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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-15 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 101-15 A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY COUNCIL'S REQUEST THAT CITY STAFF EXAMINE THE NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE TO REGULATE OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN FAYETTEVILLE WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Advisory Board has expressed concerns about invasive plant species and requested that the City Administration and City Council consider an ordinance to regulate or prohibit the use of invasive plant species in Fayetteville. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Sectionl : That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby requests that Mayor Jordan assign City staff to examine the need and propriety of preparing an ordinance to regulate or prohibit the use of certain invasive plant species in Fayetteville. PASSED and APPROVED this 5t" day of May, 2015. APPROVED: Lo ATTEST: By: Aonv4a 6, SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk Treasurer �0..,.._ •v� � ••,rt"• y �r,Ayf-TT 4VI�IL'LE; _ r`dl4 GTO�A ,,�`o�� City of Fayetteville, Arkansas 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 r� Text File File Number: 2015-0186 Agenda Date: 5/5/2015 Version: 1 Status: Passed In Control: City Council Meeting File Type: Resolution Agenda Number: C. 6 EXPRESS CITY COUNCIL INTENT TO DEVELOP INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES POLICY A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY EXAMINE THE NEED FOR AN ORDINANCE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN FAYETTEVILLE COUNCIL'S REQUEST THAT CITY STAFF TO REGULATE OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Advisory Board has expressed concerns about invasive plant species and requested that the City Administration and City Council consider an ordinance to regulate or prohibit the use of invasive plant species in Fayetteville. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Sectionl: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby requests that Mayor Jordan assign City staff to examine the need and propriety of preparing an ordinance to regulate or prohibit the use of certain invasive plant species in Fayetteville. City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Page 1 Printed on 1011312015 City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form 2015-0186 Legistar File ID 5/5/2015 City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only N/A for Non -Agenda Item Leif Olson 4/14/2015 Submitted By Submitted Date Action Recommendation: Sustainability & Resilience / Chief of Staff Division / Department Staff requests that the City Council determine whether to study and develop an invasive plant species policy and/or ordinance. Account Number Project Number Budgeted Item? NA Does item have a cost? NA Budget Adjustment Attached? NA Budget Impact: Current Budget Funds Obligated Current Balance Item Cost Budget Adjustment Fund Project Title $ Remaining Budget $ V20140710 Previous Ordinance or Resolution # Original Contract Number: Comments: Approval Date: 5w_ 1�4 CITY OF 7ay%4-11c KANSAS MEETING OF MAY 5, 2015 TO: Mayor and City Council CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO THRU: Don Marr, Chief of Staff Peter Nierengarten, Sustainability and Resilience Department Director FROM: Leif Olson, Associate Planner DATE: April 14, 2015 SUBJECT: Resolution in Support of Developing an Invasive Plant Species Policy and/or Ordinance RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests that the City Council determine whether to study and develop an invasive plant species policy and/or ordinance. BACKGROUND: The Urban Forestry Advisory Board (UFAB) has been actively discussing the subject of invasive plant species with the Urban Forestry Division and the Parks and Recreation Department staff for several years. The Urban Forestry Advisory Board has also made two (2) annual presentations to the City Council at agenda session requesting that the City Council consider the development of an Invasive Plant Species Policy and/or Ordinance. In January of 2015, the UFAB board approved a motion to have the Urban Forestry Advisory Board Chair to discuss the development of an invasive plant species ordinance with City Council Members and the City Attorney's Office. Invasive Species Policy has also been discussed between the City Attorney and City staff of the Sustainability and Resilience Department, who at the advice of the Mayor are bringing forward a resolution to the City Council to express whether or not there is consensus and agreement to work with other City Departments and Divisions to develop an invasive plant species policy and/or ordinance. Invasive plant species ordinances from peer cities have typically contain the following components: • Public education plans or campaigns centered on the identification and eradication of invasive plants on public and private property, • Development of programs and/or materials explaining effective methods for eradicating a variety of different invasive plants, • Development of an integrated pest management component related to the control and/or eradication of invasive species, • Adoption of policies that ban the local sale and/or installation of identified invasive plant species, and • The creation of a list of appropriate non-invasive and native plants that are appropriate alternatives for the identified and banned invasive plants. Mailing Address: 113 W. Mountain Street www.fayetteville-ar.gov Fayetteville, AR 72701 BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT: Staff anticipates the process of developing an invasive species policy to take several months. This process will include a robust stakeholder input process including City Staff, horticulturists, commercial nurseries and community organizations. Before this work is conducted, the Mayor wants to determine if a majority of the City Council supports studying and developing an invasive plant species policy and/or ordinance before resources are allocated for this work. If the City Council supports this resolution then the budget/staff impact of invasive species policy implementation will be fully evaluated as part of the policy/ordinance development process. IoIatIvs PlaRts ,.u11d Is Isinovsd Shrubs and Small Trees There are four types of shrubs and small trees that should be removed. Control for all is similar. When small, they are easily removed in spring by pulling them up. Larger specimens should be cut back, pulled out with a winch or vehicle, or dug out with a garden fork and shovel and treated with herbicide when possible (following label instructions). - Bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.) These bushes have almost completely taken over Fayetteville. Vast areas are covered by these shrubs, especially along fence rows. There are several species. They are native to Asia. They grow to be 6-20 feet high, have white or pink flowers that bloom in April and later produce soft red watery fruits. They provide poor food for native birds, caterpillars, or pollinators. Chinese and European Privet (L/gustrur vu/gar€, and L. sinense) Privets have been widely planted for hedges and are originally from Europe and China. They are semievergreen to evergreen and can form shrubs up to 30 feet high. They form fruits that become almost black in winter and are spread by birds. Multiflora Rose (Rosa r�u/f/f/ara) Multiflora rose was brought to the United states from Asia in the late 1800s and promoted by the government as a "living fence" It grows up to 13 feet and forms bushes or sometimes vine -like stems. It has attractive white to pinkish flowers and produces up to one million seeds per year. It spreads when birds eat the seeds, which can remain alive in the soil for up to 20 years. .t„ It also spreads when branches touch the soil and develop roots. Multiflora ' roses have extremely sharp recurved thorns. Bradford or Callery Pears (Pyrus ca//eryana) These trees are native to China. The flowers are generally distasteful to pollinators. The fruits are dispersed by birds. They form dense thickets that crowd out native plants. Invasive Vines There are three invasive non-native vines in Northwest Arkansas causing damage to native trees and shrubs. All of these vines should be removed by cutting them at the base and if possible treating the vine stumps with herbicide (following label instructions). The three vines are: English Ivy (Nedera helix) This widely planted evergreen vine i sy is native to Europe. It can cover trees with such a dense mass that the trees fall from the heavy weight. It is non -flowering when young, but when it reaches the crowns of trees it produces flowers and seeds that are Japanese honeysuckle (Lon/cera japonica) This twining vine can climb 30 or more feet in trees. It is native to Asia *. j�> 4 The flowers are ' sweet scented and it spreads r by its fruit seeds_ �� It is considered a noxious weed in much of the United states. Written by Dr. Don Steinkraus, Cindi Cope, John Pennington Photos © D. Steinkraus for additional information, contact Washington County Extension Service 479.444-1755 koye .Yealh o LNlVERSIPY'AFKANSAS I BEWARE OF THE ALIEN INVADER • If you have walked through Gulley Park, Mount Sequoyah Woods or in many of our neighborhoods, you have probably noticed a bush that greens up early in the spring, has pretty red berries in the fall, looks nice and seems to be growing everywhere. It is Bush Honeysuckle, a plant brought into this country in the 1ate1800's from eastern Asia and promoted as a hedge, ground cover and landscape plant. It certainly had those qualities but what wasn't realized then was that it had a dark side - it could spread and grow into almost any habitat around it -- wet, dry, sunny or shady. So now, we are seeing it where it was never intended to be - in, our forests, our open prairie areas, beside our streams and lakes. It has become an "invasive alien" of the worst order and magnitude with the destructive capacity to slowly take over and replace native plant and animal communities. This alien invader is easily identified. It has, of course, a bush configuration and grows four to eight feet high forming dense thickets. Its leaves are pointed and located oppositely on the branch. In the spring, yellow/white flowers grow at the base of the leaves where paired red berries develop in late summer. Bush Honeysuckle is spread by birds and by root propagation. It is often seen growing into the margins of forests --from our properties! -- where its dense, compact form and early spring leafing effectively shades out the crested iris, trout lily, trillium, spicebush and other normal flora of the forest floor. If allowed to grow unimpeded, it can actually prevent the natural regeneration of forest trees and halt normal forest succession. Its berries, consisting mostly of carbohydrates, do not make good food for birds, especially migrating species, which need berries and nuts that are rich in fat and protein for long lasting food stores. And, of course, when there are no nuts to eat, the squirrels and chipmunks disappear followed by the owls, hawks and foxes that feed on them and eventually, the normal balance between the plants and animals in their natural habitats is destroyed. Well, what can be done to fend off this "evil alien invader"? For one thing, don't allow it to grow on your property. When the invaders are small ("alien babies"), they can easily be pulled out by hand. When they are full grown, stronger steps are needed. The conservation departments of Missouri, Ohio, Indiana and other states recommend cutting the "invader" at its base and painting the stump with a 20% or higher concentration of glyphosate (TM Roundup or Rodeo). This helps to discourage the invader from rising up again, but often repeat cutting and herbicide applications are needed in the succeeding 3-5 years --this invader is no weakling! What are the consequences if we do not act? -- a major alien take-over! What should we do? I propose that we -- arm ourselves, declare war on the "aliens" and start a major community crusade (campaign) and get after these guys -- its time to act! "Crusadingly" submitted, Pete Heinzelmann ENTEIMUM alm"ll M re a m r3�w E7 r c 4'SI� p r ♦ � Y t�t" �� � � b 4,' e� 1, Y • p 7 r y a�'.'C yam'~e " L�, rh^ / `�& 5 tY° x t °`s s cr i'-w. ₹ f '+Fs� S, Dde�l..A.y„{ , 3 ,R ► }� r T' r $ ii , �� t� yam' ,., ,,,. �yt t al,.+. `v Zv a e , s 4.. A� ( !'r g*xk 1 "ft, � r� A`� ��A '^"�RQ° i� ���'����� sad ( '� cl ��ys �� �srJ��`�wy IBS � f ' ►.iQ}e''r . � e r u I Joel Walsh's Article on Bush Honeysuckle ,V,vem ber- 20(3 I commend NWA Times reporter, Joel Walsh, for his timely and important article about the threat that invasive bush honeysuckle poses for our native plant and animal habitats in and around Fayetteville. As he stated, this plant was brought into this country from Asia in the late 1800s and promoted as a hedge and groundcover. Years ago, it was actually sold at a local nursery, which probably explains why there is so much of it here now. What wasn't known then was its ability to invade and take over areas where it never was intended to be. We now are seeing it in our urban forests (Mt Sequoyah), our parks, and along our streams and trails. Its dense thickets, which green up early in the spring, effectively shade out native wildflowers and tree seedlings and block our view of these special areas. It also threatens the interdependent relationships between native plants and animals that have developed over thousands of years and that have led to the incredible biodiversity that we enjoy today. When monocultures like bush honeysuckle take over, diversity goes away. Its berries, which consist mostly of sugar, do not provide the balanced (diverse) and healthy diet that birds need. Besides sugars, birds need the fats and proteins that the seeds and insects of native habitats provide for them and that doesn't occur with monocultures of bush honeysuckle. My own personal experience with bush honeysuckle occurred on a small wooded lot next to our home where our kids used to play. That was thirty years ago. Since then it has been gradually filled in and overgrown with bush honeysuckle to the point where one could not see into it or walk through it About three months ago, we began the process of removing this invasive plant by pulling out the smaller ones and cutting the larger ones at their base and painting the stumps with glyphosate herbicide (like 20% Roundup TM). The stems and branches were taken to the curb, picked up by a city truck with a "clam shell grabber" and hauled away. The first load was free - a really good deal to get rid of a really bad actor like bush honeysuckle! We are now looking forward to seeing the return of what our natural Ozark habitat has always provided - dogwoods, serviceberry, crested iris, trout lily, trillium and many more species of native plants and animals (especially birds) that should be here next to our home. Pete Heinzelmann Fayetteville (841-3404) one of Three Truck Loar b.h Atj i�l�tijv '�Ca �V _q Y f�'ec� A 2'u k \ t '°.w'•na�r., �°� ,� rt �w� ':4 2 �p,�rY fi S '� �y ' l T _ Y r : :' •' S. • .J r'i 1.K,1 ' HISTORY • Imported from Asia • Mr. Smith's Nursery in 1840s • Promoted as a hedge and groundcover • Fayetteville Became — the Bush Honeysuckle Capital of the South 4 a) 4J What wasn't Known? • It Spreads EVERYWHERE • Has no nutritional value for wildlife • It greens up early in spring • Shades out native plants • Destroys our views of natural areas • Destroys native habitat for plants and animals r '•"!i yi 'I ih Id � j �'�f�u181 r�t lam' rk� , L US19[sivi ii I.eIIIaI:�:is J � a l y 1,r A Chuckle Over Honeysuckle SI: C •l•1ii: 1 � S Roundup c 0 t � yr u�� � �- �. �, ��, �� .� ,'y '�. +, �._ �r ,,• t 11C i l tq • .?•-,• l 7, i�!n W ( ; Vi A K\! it ! � y Who to Contact • Pete Heinzelmann — for advice • City Parks Department — City Forester • City Solid Waste Department — for pick-up • The Mayor and City Council — ask what they can do to remove it around Fayetteville