20160907 AAAfter Action September 7, 2016 City of Miami Beach
City Commission Emergency Workshop
City Commission Emergency Workshop
City Hall, Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor, 1700 Convention Center Drive
September 7, 2016 - 10:00 AM
Mayor Philip Levine
Commissioner John Elizabeth Alemán
Commissioner Ricky Arriola
Commissioner Michael Grieco
Commissioner Joy Malakoff (absent)
Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
Commissioner Micky Steinberg
City Manager Jimmy L. Morales
City Attorney Raul J. Aguila
City Clerk Rafael E. Granado
GUEST SPEAKERS:
• Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor
• Dr. Lisa Conti, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Science Officer, Department of Agriculture
• Dr. Lillian Rivera, Miami-Dade Director of the Florida Department of Health
INDIVIDUALS PRESENT AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS:
• Dr. Janet McAllister, US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (the lead of Zika at the
CDC)
• Alina Tejeda-Hudak, Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor (Oversees Mosquito Control)
• Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, Medical Director for the Poison Control Center in Miami-Dade
• Dr. Christine Curry, OB/Gyn at UM Jackson Memorial Hospital
• Laura McGowan, Public Information Officer for Clarke (questions regarding the aerial
application technique
Clerk’s Note: The purposes of the Workshop is to discuss the Zika virus and strategies to
address the Zika virus. The Workshop was held for informational purposes only, it was not a
special meeting of the City Commission, and no action of the City Commission was taken.
WORKSHOP
Mayor Levine called the Workshop to order at 10:20:08 a.m.
Mayor Levine thanked everyone present: City staff, community members and the media; and
added that this is a great testament to incredible activism and community involvement that
makes Miami Beach a great City. This Workshop has been called to listen to the experts and
discuss the Zika virus and available strategies to combat Zika. It is important to inform and
educate the community and get a clear understanding of what is going on. He recognized
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager, the entire City staff from the City of Miami Beach for their
hands-on approach, working non-stop to do everything possible to make the City safe, from
Code Compliance Officers to the Public Works Department, in reaching out and educating
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City Commission Emergency Workshop
visitors, businesses and residents alike. He added that the priority for the City is the health and
welfare of the community. It is important to allow the experts to speak and hear what they have
to say. He requested respect from the audience and to allow the experts to speak; that is the
main reason why this Workshop was called: Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Dr.
Lisa Conti, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Science Officer, Department of Agriculture and Dr.
Lillian Rivera, Miami-Dade Director of the Florida Department of Health. Also to answer
questions the following individuals are in attendance: Dr. Janet McAllister, US Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, lead for Zika at the CDC; Alina Tejeda-Hudak, Miami-Dade
County Deputy Mayor, who oversees Mosquito Control, Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, Medical Director
for the Poison Control Center in Miami-Dade, Dr. Christine Curry, OB/Gyn at UM Jackson
Memorial Hospital and Laura McGowan, Public Information Officer for Clarke, the aerial
spraying company; she is here to answer any questions regarding aerial application technique.
There is a challenging lack of information from the Governor’s Office in Tallahassee. Information
was received via press releases, as opposed to communications directly with the City. On
Thursday, a press release was received from the Governor’s Office stating that the CDC is
recommending aerial spraying and that Governor Rick Scott wants to move forward on this
immediately. The City reached out to the County and after telephone conversations between the
City Manager Morales and County Mayor Gimenez regarding aerial spraying, a decision was
made. The City wants to reach out to the community, listen, learn and understand. Mayor
Levine asked again for everyone to be respectful. Miami-Dade County Mayor Gimenez has
agreed to come to the City to address these concerns, and deliver information and a message.
He reminded everyone that the duty of a Mayor is to keep the public informed, safe and healthy.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez thanked the City Commission and the community
for the opportunity to address the City’s residents. He thanked the City’s leadership and Code
Enforcement for their ongoing collaboration, as they continue to work to reduce the mosquito
population, both aerially and on the ground. He knows that people are afraid and frightened, and
he wants to explain exactly what the County, in collaboration with the City of Miami Beach,
Governor Rick Scott’s Office, the Florida Department of Health and the Department of
Agriculture are doing to protect citizens from the spread of Zika. There is a great deal of
misinformation circulating, and he will take time to clarify any rumors and accurately inform
about everything that is being done, and why it is being done. The decision to begin aerial
spraying in Miami Beach was made based on recommendations of the CDC, Governor Rick
Scott’s Office, Florida Surgeon General, Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department
of Agriculture. They have been reassured that Adulticides aerial spraying using Naled, in
combination with larvicide treatment on the ground, is the safe thing to do at this time, and it is
necessary to reduce the mosquito population in Miami Beach. His Administration has been
consistent in proactive and aggressive approach to protecting the community against the Zika
virus, because resident and visitor safety is their top priority. Experts recommended beginning
aerial spraying in the area north of Downtown Miami, where local transmission was first
identified. They followed protocol, and the same protocol will be used in Miami Beach, because
it has been shown to work. Experts are asking that measures that are more aggressive be taken
to reduce the mosquito population by using a combination of aerial spraying and ground
treatment by truck, as well as hand application. In the 1.5 square mile area of Miami Beach,
three locally acquired cases of Zika were confirmed, and three mosquito traps tested positive.
Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control team has conducted more than 3,500 inspections,
abatement and treatment of mosquito breeding, and adult mosquito activity and Adulticides
truck sprayings. Yesterday and today, they began an innovative ground control larvicide
treatment in Miami Beach, using trucks equipped with Buffalo turbines; this state-of-the art
equipment uses EPA approved Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis (Bti) will target breeding areas
and reduce the mosquito population. Weather permitting; they plan to begin four cycles of
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Adulticides aerial spraying tomorrow at 5:00 a.m. The spraying will be completed within half an
hour, and they will keep the number of Adulticides emissions to a minimum during school days.
Parents may prefer to keep students indoors until 6:30 a.m. following aerial spraying. There are
a great deal of concerns about the chemicals being used for this aerial spraying, namely Naled,
but Naled has been used in this country since the 1950s, and in Miami-Dade County, it has
been used for over 40 years. Lee County’s Mosquito Control District has published additional
valuable information about Naled online, and he wants to share some of that information. Some
people claim that aerial Adulticides and larvicide does not work against the Aedes aegypti
mosquito, which is the mosquito that carries the Zika virus. That claim is based on less
developed countries where there are no screens on houses, no air-conditioning or municipal
water systems. Data shows that Naled does not cause neurotoxic effects in humans; it is the
dose and duration of exposure that determines the risk to humans; that is why they are working
closely with the experts to ensure that they are using Naled safely in Miami Beach, just as they
use it safely in Wynwood. It is not necessary to take special precautions during aerial spraying,
but individuals with health concerns may consider staying indoors. He has spoken personally to
Dr. Tom Friedman, of the CDC, and the Florida Surgeon General and the Agriculture
Commissioner, and he assured the City that he would not allow spraying of a chemical that
would have a toxic impact on residents and visitors. It is his job, as County Mayor, to keep the
community safe, and he intends to do that. He is here with health experts and scientists that
they have consulted since the first case of Zika was identified in Miami-Dade County, and will be
happy to answer any questions. He reiterated that he did not take this decision lightly. They
have been very consistent and have tried everything in their power to avoid aerial spraying, but
the mosquito population is rising again. The experts, representing the CDC, the Department of
Health and Agriculture, the Governor’s Office and the Surgeon General unanimously
recommend aerial spraying. He added that Naled is approved for use in the USA and when
applied properly it is entirely safe.
Dr. Lisa Conti, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Science
Officer, Florida Department of Agriculture, explained that the Department of Agriculture
Consumer Services has been involved with the teams in trying to control the invasive species
Aedes aegypti that is in the Miami-Dade area, that unfortunately has become infected with the
virus and poses a threat to people. The Department has been involved in making decisions as
to how to best control mosquitoes; the team in Miami-Dade has done a phenomenal job in its
necessary methods to control this very difficult pest. This includes source reduction, dumping
water, removing sources, cutting bromeliads, as they are breeding sites, and making the best
decision for the chemical control needed for these mosquitoes. The Department has also
provided for the first time in the country the testing of mosquito pools, and they have identified
three pools that were infected with the Zika virus. In looking at the data, the surveillance
information with the teams, and seeing the increase in numbers, has led them to the decision of
using the tools necessary to control this invasive species.
Dr. Lillian Rivera, Miami-Dade Administrator of the Florida Department of Health, and on behalf
of the Florida Department of Health, explained that the State Surgeon General has been in
touch with them to make sure she delivers the message that breaking the chain of Zika infection
continues to be a collaborative effort of the federal, state and local partners along with the
members of the community. They are thankful for the collaboration of the community. Decisions
have been made with careful deliberation and taking into consideration the recommendation of
experts. The Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of Health,
Florida Department of Agriculture and the Officer of the Governor have been working with local
governments to recommend the best course of action to stop the spread of Zika.
Recommendation has been made to add aerial mosquito treatment over 1.5 square mile area in
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Miami Beach to reduce the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. She reminded everyone that
the public health is imperative; they share the goal of protecting the health of the public and the
safety of visitors and the health of visitors. The priority is to protect pregnant women and the
unborn child. They know the virus can cause severe cerebral and skull deformities, along with
other neurological effects; henceforth, the evidence of a mandate decisive action to break down
the chain of transmission. Experts support the guidance and recommendation. When people in
large areas are getting sick, or when large number of mosquitoes are found, airplanes can be
used to treat very large areas with insecticides safely, quickly and efficiently. This process is
called aerial spraying. Aerial treatment of areas with product that rapidly reduces both young
and adult mosquitoes can help to limit the number of mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus. It is
an important tool for consideration. The Florida Department of Health supports this
recommendation.
Mayor Levine thanked Mayor Gimenez for being here and asked some questions. There is a
tremendous concern in the community about aerial spraying. Question one is about the lack of
information. Aerial spraying is scheduled for tomorrow morning and the City was notified
yesterday. They must address the information flow. With more collaboration and discussion over
a longer period, the community would have had more input in the process. Question two; they
have heard in the past that aerial spraying would not necessarily work in Miami Beach due to
the nature of the island, but he wants to know how did that change? Question three; is there an
alternative to that could be used?
County Mayor Gimenez explained that they have daily communications with their experts, and
have been communicating with the City on how they want to handle the issue of mosquitoes in
Miami Beach, with an aggressive Code Enforcement, inspections and ground sprayings. The
goal is to keep the mosquito population down as much as possible. He reminded everyone that
there was no Zika carrying mosquitoes found in Wynwood. There were three batches found in
Miami Beach. He rather not spray any area, but his Administration has been consistent with
their decision making process, which is following the recommendations of the recognized
experts in the field; the Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), the Florida Department of
Health, Florida Department of Agriculture, the Surgeon General of the State of Florida and they
unanimously agree that aerial spraying is needed. The Governor had plans to start aerial
spraying in Miami Beach using their vendor; the Governor has that right, according to legal
opinions obtained. The Governor declared a State of Emergency on Zika, and when he does
that, the Governor has extraordinary powers. When the first travel related cases of Zika were
found in the State of Florida, they already have local transmission of Zika occurring in Miami-
Dade County, a number here in Miami Beach, a larger number of cases in Wynwood; with
scattered cases of locally transmitted cases of Zika. When there are two or more cases within a
certain area that is when they have a problem. Therefore, there is a problem in the City of Miami
Beach. When they first spoke about aerial spraying, he had the same information shared, that it
may not be viable. Not viable maybe with airplanes, but maybe viable with helicopters. The
experts say that it will be applied in the air using an airplane and will last for about seven
minutes.
Mayor Levine asked if it is the County’s decision to do the air spraying.
County Mayor Gimenez stated that it is the County’s decision to proceed with aerial spraying,
based on the same recommendations and same course of action taken in Wynwood. The same
experts gave their recommendations, and again, he has been very consistent. As Mayor of
Miami-Dade County, it is his job to protect the safety of the residents and visitors. It is his
decision, and again he will follow the experts’ advice and recommendation.
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City Commission Emergency Workshop
Discussion continued regarding alternatives to aerial spraying and chemicals used.
County Mayor Gimenez explained that the alternative to aerial spraying for the larvicide is using
a “Buffalo Turbine” which sprays the product about 100 feet into the air. They believe it will be
as effective as aerial spraying, but it is the same substance to be used for aerial spraying.
Discussion continued.
Vice-Mayor Grieco clarified that the decision to start aerial spraying was the County Mayor’s
decision, and he asked Mayor Gimenez if he had asked permission from the residents of the
City of Miami Beach to do the aerial spraying. He added that residents want their voices heard.
County Mayor Gimenez stated that when the decision was made on September 6, 2016 to start
the aerial spraying, in the room there were representatives from the City of Miami Beach,
including the City Manager.
Vice-Mayor Grieco asked County Mayor Gimenez if he had asked the elected officials of the
City if they were in agreement with this decision.
County Mayor Gimenez answered in the negative; however, the City Manager can add
comments himself, as he and other representatives of the City were at that meeting. In
response to Vice-Mayor Grieco, he clarified that there are currently no Zika carrying mosquitoes
in the Wynwood area, and that there are Zika carrying mosquitoes in Miami Beach.
Vice-Mayor Grieco stated that they attended the same press conference last week with the
representative from the CDC, and of course, there were Zika carrying mosquitoes in Wynwood;
but Miami Beach did not find them because they did not mobilize fast enough. There were
plenty of transmissions. Just because Zika carrying mosquitoes are not found, does not mean
that they do not exist.
Discussion continued.
County Mayor Gimenez stated that no Zika mosquitoes were found in Wynwood, and they
conducted aerial spraying. They found Zika mosquitoes in Miami Beach, and so they need to be
consistent.
Discussion continued.
Vice-Mayor Grieco quoted Thomas Vazquez, Mosquito Control Operations Manager for the
County and Department of Solid Waste Management, in describing the habits of mosquitoes:
“the best approach is to reduce the source by eliminating standing water. He elaborated that the
area-wide spraying was ineffective in the treatment of mosquitoes, which is also consistent with
the findings of Palm Beach County and other counties. He is not here to argue the science, but
is here to argue with the concerns of the residents of Miami Beach. This is a drop in the bucket
for the numbers of people who have reached out to him via social media. Best-case scenario
the issue is that they need to see these matters at a table before a decision is made.
County Mayor Gimenez reiterated that the representatives of Miami Beach have been sitting at
the table since local transmitted cases were found in the City, and since the CDC declared a
one and a half mile travel advisory zone in Miami Beach. He does not make this decision lightly,
but at the end of the day, he is the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, and it is his duty to make
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difficult decisions, and has to be consistent in the applications of those decisions; as a former
firefighter and a paramedic, he takes the recommendations of the experts very seriously. He
would not want to be the person that allowed Zika to run rampant in Miami-Dade County. If the
City Commission does not want this, he has to go back to the County Attorney and ask if he has
the duty and right to proceed.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez asked Mayor Gimenez, since the results of the larvicide studies
are not available, if they could hold off the aerial spraying for a few days to one week and do
another testing. Normally she would follow the recommendation of the experts, but in this case,
they have a Governor who does not recognize climate change, and Lake Okeechobee is green
with slime and fertilizers. She proposed the alternative plan of genetically modified mosquito
that has been proven to reduce the mosquito population by 90%. In Pinellas County, they went
to the FDA to release the male mosquitoes that do not bite and somehow hinder the
reproductive process. Why could not they do that in the City? Research has proven that with
this genetically modified mosquito, it is not toxic, it mates with the mosquitoes and females do
not reproduce. They should try this alternative.
Discussion held.
County Mayor Gimenez stated that he does not particularly want to spray; however, he follows
the recommendations of the experts. If the experts speak on this and they feel this aerial
spraying can be called off, he will be happy to do that.
Commissioner Alemán stated that many people have become distrustful of the guidance they
are getting at the State level, because of the algae blooms in Central Florida and the Keys; they
distrust the government’s decision making in relation to the chemicals used. People question
the connection between Zika and cerebral damage, and they are not sure if the cure is worse
than the condition. She addressed the audience to minimize the clapping and noisy remarks in a
courteous manner. She asked how the spraying is going to be contained to the mile and a half
in specific; she is also interested if there is an alternative.
Discussion held.
Dr. Lillian Rivera introduced Dr. Curry, the physician who has been working with the Florida
Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, to partner with them. They are working the cases
of Zika infected mothers that now are pregnant. She has a tremendous background and is the
greatest asset in terms of knowledge and expertise.
Dr. Christine Curry, OB/Gyn at UM Jackson, is an activist and respects the public for wanting to
share their opinions and wanting to learn. The moment they stop learning, is the moment they
fail. She informed that she has been involved in the Zika response since December. She has
been taking care of pregnant women who have tested positive with Zika, and delivering their
babies since March. She explained the risks and benefits associated with Zika and the
devastating effects. Zika is real, and while they do not fully understand it, it is not a reason to
dismiss its impact. In the State of Florida, they have delivered babies that are positive for Zika
and have microcephaly. Some brave women come forward in public and share their trauma
about getting that diagnosis and questioning whether they should keep their pregnancies and
whether they have the financial resources to take care of the unknown future of those children.
Her role is to provide the public a counterbalance to risk, and help look at the options available.
Zika is a “thing.” She spoke to those women or their partners who may want to become
pregnant, and added that the women that are positive have higher rates of birth defects,
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stillbirth, miscarriages and ultrasound images that are scary. There is no number to give out as
they do not know enough yet and they do not have an outcome to give out. She wants to direct
in a constructive manner to say that they are here because they care about pregnant women,
the community, and because they want these babies to be born in a healthy manner. This
means questioning how to prevent Zika, and that is appropriate to do in a public forum. She
reminded them that they are questioning this “thing” because they are trying to waive the
conversations that she has every day with dozens of women that have tested positive in Miami-
Dade, and those that never got out of this country but yet got infected in Miami-Dade County.
She summarized by saying that Zika exists and wants them to have this balance in mind when
deciding what is best for the City.
Commissioner Alemán asked Dr. Curry if it is known that once Zika is contracted, will the virus
work its way out of their system within a period or does the virus remain in the system?
Dr. Curry explained that PCR testing is done in adults, and it tests for the virus via bodily fluids
in humans, blood or urine. For individuals who have tested PCR positive, it is possible that
some people stay positive for many months after the initial infection, but no one has stayed
positive indefinitely at this time.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez asked about the actual percentage of infected women who are
pregnant and have children with microcephaly. Are studies valid?
Dr. Curry stated that the challenges are that not everyone is symptomatic and not everyone is
tested. The studies have ranged between one (1%) and 30%. When she counsels women, she
gives this wide range as there is not a more precise number. In the State of Florida, there are 80
cases of women confirmed as having Zika with pregnancies; they screen with the antibody test
and then reconfirm with the PCR test to make sure they are giving individuals the correct
diagnoses. Within her care, one child was born with microcephaly, and out of the 15 women that
tested positive, one child was born with ocular deformities due to the in appropriate head size.
They are monitoring several women that have delivered for any long-term impact. Over a dozen
women are still pregnant and they are waiting for their delivery. She only speaks about the
patients she is treating. Dr. Curry stated that it is appropriate to have some hesitation in trying to
interpret things, but the brain develops very rapidly in the second and third trimester in utero,
and then increases in complexity and size over the next two years of life. This complexity
persists throughout life, with some degree of regeneration and maintenance of neuron network,
but mouse studies are not necessarily valid. They do know the brain is constantly remodeling
and new synopses are being made. She does not think it is appropriate to dismiss anything that
can affect brain tissue at any age. The goal in the USA is for any woman that tests positive, is to
follow children for a minimum of two years, to try to determine if they are able to figure out the
subtle findings.
Discussion continued regarding studies done.
Mayor Levine thanked Dr. Curry for sharing her information.
Discussion held.
The following individuals were available for questions:
Dr. Janet McAllister, Research Entomologist with US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Laura McGowan, Public Information Officer for Clarke
Alina Tejeda-Hudak, Miami-Dade County Mayor, Oversees Mosquito Control
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Laura McGowan, Public Information Officer for Clarke, explained that the aircraft being used is a
Twin Turbine King Air with applicators at both ends of the wing. On board they have a flight
master, which uses real-time GPS and weather information to ensure a precision application,
and it factors that in throughout the entire process. The aircraft will be flying at about 300 feet,
using existing winds to be able to disperse it in the exact area where it needs to go. It is
incredibly precise. They do need some wind to move the product, but it does have a wind cap;
they cannot have wind speed of greater than 22 miles per hour. Applicators have been licensed
and trained to be able to evaluate all systems at all times. There is a backup system on board
the plane, if there were to be a problem with the application system. Additionally, all of this is
recorded data. For every aerial application, they not only know where the plane has flown but
where the product has been disseminated. Those reports are then provided immediately to
Miami-Dade.
Vice-Mayor Grieco stated that The Miami Herald reported that the intention was to fly along the
coastline and hope the wind will carry it where it needs to go. The winds in the City are
unpredictable due to the geography, and asked to speak on that report.
Ms. McGowan is not familiar with that report, but the airplane pilots are very well aware of what
they are dealing with in terms of terrain and wind. They have done a number of post hurricane
applications in Louisiana, Alabama or Texas, so they are used to dealing with these ocean
winds. Drift is an important part of this process. They use a system of very complicated models
predicting where the product will go; they have documented evidence in a number of reports
regarding accuracy. She added that once the product comes into contact with a surface, it
begins to break down almost immediately. These applications have been done for a number of
years in places with similar situations with building constructions and they have never had
reported negative incidents.
Vice-Mayor Grieco expressed his concern with the procedures and risks involved of spraying
this over the City. In the research he has done, mosquitoes in question are day flyers. If
spraying is done at 5:30 a.m., would this be the optimal time to spray or maybe spraying should
be done later in the day? He also asked how long people need to hide from the insecticide.
Dr. Janet McAllister, Research Entomologist with US Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, explained that mosquitoes can fly in the day and at night; however, its peak activity
period is at dusk and dawn, which is the period that the air application is proposed to be used.
For other mosquitoes, peak activity differs. Part of the discussion when they were deciding the
time of the application revolved around children’s school activities, and they want to minimize
people being exposed to the insecticide, and so they agreed that 5:30 a.m. would still be within
the window of activity of the mosquitoes, having a high impact on the mosquito population, but
minimizing exposure of school children standing at the bus stops around 6:30 a.m. There are
traps within the City of Miami Beach that have been monitored daily, and the number of
mosquitoes trapped are rising on a daily basis, with an upward trend in the mosquito population,
coupled with the fact that there is active transmission, this means that they are infected adult
mosquitoes in the population within the City. To eradicate disease transmission they need to
target the adult infected mosquitoes that transmit the disease. The larvicide aspect of it is to
suppress the population, but it does not have an immediate effect.
Discussion continued.
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Vice-Mayor Grieco stated that it is his understanding that once this chemical is released over
the City, it will be safe once it lands on a surface, because it breaks down very quickly, but how
long will it be in the air, and how long do people need to be indoors after the application?
Dr. McAllister stated that there is no need to be indoors or away from the City while Naled is
being sprayed, but if people want to take that precaution they are free to do so.
Commissioner Steinberg stated that it needs to be determined whether the pros outweigh the
cons in regards to spraying Naled. As a parent, she understands the fear many residents have
regarding the use of insecticides, on such a grand scale, and in fact, the first thing she did when
informed of the upcoming use of Naled was to call all the schools in the spray zone to take
steps to inform the parents and students about the event. She asked for all of the outdoor
playgrounds and park equipment to be wiped down in the spray zone to minimize potential
harmful impact to people. She asked what precautions need to be taken in swimming pools and
other equipment after the spray.
Ms. McGowan stated that the spray releases tiny droplets, 30 microns wide, and are designed
to interact with the mosquito’s biology through its wings. When this product comes into contact
with the ground or any other surface, it begins to break down nearly instantaneously. She
reiterated Dr. McAllister’s point that wiping down and cleaning off surfaces in the spray area is
unnecessary.
Discussion continued regarding different adulticides options, but all have been discarded due to
proven ineffectiveness or lack of information on their effectiveness.
Commissioner Arriola stated that Puerto Rico banned the use of Naled, and asked how
successful they have been in containing Zika.
Dr. McAllister stated that Puerto Rico has a massive outbreak with 14,000 reported cases, and
hundreds of pregnant women with Zika, and as of now the virus continues to be unabated.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez asked whether the City could halt the spraying plans, wait, and
see if there are any improvements in order to avoid aerial spraying.
Dr. McAllister stated that the effects of the larvicide would not be visible for a few weeks, and
recommends using all the tools available to combat Zika, which includes integrated mosquito
management, larvicide, ground fogging, and aerial spraying.
Commissioner Arriola asked whether Zika could be controlled, because there are many human
Zika hosts arriving from abroad, in addition to the mosquitoes that also host the virus.
Dr. McAllister stated that people with Zika will in fact continue to arrive to Miami Beach, but what
can be done is to have an intense mosquito control around the residences of the human Zika
hosts. The cycle needs to be disrupted before it is established, and if it is established, then it
needs to be kept from expanding.
Discussion continued.
Mayor Levine stated that the CDC, Florida Department of Health and Agriculture, Miami-Dade
County, and the Governor of Florida all recommend aerial spraying of Zika.
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Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez asked for a long-term solution. The aerial sprays cannot
continue year-round.
Dr. McAllister stated that the aerial spray is for a small part of the City where cases are
concentrated. They are basing this application given the successful efforts in Wynwood, and
have since not had to recommend additional sprays.
Mayor Gimenez stated that on or about September 19, 2016, the Wynwood travel advisory
would be lifted.
Discussion continued regarding application dates for the aerial sprays.
Commissioner Steinberg asked how long the whole treatment process will take, and why Naled
is banned in other countries.
Mayor Gimenez explained that the process takes 45 days after the last spray, because an
aggressive ground treatment needs to take place. Construction sites are a problem because
there usually is a great deal of standing water in these sites, bromeliads need to be removed
from gardens, as they are most likely the number one mosquito breeding grounds, and have
people wear mosquito repellant. The most important thing to do is to avoid the mosquito bite.
Discussion continued regarding larvicide application via turbines and trucks.
Commissioner Alemán asked what someone can do if they have large landscaping.
City Manager Morales stated that they need to get rid of their bromeliads. The City will pick up
to ten bags of bromeliads. He added that people could reduce mosquito breeding grounds by
draining the dishes under flowerpots, getting rid of wet cardboard boxes, and removing wet
outdoor furniture. The City is also removing water pools on tarps, and emptying or treating
Jersey barriers.
Eric Carpenter, Assistant City Manager / Public Works Director, stated that the City is being very
proactive in removing bromeliads throughout the City and summarized the efforts taking place.
Commissioner Alemán stated that there are construction dumpsters with water pools and asked
what they are doing to empty them.
City Manager Morales stated that they are working actively with Code Officers and contractors
to avoid breeding grounds; the challenge is that at times they may have to treat it, but not
remove them from the sites.
Commissioner Arriola explained that he has spoken to countless doctors and not one was
skeptical of the link between Zika and microcephaly, but the same cannot be said for the public.
Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein, Toxicologist, Medical Director for the Poison Control Center in Miami-
Dade, stated that Naled is in fact a poison; but just like everything else, its danger is a matter of
how one is exposed to it and for how long. As a resident of Miami Beach, he does not want his
children exposed to Naled, but nor does he want his children exposed to DEET three times a
day to prevent mosquito bites. He provided his experience in having to fumigate his house due
to termites, and have his house doused with Sulfuryl Fluoride, which is a chemical far more
After Action September 7, 2016 City of Miami Beach
City Commission Emergency Workshop
harmful than anything mentioned today, but he had to resort to this action to stop the termite
infestation.
An anonymous audience member asked why Naled is banned in Europe.
Dr. Bernstein replied that he does not believe the chemical is banned per se in Europe, but he
believes it is not being used as a matter of public opinion rather than science.
Mayor Levine asked what the risks are of spraying Naled, and whether Dr. Bernstein believes
this is right for the community.
Dr. Bernstein stated that Naled affects the nervous system in high doses; but the chemical has
a limited exposure time because it breaks down very quickly. He is in favor of an aggressive
approach to disrupt the larvae cycle, but he is not optimistic aerial sprays will be successful in
curbing the mosquito population. Naled has been used for many years with a good success
rate. He added that he has not received any patients suffering from Naled inhalation or
exposure from the Wynwood efforts.
Dr. McAllister pointed out that several studies have been done on people who have been tested
after Naled mosquito control application, and studies did not find any Naled or metabolized
Naled in urine after exposure. This is a clear sign that the risk of Naled in humans is negligible.
Some of the studies have been done by CDC and Department of Health. Zika does affect
unborn children; they do not understand the role of Zika in developing children after birth, as it is
a new disease in this country, and so they are learning a great deal about the Zika virus. There
are risks for pregnant women and unborn children, and this outweighs the fears of using Naled.
After the four applications, the long term plan in the area is to continue to monitor mosquito
numbers and look at what they are doing, and make a recommendation for a fifth treatment if
needed. In Wynwood, mosquito numbers have been reduced, and they hope the same happens
in Miami Beach.
Dr. McAllister stated that the risk of Naled in humans in negligible, and these results are in
published studies. Zika, however, does affect unborn children, yet we do not understand the role
of Zika in children’s development. This is a new disease for this country, and we are still
learning a great deal about it. The risk of Zika to unborn children and women is far greater than
the risk of Naled application.
Mayor Levine addressed the audience, and asked five individuals to speak.
The following individuals spoke and expressed their concerns regarding the use of Naled:
Michael Capone stated that he is skeptical of the correlation between Zika and microcephaly.
He is also concerned about the use of Naled in Miami Beach. The spray will take place in the
early morning, but there is a great deal of dew on the plants and grass in the morning. Will this
pose a danger to children and animals?
Brandon Burke explained that in his opinion Naled is more harmful than Zika. Naled is a
neurotoxin that affects human beings, and is killing bees, and natural predators of mosquitoes
such as frogs, butterflies, and bats. Scientists at the University of Oslo tested derivative
chemicals of Naled, and the effects are equal or worse than Zika. The University of California
also found that pregnant women living close to farms that use Naled had a 60% higher chance
of having autistic children. Leukemia and other cancers have been linked to Naled.
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City Commission Emergency Workshop
Valerie Navarrete, Chair of the Committee for the Homeless is concerned for the City’s
homeless, and hopes the County will assist the homeless during the spraying.
Karen Safarik is concerned with the effect of Naled on organic materials such as sand. She
wants to know the statistics of microcephaly in Puerto Rico.
Andrew Burger suggested neighbors help eliminate mosquito breeding sites to help with the
current situation.
Evo Love stated that she lives in Wynwood, and believes she was negatively affected by the
Naled sprays that she almost went to the emergency room. She believes Naled was over
sprayed in Wynwood, and this is a big reason why the people present at the Workshop today
are so upset.
Jill Buchanan stated that there is a lack of communication by the City government, and she
wants organic as opposed to poisonous solutions.
Judd Allison stated that the Mayor of South Miami banned Naled. He believes Miami Beach
should follow suit. There have been 20,000 reported Zika cases in Colombia, yet there are no
cases of microcephaly. Naled is a dangerous neurotoxin.
Jacqueline Powers asked the City to wait one week before spraying Naled.
Daniel Bergeroff stated that he was feeling ill a few days ago, and he tried for two consecutive
days to get tested for Zika, yet he could not find a medical center that would provide him with a
test. He finally found a center that tested him, but the fee was incredibly high at $700. He doubts
the statistics the City, County, and State have received is accurate, because he has had such a
hard time being tested.
Steve Erlich stated that he would like to see hard numbers not just listen to recommendations
when it comes to spraying or not spraying Naled. He also asked the City Commission for a few
days notice before spraying begins so that he can decide whether to leave Miami Beach during
that time with his family.
Allan Epstein spoke about a friend of his who experienced terrible symptoms related to the
Naled spraying in Wynwood. There is a great deal of disagreement regarding Naled and Zika
including from experts and would like further research to be done before spraying.
Discussion continued.
Commissioner Arriola stated that through the use of insecticide spray, the City has a chance to
get rid of or drastically reduce the Zika virus. He believes with the current preventative
measures, there is no public risk. Although there are doubts on the link between Zika and
microcephaly, he prefers not taking any chances and go ahead and combat Zika.
Commissioner Steinberg asked what would be the harm if spraying were delayed for one week.
Mayor Levine stated that the spraying is under the County’s authority. The reason they would
consider delaying is for public education and outreach.
After Action September 7, 2016 City of Miami Beach
City Commission Emergency Workshop
Commissioner Alemán stated that there is distrust with the correlation between Zika and
microcephaly. She shares the public’s concern, but they need to weigh the risk of Naled versus
the risk of Zika. What can be gained from a spray delay?
Discussion continued.
Dr. Rivera stated that it takes time for the larvicide to work; up to one month, and the more
mosquitoes, the more Zika cases there will be.
Discussion held.
Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez is willing to delay the spray for a few days, because the public
seems to be very opposed to it.
Vice-Mayor Grieco stated that spraying Naled over Miami Beach is a decision for the County
Mayor. The reason so many residents are present at this meeting is that people are scared and
angry. Residents do not want Naled sprayed in Miami Beach, and if it is allowed once, it can
continue. People are afraid of Zika, but we did not choose to bring Zika here, but we can choose
not to spray Naled. He requests that the City stay the course, reevaluate its approach on the
matter, and not simply do what the County requests.
Mayor Levine stated that the safety of the people in Miami Beach is the number one concern.
There needs to be more and better outreach. He would like more time before spraying to give
adequate warning to the public.
Mayor Gimenez stated that the County has done aggressive Code Enforcement and numerous
backyard sprayings, but the mosquito population is increasing. If the Department of Agriculture
tells him to delay, he will do so, but currently, he is acting on what the CDC and other experts
have recommended, and that is to spray.
Mayor Levine addressed the audience, and stated that although he dislikes the use of Naled, he
approves its use in this instance because it will help fight Zika. He does not want to see Miami
Beach become the community that let Zika run wild.
Commissioner Arriola asked whether the Governor would continue with the spraying even if the
City does not agree.
Mayor Gimenez explained; Naled has been used in Miami-Dade County for the last 40 years to
fight off mosquitoes. It is not a new product, and its risks versus effectives have been well
documented.
Mayor Levine asked when the next mosquito count would take place.
Mayor Gimenez stated that they receive daily mosquito counts.
Discussion continued.
Mayor Gimenez suggested meeting with the members of the Miami Beach City Commission and
health experts today, and determine when to begin spraying Naled.
After Action September 7, 2016 City of Miami Beach
City Commission Emergency Workshop
Mayor Levine thanked Mayor Gimenez for having the courage strength and character for
coming to the City; he also thanked the residents who were present to express their concerns.
Workshop adjourned at 1:02:50 p.m.
Handouts or Reference Materials:
1. Notice of City Commission Emergency Workshop
2. List of guest speakers
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