Waukegan committee backs drafting ordinance for voluntary 'No Mow May' to help pollinators

Waukegan — Members of the Environmental and Sustainability Committee discussed creating a voluntary 'No Mow May' program that would allow residents who display a participation sign to refrain from mowing during May without facing code-enforcement citations.

The committee’s chair described No Mow May as "a movement to allow people to not mow their grass in May," intended to provide food and habitat for early-season pollinators. Committee members and one staff speaker emphasized the ecological rationale: "The biggest thing I've heard about is that some of the bees that nest in the ground are starting to come out in May," said Noel, noting mowing at that time can kill ground-nesting bees and reduce pollination for early flowers.

Committee members characterized the proposal as voluntary. Participants would place a visible sign (the chair noted similar signs are available for about $10) so code-enforcement officers can identify properties that are intentionally not mowed for the month. The committee discussed whether the policy should be implemented by resolution or ordinance; Alderman Felix asked whether the program could be a resolution or would require an ordinance, and members expressed a preference to have corporate counsel draft an ordinance that would formally protect sign-displaying participants from citations for the month of May.

No formal vote was taken to adopt a program at the meeting. Instead, the committee agreed to request corporate counsel prepare an ordinance for review so staff can promote the program in spring. Committee members said participation would be optional and normal mowing rules would resume June 1.

Next steps: corporate counsel will draft an ordinance and return it to the committee for consideration and potential referral to full council. The committee did not set a date for the ordinance’s return.