Pledge Status
Active
Pledge Date
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Program Year
2024
Links and Uploads
View Links and UploadsAction Item Report
Community Spotlight
Village Hall Demonstration Garden
To commit to the Mayors Monarch Pledge, the Village Hall Demonstration Garden was revitalized in 2020 and is now flourishing with a diversity of native plants. This garden is being monitored with the Field Museum's Community Science Monarch project.
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Milkweed Giveaway
In 2022, the Village gave away 514 native trees, 180 shrubs, 250 native plants, and over 600 seed packets containing milkweed and sunflowers. Throughout 2023, the Village provided 520 native trees/shrubs and 295 native plant plugs.
Free Signs for Monarch Gardens
In Northbrook, residential gardens that sustain Monarchs during their annual migration are eligible to receive a “Let’s Make Northbrook a Monarch Way Station” garden sign.
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Earth-Friendly Food Growing Education
Northbrook installed a vegetable garden between our Village Hall and Library that provides educational workshops to inform residents on how to grow food without pesticides. The harvest is donated to our local food pantry.
Sustainable Pest Management Policy
Beginning summer 2023, all Village-maintained landscaping shall comply with a sustainability policy to curb the usage of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.
Invasive Species Removal Programs
In 2023, Northbrook's invasive species removal program was continued with the development of a Village webpage with invasive plant identification and removal guidelines. As well, staff began a more robust enforcement program when proper
Learn MoreAction Items Committed for 2024
- Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
- Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)
- Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.
- Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs.
- Engage with gardening leaders and partners (e.g., Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Nature Centers, Native Plant Society Chapters , other long-standing and influential community leaders) to support monarch butterfly conservation.
- Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.
- Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
- Plant milkweed and pollinator-friendly native nectar plants along roadsides, medians, or public rights-of-way.
- Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.
- Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
- Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
- Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
- Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
- Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
- Launch, expand, or continue one or more ordinances to reduce light pollution to benefit urban wildlife.
Past Pledge Archive
| Mayor Name | Program Year | Pledge Date | Achievement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Village President Kathryn Ciesla | 2024 | 3/28/2024 | View Pledge | |
| Village President Kathryn Ciesla | 2023 | 2/1/2023 | Monarch Champions | View Pledge |
| Village President Kathryn Ciesla | 2022 | 1/19/2022 | Leadership Circle | View Pledge |
| Village President Kathryn Ciesla | 2021 | 12/4/2020 | Leadership Circle | View Pledge |
