HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-16-010 - Termite Pilot Project - 2015 Review
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: March 7, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Seiling, Director of Building/CBO, 519-741-2200 ext. 7669
PREPARED BY: Tim Benedict, Manager of Building, 519-741-2200 ext. 7645
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: February 25, 2016
REPORT NO.: CSD-16-010
SUBJECT:TERMITE PILOT PROJECT 2015 REVIEW
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RECOMMENDATION:
1) That in-kind funding continue for the area bound by Briargate Drive and
Greenock Drive (23 properties) for the following in 2016:
a) Application of Entomopathogenic Nematodes in the Spring and Fall of
2016;
b) Continue the weekly monitoring of 177+/- traps within the ‘red’ zone; and
c) Organize annual spring and fall yard clean-up weekends.
2) That funding for 2016 come from the General Capital Contingency account,
and that future funding requirements be referred to the 2017 budget process;
and further,
3) That staff be directed to:
a) Remove 138 +/- monitoring traps in the “outer” ‘blue’ zone; and
b) Continue the monthly monitoring of 145+/- traps in the “inner” ‘blue’ zone
on 49 properties.
BACKGROUND:
In 2014 Council approved in-kind funding for a Pilot Termite Project for the area bound
by Laurentian Drive, Dunsmere Drive, Colebrook Court and Radcliffe Drive (CSD-14-
104) for one (1) year (2015 season). The Termite Project included application of Borate
wood preservative to wood sheds, Borate treatment of wooden fence and deck posts,
two applications of Entomopathogenic Nematodes once in the spring and fall, yard
clean-up weekends also in the spring and fall and installation of monitoring traps in both
the ‘blue’ and ‘red’ zones. (map attached)
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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REPORT:
2015 Pilot Project Results
Borate Treatments
A City retained contractor coordinated with the property owners of the 23 properties
within the ‘red’ zone to apply borate wood preservative to 13 sheds during the week of
May 24, 2015. The borate wood preservative was applied to all the sheds that existed
within the ‘red’ zone at that time. Later that week borate rods were installed in 292
wood fence and wood decks posts within the ‘red’ zone. The Borate treatments were
installed to help reduce and/or prevent further property damage by the termites.
Nematodes
During the week of June 7, 2015 Nematodes were applied through a City retained
contractor to the 23 properties in the ‘red’ zone. The week of the Nematode application
turned out to be fairly rainy and extra watering for the survival success of the
Nematodes was not required. Likewise during the week of September 6, 2015
Nematodes were applied again to the 23 properties in the ‘red’ zones, however the
weather was not as cooperative as the spring and extra watering was required for the
survival of the Nematodes. The Contractor completed two (2) Nematodes application in
2015.
Monitoring Traps
In early June of 2015, termite monitoring traps were installed in the ‘red’ zones at a rate
of approximately 8 traps per property and in the ‘blue’ zone at a rate of approximately 3
traps per property. The initial inspection schedule called for inspections by-weekly in
the ‘red’ zone and monthly in the ‘blue’ zones. Activity in the ‘red’ zone proved to be
extremely high in June and the inspection schedule was moved up to weekly
inspections by July. Three positive outcomes came from the installation of monitoring
traps and monitoring the activity within those traps;
no
1) There was activity in any of the traps within the ‘blue’ zones. No activity in the
blue zone confirmed the termite colony is contained within the centre portion
bound by Briargate and Greenock also known as the ‘red’ zone,
2) With the data collected during the inspections, Termite Research Services Inc., a
City retained contractor was able to plot the overall seasonal foraging territory of
the termite population, and
3) The trapping of termites within the monitoring traps by Termite Research
Services Inc. actually removed and disposed of over 560,000 live termites from
the ‘red’ zone.
Based on previous experience with termites by Termite Research Services Inc., their
report indicates “the population on the Kitchener block may be characterized as
relatively large and occupying most of the block”.
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Yard Clean-up Weekends
Similar to 2014, the City organized and continued the spring and fall yard clean-up
weekend for the benefit of the residents in the ‘red’ and ‘blue’ zones. The spring and fall
clean-up weekends allow property owners to remove and discard wood/yard waste,
basically removing the food supply for termites. The two clean-ups include four (4) large
metal containers that allow owners to discard waste including our contractor emptying
the contents properly at the landfill site. There is not charge to the property owners as
the City is responsible for the costs of the metal bins including emptying the contents
The spring clean-up is the most popular with twice as much yard waste (22.49 tons)
deposited in the waste bins compared to the fall clean-up weekend (10.6 tons). Staffs
belief is that the clean-ups have been very helpful in reducing the food supply and
preventing further spread of termites.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This report aligns with Community Priority: Quality of Life which states “Our shared
vision is for Kitchener to be a community that invests in maintaining basic services...”
Per strategic direction 8, this report supports the City working with partners to create a
culture of safety in our community.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
As part of the 2015 capital budget, Council approved one-time funding of $40,000 for
the Termite Control Program and the Building Division provided the staffing for the
administration of the program. This funding was completely exhausted in 2015 and
there is no ongoing funding provided in the 2016 capital budget.
Based on the results of the 2015 program, it is staff’s recommendation to continue the
treatment (nematodes, spring & fall clean-up weekends termite monitoring) for the next
3-5 years, at the approximate cost of $40,000 per year with the Building Division
continuing to provide the administration. For 2016, the funding will be provided from the
General Capital Contingency account, and future funding requirements will be
forwarded to the 2017 budget process.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
CONSULT – May 12, 2015 the Building Division, Ward 6 Councillor Paul Singh as well
as a representative from the three consultants/contractors engaged for the 2015 Pilot
Project met with the owners of properties within the ‘red’ and ‘blue’ zones. This meeting
was to communicate the details of the Pilot Project as well as the schedule for May
through October 2015.
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the success of the 2015 Pilot Termite Project, the continuation of monitoring
and treatment of the termite population within the Greenock/Briargate area is
paramount. Continuing the monitoring and treatment is the only way to gauge our
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effectiveness with the use of Nematodes, Borate and Yard Clean-up. The continuation
for the program for the next 3-5 years will hopefully show that our efforts have controlled
and possibly eradicated the population within this area. Another reason to continue this
program is additional knowledge and experience should we discover new termite
infestations in the City. The knowledge learned on this program will greatly assist
if/when treatment and control of termites is required within other areas of the city.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Michael May, Deputy CAO Community Services Department
2015 Red and Blue Zone Map
2016 Red and ‘Reduced’ Blue Zone Map
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