To: PUBLIC WORKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION
From: Public Works Department
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIVE PLANTING AND POLLINATORS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY, CITY OWNED PROPERTY, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS ON COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES - SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE
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SUMMARY
In response to an item on the City Council’s Strategic Plan adopted in May 2023, the Public Works and Sustainability Commission (Commission) heard presentations at two meetings on this topic in the Fall of 2023. At the second of these meetings, the Commission appointed a subcommittee to study the matter further and develop potential policy recommendations to the City Council. The subcommittee has met and provided the attached outline of policy recommendations to be discussed by the Commission, with the goal of determining policy recommendations to be forwarded to the City Council.
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopted the 12-month strategic planning objectives on May 30, 2023, a copy of which is attached. Objective 2 of Goal 3: Increase Environmental Sustainability is “Native Planting and Pollinator Requirements: Prepare a discussion item for the Public Works and Sustainability Commission to consider requiring the inclusion of pollinator fountains and native plantings in new developments.” This Commission is tasked with advising the City Council on all environmental issues; therefore, the City Council directed staff to bring this item to the Public Works and Sustainability Commission to consider the inclusion of pollinators and native plantings as a policy for City controlled properties. While the objective states the inclusion of pollinator fountains, after discussion with Council Member Obagi the focus has shifted to native planting and pollinators in general, and not specifically on solely pollinator fountains.
Staff initiated two presentations at meetings on September 25, 2023 and October 23, 2023. These discussions included input from Mike Garcia, Founder of Enviroscape LA Landscaping a Landscape Design Contractor, Jim Light, President of South Bay Parkland Conservancy and Tracy Drake, Park Services Manager at City of Torrance and Naturalist, to discuss the various ways that the City’s medians, parkways and real estate could be improved to support pollinator activity and habitat development in the City. The conversation was also helpful in understanding what development conditions for private development might be appropriate when those properties are be entitled for new projects by the City’s Planning Division.
With the significant volume and range of information, the Commission felt the need to develop a subcommittee to synthesize the data and come up with specific potential policy recommendations that could be discussed at a future Commission meeting, before sending formal recommendations to the City Council for potential policy adoption. The subcommittee is now ready to have the discussion and prepared an outline of potential recommendations that is included in the attachment.
ATTACHMENT
1. Subcommittee on Native Plants & Pollinators Recommendations