Res 2016- 01 Declaring City a Pollinator-Friendly CommunityCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
12ESOLUTION 2016-01
RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY OF MENI)OTA HEIGHTS
TO BE A POLI,INATOR-FRIENDLY COMMiJNITY
WI�REAS, bees and other pollinators are a necessary component of a healthy ecosystem and food
system, providing pollination of plants in order to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits; and
WF�REAS, pollinator populations are in sharp decline due to an ongoing loss of habitat as a result of
human land practices, which is coupled with a simultaneous large-scale expansion of insecticide use by
homeowners, landscapers, property managers and farmers; and
W�REAS, neonicotinoid and other systemic insecticides have been shown to cause illness and death to
bees and poliinators; and
WHEREAS, alternative land management practices are available that dramaticaily increase pollinator
forage while decreasing maintenance costs; and
WI�REAS, the monetary and social cost of maintaining pollinator-fi•iendly landscapes can be less
expensive the than costs associated with maintaining chemically- t�•eated monocrop landscapes; and
WHEREAS, many Mendota Heights residents and businesses are pledging to manage their land in a
pollinator-friendly way; and
WI�REAS, acting in a pollinator friendly manner is not expected to u�liibit any potential treatments for
Bmerald Ash Borer infestation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT I2ESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights,
Minnesota, that the City of Mendota Heights is hereby declared a Pollinator- Friendly Community, and that the
City celebrates current policies and practices that protect and support pollinator health by minimizing the use
of insecticides.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Mendota Heights urges all Mendota Heights
property owners, residents, businesses, institutions and neighborhoods to become rnore pollinator-friendly by
adopting practices including:
-Committing to avoiding the use of insecticides, including systemic insecticides, on their property; f
-Avoiding the planting of flowering piauts which are treated with systemic insecticides;
-Planting more pollinator-supporting farage on their property, and adopting organic or chemical-free
lawn and landscaping practices.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Mendota Heights this Sth day of Januaiy, 2016. '
ATTEST• Sandra Krebsb , Mayor
� !
Lorri Sm' , City Clerk