Finance committee advances natural‑lawn permit policy to council; fee to be set later

The finance committee voted Sept. 22 to forward a proposed land management plan application for natural lawns to the plan commission and council for formal consideration. Staff said the municipal code already allows natural lawns (referred to as a land management plan) and that the new step is to create a formal application and an associated fee. The existing code requires notification of adjacent property owners and sets maintenance and terrace requirements; the application will document mowing schedules, invasive species control and other conditions. Committee members asked staff to research comparable fees in other municipalities. Staff said few municipalities have a matching process, so comparables are limited; the clerk offered to bring a recommended fee for the city’s fee schedule at the end‑of‑year fee review. The committee approved a motion to recommend the application and fee discussion move to council. No specific application fee was adopted at the meeting; staff said the fee will be proposed on the fee schedule when the ordinance and application return to council.