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Council discusses electric-mower rebates, outreach and a proposed "No Mow May" resolution
Summary
A council member urged outreach about a rebate program for battery-powered lawn equipment open through September 2025 and proposed supporting a voluntary No Mow May resolution for private properties; staff said communications channels can publicize the rebate and legal counsel will review the resolution.
Council members discussed two related items on March 20: promoting a rebate for electric lawn equipment and reviving a voluntary "No Mow May" resolution for private properties.
A council member said she had learned of an IEEP rebate program that offers consumer rebates for battery-powered lawn mowers and other small equipment and said the program is open until September 2025. She asked whether the city could inform residents via the city Facebook page, mailers or other communications. "There's an IEEP program that offers rebates to people who purchase electric lawnmowers, and it's open until the end of this year, so September of 2025," she said.
Staff said the city is building a marketing and events committee and could circulate information through social media, community events and an upcoming electric-usage mailer. Beth, a council member involved with communications, and other staff agreed that Earth Day and the citys outreach channels could be used to publicize a rebate opportunity.
Council members also discussed reviving a No Mow May resolution encouraging (but not requiring) residents to delay mowing in May. The draft resolution would apply only to private property and would not impose fines. A council member said the resolution should be tweaked and run by legal counsel; the council agreed to ask staff to have a revised draft returned for the April council meeting. "I'll take care of that and run it through Justin and make sure that it's all legally okay and, ask for it to be added at our April council meeting," a council member said.
Staff cautioned that municipal maintenance operations are complex: converting municipal grounds equipment to battery-powered units involves logistical challenges such as charging and battery management. For homeowner-targeted rebates, staff suggested that advertising through electric bills or social media could be timed to the spring buying season.
No formal vote was taken; staff will prepare a revised No Mow May resolution for the April meeting and circulate rebate information to the communications task group.
