Topeka
Topeka, KS
Michelle De La Isla
Summary for 2022
The City of Topeka is the capital of Kansas. Topeka is in the NE corner of the state of Kansas, with a population of 127,000, and offers excellent benefits for wildlife with an abundance of timbered areas, waterways, and tall grass prairies. Topeka is aware of the challenges Monarch butterflies face in the wild and is responding to help provide for the needs of monarchs through monarch friendly landscaping and planting following water pollution control projects, through public awareness and education classes year round by the Topeka Zoo, with active participation in catching, tagging, and releasing monarchs as part of Operation Monarch Watch, and through a large annual native wildflower sale for the community.
The City of Rochester Hills
Rochester Hills, MI
Bryan Barnett
Summary for 2022
Established in 1984, the City of Rochester Hills, in Southeast Michigan, has a population of roughly 75,000. Rochester Hills is committed to sustaining its position among the nation’s preeminent places to live, work and raise a family. The community continues to value its natural resources and green spaces. The City sees the importance of not only protecting and enhancing these resources; but acting as a leader and model to residents and the community. As part of this effort, the city is committed to taking actions to conserve and maintain pollinator habitats. Actions include supporting local native plants sales, seed collection programs, and continued stewardship efforts in our City Parks and Green Spaces.
Town Of Middletown
Middletown, MD
John Miller
Summary for 2022
Middletown is a small town of about 4,600 people located in the center of the fertile Middletown Valley in western Frederick County, MD. It is home to farms and natural environments that support our community and the natural species that live within it. Our Sustainability Committee recognized by Sustainable Maryland has worked diligently to raise awareness of the monarch butterfly and the species' need for habitat. Town officials are also deeply concerned about the decline of the monarch butterfly population and have begun numerous efforts to help save them. Our local golf course is working to preserve areas where milkweed grows, mowing patterns have been changed, a pollinator garden has been planted in the highly-used Memorial Park, and public communication efforts have ramped up. We are proud of our progress and recognize that there is more to do to protect the monarch butterfly. Join us in protecting habitat for our local monarch population!
City of Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Kate Gallego
Summary for 2022
Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the country, is located in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, and is on the western monarch population's migration route. Phoenicians are committed to the vision of becoming the most sustainable desert city on the planet and have a strong ethos of habitat conservation, wise water use, and native biodiversity. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego recommits via the Mayor's Monarch Pledge to raise awareness and galvanize efforts to expand crucial habitat and food sources for monarch butterflies. The city looks forward to working with residents and stakeholders to increase prevalence of native plants throughout the city to support pollinators.
City of Countryside
Countryside, IL
Sean McDermott
Summary for 2022
The City of Countryside is a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The City has over 450 businesses, a population of 6,420 and nine parks throughout the community. The City built a new Municipal Complex which is LEED Gold Certified and the first net zero energy municipal building in the State of Illinois. Landscaping including a rooftop garden were design with native plants which attract butterflies and pollinators. This past year, staff raised over 50 butterflies which were released on the rooftop. The City plans to construct three butterfly gardens in the coming year.
Village of Union
Union, IL
Ian McCartney
Summary for 2022
Union is a small, rural community of around 600 residents located in the southwest corner of McHenry County. The village is surrounded on all sides by farms. We have remained a small community for pretty much the whole of our existence and enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the village.
Borough of Carnegie
Carnegie , PA
Stacie Riley
Summary for 2022
The Borough of Carnegie is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and has an estimated population of 8,000. The borough is home to the beautiful Carnegie Municipal Park as well as three additional community parks and rain gardens located throughout the business district. Mayor Riley of Carnegie, PA has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators with her signing of the Mayor's Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents in building more pollinator habitat throughout the borough.
City of Loretto
Loretto, MN
Kent Koch
Summary for 2022
Loretto is a city on the western edge of Hennepin County, Minnesota with a population of 647. The city is known for it's 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 saving the Monarch butterfly by taking actions to protect pollinator habitat and raising awareness of the need to take action.
City of Norman
Norman, OK
Larry Heikkila
Summary for 2022
Norman is located in the heart of Oklahoma and has a population of app. 128,000. We are the only city in the state to adopt the US Mayor's Climate Agreement and the Ready for 100 initiative and are committed to protecting and preserving our environment in a variety of ways. Renewing the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge is an important part of our sustainability goals, and we are excited to include our residents as well as elected officials and city staff along on this journey.
City of Solana Beach
Solana Beach, CA
Lesa Heebner
Summary for 2022
Solana Beach, located along the northern coast of San Diego County, is known for its beautiful beaches, parks, prime surf spots, and abundant walking and hiking trails. There is sunshine almost every day and winters are just a few degrees cooler than summers. Fog and low clouds usually hug the coastline in the summertime in the late evening and the wee hours of the morning but burns off by midday. Mayor Lesa Heebner has committed to saving the monarch butterfly and other pollinators by signing this Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and looks forward to engaging residents to build more pollinator habitat throughout the city.
