Honeybee Day (March 25, 2026)Copyrighted
March 16, 2026
City of Dubuque PROCLAMATIONS # 1.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Honeybee Day (March 25, 2026)
SUMMARY: On behalf of the Iowa Honey Producers Association and
Swiss Valley Bee Club.
SUGGUESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proclamation
Page 45 of 811
THE N
v or
UB E
Alasterpiece or the Mississippi
WHEREAS, honeybees and native insects are important as pollinators for a third of the food we eat.
Honeybees are vital in production of over 90 crops grown across the nation, many of
which are in Northeast Iowa. Honeybees contribute significantly to the biodiversity and
food security of our community by assuring the availability of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and
flowers for wildlife providing and estimated $95 million -dollar economic value to Iowa
crops from their pollination; and
WHEREAS, Iowa beekeepers produce 2.6 million pounds of honey a year while Iowans consume over
4 million pounds of honey resulting in importing honey from other states and foreign
countries; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque promotes programs such as "No Mow May", Pesticide and herbicide
reduction in city parks, construction of pocket floral parks in urban areas, encouragement
of ornamental flowers in right of ways, medians and round -a -bouts and the ever growing
Dubuque Farmers Market giving an avenue for local beekeepers to sell local honey to
consumers who enjoy the many health benefits of locally sourced honey; and
WHEREAS, honeybees face serious threats from invasive pests and disease, decreasing bee friendly
habitat, human inattention, variable climate and pesticide and herbicide pressure; and
WHEREAS, the City of Dubuque was one of the first larger cities in Iowa to allow urban beekeeping
and encourages and promotes many types of urban pollination programs with grants,
classes, and clubs. It is now estimated there are over 60 urban beehives in the city of
Dubuque some of which are on city of Dubuque property whose bees are pollinating many
types of trees, plants, flowers and other blooming flora throughout the spring, summer,
and fall.
NOW THEREFORE, I, DAVID T. RESNICK, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS OF DUBUQUE, DO HEREBY
PROCLAIM THE 25TH OF MARCH 2O26 AS
IN THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.
"Honeybee Day"
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the City of Dubuque to
be affixed this 161" day of March 2026.
David T. Resnick, Mayor Pro Tern
Attest:
Adrienne N. Breitfelder, CMC, City Clerk
Page 46 of 811
2026: Submitted by: HR Cook. Accepted by: HR Cook, Deb and Tony Zenner and Chris Puetz.
2025: Submitted and accepted by: HR Cook
2024: Submitted and accepted by: HR Cook
Page 47 of 811