Council will take another look at plant ban By Craig Tenbroeck North County Times April 13, 2008 OCEANSIDE ---- The Oceanside City Council will resume its discussion this week on whether to ban three invasive plants, including the giant reed arundo donax, that can worsen fire and flood hazards. Councilwoman Esther Sanchez proposed the ban in February, but the council pushed back a decision so staff members could bring back more information about how it would be accomplished. It's tough to pin down how much the ban would cost to enforce, David Manley, the city's neighborhood services division manager, wrote in a report to the council. Inspecting all properties in the city to find out what is out there would be "logistically and financially unfeasible," Manley said. Nevertheless, city staffers will recommend banning the three species, which entails listing them as "nuisance vegetation," when the council meets at 5 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 300 N. Coast Highway. If approved, the ordinance would outlaw all arundo, pampas grass and tamarisk in the city, except for those in wetlands or protected habitat areas. Federal and state law governs that property, Manley said. The bamboolike arundo donax coats the banks of many California waterways. Firefighters call it a nightmare because it's highly flammable and difficult to penetrate. "It's really hardy," Manley said in an interview Friday. Tamarisk, known as salt cedar, also chokes waterways. And pampas grass, which is often used as an ornamental plant, can become a fire hazard. The plan put forward by city staff would rely on environmental groups to educate property owners about invasive plants and help them maintain their land. If someone doesn't comply, the city could take care of the problem at the property owner's expense. This type of enforcement would hopefully prevent the seeds from spreading to the riverbed or other trouble spots, Manley said. At least one councilman said he won't be supporting the ban. Councilman Jerry Kern called it "silly" and a "harassment of private owners." "I don't think we can afford to do it," he said. "The idea that we have plant police out there looking at people's yards for pampas grass? It's just one more government thing." Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com Copyright 1999-2008, California Coastal Coalition Phone: (760) 944-3564