Community Profile

City of Sandy Springs

City of Sandy Springs, GA

Rusty Paul

Mayor

Pledge Summary

The City of Sandy Springs is the second largest city in metro Atlanta with a vibrant a population of almost 110,000. Enjoying twenty-two miles of shoreline along the Chattahoochee River, two local forest preserves and hundreds of acres of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, environmental stewardship is a natural priority for the City of Sandy Springs. We became a Bee City USA Affiliate in 2021, and by renewing our Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, we strengthen our commitment to improving pollinator habitat in our parks and engaging the community in efforts to saving the monarch butterfly and wildlife in general.

Community Spotlight

Action Items Committed for 2024

Communications and Convening ▸

Engage with developers, planners, landscape architects, and other community leaders and organizers engaged in planning processes to identify opportunities to create monarch habitat.
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 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.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat.
Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
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).
Convert vacant lots to monarch habitat.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.

Systems Change ▸

Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife.
Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.
Launch, expand, or continue an effort to change municipal planting ordinances and practices to include more native milkweed and native nectar producing plants at city properties.
Increase the percentage of native plants, shrubs and trees that must be used in city landscaping ordinances and encourage use of milkweed, where appropriate.
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
Mayor Rusty Paul	2024	12/15/2023		View Pledge
Mayor Rusty Paul	2023	2/6/2023	Leadership Circle	View Pledge
Mayor Rusty Paul	2022	3/8/2022	Signatories	View Pledge

Pledge Status

Pledge Date

Program Year

Links and Uploads

Action Item Report