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PUBLIC COMMENT #1 <br />From: Joshua Cooperman <br />Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2022 4:32 PM <br />To: Dean Johnson <deanj@Louisvilleco.gov> <br />Subject: Bee City USA and No Mow May <br />Dear Dean, <br />I sent the following email to City Council. Could you share this email with PPLAB members and <br />Ember Brignull (whose email I do not have) as well as any other City staff who might be <br />interested. Thanks so much. <br />Best, <br />Josh <br />Dear members of the Louisville City Council, <br />At this week's Parks and Public Landscaping Advisory Board meeting, the Board discussed the <br />possibility of Louisville becoming a Bee City. Bee City USA (beecit, u�g) is an initiative of <br />the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation (xerces.or ) in which cities receive Bee City <br />certification for their efforts to protect bees and other invertebrates. The initiative is quite similar <br />to the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program in which Louisville has participated for <br />many years. The Board was very enthusiastic about Louisville becoming a Bee City, and I <br />understand that the Board will be in touch about moving forward with this initiative. <br />At this meeting I pointed out that Bee City USA also promotes No Mow May <br />(beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/). No Mow May is precisely as it sounds: throughout the month of <br />May, individuals, associations, businesses, and municipalities voluntarily forego mowing grass <br />to allow spring flowers to flourish so that bees and other invertebrates can take advantage of <br />these flowers' spring bounty. The Board also expressed support for Louisville participating in <br />this initiative. <br />I am wondering if City Council is interested in formally celebrating No Mow May. <br />City Council could declare next month to be No Mow May, and City staff could develop some <br />basic communications. <br />No Mow May would nicely complement the Sustainability Advisory Board's gas -powered lawn <br />equipment trade-in event on 14 May, held in conjunction with the Regional Air Quality Council <br />as well as the City of Lafayette and the Town of Superior. <br />Thanks for considering my suggestion. <br />Best, <br />Josh <br />5 <br />