CCC IPM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

[Sheila Hill]

The County IPM Advisory Committee will be voting next week, Oct 13th as to whether or not they should include another member from an "environmental organization."  The meeting will be held at 2366 A Stanwell Circle, Concord, from 10-noon, Wednesday.  

On March 1, 2010 at an Internal Operations Committee Meeting, Supervisors Bonilla and Piepho suggested that the existing IPM Advisory Committee, http://cchealth.org/groups/ipmac/members.php , come back to the Internal Operations Committee and advise on what type of seat, i.e. (member at large, environmental, public health, etc.) should be recommended for an additional community seat that represents an advocacy group.  The IPM Advisory Committee, has decided that they will conduct a vote as to whether or not a seat will be provided. This is not what Supervisor Bonilla instructed the IPM Advisory Committee to do earlier this year. Supervisors Bonilla and Piepho agreed  1) it wasn't right for contractors to get jobs from those Depts who they are overseeing for pesticide misuse; 2)  to not let staff from county departments that spray vote at all (Piepho) and to 3) create an additional seat for an advocacy group (Bonilla).  

The Board members can direct the IPM Advisory Board to add a new seat and require that members from departments that spray or use pesticides should not play a role in selecting this community member.  If you would like to contact your local Supervisors, here is the information:

Supervisor Mary Peipho:  [e-mail] , [phone] - Danville

Supervisor Susan Bonilla: [e-mail] , [phone] - Concord
Supervisor John Gioia, Chair: [e-mail], [phone] - Richmond
(I have left out Sup Uilkema (lamorinda/W.C.) and Sup Glover (Pittsburg/Antioch) b/c they have been more inactive on this issue, but you may also c.c. them as well).
Uilkema:  [e-mail], [phone] 
Glover:  [e-mail],  [phone]

If the Board of Supervisors direct that an environmental organization committee seat be created (which is what they can and may do if enough people contact them), and  you know of someone who may want to take that seat please contact [e-mail].

A new member could get up to speed on all the technical and historical aspects that have transpired in the county regarding pesticides usage over the past 7 years and get help with getting supportive community members to the meetings when necessary so the new member would feel support at any requested time. An Advisory Board member goes to an average of 1 meeting every 2 months and so far there has been no subcommittee meetings required, although there may be some subcommittee work in smaller groups to get some work done. One only needs to have the desire and ability to commit to at least a year for getting up to speed to be worthwhile.  Candidates should be interested in protecting wildlife, water, soil, and/or public health from overuse of pesticides, by prevention.