Residents urge Plattsburgh Common Council to adopt No Mow May on city property

Two residents urged the Plattsburgh Common Council to adopt a No Mow May policy for city-maintained green spaces during the council’s public comment period.

Jackie Strack, who identified herself as a resident of 2 Shamrock Court in Plattsburgh, told the council that “pollinators are vital to the health of our environment” and asked the council to “enact No Mow May across green spaces maintained by the city.” She said the city joined the national No Mow May initiative in 2022 and that extending the practice to city property would “set an example for even more homeowners” and help pollinator populations.

Jonathan Quiorella, of 22 Cronella Street, spoke in support of the No Mow May advocacy and thanked the council for earlier remarks about river and hydrology work. Quiorella described ecological risks tied to lost breeding seasons for insects and called attention to the broader environmental context raised during the meeting.

Mayor Hughes acknowledged receiving correspondence and said staff would follow up with commenters. No formal agenda item to adopt a No Mow May ordinance or resolution appeared on the meeting record excerpt; the comments were part of the public comment period and did not by themselves change city policy.

Council staff did not present or ask for a motion on a No Mow May policy during the recorded portion of the meeting. Council members did not take a vote tied to the public comments during the excerpt.

The comments were recorded during the council’s public comment period, separate from the subsequent consent and business agenda where the council considered contracts, capital projects and budget adjustments.