Advisory Board: Integrated Pest Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC)
Subject: 4. RECEIVE update on IPMAC format item from February meeting and ADVISE on these and other related IPM Program elements.
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:
At the June 24, 2025 meeting of the Board of Supervisors, now retired Chief Lewis Broschard of the Contra Costa Fire Prevention District indicated that the IPM Program would transition to the Agriculture Commissioners office. On April 27, 2026, the union representing the IPM Coordinator received formal notice from Contra Costa Health that the position would be reassigned on July 1, 2026.
This move marks an opportunity to evaluate how the broader program is structured. During the meetings of the full IPMAC on September 18, 2025 and February 19, 2026, the IPM Coordinator expressed an intention to explore the feasibility of transitioning IPMAC to a less formal, but more impactful role. Those and subsequent discussions with key stakeholders in that regard have progressed towards preserving the role of IPMAC as a formal advisory body.
The County IPM Program consists of IPMAC, the IPM Coordinator, and certain County operational departments or divisions that manage pests. Applicable departments and divisions-along with their contracted service providers-are subject to the County IPM policies and practices. The IPM Coordinator and operational staff report to the County Administrator through appointed department heads. IPMAC reports to the Board of Supervisors and plays a key role in assisting them to monitor the implementation of the IPM Policy through the Transportation, Water, and Infrastructure Committee (TWIC), a committee of the Board of Supervisors.
IPMAC has produced a variety of resources and encouraged practices that should retain a central focus moving forward. Those include decision documentation, IPM plan templates, the Pesticide Risk Footprint Tool, policy revisions, and the facilitation of public forums that promote a high level of transparency.
Efforts are ongoing to explore other ways to add programmatic capacity and ensure that the investment of time contributed by IPMAC members and associated 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. The format and cadence of those meetings is intended to deliberately foster a system that incorporates each purpose listed at the beginning of this document.
One element of this system would require each County pest management program to participate in an annual discussion of each respective function in a meeting of IPMAC. This would include a review of their departmental/divisional IPM plan, applicable decision documents, status of pending IPMAC recommendations, overview of any outreach efforts, and broader discussion of challenges and successes associated with each program. Departments are currently required to provide an annual report of their IPM activities in addition to soliciting IPMAC input on their IPM plans and decision-making documents.
Current County departments/divisions subject to the IPM Policy are the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures weed and vertebrate pest programs, the Public Works Department (PWD) Maintenance Division, PWD Facilities Services Division, PWD Grounds, PWD Special Districts, and PWD Airports Division. Certain elements of additional County programs are tied to the IPM Policy, and others are being reviewed.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
The proposed 2027 IPMAC meeting dates are January 21, April 15, July 15, and October 21. The IPM Coordinator recommends planning each meeting to include:
• A review session of one or more County pest management functions. Invitations would be extended to applicable personnel to either ensure documents and practices are current or to identify which components may require additional input.
• A standing item to mark progress on prioritization, development, and revision of decision documentation.
• Presentations applicable to the work of IPMAC on topics that may involve current trends, technologies, research, or other related topics.
• Regular meeting business such as approval of minutes, public comments, updates, future agendas, etc.