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Urban farm group asks council to restore right to grow edible plants in street borders
Summary
Birds and Bees Urban Farm representatives told council a June 2025 code change added 'edible plants' to a prohibited list for border/right-of-way areas and asked staff and council to review and restore rights to grow food in those strips; council asked staff to return with clarification and referred the issue to the food sustainability advisory committee.
Kathy Burns (speaker S22), who said she represents Birds and Bees Urban Farm, urged the council to review a municipal code change from June 2025 that now lists "edible plants" among prohibited items in public-tree border areas between sidewalks and streets. Burns said the change effectively removed a long-standing right some residents used to grow food near their homes and asked city leadership to investigate how the language was added and to restore the right to grow food where appropriate.
Councilmembers asked staff to follow up and gather information; the mayor and council directed staff to bring the matter back for clarification and suggested referral to the city’s food sustainability advisory committee for further consideration.
