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<br />CASE # 2 <br /> <br />ESTABLISHING TOP SOIL REQUIREMENTS IN CITY CODE <br />By: Chris Anderson, Environmental Coordinator <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />Ramsey has been identified as one of the largest users of non-consumptive water in the metro <br />area. In an attempt to reduce the quantity of water used annually, the City is considering various <br />conservation measures. Some, such as watering restrictions and requiring rain sensors on <br />irrigation systems in multi-family and commercial developments, have been in place and utilized <br />for several years now. However, more needs to be done to ensure adequate quantities of water <br />are available now and in the future. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />The sandy soils found throughout the city do not have much capacity for retaining moisture. <br />Thus, large quantities of water are used each year as irrigation, both for new and existing lawns. <br />One way to increase soil moisture holding capacity (not to mention nutrient retention, reducing <br />soil compaction, and feeding microbial organisms that release nutrients in a form usable by <br />plants) would be to require topsoil over all landscaped areas in new developments. At a Public <br />Works Committee meeting last year, this topic was discussed in some length. The <br />recommendation of the Public Works Committee, which was subsequently ratified by City <br />Council, was that Chapter 9 of City Code be amended to require six (6) inches of topsoil (topsoil <br />would be defined as a sandy loam with at least forty percent [40%] organic matter) in all <br />landscaped areas of new developments and that this be forwarded to the EPB for any additional <br />input. <br /> <br />Both the Public Works Committee and City Council also discussed other measures that could be <br />explored to increase awareness of the importance of water conservation. Other suggestions <br />included increasing education for residents through vehicles such as brochures, internet links for <br />additional information, a conservation booth at the Environmental Expo, and an incentive <br />program for homeowners to retrofit their existing irrigation systems with a rain sensor. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />Staff is recommending that City Code be amended to require SIX (6) inches of topsoil in <br />landscaped areas of all new developments. <br /> <br />EPB Action <br /> <br />Based on discussion. <br /> <br />EPB: 7/23/07 <br />