Temecula Residents Demand Review Of Pesticide, Herbicide Use At City Parks And Public Spaces

TEMECULA, CA — Temecula residents concerned about chemical pesticide and herbicide use at city parks made their voices heard during last week's City Council meeting, prompting preliminary action by local officials.

Wearing green "Toxin Free Temecula" T-shirts, dozens of residents turned out to oppose the city's use of chemical products in public spaces—particularly areas frequented by children and pets—while urging council members to adopt organic and non-toxic alternatives.

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One Temecula father clad in green told the council that he, like many parents, works hard to protect his children's health.

"We spend countless hours trying to protect our kids from unnecessary harm," he said. "We research the food they eat, the products we bring into our homes, and the environments where they spend their time. We do those things because protecting our children is not our job — it's our obligation."

Three companies are currently contracted to provide pest and weed control in Temecula: Nieves Landscape LLC, Landscape Systems Inc., and South County Pest Control Inc.

Among the chemicals used by the contractors are anticoagulant rodenticides, glyphosate, fluazifop-p-butyl, clethodim, isoxaben, indaziflam and aminopyralid. All of the chemicals are cleared for use by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, subject to strict application regulations and restrictions.

Despite regulatory clearance, ongoing health debates surrounding synthetic pesticides have led community members to seek safer options. Mariane Konstantaras, founder of the grassroots group Toxin Free Temecula, told the council during the July 28 meeting that "safer alternatives exist and communities are already using them successfully."

Pointing to several California cities that have restricted chemical applications in municipal parks, Konstantaras urged Temecula to follow suit.

She cited concerns stemming from Orange County's Ladera Ranch community, where several children have reportedly been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare pediatric cancer. While some families and federal representatives have requested environmental inquiries into local pesticide exposure in Ladera Ranch, health agencies and epidemiologists maintain that no causal link has been established.

Calling the reports from Ladera Ranch "heartbreaking," Konstantaras asked council members, "Why should we wait for a tragedy before choosing the safer option?"

Mayor Pro Tem Matt Rahn cautioned during the discussion that natural alternatives are not automatically benign, noting that certain organic substitutes can carry higher toxicity levels than conventional products.

Overall, council members expressed openness to the community's concerns. Council Member Zak Schwank originally requested the topic be placed on the July 28 agenda.

Council Member Brenden Kalfus later published a social media video wearing a Toxin Free Temecula T-shirt to thank residents for participating. Kalfus noted he has been reviewing municipal weed and pest management options for a year, emphasizing that future goals include reducing synthetic chemical reliance and increasing operational transparency.

Following nearly 90 minutes of discussion and public comment during the July 28 meeting, the council voted unanimously to form an ad hoc subcommittee tasked with establishing city policy goals for weed and pest control.

The council is expected to formally appoint members to the subcommittee during its regularly scheduled Aug. 11 meeting. Possible appointees include Rahn—who holds a doctorate and has spent more than 20 years in university research with an emphasis on public health—along with Schwank and Kalfus.

The Aug. 11 meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. at City Hall. Toxin Free Temecula organizers are encouraging residents to attend and continue advocating for policy changes.