City Council Meeting Date: April 1st, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Risi Karim, Assistant to the City Administrator
Title
Consider Resolution Proclaiming Less Mow May in the City of Northfield for 2025.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is asked to adopt a Resolution approving the Less Mow May initiative for 2025.
Summary Report:
The City has rebranded No Mow May to Less Mow May. Less Mow May is an effort to support pollinators who emerge from hibernation or migrate to Minnesota in early spring and are in deep need of nectar and pollen for food.
During the month of May a temporary suspension for the enforcement of portions of the City Code relating to Turf Grass and Weed management will be put into place, allowing participating residents to refrain from mowing their lawns from May 1 until May 31st, 2025 without penalty.
This temporary suspension would only apply to residential lawns, not business or city-owned greenspaces. However, the City has self-selected areas of Oddfellows Park to participate in the initiative during the month of May.
To support a successful effort, Communications staff has set up a registration portal for “Less Mow May” via the city website so that interested residents can register their address and receive a lawn sign to display during the month of May. Registration will be open to owner-occupied properties and renters with landlord consent. This registration portal will allow the city staff to review who is in compliance with the ordinance and resolution. On June 1, the city will allow a 2-week grace period for participating properties to come into compliance before taking any enforcement action. Full enforcement will return on June 15, 2025.
The Environmental Quality Commission passed a motion of support for this initiative at their March 19th Commission meeting.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
• May 1, 2025 Less Mow May Begins
• June 9, 2025 Full enforcement of City code will return