VII.1. Adoption of Proclamation for No Mow May and First Reading of an Ordinance Temporarily Suspending Chapter 36 of the Hopkins City Code Regarding Maintenance of Vegetation; Imihy Bean
CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2023-036
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: PeggySue Imihy Bean, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager
Date: April 18, 2023
Subject: Adopt Proclamation for No Mow May and First Reading of the Proposed
Temporary Ordinance Suspension for No Mow May
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO ADOPT PROCLAMATION AND FIRST READING OF THE TEMPORARY
ORDINANCE
OVERVIEW
Tonight, per earlier discussion with the City Council on March 21, 2023, the Staff offers a
proclamation for approval and first reading of a temporary ordinance suspension for the
No Mow May initiative.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
• Proclamation for No Mow May in Hopkins
• Temporary Ordinance 2023-1188
Administration
A Proclamation Commemorating No Mow May
WHEREAS, the Hopkins City Council recognizes that bees and other pollinators are
integral to pollination of plants in order to grow a wide diversity of essential foods including
fruit, nuts, and vegetables; and
WHEREAS, pollinator populations are threatened due to habitat loss, neonicotinoid use,
pathogens, and parasites; and
WHEREAS, recent research suggests that bees and pollinators make use of no mow
spaces as key floral resources during early spring in the upper midwestern United States;
and
WHEREAS, “No Mow May” is a community science initiative that encourages residents
to limit lawn mowing practices during the month of May to provide early season foraging
resources for pollinators that emerge in the spring; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins City Council would like to encourage interested residents to
increase pollinator-friendly habitat by encouraging pollinator-friendly lawn-care practices
on their own properties for the month of May during this formative period.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins
hereby continues its efforts to become a pollinator-friendly City by ensuring best
management practices for management of vegetation, and proclaims May 1 through May
31, 2023, as “No Mow May”, and encourages all residents of the city to participate in this
initiative and refrain from mowing their lawns in the month of May to provide vital early
spring flowers and early season foraging resources for bees that emerge from
hibernation, and will support the suspension of mowing ordinances during this time
period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Seal of the City of
Hopkins, Minnesota to be affixed this 18th day of
April 2023
_______________________________________
Brian Hunke, Mayor Pro Tempore
CITY OF HOPKINS
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN
ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1188
ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDING CHAPTER 36 OF THE
HOPKINS CITY CODE REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF VEGETATION
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 36-176, Chapter 36, Article III of the Hopkins City Code is hereby
temporarily suspended from May 1, 2023, to May 31, 2023.
SECTION 2. The effective date of this ordinance shall be the date of publication.
First Reading: April 18, 2023
Second Reading: May 2, 2023
Date of Publication: May 11, 2023
Date Ordinance Takes Effect: May 11, 2023
By: ____________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ATTEST:
______________________________
Amy Domeier, City Clerk