Update on Managed Natural Landscape Ordinance Amendment

After working with the Environmental Policy Board to develop standards related to the establishment of a natural landscape, Staff forwarded the Ordinance Amendment to the City Attorney for review.  The City Attorney recommended a slightly different approach that creates more flexibility should adjustments be necessary in the future.  Rather than codifying all standards in City Code, the City Attorney recommended that the only language necessary in City Code is to specify that a management plan is required.  Then, in a separate policy document or application packet, the City should outline specifically what information must be included.  Staff has modified the Ordinance Amendment accordingly and is in the process of developing an application packet that will be required should a resident desire to install a natural landscape.   Attached to this case is the Ordinance Amendment with the City Attorney's comments, an updated version of the Ordinance Amendment without the standards, and a draft Application Packet.  Please note that Staff will ultimately be working with the City's Communications Coordinator on the ultimate design and layout of this document.

There is no recommended action as Staff's intention was to simply provide an update to the Board on the status of this project.

No specific action is needed unless the Board has specific feedback or comments on the Application Packet.