Glyphosate, also known as the weed killer Roundup, is used in Morgan Hill on public right-of-ways and in city parks to abate weeds. But local officials are considering phasing out the potentially harmful chemical on city properties after next year.
In recent months, the use of Roundup has been criticized when the California Environmental Protection Agency placed it on a list of potentially dangerous materials. Because Morgan Hill residents have expressed concern over the use of Glyphosate, city staff last week presented the council with updates on the weed killer’s use and potential changes that could be made.
Public Services Director Chris Ghione said, “The reason we use herbicides is that they are efficient and effective in weed management.”
The city council decided at the Sept. 18 to continue to use Glyphosate in spring of 2020. However, the council asked Ghione to factor in a change in weed killer to the department budget and present a formal plan for a change in the summer of 2020.
The city has been testing alternatives to Glyphosate at Paradise park on LaCrosse Drive. Ghione said alternatives to Glyphosate used at the park have not been entirely successful and need to be used more frequently to stop the weed growth, which resulted in an increased cost.
“It has not gone well and it’s taken a lot more resources,” said Ghione.
To gauge where Morgan Hill stood with its use of Glyphosate, city staff contacted nearby municipalities. Out of the 12 municipalities contacted, 10 used Glyphosate in the right of ways and 11 used the chemical weed killer in parks. However, Ghione said that two cities are planning to eliminate Glyphosate in parks and one is planning to eliminate Glyphosate in right-of-ways.
“I realize that some other cities aren’t there,” said Councilmember Yvonne Martínez-Béltran. “But we often have been and are a leader and I think this is something we have to be a leader with.”
The parks and recreation committee voted 3-2 on Sept. 17 to have staff explore other options and bring back alternatives in summer 2020.
All of the city council was in agreement that the city needed to work toward eliminating the use of Glyphosate. As of now, the city posts notices 72 hours before Glyphosate is sprayed and keeps the signs up for 24 hours until the Glyphosate has dried.
