No Mow May (May 2023)Copyrighted
April 17, 2023
City of Dubuque Proclamation(s) # 02.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: No Mow May (May 2023)
SUMMARY: On behalf of No Mow May Dubuque.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Proclamation Supporting Documentation
THF. CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
WHEREAS, insects, especially bees, serve a significant and critical role as pollinators of plants, including
agricultural plants; and
WHEREAS, the ideal pollinator -friendly habitat is one comprised of mostly native wildflowers, grasses,
vines, shrubs, and trees blooming in succession throughout the growing season; and
WHEREAS, the formative period for establishment of pollinator and other insect species and the many
urban wildlife species that depend upon them occurs in late spring and early summer as they
emerge from dormancy and require flowering plants as crucial foraging habitat; and
WHEREAS, multiple sightings of the federally endangered rusty -patched bumblebee have been confirmed
in our city and county, and this species is particularly reliant on early -spring sources of pollen
and nectar; and
WHEREAS, "No Mow May" is a community science initiative that encourages property owners to limit
lawn mowing practices during the month of May to provide early season foraging resources for
pollinators that emerge in the spring, especially in urban landscapes when few floral resources
are available; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque encourages 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; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque's policy allows lawns to be maintained at a height up to eight (8) inches
which supports common flowering plants in lawns, like clover and dandelions, thereby
increasing pollinator habitat.
NOW THEREFORE, I, BRAD M. CAVANAGH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS OF DUBUQUE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE
MONTH OF MAY 2023, AS
"NO MOW MAY"
TO PROMOTE AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CRITICAL PERIOD OF POLLINATOR
EMERGENCE, GENERATION OF CRUCIAL POLLINATOR -SUPPORTING HABITAT, AND EARLY
SPRING FORAGING OPPORTUNITIES. BE IT FURTHER PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY OF DUBUQUE
ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATE IN NO MOW MAY, ALLOWING
POLLINATOR SPECIES TO EMERGE AND EARLY FLOWERING GRASSES AND FORBS TO
ESTABLISH.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused the Great Seal of the City of Dubuque to be affixed
this 17t" day of April 2023.
Brad M. Cavanagh, Mayor
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
2023: Submitted by Ken Bichell and accepted by: Jane Agee