Resident raises concern over invasive plant growth in Woodlands and Firefly Sanctuary

Resident Michael Zelif told the City Council that an invasive plant—identified in his remarks using the term as heard in the record—has taken hold in several Greenbelt open spaces, including areas near Bald Hill Road, Parcel Axe, the Woodlands, and the Firefly Sanctuary.

Zelif described rapid spread, the plant’s tubers that aid re-sprouting, and the difficulty of manual removal. He requested that the city and Greenbelt Homes, Inc. (GHI) examine options, including selective herbicide use in limited areas where manual removal is infeasible. “It’s something we should at least look at for certain very select areas,” Zelif said, and invited council members and staff to join a site walk to see affected areas.

Councilmembers and staff acknowledged the need to coordinate with GHI on ownership boundaries and to seek input from landscape and environmental staff; one councilmember voiced concern about herbicide use near the Firefly Sanctuary and potential impacts on pollinators. Zelif said the plant’s above-ground blooms last a few months (mid-March into May) but the root tubers allow it to reestablish, making removal challenging.

Staff said petitions are logged and that staff will follow up; the resident indicated he had already received permission from a property manager to remove isolated plants in some locations.

No regulatory or funding decisions were made at the meeting; council asked staff to consider options and coordinate possible volunteer efforts and next steps.