“Community Enhancement Through Code Enforcement ”
Everyone is aware there’s a drought and we’re all being asked to conserve water. Being conscious of our water usage is something that is both our social responsibility to the community and our commitment toward a healthier, longer-sustaining environment.
With that said, the significant investment we have all made to beautify our landscaping and our homes, parks, businesses, etc. should continue to be maintained. The common standards of attractive and sustainable landscaping can be met regardless of whether or not there is a drought.
A common myth circulating around social media is that “residents are receiving fines for not watering their lawn or letting their lawns die.” This is not true. In fact, not one Administrative Citation (fine) has been issued for anyone in the City of Oakley for letting their lawn die.
What residents are receiving when they fail to abide by established landscaping guidelines and codes are “Correction Notices.” A Correction Notice is a letter from the City informing the resident what code is being violated, thereby causing a nuisance, and what action must be taken, along with a due-by date to cure the violation.
When it comes to landscaping, the drought has brought multiple challenges, especially the requirement to reduce water usage. In order to clarify what is expected of Oakley residents and to also present some options, the following is an edited excerpt of the City’s Code relating to landscaping:
Residential Property Maintenance Standards What is a Landscaping Violation?
What is a Landscaping Violation?
“It is hereby declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any property (residential) to maintain such property on which the unimproved surfaces are not maintained in good condition or repair, including without limitation any property which contains excessive weeds, rubbish or debris.
How is the Violation Cured?
“Landscaping shall be installed and maintained in any unimproved portion of the front and side yards that is visible from any public right of way. If only decorative landscaping is used to meet the requirements of this section, ’weed block ‘shall also be used.”
What are Landscaping Options?
“Landscaping shall mean the planting of trees, shrubs, or grass, or other live plants, or the use of decorative landscaping to improve the appearance of the land.”
Note that “grass” was just one of the landscaping options presented. Many property owners are investing in drought-tolerant landscaping and/or decorative landscaping in place of grass.
This is a great alternative water-wise and reduces your long term maintenance costs –a win-win alternative!
If you receive a Correction Notice, understand it is because Oakley is committed toward ensuring we remain a highly desirable place to live and work. If you receive a Notice because of your lawn’s neglected condition or a lack of landscaping, be aware that there are alternatives to traditional landscaping that will increase your property’s value while reducing your water usage AND will comply with the City Code.
If you’re considering installing drought-tolerant landscaping, the Contra Costa Water District is offering rebates to customers who replace their front yard with water-efficient landscaping. For more information about the rebate program please visit Contra Costa Water District’s website at http://www.ccwater.com/l2g-cgi/index57.asp
For those who want to learn more, the City of Oakley and Diablo Water District are hosting a free Water Conservation Workshop on Wednesday, May 20th starting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The class is free, but registration is required. For more information visit the City of Oakley website at: http://www.ci.oakley.ca.us
The following was a press release issued by the City of Oakley
11 comments
LMAO, this coming from a city that just planted a crap load of vegetation in its medians and has green grass everywhere while watering Laurel Ball fields 3x a day. Maybe instead of staff harassing residents, the city council can grow some balls and start harassing staff to tell them to leave the residents alone.
Does Oakley not get its in a drought? Why cite or fine anyone for yards until the governor declares the drought over? Sick and tired of this city lecturing its residents while talking down to them. Agree with Frank, the city council needs to step in and correct some things.
What the city is failing to acknowledge is the significant cost involved in replacing a brown lawn with drought tolerant options. Yes, they offer a rebate, but it only covers a fraction of the cost of the project. Not everyone can afford to relandscape their front yard right now and the city is going to force residents to make the choice to waste precious water to keep their grass green so they can avoid a fine. The city of Oakley is showing gross irresponsibility here.
Your yard can still be maintained neat and orderly during the drought. Yes, it will take a little work by yourself or some one you hire. A word that comes to mind is “Pride” The drought is not an excuse to let your yard become an over grown mess of weeds. If your yard is kept neat and orderly I doubt you will ever receive a Corrective Notice.
Michael, you are absolutely correct!! “Pride”, not to many people have that anymore. They by 2,3,4 hundred thousand homes and don’t even care what it looks like. Lawn mower?? What the hell is that??
I’ll take water over your pride any day. Just because some us are allowing our lawn to turn brown doesn’t mean we don’t have pride. It simply means we know that we are in one of the worst droughts in our history. Now we may be cited to “correct” our brown lawns? So damned if we do and dammed if we don’t. Is the city going to help finance these “corrections” they are requiring all the while the city wastes more water than I can imagine. The small rebates and incentives they are offering are no where near enough to cover the costs. They barely help at all. Cute for using too much water and cite when the lawn we can’t water turns brown. I say it’s BS.
You are not getting the point. There has to be rules, Otherwise there will be a percentage that will try to get away with whatever they can. I am allowing my front lawn to go dry, but it will be a neat dry. Bushes will be trimmed. Weeds will not be growing in the cracks of the sidewalk, driveway or street and the gutters will be sweeped. Water and pride are mutually exclusive. l bet I’ll never get a “Corrective Notice”.
And all this while the beautiful fountain is flowing. Yes is might be recirculating but fact is this water is blowing in the wind. Time for the fountain to be turned off. Set an example!!! If they want, turn it on on a hot summer weekend for the kids. But everyday is sending the wrong message.
With a little thought you can keep most things alive. We cut the lawn down to nothing but a little grass through the pavers. Every sink has water being caught to water plants. Even a specific sink or shower goes in a certain area. One tub drains through a small temporary opening in the wall and is attached to a soaker in the big garden in back. Every day the water used goes into that garden. You don’t need an engineering degree to recycle water. Stop belly aching because if this 85 year old can do it so can you. We did start cutting back our front yard 5 years ago so we are a tad ahead of the game.
There’s nothing better to do besides waste resouces/$ to drive around and complain because a front yard isn’t pretty? We rent and have NO control over landscaping… (we just got cited 5/13 & yard looks ok) we just mow the damn weeds in the front ‘yard’ that has no grass or landscaping.. only weeds grow. Sure not paying fines OR paying to landscape a property/home we don’t own! Think about the RENTERS and DROUGHT Oakley! Oh, how about building us a REAL library instead of sharing with the high schools? That’ll give them something productive to do.
neat and clean appeals to myself as an Oakey homeowner also, however their needs to be a certain degree of common sense exercised in extreme circumstances. Poor judgment employed by bureocrats is not a substitute for good leadership or stewardship of the community. Brown is the new green. If you are as disappointed as I, make it known at the current and next election. I will.
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