February 03, 2014 Minutes
CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
February 3, 2014
After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Work Session on
Monday, February 3, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall.
PRESENT: Mayor Burroughs, Mayor Pro Tem Kamp, Council Member Engelbrecht, Council
Member Gregory, Council Member King, Council Member Roden, and Council
Member Hawkins.
ABSENT: None.
1. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction concerning the 2013 mosquito
season and upcoming 2014 season.
Ken Banks, Director of Environmental Services, presented a recap of the 2013 season. 2013 was
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a mild season with monitoring beginning on April 14 and ending on November 19. Sixteen to
twenty traps per week were set out with 539 for the entire season. In 2013 a Rapid Analyte
Measurement Program (RAMP) was initiated which enabled the City to get rapid results through
UNT in a time frame faster than from the State. The RAMP program had the ability to analyze
the test results in one day and allowed rapid monitoring around human cases. Two human cases
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were detected in July and October. The October 16 case resulted in a Risk Level 5 and a
special called Council session to consider spraying. The area around the second case was
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sprayed on October 24.
Larviciding in 2013 included 7,677 BTI applications and 616 briquettes provided to citizens. In
comparison with 2012, 7,386 BTI applications were done and 3744 briquettes provided to
citizens.
Public Information - spray and trap maps in prior years were static. In 2013 the maps were
improved with GIS images to allow users to navigate available current and historical trap data.
Address and callout extraction was easier. Public Communications provided excellent support.
Council Member Engelbrecht stated that it might be interesting to know how many briquettes
were sold in area stores.
Banks provided information on the Mosquito Surveillance and Response Plan. Substantial
changes had been discussed with Council following the 2012 season. The changes were
implemented prior to the 2013 season and worked well. Staff had reviewed the plan and had
updated statistics and made minor editorial changes. Staff recommended no changes for the 2014
season.
Council Member Gregory asked if the time for spraying had been delayed in October due to the
necessity of having a council meeting to approve the spraying.
Banks stated that was part of the reason.
Council Member Gregory questioned if staff considered not having a council meeting to start
spraying.
Banks stated that a council meeting was required in the original plan for Level 5 as there was a
concern at that time about the use of pesticides. Lower volumes of pesticide were now used and
City of Denton City Council Minutes
February 3, 2014
Page 2
it was not as much as a problem as it was in 2003. The plan could be rewritten that when the
level was increased to Level 5, spraying could begin without council approval.
Council Member Gregory stated that Council might want to consider amending the protocol.
Mayor Burroughs stated it made a difference on whether to spray or not depending on how many
people lived in the area and if children would be exposed to the spraying. Council had an
important role to play depending on the number of residents in the area to be sprayed.
Council Member Hawkins questioned the risk level in 2012.
Banks stated that it was a Level 5 as well as in 2013. A Level 5 was more than one human case.
Council Member Roden questioned if staff had considered bumping the special council meeting
to a Level 4 to determine whether to spray.
Analysis of mosquito/human cases - During the October special called meeting, Council asked
staff to analyze relationships between human cases and trap data for 2012. Complications with
such an analysis included exposure assumptions, spraying activity impacts, time lag, and trap
distance. A monitoring network was not designed for this kind of analysis, so there possibly
might be a violation of underlying assumptions of statistical methods (randomness, independence
of variables, etc.). Banks continued with a review of the procedures involved in the analysis of
mosquito/human cases.
Results - in 2012, there was a higher risk of contracting WNV if one lived under one mile of a +
trap, compared to living near a trap that was negative for all events. This was a low incident rate.
Equipment and inventory status – the City had 2 ULV sprayers - on in service and one backup.
These units had been very reliable. There were enough chemicals on hand for 4-5 spray events.
BTI inventory was low and would be replenished for the next season. Expenditures and estimates
for the upcoming season were reviewed.
Council Member Engelbrecht asked about the cost of publicity.
Banks stated that publicity was done through the City’s Public Communications office. He
continued with staff recommendations which included (1) maintaining the UNT surveillance
agreement, (2) continuing the BTI applications at current levels, (3) continuing the RAMP
program, (4) maintaining the MSRP in its current form, (5) securing additional funding needs
through contingency with remaining funds used for subsequent years, and (6) considering the
mosquito program for a supplemental budget.
Mayor Pro Tem Kamp agreed with the suggestion of getting the program included in the budget.
Council Member Roden asked about the relationship with the UNT program.
Banks stated that UNT had a very strong program. There might be others with a stronger
program but they also covered a greater area.
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February 3, 2014
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Council Member Roden suggested getting the City’s program in a publication so others would
know how great Denton's program was.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m.
____________________________________
MARK A. BURROUGHS
MAYOR
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS
____________________________________
JENNIFER WALTERS
CITY SECRETARY
CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS