Summary
The city is testing alternatives to glyphosate herbicides in parks through a multi-phase pilot with UC researchers. Commissioners split on the effort — one called it a waste of staff time and money given state pesticide safety findings, while others want it expanded to a west-side park and to track wildlife benefits. Baseline data collection is underway, with field trials expected to run about a year.
At a glance
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Last discussed Apr 16, 2026.
Impact analysis
No cost yet for the UC research partnership, but other cities that switched away from glyphosate saw higher labor costs, sometimes offset by new taxes.
Park users — especially kids, pets, and pollinators — could see safer, more sustainable park maintenance if the pilot succeeds.
Commissioner Livingstone argued staff time and resources are being diverted from programming, and taxpayers could face higher maintenance costs.
Mentions & discussions (1)
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