The City of Victoria is looking at restrictions on the planting of pollinating trees to alleviate reactions by people with allergies.
On Thursday council asked staff to report back on options and the potential cost of adding fragrance-free and low pollen plants in the city, especially around playgrounds. The discussion was referred from Tuesday when the cityB次元官网网址檚 parks department gave a budget presentation.
Coun. Charlayne Thornton Joe brought a motion forward stemming from conversations at the cityB次元官网网址檚 accessibility working group. The idea, she said, has come up frequently in their meetings.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think weB次元官网网址檙e going to get to the point that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be throughout the city, but perhaps [we could] highlight a playground area,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think we need to start to add that consideration.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Ben Isitt said heB次元官网网址檇 like to see a report on how to balance the concerns of accessibility with having enough pollinating trees.
Thornton Joe first brought up the issue of allergen-friendly trees, in the context of a new downtown plan, at the Oct. 26 committee of the whole meeting. In an interview that day, she said allergies are an accessibility barrier to some members of the public.
B次元官网网址淲hether itB次元官网网址檚 pollen, whether itB次元官网网址檚 things in cleaning products, it can affect them B次元官网网址� [and] trigger B次元官网网址� respiratory or nasal issues,B次元官网网址� she said, adding it can be difficult for people with allergies to enjoy public spaces.
Placing high-fragrant or high pollen-count trees next to a playground might not be a good idea, she added, if it meant children with allergies could be excluded from playing there.
