Most often, town councils provide basic services and take care of residents. It is not often that we have the opportunity to make policy that will affect all Marin County residents, as well as future generations.
My fellow Tiburon Town Council members and I have transformed the future of our residents, visitors and pets, wildlife, and the environment. We voted to preserve public health and the environment.
In February 2018, Tiburon began spraying Roundup containing harmful Glyphosate in our Blackies Pasture, along with the Old Rail Trail and around picnic tables. There is a place where our children, pets, and all of us play.
Tiburon was using an integrated pest management strategy at the time. It only allowed one product to be used and named it. It was sprayed every year. Roundup, the dangerous spray that was authorized by the team, was named for our town, even though it had been designated a carcinogen.
It can be difficult to choose how to vote on important issues as an elected official. When voting, I strive to maximize the greater good while minimizing the negative effects on residents and the public. I believe fighting to rid Tiburon parks of toxic chemicals and protect public and environmental health is more important than a weed-free appearance.
In 2018, a San Francisco jury ordered Monsanto (the manufacturer of Roundup), to pay $250 million to a former school groundskeeper as punitive damages. The amount also included $39 million in compensatory damages, for pain, suffering, and lost income. The award was later reduced by $74 million and is currently on appeal. The groundskeeper was diagnosed in 2014 with nonHodgkins lymphoma. His body was covered in lesions.
I asked the town staff to stop spraying Roundup. They refused. I pointed out that spraying Roundup violated other pest management policies and that it should be stopped, and the town officials replaced it by Lifeline, an herbicide that can cause fertility damage, organ damage, respiratory damage, and damage to unborn babies.
It is worth noting that Lifeline was never used by the county in Marin parks. 2015 was the first year that Roundup was banned in Marin parks.
Integrated pest management refers to a method of using the least toxic approach to managing parks or open space. It is not a spray plan that names a specific product and is sprayed every other year. There are many alternatives to harmful chemicals, such as goats, hand-pulling weeds and weed whipping, which Marin County staff members have used for years.
The county’s pest management committee has won awards for its policy and work. It was logical to use the county as a template for Tiburons policy.
The Sierra Club Marin group, Tiburon Parks Open Space Trails (POST) Commission staff and representatives, Tiburon Moms Advocating Sustainability group as well as many Tiburon and Marin County residents became involved and worked for five consecutive years to stop the spraying and use of these harmful herbicides. After a five year effort, a thorough public review and revision by POST, Tiburon voted in favor of removing Lifeline and to model our policy after Marin County’s award-winning policy.
Tiburon won’t be able to use Lifeline or anything similar, as this product isn’t allowed in the county.
I am proud of Tiburon joining the Marin County Parks Fairfax, Larkspur Corte Madera Sausalito, San Anselmo, Corte Madera and Corte Madera in taking good care of their parks without using toxic chemicals like Lifeline.
We are grateful to the entire Tiburon Town Council, who unanimously voted to stop spraying Lifeline. We did the right thing for the environment and our health as well as for the health of our children and all Marin County residents.
Holli P. Thier is a member the Tiburon Town Council.