SIERRA VISTA - Native plant protection ordinances already exist in Arizona cities such as Tucson and Marana, and the city's Task Force on Plant Sciences is considering whether similar rules would work here.

Any ordinance should be incentive-based, task force member Don Brush said during Thursday's task force meeting. He added, property owners have to be encouraged to participate, or it's not going to work.

Instead of negative sanctions, the incentives must be positive, task force Chairman Harold Vangilder said. As a city council member, Vangilder said he would oppose an ordinance with negative sanctions.

Incentives could include a reduction in building fees for a new home, Vangilder said. Homeowners who replace their grass with native plants could get a break on their sewer bills.

Task force member Paul Hardy suggested working with developers up front, allowing for a sane proposal with an "ecologically good fit."

"I really think a plant ordinance has to be integrated with a wash ordinance," task force member Kazz Workizer said.

The city does not own all the washes in Sierra Vista, Vangilder said. Some are owned by the state or federal government.

Tucson's plant ordinance encourages the "set-aside method," which requires the preservation of the most viable 30 percent of the site, according to a task force fact sheet. Oro Valley requires the salvage of native plants and replanting on site.

Brush presented the task force with a list of considerations. While existing ordinances tend to be orientated to the salvage of vegetation, protecting existing vegetation is more effective.

The city will draft a "shell" of an ordinance for consideration at the next task force meeting, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15 at 10 a.m., Vangilder said.

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