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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2021 0721 CCSA REG ITEM 10JCITY OF MOORPARK, 
CALIFORNIA City Council Meeting of July 21, 2021 ACTION ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 2021-4031. (ROLL CALL VOTE: UNANIMOUS). BY B. Garza. J. Consider Resolution Supporting the Preservation and Enhancement of Pollinator Habitat in the City of Moorpark. Staff Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 2021-4031 supporting the preservation and enhancement of pollinator habitat in Moorpark. (Staff: Chris Ball, Senior Management Analyst) Item: 10.J. MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Jeremy Laurentowski, Parks and Recreation Director BY: Chris Ball, Senior Management Analyst DATE: 07/21/2021 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Supporting the Preservation and Enhancement of Pollinator Habitat in the City of Moorpark SUMMARY Staff is requesting that the City Council adopt a resolution supporting efforts to preserve and enhance pollinator habitat, including participation in the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge. BACKGROUND Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are a critical part of a healthy ecosystem and an integral contributor to worldwide agricultural productivity, contributing to the production of over 30% of the food and beverages we consume. However, scientific data shows that pollinator populations are in decline in many parts of the world, putting agricultural productivity and the health of natural ecosystems at risk. In North America numerous wild pollinator species are experiencing declines, including native bee and butterfly species. The observed decline of the iconic monarch butterfly has been particularly acute over the past several decades. The monarch population east of the Rocky Mountains has fallen by as much as ninety percent, while less than one percent of the western monarchs that overwinter in coastal California remain. Monarch scientists attribute this population decline to degradation and loss of summer breeding habitat in the United States, and loss of winter habitat in south-central Mexico and coastal California. Most adult monarchs only live for a few weeks, searching for food in the form of flower nectar, for mates, and for milkweed on which to lay their eggs. However, the generation that hatches in late summer undertakes a fall migration from inland areas of the United States to overwinter in south-central Mexico and coastal California. This migratory Item: 10.J. 185 Honorable City Council 07/21/2021 Regular Meeting Page 2 generation lives upward of eight months and their transcontinental migration has inspired awe among scientists and citizens alike. Monarchs, like all butterflies, have a different diet during their larval caterpillar phase than they do as winged adults. As caterpillars, monarchs feed exclusively on the leaves of milkweed. North America has several dozen native milkweed species with which monarchs coevolved and upon which they rely to complete their life cycle. As adults, monarchs feed on nectar from a wide range of blooming native plants, including milkweed. Cities, towns, counties, and communities can play a significant role in saving the monarch butterfly. Communities like Moorpark that are situated between coastal overwintering sites and inland breeding grounds can support butterfly populations by protecting and planting pesticide-free native milkweed and nectar plants to support monarchs during their migrations. Participation in programs like the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge (Monarch Pledge) provides resources and opportunities to help local jurisdictions implement and showcase their actions. Ultimately, the preservation of monarch habitat is about preserving and promoting healthy, diverse native plant communities that support all pollinator species and benefit the entire native ecosystem. DISCUSSION Supporting the native ecology in Moorpark is not a new practice for the City. Recent landscape renovation projects along Tierra Rejada Road, Spring Road, Ridgecrest Drive and Championship Drive incorporated native drought-tolerant flowering plants in the landscape design. Additionally, approximately every other year, staff makes improvements to the natural area at Country Trail Park by overseeding with a California native seed mix. The natural area is approximately three acres in size and was originally an open turf area that was converted to native landscaping during the drought in 2015. The City also contracts with a live bee removal specialist to manage unwanted beehives/colonies on City property through relocation instead of extermination to help preserve local bee populations. On March 31, 2021, the City of Moorpark signed the Monarch Pledge, a nationwide initiative that encourages cities and municipalities to create and preserve monarch habitat and educate citizens about how they can make a difference at home. Participation consists of taking an annual pledge and identifying several actions to focus on during the program year. The following actions were identified for the 2021 program year: • Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs. • Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap. • Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the City’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans. 186 Honorable City Council 07/21/2021 Regular Meeting Page 3 On Saturday, May 1, 2021, the City held its annual Moorpark Earth Festival and Arbor Day Celebration (Earth Festival), which included a native seed and tree giveaway, and distributed outreach materials to educate the community about monarch conservation. Additionally, staff intends to add California native milkweed seed to the seed mix during the scheduled renovation of Country Trail Park next spring. Staff is also requesting that the City Council adopt the attached resolution in support of the preservation of native pollinator habitats. This resolution not only supports the City’s ongoing efforts, including participation in the Monarch Pledge, but also provides a foundation for future initiatives including, but not limited to, adding pollinator habitat conservation to the list of desired outcomes of the upcoming Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting a resolution supporting participation in the Monarch Pledge. A nominal amount of staff time is required for annual reporting related to the Monarch Pledge. The native seed giveaway that was implemented during the Earth Festival cost the City approximately $100 and was subsidized by annual sponsorship revenue. There was no cost to the City for the tree giveaway, as the trees were provided by Boething Tree Land and are included in the lease agreement for use of the City’s property. There is also no net cost increase associated with the installation of milkweed seed at Country Trail Park, as $2,000 is already included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2021/22 budget for overseeding with a California native seed mix. COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE This action does not support a current strategic directive. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 2021-____ supporting the preservation and enhancement of pollinator habitat in Moorpark. Attachment: Draft Resolution No. 2021-_____ 187 ATTACHMENT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-_____ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING THE PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF POLLINATOR HABITAT IN MOORPARK WHEREAS, butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are a critical part of a healthy ecosystem, and a critical contributor to worldwide agricultural productivity; and WHEREAS, populations of pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly, have experienced significant declines in recent decades; and WHEREAS, scientific studies attribute the population decline to a variety of factors including degradation and loss of native habitats, lack of forage, and pesticide exposure; and WHEREAS, the City of Moorpark recognizes that human health ultimately depends on well-functioning ecosystems and that biodiverse regions can better support food production, healthy soil and air quality and can foster healthy connections between humans and wildlife; and WHEREAS, the City of Moorpark can demonstrate its support for pollinators by maintaining pollinator habitat on City-managed land and by encouraging residents to plant pollinator-friendly native and ornamental plants. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City of Moorpark will take steps to preserve, restore and enhance safe and healthy pollinator habitat, including, but not limited to: • Support existing pollinator habitats at City-managed land, and identify appropriate locations for creating and managing habitat, potentially including parks, open spaces, roadsides and around facilities. • Support and engage in efforts to educate the broader community about pollinator habitat conservation and the actions the City is taking, including participation in programs such as the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. • Where appropriate, integrate pollinator conservation into City plans, such as the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 188 Resolution No. 2021-_____ Page 2 SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21st day of July, 2021. _____________________________ Janice S. Parvin, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Ky Spangler, City Clerk 189