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Smyrna council designates city a Bee City USA affiliate
Summary
Council approved a resolution affiliating Smyrna with Bee City USA to promote pollinator habitat, annual education events, signage, a web page and integrated pest management; staff said the designation will be incorporated into the comprehensive plan.
The City of Smyrna approved a resolution to designate the city a Bee City USA affiliate and authorized the mayor to sign related documents, marking what the mayor said will be the first such designation in Cobb County.
Julie Barwig, a city staff member working with Keep Smyrna Beautiful, outlined Bee City USA's mission to support pollinators and said the designation commits Smyrna to host one educational event each year, install and maintain Bee City signage, create a Bee City web page, and develop and implement programs to create and expand pollinator-friendly habitat on public and private land, along with adopting an integrated pest management plan for inclusion in the city's comprehensive plan. "The mission of Bee City USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators ... by providing them with healthy habitat, rich in a variety of native plants, and free of nearly all pesticides," Barwig said.
Council members thanked Keep Smyrna Beautiful for its work and posed for a photograph at the conclusion of the presentation. The motion to approve was made by Mr. Oglesby and seconded by Mr. Gould; the resolution passed with council members voting in the affirmative, including Councilman Lindley participating remotely.
Why it matters: The designation formalizes Smyrna's environmental commitments around pollinators and integrates pollinator-friendly practices into city planning and maintenance.
