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Join us in promoting the wise conservation of pollinators and their habitat!

Bee City USA - Phoenix Oregon 

RESOLUTION NO. _____________

A RESOLUTION of [your city council or county commission of your city and state]

designating [your city or county] as a BEE CITY USA® affiliate.

WHEREAS, the mission of BEE CITY USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of almost 90% of the world's flowering plant species, by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides; and

WHEREAS, thanks to the more than 3,600 species of native bees in the United States, along with introduced honey bees, we have very diverse dietary choices rich in fruits, nuts, and vegetables; and

WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators have experienced population declines due to a combination of habitat loss, poor nutrition, pesticides (including insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides), parasites, diseases, and climate change; 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 growers; and

WHEREAS, ideal pollinator-friendly habitat (A) Is comprised of mostly native wildflowers, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees blooming in succession throughout the growing season to provide diverse and abundant nectar and pollen, since many wild pollinators prefer or depend on the native plants with which they co-adapted; (B) is free to nearly free of pesticides, as many pesticides can harm pollinators and/or their habitat; (C) comprises undisturbed spaces (leaf and brush piles, unmown fields or field margins, fallen trees and other dead wood) for nesting and overwintering; and (D) provides connectivity between habitat areas to support pollinator movement and resilience; and

WHEREAS, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a long-term approach to maintaining healthy landscapes and facilities that minimizes risks to people and the environment by: identifying and removing the causes of pest problems rather than only attacking the symptoms (the pests); employing pests' natural enemies along with cultural, mechanical, and physical controls when prevention is not enough; and using pesticides only when no other method is feasible or effective; and

WHEREAS, supporting pollinators fosters broad-based community engagement in environmental awareness and sustainability; and

WHEREAS, [your city or county] should be certified a BEE CITY USA community because [this is optional section for you to highlight anything your community has already done or plans to do to conserve pollinators]; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to enhance understanding among local government staff and the public about the vital role that pollinators play and what each of us can do to sustain them, [your city or county] chooses to support and encourage healthy pollinator habitat creation and enhancement, resolving as follows:

1.     The [your city or county] [appropriate department name] Department is hereby designated as the BEE CITY USA sponsor.

2.     The [appropriate position title] of [department above] is designated as the BEE CITY USA Liaison.

3.     Facilitation of [your city or county]’s BEE CITY USA program is assigned to the [committee name] Committee. 

4.     The [committee name] Committee is authorized to and shall:

a.    Celebration: Host at least one educational event or pollinator habitat planting or restoration each year to showcase [your city or county name]’s commitment to raising awareness of pollinator conservation and expanding pollinator health and habitat.

b.    Publicity & Information: Install and maintain at least one authorized BEE CITY USA street sign in a prominent location, and create and maintain a webpage on the [your city or county name] website which includes, at minimum a copy of this resolution and links to the national BEE CITY USA website; contact information for your BEE CITY USA Liaison and Committee; reports of the pollinator-friendly activities the community has accomplished the previous year(s); and your recommended native plant species list and integrated pest management plan (explained below).

c.     Habitat: Develop and implement a program to create or expand pollinator-friendly habitat on public and private land, which includes, but is not limited to, Identifying and inventorying [City or County]’s real property that can be enhanced with pollinator-friendly plantings; creating a recommended locally native plant list to include wildflowers, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees and a list of local suppliers for those species; and, tracking (by square footage and/or acreage) annual area of pollinator habitat created or enhanced.

d.     Pollinator-Friendly Pest Management: Create and adopt an integrated pest management (IPM) plan designed to prevent pest problems, reduce pesticide use, and expand the use of non-chemical pest management methods. 

e.     Policy & Plans: Establish, through the [City or County], a policy in the [Plan name] Plan of [City’s or County’s]Comprehensive Plan to acknowledge and commit to the BEE CITY USA designation and review the [Plan name] Plan and other relevant documents to consider improvements to pest management policies and practices as they relate to pollinator conservation, identify appropriate locations for pollinator-friendly plantings, and consider other appropriate measures.

f.      Renewal: After completing the first calendar year as a BEE CITY USA affiliate, each February, apply for renewal of [your city or county name]’s BEE CITY USA designation following the format provided by BEE CITY USA, including a report of the previous year’s BEE CITY USA activities, and paying the renewal fee based on [your city or county name]’s population.

ADOPTED by the [City Council or County Commission] of the [your city or county name, state], this ___ day of ____________________, 20__.

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