Sarasota County Government Public Works' PESP Strategy

Describe your Organization’s Five-Year Goals Related to Pesticide Risk Reduction

Sarasota County Government (SCG) intends to continually reduce its need for and use of substances that have the possibility of negative impacts on the local and regional environment and beyond. Our staff is always on the lookout for better products and newer methods of doing pest and landscape management that promote this goal. We have made some major strides in the last five years and are hopeful that the next five years will be of equal or greater accomplishments. We have eliminated the use of all organophosphates in all areas except occasionally in mosquito control (We live in Florida!) and even in that area, control of habitat and larvaciding are the primary strategies used. We have established a reporting system, based on our mosquito control model, that records all pesticide use in SCG. We currently are in the process of consolidating horticultural activities throughout the County which will bring all the current fragments under one roof, enabling us to conduct our business under one system. We also hope to continually improve staffs knowledge base.

What do you envision doing (broadly) to try to resolve your major issues?

As a result of the ongoing consolidation of services in SCG, we are able to provide least toxic strategies throughout the entire business structure through our IPM Policies and Procedure directive. We also have put more focus on our IPM Working Group and IPM Advisory Board. The IPM Working Group is a mix of hands on staff that work pest management (interior and exterior), athletic field maintenance, canopy management, landscape and irrigation. The IPM Advisory Board is a group of County citizens made up of industry professionals, environmentalists, educators and interested parties that basically set the policy within our IPM Program. We also maintain a close working relationship with our University of Florida, IFAS/Extension program so that we can be in touch with the latest information and data. These groups have existed for several years but by minor changes in the working relationship, have greatly increased the productivity of the system.

Goal 1 and Tactics

Reduce The Use Of Toxic Substances

Continue and improve participation (through consolidation) of reporting so that we will have hard data to support what and how much is used. We also report non-toxic substances (borates, herbal extracts, etc.) used in horticulture and expect to see that use rise.
Continue to seek out better policies of landscape design and maintenance. Current budgetary restrictions are causing us to look even closer at costs so that will be one method of tracking improvments in IPM methods. There is a greater stress on proper design and cultural techniques.
Incorporating lifestyle modifications in how citizens and staff utilize work spaces and County properties.

Goal 2 and Tactics

Education and Training of County Staff

Putting expectations on County horticultural staff to participate in training a certification offerings presented by reputable sources including Extension, industry and others. Maintaining records on training and certifications will be the resource for measurement.
Increase the knowedge base of County staff not working in horticulture/IPM by providing acceptable levels of service and concise information on strategies and products used. Customer service surveys may help in this as well as reduced requests and callbacks (entered in our Maximo work order system) will help measure.

Goal 3 and Tactics

Reduced Fertilizer Use

Sarasota County also tracks the amount and types of fertilizers used on County properties. The vast majority don't get this treatment but we are looking at athletic fields as they are our highest users. This reporting hopes to show a reduction in use by improved cultural techniques and more efficient products.
Since SCG enacted its fetilizer ordinance, we have been contacted by several small companies offering products that propose other methods of management. We will be conducting trials of products that offer some legitimate promise with some of these being inoculant type products.

Goal 4 and Tactics

Take a Holistic Approach

With the realization that no one part of an IPM based management system can really function properly on its own, we will continually work to get the various parts improving and meshing with the other components. By using research, recording, education and methodology, we will improve our level of service by contiuing to improve internally.
Being able to provide our customers, internal and external, with current information in a logical and understandable fashion that will help promote IPM.
Making sure all contractors and vendors that work for SCG are aware of its policies and procedures regarding IPM.