HomeMy WebLinkAboutA005 - Council Action Form dated March 27, 2012 Memo
Fire Department / Inspections Division
TO: Steve Schainker
Diane Voss
Clint Petersen
FROM: David Brown
DATE: April 19, 2012
SUBJECT: Councilman Orazem Weed Question
Diane's Council notes sent by email to me and to Matt Pepper on April 11:
"Regarding the "Weeds and Grass Height"item on the past Council Agenda, Council Member Orazem requested
that the Council be provided with the list of complaints;specifically to ascertain if any of the species included in
the Iowa Code Section (being proposed to be incorporated into our ordinance) are the ones that the City has
received complaints about."
Inspection Division processed 56 weed complaint cases in calendar year 2011.
17 of the 56 were found to have unmowed grass but no violation of the State's noxious weed standards, and
consequently no violation of current Municipal Code.
39 of the 56 were found to have one or more of the varieties of State listed noxious weeds (most commonly,
Canada thistle) and notices were sent.
29 of these were subsequently mowed by someone affiliated with the property
10 of these were subsequently mowed by the city, for which costs will be assessed against the properties
State of Iowa Code Section 317.1 Listed Noxious Weeds:
"The following weeds are hereby declared to be noxious and shall be divided into two classes,namely:
1. Primary noxious weeds,which shall include quack grass(Agropyron repens),perennial sow thistle(Sonchus arvensis),
Canada thistle(Cirsium arvense),bull thistle(Cirsium lanceolatum),European morning glory or field bindweed
(Convolvulus arvensis),horse nettle(Solanum carolinense),leafy spurge(Euphorbia esula),perennial pepper-grass
(Lepidium draba),Russian knapweed(Centaurea repens),buckthorn(Rhamnus,not to include Rhamnus frangula),and all
other species of thistles belonging in genera of Cirsium and Carduus.
2. Secondary noxious weeds,which shall include butterprint(Abutilon theophrasti)annual,cocklebur(Xanthium commune)
annual,wild mustard(Brassica arvensis)annual,wild carrot(Daucus carota)biennial,buckhorn(Plantago lanceolata)
perennial, sheep sorrel(Rumex acetosella)perennial,sour dock(Rumex crispus)perennial, smooth dock(Rumex altissimus)
perennial,poison hemlock(Conium maculatum),multiflora rose(Rosa multiflora),wild sunflower(wild strain of Helianthus
annus L.)annual,puncture vine(Tribulus terrestris)annual,teasel(Dipsacus)biennial,and shattercane(Sorghum bicolor)
annual.
The multiflora rose(Rosa multiflora)shall not be considered a secondary noxious weed when cultivated for or used as
understock for cultivated roses or as ornamental shrubs in gardens,or in any county whose board of supervisors has by
resolution declared it not to be a noxious weed. Shattercane(Sorghum bicolor)shall not be considered a secondary noxious
weed when cultivated or in any county whose board of supervisors has by resolution declared it not to be a noxious weed."
---David Brown
MANAGER ALERT-Weed Complaint Information
Steve Schainker to: bobanncamp, jlarson101, matthew,jeremyndavis, pfo, 04/19/2012 12:01 PM
tom, torfinseth, victoria28
Cc: Diane R Voss, Bob Kindred
At a prior meeting, the City Council approved the idea of incorporating the State's noxious weed
restrictions into our Municipal Code. Consequently,the City Attorney is working of code language for
future Council approval. In addition, information was requested from staff regarding the frequency of
these type of complaints.
""Regarding the "Weeds and Grass Height"item on the past Council Agenda, Council Member
Orazem requested that the Council be provided with the list of complaints; specifically to
ascertain if any of the species included in the Iowa Code Section (being proposed to be incorporated
into our ordinance) are the ones that the City has received complaints about."
The following information has been provided by the Inspection staff:
• Inspection Division processed 56 weed complaint cases in calendar year 2011.
• 17 of the 56 were found to have unmowed grass. but no violation of the State's noxious weed
standards, and consequently no violation of current Municipal Code.
• 39 of the 56 were found to have one or more of the varieties of State listed noxious weeds (most
commonly, Canada thistle) and notices were sent
• 29 of these were subsequently mowed by someone affiliated with the property
• 10 of these were subsequently mowed by the city,for which costs will be assessed against the
properties
The following is a copy of Section 317.1 from the Iowa Code re_gardinp Noxious Weeds:
"The following weeds are hereby declared to be noxious and shall be divided into two classes,namely:
1. Primary noxious weeds,which shall include quack grass(Agropyron repens),perennial sow thistle(Sonchus
arvensis),Canada thistle(Cirsium arvense),bull thistle(Cirsium lanceolatum),European morning glory or field
bindweed(Convolvulus arvensis),horse nettle(Solanum carolinense),leafy spurge(Euphorbia esula),perennial
pepper-grass(Lepidium draba),Russian knapweed(Centaurea repens),buckthorn(Rhamnus,not to include
Rhamnus frangula),and all other species of thistles belonging in genera of Cirsium and Carduus.
2. Secondary noxious weeds,which shall include butterprint(Abutilon theophrasti)annual,cocklebur(Xanthium
commune)annual,wild mustard(Brassica arvensis)annual,wild carrot(Daucus carota)biennial,buckhom
(Plantago lanceolata)perennial, sheep sorrel(Rumex acetosella)perennial,sour dock(Rumex crispus)perennial,
smooth dock(Rumex altissimus)perennial,poison hemlock(Conium maculatum),multiflora rose(Rosa multiflora),
wild sunflower(wild strain of Helianthus annus L.)annual,puncture vine(Tribulus terrestris)annual,teasel
(Dipsacus)biennial,and shattercane(Sorghum bicolor)annual.
The multiflora rose(Rosa multiflora)shall not be considered a secondary noxious weed when cultivated for or used
as understock for cultivated roses or as ornamental shrubs in gardens,or in any county whose board of supervisors
has by resolution declared it not to be a noxious weed. Shattercane(Sorghum bicolor)shall not be considered a
secondary noxious weed when cultivated or in any county whose board of supervisors has by resolution declared it
not to be a noxious weed. "
Steve
STEVEN L. SCHAINKER
CITY MANAGER
AMES, IOWA