Board re-adopts No Mow May program; member records lone no vote

The Board of Public Works on March 17 approved Resolution 2025-11 to designate May as No Mow May and to suspend enforcement of city weed-control rules from May 1 through May 31.

Street Superintendent Tim Rasmussen presented background, saying the city adopted the program in 2023 and 2024 and that registrants sign up through an online registry. Rasmussen reported 253 participants in 2023 and 189 in 2024 and said the program has had few weed‑ordinance problems. He told the board the program incurs little direct city cost and that other municipalities have codified similar temporary suspensions into ordinance language.

Board members discussed whether to make No Mow May permanent and whether the period should be adjusted to better match local pollination timing. One board member said recent research suggested bees emerge from the ground in May and that not mowing in May helps pollinator emergence. Another member said agricultural contacts suggested pollination in the area occurs later and proposed extending the period into June; that board member also said he would again register a formal no vote on the motion despite supporting the program's goals.

The board approved Resolution 2025-11 by voice vote; the motion carried. The street superintendent said he would, if directed, prepare an ordinance update to make the practice an annual part of city code and would provide educational material to registrants.