HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-165-03.21.2022Prepared by LeAnn M. Even, Deputy City Clerk, City of Waterloo, 715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo,
IA 50703, 319-291-4323.
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-165
RESOLUTION APPROVING PRIVATE PROPERTY
PLANTING REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, per Title 7, Chapter 5B, Section 7 of the City of Waterloo Code of
Ordinances the City of Waterloo has established exceptions to regulations governing public ways
and private property plantings, and
WHEREAS, the City Engineer and/or the City Forester, or their designees may establish
rules and regulations by resolution concerning said plantings.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
WATERLOO, IOWA, that the following Private Property Native Planting Regulations are
hereby adopted:
Private Property Native Planting Regulations
Any individual, business, or corporation to plant prairie areas upon privately owned property
shall adhere to the regulations listed below concerning native planting areas. These regulations
are intended for private property and do not apply to, or grant approval for, native planting areas
in the Right of Way pursuant to Title 7 Chapter 5, Article C of the city code.
1) Location/Separation
a) Native planting areas shall be placed in such a manner as to prevent interference with, or
obstruction to any improvements, or utilities such as streets, sidewalks, fire hydrants, water
valves, or manholes.
• Two (2) feet from a street sign, light or signal pole, hydrant, water valve, or manhole.
• Two (2) feet from sidewalks.
• Two (2) feet from the edge of a residential driveway.
• Five (5) feet from driveways of commercial, industrial or institutional properties.
• Three (3) feet from neighboring properties.
2) Use:
Native planting areas shall consist of grasses and forbs native to Iowa. Oats and Barley are
also allowed under these regulations. Property owner will not use the native planting area for
any purpose other than non-commercial native plantings.
3) Maintenance:
It is the duty of the property owner to maintain all native planting areas on their property. The
native planting area shall be kept free of weeds (7-5B-1), volunteer trees (7-5B-1), and debris.
Burning of native prairie would require a separate approval process through the Fire
Department and City Council, and is unlikely to be allowed in residential and urban areas.
Below are suggested maintenance actions to maintain native prairie areas.
a) Mowing:
i) First year- Mow to a height of 6" 3-4 times during the growing season to help control fast
growing annual weeds.
ii) Second year- Mow in mid to late June to a height of 12" to prevent biennial weeds from
forming seed
iii) Third and subsequent years- Mow as low to the ground as possible in the early spring
before growth begins and rake cut material from the native planting area every two to three
years. This mimics a prescribed fire and promotes native plant growth.
b) Hand digging and pulling:
i) If the native planting area is small enough and the applicant is skilled at identifying
native plant species and weeds, then weeds and volunteer trees can be dug and pulled from
within the native planting area. Care should be taken not to damage root systems of native
Resolution No. 2022-165
Page 2
plants. Source: Diboll, Neil "Management of Prairie Meadows".
4) Termination: Native Planting areas that contain more than 30 percent weeds or other
undesirable vegetation, shall be deemed a nuisance, and can be mowed or removed with
costs assessed to the property owner, pursuant to Title 7, Chapter 5B of the City Code. The
presence of more than 8 volunteer trees per 500 sq. ft. shall also constitute a per se nuisance
pursuant to Title 7, Chapter 5B of the City Code. 2 Resources:
• See attached suggested seed mix for use in Black Hawk County that has been developed by the
Cedar Valley Monarch Zones (CVMZ) project of the Cedar Valley Arboretum is attached.
Parties interested in purchasing CVMZ Pollinator Seed Mix can contact:
jackie@cedarvalleymonarchzones.org, (319) 226-4966
•UNI Tallgrass Prairie Center list of seed and service providers
https://tallgrassprairiecenter.org/sites/default/files/ia_prairie_seed service_providers_11-21.pdf
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of March 2022.
Quentin Hart, Mayor
ATTEST:
(elley Telchle
Kelley Felchle, City Clerk
SEAL