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Council revisits weed
poison |
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By Trista Steers Sedona residents
concerned about the city’s use of herbicides along Hwy. 89A get another
chance to change Sedona City Council members’ minds Tuesday, March 13. On Feb. 27, council
unanimously approved reconsideration of its Jan. 9 decision. Councilman
Harvey Stearn was absent. On Jan. 9, council
approved reinstatement of a managed herbicide-use plan after a 120-day trial
period in which they weren’t used. The managed plan calls
for city staff to spray herbicides no more than four times a year and not
during winter months — November through February. Council approved the
plan 5-2 with Vice Mayor Jerry Frey and Councilman Rob Adams voting against
reinstatement of herbicide use. Council agreed in
January to reevaluate the situation in a year and directed staff to research
further scaling back use of herbicides. January 2008 isn’t soon
enough for some concerned residents. At council’s Feb. 27
meeting, Matthew Turner, founder of Vibrant Sedona, presented a petition to
council with over 1,100 signatures from citizens against the use of
herbicides containing the chemical 2,4-D — or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.
Vibrant Sedona is a
nonprofit organization Turner founded dedicated to addressing health concerns
associated with chemical use. Eleven other people also
stood up during public comment to tell council they don’t want 2,4-D sprayed along Hwy. 89A. According to a report
issued by the Sierra Club of Canada in January 2005, 2,4-D
causes many health problems in mammals. Cell mutations leading
to cancer, reproductive problems including conception and fetus development
and interference with serotonin and dopamine production are a few health
risks cited by the Sierra Club. Turner and over 1,100
other residents weren’t satisfied with the managed herbicide use plan and
won’t stop until 2,4-D is no longer used, according
to Turner. Vibrant Sedona, with the
help of approximately 50 volunteers, has received support from businesses
along the sprayed corridor who are helping raise
awareness and collect signatures. “We’re not going to just
stop getting signatures,” Turner said. Turner said he plans to
keep pushing until the city agrees to stop using 2,4-D.
Organic methods,
encouraging business owners to weed property around their stores or a weed
festival — day in which people volunteer to help pull weeds — are a few of
Turner’s suggested alternatives. Turner and other
concerned residents will have a chance Tuesday, March 13, to present
information to council and voice their concerns. At that time, council can
either stick with its previous decision or approve a new plan. |