Laguna Hills is latest Orange County city to explore use of organic pesticides

Laguna Hills will test the use of organic-only pesticides at two parks to see if it can keep weeds and insects at bay effectively at an additional cost the city could absorb.

In response to a number of community members approaching City Hall about its use of synthetic products for controlling pests – many of whom made pleas about health concerns in person at a recent council meeting – city leaders took a look at what its contractors have been using and what other Orange County communities have done to make changes.

The products used now in Laguna Hills are regulated and approved by state and federal agencies, staffers said. They are mostly for keeping weeds and “invasive plant species” under control and to maintain the landscaping; little spraying is done for insect control.

Irvine quit using synthetic pesticides in 2016 and Laguna Hills officials have been looking at how the change has gone for that city. Of note was the increase needed in manpower.

“We are maybe even more so than some of our neighboring cities strapped financially,” Councilman Don Sedgwick said, referring to the loss of tax revenue as the city’s mall has struggled. “That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do the right thing — we need to look at ways (to make changes). Safety is always a primary concern for the City Council.

“I don’t think doing nothing is something that we want to entertain,” he said.

Council members talked about options for eliminating the use of synthetic pesticides in areas where community members are more likely to spend time, but maybe skipping spots such as medians.

Along with having the pilot program at two parks – which haven’t been chosen – the city also will get a better sense of the costs associated by asking for bids for its next landscape maintenance contract that will be awarded this summer using all-organic pesticides or a mix that gives priority to high-traffic areas.