Announcements

The LARMAC Board of Directors has approved a series of actions to further reduce the use of synthetic pesticides within LARMAC-maintained landscapes while continuing the development of a comprehensive Organic Land Management Plan (OLMP).

These actions build upon practices already in place throughout the community and reflect the Board's commitment to thoughtfully advancing landscape-management practices that prioritize prevention, nonchemical methods, organic-compatible approaches, transparency, and responsible long-term stewardship.

Expanding Areas Maintained Without Routine Synthetic Pesticides

LARMAC-maintained school fields, sports fields, playgrounds and turf areas are already maintained without the routine use of synthetic pesticides. The Board has now expanded this standard to additional high-use and resident-contact areas, including:

• Planter areas within neighborhood and pocket parks
• Planter areas within paseos
• Planter areas adjacent to walkways and sidewalks
• Clubhouse grounds
• Pool and plunge grounds.

Within these designated areas, routine synthetic pre- and post-emergent herbicides and plant growth regulators will not be used. Mechanical, cultural, biological and organic-compatible methods will instead be prioritized.

Management will also map and quantify these areas, with the completed map ultimately made available to residents on LaderaLife.com.

Evaluating Alternative Management of Slopes and Other Lower-Use Areas

The Board also approved suspending the use of synthetic pre- and post-emergent herbicides, including Specticle G and Lifeline, as well as Atrimmec and other plant growth regulators, within lower-use and limited-access areas while alternative management approaches are evaluated.

This evaluation will include development of a comprehensive slope plant-species inventory and identification of representative slopes where LARMAC can evaluate alternative weed-suppression strategies with a qualified organic land-management professional. The evaluation will consider effectiveness as well as labor, cost, treatment frequency, landscape quality, operational impacts and fire-safety requirements.

Evaluating Rodent and Insect Management

The Board directed Management to evaluate existing rodenticide and insecticide practices to identify opportunities to further reduce routine pesticide use.

This will include evaluating alternative insect-management approaches at selected recreation facilities and reviewing rodent bait stations to determine whether stations can be reduced, relocated or more strategically concentrated based upon documented rodent activity and landscape conditions.

Management will also work with the Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee to evaluate improvements to resident notification and communication regarding pesticide applications.

Continuing Development of the Organic Land Management Plan

The Board recognized the substantial work completed by the Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee and formally established the Committee's proposed OLMP as the principal framework for continued policy development and refinement.

Additional operational, financial, technical, legal, regulatory, contractual and implementation review will now take place as Management and the Committee continue working toward a final plan that can be effectively and responsibly implemented across LARMAC's extensive and diverse landscape.

Management and the Committee will provide the Board with a progress report at its November 11, 2026 meeting, with the goal of presenting a revised OLMP for Board consideration and approval no later than the end of 2026.

Moving Forward

These actions represent an important next step in LARMAC's ongoing landscape-management efforts. They allow the Association to immediately expand areas maintained without routine synthetic pesticides while gathering the operational, financial and landscape-performance information necessary to make informed long-term decisions.

LARMAC appreciates the time and thoughtful input provided by the Ad Hoc Landscape Pest Management Advisory Committee and the many residents who have participated in this process. We look forward to continuing this collaborative effort as we work toward a comprehensive, practical and sustainable Organic Land Management Plan for the Ladera Ranch community.