Community Profile

Pledge Status

Active

Pledge Date

Friday, January 9, 2026

Program Year

2026

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Action Item Report

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City of Loretto

Loretto, MN

Kent Koch

Mayor

Pledge Summary

Loretto is a city on the western edge of Hennepin County, Minnesota with a population of 673. The city is known for its small-town atmosphere, close to many parks, trails and beautiful lakes. Mayor Koch, on behalf of the city council and the Loretto community, has committed to participating in saving the Monarch butterfly by taking actions to protect pollinator habitat and raising awareness of the need to take action.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2026

Communications and Convening ▸

  • 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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

  • 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.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.

Systems Change ▸

  • Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats.
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