HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/27/2020 - Memorandum From Matt Parker, Amy Resseguie And Tyler Marr Re: West Nile Virus (Wnv) End-Of-Season Update
City Manager’s Office
PO Box 580
300 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6505
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
MEMORANDUM
Date: October 22, 2020
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Matt Parker, Supervisor, Natural Areas
Amy Resseguie, Sr. Specialist, Communications
Tyler Marr, Interim Director, Information & Employee Services
Through: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
John Stokes, Interim Director, Community Services
Mike Calhoon, Director, Parks
Zoe Shark, Interim Director, Natural Areas
Mark Sears, Manager, Natural Areas
Subject: West Nile virus (WNV) End-of-Season Update
Summary:
The purpose of this memo is to convey the off-season review and assessment plans for the WNV
program. Staff and members of the WNV Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) will evaluate the
2020 season, anticipate impacts of a decrease in funding and the related shortening of the data
season, and continue a discussion on alternative pesticide materials.
2020 - 2021 WNV TAC Meeting Schedule:
January 20, 2021
February 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Meetings will be held from 4:30 – 6:00 PM via ZOOM, or alternatively if conditions allow, in the Parks
Department Conference Room at 413 S. Bryan Ave. These meeting dates will be posted on the City’s
WNV webpage and advertised via social media.
What Did We Learn in the 2020 WNV Season?
The 2020 season followed a familiar pattern associated with dry years wherein the mosquito abundance
remains below historic averages until late in the season, while the infection rate builds, eventually
exceeding historic averages. Late season vector index values (vector index is the product of the
abundance and the infection rate) escalated in the southeast area only to drop precipitously after a
significant cold front passed through the region. On the operational front, communication between City
staff and County staff remained strong despite challenges brought on by the Health Department’s focus
on COVID-19 and workplace adaptations.
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Discussion Topics:
The TAC will discuss how to best target WNV awareness and outreach for the 2021 season as a
significant budget reduction is expected for next year. Consistent with the approach during the 2020
season, direct notification of elevated WNV presence in specific neighborhoods through the placement
of WNV door hangers is expected to carry the load of outreach until the time funding for broad outreach
may be reinstated. The TAC will be instrumental in assessing this approach and/or identifying an
alternative outreach approach.
Staff will also seek TAC input on plans to reduce and potentially shift the data collection period to
align the program with anticipated resources. Recent seasons indicate a general movement towards a
later developing season; however, changing climate patterns likely extend the potential WNV season
both toward the spring and fall, thereby extending the active WNV season by 2-4 weeks.
During the 2019-2020 off-season review period, staff and the TAC identified an alternative organically
labeled pesticide available for mosquito treatment. Although barriers exist to the use of this product,
(e.g., it is not currently labeled in Colorado, is tremendously more expensive and requires more volume
of material than the current product), staff is working to remove these barriers. This organically labeled
pesticide retains the same hazard warnings and the same risk to non-target organisms such as bees;
however, it is naturally extracted from chrysanthemum flowers and therefore may be a more acceptable
product from a public perception standpoint, particularly for individuals concerned about vegetable
gardens.
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