IV.8. Adoption of Proclamation Recognizing April 29 as Arbor Day; Imihy Bean Administration
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: PeggySue Imihy Bean, Management Analyst
Date: July 19th, 2022
Subject: Proclamation for Arbor Day
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Background
Arbor Day dates back to the early 1870s in Nebraska City. A journalist by the name
of Julius Sterling Morton moved to the state with his wife and purchased 160 acres in
Nebraska City and planted a wide variety of trees. Morton spread his knowledge of
trees and stressed their ecological importance to Nebraska. And on January 4, 1872
Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of
the State Board of Agriculture. After the board passed the resolution, more than one
million trees were planted on the first official celebration of the day on April 10, 1872.
Today, Arbor Day is celebrated the last Friday in April. This day represents a hope
for the future with the simple act of planting a tree to emphasize a way to sustainably
protect our planet’s natural resources.
Finally, the City of Hopkins recognizes that trees will continuously play an important
role in our community in providing clean air and water for better healthier
communities, today and future generations.
Next Steps
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a proclamation recognizing April 29 th,
as Arbor Day.
A Proclamation Commemorating Arbor Day
WHEREAS, in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a special day to
be set aside for the planting of trees; and
WHEREAS, trees are an essential resource to our city and the world, trees make our
homes and community more livable and beautiful; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins recognizes that trees can be a solution to combating
climate change, they play an important role in cleaning the air, conserving energy,
producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife; and
WHEREAS, each year people across the country celebrate Arbor Day and pay special
attention to the treasure our trees represent while we as a society become more aware
that human activities, along with acts of nature, threaten our trees, creating the need
for action to ensure the future of our urban forests; and
NOW THEREFORE, I, Patrick Hanlon, Mayor of the City of Hopkins in the State of
Minnesota, along with my fellow Council Members, do hereby proclaim April 29, 2022
to be Arbor Day in the City of Hopkins, and urge all residents to be more aware of the
importance of trees to their well-being, and to participate in tree planning programs
that will ensure a healthy and green city.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the Seal of the City
of Hopkins, Minnesota to be affixed this 19th
of July, 2022
_______________________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor