Green Oakwood posed the same six sustainability focused questions to our City Council candidates. We are posting the Questions and Answers weekly, verbatim from our candidates, so you may get to know their knowledge, experience and positions on topics that may be important to you, your family, and our community.

Question #5: What is your position on pesticide/herbicide use in public spaces?

Answer from Candidate Sarena Kelley

I strongly support reducing and ultimately eliminating the routine, preventative use of synthetic pesticides and herbicides in public spaces whenever possible. However, I also recognize that in certain situations—like severe infestations, invasive species management, or safety concerns—some form of intervention may be necessary. In those cases, I advocate for least-toxic and organic options first, used only as a targeted measure rather than as a default maintenance strategy.

Pesticides and herbicides are commonly used because they provide quick, visible results. However, over-reliance on chemicals often masks deeper issues in the landscape, such as:

• Poor soil health, which weakens plants and makes them more prone to pests and diseases.
• Incorrect plant selection, where plants are not suited to their site conditions and become stressed.
• Lack of biodiversity, which removes natural checks and balances from the ecosystem.

Instead of depending on chemical solutions, I believe Oakwood can adopt a more resilient and proactive approach, including:

• Companion planting, which uses plant combinations that naturally deter pests and attract beneficial insects.
• Native and site-appropriate planting, reducing the need for inputs by choosing plants adapted to our soil and climate.
• Soil health improvements, such as adding organic matter, mulching properly (with natural materials, not dyed mulch), and avoiding compaction so roots can thrive.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a strategy that emphasizes monitoring, prevention, and targeted treatment only when necessary.
• Organic product alternatives, such as neem oil, horticultural soaps, or vinegar based weed controls, which can address issues without harming pollinators or soil microbes.

I believe the city should lead by example in adopting these practices, showing that a healthy, attractive landscape can be maintained responsibly. Over time, improving soil conditions and choosing the right plants will reduce both the need for chemicals and the costs associated with repeated treatments. My focus is on creating a landscape that is more self-sustaining, less reliant on synthetic inputs, and safer for residents, pets, and wildlife.

In addition, because Oakwood is proudly recognized as a Tree City USA, it is critical that we protect our mature and old-growth trees. Certain herbicides are known to damage or kill trees—even when used some distance away from their root zones. For that reason, I believe it is essential for us to:

• Conduct a thorough review and study of which herbicides have been shown to injure trees, (such as imazapyr, found in roundup plus), particularly shallowrooted species common in our city.
• Establish an ad hoc committee to recommend restrictions or bans on specific products that are harmful to trees, soil health, or groundwater.
• Train and develop a sustainable standard of work for new sub contractors on safe application practices and alternatives, ensuring our trees and green spaces are maintained responsibly and in line with our community’s values.

By taking these steps, we can uphold our commitment to being a Tree City USA, safeguard the trees that define our neighborhoods, and set a strong example for sustainable urban land management.

Answer from Candidate Leigh Turben

I am an advocate of using organic pesticides and herbicides to maintain the City’s public spaces, however all citizens’ concerns and opinions must be weighed. Some residents prefer a weed-free landscape, while others, like members of Green Oakwood, are more concerned about the silent consequences of chemical substances when introduced into our lives and environment. The City should continue to study how to best maintain our public landscapes while incorporating the use of biopesticides, and organic herbicides. Factors impacting this study would include proven effectiveness, ease of use, cost, with citizen safety being the first priority.

Answer from Candidate Sam Dorf

The EPA has previously stated: “all pesticides are toxic to some degree, and the commonplace, widespread use of pesticides is both a major environmental problem and a public health issue.” Oakwood has already adopted an “Integrated Pest Management Plan” for maintaining grass and landscaped areas. The city should consider expanding this program and adopting a “least use chemical policy.” This would protect the public health by limiting the use of hazardous chemicals and pesticides on city owned land and give preference to nonchemical solutions to pest management (i.e. using pesticides as only a last resort after employing cultural, mechanical, physical and biological controls). While we can take further steps to reduce the use of pesticides, I’d also support public disclosure of pesticides, herbicides and other pest management chemicals used in public city land on the city website. Transparency will help families make decisions that are in the best interest of their children, their pets, the elderly and others who may be more susceptible to adverse impacts of these chemicals.