2017-19 Amending City Code Chapter 48 Nuisances

Home Browse Search

ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS CHAPTER 48 -NUISANCES— _9. NATIVE PLANT LANDSCAPE AREAS. The City of Decatur seeks to prevent erosion of soil into Lake Decatur which serves as the main water source for the citizens of Decatur and surrounding areas. In order to reduce erosion a lot or parcel of ground or any part thereof within the specific locations set forth below in the City be improved with Native Plant Landscaping Areas under the terms and conditions set forth in this Section A. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Section unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "City"means the City of Decatur Illinois. (2) "Garden" means a cultivated area dedicated torroowin vegetables fruits flowers ornamental grasses, groundcovers shrubs and similar plants that are planted in a well-defined location. (3) "Native Plants" are those grasses including prairie grasses sedges solid triangular- stemmed rian ug lar- stemmed plants resembling_grasses), forbs (flowering broadleaf plants) trees and shrubs that are plant species native to or naturalized to the State of Illinois excluding_prohibited species as defined by the Illinois Noxious Weed Law 505 ILCS 100 et seq and any Administrative Regulations implementing the Act and all species of running (monopodial) bamboo Native plants do not include weeds. (4) "Native Plant Landscape Area" means a designated area comprised of native plants that are being or have been planted in a designated area. A Native Plant Landscape Area does not include gardens. (5) "Natural Area" means an area that has been purposely left to grow in a natural state and can maintain itself in a stable condition without human intervention and contains trees shrubs, and native plants, excluding weeds and turf grass areas that contain more than fifty(50) percent turf grass. Flowers and non-native plants can be allowed provided that common weeds are not the predominant vegetation. (6) "Ornamental Grasses" means grasses that are not indigenous to the State of Illinois that are intended to add beauty to a garden. Ornamental grasses do not include turf grasses or weeds. (7) "Thinning" means the prescribed burning of Native Plant Landscape Areas pursuant to and under the guidelines as set forth in the Illinois Prescribed Burning Act 525 ILCS 37 et sea. and any Administrative Regulations implementing the Act (8) "Turf grass" means commercially available cultured grass varieties including bluegrass, fescue and aegrass blends, commonly used in regularly mowed or manicured lawn areas. (9) "Weeds" means noxious weeds as defined and designated pursuant to the Illinois Noxious Weed Law, 505 ILCS 100 et. seq. as amended from time to time or any volunteer plants such as but not limited to garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) or burdock (Arctium minus). The Forestry Division of the Public Works Department of the City may proscribe additional plants that are prohibited.