HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/18/2018 - STAFF REPORTS - 1J P PAM S.
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CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
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DATE: April 18, 2018 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION'S MONARCH PLEDGE
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Office of Sustainability
SUMMARY
The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission has commenced on a project to bring
back a habitat and increase the number of monarch butterflies in Palm Springs and the
Coachella Valley. Increasing the number of monarchs in the Coachella Valley is
important, as they are significant pollinators for local fruit, nut and vegetable growers.
To implement this project Sustainability Commission has formed an ad hoc committee
to seek the support of the City of Palm Springs, community partners, and
neighborhoods to support this project. One way for the City of Palm Springs to commit
to create a habitat for the monarch butterfly and to educate citizens about how they can
make a difference at home and in the community is by taking the National Wildlife
Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge.
At its Regular Meeting on February 20, 2018, the Sustainability Commission
unanimously approved the recommendation that City Council participate in the National
Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, committing to both restore habitat in the
City of Palm Springs and encourage our citizens to do the same.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Mayor of Palm Springs, or designee, to take the 'Mayors' Monarch
Pledge."
BACKGROUND:
The monarch butterfly is known for its migration every year from Canada and the
eastern, central and western United States to the central mountains of Mexico. Palm
Springs is on the west coast flyway for monarchs heading to and from Mexico.
Unfortunately, the monarch butterfly is disappearing. Over the last twenty years, the
population of monarch butterflies has declined by 90%. While scientists are not certain
what is causing them to vanish, they suggest that there may be a variety of factors.
These include reduced habitat and food source as a result of farmlands becoming
rMM NO.'"
City Council Staff Report
April 18, 2018-- Page 2
National Wildlife Foundation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge
subdivisions, along with severe weather, climate change, disease, deforestation and the
use of herbicides and pesticides (Cornell University doctoral study and National
Academy of Sciences report).
Like all butterflies, monarchs lay their eggs on select plants, called "host plants." For
monarchs in Palm Springs, desert milkweed (Asclepias subulata) is their only host plant.
Studies show that milkweed across the United States declined by 58% from 1999 to
2010, which has critically affected the monarch population. As the populations of bees
and other pollinators decrease, monarch butterflies play an even more significant role
as pollinators for our locally grown source of nuts, fruits and vegetables.
There are four steps to taking and implementing the pledge.
1. Take the Pledge. Commit to restoring habitat in Palm Springs and encouraging
our citizens to do the same by completing an online pledge from with the National
Wildlife Federation.
2. Specify Your Actions. Work to identify at least 3 specific actions that Palm
Springs will initiate in the next year. There are 24 actions grouped into three
categories: 1) Communications & Convening; 2) Program & Demonstration
Gardens; and, 3) Systems Change. A detailed list of actions is provided on
ATTACHMENT 1.
3. Take Action. After taking the pledge and specifying which actions Palm Springs
will take over the next year, it's time to start taking action. Over the next several
months, National Wildlife Federation will share best practices for cities through
their online resources section, occasional email updates, social media, and
webinars.
4. Report Progress. Once we've begun to take action we'll have to provide annual
reports on the actions being implemented. The reporting process is estimated to
take only 5-20 minutes.
By following through with three or more actions, such as issuing a proclamation to raise
awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly or planting a demonstration
garden at City Hall, Palm Springs can join over 260 cities and municipalities in helping
this magnificent but vulnerable insect. Below are examples of actions and
accomplishments in other cities.
• San Antonio, one of two cities that has become a Monarch Champion City
(meaning they've completed all 24 Mayor Monarch Pledge action items), held
two festivals to create awareness and celebrate Texas' state insect.
• In Fayetteville, Arkansas, the city's Parks and Recreation Department grew
milkweed plants to give to local schools. When butterfly season comes around
City Council Staff Report
April 18, 2018 -- Page 3
National Wildlife Foundation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge
these plants will be a wonderful teaching tool to bring a more vivid learning
experience to students.
In Denver, the Mile High City created a demonstration garden at City Hall and
planted milkweed in unused lots, turning potential eyesores into habitat for
monarchs.
Eight California cities have taken the Mayor's Monarch Pledge. These include Desert
Hot Springs, Garden Grove, Norco, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Oakland, Ojai,
and San Luis Obispo.
The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission and the City of Palm Springs have been
leaders on the environment by establishing critical legislation like the Leaf Blower
Ordinance, and policies such as the Sustainability Management Plan. The Mayor's
Monarch Pledge provides a new avenue for the City to continue that commitment to
nature.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Approval and implementation of this recommendation will have a positive impact on the
environment by creating and preserving habitat for monarch butterflies whose
population has declined by roughly 90 percent in the last 20 years. Milkweed is the only
plant on which monarchs lay their eggs and where the caterpillars become butterflies.
Furthermore, the recommended action is not a "project" for purposes of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as that term is defined by CEQA guidelines
(Guidelines) section 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact upon the city as a result of this recommended action.
SUBMITTED:
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Jay V ra , Director David H. Ready, Esq.,Ph.D.
Com ity & Economic Development City Manager
Attachment:
1. Mayors' Monarch Pledge Action Items
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ATTACHMENT 1
Mayors' Monarch Pledge Action Items
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Mayors' Monarch Pledge Action Items
Mayors and local or tribal government chief executives who have taken the Mayors' Monarch Pledge
must commit to implement at least three of the 25 following action items within a year of taking the
pledge. At least one action must be taken from the"Program & Demonstration Gardens' section.
Mayors and local government chief executives taking more than eight actions will receive special
recognition as part of the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Leadership Circle. NWF will
follow up with all mayoral points of contact with a quarterly survey(1/1,4/1,7/1, 10/1)to monitor
progress. Please visit www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge to take the pledge and access resources.
Communications&Convenins:
1) Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the
species' need for habitat.
2) Launch a public communication effort to encourage citizens to plant monarch gardens at their
homes or in their neighborhoods.
3) Communicate with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and
nectar-producing plants.
4) Convene city park and public works department staff and identify opportunities for revised
mowing programs and milkweed/native nectar plant planting programs.
5) Convene a meeting with gardening leaders in the community to discuss partnerships to support
monarch butterfly conservation.
Program &Demonstration Gardens:
6) Host or support a native plant sale or milkweed seed giveaway event.
7) Facilitate or support a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort.
8) Plant a monarch-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent location.
9) Convert abandoned lots to monarch habitat.
10) Plant milkweed and native nectar plants in medians and public rights-of-way.
11) Launch a program to plant native milkweeds and nectar plants in school gardens by engaging
students,teachers and the community.
12) Earn recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by expanding your action plan to include other
wildlife and habitat conservation efforts through a program like the NWF Community Wildlife
Habitat program
13) Create a monarch neighborhood challenge to engage neighborhoods and homeowners'
associations within the city to create habitat for the monarch butterfly.
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14) Initiate or support citizen-science efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
15) Add milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens.
16) Expand invasive species removal programs to make it possible to re-establish native milkweed
and nectar plants to the landscape.
17) Host or support a city monarch butterfly festival.
Systems Change:
18) Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants in city weed/landscaping ordinances (if
applicable).
19) Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
20) Increase the percentage of native plants,shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping
ordinances and encourage use of milkweed where appropriate.
riate.
21) Direct city property managers to consider the use of native milkweed and nectar plants at city
properties where appropriate.
22) Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city's Park Master Plan,Sustainability Plan,
Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
23) Change landscape ordinances to support integrated pest management and reduced use of
pesticides and insecticides.
24) Adopt pesticides practices that are not harmful to pollinators.
25) California Specific: Pass a resolution to protect over-wintering monarch butterfly habitat on
public and private lands.
Sign the pledge at www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge