Model Resolution

Two resolutions are presented here as samples to serve as a starting point for writing one for your community.

• We suggest preparing a resolution tailored to your community’s needs and preferences by researching local  sustainability, native plants or relevant green initiatives consistent with the goals of the DuPage Monarch Project which can be included
• It is important that the Park District Board and Director, Environmental Concerns Committee, Village Board, Mayor, and/or Village Manager know the resolution can be modified to fit local conditions
• No formal reporting on implementation is required, no expenditures are mandated
• Each municipality, park district or other public entity may implement the resolution as they choose though it is suggested certain actions be considered
• Suggestions for how communities can become more monarch friendly

1. Plant a demonstration butterfly garden with care given to include milkweed species on city or park district owned land in a location with good foot traffic. Include signage explaining the monarch’s life cycle and identifying the plants.
2. Include information about milkweed, monarchs, nectar plants, pollinators and how to reduce pesticide usage on village TV channels, in newsletters, on facebook, in mailings and on websites
3. Feature a monarch themed float in annual parades
4. Offer monarch related projects to Eagle Scouts
5. Include native milkweed and nectar plants in ornamental plantings on public land
6. Include native milkweed and nectar plants in local naturalized areas
7. Feature monarchs and other pollinators in annual sidewalk art displays
8. Host showings of movies about monarchs
9. Form partnerships for monarch themed events
10. Host a native plant sale, post information about local native plant sales on your web site
11. Remove milkweed from the list of noxious plants
12. Integrate monarch conservation into future conservation and sustainability planning

     

SAMPLE RESOLUTION 1

   Sustainability and Support for the DuPage Monarch Project

     WHEREAS, the 2014 Village of Winfield Comprehensive Plan states that sustainability, green development, and conservation policies are key community development policies; and

     WHEREAS, the Village of Winfield code allows and promotes native landscaping which reduces emissions and pesticide/fertilizer run off and provides wildlife corridors; and

WHEREAS, the Village of Winfield promotes health and wellness, which includes an active connection to the environment and use of area greenspace, naturalized areas, parks, regional trails, and the Forest Preserve lands; and

     WHEREAS, flooding and stormwater management are an ongoing concern for Winfield area businesses and residents and native planting and greenspace help mitigate these conditions; and

WHEREAS, the DuPage Monarch Project has selected the monarch butterfly as a symbol of habitat and greenspace loss and the associated rise in flooding, environmental degradation, and pollution; and

     WHEREAS, the Village of Winfield, located in north eastern Illinois, has long been on the annual monarch butterfly’s migration route of thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada and has provided monarch caterpillars with native milkweed species, their sole source of food; and

     WHEREAS, Illinois designated the iconic monarch butterfly as the official state insect in 1975 as the result of lobbying by Illinois schoolchildren; and

     WHEREAS, scientific studies point to the rapid decline of the monarch butterfly due to the loss of milkweed habitat needed to lay their eggs and for their caterpillars to eat, resulting from development, land management practices, and chemically-aided agriculture in the United States and Canada; and

     WHEREAS, because the decimation of pollinators, including the North American monarch, which serves as an iconic species, has potential negative consequences for natural ecosystems as well as for human food production, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently studying the species to determine if it should be listed under the Endangered Species Act; and

     WHEREAS, on a national level conservation organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have undertaken efforts to reinvigorate milkweed and other nectar-producing plants to help restore monarch habitat in open spaces and suburban and urban gardens; and

WHEREAS, the Mid-America Conservation Strategy has identified a monarch habitat restoration target of an additional 1.3 billion stems of milkweed by 2038 which will sustain a resilient population size; and

WHEREAS, the Illinois Monarch Project is developing a state-wide monarch conservation plan calling for 150 million new stems of milkweed, Illinois’ share of the Mid-America Conservation Strategy; and

     WHEREAS, because there are many different species of milkweed in the U.S., it is important to recognize that only native milkweed is vital to the restoration and survival of the monarch habitat in Illinois; and

     WHEREAS, DuPage County Forest Preserve District, River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club, The Conservation Foundation and Wild Ones of Greater DuPage, and over 14 DuPage County units of government have passed resolutions supporting habitat restoration and the DuPage Monarch Project; and

WHEREAS, DuPage Monarch Project signatory organizations, communities, and units of government are encouraging communities to plant native milkweed and valuable nectar plants where appropriate; 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE BOARD OF WINFIELD, ILLINOIS:
The Village will improve and increase available monarch habitat through the identification of village-owned land where native milkweed species and nectar plants can appropriately be incorporated into existing and new plantings; make educational materials available to homeowners about the monarch life cycle and where homeowners can purchase attractive, site appropriate milkweed species for residential landscaping; and protect pollinators by reducing the use of pesticides on city owned land while also encouraging residential and business property owners to reduce pesticide use.

Sample Resolution 2

WARRENVILLE PARK DISTRICT DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLNOIS

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO WORK WITH THE DUPAGE MONARCH PROJECT TO IMPROVE AND INCREASE AVAILABLE MONARCH HABITAT

WHEREAS, the City of Warrenville code allows native landscaping which reduces storm water, emissions and pesticide/fertilizer run off; and

WHEREAS, the Park Districts Environmental Policy calls for the Park District to explore pesticide and fertilizer-free techniques for maintaining open spaces where feasible; and

WHEREAS, the Warrenville Park District, located in north eastern Illinois, has long been on the annual monarch butterfly’s migration route of thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada and has provided monarch caterpillars with native milkweed species, their sole source of food; and

WHEREAS, Illinois designated the iconic monarch butterfly as the official state insect in 1975 as the result of lobbying by Illinois schoolchildren; and

WHEREAS, scientific studies point to the rapid decline of the monarch butterfly due to the loss of milkweed habitat needed to lay their eggs and for their caterpillars to eat, resulting from development, land management practices, and chemically-aided agriculture in the United States and Canada; and

WHEREAS, because the decimation of pollinators, including the North American monarch, which serves as an iconic species, has potential negative consequences for natural ecosystems as well as for human food production, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently studying the species to determine if it should be listed under the Endangered Species Act; and

WHEREAS, on a national level conservation organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have undertaken efforts to reinvigorate milkweed and other nectar-producing plants to help restore monarch habitat in open spaces and suburban and urban gardens; and

WHEREAS, because there are many different species of milkweed in the U.S., it is important to recognize that only native milkweed is vital to the restoration and survival of the monarch habitat in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, the Field Museum, DuPage County Forest Preserve District, the River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club and Greater DuPage Wild Ones, a native plant advocacy group, are encouraging communities to plant native milkweed and valuable nectar plants where appropriate

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF WARRENVILLE, ILLINOIS:

The Executive Director is directed to work with the DuPage Monarch Project to improve and increase available monarch habitat through the identification of park district owned and leased land to:

• Identify and certify existing qualifying areas that are planted to encourage monarch and pollinator habitat
• Conduct an inventory of where native milkweed species and nectar plants can appropriately be incorporated into existing and new plantings and, create at least one new monarch way station on park district owned or leased land that meets Monarch Watch certification criteria.
•  Encourage residents to provide monarch friendly habitat on their own property by providing a program about the crisis and encourage individuals to plant appropriate native milkweed waystations and pollinator plants.