Title
Proclamation declaring support for the National Wildlife Federation's Mayor's Monarch Pledge.
Summary
In recent years, the monarch butterfly populations have plummeted at an alarming rate. This decline threatens to deprive future generations of the wonder and beauty of the monarch. As recently as 1996, the monarch population wintering in Mexico was more than 1 billion, turning forests into seas of orange and black. Last year, the wintering population numbered only about 56 million and gathered on fewer than three acres of forest.
For monarch conservation efforts to succeed, there will need to be cooperative efforts to protect, restore and create monarch habitat all along the monarch migration path. With the goal of collaboration in mind, the National Wildlife Federation created the Mayor's Monarch Pledge, a tool to get local governments involved in monarch recovery and to engage urban communities in conservation efforts. Since the announcement of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge in September 2015, over 100 communities have signed on to create monarch habitat in their communities. The communities that sign the pledge commit to take at least three actions in favor of monarch recovery. These actions range from issuing a proclamation to help raise awareness to reducing the use of pesticides and insecticides. The Pflugerville Parks & Recreation Department has already identified actions that it is either currently taking or ones that can be easily implemented. Those are:
1) Place this proclamation on a city council agenda to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species' need for habitat.
2) Plant a monarch-friendly demonstration garden at the Rec Center or another prominent location. There already is a garden at the Library.
3) Plant milkweed and native nectar plants in parks and greenbelts. Pecan Park and portions of Bohls Park have been planted with native wildflower plant species.
4) Add milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens. Areas of the Pecan Street Community Garden include these plants.
5) Expand invasive species removal programs to make it possible to re-establish native milkweed and nectar plants to the landscape. This is a component of the Drop-by-Drop Program.
6) Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping projects, private projects and encourage use of milkweed where appropriate. This is a another component of the Drop-By-Drop Program.
7) Launch a public communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods.
8) Communicate with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
9) Host or support a native plant sale or milkweed seed giveaway event at the Pfarmer's Market.
10) Ask other city departments to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city properties where appropriate.
Attached are a couple of articles from the National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA) Parks & Recreation Magazine that discuss the monarch butterfly.
Deadline for City Council Action
No action to be taken.
Staff Recommendation
Conduct the presentation.
Drafter
James Hemenes
Parks & Recreation Director