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Marshfield staff ask council to allow May exemption for 'No Mow May' pollinator initiative
Summary
City staff recommended forwarding an amendment to the municipal weed control code to the common council to create a permanent May 1–31 exemption for grass height requirements in support of No Mow May.
City staff asked the Marshfield Board of Public Works on May 20, 2025, to forward an amendment to municipal code chapter 11 (public nuisance, weed control) to the common council that would create a permanent exemption of grass-height requirements from May 1 through May 31 each year to support the No Mow May pollinator initiative.
Tim Rasmussen presented the proposed change, saying the exemption would "allow community groups an opportunity to promote the topic" and act as "a reminder to residents early in the growing season the importance of their decisions" to support pollinator habitat. Staff included a redline of the ordinance and an updated version and recommended forwarding the municipal code changes to the common council for consideration.
Board member Natasha said, "I just wanna say I think this is, it's a great idea for efficiency and for staff time. I always register for the NoMo May, but I'm sure there's people who participate who don't register." She added the policy could reduce staff time spent bringing the issue back to the board each season. Another board member, Gary, noted this topic had been before the board in recent years and said making the exemption permanent would mean the board "would no longer be voting on whether or not we wanna go forward with" No Mow May each year, which Rasmussen confirmed was part of the efficiency goal.
Rasmussen told the board the measure "was reviewed, prior to bringing it here by, the city attorney." He also summarized compliance experience from prior years: "As far as the compliance, it has been successful. Nothing, nothing out of the norm for, a large increase come June 1. We do get complaints both on both sides of people against No Mow May and obviously we do get support for No Mow May. But no issues on our end for for, cleaning up anything that private the property owner didn't take care of."
One board member asked whether the ordinance language should be rearranged (an editorial/phrasing question); Rasmussen said he was "open to suggestions." The board approved the staff recommendation to forward the updated ordinance language to the common council. The transcript records a motion to approve and a second; the motion carried.
