Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the City to become a certified Bee City. The cost of the certification is $500 annually and will be funded through existing appropriation in the Mayor’s Office.
Title
Authorizing the City of Madison to become a certified Bee City per the requirements outlined by BEE CITY USA® and authorizing the Madison Food Policy Council and the Food Policy Coordinator to undertake certification requirements as needed.
Body
WHEREAS, the mission of BEE CITY USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of three-quarters of the world's plant species, by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides; and
WHEREAS, due in part to the tremendous diversity of wild native bees, along with the honey bees that were brought to the United States from Europe in the 1700s, we have very diverse dietary choices rich in fruits, nuts, vegetables and even dairy products--one in every three bites of food we eat is courtesy of insect pollination; and
WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators have experienced population declines due to a combination of habitat loss, use of pesticides, and the spread of pests and diseases; and
WHEREAS, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, honey production in Wisconsin dropped by 21.2% and fell from 10th to 15th among the top honey-producing states from 2013 to 2014; and
WHEREAS, the Rusty Patched Bumblebee - a resident species at Olbrich Gardens and once commonly seen in 28 states, including Wisconsin, as recently as the 1990’s - has become the first bumblebee species to be listed as endangered under federal law; and
WHEREAS, pollinator-friendly communities can benefit local and regional economies through healthier ecosystems, increased vegetable and fruit crop yields, and increased demand for pollinator-friendly plant materials from local nurseries and growers; and
WHEREAS, ideal po...
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