HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-062-07/01/2008-REPEALING RESOLUTION 2004-082 AND ADOPTING A NEW WEST NILE VIRUS MANAGEMENT POLICY RESOLUTION 2008-062
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
REPEALING RESOLUTION 2004-082 AND
ADOPTING A NEW WEST NILE VIRUS MANAGEMENT POLICY
WHEREAS,West Nile virus poses a significant health risk to the citizens of Fort Collins and
was first detected in the Fort Collins area in 2003; and
WHEREAS, West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease primarily prevented through the
management of mosquito populations; and
WHEREAS, beginning in 2003, the City Manager has worked with the City Council over
time to evaluate and develop an approach for managing West Nile virus exposures in Fort Collins;
and
WHEREAS,in 2004,the City Council adopted Resolution 2004-082, establishing guidelines
for undertaking measures to help control West Nile virus, and directing City staff to develop a
program for adulticiding of mosquitoes in appropriate circumstances; and
WHEREAS, in the intervening years, the City has continued to investigate and analyze
alternatives and logistics for managing West Nile virus in Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, it is generally accepted that West Nile virus will continue to be present in the
Fort Collins area in the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, after the 2007 mosquito season, the City Manager took action to form a
Technical Advisory Committee (the "Committee") for the purpose of reviewing and making
recommendations about the City's West Nile virus management policy and response plans; and
WHEREAS,the Committee has been meeting weekly since January 2008,to discuss various
program components, review research and consult with outside experts; and
WHEREAS,utilizing the considerable technical expertise ofthe members ofthe Committee,
the Committee reviewed a number of resources, including studies, some recently published,
weighing the risks of West Nile virus against the risks of the pesticides used in spraying to eliminate
adult mosquitoes, and consulted with outside experts in that regard; and
WHEREAS, at the Council's April 22, 2008, work session, the Committee's initial
recommendations to the City Manager on program components related to public information and
education, mosquito surveillance, trapping and testing, and larval control were presented to the
Council; and
WHEREAS, at the Council's June 10, 2008, work session, the Committee's analysis and
recommendations regarding the use of adulticides were presented to the Council; and
WHEREAS, based on its review, the Committee recommended that the City employ a
program response to manage the threat of West Nile virus through a series of actions,each of which
is driven by a number of factors,with all decisions as to how best to deal with the threat of West Nile
Virus ultimately being subject to the discretion of the City Manager; and
WHEREAS, the Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (the "Health
Department")has provided assistance to the City in the past in evaluating West Nile virus risks and
recommending the course of action for the City to take in managing those risks; and
WHEREAS, the Committee and City Manager have recommended that the Health
Department be consulted for a recommendation regarding whether the relevant factors indicate that
adulticiding should proceed; and
WHEREAS, the Committee and City Manager have further recommended that the City
Manager form a West Nile Virus Advisory Panel to review the recommendation of the Health
Department and provide to the City Manager independent comments regarding the
recommendations; and
WHEREAS,the City Council is,through the adoption of this Resolution, approving a new
City of Fort Collins West Nile Virus Management Policy, based on the recommendations of the
Committee and the City Manager and repealing Resolution 2004-082.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby adopts the West Nile Virus Management Policy
that is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference to govern and guide
the management of West Nile virus in Fort Collins.
Section 2. That the City Manager is hereby directed to appoint a three-person West Nile
Virus Advisory Panel("WNV Advisory Panel")to be comprised of one representative from the Air
Quality Advisory Board,one from the Natural Resources Advisory Board and one from the Latimer
County Medical Society. Such representatives shall be selected by the City Manager based upon
technical expertise and willingness and ability to diligently attend to West Nile virus management
program developments in support of the City Manager's implementation of that program.
Section 3. In addition to its primary responsibility to advise the City Manager regarding
the recommendations received from the Health Department,it is the Council's intent and expectation
that WNV Advisory Panel members will each act as a liaison to his or her respective Board or
Society.
Section 4. That Resolution 2004-082 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Counc' e City of Fort Collins this 1 st day
of July A.D. 2008.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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EXHIBIT A
West Nile Virus Management Policy
July 1, 2008
The City of Fort Collins recognizes West Nile virus to be a public health issue. This West Nile
Virus Management Policy has been developed to reduce the incidence of city residents contracting
West Nile virus (a mosquito-borne virus). The overall goal of this policy is to reduce the risk of
human West Nile virus infection while limiting adverse human health and environmental impacts.
The City recognizes the State of Colorado Department of Health and the Larimer County Department
of Health and Environment as the authorities on local public health issues. The City's primary role
in managing the threat of West Nile virus is to inform and educate Fort Collins citizens,participate
in regional public education and outreach efforts, and administer a prevention-oriented mosquito
management program.
The City's West Nile virus management program focuses on the following:
1. Providing a wide range of public education and outreach
2. Ensuring extensive on-going mosquito population data collection and monitoring,including
extensive testing of samples for West Nile infection.
3. Executing an aggressive larval control program focused on Culex mosquitoes. This program
includes detailed mapping of larval habitat and ongoing monitoring and larvicide
applications.
4. Periodic evaluation of the program for continued efficacy.
The City applies adulticides only as an emergency response to a demonstrated increase in West Nile
virus risk. A recommendation to adulticide comes from the Larimer County Department of Health
and Environment and is reviewed by a City-appointed West Nile Virus Advisory Panel, which
provides separate comments to the City Manager. The decision to adulticide lies with the City
Manager.
The City's West Nile virus management program is implemented by the City Manager using the
practices, specifications and administrative systems determined by the City Manager to be
appropriate.
The City may use a contractor to carry out the majority of the program. When using a contractor,
the City defines a comprehensive scope of services to be provided and selects a qualified contractor
using an open bid and evaluation process.
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