Resilient Community Advisory Commission Letter about Plant HeightsCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 024.
Copyrighted
December 19, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Resilient Community Advisory Commission Letter about Plant Heights
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of a letter of recommendation
from the Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC)
for plant heights.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
FIN aL[O]:ILyil21zIII l+]
Description Type
Letter from Resilient Community Advisory Commission- City Manager Memo
MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Plant Height Letter from RCAC to M&CC Supporting Documentation
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resilient Community Advisory Commission Letter about Plant Heights
DATE: December 14, 2022
City Manager is recommending City Council approval of a letter of recommendation
from the Resilient Community Advisory Commission (RCAC) for plant heights.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator
Dubuque
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TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gina Bell, Sustainable Community Coordinator
SUBJECT: Resilient Community Advisory Commission Letter about Plant Heights
DATE: December 12, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to present a letter of recommendation from the Resilient
Community Advisory Commission (RCAC) for City Council approval.
BACKGROUND
The RCAC has heard from residents at recent past meetings related to City policy and
plant heights and drafted a letter. At the time, you recommended the Commission
discuss with Engineering staff.
A 14TOUIRS1Is] .I
The RCAC discussed their proposal with Engineering staff at the December meeting and
came to an agreement about what will meet safety and visibility standards while also
supporting pollinator habitat and meeting residents' requests.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no budget impact.
REQUESTED ACTION
I respectfully recommend the City Manager share the recommendations of the Resilient
Community Advisory Commission's letter and determine next steps.
Dubuque
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City Council, City of Dubuque
50 W. 13t" Street
Dubuque, IA 5201
December 12, 2022
Members of City Council,
At their August and September meetings, the Resilient Community Advisory Commission
heard public comment requesting a change to city policy on planting in the public right-of-way.
After review and discussion at subsequent meetings, with additional input from citizens and city
staff, the RCAC recommends the City Council update Section 5-2-B of the "Street Tree and
Landscaping on Public Right -of -Way Policy" to permit a maximum plant height of twenty-four
inches (24") for intentional plantings and a maximum plant height of twelve inches (12") for
intentional plantings within the visibility triangle as described by section 16-3-5 of the Dubuque
City Code. No changes to language pertaining to containment and maintenance are requested.
By increasing the maximum plant height by six inches (6"), residents would be able to
plant thirty-four additional native species; a substantial addition to the fourteen native species
presently recommended under the eighteen -inch (18") maximum. This change would help
increase biodiversity, pollinator habitat, and aesthetic possibilities. At the same time, by
reducing the maximum plant height within the visibility triangle by six inches (6"), public safety
can be better protected through assuring greater visibility of sidewalks near intersections.
Sincerely,
Jacob Kohlhaas
Resilient Community Advisory Commission, Chair
Street
Curb
Planting Lawn
Sidewalk
Property Line
10' Visibility Triangle
Plant Height Limited to 12"
Plant Height Limited to 24"