City Press Release Published Aug 21, 2015
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/WCMS1P-147750
Today the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Betsy Hodges took significant
action in the fight to protect the sharply declining local bee population. The
City Council passed a resolution that the mayor signed which commits
Minneapolis to increasing bee friendly plants in the city and decreasing
pesticide use.
The resolution also declares Minneapolis a pollinator-friendly community and
encourages residents and businesses to adopt pollinator-friendly practices such
as planting habitat for bees and avoiding pesticides that are known to kill
them.
Pollinator populations are in sharp decline because of an ongoing loss of
habitat coupled with a simultaneous large-scale expansion of pesticide use by
homeowners, landscapers, property managers and farmers.
Pollinators are a necessary component of a healthy ecosystem and food system,
providing pollination of plants needed to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits.
Local food production is needed to improve the health and food security of
Minneapolis residents, and insect pollination is an essential component of
local food production.
The City commits to making the following improvements to City policies and
practices to increase pollinator forage and decrease pesticide use:
- The Public Works Department will pursue planting more pollinator forage in
appropriate locations (including stormwater management ponds and large land
areas) that are currently turf grass, adopt clear guidelines against the use of
pesticides and pesticide-treated plants, and consider pollinator-friendly
amendments to its land management policy.
- The Community Planning and Economic Development Department will pilot
planting pollinator forage on vacant land it controls and encourage private
developers to incorporate pollinator-friendly plantings into required
landscaping.
- The Property Services Division of the City Coordinator’s Office will pursue
planting more pollinator forage on City facilities. A pilot is already underway
at four Minneapolis Fire Department facilities.
- The Health Department’s Environmental Services Unit will maintain resources
for other City departments including a list of pollinator-friendly plants.
- The Minneapolis Convention Center will incorporate more pollinator forage
into its plantings and phase out the use of “systemic” insecticides (which stay
in the plant).
The City of Minneapolis urges all Minneapolis property owners, residents,
businesses, institutions and neighborhoods to become more pollinator friendly
by adopting practices including:
- Committing to not use pesticides, including insecticides that stay in the
plant, on their properties.
- Avoiding planting flowering plants that are treated with insecticides that
stay in the plant.
- Discontinuing the sale of pesticides and plants that are treated with
insecticides that stay in the plant.
- Planting more pollinator forage on their property and using organic or
chemical-free lawn and landscaping practices.
The State of Minnesota prevents local governments from regulating any matters
concerning pesticides. The City of Minneapolis will continue to advocate at the
State and federal level for increased authority to address the non-agricultural
use of pesticides, and for other pollinator-friendly policies.
More information at:
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2015/08/minneapolis-mn-passes-organic-pollinator-friendly-resolution/
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/WCMS1P-147750
Today the Minneapolis City Council and Mayor Betsy Hodges took significant
action in the fight to protect the sharply declining local bee population. The
City Council passed a resolution that the mayor signed which commits
Minneapolis to increasing bee friendly plants in the city and decreasing
pesticide use.
The resolution also declares Minneapolis a pollinator-friendly community and
encourages residents and businesses to adopt pollinator-friendly practices such
as planting habitat for bees and avoiding pesticides that are known to kill
them.
Pollinator populations are in sharp decline because of an ongoing loss of
habitat coupled with a simultaneous large-scale expansion of pesticide use by
homeowners, landscapers, property managers and farmers.
Pollinators are a necessary component of a healthy ecosystem and food system,
providing pollination of plants needed to grow vegetables, herbs and fruits.
Local food production is needed to improve the health and food security of
Minneapolis residents, and insect pollination is an essential component of
local food production.
The City commits to making the following improvements to City policies and
practices to increase pollinator forage and decrease pesticide use:
- The Public Works Department will pursue planting more pollinator forage in
appropriate locations (including stormwater management ponds and large land
areas) that are currently turf grass, adopt clear guidelines against the use of
pesticides and pesticide-treated plants, and consider pollinator-friendly
amendments to its land management policy.
- The Community Planning and Economic Development Department will pilot
planting pollinator forage on vacant land it controls and encourage private
developers to incorporate pollinator-friendly plantings into required
landscaping.
- The Property Services Division of the City Coordinator’s Office will pursue
planting more pollinator forage on City facilities. A pilot is already underway
at four Minneapolis Fire Department facilities.
- The Health Department’s Environmental Services Unit will maintain resources
for other City departments including a list of pollinator-friendly plants.
- The Minneapolis Convention Center will incorporate more pollinator forage
into its plantings and phase out the use of “systemic” insecticides (which stay
in the plant).
The City of Minneapolis urges all Minneapolis property owners, residents,
businesses, institutions and neighborhoods to become more pollinator friendly
by adopting practices including:
- Committing to not use pesticides, including insecticides that stay in the
plant, on their properties.
- Avoiding planting flowering plants that are treated with insecticides that
stay in the plant.
- Discontinuing the sale of pesticides and plants that are treated with
insecticides that stay in the plant.
- Planting more pollinator forage on their property and using organic or
chemical-free lawn and landscaping practices.
The State of Minnesota prevents local governments from regulating any matters
concerning pesticides. The City of Minneapolis will continue to advocate at the
State and federal level for increased authority to address the non-agricultural
use of pesticides, and for other pollinator-friendly policies.
More information at:
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2015/08/minneapolis-mn-passes-organic-pollinator-friendly-resolution/
