Committee settles on 2030 target and directs outreach to retailers and landscapers

Committee members debated staggered versus unified compliance dates and settled on 2030 as a single target date to help public education and compliance.

Councilor King argued a unified date would make outreach clearer: "I do feel like it would make a public education campaign a lot easier if it was all 1 date... a really well publicized date year in advance." Several councilors recommended the building and sustainability departments lead outreach. Councilor Davis's red-line language requires city departments to "conduct outreach to inform commercial landscaping companies, retailers, large property owners, and property managers of the requirements and timelines of this ordinance." The committee also discussed contacting commercial landscapers within a 10-mile radius and exploring subsidies or Mass Save–style programs to ease transition costs.

No new funding was committed in committee; Councilor Smith noted the Mass Save program is sunsetting and urged urgency for residents who may rely on rebates. Committee members said outreach should start immediately if the ordinance advances.