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MEMORANDUM To: St. Anthony Village Parks & Environmental Commission From: Mark Sitarz, Fire Chief Date: March 7, 2022 Parks & Environmental Commission Worksession Request: Discussion regarding aesthetics for St. Anthony yards (turf grass vs. pollinator friendly) BACKGROUND Staff brought forward to the commission a discussion on pollinator friendly vs. turf grass due to an increasing level of acceptance for non-traditional yard aesthetics to support environmental sustainability, and support pollinators. Staff has also fielded complaints regarding non-traditional yard aesthetics. General direction to staff was to continue to educate homeowners on pollinator practices. Following the Parks and Environmental Commission meeting December 20, 2021, the consensus of the commission was to make adjustments to our city code to allow for pollinator/native species gardens while balancing traditional turf grass lawns. Staff will focus on public education as well as recommendations of the following code amendments for your consideration. CURRENT CODE § 94.32 WEED CONTROL. Any weeds or grasses, whether noxious as defined by law or not, growing outside the traveled portion of any city street or alley, or growing on private property, exceeding the height of to a greater height than 6 inches or which have gone or are about to go to seed must be cut or removed by the owner of the abutting property if within the city right-of-way, and by the owner of the property upon which they are growing if they are outside the right-of-way. § 150.094 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (E) Yard cover. Every yard of premises on which a dwelling stands must be covered by lawns and/or ground cover of vegetation, gardens, hedges, shrubbery or related decorative materials and must be maintained. Once an area has been converted to turf grass the land owner shall not allow the turf grass to exceed the height of 6 inches or be allowed to go to seed. No land owner may permit or maintain on the land any growth of weeds, grass, brush or other rank vegetation to exceed the height of an average height greater than 6 inches, any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush, or any noxious weeds or plants as defined by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Gardens (pollinator, vegetable, flower, rock, etc.) are permitted types of yard cover, and must be maintained and not encroach on others property or the right of way.