The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
(A) Non-noxious weeds and grass vegetation in wetland areas;
(B) Non-noxious weeds, grasses and herbaceous vegetation within 50 feet of designated stormwater ponds or within 50 feet of natural and altered creeks, rivers and stream corridors, including riparian buffer strips, that convey water, provided they are cut to less than 10 inches at least once per year if located within 200 feet of an occupied residence or developed property;
(C) Areas of any occupied lot or parcel of land having wetland-type vegetation because of neighborhood drainage patterns, where the drainage pattern is evident on contour maps and from field observation, and the vegetation is confined to a single lot, separated from adjacent lots, and managed so as not to be a nuisance;
(D) Non-noxious weed and grass vegetation growing on land that, no matter underlying zoning, is utilized agriculturally as long as land is owned by the same family or family members as when originally annexed;
(E) Non-noxious weeds and grass vegetation present in areas zoned as Industrial;
(F) Temporary erosion-control grasses;
(G) Maintained and weeded prairie, meadow or natural landscape vegetation that does not contain noxious weed growth and that includes the cultivation of native grasses indigenous to Minnesota;
(H) An area of at least two acres used by an educational institution or public agency for prairie land restoration, if the prior vegetation is eliminated and the prairie vegetation is planted through transplanting or seeding. The area shall be cut at least once per year to a height of no more than 18 inches if weeds cover more than 25% of the area. If such mowing is necessary and the area is likely to be seen by the public, a sign shall be posted advising that a meadow or prairie is being established. The size of the sign shall be one square foot and it shall be posted no higher than three feet;
(I) Grass and non-noxious weed vegetation in publicly owned parks designated as natural preserves or private property so designated by the City Council or natural undisturbed areas where the land and vegetation appears not to have been graded, landscaped or otherwise disturbed by human or mechanical means in recent times;
(J) Grasses and non-noxious weed vegetation on natural or altered slopes steeper than 2:1; or
(K) Ornamental grasses.
(Ord. - -, passed 3-23-05)