2017-19 Amending City Code Chapter 48 Nuisances

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MEMORANDUM NO. 2017-10 DATE: April 4, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Tim Gleason, City Manager Billy Tyus,Assistant City Manager Wendy Morthland, Corporation Counsel SUBJECT: Native Landscaping along Lake Decatur SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the attached amendment to City Code Chapter 48 allowing for the planting of Native Landscape areas along Lake Decatur under very specific guidelines as a soil erosion control tool. BACKGROUND: Over the years the City has committed considerable time and resources to try and reduce the amount of soil that erodes into Lake Decatur,the primary water source for residents and industry in Decatur. Our efforts in conjunction with the Macon County Soil and Water Conservation District have been well documented and very successful in reducing this erosion but this effort alone is not enough to keep what is some of the world's best soil from draining into the lake and consuming valuable water capacity. Our current$91 million dredging project to remove soil from the lake is an important step in reclaiming critical water capacity but it was necessary because a considerable amount of soil has made its way into the lake and continues to do so despite our efforts.The fact that this project was necessary should show that more is needed to keep soil from draining into the lake and we know that it will be important to take steps going forward to maximize the impact of the project. One of the steps that we can take to reduce erosion is through the allowance of what is often more lush and dense natural or native plant landscaping for properties bordering the lake, under what would be very strict guidelines. Cities across the country today have amended ordinances to allow for this type of landscaping as it becomes more popular in the planting community but we would want to be very specific as to how we would allow so as not to encourage unmanaged planting throughout the community. Under the proposed amendment guidelines would include: • Native Plant Landscape areas would only be located on parcels that are adjacent to at least 75 feet of Lake Decatur Frontage. • Planting areas would have to be set back at least 10 feet from the side and rear lot lines of other properties without approved growth containment barriers and two feet with approved barriers designed to shield the planting areas. • Native Plant landscape areas would not be allowed in front yards. • Plantings would be limited to a height of 10 inches or less. • A city-issued permit and a landscape plan would be required to install Native Landscape areas. Landscape plans would have to include,among other items,a table containing the