The Planning & Zoning Commission on Oct. 23 directed staff to draft an ordinance requiring maintenance surety (bond) for landscaping after site development is accepted, a step staff and commissioners said would give the city a practical remedy when plantings die or landscape work fails.

Development Services staff described options used by other Texas cities: post‑acceptance maintenance bonds tied to a calculated valuation of installed landscaping; a requirement for replacement plantings; and the ability for the city to cash the bond and complete landscaping work when the developer or property owner fails to maintain required plantings. Staff recommended a maintenance bond amount based on the estimated cost of the landscaping (which could account for credits previously granted) and a retention period sufficient to ensure plant survival.

Commissioners and staff discussed enforcement challenges when property ownership changes after construction and the benefit of an escrowed or bonded fund the city can access to perform replacements. They also asked staff to include species, size and planting standards, and to account for planting seasons when remediation work may need to be delayed.

Motion and vote: The commission voted to direct staff to prepare ordinance language implementing the maintenance‑bond approach and related planting standards; the motion passed by unanimous vote among commissioners present.

Next steps: Development Services will draft ordinance language specifying bond amount methodology, acceptable plant sizes and species, maintenance period and procedures for city use of the bond if remediation is required. Staff will bring the draft back for commission review.