Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2021 06 03

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I ` Cityof Om Louisville PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE DEPARTMENT Memorandum To: Parks & Public Landscape Advisory Board (PPLAB) From: Steve Roels, Senior Natural Resource Specialist (Open Space Division) Date: June 3, 2021 Re: Discussion Item #1: Revisions to the Open Space Master Plan Plant List Purpose: The purpose of this agenda item is to replace Appendix A of the Open Space Master Plan (attached). Appendix A provides standards for landscaping in Class 4 Open Space, which are parcels designated as "Other" (i.e. not Preserve, Protect, or Visitor designations). In light of increasing availability of plant materials native to the Front Range, staff recommends that Appendix A should be replaced with a set of criteria for plant selection, rather than an ever- growing list of appropriate species. Staff also recommends that the proposed criteria be extended to all Open Space land designations and that Open Space staff be contacted as a referral for any plant materials being proposed for Open Space or Open Space -adjacent lands. Open Space staff requested a formal OSAB vote of approval for the newly proposed criteria. OSAB approved the proposed changes on April 14, 2021. Open Space staff now submits the proposed criteria to PPLAB, in recognition of the historical origins of Appendix A (see "Background"), due to the frequent proximity of Parks and other City land to Open Space, and to encourage wider adoption of native plant materials by municipal land managers. Background: Appendix A of the Open Space Master Plan was approved in 2001 by the Horticulture and Forestry Advisory Board (HFAB). Some of the assumptions made in Appendix A regarding Open Space management no longer apply and HFAB's stated intention to revisit the standards and approved plant lists every five years was never realized. Since the species lists of Appendix A were developed, scientific taxonomy has changed (and continues to do so), creating confusion about the identity of some listed species. Also, Appendix A mentions forbs and graminoids, but does not provide adequate guidance for the use of native woody plants. A more clearly stated set of universal criteria for plant selection that applies to all Open Space will ensure consistency in restoration, revegetation, and landscaping and support the development of more cohesive ecosystems in the Open Space system. Additionally, the standards may be shared with other city departments and developers as a tool to encourage native plant use throughout the City, regardless of the entity that owns or manages the land. 4