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Sec. 14-66. - Purpose.#
The purpose of this article is to establish minimum standards for the use of native plants on city property and to promote plant species diversity in streetscapes, parks, and other city properties. Urban trees and vegetation provide many benefits to residents and the environment. Attractive landscapes improve mental health and enhance property values. A well-designed urban forest will mitigate heat islands, reduce soil erosion and air pollution, provide wildlife habitat, and support pollinating insects. The city recognizes the importance of diverse, native vegetation in its plan for long-term resilience with respect to climate change and other challenges.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-67. - Intent.#
It is the intent of this article that these minimum landscape requirements promote public health, safety, and welfare by: (1)
Promoting healthy ecosystems within the city through the widespread use of native trees and shrubs in streetscapes, parks, schools, and other city properties;
(2)
Designing streetscapes and other landscapes with genetically diverse, adapted native plant species to decrease the chance of negative impacts from insect pests, plant diseases, climate change and other stressors;
(3)
Promoting wildlife and other living organisms through the increased abundance and distribution of native plants with consideration for creating connections between habitats;
(4)
Acknowledging the critical role of native plant species in supporting pollinators that are essential for agriculture and ecosystem function and helping to reverse the decline in these species;
(5)
Creating larger, more connected plant populations to help ensure cross-pollination, reproduction and the long-term survival of native plant species including rare species; and
(6)
Educating residents on the importance of native plant species and biodiversity in public and private properties.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-68. - Definitions.#
Invasive plant means a plant that is both non-native and able to establish on many sites, grow quickly, and spread to the point of disrupting plant communities or ecosystems. For purposes of this article, any plant on the federal USDA Introduced, Invasive, and Noxious Plants list or on any state list east of the Mississippi River is an invasive plant. This includes, but is not limited to, all plants listed by the Rhode Island Invasive Species Council. The city may, at the city's discretion, also refer to lists developed by nonprofit, governmental, or educational organizations or other subject-matter experts, particularly focused on invasive plants in states east of the Mississippi River.
Native plant means a plant that is a part of the balance of nature in a particular region or ecosystem. For the purposes of this article, a native plant or "native species" is a plant with origins east of the Mississippi River per the USDA plant database or the US Environmental Protection Agency Ecoregion Level I, Zone 8, Eastern Temperate Forests. There is a strong preference for species from the US Environmental Protection Agency Ecoregion Level III areas in Rhode Island including (59c) Southern New England Coastal Plains and Hills, (59e) Narragansett/Bristol Lowland, and (59g) Long Island Sound Coastal Lowland.
Non-native plant means a plant introduced with human help (intentionally or accidentally) to a new place or habitat where it was not previously found. For the purposes of this article, a non-native plant is any plant with origins outside the regions in the definition for a native plant species.
Park means a civic space type designed for active and passive recreation, with its character defined by the uses and features provided to meet the needs of different user groups.
Plantings by the city shall include plantings done by third parties on behalf of the city.
Pollinators mean animals (primarily insects, but sometimes avian or mammalian) that fertilize flowers resulting in the formation of seeds and fruits that allow continuation of the plant species or provide a harvest from food crops.
Straight species means a native plant that is not a horticultural cultivar selected or bred for particular traits.
Streetscapes shall include the visual elements of a street including the plants, road, adjoining buildings, street furniture, and open spaces that combine to form the street's character.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-69. - Applicability.#
The terms and provisions of this article shall be a minimum standard and shall only apply to all new trees and other plants planted by the city, or by a third-party on behalf of the city. Existing trees and other plants shall remain unaffected by this article.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-70. - Invasive plants forbidden.#
The city shall not include any plant species in city plantings defined as an invasive plant species.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-71. - Native plants and plant diversity requirements.#
All new plantings by the city on city-owned property must: (1)
New plantings must be designed to contain at least 50 percent native plant species except when the city determines that the situation demands flexibility for memorialization, aesthetic, geographic, survivability, or other substantial reasons.
(2)
New plantings in city parks must have a minimum of 75 percent native plants.
(3)
A minimum of 50 percent of street trees planted by the city each year shall be native species, with a goal of increasing this percentage in subsequent years.
(4)
Diversity in plant species shall be reflected in landscape designs with no one plant species making up more than ten percent of the overall planting design except where the situation demands flexibility for substantial reasons.
(5)
The city shall make a continued effort to include native plants in areas that often contain non-native plants such as community vegetable gardens, flower beds, lawns, athletic fields, holiday displays, or seasonal decorations.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-72. - Prioritizing straight species.#
For the purposes of this article, the city shall prioritize sourcing native trees and plants that are straight species and the appropriate regional ecotype to the extent possible.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-73. - Reporting requirement.#
The tree commission will prepare an annual report before December 31 in collaboration with the parks department and other city staff.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-74. - Conflicting regulations repealed.#
All regulations that are in conflict with this article, in whole or in part, are hereby repealed to the extent that they are in conflict.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)
Sec. 14-75. - Effective date.#
This article shall take effect 60 days after it is enacted by the city; provided, however, that this article shall not apply to any plantings carried out pursuant to existing contracts, invitations to bid, or designs completed prior to the effective date of this article.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)