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Committee advances draft 'weeds' definition; asks subcommittee to refine wording and seek staff review
Summary
The committee reviewed a subcommittee draft refining the municipal definition of "weeds," discussed enforcement limits and staffing implications, and asked the subcommittee to provide revised language for staff (AJ) review ahead of the next meeting.
Members of the Englewood City Code Enforcement Committee reviewed a draft expanded definition of “weeds” prepared by a grass-and-weeds subcommittee and asked the subcommittee to produce a revised set of definitions and run them by staff for operational feedback.
The subcommittee presented an expanded draft that identifies unmanaged vegetation that poses a public nuisance, safety hazard or fire risk and proposes specific subcategories (grass, weeds, volunteer saplings, right-of-way vegetation). “We outlined issues with the current language, really focusing on vague terminology, redundancy and the need to account for pollinators and native-plant programs,” a subcommittee member said during the presentation.
Code enforcement staff described current operational limits: the department has three full-time code officers and two seasonals at present; the park ranger position is in the police academy with a new park ranger scheduled to start in September; and a newly hired code officer is scheduled to start the following week. Staff said most grass-and-weed cases visible from the right of way are handled by seasonal employees, estimating about “90%” of grass-and-weed notices were generated by seasonals in the reporting period. Staff also explained enforcement practices: initial notices give property owners 14 days to comply; properties that have made some maintenance may receive a 72-hour follow-up notice; and typical reinspection timing is about three to four weeks unless a case escalates to the district code officer for more urgent action.
Committee members discussed examples, including sunflowers and volunteer elm saplings that can proliferate and create walkway obstructions. Members referenced other municipalities’ approaches — Littleton, Boulder, Arvada and Castle Rock — and asked the subcommittee to produce several alternate draft definitions and submit them to AJ and staff at least nine business days before the next meeting so city staff can comment on enforceability. The subcommittee agreed to return with revised language for committee consideration and to recommend how any proposed changes would align with Section 15-6-1 and Title 16 enforcement practice.
