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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/05/2000 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 104, 2000, AMENDIN AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 17 DATE: September 5, 2000 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wendy Williams/ Michael B. Smith SUBJECT: Second Reading of Ordinance No. 104, 2000,Amending Article III of Chapter 20 of the City Code to Eliminate Xeriscape Certifications as the Basis for a Variance from the Enforcement of the Grass Height Limitation of Section 20-42 of the City Code,But Allowing Certain Ornamental Grasses to be Exempt from the Grass Height Limitation. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Ordinance No. 104, 2000, which was unanimously adopted on First Reading on August 15, 2000, eliminates the Xeriscape Certification Program, and exempts certain ornamental grasses from the six (6) inch grass height limitation. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY ITEM NUMBER: 22 DATE: August 15, 2000 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wendy Williams/ Michael B. Smith SUBJECT: First Reading of Ordinance No. 104, 2000, Amending Article III of Chapter 20 of the City Code to Eliminate Xeriscape Certifications as the Basis for a Variance from the Enforcement of the Grass Height Limitation of Section 20-42 of the City Code, But Allowing Certain Ornamental Grasses to be Exempt from the Grass Height Limitation. RECOMMENDATION: Ar IL Staff recommends adoption o e Ordi nce o i eading FINANCIAL IMPACT: On May 16, 2000, Council voted 7-0 to make a finding that the City's Xeriscape Certification and Grass Height Variance Pro as i op o C cil adopted Resolution 2000- 72 directing the City Manage rep 1 e Ci 's ri p e f'cation Program and the Grass Height Variance Program. T Resol n di t Cit anager to provide research and information to the Council r di o bl future a tion of an ordinance delegating authority to the Water Utility to adopt a xeriscape certification and grass height variance program. Council also directed the City Manager to hold all pending applications for xeriscape certification in abeyance until the City adopts a new xeriscape certification program, or until the City Council determines that such a program will not be adopted EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: After reviewing the Xeriscape certification program, the City Manager and staff have determined that the program should be discontinued. However, while reviewing the xeriscape certification and grass height variance issue, it became evident that if the xeriscape variance was eliminated that there would still be the n to n wa T a al grasses. Ornamental grasses are popular landscape accent d mo of theaIle n six inches and are harmed by mowing. Currently, the City e li it he all gra s to six inches. Therefore, while the proposed Ordinance wouI iminate ape e 1 ication Program, it would also permit certain ornamental grasses to be exempt from the six (6) inch grass height limitation. BACKGROUND: The Utilities developed a xeriscape certification program to recognize and encourage water- conserving landscapes, in keeping with the water demand management policy. City Council adopted Ordinance No. 89, 1994 designating the certification program as part of changes to the City Code provisions relating to grass, weeds and brush. The Ordinance also limited the height of grasses to six inches. Because some xeriscapes contain ornamental grasses, a certified xeriscape may also receive a conditional variance from the Code provisions that regulate the height of grasses. DATE: August 15, 2000 2 ITEM NUMBER: 22 The original intent of the certification program was to recognize and thereby encourage the use of attractive low water use plants, as an alternative to bluegrass lawns and plants that are not suited to Colorado's and climate. For most people, "a picture speaks a thousand words," and examples of xeriscape are needed to demonstrate that xeriscape is not "zeroscape;" that it consists of more than just rocks and cacti. While there are several lovely landscapes in Fort Collins that incorporated xeriscaping principles, the homeowners have not sought certification for their landscapes. During the six years the program has been in effect, the Utilities has received two applications for certification. In both cases, the certification was sought in response to a notice that they were in violation of the City's grass height ordinCne* ifi w tYforcognition, rst applicant, along with a. A grass height variance was also f no. nt The certification program is u 'ze s ean but as a way to obtain a variance for tall grasses. Other efforts to promote xeriscape, listed below, have proven more effective than the certification program. • Sponsoring an annual xeriscape program as part of the City's environmental series. • Distributing and displaying xeriscape information at the library, city buildings, various events and by request. • Serving on the board of Xeriscape Colorado, a statewide organization for educating professi d i ca • Administering YA ( 1 a ility Demonstrated in Xeriscape) proje or the rt C n ea. Y X is a study to analyze the water and m ce ' gs xerisc ompared to traditional landscaping. There are forty homes in the Fort Collins area. • Speaking about xeriscape at CSU, schools and various organizations. • Maintaining and giving tours of the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at City Hall. • Sponsoring a xeriscape garden and distributing information at the annual Fort Collins GardenFest, a garden tour that focuses on the environmental and educational aspects of gardening. Ornamental Grasses Many varieties of ornamental asses a avai I t nurseri for landscaping. When used as a supplement to a property's over andsc area, hey are an attractive element. Ornamental grasses can vary from a foot to 10 feet tall and are in violation of the grass height limitation. Mowing many of these grasses does irreparable harm to them. The City Code will have to be amended if ornamental grasses are to be allowed to remain unmowed. Some History of Xeriscape "Xeriscape" was coined by Denver Water in 1981. As the concept of xeriscape gained national recognition, a National Xeriscape Program Network was established. Fort Collins Water Utilities became a member of the Network in 1985 and was given the right to use the xeriscape name and logo for educational purposes. In 1986, the Network changed to the National Xeriscape Council. The trademark and logo for "Xeriscape" belongs to Denver Water. DATE: August 15, 2000 3 ITEM NUMBER: 22 The president of the National Xeriscape Council, Jim Grabow, stated in its first newsletter in 1986 that, "Xeriscapes should be green, functional and they must be in keeping with local expectations of aesthetic landscaping." Attractiveness has always been closely tied to the concept of xeriscape. Xeriscape was never meant to be unattended landscaping with no turfgrass and no supplemental irrigation. I Program Challenges The Xeriscape Certification Program has proved to be difficult to administer due to the subjective nature of some of the criteria. While it is easy to determine whether the plants are low water use, it is much less str ' d eY landscape is attractive and aesthetically pleasing. What ' pleas o on on ally offensive to another. In addition, what is acceptab in on neig o be appropriate in another neighborhood. Administering o at nt s valriteria is problematic at best. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the program be discontinued.