HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4 - 20150303 Bee Safe City Memo
MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
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DATE: March 3, 2015 REGULAR ITEM # 4 AGENDA ITEM: Becoming a Bee Safe City
SUBMITTED BY: Alyssa MacLeod, Taxpayer Relations & Communications Coordinator
THROUGH: Dean Zuleger, City Administrator
REVIEWED BY: Lake Elmo Park Commission
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS:
- Introduction of Item ............................................................................. City Staff
- Report/Presentation……………………………………………………City Staff
- Questions from Council to Staff ............................................. Mayor Facilitates
- Call for Motion ............................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Discussion ....................................................................... Mayor & City Council
- Action on Motion .................................................................... Mayor Facilitates
POLICY RECOMMENDER: Lake Elmo Park Commission FISCAL IMPACT: No immediate fiscal impact. Minimal costs may be incurred to implement accompanying action items; costs would be covered by parkland dedication funds. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: A new standard is being passed in cities throughout the world to support the rapidly declining bee population caused by colony collapse
disorder. These standards have just recently been gaining traction in the Twin Cities metro area; with Shorewood as the first city in the metro to pass the resolution, followed by Minneapolis and Stillwater, who is currently working on theirs. The resolution outlines the reasons why bees are necessary to agriculture and are in danger, and
aims to position Lake Elmo as a leader in Bee-Safe practices. City Council is respectfully requested to pass a resolution endorsing bee-safe policies and procedures in the Lake Elmo community. The recommended motion is as follows:
“Move to adopt Resolution No. 2015-13, affirming the City’s commitment to endorse “bee-
safe” policies and procedures.”
City Council Meeting
March 3, 2015
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: The Lake Elmo Park Commission first discussed the possibility of becoming a bee-friendly city in November 2014. At their February 2, 2015 meeting, the Lake Elmo Park Commission unanimously recommended a bee-safe resolution for the consideration of the City Council. The resolution outlines the reasons why bees are necessary to agriculture and are in danger, and aims to position Lake Elmo as a leader in Bee-Safe practices. An
accompanying action list was also devised an approved for council’s consideration. Proposed action items would not have a significant fiscal or procedural impact on current maintenance practices.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (SWOT): Strengths The City of Lake Elmo would be proactive in its approach to protect and encourage the health of pollinator species Weaknesses NA
Opportunities Lake Elmo would be considered a leading community in the Twin
Cities metro area to commit to bee-safe practices. Threats NA RECOMMENDATION: City Council is respectfully requested to approve the Bee-Safe
resolution. The recommended motion is as follows:
“Move to adopt Resolution No. 2015-13, affirming the City’s commitment to endorse “bee-
safe” policies and procedures.” ATTACHMENTs: 1. Bee-Safe City Resolution No. 2015-13 2. Resolution Action Items