(A) It is declared to be the purpose and intent of this chapter to protect and preserve this city’s neighborhoods and the public health, safety and welfare of those who live there. The Byron City Council determines that keeping the city free of tall grass and noxious weeds improves the quality of life of city residents by improving the aesthetics of the city, by eliminating harbor for rodents and insects, and by eliminating fire hazards. At the same time, the Council recognizes that requiring the mowing of grasses and noxious weeds is under certain circumstances impractical and unreasonable. The exemptions contained within this chapter are intended to cover these circumstances.
(B) The City Council also determines that a variety of properly maintained landscapes in the city adds diversity and a richness to the quality of life, and does not want to discourage the preservation, restoration and maintenance of diverse biologically stable natural plant communities or environmentally sound practices. The City Council finds that the establishment of prairie, naturalistic and meadow plant communities is an acceptable landscape treatment in the city.
(Ord. - -, passed 3-23-05)