Comments and Typos Regarding Agenda Item C.1 22-530 Adoption of the 2022 California Building Standards Code. Page - 1
DAVID GAUGHEN
7456 Evergreen Drive
Goleta, CA 93117
Telephone: (805) 985 – 7229
Email: [email protected]
November 15, 2022
To: The Mayor and Council Members
130 Cremona Drive, Suite B
Goleta, CA 93117
Subj: Comments and Typos Regarding Agenda Item “C.1 22-530 Adoption of the 2022 California Building Standards Code,” meeting date November 15, 2022
Dear Madam Mayor and Council Members:
RECOMMENDATION
Under “ALTERNATIVES” of the Staff Report, please employ option 1) Amend the ordinance and reintroduce it.
Typos and Comments RE: International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Section 302.4 (A)
Presented below, a screenshot of IPMC Section 302.4 (A) whereas the staff report reads as follows (see page 16): “302.4 WEEDS Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plan growth in excess of 18 inches. Noxious weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plans and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided that this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.” In short, the word “plan” should read as “plant” and “annual plans” should read as “annual plants.”
Comments and Typos Regarding Agenda Item C.1 22-530 Adoption of the 2022 California Building Standards Code. Page - 2 Additionally, I am concerned that this section is lacking extra terms that could easily confuse specialty plants such as buckwheat, rice, oats, and other grains into the category of “Noxious Weeds” since to the untrained eye they resemble grasses and can grow in excess of 36 inches. For example, buckwheat, a cover crop that adds nitrogen to soil, looks like a weed and grows to 36” and is used to replace nitrogen- based fertilizers. If this annual plant were planted in parkways or on premises to add nitrogen to soil and allowed to grow to full maturity at 36”, either a City official or a concerned citizen could report this desirable plant as a violation (once the ordinance is passed) since it may appear as a type of grass. I guess it could be argued that growing grains and cover crops could be classified as cultivated flowers and gardens such as cover crop gardens, grain gardens, etc.
Furthermore, does this section include parkways in the definition of “premises and exterior property” that residents do not own but the City has control over regarding such items as signage, encroachment permits, etc.?
Nonetheless, please correct the typos and seriously consider adding additional plant terms in an attempt to avoid confusion.
Thank you for your time,
David Gaughen