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Board discusses LOMO/No Mow outreach, encourages early public communications and grass-height guidance
Summary
Members discussed the board’s LOMO spring–summer outreach (No Mow May / living lawn promotion), plans for public messaging and registration, and practical tips for residents and lawn care to support conservation aims.
Oshkosh’s Sustainability Advisory Board spent part of its March 3 meeting reviewing plans for the board’s spring–summer outreach, referred to in materials as “LOMO” and discussed in the context of the No Mow May initiative. Staff said materials from the previous year are available and can be reused or updated; board members asked that messaging be clearer and suggested multiple channels including social media, press releases, the local paper and public-access TV.
Board members noted the value of voluntary registration to collect contact information for participants, while stressing registration should not be mandatory. The board discussed pros and cons of asking people to register (advantages: ability to email participants; disadvantages: possible discouragement of participants who don’t want to register). Members suggested using the existing No Mow May contact list from prior years to reach returning participants and offering an email blast for sign-ups.
Practical lawn-care tips were raised for public guidance. Members discussed mower height limitations (some mowers top out at 3–4½ inches while the ordinance’s upper limit discussed in the meeting is 8 inches) and recommended messaging such as setting mowers to the highest setting and avoiding cutting more than half the grass height at once. Members suggested including concise “one-liners” for Facebook and short FAQ language explaining the benefits of taller grass for pollinators and water conservation.
The board agreed staff would check the timing used last year and set a deadline for material finalization; a staff member said she would check when materials went out last year and send a follow-up email with a deadline. Members also discussed coordinating with UW Extension for educational content and local media to widen reach.
Ending: Staff will compile last year’s materials and send a scheduling deadline; board members recommended clear, practical guidance (highest mower setting, avoid cutting more than half the height) and multiple outreach channels to inform residents, especially previous registrants.
