Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Brian Jimenez, Code Enforcement Manager

 

CC:

Scott McCullough, Director Planning & Development Services

 

Date:

July 8, 2013

 

RE:

Bed Bug Regulations

 

 

The Lawrence Douglas County Health Department and the City of Lawrence Code Enforcement Division have received a growing number of bed bug complaints from occupants and owners of transient accommodations (motels/hotels) and apartment complexes within the last few years. Bed bugs present a clear and present danger to the health, safety, and welfare of our community, because, if not treated correctly, they will survive and move with tenants to their next residence resulting in the infestation of that dwelling unit.  Additionally, they can easily travel to dwelling units that are adjacent to an infested dwelling unit within an apartment building.

 

Bed bugs are a unique parasitic insect that lives off humans and other warm-blooded hosts. Bed Bugs are reddish-brown in color, oval and flat-shaped and are about a quarter-inch long. Bed bugs occur worldwide; in affluent as well as poor residences; in motels/hotels, and in rural and urban centers. They thrive in dark places, especially in or behind wooden furniture.

 

The extermination of bed bugs is more costly and timely than other pest control exterminations as bed bugs are more resilient to common pest control procedures than other pests. Special chemicals and treatments are necessary to eradicate a bed bug infestation. Without property extermination, the problem can quickly become widespread within a structure. Educational outreach informing citizens on how to treat bed bugs is another essential component for preventing the spread of these problematic bugs.

 

Consequently, staff amended the City’s Property Maintenance Code (Section 309.6) to provide the City the authority to promulgate regulations governing the procedure for the treatment of infestations.  The code language was adopted by the City Commission on June 25th.  This code section along with educational information will be posted on the City's website and otherwise will be made available to landlords and tenants through public outreach.

 

In researching other cities’ management of this problematic infestation, Code Enforcement staff and staff with the Douglas County Health Department reviewed the city of San Francisco Department of Health’s regulations that were recently passed for controlling and preventing bed bug infestations. Staff believes their regulations highlight the best practices in treatment and prevention, involving compliance from all stakeholders, which includes motel/hotel owners and operators, property managers, landlords and occupants.  San Francisco’s regulations also require educational outreach on prevention and treatment techniques which staff believes is an integral part in appropriately tackling the problem. Staff used their regulations as a template in creating the proposed policy.

 

Summary of the City of Lawrence’s Proposed Bed Bug Code Regulations:

The policy identifies the responsibilities of all stakeholders: property owners and property management of motels/hotels and rental properties, as well as occupants of these properties, and instructions for using the services of a licensed pest control company.

 

The new regulations recommend that all property owners and property management staff of motels/hotels and rental properties have written procedures for responding to bed bug complaints.  Through public outreach, property owners/management will be provided best practices in addressing bed bug infestations, which will allow them to create and establish written procedures for dealing with bed bug infestation complaints. It is staff’s anticipation to work with the Douglas County Health Department in a joint effort to create and maintain a valuable public outreach program through each respective web page and other media outlets. 

 

Property owners/management will be encouraged to keep records of all occurrences of bed bug complaints which will include all extermination treatments performed by a licensed pest control company. Such records shall be provided upon request to Code Enforcement staff when a complaint is received to ensure the infestation is being addressed appropriately.  Included in these records should be invoices/documents that demonstrate a licensed pest control company was hired, performed the work and signed off on the extermination as being completed to the best of their ability. If these records are not available, Code Enforcement staff will request that this information be gathered and provided as the investigation proceeds towards compliance.  

 

In responding to bed bug complaints, property owners/management of motels/hotels and rental properties will be required to respond to the complaint within 48 hours and execute a plan of action within 72 hours to control and exterminate the bed bug infestation.  

 

It is best practice for motel/hotel rooms and rental units adjacent to the infested rooms/units to be inspected by a licensed pest control company. Additionally, it is best practice for these adjacent rooms/units to be treated for a possible infestation as bed bugs easily move through pipes and crevices connecting adjacent rooms/units. For that reason, the proposed policy will require the inspection of all adjacent motel/hotel rooms and dwelling units next to the infested room/dwelling unit. Treatment of such rooms will only be required if an infestation is documented by the pest control operator.

 

Furthermore, in controlling the spread of a bed bug infestation, the guidelines will require that no items be removed from the infested motel/hotel rooms or rental units. After treatment, those items designated for disposal may be discarded in plastic bags for disposal and labeled as bed bug infested. Furniture must be labeled as bed bug infested before placing in a dumpster.

 

Summary

In summary, staff believes the recommended policy addresses the uniqueness of a bed bug infestation by regulating the remediation requirements for transient accommodations, single/multi-dwelling structures as well as providing tenants and property owners/managers the appropriate information to be proactive in reducing the likelihood of an infestation spreading to other dwelling units.

 

As mentioned, without proper extermination, an infestation can quickly become problematic for owners and tenants.  By adopting these regulations, combined with a continual effort of public education, staff believes the City is being proactive in addressing an ever increasing problem that puts the health, safety and welfare of our City at risk.  

 

Action Requested

Adopt the Bed Bug Infestation Procedures and direct staff to immediately implement them.