Reformulated ordinance regulating boulevard gardens is heading back to the Decorah City Council

Take two.

The Decorah City council will be asked to approve a revised ordinance that regulates boulevard gardens.  The city's Community Betterment Committee is recommending that an ordinance based on a similar ordinance approved in St. Paul, Minnesota be drafted and presented to the city council at an upcoming meeting.

The new ordinance will spell out specific rules about the gardens.  For instance, no plants can grow higher than three feet above grade; there must be at least a two foot setback from the street; plants near fire hydrants, intersections, alleys and driveways must be no taller than 18 inches.

Committee chair Karen Tjossem urged her fellow committee members Monday night to "do it right."  The new ordinance seemed to have broader support by city council members.  The previous ordinance was supported by four city council members and opposed by three.

There's no word yet whether the new ordinance would be acceptable to Mayor Don Arendt, who has consistently opposed the idea and has promised he would veto any ordinance.