Pass: 596 / 84.78% Yes votes ...... 107 / 15.22% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Dated: August 17, 2005

West Marin was annexed into the Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District ("District") by a ballot mailed to property owners stressing "environmentally safe" and "natural" materials; the chemical pesticides that are part of the "program" were not addressed. The Prop 218 ballot process excluded votes of renters and multiple voters of recipient households.

Mosquito control is important because of the emergence of West Nile Virus in California, but relative to other illnesses or causes of death, WNV risk to humans is low. Preventive measures for controlling mosquitoes are effective and safe biologic treatments are available. Scientific research demonstrates that exposure to chemical pesticides can adversely affect the health of humans and all living organisms, and creates far more long term health risks than short term benefits.

The Bolinas Community Public Utilities District (BCPUD) has historically protected Bolinas from unnecessary chemicals, evidenced by its chemical-free sewage treatment facility, an integrated pond system relying on biological processes, and micro filtration water treatment plant.

In 2005, BCPUD appointed an advisory committee, whose research resulted in a nontoxic protocol that would limit methods used by the "District" in West Marin to education, prevention (physical and mechanical) and "biologic treatments" approved for certified organic farms. Introducing toxic pesticides into the environment threatens organic farms and gardens, aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, human health, our local economy and will disrupt the interdependent ecosystem we value.

SAY NO TO POISIONOUS PESTICIDES.

Vote YES to advise BCPUD to protect our unique environment.

s/ Bobbi Kimball

s/ Vic Amoroso

s/ Don Smith

s/ Russ Faure-Brac

s/ Warren T. Weber

(No arguments against Measure E were submitted)