Community Profile

City of Dana Point

Dana Point, CA

Jamey Federico

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Dana Point is a beachside community in southern California that is home to over 30,000 residents. Dana Point is named after author/adventurer Richard Henry Dana Jr. who described the area as the "only romantic spot on the coast" in his book Two Years Before the Mast. Dana Point has long been a stop over for the western Monarch Butterfly during their migration, so much so that one of our coastal communities is called Monarch Beach. The City has committed to creating Monarch habitat throughout the community to ensure that Monarch butterflies continue to have a place to rest, relax or call home in Dana Point.

Community Spotlight

Sea Terrace Park

Day one of the 2022 habitat workdays. Volunteers completely cleared room for new native plant growth.

2023 Monarch Butterfly Habitats Reach New Heights

The Monarch Butterfly Habitats program creates pollinator-friendly habitats throughout the city. Incorporating California native plants, many species are returning to Dana Point. In 2023, over 250 community volunteers created habitats, a new record!

2024 Monarch Butterfly Habitats Season is Here!

The City of Dana Point welcomes all volunteers to be a Habitat Helper and create a home in Dana Point for Monarch Butterflies. Access the link below to become a Habitat Helper and create a home in Dana Point for Monarch Butterflies!

Learn More

Action Items Committed for 2024

Communications and Convening ▸

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.
Engage with Homeowners Associations (HOAs), Community Associations or neighborhood organizations to identify opportunities to plant monarch gardens and revise maintenance and mowing programs.
Engage with developers, planners, landscape architects, and other community leaders and organizers engaged in planning processes to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Earn or maintain recognition for being a wildlife-friendly city by participating in other wildlife and habitat conservation efforts (i.e., National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat program).
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.

Systems Change ▸

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.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Mayor Matthew Pagano	2025	1/23/2025		View Pledge
Mayor Jamey Federico	2024	3/30/2024	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Mike Frost	2023	1/17/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Joe Muller	2022	3/4/2022	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Achievement

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report