Advisory Board: Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee-Decision-Making Subcommittee
Subject: 4. DISCUSS the broader role of the Subcommittee and ADVISE staff on potential adjustments to the process for developing decision documentation.
Presenter: Wade Finlinson
Contact: 925.490.3428
Information:
The role of the Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) includes:
• Assisting County departments review pest control alternatives and related costs or impacts.
• Making policy recommendations upon assessment of current pest issues and evaluation of possible IPM solutions.
• Providing a forum for communication and information exchange among members in an effort to identify, encourage, and stimulate the use of best or promising pest management practices.
• Promoting transparency in pest management decision-making by County Departments.
Referral History and Update:
The IPM Decision-Making Subcommittee is currently the only standing subcommittee of IPMAC. In pursuit of the above purposes, the Subcommittee creates and revises documentation to transparently depict rationale for pest management decisions within County operations. These documents often include recommendations for operational refinement. The production of decision documents is considered to be one of the greatest contributions of IPMAC.
The IPM Program is moving from the Hazardous Materials Programs Division of Contra Costa Health to the Agriculture Commissioner’s Office on July 1, 2026. This move marks an opportunity to evaluate how the broader program is structured. During the meeting of the full IPMAC on February 19, 2026, the IPM Coordinator expressed an intention to explore the feasibility of transitioning IPMAC to a less formal, but more impactful role.
Subsequent discussions with key stakeholders in that regard have progressed towards preserving the role of IPMAC as a formal advisory body. However, efforts are ongoing to explore other ways to add programmatic capacity and ensure that the investment of time contributed by IPMAC members and staff is appropriately valued. The IPM Coordinator is developing a proposal that would move toward having quarterly meetings of the full IPMAC and eliminate or reduce the role of subcommittees.
This Subcommittee met on April 26, 2026 and provided general feedback on the process for developing decision documents. Topics included elevating the role of the pending IPM Program website, clarifying work flows for staff and IPMAC, and drafting a template that will assist operational departments to provide an accurate narrative about their pest management programs.
Based on feedback received, the IPM Coordinator has drafted an initial flow chart that delineates responsibility and a template form for operational staff to complete. Both draft documents are attached.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
Staff recommends subcommittee members provide feedback on the draft documents and advise on other elements to be developed for the next Subcommittee meeting.