WHEREAS, the mission of BEE CITY USA is to galvanize communities to sustain pollinators, responsible for the reproduction of three-quarters of the worlds plant species, by providing them with health habitat, rich in a variety of native plants and free to nearly free of pesticides; and

WHEREAS, due in part to the tremendous diversity of wild native bees, along with the honey bees that were brought to the United States from Europe in the 1700s, we have very diverse dietary choices rich in fruits, nuts, vegetables and even dairy products--one in every three bits of food we eat is courtesy of insect pollination; and

WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators have experience population declines due to a combination of habitat loss, use of pesticides, and the spread of pests and diseases; and

WHEREAS, pollinator-friendly communities can benefit local and regional economies through healthier ecosystems, increased vegetable and fruit crop yields, and increased demand for pollinator-friendly plant materials from local nurseries and growers; and 

WHEREAS, ideal pollinator-friendly habitat:

• Provides diverse and abundant nectar and pollen from plants blooming in succession throughout the growing season;
• Provides water for drinking, nest-building, cooling, diluting stored honey, and butterfly puddling;
• Provides undisturbed spaces (leaf and brush piles, un-mowed fields or field margins, fallen trees and other dead wood) for nesting and overwintering for wild pollinators
• Is pesticide-free or has pesticide use carried out with least ill effects on pollinators;
• Is comprised of mostly, if not all, native species of annual and perennial forbs, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees in landscapes because many wild pollinators prefer or depend on the native plants with which they co-adapted;
• Includes, where possible, designated pollinator zones in public spaces with signage to educate the public and build awareness; and, 
• Provides for safe and humane removal of honey beets when required. 

WHEREAS, supporting pollinators fosters environmental awareness and sustainability, and increases interactions among community stewards, backyard beekeepers, farmers, children, educators, Master Gardeners, local businesses, faith-based organizations, and nature-related organizations; and

WHEREAS, in order to enhance understanding among local government staff and the public about the vital role that pollinators play and what each of us can do to sustain them, Hillsborough chooses to support and encourage pollinator habitat creation and enhancement on both public and private land; and

WHEREAS, Hillsborough should be certified a BEE CITY USA community because: 

• Hillsborough has installed and nurtured pollinator gardens in two city parks and hopes to expand the program to other parkers and public spaces, 
• Hillsborough has encouraged public awareness about the important role of pollinators through Hillsborough Tree Board outreach programs
• Hillsborough fosters partnership between groups concerned and dedicated to creating healthy habitat for pollinators such as Hillsborough Garden Club, the Master Gardeners program, and Hillsborough Tree Board

NOW, THEREFORE, Hillsborough resolves as follows: 

1. The Hillsborough Planning Department is hereby designated as the BEE CITY USA sponsor. 
2. The Public Space Manager of Hillsborough is designated as the BEE CITY USA liaison. 
3. Facilitation of the Hillsborough BEE CITY USA program is assigned to the Hillsborough Tree Board
4. The Tree Board is authorized to, and should:
   • Celebration: Annually celebrate National Pollinator Week (third full week of June) or some other appropriate occasion with educational events, pollinator habitat plantings or restoration, proclamations or promotions that showcase Hillsborough's commitment to enhancing pollinator health and habitat. 
   • Publicity & Information: Install and maintain at least one authorized BEE CITY USA street sign in a prominent location, and create and maintain a webpage on the Hillsborough website which includes, at minimum, a copy of this resolution, links to the national BEE CITY USA website, contact information for the local government's BEE CITY US liaison Public Space Manager contact information for the "Tree Board," and reports of the pollinator-friendly activities the community has accomplished the previous year(s). 
   • Habitat: Develop and implement a program to create or expand pollinator-friendly habitat, which can include, but is not limited to:
     • Identification and inventory of Hillsborough real property that can be enhance with pollinator-friendly planting. 
     • Creation of a recommended locally native species list to include forbs, grasses, vines, shrubs, and trees and a list of local suppliers for those species. 
     • Creation of a least toxic pesticide management plan, and
     • Dissemination of informational and educational materials to the public.
     • Tracking annual area of pollinator habitat created or enhance by square footage and/or acreage. 
   • Plan Review: Review any relevant existing or future plans and documents for pesticide management policies and practices as they relate to pollinator conservation, identify appropriate locations for pollinator-friendly plantings, and consider other appropriate measures. 
   • Renewal: After completing the first full year as a BEE CITY USA affiliate, each January, apply for renewals of Hillsborough's BEE CITY USA designation following the format provided by BEE CITY USA, including a report of the previous year's BEE CITY USA activities, and paying the renewal fee based on Hillsborough's population. 

Tom Stevens, Mayor