Residents Ask Council to Clarify Fence‑Material Rules, Ask Whether Ordinance 308 Applies

Residents told the council they have received complaints about poor‑quality fencing and asked staff to research whether the city should specify permissible fence materials.

“I've gotten a lot of complaints about 1 particular fence that is covering a whole lot, and it is it's made of plastic, and it's just awful,” said Resident (equestrian advocate), who suggested the city examine other municipalities’ rules and specify acceptable materials so neighbors are not left with “an eyesore.”

The speaker noted the city previously adopted a height standard (changed from “2½ feet” to 36 inches) but said the ordinance did not specify materials and that some existing fences may be grandfathered. “They may be grandfathered and we don't have roast beers, so that's a question I need to ask him,” the speaker said (transcript text). The transcript does not record a definitive determination about grandfathering or enforcement.

Another participant asked, “Is this an ordinance that we this is an ordinance that we adopted, 3 0 8?” (Resident (trail advocate)). Staff responded that the wording and a series of drawings are included in the meeting packet: “What's currently in front of you is what the wording is currently saying. Okay. In your packing is the wording in a series of drawings, as well as some pictures of those spaces so you all can see what that looks like,” said Staff member.

No formal action or vote on changing fence material rules was recorded in the transcript. Speakers asked staff to investigate material standards used by other cities and to confirm whether existing fences are grandfathered under current local ordinance language.

Next steps identified by commenters include staff research into other cities’ material standards, clarification of grandfathering status and consideration of a proposed ordinance amendment if warranted.