Title
Consider and take action on a resolution approving aerial spraying for the abatement of mosquitoes by the Galveston County Mosquito Control District (Director of Public Works)
Background:
Approval of this item will provide the Galveston County Mosquito Control District (GCMCD) with approval to conduct aerial spraying for mosquitoes over League City; the district requests this permission in line with Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The request does not imply any changes in GCMCD operations.
Council has approved similar resolutions annually for several years; these are intended to satisfy FAA requirements that League City give clearance to fly-over spraying of the city. This aerial spraying is intended as a supplement to routine spraying by truck from late March through early November at the latest.
The aerial sprays are designed to touch areas not accessible by truck (marshes, rice fields and the like) but may also be conducted over neighborhoods. GCMCD reports that spraying is done based on mosquito counts, and that it can only be done in temperatures over 65 degrees F, as the insecticide used turns to a gel in cooler temperatures (the plane typically flies at dawn). While GCMCD does respond to citizen calls as resources permit, they also indicate that cities may contract for their own spray services with a private provider.
In the end, if League City does not approve spraying for mosquitoes by plane, the county advised they would anticipate citizen calls questioning why the plane is not flying over League City and would refer those calls to the City for responses. The City Secretary reports that the City appears to have begun adopting mosquito abatement resolutions in 1984.
Attachments:
1. Data Sheet
2. Proposed Resolution
3. Galveston County Mosquito Control District Letter
FUNDING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{X} NOT APPLICABLE