Workshop Item Bob Fiske, Community Standards Director
Title
Title
No Mow May
end
Background
No Mow May is a conservation initiative first popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom, but which is gaining traction across North America. The goal of No Mow May is to allow grass to grow unmown for the month of May, creating habitat and forage for early season pollinators. This is particularly important in urban areas where floral resources are often limited. (Bee City USA)
Over the past few years, several cities throughout the metro area such as Edina, West St. Paul, Vadnais Heights and Columbia Heights, have been promoting No Mow May and allowing their residents to register and participate in not mowing their lawns during the month of May. Last year there was a lot of media attention given to No Mow May which resulted in multiple inquiries from Blaine residents wondering if the City of Blaine was participating. Due to how late in the spring this question came up there was not sufficient time to bring something forward for official council action. Staff is bringing forward this workshop item to discuss with council if they are interested in supporting No Mow May in 2023, and to provide information as to what it would look like, how it would work, associated costs, and what would need to be done to temporarily modify our tall grass and weed ordinance.
The following group of staff have been working together to compile this information: Community Standards Director Bob Fiske, Neighborhood Services Specialist Blaine Drayfahl, Deputy Public Works Director Nick Fleischhacker, Stormwater Coordinator Megan Hedstrom and Communications Manager Ben Hayle. Based on research of what other cities have done our group developed the following:
• Information and Media - The Communications Department would create an informational web page, online registration system and social media information. Communications would also be responsible for design of any printed materials including handouts and/or yard signs.
• Resolution and Enforcement - The Community Standards Department would create a resolution for the council to adopt which will defer enforcement of our current ordinance for weeds and tall grass on those residents who have registered for No Mow May and display an approved sign.
• City Parks - The Public Works Department has identified several city parks/areas which could be used to participate in No Mow May, they are: Lochness Park (select areas), Laddie Lake (entire park), Hidden Ponds (entire park) and the open lot across from city hall near the community gardens. (Note: The Parks Maintenance division is often challenged to keep up with spring mowing, as much mowing is performed by seasonal employees who don’t start summer employment until some time in June.)
• Costs - If the city funds the signs for the program, it would be an unbudgeted cost. A current price estimate for a 16x24 inch sign with wire stand would be between $8.00 and $10.00 a sign, depending on how many are ordered. Some other cities had signs made and when they ran out, had residents print a sign to display in a window. Others have charged a fee for the sign as part of the registration process. For informational purposes, in 2022 the City of Edina had over 1,100 residents register. (1,100 signs at $10/sign would be an $11,000 cost.)
Below are several websites pertaining to No Mow May for additional information:
University of Minnesota - <https://beelab.umn.edu/no-mow-may>
Bee City USA - <https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/>
Edina, MN - <https://www.bettertogetheredina.org/no-mow-may>
West St. Paul, MN - <https://www.wspmn.gov/946/No-Mow-May>
Pros
• There seems to be interest in the community. In 2022 staff heard feedback on social media and from our Natural Resource Conservation Board regarding interest in a No-Mow-May program.
• The city spaces that are proposed for No-Mow-May do have a variety of plant species, not just turf grass, that would provide definite benefit to bee population by refraining from mowing. This also helps reduce mowing workload in May prior to when Public Works has seasonal staff to assign to mow these spaces.
• Mowing your lawn less allows flowering plants to bloom, providing bees and other pollinators with nector and pollen. Yards that have some clover, dandelions, or violets will provide more benefit to bees than yards that are a monoculture of standard turf grass.
• While letting yard without understory flowering plants grow long doesn’t provided immense benefit to bees, it does provide more habitat and does start the educational process with homeowners and could open the door for more bee-friendly landscaping in the future.
Cons
• Complaints from neighbors are likely. It is probable that some members of the community will not be supportive of the No-Mow-May initiative. Homes that are participating in No-mow-may will be tracked in our permitting system and citations will not be issued even if complaints are received which could provide frustration to some members of the community.
• Many neighborhoods that are covered by HOA’s with yard regulations do not have the understory plants that provide real benefit to pollinators like bees.
• Taking the phrase “No-Mow-May” literally is not necessarily the best way to help bee populations. For example, if you give dandelions a chance to flower, but mow before they go to seed, you can provide resources for pollinators and not increase the spread of weeds. Mowing to prevent seed spread may need to happen during May. For white clover, you may need to mow in May to encourage them to flower again if the flowers are going to seed.
Additional comments for consideration: Staff believes the providing some educational materials to homes that ‘sign up’ for No-Mow-May will be critical to seeing actual success in implementation. Bee Lab at the U of M has some great info we can utilize that is more specific to Minnesota growing.
Questions for Council
1. Is council interested in participating in “No Mow May” in 2023?
• If so a resolution will be brought before the council on April 3rd, 2023 for approval.
2. If there is interest in proceeding, which option would council prefer:
a. A free program for residents, with city-purchased signs, funding source TBD
b. A fee-based program to cover the cost of signs
c. Is there a cap on the amount Council would like to be spent on the program in 2023?
3. Council could also choose to delay this program until 2024, when costs can be planned in the annual budget.
Attachment List
Draft Resolution