[Communications] CCGA - Native Plant Registry info - follow up

[Amy Olson]

Hi May,

We just sent out the newsletter and decided to hold off posting anything about the Native Plant Registry so that we can mindfully craft our messaging.

We will have another email going out probably late next week or early in the week of the 8th. We could include a story on the registry then and perhaps also offer a breakout room at the conference to discuss this issue in more detail.

Below are some links and notes about the issue provided by you and also from the recent CCGA meeting. Lorraine mentioned having some discussions about this with Breanne and others as well.

Let’s a strategy including the goal of sending a letter to all the alderpersons!
Amy
…..

Block Club article:

https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/03/09/the-city-slapped-a-native-plant-gardener-with-a-600-fine-but-he-fought-back-and-won/


Press release by the Illinois Environmental Council:
https://ilenviro.org/chicago-city-council-to-take-up-native-gardens-protections/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chicago-city-council-to-take-up-native-gardens-protections


Your email to Lorraine (with attached proposed amendment to ordinance):

Hi Lorraine,

Thanks for bringing the proposed native garden registry for the agenda for tonight's CCGA meeting. Attached is some information for the meeting tonight. 

I pulled up info on the Chicago weed ordinance and after reading & thinking about it...there is no value to the native garden registry.  It's basically an out for the City to continue to erroneously ticket gardners.  The current "weed" ordinance already states that if a plant (or garden) is managed and maintained then it's NOT a weed...which is the same language as the registry.  

The weed ordinance does not require gardeners to adhere to the additional restrictions (10 inch height and 3 ft property line and parkway limits.)

There is a "false/misleading" benefit referenced in the registry ordinance by saying that gardeners will be exempt from the weed ordinance because they already are exempt as long as they maintain their garden.  They are basically asking gardeners to sign away their rights without any benefits in return..  The problem is really in that the City is erroneously ticketing gardeners in some cases. 

Thanks - May


JW's notes from recent CCGA meeting:

Next the new proposed Managed Native Garden Registry Ordinance was discussed. May Toy outlined the particular problems with the ordinance as written especially for community gardens but many other growing scenarios as well. May then led the discussion of the main flawed parts:

•	issues with being owner occupied and the owner knowing and being able to identify plants in the garden and then what about native gardens that don’t have owners;

issues with only native plants making a site eligible for the registry, which doesn’t account for seasonal pollination scenarios, special flowers and growing food in a potential permaculture type model; 
issues with height and distance rules of plants, taking into no account pathways, special butterfly gardens,  
May Toy presented the traps of the ordinance being in essence that this creates a false sense that it is positive for the environment when it is not. May stressed that there was no input from community gardeners and that CCGA should take the lead in rejecting the existing language.

In summary May indicated CCGA should take the following action:  1.) react and press for input into the policy directly- and 2.) stop the false narrative already being disseminated as one voice.

The entire group was behind sending letters to all 50 aldermen stating our position and offering to assist in crafting a more acceptable policy. 



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