AGENDA REPORT
City Council
MEETING
DATE:
September 16, 2026
PREPARED BY: Sara Cadona, Senior
Planner
DEPARTMENT
DIRECTOR:
Scott Drapkin
DEPARTMENT: Development Services
Department
CITY
MANAGER:
Jennifer Campbell
SUBJECT:
Pilot Native Plant Incentive Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and file a report regarding the pilot native plant incentive program and authorize staff to implement a one-year pilot program during Fiscal Year 2026/2027 to purchase southern California native plants and distribute to community members participating at two city-sponsored events.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The action is also exempt from CEQA under Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines because it involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment.
This item is not directly related to the Climate Action Plan; however, this effort does support the climate action plan’s strategy three of water efficiency by promoting the use of drought-tolerant and native landscaping.
GENERAL PLAN/CITY COUNCIL FOCUS AREAS:
General Plan Consistency: The proposed pilot incentive program is consistent with Goals 9 and 10 of the City’s General Plan Resource Management Element. Goals 9 and 10 focus on promoting the use of native and drought tolerant plants, sustainable landscaping practices and environmental stewardship. The program would increase public awareness of the environmental, ecological, and water-saving benefits of native plants while supporting the City’s efforts to reduce water demand, enhance local biodiversity, and promote sustainable landscape practices throughout the community.
City Council Focus Areas: The proposed pilot incentive program would advance the Leadership 2026-09-16 Item #12D Page 1 of 5
2 and Stewardship of Our Environment, Shoreline and Open Space Focus Area, specifically Goal
4.1, which supports the implementation of the native plant ordinance. The program would increase community awareness of native landscaping and encourage voluntary use of native plants and support long-term compliance with the ordinance.
FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The fiscal impact is included in the City’s current budget, and no additional funding is being requested. On June 17, 2026, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2026-48 adopting the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 operating budget and capital improvement program appropriations. Staff estimates the cost of implementing this incentive program at two City-sponsored events will not exceed $1,000 per event. The implementing cost of the event includes staff time, the purchase of the plants, and the printing of the educational materials and informational plant tags. The cost is specifically included in the Development Services Department Advanced Planning Division budget.
BACKGROUND:
On March 25, 2026, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing and unanimously voted to introduce Ordinance No. 2026-07, the Native Plant Ordinance (NPO), with two modifications. As part of the discussion, staff presented four potential incentive programs to help support implementation of the NPO and encourage property owners to convert their existing nonnative landscapes into southern California native landscapes. The four proposed programs included: (1) a native plant coupon program; (2) a city native plant rebate program; (3) a native plant yard signs distribution program; and (4) city-sponsored educational workshops. Staff requested direction from the City Council regarding which incentive programs should be further evaluated. The City Council directed staff to research and analyze the proposed incentive programs and develop high-level budgetary estimates by the next budget meeting.
On April 15, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted City Council Ordinance No. 2026-07 establishing the Native Plant Ordinance. During the hearing, staff informed the City Council that additional time would be required to conduct research, coordinate with other city departments, and develop cost estimates for the proposed programs. As a result, additional funding for the incentive programs was not included as part of the April 8, 2026, budget workshop and was anticipated to return to the City Council at a later date for consideration.
On May 15, 2026, the NPO became effective. Since then, staff has been implementing the ordinance and developing supporting educational resources. These efforts have included updating the City's website to include a new NPO frequently asked questions (FAQ) document, a revised landscape certification form, a revised landscape submittal checklist for new development applications, and the creation of a compliant landscaping plan.
In addition, staff has updated the NPO webpage to include a variety of native plant resources to assist both landscape professionals and community members with ordinance compliance and native landscape design. Staff has also compiled and published information regarding existing incentive and rebate programs available within the City and throughout the region to support the installation of native and water-efficient landscapes.
ANALYSIS:
The purpose of the native plant incentive program is to encourage residents and property owners 2026-09-16 Item #12D Page 2 of 5
3 to convert existing nonnative landscapes into native landscapes, in addition to increasing public awareness, providing educational opportunities, and offering residents hands-on experience with native plants. Staff has been coordinating with other city departments, such as Finance and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, to evaluate the requirements for implementation and feasibility of the four native plant incentive programs. Through this evaluation, staff has determined that the four proposed programs would require a significant level of administrative oversight, including program management, application processing, resident verification, vendor setup, rebate processing, and ongoing staff resources, making them infeasible to implement with existing staffing resources and the cost of administration outweighing the benefit.
Based on these conclusions and in consultation with other departments, staff has developed an alternative incentive program which would be to distribute southern California native plants at City-sponsored events (events described below). The proposed alternative incentive program would include the direct procurement of a specified number of southern California native plants and hosted distributions to residents at two City-sponsored events. This approach provides a more efficient and cost-effective method of promoting native plants and combines community engagement and education while minimizing the City’s administrative burdens.
The proposed pilot incentive program would occur only within the 2026/2027 fiscal year budget cycle, unless the City Council decided to continue the native plant incentive program. The program would consist of the City purchasing approximately 200 qualifying southern California native plants for distribution to community members at each of the two City-sponsored events.
Each plant would include an informational plant tag providing basic care and maintenance guidance that the City would create and print. The plant tags would include, at a minimum, information regarding sun exposure requirements, watering needs, general maintenance recommendations, and plant-specific characteristics. In addition, a QR code would be included on the plant tag that would take you to the City’s NPO webpage.
In addition to the plant tags, staff would provide supporting educational materials at both events listed below, including information on the benefits of southern California native plants, resources to learn about different installation techniques and long-term landscape maintenance practices.
These materials are intended to reinforce the hands-on experience provided at the Citysponsored events and support successful establishment of native plants in residential and commercial landscapes.
Staff anticipates the total cost of the plants, printing of the plant tags and printing of the educational materials to be no more than $1,000 per event. The cost is included in the Development Services department Advanced Planning divisional budget, meaning no additional funds need to be allocated.
Leucadia Oaks Native Plant Demonstration Garden Installation and Grand Opening (October 17, 2026)
The first City-sponsored event proposed for the incentive program would be at the installation and grand opening of the native plant demonstration garden at Leucadia Oaks Park which is anticipated to take place October 17, 2026. The primary purpose of the garden is to demonstrate how native plants can be utilized to increase biodiversity, improve quality, enhance soil health, and reduce water use through efficient irrigation practices. The demonstration garden is intended to create a “learning landscape” to educate park users, residents and property owners for how native plants should be selected, planted, maintained and irrigated. The demonstration garden will include an educational sign that will provide information about these southern California native 2026-09-16 Item #12D Page 3 of 5
4 plants, in addition to highlighting the ecological benefits of native plants, including support for pollinators and wildlife habitat, while showcasing the aesthetic value and practicality of southern California native species. Additionally, the demonstration garden will provide staff and maintenance contractors with an opportunity to gain experience in the care and management of native plant landscapes within a public park setting.
Staff envisions the event operating similarly to the City's annual Arbor Day celebration, with community members invited to participate in planting activities within the garden. The opening event would include an educational booth, family-friendly activities, distribution of southern California native plants, and a community plant/seed swap. The event would also provide educational materials and resources to support the successful installation and maintenance of native plants within residential and commercial landscapes. During public outreach and hearings, community members expressed strong interest in opportunities to exchange and share native plants and seeds that were propagated in their own yards. In response to this feedback, the proposed community plant/seed swap would provide a venue for residents to share native plants/seeds and support the broader use of native landscaping throughout the community.
The event supports the implementation of the NPO and the City's ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, urban forestry, and to support local pollinators. In addition, it aligns with the City's efforts to maintain its recognition as a Tree City USA community and a Bee City USA affiliate by encouraging community engagement in native plant education, habitat enhancement, and responsible environmental practices.
Arbor Day (Spring 2027)
The second City-sponsored event proposed for the incentive program is the City’s annual Arbor Day celebration, which is held each April. Arbor Day has become an established community event that promotes environmental stewardship, urban forestry, and public engagement through handson participation in tree planting activities throughout City parks. At the City’s 2026 Arbor Day event, hosted by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department, community volunteers planted approximately 50 trees throughout Hawk View Park. The trees included a variety of native species that will contribute to increased biodiversity, expanded tree canopy coverage, enhanced shade, and other long-term environmental benefits for park visitors and future generations. In addition to the tree planting activities, the City distributed 25 native tree seedlings to community members who participated in the event, providing residents with an opportunity to incorporate native tree species into their own landscapes.
Building upon the success of the 2026 event, staff proposes incorporating the pilot plant incentive program into the 2027 Arbor Day celebration, and participating community members would receive both a native tree and native plant. The native trees will come from Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department budget while the native plants would come from development services budget. Similar to the demonstration garden opening event, Arbor Day provides an ideal opportunity to educate residents about the environmental, ecological, and water-conservation benefits of native plants while offering direct, hands-on engagement with native landscaping practices. The event would also provide educational materials and resources to support the successful installation and maintenance of native plants within residential and commercial landscapes. The event would also include educational booths, family-friendly activities, distribution of southern California native plants, and an opportunity for community members to exchange plants through a community plant swap.
Outreach and Engagement
Staff anticipates beginning community outreach approximately a month prior to the event to 2026-09-16 Item #12D Page 4 of 5
5 maximize public awareness and encourage community participation. Outreach efforts will include promotion through the City's online event calendar, City email notifications (Constant Contact), official social media channels, City Council newsletter, and the City Manager will also mention the event at City Council meetings prior to the scheduled dates. Additional communication methods may be utilized, as appropriate, to further promote the event and maximize public engagement.
Next Steps
If the City Council directs staff to proceed with implementation of the proposed alternate incentive program, staff would coordinate with the Finance Department and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department to develop and implement the program at the two City events. Staff efforts would include obtaining any necessary special event permits, preparing educational and outreach materials related to southern California native plants, coordinating the procurement and delivery of plants (using a local nursery), identifying appropriate storage and distribution locations, and developing event logistics for the successful distribution of plants at the proposed City-sponsored events.
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