Santa Rosa City Hall will be closed Wednesday to treat a flea infestation first detected two weeks ago.
Employees in the Human Resources Department first reported the presence of the pests on Aug. 15 and measures were taken to relocate affected staffers, according to spokesperson Lon Peterson.
The offices were temporarily closed Aug. 21 to treat the flea infestation.
A local pest control consultant is scheduled to return to the campus at 100 Santa Rosa Ave. to treat the interior and exterior of the building, according to a city news release Monday.
The City Hall Annex and another city facility across the street from the main campus will also be closed for treatment.
“After careful evaluation, taking into account factors such as the availability of pest control services, the city proactively decided to exercise caution and prioritize the health and comfort of its employees and community,” Peterson said of the closure plans in an email. “This comprehensive measure aims to ensure effective treatment of both interior and exterior spaces across all city facilities.”
City staff will be available remotely for assistance while the office is closed.
Those who have an appointment or meeting scheduled will be contacted to either reschedule or plan a virtual gathering.
After the initial infestation, Human Resources staff moved to other areas of City Hall or transitioned to remote work. Some employees who weren’t bitten by fleas continued working in the department.
It’s not clear what led to the infestation, though Peterson said the office, which is on the first floor, gets a lot of foot traffic and fleas were also detected in the courtyard outside the office.
While the immediate infestation was addressed and pest control treated the exterior ground floor level of the complex, additional treatment and intense vacuuming is needed to “disrupt the flea egg and life cycle” and prevent future infestations, Peterson said.
Staff Writer Paulina Pineda contributed reporting. You can reach Staff Writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On Twitter @madi.smals.
