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Commission discusses Title 16 updates, native‑landscape wording and a proposed green‑certification for yards
Summary
Staff reported that much of the commission’s earlier suggested Title 16 landscaping language was incorporated into an updated sustainable‑landscape code; commissioners proposed a voluntary green‑certification program to recognize native landscaping and reduce code enforcement conflicts.
Commissioners discussed recent code updates and a proposal to create a voluntary green‑certification for yards that use native or low‑water landscaping.
Mel England, staff liaison, told the commission that suggested edits the commission previously recommended for Title 16 were largely captured in a newer sustainable‑landscape code update. England said the updated code ‘‘emphasizes using drought‑tolerant plants and planting’’ but noted the term ‘‘native’’ did not appear in the current draft; adding the word “native” would require coordination with Planning and Zoning and a formal code‑change process.
Commissioner Rick Mullen proposed a voluntary certification program to recognize homeowners who convert yards to native or water‑wise landscaping. Mullen said a visible certification (for example, a small plaque) could do three things: signal neighbors that a property is intentionally planted for ecology and water conservation, reduce calls to code enforcement about ‘‘weeds’’ that are in fact native plantings, and encourage peer adoption by making conversion visible in neighborhoods.
Staff and commissioners discussed practical issues: who would verify and monitor certified yards, whether external partners (extension programs or CSU courses) could supply expertise and how to fund administration. Commissioners suggested looking at existing training or certification programs — for example, CSU Extension’s certified‑gardener curriculum — rather than building an entirely new program from scratch.
England also noted a separate code topic — the definition and enforcement threshold for “weeds” — has been routed to code enforcement advisory and still needs attention; staff will follow up with the city attorney and code enforcement to clarify next steps.
Ending — Next steps: commissioners asked staff to bring samples of existing certification programs and to place the green‑certification concept on next month’s agenda for further development.
