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protection, restoration, and/or establishment of pollinator habitat. Broadly speaking, pollinator habitat <br />generally consists of native plants, shrubs and trees. Native species are generally more drought tolerant and <br />require fewer inputs, such as water (irrigation) and chemicals (fertilizers and herbicides). Thus, by <br />establishing more pollinator friendly habitat, the demand on groundwater for irrigation purposes should <br />decrease. Furthermore, the reduced need for chemical application should lower the potential of groundwater <br />and/or surface water contamination from inappropriate application of these products on the landscape. <br />Protecting, restoring, and/or establishing pollinator habitat also creates habitat for a variety of wildlife. <br />Where feasible, conglomerations of pollinator friendly landscapes can become the basis for wildlife corridors <br />and potentially even a greenway corridor. <br />Mayors for Monarchs <br />The City has taken the Mayors for Monarchs Pledge to affirm its support not only for the iconic monarch <br />butterfly, but also for pollinators in general, whose habitat continues to be fragmented and/or destroyed. <br />Figure 4: Mayors for Monarchs Background <br />Mayors for Monarchs <br />Many people may not realize that Monarch butterflies play <br />an important role in pollinating various plants, including many of <br />ow food crops. But their population has declined by more than <br />90% in the last two decades. That is why it is important to create <br />special habitats for these pollinators in our yards and gardens. <br />Recently, the City of Ramsey adopted a <br />resolution to support pollinator initiatives <br />throughout our community. <br />Ramsey Mayor, Sarah Strommen, <br />launched the initiative by signing the <br />Mayors for Monarchs Pledge to support Monarch butterflies in our <br />community by implementing efforts to create, restore, and protect <br />pollinator habitat and encouraging our citizens to do the same in <br />their own backyards. The Mayors for Monarchs Pledge Signing <br />event took place on June 6, 2017 at the Lake Itasca Trailhead in <br />Ramsey. <br />At the pledge signing event Mayor Strommen designated a <br />new "Monarch Trail" along the Lake Itasca <br />Trail corridor. Together with the U.S. Fish <br />and wildlife Service, the City of Ramsey will <br />be restoring six and a half acres of land along <br />this trail to a natural habitat designed to <br />support Monarch butterflies and other im- <br />portant pollinators. <br />Students from Youth First Community of Promise were <br />there to jump-start the project by planting a small section of native <br />plant plugs at this event, which was representative of the larger - <br />scale planting that will happen this fall. <br />Fourth grade students from Ramsey Elementary also con- <br />tributed to the event by creating 150 colorful butterflies, which <br />served as the backdrop for this event and will also be on display in <br />the Ramsey City Hall in honor of National Pollinator Week, <br />June 19 - 25, 2017. <br />If you are interested in learning more about the Monarch <br />butterfly, be sure to check out Ramsey Parks & Recreation's <br />Monarch Lab on July 25. Visit www.cityoframsey.com/ParkEvents <br />for more information on how to register. <br />city of RAMSEY <br />City of Ramsey 2040 Comprehensive Plan Update <br />Land Use Plan <br />Page7of16 <br />