Garlon 4 Caution Selective products
for woody,
difficult to control
perennials, also
for invasives and
habitat
restoration.
Halosulfuron-methyl 75% Halo 75 WDG Caution Selective pre and
post emergent
control of
broadleaf weeds
and nutsedge.
Acetic Acid 10% Horticultural
vinegar
Post emergent
used to control
unwanted plants.
Pendimethalin 2% Pendulum 2G Caution /
Precaution
Pre-emergent
control of most
annual grasses
and certain
broadleaf weeds
as they germinate
in any turfgrass
site (lawns, sod,
turf areas).
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Pendimethalin 37.40% Pendulum 3.3 EC
Herbicide
Caution /
Precaution
Pre-emergent
control of most
annual grasses
and certain
broadleaf weeds
as they germinate
in any turfgrass
site (lawns, sod,
turf areas).
Prodiamine 40.70% Prodiamine 4L Caution Pre-emergent
weed control,
especially
effective on Poa
annua (annual
bluegrass) in the
fall and winter.
Triclopyr 60.45% Remedy Ultra Caution Selective products
for woody,
difficult to control
perennials, also
for invasives and
habitat
restoration.
Diquat dibromide 37.30% Reward Caution Non-selective
herbicide that
manages weed
problems in
aquatic, ground
maintenance, and
landscaping areas.
Oxadiazon 34.10% Ronstar FLO Caution A pre-emergent
for control of
many annual
grasses and
broadleaf weeds
such as crabgrass,
goose grass, field
sandbur, annual
sedge and
bluegrass.
Oxadiazon 1.38% 5-0-15 w/Ronstar Caution Pre-emergent
mixed with
fertilizer.
Halosulfuron-methyl
methyl 3-chloro-5, --
methylpyrazole-4-
carboxylate
75% / 25% Sedghammer Caution Nutsedge control.
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Trifluralin, isoxaben 2% / 0.5% Snapshot 2.5TG Caution Pre-emergent
product for
control of certain
broadleaf weeds
and annual
grasses in shrub
and groundcover
areas as well as
the mulch area of
perennial beds.
Flumioxazin 51% Sureguard Caution A pre-emergence
and early post-
emergence
herbicide for
control of
selected grass and
broadleaf weeds.
Oryzalin 40.40% Surflan AS, WDG Caution /
Precaution
Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Benefin, Oryzalin 1% / 1% Surflan XL 2G Caution /
Precaution
Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Mesotrione 40% Tenacity Caution Selective contact
and residual
control of weeds
in ornamental
turfgrasses.
Picloram 24.40% Tordon K Caution Used to control
weeds, unwanted
brush and trees
e.g. Chinese
privet.
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61 | P a g e
Thiencarbazone-
methyl,
Foramsulfuron,
Halosulfuron-methyl
9.9% / 19.8% /
30.8%
TributeTotal Caution A combination of
Celsius,
Sedghammer and
Revolver; most
effective in
controlling
dallisgrass in the
fall.
Dithiopyr 24% Dimension Warning Pre-emergent
product with
some post control
of goose grass in
the 2-3 leaf stage.
Ammonium
Nonanoate
40% Mirimichi Green Warning Control or
burndown of
weeds and
grasses.
Oxadiazon-3 2% Ronstar G Warning Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Pelargonic acid,
related fatty acids
57% / 3% Scythe Warning Minor use
desiccant used for
top-kill of early-
stage, easily killed
weeds.
Indiaziflam 7.40% Specticle FLO Warning Pre-emergent
weed control with
the longest
residual (up to 6
months) of any
other pre-
emergent
herbicide
Triclopyr, Clopyralid 33% / 12.1% Confront Danger Selective products
for woody,
difficult to control
perennials, also
for invasives and
habitat
restoration.
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Fungicides
Streptomyces lydicus
WYEC 108
0.04% Actinovate Caution A biological
fungicide for the
suppression of
root rot and
damping-off fungi
and the
suppression/contr
ol of foliar fungal
pathogens
Thiabendazile
hypophosphite
26.60% Arbotec 20-S Caution Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens
strain D747
25% DoubleNickel 55 OMRI a broad-
spectrum
preventative
biofungicide for
control or
suppression of
fungal and
bacterial plant
diseases.
Mefenoxam 22% Subdue Maxx Caution A turfgrass
disease control
for Pythium
blight.
Propiconazole 14.30% Alamo Warning Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
Etridiazole,
Thiophanate-methyl
15% / 25% Banrot 40 WP Warning A broad spectrum
fungicide that will
control root and
stem rot diseases
caused by
Rhizoctonia,
Phytophthora,
Pythium,
Fusarium, and
Thielaviopsis.
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Chlorothalonil 82.50% Daconil Danger Controls various
fungal diseases
including
anthracnose, leaf
spots, blights, and
rots on many
different species
of plants.
Insecticides
Acephate 75% Acephate WSP Caution Acephate is
reserved for use
in the treatment
of severe
infestations of
aphids, leaf
miners,
caterpillars,
sawflies, thrips,
and the individual
treatment of red
imported fire ant
mounds.
Indoxacarb 0.05% Advion Caution Fire ant bait. It’ll
only effect the
ants and
eradicates them
in 24-72 hours. It
is an extremely
safe product that
protects patrons
and pets from fire
ants.
Azadirachtin 3% Azatin XL Caution Neem tree extract
used for insect
growth regulating
and anti-feeding
effects. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
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Steinernema
feltiae, Steinernema
carpocapsae and Hete
rorhabditis
bacteriophora
N/A Beneficial
nematodes
N/A Naturally occur in
soil and are used
to control soil
pest insects and
whenever larvae
or grubs are
present. Do not
expose humans or
animals to any
health or
environmental
risks. Beneficial
nematodes only
attack soil
dwelling insects
and leave plants
and earthworms
alone.
Bacillus thuringiensis Bt - asst'd (BTI
Briquets)
Caution Used to control
mosquito and fly
larva in standing
water primarily
ponds, streams,
and around
retainage /
drainage areas.
Product is usually
in the form of a
briquette.
Spinosad 11.60% Conserve N/A Typically not
used, but retained
for unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Deltamethrin 2% DeltaGard Caution Low dose
granules to
control ants,
armyworms,
centipedes,
chiggers,
chinchbugs,
cockroaches, field
and mole crickets,
beetles,
scorpions,
spiders, and ticks.
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Deltamethrin 0.10% DeltaGard G Caution Low dose
granules to
control ants,
armyworms,
centipedes,
chiggers,
chinchbugs,
cockroaches, field
and mole crickets,
beetles,
scorpions,
spiders, and ticks.
Sugar, fiber, ash,
protein, fat
42%/25%/
14%/5%/ .3%
Dry Molasses N/A Ant control.
Tetramethrin,
Permethrin, Piperonyl
butoxide
0.1% / 0.25% /
0.5%
Enforcer Caution Directed jet
sprays used for
individual wasp
and hornet nest
treatments posing
health and safety
threats to park
users.
Peppermint oil,
sodium laurly sulfate
1.5% / .15% Essentria Wasp
and Hornet Spray
Caution Wasps, hornets,
yellow jackets,
and spiders
(S)-Methoprene 0.50% Extinguish Caution Bait used to
control imported
and native fire
ants.
Bacillus thuringiensis
subsp. galleriae, Strain
SDS-502 fermentation
solids, spores and
insecticidal toxins
9% GrubGone Caution All season control
of grubs.
Petroleum based Horticultural Oils N/A (Sun Spray,
Dormant Oil) -
Primarily used as
"dormant oils"
applied before
bud break in the
spring to control
pests on fruit and
shade trees.
Dormant oils are
very effective
against the eggs
of certain mites,
Integrated Pest Management Plan
66 | P a g e
aphids, and scale
insects that
overwinter on
fruit and shade
trees. A new
generation of
more highly
refined
horticultural oils
also known as” all
seasons spray
oils" or “summer
oils” can be safely
used on many
plants during the
growing season.
Nosema Locustae 0.05% Nolo Bait N/A Controls
grasshoppers.
Lacewig flies Bio-control agent Lacewig flies N/A Feed on aphids.
Imidacloprid 75% Lada 75WSP Caution Versatile
insecticide
registered to
control over 50
insect pest
including aphids,
lacebugs, leaf
beetles, and
leafminers.
Ladybugs Bio-control agent Ladybugs N/A Feed on aphids.
Praying mantis Bio-control agent Praying mantis N/A Used to control
beetles, flies,
catepillars, wasps,
and other insects
Cinnamon oil, clove oil 40% / 10% Pure Gro Bug
Stop
N/A Mites, whiteflies,
aphids, scales,
trips, weevils,
leafminers.
Bifenthrin 7.90% Talstar Caution Termite, ant,
bees, and wasp
control.
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Fipronil 0.014% Top Choice Fire
Ant Bait
Caution Primary purpose
is to control
imported fire ants
in turf grass and
landscape beds.
Mole crickets,
fleas, ticks, and
nuisence ants are
controlled for a
lilmited time.
Cyfluthrin 11.80% Tempo SC Ultra Caution Used against
flying pests such
as wasps and
yellow jackets,
crawling pests like
ants and
centipedes, as
well as various
beetles and
moths.
Trichogramma Wasp
Eggs
Bio-control agent Trichogramma
Wasp Eggs
N/A Controls plant /
leaf damaging
caterpillars and
worms.
Emamectin benzoate 4% Tree-age
Injectable
Warning Used as a
systemic trunk
injection to treat
emerald ash
borers.
Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49% M-Pede Warning General soft body
insect control.
Typically not
used, but retained
for unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49.52% Safer Soap Warning General soft body
insect control.
Typically not
used, but retained
for unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
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Miticides
Bifenazate 22.60% Floramite SC Caution Miticide as part of
a carefully
implemented plan
to keep mites at
non- injurious
levels. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Tau-fluvalinate 22.30% Mavrik Caution For control of
various mites,
worms, weevils,
and beetles as
well as whiteflies,
ants, crickets, and
chiggers.
Abamectin 2% Avid Warning For control of
leafminers and
mites and
suppression of
aphids, whiteflies,
and thrips on
ornamental
plants.
Rodenticide
Diphacinone 0.01% Bait Block Caution Used to control
rodents such as
mice and rats.
Bromethalin,
Diphacinone
.01% / .005% Just 1 Bite Caution Used to control
rodents such as
mice and rats.
Miscellaneous
Water soluble blue
dye
Blue Spray
Pattern Dye
Caution Color dye used for
application to all
types of
turfgrasses to
make spray
patterns visible.
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Ethylated seed oil;
polyoxyalkylene fatty
ester
100% Hasten EA
adjuvant
None Surfactant used in
solutions to
enhance spray
coverage and
increase efficacy.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-
Propanetricarboxylic
Acid, Calcium Chloride
25% / 9% Tri-Fol Acidifier
and Buffering
Agent
Caution OMRI Organic
acidulate and
buffering agent
for lowering the
pH of spray water.
Blue colorant,
proprietary
proportions
Turf Trax Blue
Dye
Caution Color dye used for
application to all
types of
turfgrasses to
make spray
patterns visible.
Trinexapac-ethyl 11.30% Primo Maxx PGR Caution For managing
growth, improving
quality and stress
tolerance, and
edging of warm
and cool season
turfgrasses.
Alkylphenol
ethoxylate, alcohol
ethoxylate and tall oil
fatty acid
90% Activator 90 Warning Low-foaming,
non-ionic type
spreader
adjuvant.
Provides quick
wetting, more
uniform
distribution, and
increases
retention of spray
by reducing
surface tension on
the spray
droplets.
Polyether-
Polymethylsiloxane-
Copolymer and
Polyether
100% Syl-Coat Warning OMRI Nonionic
silicone surfactant
specifically
designed to
enhance the
efficacy of
pesticides.
Particularly
effective when
used with water-
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soluble and post
emergent
herbicides by
completely
wetting leaf
surface and
increasing
amount/rate of
uptake. Most
evident on
broadleaf and
woody brush
species.
Alkylarylpolyethoxyet
hanol, free fatty acids
93% Tradition 93 Non-
Ionic Surfactant
Warning A wetting agent
that helps soils to
quickly and evenly
absorb water by
breaking the
water’s surface
tension, allowing
water molecules
to spread for
greater and faster
water
penetration. As a
wetting agent,
nonionic
surfactants are
often mixed in
with potting
media to ensure
easy water
absorption into
plant soil.
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Dimethylpolysiloxane,
Methylated silicon
7.7% / 2.3% Fast Break
Antifoamer /
Defoamer
Warning Used to provide
effective, high
performance
foam control at
very low
concentrations
under normal
foaming
situations in
recirculating
sprayers and in
other high
agitation
equipment.
Polyethylene glycol
mono ether
90% R-11 Warning Specially
formulated for
increasing the
efficacy of various
agricultural
chemicals.
Designed for use
where quick
wetting and
uniform coverage
of a chemical on a
target surface is
required.
Silicic acid, sodium
salt, sodium
carbonate, silicon
dioxide, proprietary
compounds,
polyethoxylate
Neutralize Tank
Cleaner
Danger A cleaning and
rinsing agent used
to remove
pesticide residues
from spray
equipment.
Proper cleaning of
equipment helps
to reduce
exposure to
products, avoid
cross
contamination of
incompatible
products, and
prevents damage
to rubber, plastic,
and other soft
sprayer parts.
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APPENDIX 2: Athletic Field Services Approved List
Areas of pest management: Athletic fields such as softball, basebal l, football, and soccer fields.
Active Ingredient(s) Concentration(s) Product Name Signal Word Description
Herbicides
Thiencarbazone-
methyl, Iodosulfuron-
methyl-sodium,
Dicamba
8.7% / 1.9% /
57.4%
Celsius WG Caution Safe and effective
control of both a
large list of
broadleaves and
many grassy
weeds. This is our
primary choice
due to its
effectiveness and
safety level.
Sulfosulfuron 75% Certainty Caution Controls many
grassy weeds. It
will be used
primarily for
nutsedge, both
purple and yellow.
Glufosinate
ammonium
24.50% Cheetah Pro Caution Control of
undesirable plant
vegetation,
including emerged
annual and
perennial grass,
sedge and
broadleaf weeds.
Corn kernel, protein
based nitrogen
9.8% / 60% Corn Gluten
Meal
N/A Pre-emergent to
control broadleaf
and grassy weeds
Iron HEDTA (FeHEDTA) 26.52% Fiesta Caution Controls broadleaf
weeds, disease,
moss, algae, and
lichens in turf
through iron
toxicity. Not for
application in
temperatures
greater than 85.
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Fluazifop-P-butyl 24.50% Fusilade Caution Selective post
emergent that
controls
unwanted
perennial and
annual grass
weeds such as
Bermuda grass
without injuring
desirable
broadleaf plants;
primarily used in
landscape beds.
Isoxaben 75% Gallery 75 DF Caution Used on shrub
beds, tree circles,
and other areas.
Can be used in
combination or
rotation with
oryzalin to
broaden the
spectrum of
weeds prevented.
Triclopyr: 3,5,6-
trichloro-2-
pyridinyloxyacetic
acid, butoxyethyl ester
61.60% Garlon 4 Caution Selective products
for woody,
difficult to control
perennials, also
for invasives and
habitat
restoration.
Halosulfuron-methyl 75% Halo 75 WDG Caution Selective pre and
post emergent
control of
broadleaf weeds
and nutsedge.
Acetic Acid 10% Horticultural
vinegar
Post emergent
used to control
unwanted plants.
Pendimethalin 2% Pendulum 2G Caution /
Precaution
Pre-emergent
control of most
annual grasses
and certain
broadleaf weeds
as they germinate
in any turfgrass
site (lawns, sod,
turf areas).
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Pendimethalin 37.40% Pendulum 3.3 EC
Herbicide
Caution /
Precaution
Pre-emergent
control of most
annual grasses
and certain
broadleaf weeds
as they germinate
in any turfgrass
site (lawns, sod,
turf areas).
Prodiamine 40.70% Prodiamine 4L Caution Pre-emergent
weed control,
especially
effective on Poa
annua (annual
bluegrass) in the
fall and winter.
Diquat dibromide 37.30% Reward Caution Non-selective
herbicide that
manages weed
problems in
aquatic, ground
maintenance, and
landscaping areas.
Oxadiazon 34.10% Ronstar FLO Caution A pre-emergent
for control of
many annual
grasses and
broadleaf weeds
such as crabgrass,
goose grass, field
sandbur, annual
sedge and
bluegrass.
Oxadiazon 1.38% 5-0-15
w/Ronstar
Caution Pre-emergent
mixed with
fertilizer.
Halosulfuron-methyl
methyl 3-chloro-5, --
methylpyrazole-4-
carboxylate
75% / 25% Sedghammer Caution Nutsedge control.
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Trifluralin, isoxaben 2% / 0.5% Snapshot 2.5TG Caution Pre-emergent
product for
control of certain
broadleaf weeds
and annual
grasses in shrub
and groundcover
areas as well as
the mulch area of
perennial beds.
Flumioxazin 51% Sureguard Caution A pre-emergence
and early post-
emergence
herbicide for
control of selected
grass and
broadleaf weeds.
Oryzalin 40.40% Surflan AS, WDG Caution /
Precaution
Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Benefin, Oryzalin 1% / 1% Surflan XL 2G Caution /
Precaution
Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Mesotrione 40% Tenacity Caution Selective contact
and residual
control of weeds
in ornamental
turfgrasses.
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Thiencarbazone-
methyl,
Foramsulfuron,
Halosulfuron-methyl
9.9% / 19.8% /
30.8%
TributeTotal Caution A combination of
Celsius,
Sedghammer and
Revolver; most
effective in
controlling
dallisgrass in the
fall.
Dithiopyr 24% Dimension Warning Pre-emergent
product with
some post control
of goose grass in
the 2-3 leaf stage.
Ammonium
Nonanoate
40% Mirimichi Green Warning Control or
burndown of
weeds and
grasses.
Oxadiazon-3 2% Ronstar G Warning Used in shrub
beds, tree circles,
fence lines and
other park areas
for weed control.
A primary liquid
form pre-
emergent
product.
Pelargonic acid,
related fatty acids
57% / 3% Scythe Warning Minor use
desiccant used for
top-kill of early-
stage, easily killed
weeds.
Indiaziflam 7.40% Specticle FLO Warning Pre-emergent
weed control with
the longest
residual (up to 6
months) of any
other pre-
emergent
herbicide
Triclopyr, Clopyralid 33% / 12.1% Confront Danger Selective products
for woody,
difficult to control
perennials, also
for invasives and
habitat
restoration.
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Fungicides
Streptomyces lydicus
WYEC 108
0.04% Actinovate Caution A biological
fungicide for the
suppression of
root rot and
damping-off fungi
and the
suppression/contr
ol of foliar fungal
pathogens
Thiabendazile
hypophosphite
26.60% Arbotec 20-S Caution Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens
strain D747
25% DoubleNickel 55 OMRI a broad-
spectrum
preventative
biofungicide for
control or
suppression of
fungal and
bacterial plant
diseases.
Mefenoxam 22% Subdue Maxx Caution A turfgrass disease
control for
Pythium blight.
Propiconazole 14.30% Alamo Warning Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
Etridiazole,
Thiophanate-methyl
15% / 25% Banrot 40 WP Warning A broad spectrum
fungicide that will
control root and
stem rot diseases
caused by
Rhizoctonia,
Phytophthora,
Pythium,
Fusarium, and
Thielaviopsis.
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Chlorothalonil 82.50% Daconil Danger Controls various
fungal diseases
including
anthracnose, leaf
spots, blights, and
rots on many
different species
of plants.
Insecticides
Acephate 75% Acephate WSP Caution Acephate is
reserved for use in
the treatment of
severe
infestations of
aphids, leaf
miners,
caterpillars,
sawflies, thrips,
and the individual
treatment of red
imported fire ant
mounds.
Indoxacarb 0.05% Advion Caution Fire ant bait. It’ll
only effect the
ants and
eradicates them in
24-72 hours. It is
an extremely safe
product that
protects patrons
and pets from fire
ants.
Azadirachtin 3% Azatin XL Caution Neem tree extract
used for insect
growth regulating
and anti-feeding
effects. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
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Steinernema
feltiae, Steinernema
carpocapsae and Hete
rorhabditis
bacteriophora
N/A Beneficial
nematodes
N/A Naturally occur in
soil and are used
to control soil pest
insects and
whenever larvae
or grubs are
present. Do not
expose humans or
animals to any
health or
environmental
risks. Beneficial
nematodes only
attack soil
dwelling insects
and leave plants
and earthworms
alone.
Bacillus thuringiensis 10.31% Bt - asst'd (BTI
Briquets)
Caution Used to control
mosquito and fly
larva in standing
water primarily
ponds, streams,
and around
retainage /
drainage areas.
Product is usually
in the form of a
briquette.
Spinosad 11.60% Conserve Typically not used,
but retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Deltamethrin 2% DeltaGard Caution Low dose granules
to control ants,
armyworms,
centipedes,
chiggers,
chinchbugs,
cockroaches, field
and mole crickets,
beetles, scorpions,
spiders, and ticks.
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Deltamethrin 0.10% DeltaGard G Caution Low dose granules
to control ants,
armyworms,
centipedes,
chiggers,
chinchbugs,
cockroaches, field
and mole crickets,
beetles, scorpions,
spiders, and ticks.
Sugar, fiber, ash,
protein, fat
42%/25%/14%/5%
/.3%
Dry Molasses N/A Ant control.
Tetramethrin,
Permethrin, Piperonyl
butoxide
0.1% / 0.25% /
0.5%
Enforcer Caution Directed jet sprays
used for individual
wasp and hornet
nest treatments
posing health and
safety threats to
park users.
Peppermint oil,
sodium laurly sulfate
1.5% / .15% Essentria Wasp
and Hornet
Spray
Caution Wasps, hornets,
yellow jackets,
and spiders
(S)-Methoprene 0.50% Extinguish Caution Bait used to
control imported
and native fire
ants.
Bacillus thuringiensis
subsp. galleriae, Strain
SDS-502 fermentation
solids, spores and
insecticidal toxins
9.00% GrubGone Caution All season control
of grubs.
Petroleum based Horticultural Oils (Sun Spray,
Dormant Oil) -
Primarily used as
"dormant oils"
applied before
bud break in the
spring to control
pests on fruit and
shade trees.
Dormant oils are
very effective
against the eggs of
certain mites,
aphids, and scale
insects that
overwinter on
Integrated Pest Management Plan
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fruit and shade
trees. A new
generation of
more highly
refined
horticultural oils
also known as” all
seasons spray oils"
or “summer oils”
can be safely used
on many plants
during the
growing season.
Nosema Locustae 0.05% Nolo Bait N/A Controls
grasshoppers.
Lacewig flies Bio-control agent Lacewig flies N/A Feed on aphids.
Imidacloprid 75% Lada 75WSP Caution Versatile
insecticide
registered to
control over 50
insect pest
including aphids,
lacebugs, leaf
beetles, and
leafminers.
Ladybugs Bio-control agent Ladybugs N/A Feed on aphids.
Praying mantis Bio-control agent Praying mantis N/A Used to control
beetles, flies,
catepillars, wasps,
and other insects
Cinnamon oil, clove oil 40% / 10% Pure Gro Bug
Stop
N/A Mites, whiteflies,
aphids, scales,
trips, weevils,
leafminers.
Bifenthrin 7.90% Talstar Caution Termite, ant, bees,
and wasp control.
Fipronil 0.014% Top Choice Fire
Ant Bait
Caution Primary purpose is
to control
imported fire ants
in turf grass and
landscape beds.
Mole crickets,
fleas, ticks, and
nuisence ants are
controlled for a
lilmited time.
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Cyfluthrin 11.80% Tempo SC Ultra Caution Used against flying
pests such as
wasps and yellow
jackets, crawling
pests like ants and
centipedes, as
well as various
beetles and
moths.
Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49% M-Pede Warning General soft body
insect control.
Typically not used,
but retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49.52% Safer Soap Warning OMRI General soft
body insect
control. Retained
for short term use
where long term
plant health is
affected.
Miscellaneous
Water soluble blue
dye
Blue Spray
Pattern Dye
Caution Color dye used for
application to all
types of
turfgrasses to
make spray
patterns visible.
Ethylated seed oil;
polyoxyalkylene fatty
ester
100% Hasten EA
adjuvant
None Surfactant used in
solutions to
enhance spray
coverage and
increase efficacy.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-
Propanetricarboxylic
Acid, Calcium Chloride
25% / 9% Tri-Fol Acidifier
and Buffering
Agent
Caution OMRI Organic
acidulate and
buffering agent
for lowering the
pH of spray water.
Blue colorant,
proprietary
proportions
Turf Trax Blue
Dye
Caution Color dye used for
application to all
types of
turfgrasses to
make spray
patterns visible.
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Trinexapac-ethyl 11.30% Primo Maxx PGR Caution For managing
growth, improving
quality and stress
tolerance, and
edging of warm
and cool season
turfgrasses.
Alkylphenol
ethoxylate, alcohol
ethoxylate and tall oil
fatty acid
90% Activator 90 Warning Low-foaming,
non-ionic type
spreader adjuvant.
Provides quick
wetting, more
uniform
distribution, and
increases
retention of spray
by reducing
surface tension on
the spray droplets.
Polyether-
Polymethylsiloxane-
Copolymer and
Polyether
100% Syl-Coat Warning OMRI Nonionic
silicone surfactant
specifically
designed to
enhance the
efficacy of
pesticides.
Particularly
effective when
used with water-
soluble and post
emergent
herbicides by
completely
wetting leaf
surface and
increasing
amount/rate of
uptake. Most
evident on
broadleaf and
woody brush
species.
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Alkylarylpolyethoxyeth
anol, free fatty acids
93% Tradition 93
Non-Ionic
Surfactant
Warning A wetting agent
that helps soils to
quickly and evenly
absorb water by
breaking the
water’s surface
tension, allowing
water molecules
to spread for
greater and faster
water
penetration. As a
wetting agent,
nonionic
surfactants are
often mixed in
with potting
media to ensure
easy water
absorption into
plant soil.
Dimethylpolysiloxane,
Methylated silicon
7.7% / 2.3% Fast Break
Antifoamer /
Defoamer
Warning Used to provide
effective, high
performance foam
control at very low
concentrations
under normal
foaming situations
in recirculating
sprayers and in
other high
agitation
equipment.
Polyethylene glycol
mono ether
90% R-11 Warning
Silicic acid, sodium
salt, sodium
carbonate, silicon
dioxide, proprietary
compounds,
polyethoxylate
Neutralize Tank
Cleaner
Danger A cleaning and
rinsing agent used
to remove
pesticide residues
from spray
equipment.
Proper cleaning of
equipment helps
to reduce
exposure to
products, avoid
cross
contamination of
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incompatible
products, and
prevents damage
to rubber, plastic,
and other soft
sprayer parts.
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APPENDIX 3: City Urban Forestry Approved List
Areas of pest management: trees on streets, parks, other city property, and UF nursery
operations.
Active
Ingredient(s)
Concentration(s) Product Name Signal Word Description
Herbicides
Picloram 24.40% Tordon K Caution Used to control
weeds, unwanted
brush and trees
e.g. Chinese
privet.
Fungicides
Streptomyces
lydicus WYEC 108
0.04% Actinovate Caution A biological
fungicide for the
suppression of
root rot and
damping-off fungi
and the
suppression/contr
ol of foliar fungal
pathogens
Thiabendazile
hypophosphite
26.60% Arbotec 20-S Caution Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens
strain D747
25% DoubleNickel 55 OMRI a broad-
spectrum
preventative
biofungicide for
control or
suppression of
fungal and
bacterial plant
diseases.
Propiconazole 14.30% Alamo Warning Trunk injection
product for
certain high value
elms.
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Etridiazole,
Thiophanate-
methyl
15% / 25% Banrot 40 WP Warning A broad spectrum
fungicide that will
control root and
stem rot diseases
caused by
Rhizoctonia,
Phytophthora,
Pythium,
Fusarium, and
Thielaviopsis.
Chlorothalonil 82.50% Daconil Danger Controls various
fungal diseases
including
anthracnose, leaf
spots, blights, and
rots on many
different species
of plants.
Insecticides
Acephate 75% Acephate WSP Caution Acephate is
reserved for use
in the treatment
of severe
infestations of
aphids, leaf
miners,
caterpillars,
sawflies, thrips,
and the individual
treatment of red
imported fire ant
mounds.
Azadirachtin 3% Azatin XL Caution Neem tree extract
used for insect
growth regulating
and anti-feeding
effects. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
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Steinernema
feltiae, Steinerne
ma
carpocapsae and
Heterorhabditis
bacteriophora
N/A Beneficial
nematodes
N/A Naturally occur in
soil and are used
to control soil
pest insects and
whenever larvae
or grubs are
present. Do not
expose humans or
animals to any
health or
environmental
risks. Beneficial
nematodes only
attack soil
dwelling insects
and leave plants
and earthworms
alone.
Spinosad 11.60% Conserve Typically not
used, but retained
for unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Petroleum based Horticultural Oils (Sun Spray,
Dormant Oil) -
Spray oils
primarily used as
"dormant oils"
applied before
bud break in the
spring to control
pests on fruit and
shade trees.
Dormant oils are
very effective
against the eggs
of certain mites,
aphids, and scale
insects that
overwinter on
fruit and shade
trees. A new
generation of
more highly
refined
horticultural oils
also known as” all
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seasons spray
oils" or “summer
oils” can be safely
used on many
plants during the
growing season.
Lacewig flies Bio-control agent Lacewig flies N/A Feed on aphids.
Imidacloprid 75% Lada 75WSP Caution Versatile
insecticide
registered to
control over 50
insect pest
including aphids,
lacebugs, leaf
beetles, and
leafminers.
Ladybugs Bio-control agent Ladybugs N/A Feed on aphids.
Praying mantis Bio-control agent Praying mantis N/A Used to control
beetles, flies,
catepillars, wasps,
and other insects
Cinnamon oil,
clove oil
40% / 10% Pure Gro Bug
Stop
N/A Mites, whiteflies,
aphids, scales,
trips, weevils,
leafminers.
Cyfluthrin 11.80% Tempo SC Ultra Caution Used against
flying pests such
as wasps and
yellow jackets,
crawling pests like
ants and
centipedes, as
well as various
beetles and
moths.
Trichogramma
Wasp Eggs
Bio-control agent Trichogramma
Wasp Eggs
N/A Controls plant /
leaf damaging
caterpillars and
worms.
Emamectin
benzoate
4% Tree-age
Injectable
Warning Used as a
systemic trunk
injection to treat
emerald ash
borers.
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Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49% M-Pede Warning General soft body
insect control.
Typically not
used, but retained
for unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Potassium salts of
fatty acids
49.52% Safer Soap Warning OMRI General
soft body insect
control. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Miticides
Bifenazate 22.60% Floramite SC Caution Miticide as part of
a carefully
implemented plan
to keep mites at
non- injurious
levels. Typically
not used, but
retained for
unusual, short
term use where
long term plant
health is affected.
Tau-fluvalinate 22.30% Mavrik Caution For control of
various mites,
worms, weevils,
and beetles as
well as whiteflies,
ants, crickets, and
chiggers.
Abamectin 2% Avid Warning For control of
leafminers and
mites and
suppression of
aphids, whiteflies,
and thrips on
ornamental
plants.
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Miscellaneous
Ethylated seed oil;
polyoxyalkylene
fatty ester
100% Hasten EA
adjuvant
None Surfactant used in
solutions to
enhance spray
coverage and
increase efficacy.
2-Hydroxy-1,2,3-
Propanetricarbox
ylic Acid, Calcium
Chloride
25% / 9% Tri-Fol Acidifier
and Buffering
Agent
Caution OMRI Organic
acidulate and
buffering agent
for lowering the
pH of spray water.
Alkylphenol
ethoxylate,
alcohol ethoxylate
and tall oil fatty
acid
90% Activator 90 Warning
Polyether-
Polymethylsiloxan
e-Copolymer and
Polyether
100% Syl-Coat Warning OMRI Nonionic
silicone surfactant
specifically
designed to
enhance the
efficacy of
pesticides.
Particularly
effective when
used with water-
soluble and post
emergent
herbicides by
completely
wetting leaf
surface and
increasing
amount/rate of
uptake. Most
evident on
broadleaf and
woody brush
species.
Dimethylpolysilox
ane, Methylated
silicon
7.7% / 2.3% Fast Break
Antifoamer /
Defoamer
Warning Used to provide
effective, high
performance
foam control at
very low
concentrations
under normal
foaming
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situations in
recirculating
sprayers and in
other high
agitation
equipment.
Polyethylene
glycol mono ether
90% R-11 Warning Specially
formulated for
increasing the
efficacy of various
agricultural
chemicals.
Designed for use
where quick
wetting and
uniform coverage
of a chemical on a
target surface is
required.
Silicic acid,
sodium salt,
sodium
carbonate, silicon
dioxide,
proprietary
compounds,
polyethoxylate
Neutralize Tank
Cleaner
Danger A cleaning and
rinsing agent used
to remove
pesticide residues
from spray
equipment.
Proper cleaning of
equipment helps
to reduce
exposure to
products, avoid
cross
contamination of
incompatible
products, and
prevents damage
to rubber, plastic,
and other soft
sprayer parts.
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APPENDIX 4: Natural Areas Approved List
Areas of pest management: natural area parks, designated preservation areas, undeveloped
City property. Herbicides are only used in natural areas along soft surface trails, generally 12
inches on each side, to prevent vegetation encroachment. Trails surfaces must be maintained
for the safety of trail users and to allow access to maintenance and public safety vehicles. Hard
surface trails are maintained primarily by mechanical means such as edging. Herbicides may
also be used in natural areas in response to a maintenance or safety concern/complaint. In
these cases, all available natural, manually, and mechanical means will be explored first. The
least toxic herbicide will be used to address the pest.
Active
Ingredient(s) /
concentrations
Concentration(s) Product Name Signal Word Description
Herbicides
Glufosinate
ammonium
24.50% Cheetah Pro Caution Control of
undesirable plant
vegetation, including
emerged annual and
perennial grass,
sedge and broadleaf
weeds.
Iron HEDTA
(FeHEDTA)
26.52% Fiesta Caution Controls broadleaf
weeds, disease,
moss, algae, and
lichens in turf
through iron toxicity.
Not for application in
temperatures greater
than 85.
Triclopyr: 3,5,6-
trichloro-2-
pyridinyloxyacetic
acid, butoxyethyl
ester
61.60% Garlon 4 Caution Selective products
for woody, difficult
to control perennials,
also for invasives and
habitat restoration.
Acetic Acid 10.00% Horticultural
vinegar
Post emergent used
to control unwanted
plants.
Triclopyr 60.45% Remedy Ultra Caution Selective products
for woody, difficult
to control perennials,
also for invasives and
habitat restoration.
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Diquat dibromide 37.30% Reward Caution Non-selective
herbicide that
manages weed
problems in aquatic,
ground maintenance,
and landscaping
areas.
Picloram 24.40% Tordon K Caution Used to control
weeds, unwanted
brush and trees e.g.
Chinese privet.
Alkylphenol
ethoxylate,
alcohol ethoxylate
and tall oil fatty
acid/Constituents
Activator 90 Warning Surfactant used in
solutions to enhance
spray coverage and
increase efficacy.
Ammonium
Nonanoate
40.00% Mirimichi Green Warning Control or burndown
of weeds and
grasses.
Pelargonic acid,
related fatty acids
57% / 3% Scythe Warning Minor use desiccant
used for top-kill of
early-stage, easily
killed weeds.
Insecticides
Acephate 75% Acephate WSP Caution Acephate is reserved
for use in the
treatment of severe
infestations of
aphids, leaf miners,
caterpillars, sawflies,
thrips, and the
individual treatment
of red imported fire
ant mounds.
Bacillus
thuringiensis
10.31% Bt - asst'd (BTI
Briquets)
Caution Used to control
mosquito and fly
larva in standing
water primarily
ponds, streams, and
around retainage /
drainage areas.
Product is usually in
the form of a
briquette.
Sugar, fiber, ash,
protein, fat
42%/25%/14%/5%
/.3%
Dry Molasses N/A Ant control.
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Tetramethrin,
Permethrin,
Piperonyl
butoxide
0.1% / 0.25% /
0.5%
Enforcer Caution Directed jet sprays
used for individual
wasp and hornet
nest treatments
posing health and
safety threats to park
users.
Peppermint oil,
sodium laurly
sulfate
1.5% / .15% Essentria Wasp
and Hornet Spray
Caution Wasps, hornets,
yellow jackets, and
spiders
Petroleum based Horticultural Oils (Sun Spray, Dormant
Oil) - Spray oils
primarily used as
"dormant oils"
applied before bud
break in the spring to
control pests on fruit
and shade trees.
Dormant oils are very
effective against the
eggs of certain mites,
aphids, and scale
insects that
overwinter on fruit
and shade trees. A
new generation of
more highly refined
horticultural oils also
known as” all
seasons spray oils" or
“summer oils” can be
safely used on many
plants during the
growing season.
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APPENDIX 5: Maintenance Schedule and Pest Management Methods
City of Denton
CLASSIFICATION PLAN
TURFGRASS MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class AA Class A Class B Class C Class D
Mow, edge, and
trim
2 times per week
Mow at 1.5 – 2”,
clippings not
collected
36 mowing cycles
per year every 7
days at 2.5-3”,
clippings not
collected. Leaves
are shredded and
returned to soil.
32 cycles per year
every 7 days
through the
growing season.
Mow at 2.5 – 3”,
clippings not
collected leaves are
shredded and
returned to soil.
5-7 mowing
cycles. Mow
at 4-6”
clippings not
collected.
Leaves are
shredded and
returned to
soil.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state or
within City
code
Fertilization
4-5 lbs of Nitrogen
per 1000 sf per year
3 lbs Nitrogen per
1000 sf per year in
2 applications – In
conjunction with
Athletic field
fertilization
3 lbs Nitrogen per
1000 sf per year in
2 applications – In
conjunction with
Athletic field
fertilization
None None
Irrigation Minimum of 1” per
week, repairs w/in
24 hours. Potential
increase watering
due to drought or
ryegrass transition.
Deep watering
cycles recommended
Approximate 1” per
week, repairs
within 48 hours.
As needed or
immediately after
fertilization –Water
Truck
None None
Aerification 5 times per year in
conjunction with
fertilizer
applications
As needed As needed None None
Over-seed/sod Over-seed Ryegrass
on athletic fields
Oct. 1
Sod during field
renovations
Overseed all bare
areas in turfgrass
once during
growing season.
As needed None None
Leaf Removal Mow & mulch Mow & mulch Mow & Mulch None None
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Pesticide
Management:
- Herbicide
- Insecticide
- Fungicide
- Rodentcide
January, February,
March
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds. (Oxidiazon)
Non selective
herbicide on infield
skinned surfaces and
transition areas
during the growing
season
Spot treat broadleaf
and/or grassy weed
infestations during
from March until
December
May and August -
Broadcast treatment
for fire ants with
Advion, Extinguish,
or Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season.
April - September
Monitor and treat for
pest infestations
such as Grub
Worms, Army
Worms and other
pesticides
detrimental to plant
health or public
safety.
January,
February, March
Non-selective
herbicide on
dormant Bermuda
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds (Barricade
Dimension,
Specticle, or
Pendimethalin
May and August -
Broadcast
treatment for fire
ants with Advion,
Extinguish, or
Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season
April – September
Monitor and treat
pest infestations
such as Grub
Worms, Army
Worms and other
pests that
detrimental to plant
health or public
safety.
August and
September
Pre-emergent for
winter weeds by
October 1.
January,
February, March
Non-selective
herbicide on
dormant Bermuda
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds (Barricade
Dimension,
Specticle, or
Pendimethalin
May and August -
Broadcast
treatment for fire
ants with Advion,
Extinguish, or
Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season
April – September
As need, dependent
on location, pest
and amount of
infestation
August and
September
Pre-emergent for
winter weeds by
October 1.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state
or within City
code.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state or
within City
code.
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Fertilizer &
Aerification
Program
February
15-0-5 with pre-
emergent for control
of summer weeds
March
A single application
of fertilizer should
take place. 1 lb of N
per 1000sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer
May
A single application
of slow release
fertilizer should take
place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
July
A single application
of fertilizer should
take place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
August, September
A single application
of slow release
fertilizer should take
place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
April, May, June
A single
application of
fertilizer should
take place by mid-
May. It should be
applied at 1 pound
of N per 1000 sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
July, August,
September
One application of
fertilizer should
take place during
this period in mid-
July. It should be
applied at 1 pound
of N per 1000 sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of turf
None None
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Action Threshold Practice physical
and mechanical
controls that
promote good turf
health practices,
such as over-
seeding, topdressing,
aeration, etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to
prevent degradation
of the aesthetics, to
eliminate rapidly
declining plant
health, to eliminate
negative impacts on
athletic programs
and/or a threat to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation presents
negative
environmental
impacts, negative
effects on
infrastructure and
assets, intolerable
aesthetic impacts
and is widespread,
invasive, and affects
the health and safety
of the environment.
In some cases,
pests can be
tolerated and are
only considered a
nuisance.
Measures may be
taken when
infestations are
present and are
detrimental to plant
health and a threat
to the public’s
safety. Physical /
mechanical means
will be used first in
controlling pests.
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation presents
negative
environmental
impacts, negative
effects on
infrastructure and
assets, intolerable
aesthetic impacts
and is widespread,
invasive, and
affects the health
and safety of the
environment. This
primarily impacts
active areas such as
playgrounds, hard
surface trails, and
around public
buildings.
In some cases,
pests can be
tolerated and are
only considered a
nuisance.
Vegetation is
critical for stream
stabilization and is
tolerated in specific
locations.
Measures may be
taken when
infestations are
present and are
detrimental to plant
health and a threat
to the public’s
safety. Physical /
mechanical means
will be used first in
controlling pests.
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation is
widespread,
invasive, presents
negative effects on
infrastructure, and
affects the health
and safety of the
environment. This
primarily impacts
active areas such as
playgrounds, hard
surface trails, and
around public
buildings.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state
or within City
code.
Measures will
be taken for
vegetation
encroachment
on soft surface
trails.
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City of Denton
CLASSIFICATION PLAN
TREE / SHRUB MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class A Class B Class C Class D
Tree Trimming
Remove low limbs as
needed for safety &
equipment access.
Only hazardous
limbs as needed.
Only hazardous
limbs as
needed.
Only hazardous
limbs as needed.
Shrub Trimming
Complete trim 5-7 times
per year.
Complete trim 5
times per year.
Not performed Not performed
Pesticide Program. As needed to prevent loss
of plant material.
As needed to
prevent loss of plant
material.
Not performed Not performed
Fertilization
2 times/year Not performed Not performed Not performed
Stump Removal As needed when higher
priority projects are
completed.
As needed during
winter.
As needed
during winter.
Only hazardous trees
as needed, others
maintained for
wildlife habitat.
Action Threshold Choosing proper plant
material and practicing
proper planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching, etc.
Other measures will be
taken prior to infestations
to prevent degradation of
the aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants, and/or
hazardous situations to
the public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
In some cases pests
can be tolerated and
is only considered a
nuisance pest.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to
prevent degradation
of the aesthetics,
rapidly declining
plants, and/or
hazardous situations
to the public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
As needed to
maintain an
identified
natural state or
within City
code.
None
Invasive woody species such as Running Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea, Privet Ligustrum
sinense, and Nandina Nandina deomestica will be controlled when staff determines that the
species impedes visibility within parks and poses a threat to the safety and welfare of park users
and service workers. Invasive species may be removed in an effort to reclaim parkland for active
use such as open fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails. It may also be removed in efforts to
improve the environmental quality and encourage the establishment of native plant species.
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City of Denton
CLASSIFICATION PLAN
FLOWERBED/PLANTING MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class AA & A Class B Class C Class D
Planting/Bed
Preparation
2 changes per year,
when color is present.
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Fertilization
At planting; Bi-
monthly after planting
when color is present
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Cultivation
2 times per year for
color change outs
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Mulch
Apply every 18
months or as needed
(not in color beds)
Apply every 18
months or as needed
Not performed Not performed
Pest Management
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of plant
and degradation of
appearance.
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of plant
material.
Not performed Not performed
Action Threshold Choosing proper plant
material and
practicing proper
planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching,
etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to prevent
degradation of the
aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants,
and/or hazardous
situations to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Choosing proper plant
material and
practicing proper
planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching,
etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to prevent
degradation of the
aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants,
and/or hazardous
situations to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Not Applicable Not Applicable
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Park Facility and Asset Maintenance – The following maintenance plan and schedule has
minimal pesticide programing but is an integral component to a proactive approach in the
prevention and reduction of insect and rodent pests. Proper maintenance helps to eliminates
favorable environments for pests through cleanliness and inspections help in early detection /
identification of pests prior to infestations reaching threshold levels.
City of Denton
CLASSIFICATION PLAN
LITTER MANAGEMENT
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class A Class B Class C Class D
Pick up ground trash
& litter; empty
receptacles
Pick up trash and
litter 5 days per week.
All year
Weekend trash route
at more populated
parks
Pick up trash, litter
and other debris twice
per week from April
through October.
From November
through March, pick
up trash in all
conspicuous park
areas once per week.
All year
Weekend trash route
at more populated
parks
Pick up trash, litter
and debris from all
conspicuous park
areas weekly from
April through
October, monthly
from November
through March.
Remove illegal
dumping as needed.
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City of Denton
CLASSIFICATION PLAN
ROAD & PARKING LOT MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Paved Lots Unpaved Lots
Inspect Weekly Weekly
Repair
As needed depending
upon severity.
As needed depending upon severity.
Sweep
2 times/year or as
needed
Edge Per mowing schedule Per mowing schedule
Weed Management
Apply pre-and post-
emergent herbicides
as needed to control
unwanted vegetation
growing in expansion
cracks.
Apply post-emergent herbicides three
times per year.
Crack Fill As needed
Seal Coat/Overlay As needed
Grade As needed
Clean culverts and drain pipes Monthly or as needed Quarterly or as needed
Striping/marking and wheel stops Repaint every 2 years
City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class A & B
Initial Audit
High frequency inspections
Low Frequency inspections
New Installation
Weekly - Litter control, redistribute
attenuating surfacing, free of vegetation
and debris
6 times per year – loose or broken parts,
component durability
Repair
As needed, immediately after receiving
parts
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
PARK AMENITIES MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class A, B, C, D
Clean restrooms
Restroom maintenance & repairs
Clean and restock daily
Work order within 24 hours
Inspect Drinking Fountains
Weekly during season of use – Mar 15 –
Nov 15
Clean shelters and Picnic Pavilions
Pressure Wash
Weekly or clean when reserved for
special events
As needed
Vandalism/Graffiti
Address within 48 hours of notification
earlier if inappropriate graffiti
Water Features
Mechanical (Fountains)
Natural (Ponds. Lakes)
Inspect weekly when in use.
Inspect quarterly & maintain as needed.
Inspect and/or repair benches,
tables, grills
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair park and
directional/street signs
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair fencing Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair security &
parking lot lighting
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair swimming
pools
Daily or as needed during season
Pre & Post season inspection of major
repairs.
Inspect and/or repair neighborhood
tennis nets, net covers, striping,
and backboards.
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair traffic
barriers (post & cable, bollards,
gates, handrails)
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair bridges.
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect Hike & Bike / Rail Trail
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair sidewalks
Quarterly or as needed
Creeks and drainage ditches
As needed
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
ATHLETIC FIELD MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class AA & A
Baseball Field
Annual Off-Season Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Pitcher Mound
Field Lights
Evers, Denia, N Lakes, F. Moore
Roberts Field & Mack
Parking Lot
Scoreboards
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Fences & Backstops
Parking Lot Striping
Restrooms & Concessions
Scoreboards
-Once a year add clay or amendment if needed.
-Till up clay area to break up hard spots.
-Blade clay areas to proper grade.
-Remove any silt build up along grass and fence lines.
-Check outfield grass area for high and or low areas, and
for large cracks, silt in material if needed.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily
Portable serviced bi-weekly.
-2-3 times per week
-As scheduled for games
-Infield 30 foot-candles
-Outfield 20 foot-candles
-50/30
-As scheduled for games
-Replace bulbs as needed.
-Monthly inspections & repairs as needed.
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
-Plumbing, electrical and structural repairs as needed.
-Annual off-season service or as needed
Softball Field
Annual Off-Season Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Pitcher Mound
Lights
-Once a year add clay material if needed.
-Till up clay area to break up hard spots.
-Blade clay areas to proper grade.
-Remove any silt build up along grass and fence lines.
-Check outfield grass area for high and or low areas, and
for large cracks, silt in material if needed.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily - Portable serviced weekly
-2-3 times per week
-As scheduled for games
-Infield 30 foot-candles
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Denia, Evers & North Lakes
Parking Lot
Scoreboards
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Drinking Fountains
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Fences & Backstops
Parking Lot Striping
Restrooms & Concessions
Scoreboards
-Outfield 20 foot-candles
-As scheduled for games
-Replace bulbs as needed
-Monthly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Winterize November 15-March 15
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
-Plumbing, electrical and structural repairs as needed.
-Annual off-season service or as needed
Soccer/Football/Rugby Fields
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Lights
Parking Lot
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Parking Lot Striping
-Line with paint weekly.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily & portable serviced bi-weekly
-2-3 times per week
-20 foot-candles
-As scheduled for games
-Monthly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
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APPENDIX 6: Pesticide Spill Incident Report
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APPENDIX 7: Product Label and Safety Data Sheet
Labeling, provided by the manufacturer, gives additional information concerning the pesticide product.
Labeling includes booklets, brochures, flyers and other information as distributed by the pesticide dealer
or manufacturer. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document containing chemical hazard and safety
handling information prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) standard. An SDS attached to the product becomes part of the label and
must be followed.
Label
The label is the printed information on or attached to the pesticide container. It verifies EPA approval,
offers information on proper medical treatment for poisoning and provides guidelines for correct
application and use.
The label identifies the pesticide as general or restricted-use and lists specific sites for the intended
applications. By law, a pesticide can only be applied to a site that is identified on the label, even though
specific pests may not be indicated. A site can be a crop, animal or location the product is intended to
protect. Everyone, including experienced applicators, should review the label prior to purchasing,
mixing, applying, and storing or disposing of the pesticide or empty containers.
Pesticide Label Requirements
EPA and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) require certain items be included on pesticide
labels.
1. Brand, trade or product name: A single pesticide active ingredient may be marketed at the
same time under several brand names. Brand or trade names are indicated on the front panel of the
label and are used in advertisements.
2. Ingredient statement: Every pesticide product label must include the active and inert
ingredients, including percentage by weight. Often, the chemical name of the active ingredient is
stated. If an approved common name of the active ingredient exists, it may be listed and followed
by a chemical name. The names of inert ingredients sometimes are not stated, but the label must
indicate their percentage to the total contents.
Product Name
Active Ingredients(s) ................................... %
Inert Ingredients ................................... %
Total: ................................... 100%
This product contains lbs. of per gallon.
3. Classification statement: Pesticides are classified based on hazards, intended use and
effect upon the environment. General-use pesticides are less likely to harm the user or
environment when used according to the label and do not require a license to apply. Restricted- use
pesticides have a greater potential to harm the environment or the applicator when not used as
directed. Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) contain a label such as the example here. You must have
a TDA applicator license to purchase and use restricted-use pesticides.
RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE
Due to (insert reason)
For retail sale to and use only by Certified
Applicators or persons under their direct
supervision and only for those uses covered by
the Certified Applicator’s certification.
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4. Keep out of reach of children: Every pesticide label must include this statement on the front
panel. This warning must be heeded.
5. Signal words and symbol: These indicate the relative toxicity of the active ingredient to humans
and should appear on the front panel of a label. The signal words, in order of increasing toxicity, are
caution, warning and danger. Danger indicates highly toxic products. The word poison and the skull
and crossbones symbol also are associated with products having the danger signal word.
6. Manufacturer: The name and address of the manufacturer, registrant or formulator who makes
the product must be printed on the label. If the registrant’s name appears on the label and the
registrant is not the manufacturer, it must be qualified by appropriate wording such as “packed
for...”, distributed by...”, or “sold by...”.
a. Registration number: An EPA registration number is proof the label was approved by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
b. Establishment number: An establishment number identifies the specific facility that
produced the product.
7. Directions for use: Instructions for applying the pesticide provide rate of application, site (crop,
animal, location, etc.) it is intended to protect, pests controlled, mixing directions, when and where
the material is to be applied, and necessary application equipment.
8. Precautionary statements: Guide the applicator in taking proper precautions to protect
humans or animals that could be exposed. Sometimes listed under the heading “Hazards to Humans
and Domestic Animals.” This area will include information about how pesticides may enter the body
and any protective clothing or equipment the applicator should use.
9. First Aid: First aid treatment guidelines are recommended in this statement in case of over-
exposure. This information should be read before the product is used, and again in case of an
emergency.
10. Environmental hazards: Special warning statements on the label cover hazards to the
environment. Examples: “This product is highly toxic to bees,” or “This product is highly toxic to
fish,” and “Do not allow drift to contact non-target plants or trees.”
11. Reentry statement: Indicates how much time must pass before a person can enter a treated
area without appropriate protective clothing.
12. Storage and disposal statement: Pesticide inventories should be stored securely, preferably
under lock and key, and separate from food and feed supplies. Pesticides and empty containers
must be disposed of according to TDA and EPA regulations.
13. Net contents: Identifies the amount or weight of pesticide in the container and should be
displayed prominently on the front of the label.
EPA Registration No. ______ [Registrant Name]
EPA Establishment No. _____ [City, State, Zip]
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APPENDIX 8: Emergency and Information Phone List
Fire, Ambulance, HAZMAT – Dial 911
For Medical Emergencies & Immediate Health Concerns:
• City of Denton Emergency Management – 940-349-8836
• Texas Poison Center Network- 24 hours call 1-800-222-1222
• TCEQ - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 24 hour spill reporting
1-800-832-8224 http://www.tceq.texas.gov/
Informational Phone Numbers
• PARD Grounds Maintenance Division – 940-349-7464
• Watershed Protection Department – 940-349-7153
• NPIC - National Pesticide Information Center, 1-800-858-7378 http://npic.orst.edu/
provides general information on pesticide products, including safety, health,
environmental effects, clean up and disposal.
• Texas Department of Agriculture, 512-305-8907 http://www.agr.state.tx.us/
provides information on pesticide products and registration, conducts pesticide
use investigation, and applicator licensing and certification.
To Report Pesticide Exposures:
Texas Department of State Health services (DSHS) 512-458-7111
Provides confidential investigations, consults with health care providers and provides clean up
and exposure prevention information.
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APPENDIX 9: Glossary
Action level The point at which control measures are necessary to prevent a pest population
or its impact from exceeding the threshold.
Aeration The provision of air to the soil.
Amphibian Any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (as frogs, toads, or
salamanders) intermediate in many characters between fishes and reptiles and
having gilled aquatic larvae and air breathing adults.
Anti-siphon A device that prevents waste water from being drawn back into supply lines and
possibly contaminating the water supply.
Applicator A person applying a liquid or solid treatment to a landscape.
Ball moss Grey to greenish epiphyte about 3” to 9” wide within the Central Texas region
and has scaly, recurved, linear leaves 2” to 6” long.
Basal growth Leaves or stems growing at the base of a stem or tree trunk.
Botanist A biologist specializing in the study of plants.
Bioaccumulation The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a
living organism.
Backpack sprayer A sprayer worn on the back.
Biofilter An emission control device that uses microorganisms to destroy volatile organic
compounds and hazardous air pollutants.
Bioswale Landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff
water, usually 6 inches or deeper.
Boom sprayer A large-scale sprayer associated with a truck or tractor.
Broadcast spray A wide, circle shaped spray or spray pattern.
Broadleaf Having relatively broad rather than needlelike or scale-like leaves.
Brood Whitish rice grain like larvae and pupae found within a fire ant mound.
Buffer zone A corridor of land that is 25 feet in width on the sides of a stream or other body
of water.
Carbamate A salt or an ester of carbamic acid, especially one used as an insecticide.
Cholinesterase A family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid, a reaction necessary to allow a
cholinergic neuron to return to its resting state after activation.
Commercial applicator Operates a business or is employed by a business that applies restricted-use or
state-limited-use pesticides to the property of another person for hire or
compensation.
Contaminate Soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
Core aeration Increasing air penetration of the soil by removing plugs of soil.
Decontamination To make safe by eliminating poisonous or otherwise harmful substances, such as
noxious chemicals or radioactive material.
Dike Contains spills to a confined area.
Disease Any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological
processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable
environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.
Dog off leash area Designated fenced or unfenced areas where dogs are allowed to be off-leash.
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Drainage The natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area.
Drift The movement of spray product from an area of application to any unintended
site. Drift can occur in the form of droplets during application or as vapors after
application. Caution must be taken at wind speeds of 10 MPH or more.
Application is prohibited at wind speeds of 15 MPH or above. Read and follow
the product label directions carefully for all products.
Ecosystem A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their
physical environment.
Edging Mechanical means to define borders.
Endangered species An animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant
portion of its range.
Epiphyte A plant that attaches to a host plant merely for physical support. Derives its
water and nutrients from the air through their leaves and stems.
Erosion The process of weathering and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other
particles) in the natural environment or their source and deposits them
elsewhere.
Fertilization The process of making soil more productive for plant growth by the addition of
organic material or fertilizer.
Fungicide Chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or
fungal spores.
Germinate To begin to sprout or grow.
Grade The degree of inclination of a slope, road, or other surface.
Grafting Is a method of asexual plant propagation widely used in agriculture and
horticulture where the tissues of one plant are encouraged to fuse with those of
another plant.
Granular application Product in the form of small particles that provides a slower release of
ingredients, usually used in broadcast or drop applications.
Groundcover Any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from
erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance.
Herbicide A chemical substance used to destroy or inhibit the growth of plants, especially
weeds.
High water line The highest possible water level that would be expected in a given body of
water during a 5-year period.
Hilling Is the technique in agriculture and horticulture of piling soil up around the base
of a plant.
Hornet A venomous insect about a ¾” long and is black and white, with a white face.
Horticulturalist Practices the science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil
for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings.
Host The animal or plant on which or in which another organism lives.
Hydrocyanic acid An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide HCN that is a poisonous weak acid and
is used chiefly in fumigating and in organic synthesis.
Infiltration To cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or
interstices.
Insecticide A chemical used to kill or reduce the presence of insects.
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Insect A class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three part
body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes,
and two antennae.
Integrated Pest
Management
A coordinated decision in making and determining the best recommended
practice that uses the most appropriate pest control methods and strategies in
an environmentally and economically sound manner to meet pest management
objectives.
Invasive species Introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of
dispersal.
Invertebrate An animal without a backbone.
Irrigation An artificial application of water to the soil.
Larvae The newly hatched, wingless, often worm like form of many insects before
metamorphosis.
Leachability Ability to dissolve out soluble constituents from (ash, soil, etc.) by the action of
percolating.
Listed specie A species, subspecies, or distinct population segment that has been added to
the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants.
Liquid application Used when the aboveground parts of plants require treatment to control pests.
Some liquid formulations come packaged in their own sprayer, ready to use; no
dilution is required.
Lobed leaf Leaf having deeply indented margins.
Mammalian Any of various warm-blooded vertebrate animals of the class Mammalia,
including humans, characterized by a covering of hair on the skin and, in the
female, milk producing mammary glands for nourishing the young.
Microbial A minute life form; a microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease.
Miticide A chemical composition that kills or reduces the presence of mites.
Mitigation To moderate (a quality or condition) in force or intensity; alleviate.
Monoculture The cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural
or forest land.
Natural area A natural area is a physical and biological unit in as near a natural condition as
possible, which exemplifies typical or unique vegetation and associated biotic,
edaphic, geologic, and aquatic features. The unit is maintained in a natural
condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually
without direct human intervention.
Noncommercial
applicator
Is required to be licensed but does not qualify as a commercial applicator.
Noncommercial political
subdivision
(NCPS)
An applicator employed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas or a
federal agency operating in Texas.
Organophosphate Poison insects and mammals primarily by phosphorylation of the
acetylcholinesterase enzyme (ache) at nerve endings.
Over seeding Spreading seed over established turf that has been prepared for restoration.
Overstory Also called the canopy is made up of the very tallest trees that stand over the
rest of the plants.
Panicle Compound raceme or branched cluster of flowers.
Paper wasp A venomous insect about a ¾” long, red to brown in color with a long, cylindrical
abdomen.
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Parasitoid An organism that spends a significant portion of its life history attached to or
within a single host organism, which it ultimately kills (and often consumes) in
the process.
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
Includes all types of equipment used to increase individual safety while
performing potentially hazardous tasks. Minimum PPE standard is a long
sleeve shirt, long pants, and closed shoes with socks. This may also
include safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, lab coats, respirators, or and
equipment used to protect against injury or illness.
Pest A plant, organism, pathogen, insect or other small animal harmful to humans,
garden plants, turf, trees, etc.
Pesticide Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying,
repelling or mitigating any pest.
Pesticide applicator
license
Certification of a person to use a restricted or state limited-use pesticide or
regulated herbicides.
Pheromone Is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in
members of the same species.
Photodecomposition Chemical breakdown caused by radiant energy.
Poison ivy A loose shrub or woody stemmed, climbing or creeping vine. The leaf consists
of three leaflets on long, oppositely placed stems (petioles) and can be 3” to
10” long. Margins of the leaflets may vary from being entirely smooth, slightly
toothed or lobed. The leaves can be glossy or dull green.
Post emergent A herbicide used to kill weeds after they have germinated.
Predators An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.
Pre-emergent Chemicals that prevent the germinating weeds from establishing in a lawn.
Prune To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example)
to improve shape or growth.
Pupae The non-feeding stage between the larva and adult in the metamorphosis of
holometabolous insects, during which the larva typically undergoes complete
transformation within a protective cocoon or hardened case.
Pyrethroid A chemical class of active ingredients found in insecticides. Low toxicity to
mammals and birds; dissolves poorly in water making it toxic to fish.
Quill A hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft
may pass.
Recurved leaf A leaf curved or bent backwards or downwards.
Red imported fire ant Adults are red to dark brown and occur in five different forms: minor workers,
about a 1/8” long; major workers, about a ¼” long; winged males and females,
each about a 1/3” long; and queens, about a 1/3” long.
Resistance The capacity of an organism or a tissue to withstand the effects of a harmful
environmental agent.
Restricted entry
interval
The time after a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area
is restricted.
Rhizome A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots
from its nodes.
Right of way A strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for
transportation purposes, such as for a walking path, driveway, rail line or
highway.
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Rinsate A dilute mixture of a pesticide or pesticides with water, solvents, oils,
commercial rinsing agents, or other substances, that is produced by or results
from the cleaning of pesticide application equipment or pesticide containers.
Rodent Any of various mammals of the order Rodentia, such as a mouse, rat, squirrel,
or beaver, characterized by large incisors adapted for gnawing or nibbling.
Rodenticide Pest control chemicals intended to kill or reduce the presence of rodents.
Rootstalk A horizontal plant stem with shoots above and roots below serving as a
reproductive structure.
Rootstock A plant, and sometimes just the stump, which already has an established,
healthy root system used for grafting a cutting or budding from another plant.
Runner Slender creeping stem that puts forth roots from nodes spaced at intervals
along its length.
Runoff The occurrence of surplus liquid (as water) exceeding the limit or capacity.
Scion A detached shoot or twig containing buds from a woody plant which is grafted
onto the stock.
Smooth leaf A leaf having an entire or lobed margin but is not toothed.
Social wasps Live in nests that wasps construct and defend cooperatively. Ex. Paper wasps,
yellow jackets, and hornets
Sodium laurel sulfate Detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products. Ex. Soaps
and shampoos.
Soil Surface layers of sand, silt, clay, and organic material on the surface of the
earth that support plants.
Solitary wasp Do not build communal nests and consequently do not defend their nest.
Solubility The amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent.
Spill Accidental or unintentional release of hazardous material.
Spot spraying Targeted or direct pesticide application.
Strainer A device used to separate liquids from solids.
Tank Holds chemical mixtures.
Threatened species An animal or plant species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable
future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threshold A level of pest presence above which unacceptable amounts of negative plant
health impacts, negative environmental impacts, negative effects on
infrastructure and assets, intolerable aesthetic impacts, or undue safety risks
are likely to occur.
Till To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing and harrowing;
cultivate.
Toothed leaf A leaf that is notched on the outer edge, or margin, of a leaf (serrate).
Top dressing Material applied to a surface, as fertilizer on land or crops, or stones on a road.
Toxicity The degree to which a substance is toxic, poisonous or harmful.
Triclopyr A systemic, foliar herbicide in the pyridine group. It is used to control broadleaf
weeds while leaving grasses and conifers unaffected.
Tunneling Process in which an animal makes a hole or passageway underground, usually
for shelter.
Turf Surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots.
Urban forestry Management, establishment, and protection of trees and forests within cities,
suburbs, or towns.
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Weeds Any plant that crowds out cultivated and native plants.
Wetland A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp that is saturated with moisture,
especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.
Worker Protection
Standard
Is a regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed
to limit worker’s exposure to pesticides.
Vertebrate A member of the subphylum Vertebrata, a primary division of the phylum
Chordata that includes the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals,
all of which are characterized by a segmented spinal column and a distinct
well differentiated head.
Vespid Mostly social nest building wasps.
Yellow jackets Have a shiny yellow and black striped abdomen and are typically a ½” long,
workers, and a ¾” long, the queen.
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APPENDIX 10: Revisions
Date Page Reason Authorized By Date Approved
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Recommendation Management Response Deliverable / Action Status
Provide terminology clarifications.Management agrees with recommendation.
Clarifications will be made to document.Revised document; various Completed
Identify "Strategies" as standard operating
procedures (SOP).
Management agrees with recommendation. Purpose
of strategies is to outline operational procedures.Revised document; p. 15 Completed
Update Texas Dept. of Agriculture Applicators
License requirements. Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 17, p. 22, p. 45 Completed
Outline minimum standard for personal protective
equipment.
Management agrees with recommendation. As an
SOP, defined minimum requirement is appropriate. Revised document; p. 30, p. 114 Completed
Define "drift" and set clear standard.Management agrees. As an SOP, a defined standard
is appropriate. Revised document; p. 42, p. 44, p. 112 Completed
Include a finish time of pesticide application on
record form.
PARD utilizes the required Texas Department of
Agriculture Pesticide Applicator Record for
documentation of pesticide applications.
No action taken. PARD utilizes the
required Texas Department of Agriculture
Pesticide Applicator Record for
documentation of pesticide applications.
Completed
Cross reference Strategy 8 with Strategy 12 for
consistency in pesticide requirements.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; p. 27 Completed
Define "organic" methods in community garden
plots to set clear requirements and expectations.
Management agrees with recommendation. Clear
standards and requirements will be outlined for
users.
Revised document; p. 43. Update
community garden rules and user
agreement.
Document revised;
community garden
rules update in-
progress.
Include fire ants in Strategy 16 and Strategy 17.Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 47, p. 49 Completed
Consider alternative terminology for "non-toxic" in
Strategy 17 as natural products can be toxic to
plants/insects/animals.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 50 Completed
Replace product names with active ingredients on
approved product list.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; Appendix 1-4 Completed
Include additional rodenticides for variation in use
and effectiveness.Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; Appendix 1 Completed
Include soil testing in Appendix 5 Maintenance
Schedule and Control Methods.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; p. 12 Completed
Recommendation Management Response Deliverable / Action Status
Rename document to "plan" rather than
"program". Document outlines approach that
makes up the policy.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; various Completed
Clarify scope of plan - applicable to PARD vs. COD
assets.
Management agrees with recommendation. PARD is
currently working on a city-wide program for
possible adoption.
Draft document - COD policy on
maintenance of city-owned property.Completed
Consider developing a process for program
evaluation - how often and by whom.
Management agrees with recommendation. Intent
of original Community Focus Group was to continue
seeking stakeholder input.
Develop evaluation process and include in
document; p. 5 Completed
Add strategy for program evaluation and reporting.
Develop goals and performance measures related
to chemical use.
Management agrees with the development of
annual goals and performance measures.
Include goals and performance
measurements for annual reporting.
Include language in document; p. 5
Completed
Include pest management of structural facilities in
future revisions.
Facilities Maintenance currently oversees pest
management of structural facilities. Management
open to future discussions.
Consider / determine city-wide goal of
structural pest management plan.Under Evaluation
Consider Green Shield Certification for structural
pest management.
Facilities Maintenance currently oversees pest
management of structural facilities. Management
open to future discussions.
Consider / determine city-wide goal of
structural pest management plan.Under Evaluation
Consider explaining role of Community Focus
Group for the reader to understand and appreciate
their role.
Management agrees that historical record /
background on project should be documented.
Review / discuss appropriate platform for
information such as website. On-going
Add a goal for the document that facilitates its
sustainability and commitment to IPM approach
through leadership changes and staff transitions.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 4 Completed
IPM Institute of North America
Include practice of soil testing in approved
strategies / methods.Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 12 Completed
Include possible health, safety, and environmental
effects as indirect costs in plan costs Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 13 Completed
Expand record keeping to include non-chemical
interventions.Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; training; p. 5, p. 24 Completed
Review exemptions for spot spraying and notices
for blue dye application.
Management agrees with recommendation.
Enhance education efforts of blue dye application.
Revised document; training / education; p.
21, p. 47 Completed
Include more specific guidelines about pesticide
application around Community Gardens.
Management agrees with recommendation. Clear
standards and requirements will be outlined for
users.
Revised document; p. 43. Update
community garden rules and user
agreement.
Completed
Consider adding specifications to Strategy 16
Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood
Fiber Playground Areas such as use of weed barrier
and depth of mulch.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 47 Completed
Add spiders and fire ants to Strategy 17 Venomous
Insect Management; clarify "non-toxic" products as
nonchemical products can be toxic to insects; add
to approved product list.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 49-51 Completed
Suggest addressing management of dog feces,
signage, and disposal containers at off leash area;
address fleas and ticks.
Management will review incorporation of these
issues in the IPM plan; signage and disposal
equipment currently available throughout all park
properties.
Include language on signage and available
disposal equipment for dogs; reference
City ordinance; p. 52-53
Completed
Consider clarifying the use of neonics in Strategy
19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection from
prohibition to "pose unacceptable risk" due to low
risk use of some products.
Management agrees with recommendation.Revised document; p. 55 Completed
Capture Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator
Protection B 1-5 in Strategy 2 or at top of strategy
list.
Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection
B 1-5 is outlined in more detail under Approved Pest
Management Strategies p. 10-11.
Strategy 19 Insecticide Use and Pollinator
Protection B 1-5 is outlined in more detail
under Approved Pest Management
Strategies p. 11-12.
Completed
Replace product names with active ingredients on
approved product list.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; Appendix 1-4 Completed
Consider changing "control" to "management" and
"Pesticide Program" to "Pest Management" for
consistency with philosophy and practice.
Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; Appendix 5 Completed
Best practice 1" per week irrigation is a single
application per week; less frequent / more water
promotes deeper root growth.
Management agrees with recommendation. Confirmed current practice is the
recommended best practice.Completed
Clarify / include aesthetics as an action threshold
for consistency throughout.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; Appendix 5 Completed
Suggest more detailed description of exact location
of pesticide spills.
Management agrees with recommendation.
Pesticide Spill Incident Report does include a field
for "Exact location of incident" and a narrative.
Pesticide Spill Incident Report does include
a field for "Exact location of incident" and
a narrative. Staff training.
Completed
Miscellaneous additions to glossary terms and
clarification of specific terms.Management agrees with recommendation. Revised document; Appendix 9 Completed
Non-Toxic Neighborhoods (NTN)
Recommendation Management Response Deliverable / Action Status
Transition from IPM to PPM (Progressive Pest
Management.
A review of the proposed PPM revealed a shared
philosophy and many of the same methods as an
IPM. Management will move forward with IPM and
incorporate PPM elements.
A review of the proposed PPM revealed a
shared philosophy and many of the same
methods as an IPM. Capture elements of
PPM in revised document; p. 4, p. 8-9
Completed
Establish PPM Commission for quarterly
review/discussion of PPM; Annual report and
update.
Management agrees with recommendation. Intent
of original Community Focus Group was to continue
seeking stakeholder input.
Develop evaluation and annual reporting
process to include in document; p. 5 Completed
Goals to include elimination and minimization of
EPA level pesticides.
Management agrees with the minimization of
pesticide use; elimination dependent on the
identification of other effective means/methods of
pest management.
Revised document to include goal; p. 4 Completed
Principles and policy sections Basic tenets captured in various strategies of IPM. Basic tenets captured in various strategies
of IPM. Completed
Prevention statement Captured in design, plant selection, and nature of
site sections.
Captured in design, plant selection, and
nature of site sections; p. 11-12 Completed
Secure the contracted services of a third party for
regular pest / condition monitoring of property
and determine control tactics as needed.
Site monitoring is currently conducted by Park
Maintenance staff. Feasibility of a contracted service
provider would require further analysis.
Site monitoring is currently conducted by
Park Maintenance staff. Feasibility of a
contracted service provider would require
further analysis.
Future evaluation
Outline non-chemical control measures.Measures are captured in the IPM Methodology.Measures are captured in the IPM
Methodology; p. 11-14 Completed
Outline pest controls based on different types of
property.
Management agrees with recommendation.
Consistent with mission and goals of the program.Revised document; p. 8-9 Completed
Approvals and application of chemical pesticides
section.Measures are captured in the strategies.Measures are captured in the strategies.Completed
Records and reporting Measures are captured in the strategies.Measures are captured in the strategies.Completed
City of
Denton
Approved by City Council 5/2019
Integrated Pest Management
Program
Integrated Pest Management Program
1 | P a g e
It is important for the City of Denton to be environmentally conscious in providing safe and well-
maintained facilities and landscapes for all visitors. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan
provides a holistic approach to achieving the stated goals considering health, environmental, and
financial risks. The intent of the IPM plan is to be a living document with continued evaluation and
updates to meet current and future needs.
A special thank you to City of Denton staff in the Parks and Recreation Department, Park Maintenance
Division, Environmental Services, and the Citizen Focus Group who committed their time and talent to
the development of this document.
IPM Focus Group
Nathan Hansard University of North Texas / Field Specialist
Cynthia Maguire Texas Womens University / Native Plant Society of Texas
Bob Harris Denton County Master Gardners
Adelaide Bodnar Master Naturalist
Bill Hartley Denton County Beekeepers Association
Cindy Hiegel Master Gardener
Carol Soph Denton Resident
Ed Soph Denton Resident
Gene Kastens Denton Youth Sports Association
Heather Massengale Denton Youth Sports Association
Integrated Pest Management Program
2 | P a g e
Table of Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. 4
Mission Statement ................................................................................................................................... 4
Asset ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Integrated Pest Management .................................................................................................................. 5
Pesticide Use ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Safety ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
Laws and Regulations ............................................................................................................................... 8
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 10
Approved Pest Management Strategies ................................................................................................ 10
Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method .............................................................................. 12
PEST MANAGEMENT POLICIES ................................................................................................................... 14
Outline of Strategies .............................................................................................................................. 14
Licensing and Training ............................................................................................................................ 16
STRATEGY 1: Licensing, Certification, and Continuing Education of Pest Management Personnel 16
Pest Management Procedures ............................................................................................................... 18
STRATEGY 2: Management Methods for Pest Problems .................................................................. 18
STRATEGY 3: Pesticides Approved for Use by PARD Personnel ....................................................... 19
STRATEGY 4: Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site ......................................................................... 20
STRATEGY 5: Pesticide Application on Park Property and Street Rights-of-Way ............................ 21
STRATEGY 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping .......................................................................... 23
Pesticide Material Management ........................................................................................................... 24
STRATEGY 7: Use of Remaining Pesticide Solutions and Rinses ....................................................... 24
STRATEGY 8: Storage and Transportation of Pesticides ................................................................... 26
STRATEGY 9: Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers and Unusable Pesticides ............................. 27
Safety Measures and Emergency Response .......................................................................................... 29
STRATEGY 10: Use of Protective Clothing and Equipment ............................................................... 29
STRATEGY 11: Emergency Information Concerning Accidental Pesticide Exposure ........................ 30
STRATEGY 12: Pesticide Spill Response ............................................................................................. 32
Targeted Pest Management................................................................................................................... 39
STRATEGY 13: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management ........................................................................... 39
STRATEGY 14: Pesticide Applications around Community Gardens................................................. 42
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3 | P a g e
STRATEGY 15: Waterways Pest Management ................................................................................... 43
STRATEGY 16: Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber Playground Areas ................. 46
STRATEGY 17: Venomous Insect Management ................................................................................. 47
STRATEGY 18: Dog Area Pest Management ...................................................................................... 49
STRATEGY 19: Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection ................................................................ 51
APPENDICES ................................................................................................................................................ 53
APPENDIX 1: Approved Pesticide List for Parks Use ............................................................................. 53
APPENDIX 2: Athletic Field Services Approved List ............................................................................... 57
APPENDIX 3: City Urban Forestry Approved List ................................................................................... 59
APPENDIX 4: City Parks and Recreation – Natural Areas Approved List .............................................. 61
APPENDIX 5: Park Maintenance Schedule and Control Methods ........................................................ 62
APPENDIX 6: Pesticide Spill Incident Report ......................................................................................... 73
APPENDIX 7: Product Label and Safety Data Sheet .............................................................................. 74
APPENDIX 8: Emergency and Information Phone List ........................................................................... 76
APPENDIX 9: Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 77
APPENDIX 10: Revisions ......................................................................................................................... 83
Integrated Pest Management Program
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is a decision-making process to determine pest levels and
tolerance thresholds and combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools to minimize health,
environmental, and financial risks. This program uses extensive knowledge about pests, such as
infestation thresholds, life histories, environmental requirements, and natural enemies to complement
and facilitate biological and other natural control of pests. It coordinates the use of pest biology,
environmental information, and available technology to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by
the most economical means, while posing the least possible risk to people, property, resources, and the
environment.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Parks and Recreation Integrated Pest Management Program is to manage pests that
are harmful to the health, function or aesthetic value of park landscapes and public health in a manner
that is efficient, effective, environmentally-responsible, and with careful attention to the safety of the
public and department employees.
To accomplish this, the principles of Integrated Pest Management are endorsed. This approach uses
multi-faceted strategies that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.
Goals
The goal and intent of this program is to produce an evolving and living document that provides a
method and approach to guide the maintenance of public property and land. The focus and goals are:
Strive to better connect communities to nature and enhance sustainability through conservation
practices within parks. Areas of focus include promoting sustainable practices and strategies
that address the effects of climate change, preserving wildlife, growing a next generation of
environmental stewards, and supporting programs and policies that encourage a commitment
to conservation.
Create and maintain a safe environment for visitors and staff that protects and preserves
natural resources, park facilities, and amenities through design, operations, and education.
Provide a natural, healthy, educational, and social environment and ensure all people have
access and are meaningfully involved in the development and use of park and recreation
programs and spaces.
Create an active learning environment using design such as interpretative signage with a focus
on natural and historical education.
Educate and promote natural areas and cultural practices through programing such as organic
community gardening.
Ensure stewardship of the public’s resources through fiscal accountability, responsible planning,
and effective management.
Integrated Pest Management Program
5 | P a g e
Asset
The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is a subdivision of the City of Denton municipal
government and is the steward of over 2,000 acres of space, 36 parks, 27 playgrounds, 42 athletic fields,
27 trail miles, 6 recreation centers, 3 aquatic facilities, 1 spray ground, 16 tennis courts, 1 driving range,
1 disk golf course, 1 skate park, and 2 cemeteries. It also offers a wide array of recreation and
enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
PARD’s Parks Maintenance Division is charged with maintaining these diverse park landscapes and
assets in a safe, attractive, healthy, and useful condition. Park properties represent a major component
of the city’s capital assets and PARD recognizes its responsibility to protect and preserve this economic
investment to the best of its abilities. PARD also recognizes its responsibilities to its employees, park
users, and the general public, and seeks to employ the highest professional standards in the
performance of its duties. To manage pests in park lands, PARD personnel shall utilize the principles of
Integrated Pest Management.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the major strategies used by PARD in the maintenance of
park lands. There are many definitions of IPM, the following is from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency for its publication, “EPA Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals1:”
“IPM is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest
control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical
means with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. The
goal of IPM is to manage pests and the environment so as to balance costs, benefits,
public health, and environmental quality. IPM systems use all available technical
information on the pest and its interactions with the environment. Because IPM
programs apply a holistic approach to pest management decision-making, they take
advantage of all appropriate pest management options, including, but not limited to
pesticides. Thus, IPM is:
A system using multiple methods;
A decision-making process;
A risk reduction system;
Information intensive;
Cost-effective; and
Site specific.”
IPM makes use of cultural practices, environmental factors, pest growth patterns and life cycles,
ecological interaction, human contact, mechanical removal and, finally, pesticides to control harmful
organisms.
The Park Maintenance Division defines Integrated Pest Management as the coordinated use of pest and
environmental information along with available pest control methods, including biological, cultural,
1 EPA Integrated Pest Management for Turfgrass and Ornamentals. Page 315 and
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/9101AIKB.PDF?Dockey=9101AIKB.PDF
Integrated Pest Management Program
6 | P a g e
physical, and chemical methods, to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical
means and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
Integrated means that all feasible types of control strategies are considered and combined as
appropriate to solve a pest problem.
Pests are unwanted organisms that are a nuisance to man or domestic animals, and can cause
injury to humans, animals, plants, and property, and have a significant economic impact. Pests
reduce yield and/or quality in vegetation ranging from flower beds, to lawns, trees, and sports
fields.
Management is the process of making decisions in a systematic way to keep pests from reaching
intolerable levels. Small populations of pests can often be tolerated; total eradication is often
not necessary, or feasible.
Based on the above, PARD’s Park Maintenance Division’s IPM plan consists of the following steps:
1. Identification of the issue. Identification of the pest, level of infestation, and an evaluation of
the site will determine what action is needed, if any.
2. Consultation. This involves defining the roles of the people involved in the pest management
equation (i.e. Certified Pesticide Applicator, Park Manager, Urban Forrester, Park Supervisor,
Superintendent, and PARD Director) to assure understanding and communication between
them.
3. Management objectives. Staff must determine the management objectives for a given site in
order to solve the pest problem(s). This can be done by establishing maintenance classifications
and standards with an outlined schedule to meet maintenance needs. Project and property
priorities relevant at the time must also be considered. A Strategy review includes determining if
a species is native or exotic, locating the management zone, and evaluating the chances of
successful management.
4. Set the action thresholds. These are points when pest populations or environmental conditions
indicate that action must be taken in order to prevent the pest population from crossing a pre-
determined injury threshold; no action is taken until the threshold is reached unless it is
determined that conditions pose a threat to health and safety or the infestation is detrimental
to plant material / vegetation.
5. No-pesticide action. In this step, action is taken to modify the pest habitat to reduce the
carrying capacity of the site, exclude the pest, or otherwise make the site’s environment
incompatible with the needs of the pest. This step, which involves applied ecology with support
from cultural, biological, and organic methods.
6. Pesticide action. If no-pesticide actions are not available or insufficient, the appropriate
pesticide action is taken. All efforts should made to (a) use the least toxic, most effective, most
efficient application technique that provides the longest dwell time in contact with the pest, (b)
apply when the pest is in its most vulnerable stage, and (c) carry the least possible hazard to
people, property, and the environment.
7. Evaluate. This means checking the post-treatment results of the habitat modification or
pesticide treatment actions by periodically monitoring the site and pest populations.
8. Records. For each site, records should be kept of pest management objectives, monitoring
methods and data collected, actions taken, results obtained, and pesticides used. Records of
actions taken will be documented in PARD’s record management system.
Integrated Pest Management Program
7 | P a g e
IPM is a decision-making process to determine if, where, when, and how pest control practices should
be applied. And, in the short term, modification of direct pest control practices (such as reducing
pesticide use through spot spraying strategies and replacing undesirable chemicals with more
environmentally friendly materials) can provide valuable benefits in reducing the use of pesticides.
The IPM process first determines if a pest needs to be managed, and if so, how best to do it. Key
elements are information gathering, well-informed decision making and monitoring of results. The IPM
process promotes effective, low-risk management strategies to manage pests. The controls used in this
program include biological, cultural, physical, and chemical methods and materials; often a combination
of methods is used. Methods selected to manage specific pest populations are evaluated by licensed
and trained PARD professionals. The methods employed conform to recognized standards established
and endorsed by state and federal regulatory agencies, state educational institutions and organizations.
Key elements of an IPM program are information gathering and informed decision-making.
Horticulturists, botanical specialists, park technicians, foresters, and arborists are skilled in identifying
and evaluating pest problems. When pest problems occur that are unusual or beyond the scope of in-
house experts, advice is obtained from other qualified sources such as state universities, Texas
Department of Agriculture, and Texas A&M University Extension Service experts. Texas Pesticide
Applicators License continuing education courses reinforce employee skills and provide current
information concerning laws, safety, pests, and current IPM methods.
PARD employees monitor levels of pests to arrive at the best solution for managing a pest problem.
When pest management methods are implemented by trained IPM personnel, the results are solutions
that are economically and environmentally responsible. This provides the public with safe, healthy, and
aesthetically pleasing park areas.
Pesticide Use
Pesticide is a general term for any substance intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any pest. Park pests consist primarily of unwanted vegetation and invasive weeds, but can also include
insects, disease organisms, rodents, and other organisms. To manage these pests, PARD personnel
select the best methods available. When it is necessary to use pesticides as part of an IPM approach,
PARD minimizes risk by careful product selection and application. When developing and updating
PARD’s IPM program the best expert scientific opinion is relied upon on to inform staff about potential
materials and methods. Assessments from regulatory agencies, state university departments in Texas,
university extension scientists and other experts in the field provide much useful specific information.
PARD turns to these recognized experts for credible science-based information. PARD also stays current
with the latest pertinent studies as part of our process. By basing decisions on these authoritative
sources best solutions can be obtained within the IPM framework.
PARD pesticide applicators are required to comply with all pesticide label directions, federal, state, and
local pesticide regulations, applicable safety laws, and PARD policies. Misuse of pesticides will not be
tolerated. Pesticides not labeled or listed (refer to Appendices 1-4) will not be covered in detail within
this document, but PARD requires pesticide applicators to use additional precaution and label directions,
if present, for all applications.
Integrated Pest Management Program
8 | P a g e
Safety
When pesticides are being applied in park areas by PARD personnel, notification signs are posted at
points of entry to the treated areas. When pest management equipment is being used and materials are
being applied by PARD employees, all appropriate worker personal protective equipment is provided for
use. Use of such equipment is an important part of safely applying pesticides as well as using mechanical
equipment. PARD employees work with the Watershed Protection Division to protect the city’s water
supply from all types of contamination. When pesticides are contemplated to be used near waterways
and drainage areas, the Watershed Protection Division will be notified. When necessary, application of
pesticides downstream of stream banks or within waterways would be done using aquatic-labeled
pesticides, following the IPM process and label directions, and with the approval of the field supervisor.
Laws and Regulations
Several Federal and State agencies regulate the use of pesticides. PARD Park Maintenance Division
conforms to all pesticide laws and regulations. PARD allows only Texas State licensed Pesticide
Applicators to apply pesticides of any kind on park land. In this way PARD exceeds the standards
established within Texas state law. To obtain a Noncommercial Pesticide Applicator's License,
applicators must pass a series of tests given by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The Texas
Department of Agriculture does allow non-licensed staff to apply pesticides when it is incidental to their
primary duties.
Once licensed, applicators must renew their license, annually for noncommercial applicators, and take
the required amount of continuing education units needed for the type of Pesticide Applicator’s License
held. Applicators are required by law to record specific information when applying pesticides and keep
records for a minimum of 2 years. PARD utilizes the Texas Department of Agriculture’s designated forms
for these purposes.
Decontamination Sites
Employers must provide sites so that workers and handlers can wash pesticides and residues from their
hands and body. Decontamination supplies must include:
Enough water for routine and emergency whole-body washing and for eye flushing;
Soap;
Single-use towels
Decontamination materials are also available in each applicator’s vehicle. It is the responsibility of the
applicator to ensure adequate supplies are maintained in the vehicle.
The decontamination materials may not be located in an area under restricted entry unless they serve
handlers working in that area. In this case, all materials must be protected from contamination.
Emergency Assistance
If there is reason to believe that a handler or worker may have been poisoned or injured by pesticides,
an employer must promptly make transportation to an appropriate medical facility available to that
person. Be prepared to provide the victim and medical personnel with:
The product name, EPA registration number, and active ingredient(s);
All first aid and medical information from the label;
Integrated Pest Management Program
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A description of how the pesticide was used; and
Information about the victim’s exposure.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Employers must provide handlers with the PPE as listed on the pesticide label. The employer must:
Maintain PPE in a clean and operational condition;
Make sure it fits correctly;
Make sure handler wears and uses the PPE correctly;
Provide a clean place to put on and remove PPE, and store personal clothing;
Not allow worker to wear or take-home PPE;
Take action to prevent heat-related illness while PPE is worn.
Cleaning and Maintaining PPE
Employers must make sure:
PPE is cleaned according to manufacturer’s instructions, inspected, and repaired before each
use;
PPE that is non-reusable or cannot be cleaned, must be disposed of properly;
Clothing drenched with pesticide labeled DANGER or WARNING are discarded;
PPE must be washed and dried properly, and stored separately from personal clothing;
Respirator filters, cartridges and canisters are replaced as often as required. The handler
employer must make sure anyone cleaning PPE is informed of possible pesticide residues on
PPE, of the potentially harmful effects of pesticides, and of the correct ways to handle and clean
PPE.
Equipment Safety
Handler employers must make sure that equipment used for mixing, loading, transferring, or applying
pesticides is inspected and repaired or replaced as needed. Only appropriately trained and equipped
handlers may repair, clean, or adjust pesticide handling equipment that contains pesticides or pesticide
residues.
Environmental Protection
The City of Denton operates under the Pesticides General Permit (PGP, TXG870000) administered by the
TCEQ. The purpose of this permit is to regulate the discharge of pesticides to the waters of the United
States. Within the City, reporting for PGP compliance is coordinated through the Watershed Protection
Division. Any potential adverse incidents involving pesticides should be immediately reported to
Watershed Protection and/or PARD. Pesticide use within the City is also tracked to maintain compliance
with the PGP.
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INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY
Approved Pest Management Strategies
Examples of possible and available management strategies among the many methods are listed in the
prevention of pest problems.
Strategy and planning;
Cultural practices, avoidance measures, and physical means to manage pest problems; and
Mechanical practices, trapping, biological controls, and use of natural and synthetic pesticides.
All the IPM measures ae evaluated and considered together to select the best overall solution to a pest
problem.
Strategy
Management of pests through adoption of Strategy can be highly effective and low in cost. Such policies
can often eliminate problems before they begin. Some examples are:
Prioritization of parks for control measures may be considered. Different park areas may have
varying standards of acceptable care and appearance. Determining whether a particular park
area requires control of pests and the level of that control must take these differences into
account. Careful attention to public desires and public needs must be part of this prioritization
process.
Establishment of thresholds for action and the tolerance level for different pests are part of the
IPM process. These thresholds vary according to plant, pest, site, and park classification.
Determinations of action thresholds are made on a case-by-case basis.
Design
Proper park design is a major way that pest problems can be avoided. While no landscape can be
designed to be free of pest management needs, such considerations need to be part of the planning
process. Examples are:
Elimination or modification of problematical areas;
Avoiding the use of potentially invasive species;
Proper and adequate spacing of plant material to reduce the incidence of pest problems;
Maintenance of species diversity and elimination of monocultures in plantings where possible;
Elimination of alternate hosts for diseases; and
Establishment of overstory, thick groundcovers and other design techniques benefiting both the
establishment of plants and the reduction of weed problems.
Plant selection
Plant selection is critical in minimizing pest management needs both short- and long-term. Criteria for
plant selection include:
Use of disease or pest resistant or tolerant plant species or varieties; and
Removal of invasive or pest-susceptible plants and replacement with varieties of native or
adapted pest resistant plants.
Consideration will be given to native plants under favorable conditions and design goals.
Cultural practices
Proper cultural practices are essential in establishing healthy landscapes and can often help to maintain
their resistance to pest problems. Examples are:
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Knowledge of the cultural requirements of plants to best provide proper conditions for optimum
plant health and resistance to pests.
Adequate site preparation before landscape installation. This can include soil improvements,
pruning of surrounding vegetation, grade adjustments, drainage improvements, and installation
of irrigation systems.
Use of disease resistant grafting rootstock or scion wood.
Proper timing and use of water to reduce over or under watering.
Proper timing and use of fertilization to eliminate over and under-fertilization.
Use of cover crops to improve soil structure and reduce soil erosion.
Rotation of plant species in nursery areas to reduce the buildup of pests.
Aeration, over-seeding, and top-dressing to improve turf health and suppress weeds.
Raking and debris removal to remove pest sources.
Pruning and plant removal to promote air circulation and light penetration for plant health.
Removal of diseased, infested, damaged, or dead wood.
Mulching for weed reduction, water retention, winter protection and root zone improvement.
Fan placement for improved greenhouse air circulation.
Mechanical and physical controls
Mechanical and physical methods are often employed to manage pests. Examples are:
Mechanical edging of turf.
Mechanical clearing of weeds in rough areas.
Hand weeding in shrub beds.
Weed wrenching or loping, or chain sawing invasive trees.
Mowing of rough turf areas for vegetation control.
Traps such as yellow sticky boards for greenhouse insects and traps for mammalian pests.
String trimming to control unwanted vegetation.
Disinfecting materials or equipment to prevent spread of pests.
Biological controls
Where applicable, biological control is useful to manage pests. Typically, most important is minimizing
disruption of natural pest controls that may be present. Examples are:
Introducing insect or disease parasitoids, predators, and microbial products to control pests.
Minimizing the use of disruptive techniques and materials in landscapes that may destroy
natural pest control organisms.
Naturally derived and synthetically derived pesticides
Pesticides are derived from many sources. They vary widely in their characteristics and must be
examined individually to determine their suitability within the IPM approach. Examples are:
Placement of pheromone traps.
Disinfecting materials or equipment to prevent spread of pests.
Application of naturally and synthetically derived pesticides.
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Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method
When choosing a pest management method or pesticide material from the approved lists located in
Appendix 1-4, all personnel should consider the following factors and any additional factors relevant to
the selection.
Nature of the site
Erosion susceptibility and potential movement of soil through runoff;
The intended use and function of the landscape;
The feasibility of the method given the area and scope of the problem;
The relative importance and public expectation of a site or plantings; and
Site conditions such as soil type, grade, drainage patterns, and presence of surface water.
Possible health and safety effects
Consider both short- and long-term toxicological properties and any other related potential
health effects of the materials or methods, both to the applicator and the public;
Equipment operation safety issues for both the operator and the public; and
Worker safety and worker injury issues involved with carrying out the method.
Possible environmental effects
Consider both acute and chronic toxicity and any other related potential effects of the material
or method to non-target organisms including mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, invertebrates
and other organisms;
Environmental effects from potential bioaccumulation;
Potential impacts to non-target plants and other organisms from materials or methods;
Potential impacts to federally listed, threatened or endangered species; and
Possible introduction or establishment of invasive plants.
Costs
Costs of the material or method;
Application and labor costs;
Length and quality of pest control; and
Feasibility of using a particular method or product.
Characteristics of the product
Target pests and target sites of the product being used;
Possible residual effect, decomposition pathways, rates, and breakdown products;
Volatility and flammability;
Product formulation and package size;
Leachability, solubility, and surface and soil bonding characteristics of the product;
Ease of cleaning equipment after use; and
Positive and negative synergistic effects of pesticide combinations.
Special considerations
Application equipment availability;
Method of delivery;
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Current and anticipated weather conditions;
Previous pesticide applications to the site and the interval between treatments; and
Possible development of pest resistance to a particular management method or material.
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PEST MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Outline of Strategies
Licensing and Training
Strategy 1 LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OF PEST MANAGEMENT
PERSONNEL – Defines the required State of Texas licensing requirements, recertification
obligations, and training for PARD applicator personnel.
Pest Management Procedures
Strategy 2 MANAGEMENT METHODS FOR PEST PROBLEMS- Establishes the IPM methodology
and approved strategies.
Strategy 3 PESTICIDES APPROVED FOR USE BY DENTON PARKS AND RECREATION PERSONNEL-
Describes the approval process for pesticides and details certain pesticides and their
control methods. Approved product lists for each unit are in the appendices.
Strategy 4 NOTIFICATION OF PESTICIDE USE AT A SITE- Outlines the on-site notification
procedures to be used before, during and after applications.
Strategy 5 PESTICIDE APPLICATION ON PARK PROPERTY AND STREET RIGHTS OF WAY-
Establishes procedures on how to apply pesticides on all park lands.
Strategy 6 PESTICIDE APPLICATION RECORDKEEPING- Outlines recordkeeping standards for
parks applications.
Pesticide Material Management
Strategy 7 USE OF REMAINING PESTICIDE SOLUTIONS AND RINSES- Outlines how
residual pesticides and rinsates are handled.
Strategy 8 STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF PESTICIDES- Defines methods and procedures
for storage of pesticides.
Strategy 9 DISPOSAL OF EMPTY PESTICIDE CONTAINERS AND UNUSABLE PESTICIDES-
Establishes provisions for surplus or contaminated pesticides and empty containers.
Safety Measures and Emergency Response
Strategy 10 USE OF PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT- Describes appropriate
personal protective clothing and equipment for use by PARD personnel when
handling or applying pesticides.
Strategy 11 EMERGENCY INFORMATION CONCERNING ACCIDENTAL PESTICIDE EXPOSURE- Defines
the procedures followed in responding to inquiries from PARD employees and the public
regarding pesticide exposure.
Strategy 12 PESTICIDE SPILL RESPONSE- Outlines procedures for unintended releases of
pesticides on or off PARD properties. Outlines responsibilities, training, reporting,
methods, and materials involved.
Targeted Pest Management
Strategy 13 TURF BROADLEAF WEED MANAGEMENT- Describes procedures, rationale, and approval
process for management of broadleaf weeds in maintained park turf areas.
Strategy 14 PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AROUND COMMUNITY GARDENS- Outlines procedures
and limitations of pesticide applications adjacent to PARD Community Garden sites.
Strategy 15 WATERWAYS PEST MANAGEMENT- This Strategy defines specific practices, methods
and materials approved for use alongside, and within aquatic sites.
Strategy 16 VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN ENGINEERED WOOD FIBER PLAYGROUND AREAS -
Defines special pest management practices in wood chip-surfaced playground areas.
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Strategy 17 VENOMOUS INSECT MANAGEMENT- Describes how venomous insects such as
wasps, bees and hornets on parkland are addressed.
Strategy 18 DOG AREA PEST MANAGEMENT- Specifies how pest management in designated
dog areas is carried out.
Strategy 19 INSECTICIDE USE AND POLLINATOR PROTECTION- This Strategy defines specific
practicesand methods when dealing with pollinators, including bees and other insects.
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Licensing and Training
STRATEGY 1: Licensing, Certification, and Continuing Education of Pest
Management Personnel
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the education, training, licensing, and certification requirements for applicators
who are applying pesticides, or supervising others applying pesticides.
BACKGROUND
State pesticide applicator licensing assures a level of expertise and familiarity with pest management
practices and pesticide materials. While Texas state law does not require this level of licensing for most
of the kinds of applications carried out on park lands, PARD is committed to maintaining a high level of
expertise in our workforce and chooses to exceed the minimum standards. The continuing education
requirements of state licensing also help to keep personnel up-to-date on pest management theory and
practice. Therefore, PARD requires that all personnel applying pesticides as their primary duty on
parkland maintain a Texas Department of Agriculture applicators license. The Texas Department of
Agriculture does allow non-licensed staff to apply pesticides when it is incidental to their primary duties.
STRATEGY
All PARD personnel applying pesticides or herbicides as their primary duty on park lands shall be
certified as state pesticide applicators by passing the Texas Department of Agriculture examinations.
Applicators are required to recertify every year by obtaining five continuing education credits; with one
credit each from two of the following categories: laws and regulations, integrated pest management or
drift minimization. To maximize the value and relevance of the recertification training, PARD will actively
seek out educational opportunities for staff.
The ultimate responsibility for maintaining a valid applicator license is with the applicator. PARD will
keep pesticide applicators informed of approved supplemental education to meet continuing
certification and licensing requirements. Unless special arrangements and approvals have been made,
all PARD applicators must be full-time employees. Regardless of licensing status, no seasonally
employed staff members shall apply pesticides on park land, unless approved by Park Maintenance
Manager, following a request from the supervisor of the seasonal employee.
Any personnel who does not apply pesticides as their primary duty, and are not licensed applicators, are
allowed to apply pesticides as per Texas Department of Agriculture for incidental use. Incidental Use is
defined as “A pesticide application on an occasional, isolated, site-specific basis that is incidental to the
primary duties of an employee and involves the use of general use pesticides after instruction as
provided by rules adopted by the Structural Pest Control Service.” This means that if during the course
of their normal duties, i.e. mowing, daily service or maintenance, and they find an infestation of fire ants
or wasps, they are allowed by law to apply pesticides to protect park visitors or employees. The
application of the chemicals must be in accordance with the manufacturer’s label.
In all cases of incidental use, the employee should use the least hazardous, effective method of
controlling pests. If chemicals are to be utilized, they must be applied in strict accordance with
manufacturer labels of "General Use" products being used. Applications made inconsistent with the
label requirements of the general use product may result in penalties being assessed against the
individual and/or the certified noncommercial applicator or technician responsible.
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Recertification Requirements
Licensed commercial, noncommercial and NCPS applicators are required to recertify every year by
obtaining five continuing education credits; with one credit each from two of the following categories:
laws and regulations, integrated pest management or drift minimization.
Change of Information
The Texas Administrative Code (rule 7.20) requires all licensees to notify the department within 30 days
of any change in the information provided as part of the application for a license. Licensees must submit
a change of information form that is signed. You can scan the signed form and email it to
license.inquiry@TexasAgriculture.gov, faxed to 800-909-8534 or mail it to Texas Department of
Agriculture, Licensing Division, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, TX 78711. This will ensure you receive licensing
information from TDA.
Recordkeeping
Commercial, noncommercial and NCPS applicators shall maintain records of all pesticide applications as
required by all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
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Pest Management Procedures
STRATEGY 2: Management Methods for Pest Problems
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes the principles governing PARD's approach to pest management for all its lands.
BACKGROUND
PARD utilizes the principles of Integrated Pest Management in managing land under its care. IPM is a
coordinated decision-making process that uses the most appropriate management strategy on a site-
specific basis. The IPM process first determines if a pest needs to be managed, and if so, how best to do
it. Key elements of an IPM program are information gathering, well-informed decision making and
monitoring of results. Through proper decision making, the IPM process promotes effective, low-risk
management strategies to manage pests.
The management techniques used in this program include biological, cultural, physical, and chemical.
Often a combination of methods is used. The following terms are used as defined:
Threshold is used to describe a level of pest presence above which unacceptable amounts of negative
plant health impacts, negative environmental impacts, negative effects on infrastructure and assets,
intolerable aesthetic impacts, or undue safety risks are likely to occur.
Action level is the point at which control measures are necessary to prevent a pest population or its
impact from exceeding the threshold.
STRATEGY
PARD shall employ integrated pest management principles in managing pest problems. Managers,
Supervisors, Landscape Technicians, and other licensed applicators shall monitor plant health status,
landscape conditions, and the presence of unwanted vegetation. They will assess appropriate thresholds
and determine action levels on a site-by-site basis. All licensed applicators shall use approved
management strategies to determine an effective, feasible, and economically sound pest management
method that does not create undue risk to the public or the environment.
If a pesticide is chosen as the best method for pest management, licensed applicators shall choose
appropriate materials only from the list of Approved Pesticides specific to their work unit found in
Appendices 1-4. The suitability of the material, nature of the site, potential health and safety effects,
potential environmental effects, overall costs, characteristics of the product and any other special
considerations related to the situation shall be taken into account in this process. After control
measures have been made, the site should be monitored to assess any impact and the efficacy of the
measures taken.
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STRATEGY 3: Pesticides Approved for Use by PARD Personnel
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes oversight procedures over all pesticide materials available for use on park land
by PARD personnel. It defines the process of selection of pesticides that are approved for use on PARD
property.
BACKGROUND
Pesticides vary widely in their characteristics and not every legally registered pesticide may be
appropriate for use on park land. Pesticides must be carefully evaluated for their suitability for PARD
IPM use before they are included on a work unit approved list. Only properly evaluated pesticides are
placed on approved lists specific to individual work units.
Parks and Recreation experience and IPM principles show that it is more desirable to have a specialized
selection of products that target specific pests, rather than a smaller number of general-purpose
pesticides. This aids in limiting the effects of the control to the target pest only. It aids in reducing the
number of resistant pests that may arise from continued use of a small number of controls. It also leads
to an overall reduction of pesticide usage required.
STRATEGY
The PARD Director and Superintendent shall maintain a list of pesticides approved for use by PARD
personnel on park property. Once approved, the list “Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management
Method,” page 14, shall be used in choosing the proper pesticide for a given purpose. Pesticides shall be
chosen after assessing toxicological impacts, environmental impacts, efficacy, feasibility, cost, and all
other pertinent aspects of their use within an IPM approach. The PARD Director and Superintendent
shall be available for consultation in choosing a pesticide that best meets a defined need.
Only pesticides from the approved lists shall be chosen, unless approved otherwise from the PARD
Director and Superintendent. The lists shall be reviewed on an ongoing basis so that they are as up-to-
date as possible. Any pesticides that are proposed for addition or deletion from the list shall be
approved by the PARD Director and Superintendent. The PARD Director and Superintendent will remain
current with EPA registration and review activities. A pesticide deleted from the general approved list
but placed on the “Use Up Do Not Restock List” is approved for use within specified units until current
supplies are exhausted unless otherwise noted. All federal and state pesticide laws shall be adhered to.
Deletion of a pesticide due to loss of federal or state registration will be upheld as per the schedule set
by law. Use of unauthorized pesticides or use of pesticides for unapproved or illegal applications will
be cause for disciplinary action. Parks and Recreation Strategy adheres strictly to all label
requirements concerning safe, legal and effective use of pesticides.
Applicators must ensure that any pesticides utilized conform to the appropriate approved list. Special
consideration is to be taken when implementing pest management methodologies in areas designated
as environmentally sensitive areas (ESA).
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STRATEGY 4: Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for notification of applications for all pesticide materials being
applied by PARD personnel.
BACKGROUND
PARD understands that park users may want to be informed of pesticide applications. Label
requirements for pesticide applications may also mandate that entry to treated areas be avoided for a
specific interval. Park users may also wish to find out further information about pest management
activities occurring at a park site. To satisfy these needs, all pesticide applications will be accompanied
by notification signage and/or site identification method so that park users are made aware of the
treatment.
STRATEGY
It is the Strategy of the City of Denton to notify park visitors of pesticide application sites using various
methods of notification. The primary method is the placement of on-site signs. These signs are posted
at the time of application and placed in clearly visible locations, at conspicuous entries, at trail heads,
and/or application sites. Signs will remain posted for a minimum of 48 hours after the application. The
intent of the placement of the signs is that park users will encounter them before they have had an
opportunity to enter the treated area. The ONLY exception to the sign postage is for spot spraying
applications made with a backpack sprayer, hand-held pressurized sprayer, or granular insecticide
targeting an immediate threat (i.e. fire ants).
Blue dye will be added to all spot spray application, so park visitors can easily identify the areas in a park
that have sprayed. Dye will not be used for broadcast applications. If an entire park has been spayed, it
will be noted on the posting signs.
PARD will utilize other methods of notification such as electronic postings and public notices placed in
public buildings and recreational centers. Notices of broadcast spraying will be posted on the PARD
website and/or other applicable communication platforms. The notice will include the location and date
of the spraying and the product that was used. A staff contact will be listed to provide additional
information upon request.
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STRATEGY 5: Pesticide Application on Park Property and Street Rights-of-Way
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for applications for all pesticide materials being applied by PARD
personnel.
BACKGROUND
It is the Strategy of Denton Parks and Recreation for their employees to apply pesticides in a legal
manner and to adhere strictly to all precautionary requirements for their use. This Strategy outlines
procedures for pesticide application in parks and street rights-of-way that are maintained by PARD
employees. All EPA registered pesticides are accompanied by a legal label specific to each product that
defines all legal uses. Pesticides must be used according to these label directions.
STRATEGY
The pesticide must be used only on sites and targets specified in the label. Higher dosages, higher
concentrations, or more frequent applications than the label allows for are not permitted and is against
state law. Directions for use, safety, mixing, diluting, storage, and disposal, as well as any restrictions on
re-entry must be met.
The following criteria shall be met when applying pesticides. Some of these are addressed more
specifically in other policies.
The label is the law.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shall be used wherever indicated and it must be
maintained in a workable and safe condition.
Spray equipment shall be maintained in a safe and operational condition. Where applicable,
spray equipment shall be calibrated regularly.
Anti-siphoning devices shall be used when filling large spray tanks.
“Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method” will be used in making choices.
Pesticides used shall be chosen from the approved lists as provided for the appropriate work
units.
Pesticides shall be applied only when appropriate weather conditions exist.
Notification signs shall be posted in areas where pesticides are being applied.
All applications shall be recorded on approved application record forms.
Process for Utilizing Pesticides on Park Property or Street Rights-of-Way
i. A park employee identifies or is informed of a pest problem.
ii. Thresholds and action levels are determined by a licensed applicator or supervisor for the
specific pest problem in question.
iii. Management strategies are determined by a licensed applicator. Special situations may require
expertise from outside PARD such as university diagnostic laboratories.
If pesticides are to be used:
1. Choose the pesticide using the “Criteria for Choosing a Pest Management Method,” and
“Approved List of Pesticides” for the appropriate work unit.
2. Check application equipment for safety and mechanical problems, and ALWAYS calibrate before
each use.
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3. Check weather conditions. Applications should be done when appropriate wind conditions exist
to minimize drift and volatilization. Adjustments should be made for spray droplet size and
pressure if conditions warrant. No application should take place where there is unacceptable
drift. Application is allowed outside park curfew hours.
4. Post notifications as required except for spot spraying or mound treatment of ants, to inform
the public of the application. For specific rules, see the Notification Policy.
5. List re-entry specifications on the signs if required by the label.
6. Apply material according to the label and in accordance with state and federal regulations.
7. Record applications of pesticides on the approved forms.
8. Remove signs after the label designated re-entry requirements have been met or after 48 hours
has passed since the application. This is usually when the liquid pesticide has dried, unless
indicated otherwise on the label.
9. Evaluate the results of management measures.
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STRATEGY 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes recording and reporting procedures for all pesticide applications taking place
on park land by PARD personnel, or any other agency, department, company, or individual whether they
are acting as a contractor or acting in a voluntary (approved) manner.
BACKGROUND
PARD finds that detailed recordkeeping is an essential part of IPM implementation, and is vital in
communicating, reporting, and analysis of pest management activities. State law requires that written
records be kept for pesticide applications. The law requires that licensed applicators record the details
of pesticide applications and keep these records for two years. These records must be stored in a central
location and be available for review.
STRATEGY
It is the Strategy of PARD to record and retain records of all pesticide applications performed on park
land. Each application event will require an application form to be completed. The PARD Superintendent
should review these on a periodic basis. A master file of these records shall be kept at a central location,
such as the office where the licensed applicators work out of and maintained by their supervisor. Each
operating unit shall keep a record file related to pesticide applications by their own personnel.
Information regarding application of pesticides to park lands by state certified applicators who work for
a bonded company and who have been contracted for application shall also be recorded including all
information fields required by the TDA. Copies of these records must be provided to the PARD
Superintendent upon request.
The following information must be included on the recording forms for each pesticide application by an
PARD employee: Date of application, application start time, location of site treated, name of applicator,
state license number, temperature, wind conditions, equipment used, target pest, total area treated if
applicable, names and EPA numbers of all products applied, mix ratio / rate of product per unit, total
volume of material applied, coverage rate where applicable, and aquatic buffer designation where
applicable.
At the end of each calendar year, all pesticide records will be submitted to the PARD Superintendent for
pesticide reporting. These will then be collated onto a single form and submitted no later than March to
the Watershed Protection Coordinator.
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Pesticide Material Management
STRATEGY 7: Use of Remaining Pesticide Solutions and Rinses
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for the use and disposal of any pesticide remains generated by
PARD applicators. It outlines methods for use of remaining pesticide solutions and rinses in a legal and
safe manner.
BACKGROUND
Applicable laws require that all pesticide solutions and rinses be applied to target areas according to
label directions. These solutions and rinses may also be disposed of at an authorized pesticide disposal
site. It is the goal of PARD to conduct our pesticide operations so that disposal of remaining material is
not necessary.
STRATEGY
Pesticide solutions and rinses should be applied according to the label directions, and to legal target
sites so there are no pesticides remaining. This shall be accomplished by accurately gauging the amount
of pesticide needed for the job. PARD promotes the use of advance planning to minimize the number of
times it is necessary to switch pesticides in spray equipment. In order to reduce the amount of excess
rinsate, it is the Strategy of PARD to rinse equipment only at the end of the spray cycle or when
changing to pesticides that are incompatible with those in the tank. It is a legal requirement to fully label
all tanks and sprayers containing leftover pesticides at the end of each day.
PROCEDURES
Following are some considerations to make before beginning an application to assure the proper
amount of pesticide is mixed. Advance considerations:
Weather conditions and predictions.
Acreage/square footage of the job site.
Calendar: special events, mowing, irrigation, etc.
Type and size of the equipment appropriate to do the job.
When applying the pesticide use the following procedures to reduce and safely store the rinse solution.
These are secondary to label information and State and Federal regulation.
Mix only enough pesticide solution to do the job that day.
Use up all pesticide, applying until the tank is empty, or no more solution is coming through the
nozzle.
If pesticide mix remains, completely label the tank or sprayer with legal labels for the products
used. Also mark the current concentration for each product, the date, and the name of the
applicator.
When resuming spray applications, the next time, either use the leftover material, or add
dilution water and circulate the mix thoroughly before adding new concentrate.
If spray tank rinsate is created, store the rinsate as make-up water for the next day. The next
day's pesticide should be compatible or the same. The same labeling requirements pertain to
the rinsate mix.
Rinse the sprayer if the following conditions apply:
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It is necessary to use a pesticide incompatible with that previously used.
It is the end of a spraying cycle.
Use the following rinse process:
1. Read the pesticide label. The following should not conflict with label information or State or
Federal regulations. Contact your supervisor if you see a conflict or have questions.
2. Wear protective clothing, as listed on the label when handling pesticides, pesticide containers,
or pesticide equipment.
3. Fill the spray equipment approximately ¼ full with clean water. Shake or agitate so that all inside
surfaces are washed. If possible, use the spray hose to rinse the inside surface of the tank. These
procedures should coincide with all labels.
4. Spray the rinse water out of the spray equipment onto an approved target area. Rinse water
should be run through all hoses, booms, etc. Filters should be cleaned. Because of the dilute
nature of the pesticide in the rinse water, a coarse spray can be used and is recommended to
save time. Do not “pond” or saturate the soil.
5. If the tank is to be stored, repeat step 3 and 4 above two times until the tank is clean.
Cleaning motorized, mechanical sprayers:
1. No pesticide solution shall be left in the tank or any other moving part overnight.
2. Equipment must be cleaned according to manufacturer’s recommendation and in accordance to
label recommendations.
a. This ensures longevity of equipment and safety measures should the equipment need to
be worked on.
b. This prevents an environmental hazard should the tank, hoses, or pump begin to leak.
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STRATEGY 8: Storage and Transportation of Pesticides
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the method and procedure for storage of pesticide materials for all PARD locations
and personnel.
BACKGROUND
Attention to the proper storage is vital to assure public and employee safety, as well as to protect the
investment in their purchase. Several agencies are involved in regulating aspects of pesticide storage. No
single agency has comprehensive authority. Agencies involved include State of Texas Department of
Agriculture, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Texas
State Fire Marshall, and the Denton Fire Department. Pesticides will be stored and transported in a
manner that reduces the risk of spills, exposure, theft, degradation, contamination, or loss.
STRATEGY
Pesticides or pesticide containers shall be kept in secure and safe locations in accordance with existing
laws. They shall be kept in a secure location and, if possible, in a temperature controlled, well-ventilated
area. Areas used for storage shall be labeled and designated for use by work unit supervisors.
Pesticides shall be safeguarded from environmental damage such as extreme temperature,
photodecomposition or moisture. All pesticides in storage shall be inspected regularly and, if necessary,
rotated on the shelf to assure that the oldest dated items are used first.
Storage of pesticides shall be in accordance with applicable laws. Individual sites may store pesticides if
they are in spill-proof and lockable cabinets and labelled as pesticides. Appropriate containers will be
approved by the Park Manager.
Pesticides being transported shall be appropriately and safely secured in the vehicle. Only licensed
applicators shall transport pesticides. Appropriate spill response supplies must be immediately available.
Pesticides shall not be transported in passenger cabs of vehicles where alternatives exist, such as truck
beds, truck boxes or vehicle trunks.
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STRATEGY 9: Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers and Unusable Pesticides
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the method and procedures for the disposal of pesticide containers and unusable
pesticides or those pesticides whose registrations have been totally or partially suspended.
BACKGROUND
PARD considers proper disposal of unusable pesticides and pesticide containers of the utmost
importance to the safety of employees, the public, and the environment. Several governmental agencies
regulate pesticide disposal. No one agency has comprehensive authority. Agencies involved include the
Texas State Department of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Protection
Agency, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. PARD will comply with all relevant laws
governing the proper disposal of these materials.
STRATEGY
PARD shall dispose of pesticides and empty pesticide containers in accordance with all State and Federal
regulations and label recommendations. Disposal of pesticide containers and unusable pesticides not in
accordance with this Strategy will be cause for disciplinary action.
PROCEDURES
Read the pesticide label. The following steps should not conflict with label information or state and
federal regulations. Contact your supervisor if you determine a conflict or have other questions. Always
wear protective clothing when handling pesticides or pesticide containers, as directed on the label.
For non-rigid containers including bags, sacks, and boxes
1. Pesticide material must be emptied into application equipment to the extent made possible by
physical agitation of the container.
2. Visually verify that residues have been removed.
3. Multiple-rinse non-rigid containers such as paper lined with plastic or foil.
4. Place in a plastic bag and mark as to contents.
For rigid containers such as plastic, glass, or metal
1. Pesticide material must be emptied into application equipment to the extent possible by
pouring, then visually verifying that the residues have been removed.
2. The container must be rinsed with clean water until clean; the rinse water being poured into the
spray equipment. Empty the pesticide and all rinsates into the sprayer before the full amount of
diluting water is added to the spray equipment.
3. Place in a plastic bag and mark as to contents.
Storage of Containers
1. Containers must be stored in plastic bags in a secure area until they can be taken to a secure
collection site. The Park Maintenance Complex is a designated secure collection site.
2. Containers must be transported to and placed in the designated secure container box at the
Park Maintenance storage area. Each container product name and size must be recorded by a
licensed applicator on the designated form at that time.
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3. An inventory of products will be maintained by PARD. For each container, record the date, name
of the pesticide, quantity and size of the container. These records shall be kept at the site, and
copies forwarded to the PARD Superintendent and the City’s Risk Manager as required.
Disposal of Unusable Pesticides
Unusable pesticides are ones that: 1) are damaged through vaporization, freezing, infiltration of
moisture to containers or photo decomposition; 2) have exceeded their shelf life; or 3) have visually
changed their composition or structure in some manner.
1. The PARD Manager and/or Supervisor should be informed of plans to dispose of pesticides and
of results of the disposition.
2. The PARD Manager and/or Supervisor will contact the TDA, the manufacturer or dealer and/or a
licensed consultant and find out if the product is still usable.
3. If the pesticide has less activity due to long storage, moisture, or freeze damage, follow the
recommendations of the dealer, manufacturer, or licensed consultant and use procedures in
this Strategy as they apply. One option could be to apply the material realizing that full control is
not achievable using the damaged pesticide.
4. If this option cannot be followed legally, follow recommendations of the dealer or manufacturer
or licensed consultant. It is not legal to transfer damaged or altered pesticides to another party
for use. It may be necessary to arrange for disposal of the pesticide in a manner recommended
by TCEQ.
5. The Pesticide Licensed Applicators are responsible for properly disposing of pesticides according
to law and TDA. A record of these disposals should be kept on file for three years.
Disposal of Pesticides with Totally or Partially Canceled Registrations (or those which have been
removed from approved use by PARD.)
1. The PARD Manager and/or Supervisor shall keep up-to-date on the pesticide regulatory news
and respond to pending actions appropriately to minimize or eliminate stocks of unusable
pesticides.
2. If unusable pesticides remain in stock, PARD will follow recommendations of the regulatory
agencies, manufacturer or dealer in finding a legal user for the pesticide. If the pesticide is
unopened and/or still retains its integrity it may be possible to transfer the pesticide to a legally
registered bureau, agency, or group to use.
3. It may be necessary to dispose of the pesticide in a manner recommended by TDA and TCEQ.
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Safety Measures and Emergency Response
STRATEGY 10: Use of Protective Clothing and Equipment
PURPOSE
This Strategy outlines the requirements for the use of protective clothing and equipment by PARD
personnel when undertaking pest management activities.
BACKGROUND
Use of pest management tools, equipment, and materials may require the use of personal protective
equipment (PPE). Use of such equipment is necessary to provide an adequate measure of safety for the
applicator. This protective equipment will be clearly defined in the legal pesticide label directions or
directives in equipment manuals. When such directives exist, they must be adhered to. Use of
appropriate protective equipment may not be so clearly defined for all pest management methods, and
in such cases, it is the responsibility of the applicator to determine and employ adequate safety
equipment.
STRATEGY
Personnel engaged in the use of pest management tools, equipment, or materials shall follow all
clothing and equipment requirements required to ensure their safety. When using pesticides, the label
directives for use of PPE must be adhered to. Use of related power and mechanical equipment must be
accompanied by appropriate PPE as determined by equipment manuals or supervisor's directives.
Required personal protective equipment appropriate to satisfy specific pesticide label requirements
shall be provided by PARD to employees for their use. This may include, but is not limited to: respiratory
protection, eye protection, coveralls, rain gear, mixing aprons, chemically resistant boots, gloves, head
protection, and hearing protection. Time will be made available to wash up before lunch and at the end
of the work shift. The applicator is responsible for cleaning, storing, and maintaining PPE and equipment
in a safe and useful manner. Applicators may also provide their own additional PPE if desired, if such
equipment and its use has been previously approved by their supervisor.
If applicators apply organophosphate and carbamate insecticides in amounts and frequencies
determined by Natural Agricultural Safety Data base to require cholinesterase blood tests, PARD will
provide for these tests. This testing monitors the potential depletion of the enzyme cholinesterase in the
blood, an indicator of exposure to these materials.
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STRATEGY 11: Emergency Information Concerning Accidental Pesticide Exposure
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for the proper response to employee and citizen inquiries regarding
accidental exposure to any pesticide material used by PARD staff. It defines PARD's response to inquiries
concerning adverse health effects as a possible result of accidental exposure to pesticides.
BACKGROUND
PARD's handling of public inquiries should be prompt, professional, and well-supported. While PARD can
answer general questions, PARD does not have medical professionals on staff to address specific
medical questions relevant to accidental exposure. This expertise is readily available in the health care
community. Therefore, concerns of this nature will be referred to qualified medical personnel for
resolution.
STRATEGY
PARD will inform applicators of proper procedures to be taken in case of pesticide exposure. Anyone
inquiring about pesticide exposure will be referred to his or her own personal physician, the Central
Texas Poison Center (CTPC), or the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). A list of these
authorities and their phone numbers are listed in the appendices.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information about all hazardous substances in the workplace is available to all
personnel. This information includes symptoms of exposure, and procedures for handling overexposure
to individual pesticides. If symptoms of illness occur during or shortly after applying pesticides, the CTPC
should be contacted or the individual should receive medical attention immediately.
Non-emergency questions received by PARD shall be referred to the PARD Agronomist and IPM
Coordinator. The PARD Manager and/or Supervisor will provide information to the questioner or refer
them to qualified individuals or sources for further information.
PROCEDURES
Use planning to avoid emergencies and to expedite aid should an accident occur.
Be informed of the symptoms of exposure and the decontamination steps necessary in case of
accidental exposure.
Use all safety procedures and protective gear as recommended on the label.
Have a copy of the appropriate label available when applying or transporting pesticides
(concentrated and dilute.)
In case of a medical emergency related to suspected pesticide exposure:
Handle any emergency situation as per First Aid instructions, or label and SDS.
Call for emergency backup if necessary.
Refer to Central Texas Poison Center.
Take a label for reference for medical personnel if it is necessary to leave the site.
Inform your supervisor as soon as possible.
Inform the PARD Manager as soon as possible.
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In response to a non-emergency inquiry:
Respond to questions to the best of your ability.
Refer detailed or technical questions to the Park Manager.
Inform your supervisor.
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STRATEGY 12: Pesticide Spill Response
PURPOSE
This Strategy outlines the objectives, training requirements and procedures PARD personnel should
follow in response to an accidental release of pesticides. This applies to all PARD staff involved in
applications of pesticides, handling of pesticides, or acting in a communications response role during a
spill incident.
BACKGROUND
Several state and federal regulations apply to an unintentional release of pesticides. Several state and
federal regulations apply to an accidental release of hazardous materials. The Department of
Transportation (DOT) and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulate the transport of hazardous
waste resulting from a spill and the release of chemicals if it occurs when they are being transported.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
protect the environment through regulation concerning prevention of and response to the
contamination of water, land, and air resulting from a pesticide spill. They are also tasked with the
responsibility to make sure that the pesticides are properly disposed of. These regulations are
incorporated into the procedures outlined here. Through its Pesticide Spill Response Strategy, PARD
strives to take a leadership role as a steward of public land and of the environment.
STRATEGY
The primary method by which PARD reduces pesticide spills is through prevention. Through planning,
preparation, adherence to good work practices, and increased awareness of the potential results of a
spill, the possibility of a spill occurring is minimized.
PARD personnel will respond in accordance with all governmental regulations, including those of DOT,
EPA, TCEQ, OSHA, and this Strategy should an accidental release of a pesticide occur. In performing
emergency activities following a spill, protection of both employees and the public, is of great concern,
as is protection of property and the environment.
Anyone liable for a spill shall immediately clean up the spill or release. The cleanup must use the best
available methods to achieve the lowest practicable level of contamination.
OSHA, which is concerned with worker protection, has two regulations governing spills. The first one,
Hazard Communication, applies to incidental spills that present a low potential of hazard to the worker,
the public and the environment. Included are small spills of dilute pesticides, spills of material with
granular formulations, and lower toxicity materials. The other regulation, Emergency Response, applies
to incidents with a high degree of hazard such as large spills of dilute material, pesticides with higher
toxicity, and concentrates in a confined space.
An incidental spill becomes an Emergency Response when:
1. The release or spill significantly impacts another agency's functions;
2. The incidental spill precipitates evacuation or curtailing of work;
3. The event causes a negative impact on neighboring facilities or the community; or
4. The spill involves a coordinated effort by local first responders.
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Only licensed pesticide applicators can transport or apply pesticides. They will receive training and
equipment that will allow them to respond to incidental spills. Spills that require an Emergency
Response will be handled by a local HAZMAT team.
An assessment and evaluation of the quantity, hazardous level, and impact of each spill will be
conducted. Spills will be reported as required by local, state, and federal regulatory agencies. PARD will
coordinate response and reporting activities with the local HAZMAT team, the Emergency Management
Coordinator, and the Director of Environmental Services.
The spill need not be reported immediately if it occurs on a surface impervious to the hazardous
material and is fully contained, and if it is completely cleaned up without further incident, including
repairing the cause of the spill. The PARD Manager and Supervisor will determine whether these
agencies should be contacted.
Particular attention should be paid to ensure that a pesticide does not pollute the water supply. A
primary aim in following the procedures outlined here is to recover and reuse as much of the spilled
pesticide as possible. Any absorbent or other contaminated material from which the spilled pesticide
cannot be recovered is hazardous waste and must be labeled, stored and disposed of properly.
RESPONSIBILITY AND TRAINING
Parks and Recreation has identified three levels of spill response. The levels and their training
requirements are described below:
Level Description and Training
Level I is for individuals who come into indirect contact with pesticides and their use. They must be able
to recognize and respond to an emergency by obtaining and passing on information, and by making the
appropriate notifications. They will not take an active role in containment and clean up procedures.
People at this level will have sufficient training to acquire competency in the following areas:
1. Familiarity with CHEMTREC6 (provides access to technical experts on chemical products and
hazardous materials and maintains a large database of Material Safety Data Sheets. CHEMTREC
can be reached at (800) 424-9300) and an understanding of their own role in an emergency.
2. An understanding of pesticides as hazardous substances, and the risks associated with them in a
spill.
3. The ability to recognize the presence of hazardous material in an emergency.
4. The ability to recognize the need for additional resources, and to make appropriate
notifications.
People in this category include those Park Managers supervising park operations. These individuals will
receive additional training to familiarize them with their role in the case of an emergency.
Level II is for licensed applicators that apply or transport small volumes of low to moderately toxic
pesticides. This level includes response to incidental spills. Individuals at this level are trained to prevent
spills from occurring. Should one occur, they are trained to stop the release, keep it from spreading, and
do cleanup. Most of PARD’s licensed pesticide applicators are in this category.
Individuals at this level will receive training in addition to pesticide applicators, along with hazard
communication and respiratory protection training. They must exhibit competency in the following
areas as well as those listed in the base level.
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1. Familiarity with activities which promote spill prevention.
2. Familiarity with the Spill Response Program and their own role in an emergency.
3. Knowledge of safety and health hazards of hazardous materials in a spill.
4. An understanding of basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.
5. Knowledge of work practices that employees can use to minimize risks from hazards.
6. Selection and use of proper personal protective equipment.
7. Identification of symptoms that may indicate overexposure to hazards.
8. Implementation of basic decontamination procedures.
9. Performance of basic control, containment, and clean-up techniques.
10. Skill in determining when a spill is fully cleaned up.
Level III training includes individuals who apply or transport over 50 gallons of dilute pesticides, or more
than 1 gallon or 10 pounds of concentrate with a danger label. They are trained to stop the release, keep
it from spreading and do cleanup.
1. Knowledge and use of spill prevention techniques for larger equipment.
2. Knowledge of hazard and risk assessment techniques.
3. An understanding of basic hazardous materials terms.
4. An understanding of basic chemical and toxicological terminology and behavior.
5. Selection and use of proper personal protective equipment appropriate for more toxic
pesticides.
6. Implementation of decontamination procedures.
7. Performance of control, containment and clean up techniques.
This level includes the PARD Manager and Supervisor directly overseeing landscaping and ground
maintenance and who will be coordinating with officials on notifying regulatory agencies, documenting
incidents, ensuring that the cleanup is complete, and making arrangements for disposal of hazardous
waste.
SPILL PREVENTION
PARD personnel will employ a variety of practices to reduce the potential of a pesticide spill. These will
include the following:
Purchasing
When procuring chemicals, a factor in determining which chemical formulation to purchase will be the
ease with which it can be cleaned up in the event of a spill. Types of packaging and formulations that
may help to prevent a spill from occurring will be factors as well. Characteristics of the pesticide, such as
toxicity and reactivity that may affect the seriousness of a spill, will also be considered.
Preparation
Planning, training of personnel, and acquisition and maintenance of equipment and supplies will be
done to reduce the risk of a spill occurring, and to minimize damage should one occur. For example,
regular preventative maintenance will be done on sprayers, replacing hoses and valves before they wear
out.
Work Practices
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PARD personnel will use practices to minimize the potential for a spill to occur, and to ease clean up
should one occur. For example, pesticides should be placed in a leak-proof container while being
transported.
PESTICIDE SPILL PROCEDURES
Pesticide spills can pose serious threats to human health and cause significant environmental
contamination. A thorough knowledge of the appropriate steps to take in the event of a spill will allow
you to minimize the potential for adverse effects and may save you a great deal of money in expensive
cleanup costs. Always be prepared to handle spills before they occur. It is a good idea to have a spill kit
in storage and mixing areas. Contamination can greatly increase when delaying response to a pesticide
spill.
Spills may be relatively minor, involving one or a few leaking containers. However, major spills, such as
when a sprayer overturns spilling its contents, can and do occasionally occur. Regardless of the
magnitude of the spill, the objectives of a proper response are the same.
1. ASSESS the situation
2. CONTROL the spill.
3. CONTAIN the spill.
4. CLEAN IT UP.
5. DOCUMENT the spill.
(NOTE: Should a release of a pesticide occur, the following guidelines shall be used: Do not clean up the
spill if you are not properly trained, if you don’t have proper protective equipment or if doing so would
endanger your health or safety.)
ASSESS THE SITUATION
1. Out of Control Release:
a. Tell bystanders to remain at a safe distance.
b. Call 911. Ask for fire; describe the situation as a hazardous materials spill. If there are
injured people, ask for an ambulance. If chemical injury is involved, be certain that a
copy of the label accompanies the victim.
c. Assist injured people. Remove contaminated clothing immediately.
d. Determine whether there is an imminently hazardous situation that you can take steps
to correct. (For example, it may be appropriate to move the truck away from a
waterway or heat source.)
e. Contact supervisor.
f. If the spill is on a roadway, set up DOT reflectors upwind of spilled materials and divert
traffic if possible.
g. Remain on site and update the Denton HAZMAT Team as new information develops.
2. Controllable Release and there are no injuries:
a. Tell bystanders to remain at a safe distance and initiate control and clean up procedures
outlined in CONTROL THE SPILL. You should be also putting on any PPE necessary.
3. Report the Spill
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Notification will depend on the hazard level of the product spilled, the nature of the spill and
state regulations. Part of preparation should be to know the cleanup procedure and reporting
sequence for each product. A supervisor should be notified immediately. As a rule, the
Emergency Management Coordinator, Risk Manager, and Watershed Protection Department
should be notified for all reportable spills.
When you notify authorities of an emergency, have the following information:
The name and phone number of the contact person at the facility where the spill occurred;
The location of the spill and if water is threatened;
The name of the chemical spilled;
If the product is known to be acutely toxic;
The estimated quantity spilled;
The extent of injuries or exposure;
The cause of the spill;
Action taken to control and contain the spill;
Planned cleanup procedures, evacuation and other precautions; and
When the spill occurred.
CONTROL THE SPILL
When attempting to control the flow of the chemical, do not expose yourself unnecessarily. Always
carry protective clothing, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and spill containment equipment when
transporting pesticides. Use this equipment when pesticide emergencies occur.
1. Put on protective equipment.
2. Do not allow the material to enter a drain. Survey the area to see if there is a need to place a
dam to protect a sewer drain or another waterway. If the pesticide does enter a drain, reduce
the flow as much as possible, and call Watershed Protection at 940-349-7123 immediately. If
not available 940-349-7000.
3. Stop the flow of the chemical.
If the spill is from a leaky container, position the container to prevent additional spillage.
If the spill is from a leaky valve, isolate the valve and depressurize the tank.
If the spill is from a broken hose shut off valve or pump it may help to loop the hose back
into the tank.
If there is a rupture, use duct tape or any other material (such as rags or a patch) to stop the
flow of a chemical.
4. Contain the spill using absorbent material. Call the Denton HAZMAT Team to request additional
supplies, resources, and assistance if needed.
5. Change or add to your protective equipment as necessary. Put contaminated protective
equipment in a plastic bag to transport to your work unit for cleaning. Follow proper
decontamination procedures for protective equipment.
CONTAIN THE SPILL
After the leak has been controlled as well as possible, contain the spilled material in as small an area as
possible. With liquid spills, construct a dam to prevent the chemical from spreading. It is particularly
important not to allow any chemical to get into any body of water, including storm sewers. Do not hose
down the area; this will cause further spread of the chemical. Liquid spills can be further contained by
spreading absorbent materials such as fine sand, vermiculite, sawdust, or clay over the entire spill. For
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absorbing small spills and minor leaks, kitty litter is particularly useful. (NOTE: Avoid the use of sawdust
or sweeping compounds if the pesticide is a strong oxidizer. Such a combination presents a possible fire
hazard.)
CLEAN UP THE SPILL
After the spill has been contained, consult with the Denton HAZMAT Team and Watershed Protection on
clean up.
1. For dry material, sweep up the pesticide.
2. For a liquid spill, materials such as absorbent dikes, pillows, and towels can be used to absorb a
product.
3. For concentrate spills on pavement, after picking up as much as possible, contain the area and
wash the pavement with a small amount of water. Absorb this diluted pesticide and reclaim it.
4. If the soil has been contaminated, contact the Denton HAZMAT Team. The PARD Manager, your
supervisor, and you will determine to what degree cleanup should proceed using PARD
personnel. You may be asked to remove the contaminated soil. If so, scoop up enough soil to
completely remove the pesticide. Place unusable material in a container labeled “Hazardous
Waste”. Coordinate the disposal of the material with the Denton HAZMAT Team and/or Risk
Management.
5. Contact the Denton HAZMAT Team if it has not been done already. Have the Spill Incident
Report ready so that your supervisor and the PARD Manager can evaluate the situation.
DOCUMENT THE SPILL
1. Complete a Pesticide Spill Incident Report.
2. A copy of the report will be filed with the PARD Manager and Supervisor directly overseeing
landscape and ground maintenance operations.
3. All Pesticide Spill Incident Reports will be reviewed by the PARD Manager and Supervisor. A
debriefing of the incident will be held with staff and additional training will be provided based
on the nature of the incident.
4. Restock the Spill Kit
Pesticide Spill Kit Response Equipment
The following items must be immediately available to all persons applying or transporting pesticides:
1. Hard copies or mobile access to the following information:
Chemical labels for materials being transported;
SDS for chemicals being transported clipped to front of binder;
Pesticide Spill Response Procedures and Incident Report;
A DOT Emergency Response Guidebook; and
Emergency phone numbers
2. A radio, other two-way communication device, or cellular phone if there is the potential of a
spill occurring that would require assistance.
3. Personal protective equipment appropriate for handling the pesticides being applied or
transported in the event of a spill.
4. An eyewash either on the truck or on site and immediately available in the case of an
emergency.
5. Tools and supplies to make repairs to the application equipment and to stop leaks.
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6. A means of picking up spilled material. Depending on the formulation this may include
absorbent material, broom and dustpan, or shovel.
7. Plastic recovery bags and ties for the material and for contaminated personal protective
equipment.
8. A jug of water and detergent.
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Targeted Pest Management
STRATEGY 13: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines the management of weeds in the managed turf areas in the City of Denton parks
and recreation areas and the use of selective turf herbicides by an applicator.
BACKGROUND
For turf to function in the manner it was intended, appropriate maintenance standards may require
management of weeds within these sites. While the subject of overall turf health is a topic too complex
to cover in detail within this Strategy, the management of weeds in designated turf sites shall be
regulated by this Strategy.
The establishment and maintenance of quality turf requires a proper site, good root zone conditions,
optimum fertility levels, adequate irrigation, correct mowing practices, and other factors. PARD relies
primarily on attention to these siting and cultural factors in maintaining turf and minimizing the density
of weeds. Adherence to good cultural practices aids in development of healthy stands of turf which
resist establishment of weeds. Selective herbicides can also be used as effective tools to reduce or
eliminate populations of weeds in turf as part of an overall program of turf health maintenance.
Examples of turf health practices currently employed by PARD:
Proper siting.
Site and soil preparation.
Drainage improvements.
Pruning of adjacent plants for increased sunlight penetration.
Proper selection of grass varieties.
Core aeration.
Overseeding.
Mulch mowing to leave clippings on site.
Mowing at the proper height and frequency.
Proper irrigation practices.
Proper fertilization.
Application of selective broadleaf and grassy herbicides.
STRATEGY
Turf plays various important functions in our parks. When an area has been determined to be
maintained as turf, it is the Strategy of PARD to do so primarily through the implementation of proper
planning, cultural, and mechanical practices. These practices are generally adequate to keep the
population of turf broadleaf weeds at acceptable levels. At certain sites these practices alone may not
be adequate to keep broadleaf weeds at acceptable levels. An acceptable level of turf quality and
tolerance of weed infestation varies with the site. The threshold at which controls may be necessary
shall be determined on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration such factors as location, public
expectation, the manner of activities taking place on the turf, the history of previous control attempts,
and stresses placed upon the site. The management effort must consider and employ all applicable
cultural and mechanical methods as components of a plan to return the turf to an acceptable level of
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quality. Goals of these methods may include reducing soil compaction, improving soil structure, seeding,
increasing drainage capacity, and encouraging healthy and vigorous turf growth through proper
fertilization.
PROCEDURES
For proper IPM, it is essential that there be proper coordination between all the components of turf
health management. To ensure this coordination, all applicators must first obtain authorization from the
appropriate supervisor listed below before herbicides are used.
PARD Parks and Recreation applicators:
1. Athletic fields: Program Supervisor
2. Parks: Landscape / Ground Maintenance Manager
Appendix 5 outlines the general maintenance schedule for turf management. Several factors can affect
the adherence to the schedule including but not limited to the following:
Special Considerations
By its nature, the use of herbicides in turf requires their application to sites that have varied and direct
public uses, often involving children and pets. These applications must be carefully planned to allow for
careful adherence to the pesticide label directives, and to minimize any potential impacts on these
users.
Time of Day
Applications should be made during the best time of day to avoid public use, high temperatures, and
wind. Applications can be made as early in the day as possible or after park hours. Applicators should
consider off schedule timing, such as shifting work hours so that spraying can be completed before
conditions and park use makes applications problematic. Minimizing public inconvenience and public
concern should be of paramount importance.
Scheduling Conflicts
Any proposed applications should consider the expected use of the area for that date and time, such as
nearby school activities, recreation activities, athletic field scheduling, park special events, and all other
anticipated uses.
Signage
Notification signage is of utmost importance in turf applications. The nature of a typical turf site is open
and with easy public access. As stated in the Integrated Pest Management Program Notification of
Pesticide Use at a Site Strategy 4, signage should be adequate to inform any park user approaching the
area.
Seasonal Timing
Wherever possible, applications should be timed to coincide with the ideal time for turf weed control.
This is typically during the spring and fall months, where weed growth is active and conditions leading to
turf stress, such as dry and hot weather, are not present. Integral to IPM is knowing specific weed life
cycles in order to have effective control.
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Drift
Minimizing drift is critical in turf weed applications. Use of boom sprayers instead of backpack sprayers
may increase the potential for drift. Great care should be taken to minimize any possible drift.
Applications should cease if any drift inducing condition becomes apparent.
Use of appropriate pressure, correct nozzles and other techniques should be employed to minimize
creation of small spray particles that may drift.
Targeted applications
Where warranted spot spraying for turf weeds should be employed. While there are sites that will
require an overall broadcast application, there are sites where only certain areas will require treatment.
Applications should be focused on the target weed as much as practicable.
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STRATEGY 14: Pesticide Applications around Community Gardens
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable and unacceptable use of pesticides within and near park areas
designated as community gardens.
BACKGROUND
Pest management in or near park areas designated as community gardens necessitates special
considerations. The Community Garden Program’s participants have varying levels of knowledge about
pest management methods and have differing views about the use of pest management materials.
Community garden plots are near one another and may change ownership from year to year.
Community gardens also produce edible crops which dictate special constraints in managing pests. For
these reasons, a special Strategy was formulated and defines the acceptable use of pesticides within
Community Gardens.
STRATEGY
PARD staff will work in coordination with the Community Garden Committee to establish
guidelines regarding garden plot use by participants of the program.
PARD staff shall establish internal guidelines regarding pesticide use by participants of the
program.
PARD aims to dedicate 50% of the community garden plots for organic use only. The plots will
be strategically located to protect the integrity of organic methods and practices.
Park employees are asked to take all precautions necessary to keep applications, including any
drift, of all pesticides at a minimum from the outside perimeter of Community Garden sites.
Mechanical means, such as cutting, hoeing and mulching, are the preferred method to remove
or control weeds in the Community Garden sites and perimeters.
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STRATEGY 15: Waterways Pest Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy establishes procedures for use of any pesticide materials being applied by PARD personnel
adjacent to, or upon Denton’s waterways.
BACKGROUND
This Strategy was written in conjunction with Watershed Protection division’s personnel. It is the intent
of PARD to cooperate with Watershed Protection to protect water quality in Denton’s streams and
reservoirs.
STRATEGY
It is the strategy of PARD to use all measures to protect the city water supply from contamination
through pesticides. PARD employees will provide any information needed by the Watershed Protection
division and policies and will notify the Watershed Protection Department prior to any spraying of
pesticides within or near creeks, rivers, streams, lakes, or any waterways. Some of the regulations in the
strategy deal with the following:
Applications of pesticides will not be made if there is unacceptable drift.
The Watershed Protection division will be notified if there is a spill or accident that causes
unplanned release of pesticides into waterways or environmentally sensitive areas. Refer to the
Parks and Recreation Spill Strategy for the appropriate response actions.
The applicator will contact the Watershed Protection division for known pesticide applications
to be made in areas inside or near creeks, rivers, streams, lakes, or any waterways. The
information should include the pesticides expected to be used, the locations of use, and the
frequencies of application.
GENERAL GOALS AND PHILOSOPHY
PARD recognizes the special importance of the rivers, streams, ponds, water quality facilities and
wetlands that fall under our stewardship. The sensitive nature of such habitats, their plant and animal
communities, and their direct link with other waterways require that we establish specific policies to
ensure their health. The PARD Integrated Pest Management Program outlines special procedures and
clear guidelines and limitations regarding maintenance methods and materials for both these waterways
and the park lands adjacent to them. As in the rest of the Integrated Pest Management Program, an
integrated approach will be used in all landscape management decision making
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, MATERIALS AND LIMITATIONS FOR PARKS
WATERWAYS AND BUFFERS
Definitions
The buffer zone referred to in this Strategy is defined as a corridor of land between the top of the
stream bank and the edge of the waterline at the time of application.
Application Equipment Used
Pesticide delivery for all listed areas in this Strategy will be carried out by hand with directed, low
volume, single wand sprayers, wiping, daubing and painting equipment, injections systems, or drop
spreaders. Typically, this is done by backpack sprayers, but may also include sprayers with larger fill
tanks as long as the same kind of hand application methods is used. These methods of delivery result in
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low volume applications and low-pressure spraying. This minimizes the formation of fine mists that
might be carried off target. These practices ensure that applied materials will reach targeted plants or
targeted soil surfaces.
Pesticide Drift
When applications of pesticides are being made within the buffer zone, great care will be exercised in
the process. Managing drift is of particular importance when surface waters are nearby. Equipment used
in the application shall employ all necessary methods to limit drift.
Nozzle size, pressure regulation, droplet size, and height of spray wand, are all techniques that can be
modified to reduce unwanted drift of pesticides.
Spray applications will not be allowed in the buffer area when:
Wind speed is above 5 mph, and
Wind direction or activity would carry pesticides toward, or deposit them upon open water.
Pesticides Available
To more clearly regulate any possible aquatic impacts, the pesticides available for use in buffers and
aquatic sites will be reduced in scope from the general park list. Only aquatic-labeled pesticides may be
used within buffer zones or waterways. Choice of pesticides utilized take into account any possible
effects on aquatic life as well as tendencies to move in the environment. In addition, applicators must
research the impacts of each pesticide before use and get approval from the direct supervisor.
Materials available for tree injections in buffer zones:
In the event a pest or disease threatens the health of important and valuable trees within a buffer zone,
there may be a need to treat them. Instances of this occurring are rare. However, in these special cases,
the use of injectable pesticides may be employed when necessary, with the following limitations. The
pesticide applied must be delivered by methods that inject or otherwise distribute the material entirely
within interior tree tissues. Pesticides will not be injected into the soil surrounding the tree. Tree
surfaces will not be sprayed or treated with pesticides. The insecticides and fungicides used in these
injection systems shall be approved by the PARD Manager in consultation with the Watershed
Protection Coordinator and the Urban Forrester. The intent and limit of this exception to the approved
buffer zone pesticide list is to allow only the insecticides or fungicides necessary to combat direct
threats to the health of valuable trees.
Materials for all other areas:
PARD’s approved pesticides may be used outside the waterway and buffer zones, where not otherwise
prohibited by this Strategy.
Recordkeeping Requirements
All regular application recordkeeping requirements will be adhered to for all pesticide applications. This
includes date and the time intervals of the application, temperature and wind conditions, location of
application, materials used, concentrations used, amount applied, coverage rate, equipment used,
applicator information and license number.
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Personnel Requirements
All those applying pesticides to PARD lands must be Texas Department of Agriculture licensed
applicators. Application of pesticides to aquatic sites will only be done by licensed personnel who have
received an additional aquatics license certification.
Changes to the Strategy
A need may arise for modifications or additions to this Strategy. There are several methods available to
accomplish this. PARD representatives will develop an IPM strategy to deal with the threat. If this
strategy involves the need for any pesticide applications within buffer zones or waterways that are not
already outlined in the current Strategy, PARD will consult with Watershed Protection regarding the
proposed modifications.
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STRATEGY 16: Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber Playground Areas
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing vegetation in playgrounds areas. The
Department is transitioning over to Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) as its preferred playground safety
surface, as it meets ASTM and CPSC guidelines for safety surfacing and ADA accessibility. As EWF
consists of specially manufactured wood chips, they also pose a special need for more attention for staff
to address the following approved vegetation management methods and materials in these specific
areas.
BACKGROUND
In all our IPM activities, PARD seeks to minimize any potential impacts to our park users while still
providing responsible, effective, and efficient care for our facilities. EWF playground areas focus
attention on our activities and require a special set of best management practices to benefit both PARD
and park users.
STRATEGY
All PARD personnel are required to adhere to this Strategy when they are undertaking weed
management activities in playground areas and their immediate borders or margins. Weed control in
these play areas will be accomplished primarily through the use of the wood chip mulch. To function as
both a safe surface for play and as an effective weed barrier, this chip layer should be kept at the
established minimum depth. If the mulch layer is not adequate for weed control it should be amended
as soon as is practicable. Mulch layers that have broken down over time and provide a medium for good
weed growth should be replaced or amended with fresh chips. Broadcast spraying of herbicides will not
be used to control vegetation in play areas.
Manual weeding is usually adequate to keep weeds from establishing within the chipped areas. Effort
shall be made to respond quickly to weed presence so that this kind of control will be feasible and
effective.
Use of powered weed control equipment, such as line trimmers and tillers, may be used in chipped
areas to control weeds, but careful attention to the dangers they present must be taken. This kind of
equipment should not be used when nearby park users may be put at risk. Playground/turf interface
borders will be maintained by hand or mechanical means. Establishment of a structured border is
preferred and encouraged for installation where possible as it provides a lower maintenance interface
between play areas and turf. These structures also reduce weed and turf infiltration.
When manual and mechanical methods are ineffective in controlling weeds, spot spraying will be used.
Spot spraying will be applied in accordance within all applicable strategies.
The need to control other pests, such as insects or diseases, can occur. One example would be the
presence of venomous stinging insects such as yellowjackets in the play area. In these circumstances,
the use of a targeted insecticide to eliminate the immediate safety hazard may be required. All other
applicable PARD Pest Management Program policies and approved pesticide lists apply in this case.
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STRATEGY 17: Venomous Insect Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing venomous insects such as hornets, wasps,
yellow jackets, and bees in PARD park landscapes and grounds. While these insects will not always cause
problems, their presence in some locations, such as playgrounds, can create immediate and serious
public and staff safety issues. More importantly, individuals with bee and wasp venom allergies may be
presented with life-threatening situations if they are stung. To properly address these safety concerns,
park employees may be faced with the need to apply insecticides within a short time frame. These
control activities and use of insecticide require adherence to the special rules outlined in this Strategy.
BACKGROUND
Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets may quickly establish nests above and below ground in both natural
areas and in developed parks. European honeybees form above ground nests and may also form swarms
when seeking new nest sites. Not every wasp or bee nest creates a problem for our users or staff. Public
threat is dependent on insect species, nest location, time of year and other factors.
Yellowjackets and some wasp species can be particularly aggressive towards people, especially near
their nests. Other wasps, such as paper wasps are less aggressive and are more benign depending on
location of their nest. Honeybee swarms generally do not create a large stinging potential as bee
behavior is altered during this time. Nest location is also important when determining threat. Nests
located near walkways, buildings, playgrounds or similar sites are more problematic than those located
in remote areas. Nests in areas where vegetation management or restoration planting is being carried
out can also create problems. Wasp behavior may also vary with the time of year. Yellowjackets will
exhibit increased defensive behavior as the season progresses. Normally, yellowjacket and paper wasp
colonies only live one season. Honeybee nests usually persist from year to year.
STRATEGY
Evaluation
When wasp or bee nests are discovered on PARD property, staff should evaluate the safety threat they
pose. If the nest is considered to create a safety hazard for park users or staff, isolation and control
measures should take place. Nests that create an immediate hazard, such as those near playgrounds,
community centers, walkways, trails and work sites, should be addressed as soon as possible. Other
criteria that may constitute a hazard are nests that have been disturbed and nests sites with aggressive
insects. Nests occurring within inhabited structures such as community centers create an immediate
safety hazard and control of these should be immediately referred to a qualified professional contractor.
Isolating nests or swarms
Where possible, nests or swarms that present an immediate public hazard should be isolated by either
signage, cones, taping, flagging, or by other means, so that the area of danger can be avoided by park
users. The barriers used in isolating the insects from the park users should stay in place until the nest is
eliminated or the swarm is removed. Make sure that signage is in place to warn the public.
Honeybee swarms and nests
When discovered, honeybee swarms should be marked as described above until the bees have been
collected. Qualified bee removal businesses should be contacted to collect the swarm. Honeybee
swarms should not be sprayed with insecticides. Unless location of the nest presents a hazard,
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honeybee nests should be tolerated where possible. If removal is required, qualified contractors should
physically remove nests when feasible. Spraying of honeybee nests should be a last resort.
Spraying wasp and hornet nests
Aerosol jet stream products labeled for use on wasp and hornet nests can be effective against both
yellow jackets and paper wasps, but they must be used with extreme caution. Non-toxic products can
also be effective in eliminating nests. Wasps will attack when they sense an application to their nests,
and even freeze-type products are not guaranteed to stop every individual. For this reason, extreme
caution must be used when nest applications are taking place. The following practices should be
adhered to:
Nests should be sprayed at night or before dawn, when all members of the hive are present and
most passive. Daytime spraying is not recommended except in certain emergency cases where
the public is not placed at risk from increased hive activity.
Nests should not be disturbed before treatment. Disturbed nests should not be approached.
Nest location should be isolated as described above. Isolated area devices must be left up until
the nest has been eradicated.
Nests that are situated high in trees, or in otherwise difficult to access locations should be
treated by professional contractors, or by qualified staff in the Urban Forestry department. Do
not attempt to control a nest if you cannot easily do so.
Nests in structures, building, tree cavities, etc., should be treated by professional contractors
only.
PARD staff may use a non-toxic formula or wasp and hornet spray that is available at the local
store, providing that they follow the directions on the label for use. Approved sprays will contain
synthetic pyrethroids as their active ingredient. Products with other active ingredients are not
approved for use by PARD staff.
All applications shall be documented as per the Strategy 6: Pesticide Application Recordkeeping.
Approved applicators
In general, park staff with valid TDA pesticide applicator licenses with an insecticide category
endorsement should be the designated employees carrying out applications. However, there may be
instances where these employees are not available, and a nest presents an immediate health and safety
threat to the public or staff. In these instances, available personnel with TDA pesticide applicator
licenses of any category are approved to use jet spray wasp and hornet products to treat nests. In rare
emergency safety situations where no licensed personnel are able to respond in a timely fashion, other
personnel may be approved to carry out an application, but only if they have had prior supervisor
approval, prior training in the safe use of these sprays, and instruction in the proper management of
wasps and bees. Staff members with known wasp or bee allergies will not carry out any wasp or bee
control.
Use of traps
When venomous insects are a continuing serious problem at a site from year to year, use of traps to
target emerging queens/ swarms can be considered. Trapping queens / swarms during the emergence
period has the potential to provide an overall reduction in the venomous insect population for the
season. Traps should be installed, monitored, and removed by experienced PARD staff or under Texas
Apiary Inspection Service (TAIS) permitted activity.
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STRATEGY 18: Dog Area Pest Management
PURPOSE
This Strategy defines acceptable practices for managing pests in City of Denton dog parks. Park users are
invited to bring their dogs to recreate in the parks, either as a designated off-leash area (OLA), or as an
on-leash area, therefore pest management in these areas needs to reflect this use. Pest management
decisions, methods, and material use should be carried out in a way that maintains public and dog safety
and allows for responsible stewardship of park property.
BACKGROUND
There are many sites in the City of Denton parks, some are fenced, some are unfenced, and all are open
from 6 AM to 10 PM. All sites are signed with dogs on or off leash. For the purposes of this Strategy, OLA
sites consist of:
1. An officially designated fenced dog off-leash area, including the fence line.
2. An officially designated unfenced dog off-leash area within the boundary markers.
By their nature, and from the impact of concentrated dog activity, OLAs can create pest management
problems such as increased weeds in turf and the need to control weeds along fence lines. Other pest
issues that arise in OLAs are the presence of noxious, poisonous, allergenic, or incompatible weeds, and
venomous insects and their nests. Proper management of these pests needs to be clearly defined to
minimize any potential risks to dogs and their owners and to minimize interference with OLA use by the
public.
STRATEGY
Expected pest management issues arising in the OLAs consist of:
Weeds along fence lines, in tree circles, in shrub beds, around park structures and amenities,
and in the turf.
Management of allergenic or poisonous weeds such as poison ivy.
Venomous insect management.
OLAs may need to be closed temporarily so that necessary maintenance work does not impact owners
and pets. Temporary signage will be located at OLA boundaries or fencing to alert users in advance of
closures. Pesticide applications will be accompanied by notification signage and mandated reentry
intervals as defined in Strategy #4 (Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site).
Herbicide use in fenced OLAs
When it is necessary to apply herbicides within fenced OLAs, great care should be used to time and
locate the application to minimize interference with public use. Ideally herbicide use should be as
infrequent as possible and would take place when dogs are not present. When herbicides are to be used
inside fenced OLAs or along the interior or immediate exterior of their fence lines, the OLA should be
closed, and dogs excluded. Closure should be maintained until the reentry requirements as mandated
on the product label have been satisfied. This interval typically requires that people and pets be kept out
of the area until the sprayed surface has dried. Normal application notification signage as mandated in
Strategy #4 should be used. To the extent possible, additional temporary signage will be located outside
OLA fencing to alert users in advance of closures.
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Herbicide use in unfenced OLAs
When it is necessary to apply herbicides within unfenced OLAs, great care should be used to time and
locate the application to minimize interference with public use. Ideally herbicide use should be as
infrequent as possible and would take place when dogs are not present. Standard notification as
mandated in Strategy #4 (Notification of Pesticide Use at a Site) must be employed. Label directives for
reentry must be adhered to, and dogs and people must be excluded from application areas until the
interval has been satisfied. Since unleashed dogs are difficult to exclude from large areas, this may
necessitate applications that are small in scope to allow for this level of oversight. To the extent
possible, additional temporary signage will be located outside OLA boundaries to alert users.
Turf broadleaf control
OLAs taken out of service may receive selective herbicides as part of an overall turf renovation program
but only within the oversight of Strategy 16: Turf Broadleaf Weed Management and the specific
approval process it requires.
Use of pre-emergent herbicides
To be an effective barrier to weed seed germination, pre-emergent herbicide sites need to be left
undisturbed after they are applied. Since the activity of dogs in an OLA disturbs soil surfaces and reduces
or eliminates the effectiveness of a pre-emergent application, their use in areas of concentrated
disturbance sites, such fenced OLAs, is often not effective. However, there may be need for pre-
emergent use in less intensively impacted areas.
Insecticide use
As is the case at most park properties, general insecticide use is not expected in areas that dogs are
permitted to be, either as an off-leash or on-leash area. However, there may be emergency situations
created by the presence of venomous insects such as yellow jackets, wasps, bees, fire ants, and their
nests. These insects can create serious safety issues for people and their pets. Control of these insects
and any use of insecticides must take place as described in the Venomous Insect Management Strategy.
Nest demarcation guidelines and the response process as described in that Strategy are of heightened
importance in these areas since dogs not in control by their owners may be at increased risk from an
active nest site.
Mechanical equipment
All aspects of park user safety and dog safety should be considered when determining a particular weed
control method for a given site. Mechanized weed control equipment such as string trimmers can create
hazards such as flying rocks and debris. Dogs may be at risk when they approach the work area. Care
should be exercised when using this equipment.
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STRATEGY 19: Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection
Pollinators, including bees and other insects, play a vital function in both agricultural and natural
systems. Their conservation is an important element in the IPM program. Use of any insecticide in the
landscape has the potential to impact pollinators in both direct and indirect ways, therefore great care
must be taken when considering the use of any insecticide. In most cases, insects do not threaten the
long-term health or viability of park turf, trees and shrubs and do not require active management. This
strategy provides a process to begin to determine if an insect pest should be managed, and if so, what
method or material is the most responsible choice.
INSECT MANAGEMENT DECISION MAKING ELEMENTS:
A. Assess insect impact and significance
The significance of problematic insect impacts must be determined before active management is
considered. PARD’s Grounds Maintenance Division’s primary IPM approach to insect management is to
tolerate the presence of the insect where possible. The vast majority of insect infestations do not
threaten the long-term health or viability of park trees and shrubs. Many are simple nuisance
infestations or cause only marginal harm. Others may present only short-term impacts or are merely
unsightly. These kinds of insect problems do not threaten the intended function of the green asset to a
significant degree. The proper IPM approach for these pests is tolerance of the pest, or replacement of
the plant with a non-susceptible plant when possible. Therefore, in these instances, insecticide use is
not warranted.
Insecticide use can be considered for pests that present significant risks to the long-term viability or
essential function of important plant assets. They can also be considered for use in the case of insects
that threaten the health and safety of park users in which case PARD response may need to be rapid and
effective. The way these insecticides are chosen and employed must adhere to the careful pollinator
stewardship practices detailed within this policy.
B. Evaluate all IPM methods and materials
If insect control interventions are determined to be required, all IPM approaches must first be evaluated
for suitability. These include:
1. Planning/Design: Where feasible, eliminate the problematic plants and replace them with
naturally resistant plants. If a plant is unsuitable for the conditions at a site, it may increase its
susceptibility to a specific insect problem. The best long term IPM approach is to employ plants
suited to the existing growing conditions.
2. Cultural: Cultural practices that either improve the growing conditions or are protective of the
planting can be important elements in the management of some kinds of insects.
3. Physical: Various physical approaches such as the use of barriers are generally minimal in impact
to non-targets and may offer adequate control of certain pests.
4. Biological: For certain insect pests, a reliance on biological controls may be possible. Where
feasible, this can offer the ideal long-term solution to pest problems. Special attention to good
stewardship of naturally occurring insect predators should be made. There are also instances
where commercially reared insect predators can be released to combat a specific pest.
5. Natural and synthetically derived insecticides: Insecticides can be part of an IPM approach, but
careful attention must be made in choice and use. In general, the least ecologically disruptive
and lowest risk materials should be favored but the full complexity of IPM assessment rationale
must be considered before choice and use. These considerations include but are not limited to:
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a. Potential safety and health risks of the product as it will be applied, both in the short
and long term.
b. Potential environmental risks, including risks to non-target organisms including bees and
pollinators.
c. Potential disruption of the landscape, garden, natural area, and urban forest ecosystems
including impacts on natural insect predators.
d. Individual insecticide characteristics such as toxicity, persistence, bioavailability, break
down products, volatility, inert ingredients, and environmental movement.
e. Differing application methods, such as injections, sprays, and drenches.
f. Efficacy of the insecticide, and the need for repeated treatments.
g. Feasibility of use to address a specific pest.
h. PARD will not approve the use of neonicotinoid products found to harm or kill non-
targeted bees.
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APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: Approved Pesticide List for Parks Use
Following are lists of pesticides that are approved for use in specific work units in parks. A
comprehensive IPM approach allows for the choice of ideal materials for specific needs. IPM
also anticipates the need to managing pest resistance with rotations of products with differing
modes of action rather than relying on a “one material fits all” approach. Most of the pesticides
are not used in a typical year or are used in a minimal way.
It is also important to understand that pesticide applications are used after many other IPM
strategies have first been either employed or considered. Most PARD pest management
practices never involve the use of pesticides. Similarly, a majority of park acreage never
receives any kind of pesticide application. Other IPM strategies PARD employs include
prevention of pests through strategy, design and selection, and management of pests through
cultural practices, physical means, and mechanical methods.
All pesticides available for use within parks must first be placed upon an approved list after
undergoing a review process that carefully examines the individual characteristics of the
product and whether it would be an appropriate addition within our program. Issues of
efficacy, public health and safety, potential environmental impacts, overall plant health
requirements, land management needs, and other concerns are taken into account during this
process. Applicators within a specific work unit must then make their choices of materials from
their own approved list. Individual work units have different responsibilities and pest
management requirements for the lands under their care. The individually tailored approved
lists reflect these differences.
The following lists of approved pesticide materials are specific to each work unit. PARD
applicators must choose only from currently listed products. Only state licensed applicators
may apply pesticides in Denton Parks. Use of pesticides by non-licensed personnel, such as, but
not inclusive of, Wasp spray and Fire Ant powder, may be used as an incidental application . Use
of pesticides must occur under adherence to the PARD Integrated Pest Management Program
policies and oversight. Pesticide use must adhere to all produ ct label directions.
Format:
Product trade name (active ingredient) Description of purpose and use within IPM program.
PARK USE APPROVED LIST
Areas of pest management: Pocket, neighborhood, community, and city parks. Open space /
trails. Cemeteries. Landscaping.
HERBICIDES
Celsius WG - Safe and effective control of both a large list of broadleaves and many
grassy weeds. This is our primary choice due to its effectiveness and safety level.
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Certainty - Controls many grassy weeds. It will be used primarily for nutsedge, both
purple and yellow.
Dimension - Pre-emergent product with some post control of goose grass in the 2-3 leaf
stage.
Finale – A non-selective post-emergent for the control of a broad spectrum of annual
and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds.
Fusilade – Selective post emergent that controls unwanted perennial and annual grass
weeds such as Bermuda grass without injuring desirable broadleaf plants; primarily used
in landscape beds.
Gallery 75 DF (isoxaben) - Used on shrub beds, tree circles, and other areas. Can be used
in combination or rotation with oryzalin to broaden the spectrum of weeds prevented.
Manage - Nutsedge control.
Pendulum (pendimethalin) – Pre-emergent control of most annual grasses and certain
broadleaf weeds as they germinate in any turfgrass site (lawns, sod, turf areas).
Primo Maxx – Turf growth management that reduces the frequency of mowing and the
amount of grass clippings by reducing the vertical growth of warm and cool season
turfgrasses. Useful in the management of difficult to mow areas and can be used to
minimize the need for edging along sidewalks, curbs, parking lots, flower beds, fences,
and around posts, park structures, and trees.
Prodiamine - Pre-emergent weed control, especially effective on Poa annua (annual
bluegrass) in the fall and winter.
Reward – Non-selective herbicide that manages weed problems in aquatic, ground
maintenance, and landscaping areas.
Ronstar – A pre-emergent for control of many annual grasses and broadleaf weeds such
as crabgrass, goose grass, field sandbur, annual sedge and bluegrass.
Sedghammer - Nutsedge control.
Snapshot – Pre-emergent product for control of certain broadleaf weeds and annual
grasses in shrub and groundcover areas as well as the mulch area of perennial beds.
Specticle - Pre-emergent weed control with the longest residual (up to 6 months) of any
other pre-emergent herbicide.
Sureguard – A pre-emergence and early post-emergence herbicide for control of
selected grass and broadleaf weeds.
Surflan AS, WDG (oryzalin) - Used in shrub beds, tree circles, fence lines and other park
areas for weed control. A primary liquid form pre-emergent product.
TributeTotal - A combination of Celsius, Sedghammer and Revolver; most effective in
controlling dallisgrass in the fall.
FUNGICIDES
Subdue – A turfgrass disease control for Pythium blight.
Banrot - A broad spectrum fungicide that will control root and stem rot diseases caused
by Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora, Pythium, Fusarium, and Thielaviopsis.
Daconil - Controls various fungal diseases including anthracnose, leaf spots, blights, and
rots on many different species of plants.
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Cleary’s 3336F - Prevents and controls turf diseases and the diseases of annual and
perennial flowers, bedding plants, foliage plants, ground covers, and deciduous and
evergreen trees and shrubs.
INSECTICIDES
Acephate - Acephate is reserved for use in the treatment of severe infestations of
aphids, leaf miners, caterpillars, sawflies, thrips, and the individual treatment of red
imported fire ant mounds.
Advion - Fire ant bait. It’ll only effect the ants and eradicates them in 24-72 hours. It is
an extremely safe product that protects patrons and pets from fire ants.
Aerosol Wasp Sprays, Misty Wasp and Hornet Killer (pyrethroids) - Directed jet sprays
used for individual wasp and hornet nest treatments posing health and safety threats to
park users.
Bacillus thuringiensis – Used to control mosquito and fly larva in standing water
primarily ponds, streams, and around retainage / drainage areas. Product is usually in
the form of a briquette.
Beneficial nematodes - Predatory nematodes for insect control treatments for
susceptible targets where needed.
Delta Guard – Low dose granules to control ants, armyworms, centipedes, chiggers,
chinchbugs, cockroaches, field and mole crickets, beetles, scorpions, spiders, and ticks.
Extinguish – Bait used to control imported and native fire ants.
Horticultural Oils (Sun Spray, Dormant Oil) - Spray oils primarily used as "dormant oils"
applied before bud break in the spring to control pests on fruit and shade trees.
Dormant oils are very effective against the eggs of certain mites, aphids, and scale
insects that overwinter on fruit and shade trees. A new generation of more highly
refined horticultural oils also known as” all seasons spray oils" or “summer oils” can be
safely used on many plants during the growing season.
Lada – Versatile insecticide registered to control over 50 insect pest including aphids,
lacebugs, leaf beetles, and leafminers.
Tempo - Used against flying pests such as wasps and yellow jackets, crawling pests like
ants and centipedes, as well as various beetles and moths.
MITICIDES
Avid - For control of leafminers and mites and suppression of aphids, whiteflies, and
thrips on ornamental plants.
Mavrik – For control of various mites, worms, weevils, and beetles as well as whiteflies,
ants, crickets, and chiggers.
RODENTICIDE
Just 1 Bite – Used to control rodents such as mice and rats.
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MISCELLANEOUS
Blue Spray Pattern Dye – Color dye used for application to all types of turfgrasses to
make spray patterns visible.
Non-Ionic Surfactant – A wetting agent that helps soils to quickly and evenly absorb
water by breaking the water’s surface tension, allowing water molecules to spread for
greater and faster water penetration. As a wetting agent, nonionic surfactants are often
mixed in with potting media to ensure easy water absorption into plant soil.
Antifoamer / Defoamer – Used to provide effective, high performance foam control at
very low concentrations under normal foaming situations in recirculating sprayers and in
other high agitation equipment.
Neutralize Tank Cleaner – A cleaning and rinsing agent used to remove pesticide
residues from spray equipment. Proper cleaning of equipment helps to reduce exposure
to products, avoid cross contamination of incompatible products, and prevents damage
to rubber, plastic, and other soft sprayer parts.
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APPENDIX 2: Athletic Field Services Approved List
Areas of pest management: Athletic fields such as softball, baseball, football, and soccer fields.
HERBICIDES
Celsius WG - Safe and effective control of both a large list of broadleaves and many
grassy weeds. This is our primary choice due to its effectiveness and safety level.
Certainty - Controls many grassy weeds. It will be used primarily for nutsedge, both
purple and yellow.
Confront – For the control of annual and perennial broadleaf weeds in established
turfgrass.
Finale – A non-selective post-emergent for the control of a broad spectrum of annual
and perennial grass and broadleaf weeds.
Manage - Nutsedge control.
Reward – Non-selective herbicide that manages weed problems in aquatic, ground
maintenance, and landscaping areas.
Ronstar – A pre-emergent for control of many annual grasses and broadleaf weeds such
as crabgrass, goose grass, field sandbur, annual sedge and bluegrass.
Sedghammer - Nutsedge control.
Sureguard – A pre-emergence and early post-emergence herbicide for control of
selected grass and broadleaf weeds.
TributeTotal - A combination of Celsius, Sedghammer and Revolver; effective in
controlling dallisgrass in the fall.
INSECTICIDES
Acephate - Acephate is reserved for use in the treatment of severe infestations of
aphids, leaf miners, caterpillars, sawflies, thrips, and the individual treatment of red
imported fire ant mounds.
Advion - Fire ant bait. It’ll only effect the ants and eradicates them in 24-72 hours. It is
an extremely safe product that protects patrons and pets from fire ants.
Delta Guard – Low dose granules to control ants, armyworms, centipedes, chiggers,
chinchbugs, cockroaches, field and mole crickets, beetles, scorpions, spiders, and ticks.
Extinguish – Bait used to control imported and native fire ants.
Talstar – Controls various ants, crickets, chinch bugs, and spiders.
Tempo – Used against flying pests such as wasps and yellow jackets, crawling pests like
ants and centipedes, as well as various beetles and moths.
MISCELLANEOUS
Blue Spray Pattern Dye – Color dye used for application to all types of turfgrasses to
make spray patterns visible.
Non-Ionic Surfactant – A wetting agent that helps soils to quickly and evenly absorb
water by breaking the water’s surface tension, allowing water molecules to spread for
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greater and faster water penetration. As a wetting agent, nonionic surfactants are often
mixed in with potting media to ensure easy water absorption into plant soil.
Antifoamer / Defoamer – Used to provide effective, high performance foam control at
very low concentrations under normal foaming situations in recirculating sprayers and in
other high agitation equipment.
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APPENDIX 3: City Urban Forestry Approved List
Areas of pest management: trees on streets, parks, other city property, and UF nursery
operations.
HERBICIDES
Garlon 3A, Remedy, Greenlight Tough Brush Killer (triclopyr) - Selective products
for woody, difficult to control perennials, also for invasives and habitat restoration.
Manage (halosulfuron-methyl) – Nutsedge control.
Scythe (pelargonic fatty acid) - Minor use desiccant used for top-kill of early-stage,
easily killed weeds.
Surflan AS, WDG (oryzalin) - Used in nursery, shrub beds, tree circles, fence lines and
other park areas for weed control. A primary liquid form pre-emergent product.
Tordon - Used to control weeds, unwanted brush and trees e.g. Chinese privet.
FUNGICIDES
Alamo (propiconazole) - Trunk injection product for certain high value elms.
Arbortect (thiabendazole) - Trunk injection product for certain high value elms.
Daconil (chlorothalonil) - Disease control on high value trees in special situations.
Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use where long term plant
health is affected.
INSECTICIDES and MITICIDES
(Street trees do not routinely receive scheduled insecticide or miticide treatments.)
Aerosol Wasp Sprays. Misty wasp and hornet killer (pyrethroids) - Directed jet
sprays used for individual wasp and hornet nest treatments posing health and safety
threats to park users.
Azatin XL (azadirachtin) - Neem tree extract used for insect growth regulating and
anti-feeding effects. Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use
where long term plant health is affected.
Bacillus thuringiensis - Primarily for lepidopterous insects, although subspecies can be
used for other targets. Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use
where long term plant health is affected.
Beneficial nematodes - Predatory nematodes for susceptible targets where
needed. Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use where long
term plant health is affected.
Conserve (spinosad) - Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use
where long term plant health is affected.
Floramite (bifenazate) - Miticide as part of a carefully implemented plan to keep
mites at non- injurious levels. Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short
term use where long term plant health is affected.
M-Pede, Safer Insecticidal Soap, others (soaps) - General soft body insect control.
Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use where long term plant
health is affected.
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Sunspray, others (horticultural oils) - General insect control both for dormant and
growing season use. Not typically used in general parks. Typically not used, but
retained for unusual, short term use where long term plant health is affected.
Tempo SC Ultra (cyfluthrin) – Used to control leaf eating insects on young and
ornamental trees. Typically not used, but retained for unusual, short term use where long
term plant health is affected.
TREE-age (Emamectin Benzoate - Used as a systemic trunk injection to treat emerald ash
borers.
MISCELLANEOUS
Activator 90, R-11, LI 700, Hasten, others (spray adjuvant) - Surfactant used in solutions
to enhance spray coverage and increase efficacy.
No Foam (anti-foaming agent) - Silicon-based, reduces foaming, used in large agitated
spray tanks.
Turf Trax, Signal, others (marker colorant) - Used in spray solutions to temporarily mark
application.
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APPENDIX 4: City Parks and Recreation – Natural Areas Approved List
Areas of pest management: natural area parks. Herbicides are only used in natural areas along
soft surface trails, generally 12 inches on each side, to prevent vegetation encroachment. Trails
surfaces must be maintained for the safety of trail users and to allow access to maintenance
and public safety vehicles. Hard surface trails are maintained primarily by mechanical means
such as edging. Herbicides may also be used in natural areas in response to a maintenance or
safety concern/complaint. In these cases, all available natural, manually, and mechanical means
will be explored first. The least toxic herbicide will be used to address the pest.
HERBICIDES
Garlon 3A – For the control of woody plants, broadleaf weeds, and vines.
Reward – Non-selective herbicide that manages weed problems in aquatic, ground
maintenance, and landscaping areas.
Scythe – A non-selective contact herbicide used to control vegetation.
INSECTICIDES
Aerosol Wasp Sprays, Misty Wasp and Hornet Killer (pyrethroids) - Directed jet sprays
used for individual wasp and hornet nest treatments posing health and safety threats to
park users.
Bacillus thuringiensis - Used to control mosquito and fly larva in standing water
primarily ponds, streams, and around retainage / drainage areas. Product is usually in
the form of a briquette.
Horticultural Oils (Sun Spray, Dormant Oil) - Spray oils primarily used as "dormant oils"
applied before bud break in the spring to control pests on fruit and shade trees.
Dormant oils are very effective against the eggs of certain mites, aphids, and scale
insects that overwinter on fruit and shade trees. A new generation of more highly
refined horticultural oils also known as” all seasons spray oils" or “summer oils” can be
safely used on many plants during the growing season.
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APPENDIX 5: Park Maintenance Schedule and Control Methods
City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
TURFGRASS MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class AA Class A Class B Class C Class D
Mow, edge, and
trim
2 times per week
Mow at 1.5 – 2”,
clippings not
collected
36 mowing cycles
per year every 7
days at 2.5-3”,
clippings not
collected. Leaves
are shredded and
returned to soil.
32 cycles per year
every 7 days
through the
growing season.
Mow at 2.5 – 3”,
clippings not
collected leaves are
shredded and
returned to soil.
5-7 mowing
cycles. Mow
at 4-6”
clippings not
collected.
Leaves are
shredded and
returned to
soil.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state or
within City
code
Fertilization
4-5 lbs of Nitrogen
per 1000 sf per year
3 lbs Nitrogen per
1000 sf per year in
2 applications – In
conjunction with
Athletic field
fertilization
3 lbs Nitrogen per
1000 sf per year in
2 applications – In
conjunction with
Athletic field
fertilization
None None
Irrigation Minimum of 1” per
week, repairs w/in
24 hours. Potential
increase watering
due to drought or
ryegrass transition.
Deep watering
cycles recommended
Approximate 1” per
week, repairs
within 48 hours.
As needed or
immediately after
fertilization –Water
Truck
None None
Aerification 5 times per year in
conjunction with
fertilizer
applications
As needed As needed None None
Over-seed/sod Over-seed Ryegrass
on athletic fields
Oct. 1
Sod during field
renovations
Overseed all bare
areas in turfgrass
once during
growing season.
As needed None None
Leaf Removal Mow & mulch Mow & mulch Mow & Mulch None None
Pesticide Program:
- Herbicide
- Insecticide
- Fungicide
January, February,
March
January,
February, March
January,
February, March
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
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- Rodentcide
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds. (Oxidiazon)
Non selective
herbicide on infield
skinned surfaces and
transition areas
during the growing
season
Spot treat broadleaf
and/or grassy weed
infestations during
from March until
December
May and August -
Broadcast treatment
for fire ants with
Advion, Extinguish,
or Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season.
April - September
Monitor and treat for
pest infestations
such as Grub
Worms, Army
Worms and other
pesticides
detrimental to plant
health or public
safety.
Non-selective
herbicide on
dormant Bermuda
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds (Barricade
Dimension,
Specticle, or
Pendimethalin
May and August -
Broadcast
treatment for fire
ants with Advion,
Extinguish, or
Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season
April – September
Monitor and treat
pest infestations
such as Grub
Worms, Army
Worms and other
pests that
detrimental to plant
health or public
safety.
August and
September
Pre-emergent for
winter weeds by
October 1.
Non-selective
herbicide on
dormant Bermuda
Pre-emergent for
summer grassy
weeds (Barricade
Dimension,
Specticle, or
Pendimethalin
May and August -
Broadcast
treatment for fire
ants with Advion,
Extinguish, or
Award II, 1lb per
acre. Spot treat for
fire ants during the
warm season
April – September
As need, dependent
on location, pest
and amount of
infestation
August and
September
Pre-emergent for
winter weeds by
October 1.
natural state
or within City
code.
natural state or
within City
code.
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Fertilizer &
Aerification
Program
February
15-0-5 with pre-
emergent for control
of summer weeds
March
A single application
of fertilizer should
take place. 1 lb of N
per 1000sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer
May
A single application
of slow release
fertilizer should take
place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
July
A single application
of fertilizer should
take place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
August, September
A single application
of slow release
fertilizer should take
place
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
April, May, June
A single
application of
fertilizer should
take place by mid-
May. It should be
applied at 1 pound
of N per 1000 sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
July, August,
September
One application of
fertilizer should
take place during
this period in mid-
July. It should be
applied at 1 pound
of N per 1000 sf.
Aerification of turf
should be done just
prior to application
of fertilizer.
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of turf
None None
Action Threshold Practice physical
and mechanical
controls that
promote good turf
health practices,
such as over-
In some cases,
pests can be
tolerated and are
only considered a
nuisance.
In some cases,
pests can be
tolerated and are
only considered a
nuisance.
As needed to
maintain an
identified
particular
natural state
or within City
code.
Measures will
be taken for
vegetation
encroachment
on soft surface
trails.
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seeding, topdressing,
aeration, etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to
prevent degradation
of the aesthetics, to
eliminate rapidly
declining plant
health, to eliminate
negative impacts on
athletic programs
and/or a threat to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation is
widespread,
invasive, and affects
the health and safety
of the environment.
Measures may be
taken when
infestations are
present and are
detrimental to plant
health and a threat
to the public’s
safety. Physical /
mechanical means
will be used first in
controlling pests.
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation is
widespread,
invasive, and
affects the health
and safety of the
environment. This
primarily impacts
active areas such as
playgrounds, hard
surface trails, and
around public
buildings.
Vegetation is
critical for stream
stabilization and is
tolerated in specific
locations.
Measures may be
taken when
infestations are
present and are
detrimental to plant
health and a threat
to the public’s
safety. Physical /
mechanical means
will be used first in
controlling pests.
Chemical control
such as spot
treatments will be
used when
infestation is
widespread,
invasive, and
affects the health
and safety of the
environment. This
primarily impacts
active areas such as
playgrounds, hard
surface trails, and
around public
buildings.
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
TREE / SHRUB MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class A Class B Class C Class D
Tree Trimming
Remove low limbs as
needed for safety &
equipment access.
Only hazardous
limbs as needed.
Only hazardous
limbs as
needed.
Only hazardous
limbs as needed.
Shrub Trimming
Complete trim 5-7 times
per year.
Complete trim 5
times per year.
Not performed Not performed
Pesticide Program. As needed to prevent loss
of plant material.
As needed to
prevent loss of plant
material.
Not performed Not performed
Fertilization
2 times/year Not performed Not performed Not performed
Stump Removal As needed when higher
priority projects are
completed.
As needed during
winter.
As needed
during winter.
Only hazardous trees
as needed, others
maintained for
wildlife habitat.
Action Threshold Choosing proper plant
material and practicing
proper planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching, etc.
Other measures will be
taken prior to infestations
to prevent degradation of
the aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants, and/or
hazardous situations to
the public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
In some cases pests
can be tolerated and
is only considered a
nuisance pest.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to
prevent degradation
of the aesthetics,
rapidly declining
plants, and/or
hazardous situations
to the public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
As needed to
maintain an
identified
natural state or
within City
code.
None
Invasive woody species such as Running Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea, Privet Ligustrum
sinense, and Nandina Nandina deomestica will be controlled when staff determines that the
species impedes visibility within parks and poses a threat to the safety and welfare of park users
and service workers. Invasive species may be removed in an effort to reclaim parkland for active
use such as open fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, and trails. It may also be removed in efforts to
improve the environmental quality and encourage the establishment of native plant species.
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
FLOWERBED/PLANTING MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class AA & A Class B Class C Class D
Planting/Bed
Preparation
2 changes per year,
when color is present.
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Fertilization
At planting; Bi-
monthly after planting
when color is present
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Cultivation
2 times per year for
color change outs
Not performed Not performed Not performed
Mulch
Apply every 18
months or as needed
(not in color beds)
Apply every 18
months or as needed
Not performed Not performed
Pest Control
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of plant
and degradation of
appearance.
Treat as needed to
prevent loss of plant
material.
Not performed Not performed
Action Threshold Choosing proper plant
material and
practicing proper
planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching,
etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to prevent
degradation of the
aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants,
and/or hazardous
situations to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Choosing proper plant
material and
practicing proper
planting methods,
fertilizing, mulching,
etc.
Other measures will
be taken prior to
infestations to prevent
degradation of the
aesthetics, rapidly
declining plants,
and/or hazardous
situations to the
public (wasps,
mosquitos, etc.)
Not Applicable Not Applicable
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Park Facility and Asset Maintenance – The following maintenance plan and schedule has
minimal pesticide programing but is an integral component to a proactive approach in the
prevention and reduction of insect and rodent pests. Proper maintenance helps to eliminates
favorable environments for pests through cleanliness and inspections help in early detection /
identification of pests prior to infestations reaching threshold levels.
City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
PARK LITTER CONTROL
MAINTENANCE
TASK
Class A Class B Class C Class D
Pick up ground trash
& litter; empty
receptacles
Pick up trash and
litter 5 days per week.
All year
Weekend trash route
at more populated
parks
Pick up trash, litter
and other debris twice
per week from April
through October.
From November
through March, pick
up trash in all
conspicuous park
areas once per week.
All year
Weekend trash route
at more populated
parks
Pick up trash, litter
and debris from all
conspicuous park
areas weekly from
April through
October, monthly
from November
through March.
Remove illegal
dumping as needed.
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
ROAD & PARKING LOT MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Paved Lots Unpaved Lots
Inspect Weekly Weekly
Repair
As needed depending
upon severity.
As needed depending upon severity.
Sweep
2 times/year or as
needed
Edge Per mowing schedule Per mowing schedule
Weed Control
Apply pre-and post-
emergent herbicides
as needed to control
unwanted vegetation
growing in expansion
cracks.
Apply post-emergent herbicides three
times per year.
Crack Fill As needed
Seal Coat/Overlay As needed
Grade As needed
Clean culverts and drain pipes Monthly or as needed Quarterly or as needed
Striping/marking and wheel stops Repaint every 2 years
City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class A & B
Initial Audit
High frequency inspections
Low Frequency inspections
New Installation
Weekly - Litter control, redistribute
attenuating surfacing, free of vegetation
and debris
6 times per year – loose or broken parts,
component durability
Repair
As needed, immediately after receiving
parts
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
PARK AMENITIES MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class A, B, C, D
Clean restrooms
Restroom maintenance & repairs
Clean and restock daily
Work order within 24 hours
Inspect Drinking Fountains
Weekly during season of use – Mar 15 –
Nov 15
Clean shelters and Picnic Pavilions
Pressure Wash
Weekly or clean when reserved for
special events
As needed
Vandalism/Graffiti
Address within 48 hours of notification
earlier if inappropriate graffiti
Water Features
Mechanical (Fountains)
Natural (Ponds. Lakes)
Inspect weekly when in use.
Inspect quarterly & maintain as needed.
Inspect and/or repair benches,
tables, grills
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair park and
directional/street signs
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair fencing Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair security &
parking lot lighting
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair swimming
pools
Daily or as needed during season
Pre & Post season inspection of major
repairs.
Inspect and/or repair neighborhood
tennis nets, net covers, striping,
and backboards.
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair traffic
barriers (post & cable, bollards,
gates, handrails)
Monthly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair bridges.
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect Hike & Bike / Rail Trail
Quarterly or as needed
Inspect and/or repair sidewalks
Quarterly or as needed
Creeks and drainage ditches
As needed
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City of Denton
Parks and Recreation Department
PARK CLASSIFICATION PLAN
ATHLETIC FIELD MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE TASK Class AA & A
Baseball Field
Annual Off-Season Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Pitcher Mound
Field Lights
Evers, Denia, N Lakes, F. Moore
Roberts Field & Mack
Parking Lot
Scoreboards
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Fences & Backstops
Parking Lot Striping
Restrooms & Concessions
Scoreboards
-Once a year add clay or amendment if needed.
-Till up clay area to break up hard spots.
-Blade clay areas to proper grade.
-Remove any silt build up along grass and fence lines.
-Check outfield grass area for high and or low areas, and
for large cracks, silt in material if needed.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily
Portable serviced bi-weekly.
-2-3 times per week
-As scheduled for games
-Infield 30 foot-candles
-Outfield 20 foot-candles
-50/30
-As scheduled for games
-Replace bulbs as needed.
-Monthly inspections & repairs as needed.
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
-Plumbing, electrical and structural repairs as needed.
-Annual off-season service or as needed
Softball Field
Annual Off-Season Maintenance
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Pitcher Mound
Lights
-Once a year add clay material if needed.
-Till up clay area to break up hard spots.
-Blade clay areas to proper grade.
-Remove any silt build up along grass and fence lines.
-Check outfield grass area for high and or low areas, and
for large cracks, silt in material if needed.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily - Portable serviced weekly
-2-3 times per week
-As scheduled for games
-Infield 30 foot-candles
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Denia, Evers & North Lakes
Parking Lot
Scoreboards
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Drinking Fountains
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Fences & Backstops
Parking Lot Striping
Restrooms & Concessions
Scoreboards
-Outfield 20 foot-candles
-As scheduled for games
-Replace bulbs as needed
-Monthly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Winterize November 15-March 15
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
-Plumbing, electrical and structural repairs as needed.
-Annual off-season service or as needed
Soccer/Football/Rugby Fields
Grounds Maintenance - League play,
good quality, maintain safety standards
Maintained -
Restroom/Concessions
Safety Check (lights, glass,
fence, bleachers)
Lights
Parking Lot
Trades Maintenance Program
Turf Irrigation Systems
Parking lots
Ballfield lights
Bleachers
Parking Lot Striping
-Line with paint weekly.
-As scheduled for games
-Permanent cleaned daily & portable serviced bi-weekly
-2-3 times per week
-20 foot-candles
-As scheduled for games
-Monthly inspections
-Quarterly inspections
-Monthly inspection & bulb replacement (if needed).
-Quarterly inspections
-Yearly inspections
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APPENDIX 6: Pesticide Spill Incident Report
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APPENDIX 7: Product Label and Safety Data Sheet
Labeling, provided by the manufacturer, gives additional information concerning the pesticide product.
Labeling includes booklets, brochures, flyers and other information as distributed by the pesticide dealer
or manufacturer. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is a document containing chemical hazard and safety
handling information prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) standard. An SDS attached to the product becomes part of the label and
must be followed.
Label
The label is the printed information on or attached to the pesticide container. It verifies EPA approval,
offers information on proper medical treatment for poisoning and provides guidelines for correct
application and use.
The label identifies the pesticide as general or restricted-use and lists specific sites for the intended
applications. By law, a pesticide can only be applied to a site that is identified on the label, even though
specific pests may not be indicated. A site can be a crop, animal or location the product is intended to
protect. Everyone, including experienced applicators, should review the label prior to purchasing,
mixing, applying, and storing or disposing of the pesticide or empty containers.
Pesticide Label Requirements
EPA and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) require certain items be included on pesticide
labels.
1. Brand, trade or product name: A single pesticide active ingredient may be marketed at the
same time under several brand names. Brand or trade names are indicated on the front panel of the
label and are used in advertisements.
2. Ingredient statement: Every pesticide product label must include the active and inert
ingredients, including percentage by weight. Often, the chemical name of the active ingredient is
stated. If an approved common name of the active ingredient exists, it may be listed and followed
by a chemical name. The names of inert ingredients sometimes are not stated, but the label must
indicate their percentage to the total contents.
Product Name
Active Ingredients(s) ................................... %
Inert Ingredients ................................... %
Total: ................................... 100%
This product contains lbs. of per gallon.
3. Classification statement: Pesticides are classified based on hazards, intended use and
effect upon the environment. General-use pesticides are less likely to harm the user or
environment when used according to the label and do not require a license to apply. Restricted- use
pesticides have a greater potential to harm the environment or the applicator when not used as
directed. Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs) contain a label such as the example here. You must have
a TDA applicator license to purchase and use restricted-use pesticides.
RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDE
Due to (insert reason)
For retail sale to and use only by Certified
Applicators or persons under their direct
supervision and only for those uses covered by
the Certified Applicator’s certification.
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4. Keep out of reach of children: Every pesticide label must include this statement on the front
panel. This warning must be heeded.
5. Signal words and symbol: These indicate the relative toxicity of the active ingredient to humans
and should appear on the front panel of a label. The signal words, in order of increasing toxicity, are
caution, warning and danger. Danger indicates highly toxic products. The word poison and the skull
and crossbones symbol also are associated with products having the danger signal word.
6. Manufacturer: The name and address of the manufacturer, registrant or formulator who makes
the product must be printed on the label. If the registrant’s name appears on the label and the
registrant is not the manufacturer, it must be qualified by appropriate wording such as “packed
for...”, distributed by...”, or “sold by...”.
a. Registration number: An EPA registration number is proof the label was approved by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
b. Establishment number: An establishment number identifies the specific facility that
produced the product.
7. Directions for use: Instructions for applying the pesticide provide rate of application, site (crop,
animal, location, etc.) it is intended to protect, pests controlled, mixing directions, when and where
the material is to be applied, and necessary application equipment.
8. Precautionary statements: Guide the applicator in taking proper precautions to protect
humans or animals that could be exposed. Sometimes listed under the heading “Hazards to Humans
and Domestic Animals.” This area will include information about how pesticides may enter the body
and any protective clothing or equipment the applicator should use.
9. First Aid: First aid treatment guidelines are recommended in this statement in case of over-
exposure. This information should be read before the product is used, and again in case of an
emergency.
10. Environmental hazards: Special warning statements on the label cover hazards to the
environment. Examples: “This product is highly toxic to bees,” or “This product is highly toxic to
fish,” and “Do not allow drift to contact non-target plants or trees.”
11. Reentry statement: Indicates how much time must pass before a person can enter a treated
area without appropriate protective clothing.
12. Storage and disposal statement: Pesticide inventories should be stored securely, preferably
under lock and key, and separate from food and feed supplies. Pesticides and empty containers
must be disposed of according to TDA and EPA regulations.
13. Net contents: Identifies the amount or weight of pesticide in the container and should be
displayed prominently on the front of the label.
EPA Registration No. ______ [Registrant Name]
EPA Establishment No. _____ [City, State, Zip]
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APPENDIX 8: Emergency and Information Phone List
Fire, Ambulance, HAZMAT – Dial 911
For Medical Emergencies & Immediate Health Concerns:
City of Denton Emergency Management – 940-349-8836
Texas Poison Center Network- 24 hours call 1-800-222-1222
TCEQ - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 24 hour spill reporting
1-800-832-8224 http://www.tceq.texas.gov/
Informational Phone Numbers
PARD Grounds Maintenance Division – 940-349-7464
Watershed Protection Department – 940-349-7153
NPIC - National Pesticide Information Center, 1-800-858-7378 http://npic.orst.edu/
provides general information on pesticide products, including safety, health,
environmental effects, clean up and disposal.
Texas Department of Agriculture, 512-305-8907 http://www.agr.state.tx.us/
provides information on pesticide products and registration, conducts pesticide
use investigation, and applicator licensing and certification.
To Report Pesticide Exposures:
Texas Department of State Health services (DSHS) 512-458-7111
Provides confidential investigations, consults with health care providers and provides clean up
and exposure prevention information.
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APPENDIX 9: Glossary
Action level The point at which control measures are necessary to prevent a pest population
or its impact from exceeding the threshold.
Aeration The provision of air to the soil.
Amphibian Any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (as frogs, toads, or
salamanders) intermediate in many characters between fishes and reptiles and
having gilled aquatic larvae and air breathing adults.
Anti-siphon A device that prevents waste water from being drawn back into supply lines and
possibly contaminating the water supply.
Applicator A person applying a liquid or solid treatment to a landscape.
Ball moss Grey to greenish epiphyte about 3” to 9” wide within the Central Texas region
and has scaly, recurved, linear leaves 2” to 6” long.
Basal growth Leaves or stems growing at the base of a stem or tree trunk.
Botanist A biologist specializing in the study of plants.
Bioaccumulation The accumulation of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a
living organism.
Backpack sprayer A sprayer worn on the back.
Biofilter An emission control device that uses microorganisms to destroy volatile organic
compounds and hazardous air pollutants.
Bioswale Landscape elements designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff
water, usually 6 inches or more deep.
Boom sprayer A large-scale sprayer associated with a truck or tractor.
Broadcast spray A wide, circle shaped spray or spray pattern.
Broadleaf Having relatively broad rather than needlelike or scale-like leaves.
Brood Whitish rice grain like larvae and pupae found within a fire ant mound.
Buffer zone A corridor of land that is 25 feet in width on the sides of a stream or other body
of water.
Carbamate A salt or an ester of carbamic acid, especially one used as an insecticide.
Cholinesterase A family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid, a reaction necessary to allow a
cholinergic neuron to return to its resting state after activation.
Commercial applicator Operates a business or is employed by a business that applies restricted-use or
state-limited-use pesticides to the property of another person for hire or
compensation.
Contaminate Soil, stain, corrupt, or infect by contact or association.
Core aeration Increasing air penetration of the soil by removing plugs of soil.
Decontamination To make safe by eliminating poisonous or otherwise harmful substances, such as
noxious chemicals or radioactive material.
Dike Contains spills to a confined area.
Disease Any abnormal condition in a plant that interferes with its vital physiological
processes, caused by pathogenic microorganisms, parasites, unfavorable
environmental, genetic, or nutritional factors, etc.
Dog off leash area Designated fenced or unfenced areas where dogs are allowed to be off-leash.
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Drainage The natural or artificial removal of surface and sub Surface water from an area.
Ecosystem A system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their
physical environment.
Edging Mechanical means to define borders.
Endangered species An animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant
portion of its range.
Epiphyte Attaches to a host but absorbs water and nutrients from the air through their
leaves and stems.
Erosion The process of weathering and transport of solids (sediment, soil, rock and other
particles) in the natural environment or their source and deposits them
elsewhere.
Fertilization The process of making soil more productive for plant growth by the addition of
organic material or fertilizer.
Fungicide Chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or
fungal spores.
Germinate To begin to sprout or grow.
Grade The degree of inclination of a slope, road, or other surface.
Grafting Is a method of asexual plant propagation widely used in agriculture and
horticulture where the tissues of one plant are encouraged to fuse with those of
another plant.
Granular application Product in the form of small particles that provides a slower release of
ingredients, usually used in broadcast or drop applications.
Groundcover Any plant that grows over an area of ground, used to provide protection from
erosion and drought, and to improve its aesthetic appearance.
Herbicide A chemical substance used to destroy or inhibit the growth of plants, especially
weeds.
High water line The highest possible water level that would be expected in a given body of
water during a 5-year period.
Hilling Is the technique in agriculture and horticulture of piling soil up around the base
of a plant.
Hornet A venomous insect about a ¾” long and is black and white, with a white face.
Horticulturalist Practices the science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil
for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings.
Host The animal or plant on which or in which another organism lives.
Hydrocyanic acid An aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide HCN that is a poisonous weak acid and
is used chiefly in fumigating and in organic synthesis.
Infiltration To cause (as a liquid) to permeate something by penetrating its pores or
interstices.
Insecticide A chemical used to kill or reduce the presence of insects.
Insects A class within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three part
body (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes,
and two antennae.
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Integrated Pest
Management
A coordinated decision in making and determining the best recommended
practice that uses the most appropriate pest control methods and strategies in
an environmentally and economically sound manner to meet pest management
objectives.
Invasive species Introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of
dispersal.
Invertebrate An animal without a backbone.
Irrigation An artificial application of water to the soil.
Larvae The newly hatched, wingless, often worm like form of many insects before
metamorphosis.
Leachability Ability to dissolve out soluble constituents from (ash, soil, etc.) by the action of
percolating.
Listed species A species, subspecies, or distinct population segment that has been added to
the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants.
Liquid application Used when the aboveground parts of plants require treatment to control pests.
Some liquid formulations come packaged in their own sprayer, ready to use; no
dilution is required.
Lobed leaf Leaf having deeply indented margins.
Mammalian Any of various warm-blooded vertebrate animals of the class Mammalia,
including humans, characterized by a covering of hair on the skin and, in the
female, milk producing mammary glands for nourishing the young.
Microbial A minute life form; a microorganism, especially a bacterium that causes disease.
Miticides A chemical composition that kills or reduces the presence of mites.
Mitigation To moderate (a quality or condition) in force or intensity; alleviate.
Monoculture The cultivation or growth of a single crop or organism especially on agricultural
or forest land.
Natural area A natural area is a physical and biological unit in as near a natural condition as
possible, which exemplifies typical or unique vegetation and associated biotic,
edaphic, geologic, and aquatic features. The unit is maintained in a natural
condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually
without direct human intervention.
Noncommercial
applicator
Is required to be licensed but does not qualify as a commercial applicator.
Noncommercial political
subdivision
(NCPS)
An applicator employed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas or a
federal agency operating in Texas.
Organophosphate Poison insects and mammals primarily by phosphorylation of the
acetylcholinesterase enzyme (ache) at nerve endings.
Over seeding Spreading seed over established turf that has been prepared for restoration.
Overstory Also called the canopy is made up of the very tallest trees that stand over the
rest of the plants.
Panicle Compound raceme or branched cluster of flowers.
Paper wasp A venomous insect about a ¾” long, red to brown in color with a long, cylindrical
abdomen.
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Parasitoids An organism that spends a significant portion of its life history attached to or
within a single host organism, which it ultimately kills (and often consumes) in
the process.
Personal protective
equipment
Includes all types of equipment used to increase individual safety while
performing potentially hazardous tasks. This may include safety glasses,
hard hats, gloves, lab coats, respirators, or and equipment used to
protect against injury or illness.
Pest An insect or other small animal that harms or destroys garden plants, trees,
etc.
Pesticide Any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying,
repelling or mitigating any pest.
Pesticide applicator
license
Certification of a person to use a restricted or state limited-use pesticide or
regulated herbicides.
Pheromone Is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in
members of the same species.
Photodecomposition Chemical breakdown caused by radiant energy.
Poison ivy A loose shrub or woody stemmed, climbing or creeping vine. The leaf consists
of three leaflets on long, oppositely placed stems (petioles) and can be 3” to
10” long. Margins of the leaflets may vary from being entirely smooth, slightly
toothed or lobed. The leaves can be glossy or dull green.
Post emergent A herbicide used to kill weeds after they have germinated.
Predators An organism that lives by preying on other organisms.
Pre-emergent Chemicals that prevent the germinating weeds from establishing in a lawn.
Prune To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example)
to improve shape or growth.
Pupae The non-feeding stage between the larva and adult in the metamorphosis of
holometabolous insects, during which the larva typically undergoes complete
transformation within a protective cocoon or hardened case.
Pyrethroids Chemicals that kill insects. Tend to persist and remain toxic when they enter
waterways.
Quill A hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft
may pass.
Recurved leaf A leaf curved or bent backwards or downwards.
Red imported fire ant Adults are red to dark brown and occur in five different forms: minor workers,
about a 1/8” long; major workers, about a ¼” long; winged males and females,
each about a 1/3” long; and queens, about a 1/3” long.
Resistance The capacity of an organism or a tissue to withstand the effects of a harmful
environmental agent.
Restricted entry
interval
The time after a pesticide application during which entry into the treated area
is restricted.
Rhizome A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots
from its nodes.
Right of way A strip of land that is granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for
transportation purposes, such as for a walking path, driveway, rail line or
highway.
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Rinsates A dilute mixture of a pesticide or pesticides with water, solvents, oils,
commercial rinsing agents, or other substances, that is produced by or results
from the cleaning of pesticide application equipment or pesticide containers.
Rodent Any of various mammals of the order Rodentia, such as a mouse, rat, squirrel,
or beaver, characterized by large incisors adapted for gnawing or nibbling.
Rodenticide Pest control chemicals intended to kill or reduce the presence of rodents.
Rootstalk A horizontal plant stem with shoots above and roots below serving as a
reproductive structure.
Rootstock A plant, and sometimes just the stump, which already has an established,
healthy root system used for grafting a cutting or budding from another plant.
Runner Slender creeping stem that puts forth roots from nodes spaced at intervals
along its length.
Runoff The occurrence of surplus liquid (as water) exceeding the limit or capacity.
Scion A detached shoot or twig containing buds from a woody plant which is grafted
onto the stock.
Smooth leaf A leaf having an entire or lobed margin but is not toothed.
Social wasps Live in nests that wasps construct and defend cooperatively. Ex. Paper wasps,
yellow jackets, and hornets
Sodium laureth sulfate Detergent and surfactant found in many personal care products. Ex. Soaps
and shampoos
Soil Surface layers of sand, silt, clay, and organic material on the surface of the
earth that support plants.
Solitary wasp Do not build communal nests and consequently do not defend their nest
Solubility The amount of a substance that can be dissolved in a given amount of solvent.
Spill Accidental or unintentional release of hazardous material.
Spot spraying Targeted or direct pesticide application.
Strainer A device used to separate liquids from solids.
Tank Holds chemical mixtures.
Threatened species An animal or plant species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable
future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Threshold A level of pest presence above which unacceptable amounts of negative plant
health impacts, negative environmental impacts, negative effects on
infrastructure and assets, intolerable aesthetic impacts, or undue safety risks
are likely to occur.
Till To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing and harrowing;
cultivate.
Toothed leaf A leaf that is notched on the outer edge, or margin, of a leaf (serrate).
Top dressing Material applied to a surface, as fertilizer on land or crops, or stones on a road.
Toxicity The degree to which a substance is toxic, poisonous or harmful.
Triclopyr A systemic, foliar herbicide in the pyridine group. It is used to control broadleaf
weeds while leaving grasses and conifers unaffected.
Tunneling Process in which an animal makes a hole or passageway underground, usually
for shelter.
Turf Surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots.
Urban forestry Management, establishment, and protection of trees and forests within cities,
suburbs, or towns.
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Weeds Any plant that crowds out cultivated and native plants.
Wetland A lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp that is saturated with moisture,
especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.
Worker protection
standard
Is a regulation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed
to limit worker’s exposure to pesticides.
Vertebrate A member of the subphylum Vertebrata, a primary division of the phylum
Chordata that includes the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals,
all of which are characterized by a segmented spinal column and a distinct
well differentiated head.
Vespid Mostly social nest building wasps.
Yellow jackets Have a shiny yellow and black striped abdomen and are typically a ½” long,
workers, and a ¾” long, the queen.
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APPENDIX 10: Revisions
Date Page Reason Authorized By Date Approved
IPM Institute of North America, Inc.
Harnessing Marketplace Power to Improve Health, Environment and Economics
211 S. Paterson St., Madison WI 53703 • 608-232-1410 • Fax 608-232-1440
www.ipminstitute.org
Board of Directors
Daniel Cooley, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts
Carrie Foss, M.S.
Washington State
University
Dawn H. Gouge, Ph.D.
University of Arizona
Robert S. Kallen, J.D.
RSK Strategies
Thomas A. Green, Ph.D.
Board President
2014 Whole Foods Market
Supplier Award for Outstanding
Quality Assurance
2012, 2009 US EPA Sustained
Excellence in IPM Award
2009, 2008, 2005, 2004
National Champion, U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency, Pesticide
Environmental Stewardship
Program
2005 Children’s Environmental
Health Recognition Award, U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency Office of Children’s
Health Protection
December 23, 2019
Laura Behrens
Assistant Director
City of Denton Parks and Recreation Department
Dear Laura,
Thank you very much for the opportunity to review your IPM program document.
Overall the document is very well written and comprehensive, one of the best
examples we have seen. It has been a pleasure to read and review, a reflects a
tremendous commitment to IPM as a primary strategy to maintain functionality of key
assets while minimizing impacts on health and environment.
I hope you will find our comments helpful!
Best Regards,
Thomas A. Green, Ph.D.
President
2
City of Denton Integrated Pest Management Program:
Document review by the IPM Institute of North America
December 23, 2019
Contact: Thomas Green, Ph.D.
608 209-8298
ipmworks@ipminstitute.org
Executive Summary
The City of Denton contracted with the IPM Institute for a desk review of its Integrated Pest Management
Program document which was formally approved by the Denton City Council in May 2019.
The scope of the document focuses on diverse land assets of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department
(PARD). The plan is very well written and comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on integration of all
appropriate methods when an intervention is required to prevent unacceptable pest-related impacts. The
clear, concise writing style, word choice an extensive glossary all contribute to the utility of the document the
broad and diverse potential audience.
Key elements of the plan include a commitment to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles, mission,
goals, overarching strategy, legal compliance and a series of detailed strategies addressing use of pesticides
and site-type specific management. The plan addresses both natural and synthetic pesticides and includes an
approved pesticide list. The document includes a commitment to garden plots managed with methods
approved for Organic production.
Strategies include setting thresholds based on priorities for specific park areas, and on public needs and
desires. The plan includes a commitment to native plants which can many times but not always reduce pest
problems. Maintaining aesthetics is referenced in multiple places as potential reason an intervention may be
needed. Pest prevention including as part of the design process as well as maintenance is a priority. The plan
addresses site-specific recordkeeping including objectives, monitoring, data collection, actions, results and
pesticide applications, including a list of elements that must be recorded for each pesticide application,
Opportunities to improve the plan including developing a title that more specifically addresses the scope given
other city assets are outside of the scope of the document, addressing structural pest management for
constructed PARD facilities and adding detail on program evaluation and reporting. There are also some
opportunities to add to strategies, for example addressing soil testing for pH, nutrients, organic matter and
soil biology in conjunction with fertilization as a key component for establishing and maintaining plant health,
especially at new or renovated sites.
General Comments
1. One is the best IPM plans we have reviewed. Very well-organized, helpful table of contents. Written in
a consistent, spare style, clean with very few typos. Reflects well on the strengths and commitment of
PARD staff and other contributors.
3
2. Consider renaming the document the City of Denton Parks and Recreation Department Integrated Pest
Management Plan” on the title page.
a. “Plan” is used in the opening paragraph on page one, and that is really what the document is.
Implementation of the policy and plan is what makes the “Program”. The program includes all
of the elements of your IPM approach including the policy, plan, staff, tools, and activities of
and actions taken by the many contributors to the pro gram.
b. Clarifying that the document is the “Plan” may help eliminate any confusion about what exactly
is being referred to going forward, e.g., if an individual refers to the “Program”, are they
referring to this document, or the overall Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) IPM
program?
a. The scope defined on page 5 references PARD assets, and page 6 refers to the PARD Park
Maintenance Division’s IPM plan. There are other City of Denton assets not covered by this
plan, e.g., municipal offices, which should be covered if the plan is the overall City of Denton
plan. Given the document is not an overall City of Denton plan, defining the scope as PARD in
the title of the document is appropriate.
2. Program evaluation is addressed briefly in the first paragraph of the document. Consider adding details
regarding how, how often and by whom the program and the document will be evaluated and updated
3. Consider adding another strategy addressing program evaluation and reporting. Include elements such
as quantifying and setting goals for pesticide risk reduction, and for maintaining or increasing the
portion of assets managed without a pesticide intervention. Non-chemical control measures as well as
pesticide use should be included in this reporting.
4. Consider adding more detail on how pesticide use will be evaluated and reported. Annual use
reporting by lbs. of active ingredient and target pest would be ideal. In addition, reporting by some
measure of risk would be helpful such as signal word. The US Green Building Council uses risk tiers
developed by the City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment, however that
system is very conservative and most of the products that you are using will fall into Tier 1, reducing
the value of that approach in discriminating risk. See the Guide to San Francisco’s Reduced Risk
Pesticide List attached, and also the Pesticide Research Institute’s Pesticide Product Evaluator at
https://pesticideresearch.com/site/evaluator/ for more information on that approach. Incorporating
some measure of risk in your reporting will allow you see trends and potentially risk reduction over
time, to identify your highest risk uses, and to prioritize your efforts to reduce those risks by adding
mitigation measures or transitioning to alternative products over time.
5. Consider incorporating more quantitative data where possible. For example, what percent of ac reage
is managed without pesticide use? That could become another annually reported metric.
6. How is structural pest management conducted in PARD facilities? That could be mentioned now and
planned to be covered in similar detail in future revisions. An excellent tool for building pest
prevention into facilities is Pest Prevention by Design, https://sfenvironment.org/download/pest-
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prevention-by-design-guidelines. A companion document is nearly complete addressing pest
prevention for landscape design.
7. Consider capitalizing uses referring to products and methods that are consistent with Organic
principles or standards, to distinguish from uses of organic, as in organic matter or organic chemical
compound.
8. Consider Green Shield Certification as a component of your ongoing program evaluation which
includes an on-site evaluation every three years. Program certification is focused on structural pests
currently but it would be great to work with you on incorporating land care as an option. More
information at https://greenshieldcertified.org/, and within the PDF draft standards attached. We’ve
tweaked this draft over the years but have not pulled the trigger on launching the program because of
lack of alternatives for some of the higher risk/perceived higher risk pesticide products in use. That
situation has improved considerably recently and we’ll be taking a look at it again next year.
Section/Page Comments
9. Page 1
a. “Gardners” should be “Gardeners”
b. Consider explaining what the role of the focus group was. A focus group can be a one-time,
relatively short session where participants are asked to respond to questions and statements. It
sounds like this Focus Group did more than that and it would be great for the reader to
understand and appreciate that if so.
10. Page 4, consider adding to goals something like “Facilitate sustainability of the PARD IPM program
including in the event of leadership and staff transitions by thoroughly documenting PARD’s overall
approach.” This is a goal for the document as opposed to goals for your overall IPM program.
11. Pages 5-9 are reader-friendly, thorough descriptions of key elements of how pests are managed
including both mandated and voluntary approaches to minimize unintended consequences. This
overview should be very helpful for readers concerned about pesticide risks, and as a reminder to
leadership and staff about all of the elements that need to be incorporated in their day-to-day
management and activities.
12. Page 6, “Forrester” should be “Forester”.
13. Pages 10-13, excellent concise, readable overview of IPM principles and tactics. Opportunity to add soil
testing and amendment as indicated by test results to promote plant health and prevent/avoid pest
issues that can result from or be exacerbated by nutritional imbalance, such as aphids and excess
nitrogen, or poor health, such as some trunk borers on weak ornamental trees. “Right plant, right
place” could be a good phrase to add to the first bullet in the cultural practices section.
14. Page 12
5
a. Under costs, consider mentioning that the aforementioned possible health, safety and
environmental effects are indirect costs that are considered.
b. Missing line space before “Public health and safety effects”
15. Page 14
a. Missing line space before “Pest Management Procedures”
16. Strategies
a. Excellent compilation of detailed information including legal compliance, PPE, emergency
response, and pesticide selection, storage and transport, application procedures including
waste/rinsate, and recordkeeping. Great to have these compiled in one place with consistent
policies for these across all users/sites within PARD.
b. 6. Pesticide Application Recordkeeping, perhaps this could be expanded to include non-
chemical intervention and pesticide application recordkeeping? Implementing some basic
recordkeeping of non-chemical interventions can provide a useful tool in dialogue with those
concerned about pesticide use, and often that information is not cataloged. Suspect you
generate some impressive numbers and success stories in the non-chemical category each year
that could be highlighted in communications. A feasible approach to capturing key data without
unnecessary burden could be developed with staff to take advantage of your emphasis on non-
chemical interventions. Numbers or acreage of native and pest-resistant plants, applications of
biological controls, numbers/acres of habitat-modification projects, etc. are examples in this
category.
c. 4. Notification of a Pesticide Use at a Site, very important for those wishing to avoid exposure.
Exceptions for spot spraying or backpack or pressurized sprayer or granular for immediate
threat could perhaps be reconsidered. The requirement is to post at time of application and
leave for 48 hours, and for blue dye to be added to spot applications. Unclear why the former is
not feasible for these exempt applications, and certainly posting would be important as an
explanation for the blue dyed vegetation.
d. 14. Pesticide Applications around Community Gardens, very important and could be fleshed out
with more detail including specifics about the guidelines referenced.
e. 16. Vegetation Management in Engineered Wood Fiber Playground Areas, excellent example of
the level of detail in thought and practice in your program. Consider adding specs for depth.
What depth is optimum? Does it differ by type of site? Is a weed barrier specified for
underneath the mulch? Edging to reduce diffusion of mulch into adjacen t turf for example?
f. 17. Venomous Insect Management, very well written and thought out. Consider adding spiders
and fire ants to this section, e.g., which if any venomous spiders can be found in Denton ? Are
there opportunities to educate staff and residen ts about the benefits of venomous insects and
precautions to take to avoid stings? To report high risk situations? What “non -toxic” products
are you referring to? Non-toxic is technically limited to repellents. Soap and plant oils are
certainly toxic to many insects. Can you add some of these products to your approved lists?
6
Staff may appreciate naming these and doing so may reduce potential for a mistake in
purchasing products from a local store. “Approved products will contain synthetic pyrethroids”
is a strong statement and conflicts with the permission to buy non-toxic products.
g. 18. Off leash areas, very well done and well-integrated with other relevant strategies. Suggest
addressing management of dog feces such as signage and requirements for users, provision of
bags, design of disposal containers and frequency of emptying to avoid fly problems. Suggest
addressing fleas and ticks, e.g., general expectation is that users will use veterinary products to
protect their dogs in all environments where they might encounter fleas and ticks, and that
complaints will be monitored and addressed as needed consistent with the overall policy and
plan.
h. 19. Insecticide Use and Pollinator Protection
i. 5h could use some additional thought. Neonics, like many insecticides, are toxic to bees
so this statement could be construed as prohibiting all neonic uses. Some neonic uses
are low risk. More precisely, PARD will not approve the use of neonicotinoid or other
insecticides used in such a way as to pose unacceptable risks to non-targeted bees or
other pollinators.
ii. B.1-5 is an excellent prioritization of steps that can apply to all pest types and situations.
Consider capturing this in Strategy 2 or in its own strategy up near the top of the
strategy list
Appendices
17. Approved Pesticide Lists
a. Very good practice to maintain approved lists, helps avoid errors in product selection that can
happen if only general criteria for product selection are provided.
b. Format stated on page 53 is not being followed, I.e., active ingredient(s) is not included for
most products on the list and should be if that is the stated format. Kudos to urban forestry for
consistently following the format.
c. Park Classification Plan very good illustration of setting thresholds for intervention based on
maintaining optimal function for the intended purpose.
d. Consider changing instances of “control” to management, and “Pesticide Program” to “Pest
Management” to better reflect your philosophy and what you are actually doing.
e. Turfgrass maintenance plan represents very good practices. What about soil testing including
pH, organic matter? That would be valuable especially for new sites. Should the 1” irrigation per
week be applied in single application? Less frequent, more water at a time encourages deeper
root growth.
f. Is “as needed to prevent loss of plant material” technically correct? Throughout the document,
including within the action threshold descriptions, you also reference intervening including with
pesticide applications, to preserve aesthetics. The prevent loss language oils i mply your policy is
not to treat for aesthetic issues.
7
g. Page 63, typo, should be “Rodentcide” should be “Herbicide”.
h. Additional low-risk products to consider evaluating:
i. Tenacity, active ingredient mesotrione, not approved for organic production, synthetic
mimic, chlorophyll interrupter, works well on both cool and warm-season grasses,
selective, can bleach out broader fescue blades but they recover. Does not work on
clover but everything else. Groundwater/surface concerns. Residual around ~18 hours.
Low mammalian toxicity, low REI.
ii. Fiesta is an iron-based broadleaf herbicide not for application in temperatures greater
than 85, not for bentgrass or drought-stressed turf. Label rate may not be sufficient in
some instances in which case tank mixing is an option.
iii. Halo is a soy-based selective post-emergent herbicide, variable efficacy depending on
soil, environmental conditions.
iv. Grub-Gone is a Bt-based insecticide that is effective for grubs in turf.
v. Actinovate and Double Nickel are fungicides approved for organic production and
effective for a number of diseases including dollar spot.
18. Pesticide Spill Incident Report
a. Suggest revising “(street address or park)” to “(street address or park plus description of exactly
where at that location)”. More precise info often needed beyond street address or park name.
19. Glossary
a. Glossary is very complete, important due to the broad audience for this document. The glossary
generally includes plain language, also important for the potential audience.
b. Some additions to consider include cultivation, HAZMAT, mulch, noxious weed, Organic,
Pesticide approved for Organic production, wildlife
c. Glossary generally uses the singular form, but sometimes uses the plural, e.g., “Rinsates”.
Suggest considering using singular throughout.
d. “Drainage definition includes a typo, should be “sub-surface”.
e. “Epiphyte” definition could include that it is a plant that attaches to a host plant for
clarification.
f. “Pest” is often used generically, as in “Integrated Pest Management” and “pest control” in this
document. Perhaps definition should indicate the term can be used to refer to all pests
including pathogens, wildlife, weeds, etc.
g. “Pyrethroids” are more specifically a class of chemicals.
8
h. It should probably be “sodium laurel sulfate” rather than “sodium laureth sulfate” which are
two different materials. See https://medium.com/think-dirty/thinkdirty-ingredient-breakdown-
sds-vs-sls-vs-sles-8f6e9ed574a5 for a discussion of the differences.
i. “Worker Protection Standard” should be capitalized.
This document outlines the Progressive Pest Management Process, along with an overview of key program ele-
ments.
1. Form a Pest Management Committee (PMC):
• Include the district PPM coordinator, key maintenance staff, parents, leaders from environmen-
tal health and pest control professions, and other stakeholders from the local community as
practicable (e.g., city/county landscaping staff). Meet quarterly (at minimum).
2. Create a Progressive Pest Management program (PPM):
• Develop with the PMC. Tailor to fit city needs and pest pressure thresholds. Emphasize preven-
tion and non-chemical control methods over the use of pesticides, and restrict use to products
approved in conjunction with the PMC (see chart below).
3. Establish a timeline for implementation:
• Prioritize pest control needs, start trying different strategies, refine over time.
4. Train staff and shift mindset to progressive pest management principles:
• Create and train staff on procedures specific to types of pests. Incorporate monitoring and
threshold levels to reach before using successive control methods.
5. Make the Progressive Pest Management program public:
• Share information not only about pesticide applications as required by regulations, but also
share and advertise progressive or “green” actions that are being undertaken.
Progressive Pest Management Playbook
City of Denton’s Parks and Recreation Department
Progressive Pest Management Program and Procedures
PROGRESSIVE PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
PURPOSE: To establish criteria for an Progressive Pest Management (PPM) Program.
PPM Goals that we feel are critical to protect public health and safety:
1. Elimination of Category I and II pesticides
2. Minimization of the use of Category III and IV pesticides.
3. Elimination of pesticides that are classified by government agencies, identified in Section VII
(B,1-6) as known, probable or possible carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, (teratogens, muta-
gens), endocrine disrupters, carbamates, organophosphates, or ground water contaminants. Turf
grass areas, playgrounds, and picnic table areas on city property will be designated pesticide
free.
4. Expansion of PPM practices and best management practices with the goal of eliminating the use
of pesticides.
5. Establish an PPM Commission that will meet quarterly:
• Composition of PPM Commission - The PPM commission shall consist of 8 persons nominated
by the City of Denton’s PARD(possible options):
University of North Texas / Field Specialist
Texas Women's University / Native Plant Society of Texas
Denton County Master Gardners
Master Naturalist
Denton County Beekeepers Association
Master Gardener
Denton Residents
Denton Youth Sports Association
POLICY: The City of Denton will focus on long-term prevention or suppression of pest problems
with minimum impact on human health, the environment, and nontarget organisms with
the limited use of pesticides in accordance with direction provided by the City Council for
Parks, Fields and Playgrounds; City-wide Progressive Pest Management Guiding Princi-
ples, and an annual update.
Parks, Fields and Playgrounds
When pesticides are needed, use the following prioritized approach: (1) organic pesticides;
(2) Water Quality Act Allowed Pesticides; and (3) EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesti-
cides only when deemed necessary to protect public health and economic impact by a li-
censed pest control adviser.
City-wide Progressive Pest Management Guiding Principles
a. Use of organic pesticides in all City properties.
b. Limit exposure to any pesticides where children and the general public congregate.
c. Incorporate additional guidance on use of pesticides for city rights of way, facilities,
and other properties as reflected in the staff report.
d. Use EPA Level pesticides in a targeted manner, and only if deemed necessary to pro-
tect public health and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff,
when pests cannot be managed by other methods that we would have.
Annual Update
Staff will return to the City Council annually with an update.
ASSET: The Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is a subdivision of the City of Denton mu-
nicipal government and is the steward of over 2,000 acres of space, 36 parks, 27 play-
grounds, 42 athletic fields, 27 trail miles, 6 recreation centers, 3 aquatic facilities, 1 spray
ground, 16 tennis courts, 1 driving range, 1 disk golf course, 1 skate park, and 2 cemeteries.
It also offers a wide array of recreation and enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
PARD’s Parks Maintenance Division is charged with maintaining these diverse park land-
scapes and assets in a safe, attractive, healthy, and useful condition. Park properties repre-
sent a major component of the city’s capital assets and PARD recognizes its responsibility
to protect and preserve this economic investment to the best of its abilities. PARD also
recognizes its responsibilities to its employees, park users, and the general public, and
seeks to employ the highest professional standards in the performance of its duties. To
manage pests in park lands, PARD personnel shall utilize the principles of Integrated Pest
Management.
PROCEDURES:
Prevention
1. PARD Staff shall review all new development and rehabilitation projects plans to verify com-
patibility with the site’s environment.
Monitoring
1. The Maintenance Divisions shall hire a consultant or contractor to provide regular monitoring
services for all of the City’s properties.
2. The consultant or contractor shall determine if pest populations are increasing, decreasing, or
staying the same and to determine when to use a control tactic.
3. The consultant or contractor shall provide monthly monitoring records which include infor-
mation such as date of examination, pests found, size and extent of the infestation, location of
the infestation, control options utilized, effectiveness of the control options, labor and material
costs.
Non Chemical Control Measures
1. PARD’s Landscape Division shall utilize cultural controls which are modifications of normal
plant care activities that reduce or prevent pests. In addition to those methods used in the pest
preventions, other cultural control methods include adjusting the frequency and amount of
irrigation, fertilization, and mowing height.
2. The Maintenance Divisions shall utilize mechanical control tactics involve the use of manual
labor and machinery to reduce or eliminate pest problems using methods such as handpicking,
physical barriers, or machinery to reduce pest abundance indirectly.
3. The Maintenance Divisions shall utilize the use of environmental manipulations that indirectly
control or prevent pests by altering temperature, light, and humidity can be effective in con-
trolling pests. Although in outdoor situations these tactics are difficult to use for most pests,
they can be effective in controlling birds and mammals if their habitat can be modified such
that they do not choose to live or roost in the area.
4. The Maintenance Divisions shall utilize a biological control practice which uses living organ-
isms to reduce pest populations. These organisms are often also referred to as beneficials, nat-
ural enemies or biocontrols. They act to keep pest populations low enough to prevent signifi-
cant economic damage. Biocontrols include pathogens, parasites, predators, competitive spe-
cies, and antagonistic organisms. Beneficial organisms can occur naturally or can be pur-
chased and released. The most common organisms used for biological control in landscapes
are predators, parasites, pathogens and herbivores.
Pesticide Controls
Pesticides are to be utilized in a prioritized approach on City properties as follows:
Parks, Fields and Playgrounds
When pesticides are needed, use the following prioritized approach: (1) organic pesticides; (2)
Water Quality Act Allowed Pesticides; and (3) EPA Level III “caution” labeled pesticides only
when deemed necessary to protect public health and economic impact by a licensed pest control
adviser.
Rights of Way (Street medians/parkways) – Prioritized Use of Pesticides:
a. Use organic pesticides first, when pesticides are needed.
b. Use Clean Water Act allowed pesticides.
c. EPA Level III “caution” label pesticide only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff.
d. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest.
e. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest.
Facilities/Buildings – Prioritized Use of Pesticides:
a. Use organic pesticides first, when pesticides are needed.
b. Use Clean Water Act allowed pesticides.
c. Bait formulations of insecticides will be used where appropriate.
d. EPA Level III “caution” label pesticide only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff.
e. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest.
f. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest.
Other City Properties – Prioritized Use of Pesticides:
a. Use organic pesticides first, when pesticides are needed.
b. Use Clean Water Act allowed pesticides
c. EPA Level III “caution” label pesticide only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic impact by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff.
d. EPA Level II “warning” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest.
e. EPA Level I “danger” label pesticides, only if deemed necessary to protect public health
and economic loss by a licensed pest control advisor and City staff, when other methods
do not adequately control the pest Pesticides should only be used when other methods fail
to provide adequate control of pests and just before pest populations cause an unacceptable
damage, since the overuse of pesticides can cause beneficial organisms to be killed and
pest resistance to develop.
Approvals and Application of Chemical Pesticides
1. Pesticides shall be approved by the Maintenance Division Superintendents for their area of
oversight prior to use. A written recommendation of proposed pesticide, including commer-
cial name, concentrations, allocation rates, usage and reentry time shall be prepared by a
licensed Texas Pest Control Advisor and site specific schedule submitted for approval. No
work shall begin until written approval of use is obtained and a notice of intent has been
filed with the County Agricultural Commissioner’s office, as required. Copies of Safety Data
Sheets and specimen labels shall be given to the City prior to pesticide use on City property.
2. Chemicals shall only be applied by those persons possessing a valid Texas Qualified Appli-
cator license/certificate. Application shall be in strict accordance with all governing regula-
tions. Records of all operations shall be kept per Texas Department of Pesticide Regulations.
3. Pesticides shall be applied in a manner to avoid contamination of non-target areas. Precau-
tionary measures shall be employed to keep the public from entering the spray zone until it
is safe.
4. Posting of signs shall be required at all park facilities when any application of pesticides is
performed.
Specific requirements for posting are as follows:
• Post signs at all park entrances at least 48 hours prior to spraying applications. The city
staff/vendor’s contact information, chemical name and application date must be listed.
• Place spray notices inside plastic page protectors. Attach them to a four-foot (4’) high
wooden stake. Signs must be readable 25’ away from posted area.
• Leave the same signs up for 72 hours after the spraying applications are completed,
then remove promptly.
• A temporary mesh fence such as orange plastic construction fencing can be erected on
the perimeter of any area that is to be treated with a broadcast type application with the
intent to keep people and pets off the treated area for a period of 24 hours.
Records and Reporting
Records of all pesticides used by the Contractor on City property shall be retained in accordance with
Department of Pesticide Regulations. Maintenance Superintendents will keep records of all pesticide
usage and provide an annual report to the Director of Parks and Recreation reflecting the pesticide usage
each year. The City of Denton’s PARD will provide an annual report to the City Council.
_______________, Director of Parks & Recreation Approved: ___________, 2019
City of Denton
Legislation Text
City Hall
215 E. McKinney St.
Denton, Texas 76201
www.cityofdenton.com
File #:ID 20-508,Version:1
AGENDA CAPTION
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Electric, Water and Wastewater
Management Study performed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC.
City of Denton Printed on 2/28/2020Page 1 of 1
powered by Legistar™
City of Denton
_____________________________________________________________________________________
AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
DEPARTMENT: Utilities
CM/ DCM/ ACM: Mario Canizares
DATE: March 2, 2020
SUBJECT
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the Electric, Water and Wastewater
Management Study performed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC.
BACKGROUND
Denton Utilities are required by the Section 12.08(f) of the City Charter to conduct a management study
in an interval not to exceed 10 years. The Charter specifies the study shall be conducted by a competent
management consulting or industrial engineering firm and that the report and recommendations shall be
made public. The purpose of conducting management studies is to provide a thorough examination of
major elements of Utilities operations to ensure Utilities are adhering to processes required by the charter
and organization, are being managed efficiently, and are cost effective.
The last management studies were completed in 2008-2009. For consistency, staff incorporated the major
elements from past management studies into the current request for proposals (RFP). Respondents were
provided the flexibility to respond to Water, Wastewater and Denton Municipal Electric components
combined, or respond to Water, Wastewater, and Denton Municipal Electric separately.
On July 24, 2018 the City Council adopted an Ordinance awarding a contract with NewGen Strategies and
Solutions, LLC (NewGen) for a Utility Management Study for Electric, Water, and Wastewater. The draft
report has been completed, and the attached presentation provides the major findings. This item will be
taken forward to Council along with any feedback from the Public Utility Board, and the report will be
finalized and made public as required by the Charter. Staff has been working on initiatives to address the
findings of the draft report, and information is included in the presentation regarding some of these
efforts. Staff intends on presenting information on these initiatives as separate future work session items.
RECOMMENDATION
None. This AIS is being presented for informational purposes.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (Council, Boards, Commissions)
February 12, 2018: A work session item was presented to the Public Utility Board.
March 20, 2018: A work session item was presented to the City Council.
July 9, 2018: The Public Utility Board recommended approval of a contract with NewGen Strategies and
Solutions, LLC for the Utility Management Study for Electric, Water and Wastewater.
July 24, 2018: The City Council approved the contract with NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC for
the Utility Management Study for Electric, Water and Wastewater.
City Hall
215 E. McKinney Street
Denton, Texas
www.cityofdenton.com
EXHIBITS
1. Agenda Information Sheet
2. Presentation
Respectfully submitted:
Dr. Kenneth Banks
General Manager of Utilities
Utilities Management Study
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Outline
•Management Study Background
•Findings & Recommendations
•Follow up survey
•Conclusions
•Staff Actions
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Management Study Background
•Charter Requirement –Section 12.08(f) of the City Charter states “At intervals not exceeding ten (10) years the council shall at the expense of the utilities involved, cause a general management survey to be made of all utilities under the jurisdiction of the board by a competent management consulting or industrial engineering firm, the report and recommendations of which shall be made public.
•Study Elements: Governance •Organizational Structure •Financial Practices •Development Policies •Support Services • Franchise & Payment in Lieu of Taxes •Communications •Public Relations •Planning •Budget Process including Operations & Capital Budgeting •Rate Development • Operational Cost Comparative Analysis •Staff interviews •Onsite Inspections • Survey of City Managers office staff, PUB, Council • Follow up survey
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Management Study by NewGen
•NewGen Strategies & Solutions (NewGen) retained to perform a
Management Study of Utilities (Electric, Water and
Wastewater).
•Project kickoff on September 17, 2018. Most data collection
during the fall of 2018, including staff interviews.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
General Findings and Recommendations
•Findings
•The 1998 and 2008 Management Studies generally had similar scopes of work,
but also focused on certain topics. The 1998 report focused on electric utility
deregulation and the 2008 report focused on the cost of shared services.
•The ten-year timeframe may be too long; many changes can occur in this time.
•Each of the three utilities have experienced leadership changes.
•Recommendations
•Future management studies should align with the holistic organizational
assessment approach used in this study.
•Consider either an internal or external management study Interim Review
every five (5) years that tracks progress of recommendations from the
previous Management Study.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
What’s Working -Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
ORGANIZATION •Good place to work.
PEOPLE •Good people/team capable of doing excellent work.
•Apprenticeship Program.
PROCESS •Working with Finance to setup ERCOT settlement process/
accounts.
INFRASTRUCTURE •Electricity Reliability and Compliance is Good (NERC certified).
DME has experienced very high levels of reliability and even
sustained significant 20 MW peak jump in the last year.
•The 2018 SAIDI/SAIFI ratings were good to excellent.
Findings & Recommendations Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
COMMUNICATIONCommunication Need for better communication with other City
departments.
Routine meetings with each City department the Utilities
interface with to discuss the list of outstanding items and
action items for each until the next meeting.
Silos/Need for
Improved
Coordination
Silos exist between parts of DME internally.
Suggest internal departmental head / manager meetings bi-
weekly or monthly to increase collaboration and
coordination across all levels of DME.
Issues between
Engineering and
Operations
Disconnect between Engineering and
Operations overall which is affecting the
efficiency and coordination.
Suggest engineers spend more time in a formalized field
training program and operations staff work with engineering
on completing O&M procedures.
Findings & Recommendations Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
FINANCELong-term
Forecasting DME should create a 10-year financial forecast.Develop a 10-year financial forecast including capability to
run multiple scenarios and analyze rate impact
Debt service
coverage is below
Fitch median of
2.1
Fitch uses guidelines to assign debt ratings in
order for the Utilities to improve debt ratings
they will need to improve debt service coverage.
Consider changing policy to match Fitch guidelines
Working capital for
Enterprise Funds
While DME meets GFOA guidelines, reserve
targets may need to be increased to allow for
larger shifts in energy pricing, especially if
hedging strategies will involve any long
positions.
Evaluate the need to increase target reserves.
Capital planning
DME has adequately planned for load growth
and has focused intently on planning for
reliability in recent years.
Communicate and coordinate system planning methodology
and goals throughout the organization
Findings & Recommendations Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
PEOPLEMorale
At the time of the survey, staff morale was low
presumably due to changes and negative
perception of DME. However, recent
conversations with staff indicate that morale has
improved.
•Utility leadership must help the organization continue to
move to a better future by establishing clear goals and
objectives.
•Increase communication from DME Senior Management to
all levels of the organization via small groups or one-on-
one meetings.
Succession
Planning
Succession Planning is not formalized at the utility
level and largely left up to each manager to figure
out and keep up with.
Develop a formal utility wide succession plan working with City
and Human Resources staff.
Turnover/ resource
allocation/
acquisition
At the time of the survey, a number of positions
were open in the organization.
Evaluate need for open positions and set timetable to
eliminate or fill if needed. Suggest an overall FTE analysis of
the organization.
Findings & Recommendations Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
PROCESSProcedures and
Technical Specifications
need to be completed,
staff trained and
published to all parts of
DME
Procedures and technical specifications exist in various
degrees of completeness focused on new construction
primarily and are not found in one comprehensive manual.
a)Review existing procedures and technical specifications and assign owners
to complete for operations and maintenance as well as new construction
at direction of General Manager; once complete train employees and
ensure accessibility to procedures by all staff.STRATEGYLack of Strategic
Planning/Overall
Planning
Continual need for strong leadership, better communication
and utility level strategic and operational planning.
a)Recommend DME go through an externally facilitated strategic planning
process to develop a roadmap for utility operations for the next 3-5 years
followed by monthly meetings to ensure the plan is being implemented
across the organization.
b)Recommend performing formal Strategic Planning process at least every 5
years.
Water and Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
What’s Working -Water and Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
ORGANIZATION •Good place to work
•Loyal staff
PEOPLE •Good people who enjoy working here
PROCESS •Development of Project Management Office (PMO)
•More data driven focus
INFRASTRUCTURE •Limited wastewater spills
•Award-winning drinking water quality
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
COMMUNICATIONFormal corporate
communication
function
Improve Communication to external
stakeholders
a)Implement a formal stakeholder engagement process that
is ongoing and comprehensive
b)Document “rules of engagement” for interactions with
elected and appointed officials
Communication Improve communication with other City
departments.
a)Recommend initial monthly meetings with each City
department the Utilities interface with to discuss action
items. Meetings may be able to move to bi-monthly or
quarterly meetings after several initial meetings.
Public Relations
Web Site –Water needs to tell the story better.
Could not easily locate the miles of water
system or source water on City’s page
Capital Project Education
a)Create a “Trophy Room” for achievements:
b)Add easily understood facts for utilities
c)Improve capital project education using information,
system metrics, and measures that demonstrate the need
for capital projects and how these projects are improving
the system
Execution of
capital planning
The Utilities have adequately planned for
growth and have focused intently on planning
for reliability in recent years.
a)Communicate and coordinate system planning
methodology and goals throughout the organization
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
FINANCEUtilities rates group Form a Utilities rates group comprised of Utilities
and Finance staff.
•Need long term rate plan that contemplates multiple
scenarios with impacts from Council decisions such as rate
decreases and major capital purchases
•Finalize the development of the 10-year financial forecast
Improve timeliness
of capital spending
Improve project definition and management to
ensure capital requirements reflect needed
infrastructure projects within planning horizon.
Outcome of a formalized capital planning process is a list of
projects needed for the next 3-5 years with spend by year.
Debt service
coverage below
Fitch median of 2.1
Fitch uses guidelines to assign debt ratings needed
to improve debt service coverage.Consider changing policy to match Fitch guidelines
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
FINANCELong-term
forecasting
The Utilities Financial Strategies document
reviewed suggest an annual 20-year pro forma be
completed. NewGen was unable to identify or
review any 20-year financial plans.
•Consider creating a 20-year forecast to comply with the
City’s policy and consider long-term rate strategies.
•Update financial forecast tools and long-term rate
strategies.
Service delivery
backlog
Using internal crews for capital projects can
benefit City rate payers. However, if workloads are
high project timelines may not be met.
Consider further supplementation of internal crews by adding
crew staff if needed and using outside contractors to maintain
schedules.
Working capital
targets for
Enterprise Funds
While the Utilities meet GFOA guidelines, given its
substantial capital cash funding for capital repair
and replacements, restricted and unrestricted
working capital should be clearly delineated.
Consider reviewing how restricted and unrestricted working
capital are allocated to ensure balances are not improperly
committed to future capital spending.
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
PEOPLESuccession
Planning
Succession Planning is not formalized at the utility
level
Develop a formal utility wide succession plan working with City
and Utility Human Resources staff.
Silos/Need for
Improved
Coordination
Silos exist between water and wastewater and
internally in each utility. Open communication is
needed between the water and wastewater
utilities and internally within each utility i.e. plant
personnel and distribution system personnel
•Re-instate departmental head manager meetings bi-weekly
or monthly to increase collaboration and coordination.
•Institute cross training sessions to educate departments
on what each other does.
Need training
program for Utility
operations and
management
With senior staff leaving, more formal training is
needed to ensure there is no drop-off in staff's
ability to operate, maintain, and manage utilities.
Review any existing training activities and develop formal
training program for all water and wastewater staff pertinent
to their job and the W/WW operations, maintenance and
management principles overall. Fulfillment may include
associations such as AWWA or local Texas water/wastewater
associations.
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
PEOPLEResource
allocation/
acquisition
At the time of the survey,many positions were
open in the organization.
Evaluate need for open positions and set timetable to
eliminate or fill if needed. Suggest an FTE analysis of the
organization be performed.
Resistance to
change
At the time of the survey, the organization had
some struggles with change.
Leadership should meet one-on-one and with departments to
explain the overall strategic plan once developed and
routinely to help staff understand changes facing the
organization.
Findings & Recommendations Water/Wastewater
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Key Issue Description Recommendation
STRATEGYStrategic Planning/
Overall Planning
Overall need for strong leadership, improved
communication and utility level strategic and
operational planning so staff is fully informed
before action.
a)Recommend the Utilities go through an externally
facilitated strategic planning process to develop a roadmap
for utility operations for the next 3-5 years followed by
monthly meetings to ensure the plan is being implemented
across the organization.
b)Recommend performing formal Strategic Planning process
at least every 5 years.TECHNOLOGYTechnology could
play a bigger role
in the operations
of the Utilities.
The Utilities are operated very manually, and .
Technology could improve efficiency, data storage
and access, and overall operations. No
Technology Roadmap currently exists and items
to be evaluated include: One System Control
Room Map linked to SCADA systems, AMR/AMI,
Automation Meter shop automation and more
comprehensive GIS/Asset Management Data to
support system operations, planning and
modeling, etc.
a)Develop a Technology Roadmap for each Utility including
key stakeholders and IT staff to identify technology needs,
priorities, timeframes and costs for the next 3-5 years as a
starting place; execute Technology projects by priority
once Roadmap is complete and agreed upon.
Management Study Follow-up Survey
•Much of the Management Study field work and interviews were
conducted in 2018.
•NewGen distributed a survey to original survey participants in
Fall 2019. Given the timing and potential for changes in
perspectives, these responses serve as a measure of progress
or direction relative to the initial Study results.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Utilities Management Survey –Electric
Surveys of remaining original participants were done in October 2019 to assess change. Each area was evaluated from 1-5 with 1 being
Worse, 3 as No Change and 5 Better.
Most scores were near 4 which ranked as Somewhat Better.
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Communication
Finance
Infrastructure
People
Process
Strategy
Employee Morale
Community Perception
PUB Leadership
City Council Leadership
Worse Somewhat Worse Same Somewhat Better Better
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Utilities Management Survey –Water / Wastewater
Surveys of remaining original participants done in October 2019 to assess change. Each area was evaluated from 1-5 with 1 being Worse, 3 as No Change and 5 Better.
Most scores were near 4 which ranked as Somewhat Better.
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Communication
Finance
Infrastructure
People
Process
Strategy
Employee Morale
Community Perception
PUB Leadership
City Council Leadership
Worse Somewhat Worse Same Somewhat Better Better
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Utilities Management Survey –Shared Services
Surveys of remaining original participants done in October 2019 to assess change. Each area was evaluated from 1-5 with 1 being Worse, 3 as No Change and 5 Better.
Most scores were near 4 which ranked as Somewhat Better
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
Changes
Communication
Finance
People
Process
Strategy
Employee Morale
Procurement Process
PUB Leadership
City Council Leadership
Worse Somewhat Worse Same Somewhat Better Better
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Benchmarking Key Issues: Electric
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
•EFFECTIVE RATE
•In terms of effective rate (revenue per kWh) across all retail customers as well as for each customer class, DME should strive for a balance between reasonable rates for customers and sufficient revenue for the utility to sustain itself financially. In addition to monitoring this measure, DME should review its rates structure to ensure adequate fixed cost recovery given the nationwide trend in the growth of customer-sited distributed energy resources.
•EXPENSES
•For Administrative & General expenses, DME exhibits higher cost ratios, especially on a per mile of distribution basis.
•LIQUIDITY
•DME appears to be operating the utility in such a manner as to have the reserves necessary to pay its short and long-term obligations. To support future financings, DME should continue to monitor measures such as Days Cash On Hand and Debt Service Coverage Ratio that rating agencies rely on.
•UNCOLLECTIBLE ACCOUNTS
•DME showed a substantial drop in uncollectibles per revenue dollar from about 7 cents in 2016 to approximately 3 cents in 2017. If DME instituted a new policy to reduce bad debt in 2017, it appears to be working effectively. If not, DME should investigate what procedures have caused the decline so that it can continue this downward trend.
•LOAD GROWTH TRENDS
•DME has experienced a decline in kilowatt hours sales over the period covered in this Benchmarking Study (2015 –2017). Across the industry, the trend also appears to be in load decline due to a drop in energy intensity.
Benchmarking Key Issues
Water / Wastewater
•EFFECTIVE RATE
•In terms of effective rate (revenue per MG) across all retail customers for both Water and Wastewater operations, Denton should continue to work toward attaining a balance between reasonable rates for customers and sufficient revenue to achieve financial sustainability.
•LIQUIDITY
•Denton appears to be operating the Water and Wastewater utilities in such a manner as to have the reserves necessary to pay its short and long-term obligations.
•PRODUCTIVITY
•Several of Denton’s efficiency measures have indicated lower than average productivity. While climate and water conservation measures have an impact on the water delivered per employee ratio, the seemingly lower levels of productivity should be investigated further. However, this measure is impacted by how services are shared across a municipal organization. For some water and/or wastewater operations, activities such as customer service and billing are staffed outside the utility, which would lead to higher productivity indices.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Conclusions
•Electric:
•NewGen believes DME is operationally very well run and did not find any “red flags” requiring immediate attention.
•Findings and recommendations will help improve and refine operations
•Water / Wastewater:
•NewGen believes the water and wastewater utilities are operationally sound and did not find any “red flags” requiring immediate attention.
•Findings and recommendations will help improve and refine operations
•Survey:
•2019 Survey indicates that substantial progress has been made since the study commenced in 2018.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
Examples of actions: future work sessions
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508
•Reorganizations in DME, Water, Wastewater
•Improve efficiencies
•Match resources and expertise to needs; improve knowledge base
•Safety Initiatives:
•Hired firm to do a complete evaluation of safety programs
•Safety staff reorganization
•Communication and staff development
•Mid level managers meetings; staff training based on culture, consistent and clear message; several initiatives focusing on building management skills, collaboration, and communication
•Financial
•Reorganized financial responsibilities and centralized in Finance; zero based budgeting, more data driven CIP decisions; improved capital program funding efficiency
•Asset management
•Completed asset management program for water; continue to improve Wastewater Asset management; decisions based on data and modeling, system risk, resiliency analyses, etc.
March 2, 2020 -ID 20-508