[Adopted 12-19-2019 by Ord. No. 19.167]
A.Â
BROADCAST APPLICATION
CHEMICAL FERTILIZER
EMERGENCY SITUATION
ISOLATED SPOT APPLICATION
ORGANIC PEST MANAGEMENT (OPM)
PESTICIDES
PESTS
Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
The spreading of pesticides over an entire area or substantial
part of an area.
Any inorganic material of wholly or partially synthetic origin
that is added to soil to sustain plant growth.
A serious and unanticipated situation that threatens the
public health or is likely to result in significant damage to property
or the environment and that requires immediate action and for which
no organic pest management alternative is expeditiously available.
A nonbroadcast generally nonrecurring application of pesticides
targeting a specific pest in a specific location.
The act of managing or controlling pests through the use
of mechanical, biological processes, or through the use of natural,
organic, or nonsynthetic substances.
Any spray adjuvant, substance, or mixture of synthetic chemical
substances which is intended to be used for defoliating plants, regulating
plant growth, or for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any pest which may infest or be detrimental to vegetation, humans,
animals, or households, including fungicides, herbicides, rodenticides,
insecticides, acaracides, nematicides, larvicides, defoliants, and
plant growth regulators. This includes any fertilizer mixture that
includes pesticides within it.
Any agent (animal, plant, insect, organism, or microorganism)
targeted for elimination or control by a pesticide.
B.Â
Organic pest management. Except as provided in Subsection C, over a period of three years from the date of ratification of this section, the turf and landscape management of parks, playing fields, and playgrounds owned by the City of Northampton will be transitioned to an organic pest management system. Three years from the date of the ratification of this section, the use of pesticides on parks, playing fields, and playgrounds owned by the City of Northampton will be prohibited.
C.Â
Exceptions. The prohibition shall not apply:
(1)Â
To properties under the jurisdiction of the Northampton Public and
Smith Vocational School Districts.
(2)Â
In instances where the reconstruction of parks, playing fields, or
playgrounds is undertaken, or in instances where the City assumes
ownership and/or operational control of a park, playing field, or
playground where organic pest management practices were not previously
employed. A three-year transition period shall be allowed in such
instances and at such facilities.
(3)Â
In the presence of insects that may pose an immediate threat to users
of the facilities described in this section. The Director of the Department
of Public Works shall have the authority to approve the immediate
isolated spot application of a pesticide to eliminate the threat.
(4)Â
In emergency situations as defined in this section. The Director
of the Department of Public Works shall have the authority to approve
a one-time broadcast application of pesticides.