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Item No: 8G MOUN-DS ViEw City of Mounds View Staff Report Meeting Date: April 25, 2022 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Don Peterson, Director of Public Works/Parks and Recreation Item Title/Subject: Resolution 9582, Supporting the "No Mow May" Initiative - 2022 Introduction: On July 24, 2017, the City Council approved Resolution 8797 endorsing Pollinator Friendly Policies and Procedures for the City of Mounds View. Background/Discussion: In 2020, residents of Appleton, Wisconsin, an affiliate of the Bee City USA, became energized about No Mow May and the City Council agreed to suspend their weed ordinance for the month of May. Over 435 registered property owners participated in the campaign and Lawrence University, an affiliate of Bee Campus USA, partnered with Appleton to conduct research on the impact of No Mow May on pollinators. Researchers collected data on the abundance (the number of individuals) and species richness ( the number of species) of flowers and bees found in unmown yards of subset of the properties participating in No Mow May, Then compared those numbers to the abundance and richness of flowers and bees found un nearby parks that are regularly mowed. The findings were impressive! Not only were the abundance and richness of bees higher in the yards and properties participating in No Mow May, but they were way higher. Participating yards has three -times higher bee species richness and five -times higher bee abundance that nearby parks that had been mowed. This study was published in 2020 and is available for free download online. Source: Beecityusa.org Strategic Plan Strategy/Goal: Community Engagement with Pollinator Friendly Lawns Financial Impact: No financial Impact to the 2022 Budget. The Park Maintenance Fund, 100-4360-1230, includes $250.00 for Park Signs. Recommendation: If the City Council would like to encourage residents to participate in No Mow May, Staff recommends the City Council approve the attached resolution suspending any enforcement of City Code 91.020 regarding the length of grass for the month of May. Staff would create a data base in order to track the properties and start a social media campaign in order to register the properties and provide signage. To be funded from account 100-4360-1230 which includes $250.00. Respectfully submitted, L, 6t,"-- ;_e_�� Don Peterson, Director of Public Works/Parks and Recreation 1HV �lluullub Vlull Vlblull A Thriving Desirable Community