HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/25/2007 - Reconvene West Nile Virus Task Force - Air Quality Advisory Board Air Quality Advisory Board
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION
TO CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Fort Collins Air Quality Advisory Board
DATE: July 25, 2007
SUBJECT: Board Recommendation to reconvene the West Nile Virus Task Force
Dear Mayor and members of City Council:
In July, the Larimer County Department of Health advised the city of a possible serious
West Nile Virus (WNV) recurrence. In rapidly responding to the situation, many council
members recognized the need to continue to evolve a comprehensive long-term program to
address WNV.
In 2004, the Air Quality Advisory Board (AQAB) took the lead in forming the original
West Nile Virus Task Force that provided input into establishing current City Council
policy. Attached to this letter are the recommendations provided to City Council on June 1,
2004. The 2007 AQAB Work Plan approved by City Council included reconvening the
Task Force to evaluate the city’s West Nile Virus prevention program.
At our meeting of July 24, 2007, the AQAB passed the following unanimous
recommendation to City Council:
“The AQAB recommends that City Council reconvene the West Nile Virus Task
Force to review existing city policy and recommend any appropriate changes that
will yield a comprehensive integrated pest management program to effectively
and judiciously manage both short and long-term risks of West Nile Virus.”
The AQAB also recommends that the Task Force be comprised of a diversity of
stakeholders including:
• City boards (e.g., AQAB, NRAB, Water Board)
• City staff (e.g., Natural Resources)
• Academic experts (e.g., human health, environmental health, ecology, entomology,
economics)
• Larimer County Health Department
• Citizens (including both chemically-sensitive and seriously exposed/related to
exposed individuals)
The WNV Task Force will convene in September 2007 and final recommendations of the
Task Force on the development of a WNV program will be presented to City Council by
the end of December 2007 and should consider broader issues including:
• Institutional oversight of West Nile Virus program
• Permanent funding mechanisms for West Nile Virus program
• Formalized response protocol to any public health threat
Thank you for your consideration of this recommendation. I would be happy to answer
any questions or convey your comments and further direction to the Board.
Sincerely,
Eric Levine, Board Chair