TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Masa Alkire, AICP, Community Development Director
Britny Coker-Moen, Environmental Programs Administrator
SUBJECT:Title
Site Design for Re-Landscaping the Existing City Hall Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden (Budgeted) (Community Development Department Director Alkire)
RECEIVE AND FILE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive and file this report.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Community Development Department’s Environmental Sustainability Division has sufficient funds within its operating budget (approximately $2,000) to complete a re-landscaping project for the existing City Hall Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden. On an ongoing basis, there are sufficient funds within the Environmental Sustainability Division’s operating budget to cover the approximate $500 annual cost of the continued maintenance of this garden. Annual costs include advertising and supplies for volunteer events as well as replacement plants as needed.
BACKGROUND:
In 2013, the City’s Environmental Task Force designed and installed sustainable landscaping in the planter between the Civic Center parking lot and the east-facing side of City Hall. The goal of the project was to educate the community on how to implement a sustainable garden with a diverse climate-appropriate plant palette, conserve water, and reduce dry-weather and stormwater runoff.
The original plant palette consisted of a diverse collection of drought-tolerant and climate-appropriate plants. The originally planted demonstration garden plant material has since been removed or has died off. The area has been replanted with the decorative plant palette that is found throughout the Civic Center Plaza and is no longer representative of a sustainable landscape demonstration garden. Furthermore, the existing signage that was installed as part of this project has become faded and sun damaged and showcases plants that are no longer present. Therefore, the project signage also needs to be updated and replaced. The proposed re-landscaping plan includes a sign replacement to be designed at a later date. A replacement sign is expected to be installed by December 2026.
DISCUSSION:
City staff has developed a site plan (Attachment 1) to relandscape the demonstration garden area with climate-appropriate California native plants, including the removal of select existing plants to make space for new plants.
When the Environmental Task Force installed the demonstration garden in 2013, there was no program in place to ensure the garden's longevity, including ongoing maintenance and replacement of plants as needed. As such, over the years, the garden became neglected, and the original plants were replaced. To ensure long-term success of the garden, staff will annually use a portion of the Environmental Sustainability Division’s existing budget (currently estimated at $500) for ongoing maintenance of the City Hall Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden. This ongoing maintenance activity will be implemented by the Environmental Sustainability Division by incorporating the activity into the Environmental Internship Program. The Environmental Programs Intern will participate in the ongoing maintenance of the demonstration garden as part of their internship. Additionally, the demonstration garden will be used by the Environmental Sustainability Division to engage the community through annual events, including tours to educate the community on the sustainable elements of the garden and volunteer days to weed, seed, and replant as needed.
The City Hall Sustainable Landscaping Demonstration Garden relandscaping project includes the following components:
1. Site Design and Preparation
2. Irrigation
3. Maintenance Plan
4. Plant Palette
5. Sign Replacement
6. Project Schedule
Site Design and Preparation
The site design (Attachment 1) for the City Hall Sustainable Landscaping Demonstration Garden re-landscaping project proposes an aesthetically pleasing layout, including flowering plants with varieties of color, texture, and a strong use of California natives suited for the coastal climate, while promoting the principles of water conservation and retention of runoff.
Preparation of the site includes the removal of select existing plant material, including five of the nine purple fountain grass plants and four of the eleven Mexican feather grass plants due to crowding and to make space for new plants. All existing trees, palms, and bottle brush bushes will remain.
Irrigation
The project design focuses on the conservation of water, energy, and habitat through climate-adapted plants spaced for mature growth. To support these goals, the existing drip irrigation system will be used, in addition to hand watering, where needed, as part of the Environmental Internship Program.
Maintenance Plan
The garden site is a high-profile location of the well-used Civic Center Plaza, and regular maintenance will be critical for the success of the new garden installation.
The timing of certain maintenance tasks for a California native garden is different from that of the ornamental plantings the City’s maintenance crews are currently tending. As such, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance will be performed by the Environmental Sustainability Division as part of the Environmental Internship Program and through community engagement such as volunteer service events.
Plant Palette
The newly installed plants consist entirely of California native plants that are native to coastal environments. All plants have low or very low water needs. The plants in the garden will provide food and habitat for native butterflies, birds, and bees. Examples of flowering plants included in the design are Blue-Eyed Grass, Seaside Daisy, Coyote Mint, and Red Buckwheat. For the full listing of plants, please refer to Attachment 1: City Hall Sustainable Garden Site Design.
Sign Replacement
The existing interpretive sign will be replaced with a new sign face to be designed at a later date. The new sign face will be manufactured to be weatherproof and UV resistant. To reduce costs, the existing sign base, which is still in good condition, will be retained.
Project Schedule
City staff expects to begin the re-landscaping of the Demonstration Garden in mid-November 2026. Planting during the fall season provides conditions that are conducive to successful plant establishment. Site preparation and installation will take approximately three weeks, and completion of the installation, including a new sign, is expected by early December 2026.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Formal public notice is not required for this item; however, the item was identified on the City Council meeting agenda for October 20, 2026, which was posted in accordance with the law.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant negative effect on the environment; therefore, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. City Hall Sustainable Garden Site Design
2. Current Sign Site