HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - Overseeding Alternative - Prerequisite for Bus LicREQUEST:
SUBMITTED BY:
APPLICANT
DATE:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT
Adopt Ordinance No. 1153 Requiring Completion of Course on
Overseeding Alternative as a Prerequisite for Issuance of Business
License to Landscape Related Business in the City of Palm Desert.
Mark Greenwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
City of Palm Desert
April 10, 2008
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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Approval of staff's recommendation will require landscape related businesses to
complete a two hour training course on the overseeding of Bermuda grass with
perennial rye grass, using Coachella Valley Association of Governments'
(CVAG) alternative method before issuance of a City of Palm Desert Business
License.
II. DISCUSSION:
In August of 2000, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG)
and its partners completed a research project to determine an alternative method
for overseeding Bermuda grass with perennial Rye grass. The result of this
research project was the development of the alternative method of overseeding.
This method significantly reduces particulate matter thrown into the air during the
traditional scalping process. The result is improved air quality in the Coachella
Valley.
CVAG has produced a pamphlet in both English and Spanish describing the
process and has used public outreach to popularize the alternative method.
There has been limited success in establishing the alternative method in routine
landscape practice in the Coachella Valley. As a result, CVAG created a model
ordinance and has asked its member jurisdictions to adopt the ordinance.
The model ordinance requires that a representative of a landscape related
business (landscape installation, maintenance and design professionals and
their suppliers) attend a training course on the alternative method yearly as a
prerequisite to the issuance or renewal of a City business license.
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Staff Report
April 10, 2008
Page 2 of 3
The two-hour course will consist of two components:
1. Air quality training provided by Air Quality Control Board (AQMD) staff.
2. The alternative oveseeding method taught by a local landscape
contractor.
There will be a cost to these services, but there is funding through a Colmac
grant that has been set aside for this purpose.
If adopted, there will need to be training of city staff similar to the training done
with the adoption of local dust control ordinance to explain how the landscape
certification will work and City staffs role and responsibilities.
CVAG staff will continue its public outreach program to continue to educate the
public on the alternative overseeding method and its benefits. City staff has
composed an information letter about the ordinance. If the ordinance is adopted,
this letter will be mailed to all landscape related businesses doing business in the
City of Palm Desert.
Staff has some concerns that this ordinance may have a negative effect on
smaller landscape related businesses obtaining a license. Upon discovering that
there is a prerequisite for obtaining a license, they may choose to ignore the
requirement and operate illegally. In addition, there was no indication that the
course would be taught in Spanish and staff believes that teaching the course in
both Spanish and English would significantly increase the effectiveness of the
process.
III. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed ordinance will have no potential for causing a significant negative
impact on aesthetics, agricultural, biological, or cultural resources, geology or
soils, water quality, lands use, mineral resources, public services, recreation,
traffic utilities, hazardous materials or other environmental considerations.
Therefore, the project is categorically exempt under Class 1 H criteria from CEQA
and no further review is necessary.
VII. ATTACHMENTS:
A. Draft Resolution
G:\PubWorks\Staff Reports\2008\Apni 10\03 Adopt Overseeding Ordinance\Adopt Overseeding Ordinance doc
Staff Report
April 10, 2008
Page 3 of 3
VII. RECOMMENDATION:
Therefore, staff recommends that, by minute motion, City Council waive further reading
and pass to second reading the addition of Chapter 5.95 "Landscape -Related Business"
to the Palm Desert Municipal Code relating to the requirement of completion of a course
on overseeding altemative as a prerequisite for issuance of a business license to
landscape related businesses in the City of Palm Desert.
Prepared By: Approved
Approval;
Homer Cr4
ACM for Development Services
Mark Greenwood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Carlos Orte•a
City Manager
G \PubWorks\Staff Reports\2008\Apnl 10\03 Adopt Overseeding Ordinance\Adopt Overseeding Ordinance.doc