HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1987/12/15 Item 5COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT
• ~ Item 5
Meeting Date 12/15/87
ITEM TITLE: Resolution /,~.3~~ Approving an agreement with County of
San Diego for the Department of Health Services to conduct a
domestic rodent survey within the City of Chula Vista, and
appropriating funds for said survey
SUBMITTED BY: Principal Management Assistant
REVIEWED BY: City Managers, ~ ~ (4/5ths Vote: Yes X No
At its meeting on November 24, 1987, the City Council requested that staff
evaluate alternatives to deal with complaints from property owners concerning
rodent problems within certain areas of the City.
While complaints about rodents in the community in the past have not been
viewed as an overwhelming problem, periodic complaints have been registered.
In order to measure the extent of the problem, a domestic rodent survey of the
community is desirable. The results of the survey would help us determine if
on-going services via contract with the County or a private company is needed.
• RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt the resolution approving the agreement
with the County of San Diego for a domestic rodent survey and authorizing the
Mayor to sign said agreement and appropriating funds from the unappropriated
reserve of the General Fund for said survey.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable.
DISCUSSION:
During the week of November 16, 1987, City staff was in contact with Moise
Mizrahi, Chief of Vector Control Division of the County Health Department,
concerning rodent control services provided by the San Diego County Department
of Health. He indicated that the Health Department only provides such
services under a supplemental agreement to the basic agreement between the
City and the County. Currently the cities of San Diego and Coronado and the
Port District have such agreements with the Health Department for rodent
control services.
The County provides rodent control services based on a set staffing level for
the individual jurisdictions and, therefore, would only undertake such
services on a contractual basis. Otherwise, services elsewhere in the County
would be limited to providing technical advise over the telephone or by mail
in response to inquiries from residents.
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Survey by County Health Department
Before the City decides to contract for such services, County staff recommends
that a survey be conducted first to measure the extent of the rodent problem.
The survey would be conducted by Health Department staff. The survey would
serve as the data gathering phase of planning for a domestic rodent control
program. The survey would entail the inspection of premises in randomly
selected blocks in the city and result in 1) an assessment of the incidence
and intensity of rodent infestations in the city; 2) an evaluation of
conditions which contribute to the presence of rodents; and 3) conclusions and
recommendations on the level of rodent control services the city needs to
provide its residents.
The cost of the survey is estimated to be $4,847 based on the attached
estimates. However, the County will bill actual cost not to exceed $4,847.
It is anticipated that the survey would start about January 26, 1988, and
would be completed about April 25, 1988.
On-going Control Program by Health Department
At the conclusion of the survey, if it is determined that a rodent control
• program is necessary, the Health Department could provide such under a
supplemental agreement. Such a program would include:
1. Response to citizens' request for services
2. Response to citizen's complaints
3. On site investigation of all complaints and service requests and extension
of same
4. Coordinate citizens' efforts (on a block-by-block basis)
5. Provide education/consultation
6. Provide rodenticides to the public with advice on proper and safe use of
the material
7. Provide direct control on public sources
a. Investigation of suspected feeding and breeding grounds
b. Establish bait/trap stations
c. Recheck bait/trap stations routinely
8. Evaluate control efforts periodically
• 9. Enforce rodent control laws and regulation (in instances where cooperation
is not obtained)
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Under the supplemental agreement between the County and the City of Coronado,
a 0.5 staff year of a Vector Control Technician is provided along with central
support for vector control services. The projected cost for this is $30,512
for FY 1987-88. The level of service and costs of such a program for the City
of Chula Vista would have to be negotiated by City staff with Health
Department staff. Any agreement for such a program would have to be brought
back to the City Council for approval, as well as for additional
appropriations to fund it.
Alternate Survey Approach
An alternate approach to a survey under contract with the Health Department
would be to contract with a private firm to conduct such. However, most of
the private exterminating and pest control firms are orientated toward dealing
with individual property owners on a case by case basis rather than a
community-wide survey.
The City's Environmental Review Coordinator said that the private firms that
do environmental survey work would generally not be interested in doing a
rodent survey. Also, if any were interested, their charges for such a survey
would be higher than what the County Health Department is proposing.
Alternate Control Approach
• An alternate approach to a control program under contract with the County
Health Department would be to use the services of a private exterminating and
pest control firm. Normally, the services of such private firms are
contracted for by individual property owners. Such firms usually provide an
on site inspection and estimate to property owners when first contracted.
Such may be provided free or for a nominal charge. The kind and level of the
service depends on the nature and extent of the pest infestation. If a pest
problem is severe, a more extensive effort is made in the beginning to
eliminate or substantially reduce it. Thereafter, or if no serious problem is
found, a on-going continuing preventative effort is usually recommended as
routine maintenance for the property.
Usually, the property owner is billed for the level of service provided and
the size of the property. Contact was made with the Chula Vista Termite and
Pest Control regarding their services for rodent control. They indicated
their charges for such for a three bedroom home would be $80 with a 90 day
guarantee. The treatment service would normally take about one day and
involves the placement of baited traps or blue boards. Services for further
rodent-proofing, if necessary, would be extra and would depend on the extent
of rodent harborages found.
Firms in the exterminator and pest control business are required to be
licensed by the State. Such licensing is under jurisdiction of the Structural
Pest Control Board. One of the primary regulatory concerns regarding such
• firms and their employees is the proper and safe application of the bait and
pesticide agents used in pest control. There is no City regulation of such
firms although they do require a business license.
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As mentioned above, normally, the services of such private firms are
contracted for by private property owners individually and not by the City.
However, the City may contract for such services for City buildings and
grounds and for public land when they may have pest problems or may be a
source of such. But, the City could also contract with such a firm for
areawide services if there is a public necessity for such.
The City's Building Maintenance Superintendent contacted a number of firms to
see if they would be interested in providing services for the City on an
areawide basis. One specialized firm in agricultural pest control did express
an interest. The City's Parks and Recreation Department currently contracts
with this firm for gopher control work. However, their representative said
they would need to see the defined areas the City wants serviced before they
could give any cost estimate for their services.
RECOMMENDATION
At this point in time, staff recommends that the City Council contract with
the County to have the Health Department conduct a domestic rodent survey
within the City. After the results of the survey are evaluated, staff will
have a better understanding of the extent of the problem in the City. And
then, they can reconsider which of the alternate approaches is the better one
for the City to follow in dealing with the problem and recommend such to the
• Council.
FISCAL IMPACT: Under the agreement, the survey may cost up to $4,$47. To
pay for the survey, this amount needs to be appropriated from the
unappropriated reserve of the General Fund. Future impact would depend on
what alternatives the City decides to follow-up with to deal with the problem,
if any, as determined by the survey.
WPC 1879A
• ,~ the City Council of
Chula Vista,,California
Dated