Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2025 01 08

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Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board December 4, 2024 Page 3 of 6 • Information in the packet • Current funding to complete Dillon Road in 2024, start to work in McCaslin commercial corridor and go north; 60%-level drawing in packet • Want to maintain consistent look throughout City - landscape rock walls, replacing some trees, focusing on xeric native, replacing turf with native seed mix for reduction in mowing and watering needs over time • Phase 1 provided opportunity for lessons learned • Asking board for concerns, ideas, want to allow design team to advance in Design 2 and to implement in Spring/Summer of 2025 Board Discussion: • Plant schedule - native plants emphasized • Looked at high percentage of loss and replaced some items for Phase 2 • Seed mix - lots of concern from the community and feedback on native seed mix; largest challenge was with annual rye grass - first to establish and dominated height —> replacing in the upcoming median projects with Verge from Landmark Seed Co. o Have seeded a small section by the fire station with this seed mix and successful response to this test • Lower height, 2-3 mows/year to maintain • Parks Dept working with vendor to perhaps add a few more plants to the mix • John looked at "verge" composition and notes for pictures of what is in the mix; blues and purples in seed mix which will add nice color, may recommended replacement of California poppies with another orange flower • In general, "native" means native to growing conditions, not necessarily the state: color, lower -growing, successful management • As we shift from annuals to perennials, love to see the incorporation of color. • Ohio buckeye - are we worried about the debris from that one? o Not sure if there is a seedless variety we can plant; will follow up with City Forester • Compliment to the Parks Staff for embracing lessons learned o Wanted to avoid tall grasses and tall rye take over. o Appreciate culture to adjust and fix • Council Member Fahey: overall successful, just a few tweaks that staff is attending to, use McCaslin and Via Appia medians' tall grass lessons as learning experience for other sloped medians • Will be more conservative around turning areas for Phase 2 • From aesthetic perspective, Bella Vista and Cherry have been pointed out as nice o Could potentially incorporate that aesthetic into the medians we have currently • Don't want heat island effect • There are some plants in rows over by rec center with mix • Sandstone rocks looks more like it fits vs. dark gray boulders o Is there a way to give continuity and weave in red sandstone - currently in use along Bella Vista/Cherry. • Use some islands as test plots for mixes. Emphasis continued testing and learning - best practice and fun! 5