Title
Resolution Designating Ann Arbor, Michigan a BEE CITY USA®
Memorandum
Attached for your approval is a resolution to designate Ann Arbor, Michigan as a BEE CITY USA®
As a BEE CITY USA® community the City would be committing to:
o Annually celebrate National Pollinator Week
o Publicly acknowledge the City commitment through educational events, publicizing it on the city’s website and recognizing it on a street sign
o Designate a City Commission and City staff to coordinate and prepare educational events and materials to enhance pollinator awareness, and the health and habitat of bees.
This designation must be annually applied for and requires submission of a report on the previous year’s events and activities for renewal.
The goals of BEE CITY USA® are consistent with the City of Ann Arbor's Sustainability Plan, Natural Features Plan, and PROS Plan.
Links for more information
Bee City USA webpage: <http://www.beecityusa.org>
Fish and Wildlife Services webpage: <https://www.fws.gov/Pollinators/Index.html>
Department of Agriculture webpage: <http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/>
Staff
Prepared by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Mary Joan Fales, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Sponsored by: Council Members Briere, Krapohl, Warpehoski, Grand and Mayor Taylor
Body
Whereas, The goal of BEE CITY USA® is to promote healthy, sustainable habitats and communities for bees and other pollinators;
Whereas, Thanks to the tremendous diversity of honey and native bees and other pollinators we have very diverse dietary choices rich in fruits, nuts and vegetables;
Whereas, Honey and native bees and other pollinators around the globe have experienced dramatic declines due to a combination of habitat loss, use of pesticides, and the spread of pests and diseases, with grave implications for the future health of flora and fauna;
Whereas, Communities have the opportunity to support honey and native bees and other pollinators on both public and private land;
Whereas, Supporting honey and native bees and other pollinators fosters environmental awareness and sustainability, and increases interactions among community stewards such as commercial and backyard beekeepers, farmers, children, educators, Master Gardeners, plant nurseries, municipalities, neighborhoods, and garden suppliers and clubs;
Whereas, Ideal pollinator-friendly habitat:
o Provides diverse and abundant nectar and pollen from plants blooming in succession.
o Provides clean water for drinking, nest-building, cooling, diluting stored honey, and butterfly puddling.
o Is pesticide-free or has pesticide use carried out with least ill effects on pollinators.
o Is comprised of mostly, if not all, native species of annual and perennial wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and grasses because many native pollinators prefer or depend on the native plants with which they co-evolved.
o Includes, where possible, designated pollinator zones in public spaces with signage to educate the public and build awareness.
o Provides for safe and humane removal of bees when required.
o Provides undisturbed spaces (leaf and brush piles, un-mowed fields or field margins, fallen trees and other dead wood) for nesting and overwintering for native pollinators;
Whereas, The goals of BEE CITY USA® are consistent with the City of Ann Arbor's Sustainability Plan, Natural Features Plan, and PROS Plan; and
Whereas, In order to be designated a BEE CITY USA® community, the City must commit to:
o Identify a City service area as the BEE CITY USA sponsor and designate a staff member from that service area as the sponsor liaison
o Assign facilitation of the Ann Arbor BEE CITY USA program to a City commission, which encourage and coordinate local pollinator habitat and awareness activities and serve as the intermediary between citizenry and the City government on matters of enhancing pollinator awareness, health and habitat and assist City staff in coordination and preparation of events and reporting requirements
o Annually celebrate National Pollinator Week with educational events, pollinator habitat plantings or restoration, proclamations or promotions that showcase the City of Ann Arbor’s commitment to enhancing pollinator health and habitat
o Submit a report annually of the previous year’s BEE CITY USA® activities with its renewal application for community designation as a BEE CITY USA®;
and
Whereas, City Administration supports application for community designation as a BEE CITY USA® to enhance understanding among local City staff and the public about the vital role that pollinators play and what the public can do to sustain them
RESOLVED, That City Council approve application for and if approves accepts designation as a BEE CITY USA® community,
RESOLVED, That City Council designate the Environmental Commission, which has the responsibility under City Code to help set goals and policies for the city and community to continuously improve the natural and built environment, to serve as the designated intermediary for BEE CITY USA®; and
RESOLVED, That City Council directs the City Administrator to designate the appropriate Service Area and employee as sponsor and liaison respectively and take such other actions required to publicly acknowledge the City of Ann Arbor as a designated BEE CITY USA®