Community Profile

City of Pacifc Grove

Pacific Grove, CA

Nick Smith

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Known as “Butterfly Town, U.S.A.,” Pacific Grove has a long history of protecting the overwintering habitat of the Monarch butterfly. Through stewardship of the Monarch Grove Sanctuary, habitat restoration, native plantings, and community education, the city works to support monarchs and other pollinators along California’s central coast. By maintaining healthy overwintering sites, encouraging pollinator-friendly landscapes, and partnering with local organizations and volunteers, Pacific Grove is committed to conserving monarch habitat and promoting pollinator health for future generations.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

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 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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

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.
Initiate or support community science (or citizen science) efforts that help monitor monarch migration and health.
Host or support a monarch butterfly festival that is accessible to all residents in the community and promotes monarch and pollinator conservation, as well as cultural awareness and recognition.
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
Mayor Nick Smith	2026	3/9/2026	View Pledge
Mayor Nick Smith	2025	12/9/2024	View Pledge
Mayor Bill Peake	2023	3/27/2023	View Pledge
Mayor Bill Peake	2022	3/28/2022	View Pledge
Mayor Bill Peake	2021	3/12/2021	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report