Submitted By
Marcella Bondie Keenan, Chief Sustainability Officer
Reviewed By
A.M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Approve a Proclamation to Declare May as Monarch Butterfly Month
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Overview
Overview
The Month of May is declared as Monarch Butterfly Month in support of the Village’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge initiative, a tri-national partnership between Mexico, the U.S., and Canada to engage communities in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Approve the motion.
Background
May is declared as Monarch Butterfly Month in support of the Village’s participation in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge initiative, a tri-national partnership between Mexico, the U.S., and Canada to engage communities in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation.
Oak Park first participated in this annual pledge in 2017, and issued a Village proclamation and planted monarch-supporting plants on Village property. In 2021, the Village joined local partners, including the Oak Park Public Library, Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, Interfaith Green Network, School District 97, and School District 200), in celebrating the Year of the Butterfly. The Village participated by signing the Illinois Monarch Project Pledge, issuing a proclamation declaring 2021 the Year of the Butterfly, and installing a certified Monarch Waystation at the Public Works Center. The Village continued to support pollinators in 2022 by adopting the Climate Ready Oak Plan, which includes actions to protect and enhance biodiversity, and a commitment to establish thirty percent of Oak Park’s land as green infrastructure or enhanced park management by 2030.
In 2023, the Village re-affirms its commitment to combatting the global crisis of biodiversity decline and species extinction by pledging to initiate the following actions in fulfillment of the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge initiative.
1. Issue a Proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat.
2. Continue the public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. Provide inclusive communications materials that are accessible to community members who speak a language other than English.
3. Engage Village departments and governmental partners to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
4. Maintain the Monarch Waystation at the Public Works Center.
5. Continue to display and expand educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitats.
6. Revise or affirm local ordinances so that herbicides, insecticides, and other chemicals used in the community are not harmful to pollinators, as allowed by State statute.
7. Revise or affirm landscaping ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
8. Bring awareness to the monarch butterfly conservation actions integrated into the Climate Ready Oak Park plan, and continue to integrate monarch butterfly conservation into other Village plans.
9. Revise or affirm ordinances that support reducing light pollution.
Furthermore, the Village affirms its commitment to communicate the symbolism of monarch butterflies, a species whose trans-generational migration crosses three national borders, as an important symbol of a Welcoming Village which treats immigrant community members with respect and dignity, in accordance with the Village’s Human Rights ordinance.
Fiscal Impact
No fiscal impact is associated with the proclamation. Other associated activities have already been budgeted and/or will be reviewed through the Village’s procurement process.
DEI Impact
The interrelated issues of climate change and biodiversity loss disproportionately adversely impact several marginalized communities, including people of color, low-income individuals, individuals with disabilities, children, older adults, and individuals with limited proficiency in the dominant language.
According to the CMAP Community Snapshot for Oak Park <https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/102881/Oak+Park.pdf>, Oak Park has only 1.2 accessible acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, in comparison to an average of 3.57 acres for Cook County as a whole. Additional data collection and analysis are needed to identify potential population-based disparities in access to open space that connects Oak Parkers with native plants and animals. Data collection efforts that involve community science methods provide an opportunity to engage impacted populations. Furthermore, staff plans to engage impacted populations in any physical installation, programs, or policy changes that result from participating in this initiative.
Finally, by acknowledging the importance of the monarch butterfly species, which lives part of its lifecycle in Mexico, endorses DEI principles by honoring the Village’s growing Latino population.
Alternatives
Deny the motion. Seek more information from staff.
Previous Board Action
On February 6, 2017, the Village Board adopted an ordinance amending the Human Rights chapter of the Village code to add Article 7, “Welcoming Village.”
On February 21, 2017, the Village Board approved a motion to approve a proclamation for Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Day (ID 17-428).
On February 8, 2021, the Village Board approved a motion to approve proclaiming 2021 the Year of the Butterfly (MOT 21-26).
On April 24, 2023, the Village Board approved a motion to participate in the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Program.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
The EEC 2023 workplan includes advising on ordinances that support local biodiversity, including landscaping codes and light pollution.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
The Village will communicate the importance of monarch butterflies, pollinators, native plants, and biodiversity efforts throughout the year, and develop and implement community action initiatives.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
Intergovernmental partners have been invited to collaborate on pollinator, native plants, and biodiversity efforts through their respective programs and policies.