Somerville Pollinator Action Plan
Engagement Opportunities
**Have 2 minutes? Tell us how you feel about pollinators and how (if at all) you'd be willing to help out! https://forms.gle/i1tqWDYoAAtuULvd8
**Do you have a garden? Tell us where it is to create a map of existing pollinator habitat in Somerville: https://arcg.is/1SjXr40
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Due to habitat loss and pesticide use, pollinator populations are declining in New England and worldwide. In response, Mayor Ballantyne’s Office and the Division of Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) are developing a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan (SPAP) to identify spatial and behavioral interventions that create the best habitat for pollinators and wildlife in the city.
The Somerville Pollinator Action Plan will:
- Describe Somerville-specific and regional pollinator species.
- Explore pollinator habitat within the city’s network of urban open spaces.
- Educate public servants and city residents on the interdependence of pollinators, habitat, and resilient urban life.
- Propose ways that public servants and residents can foster Somerville-appropriate pollinator habitat.
The mayor has appointed a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan Advisory Committee to lead this effort. The committee is comprised of youth, community members and advocates, inter-departmental City staff, and members of relevant Somerville non-profit groups. They will set out goals for the planning process, engage the public, and hire a consultant to write the Plan. Through harnessing the expertise and passion of our citizenry and a qualified consultant, we will produce a document to guide how we care for and foster pollinator habitat to support regional populations and our own urban lives.
Engagement Opportunities
**Have 2 minutes? Tell us how you feel about pollinators and how (if at all) you'd be willing to help out! https://forms.gle/i1tqWDYoAAtuULvd8
**Do you have a garden? Tell us where it is to create a map of existing pollinator habitat in Somerville: https://arcg.is/1SjXr40
____________________________________________
Due to habitat loss and pesticide use, pollinator populations are declining in New England and worldwide. In response, Mayor Ballantyne’s Office and the Division of Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) are developing a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan (SPAP) to identify spatial and behavioral interventions that create the best habitat for pollinators and wildlife in the city.
The Somerville Pollinator Action Plan will:
- Describe Somerville-specific and regional pollinator species.
- Explore pollinator habitat within the city’s network of urban open spaces.
- Educate public servants and city residents on the interdependence of pollinators, habitat, and resilient urban life.
- Propose ways that public servants and residents can foster Somerville-appropriate pollinator habitat.
The mayor has appointed a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan Advisory Committee to lead this effort. The committee is comprised of youth, community members and advocates, inter-departmental City staff, and members of relevant Somerville non-profit groups. They will set out goals for the planning process, engage the public, and hire a consultant to write the Plan. Through harnessing the expertise and passion of our citizenry and a qualified consultant, we will produce a document to guide how we care for and foster pollinator habitat to support regional populations and our own urban lives.
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Next Meeting - June 26, 4-5:15pm
Share Next Meeting - June 26, 4-5:15pm on Facebook Share Next Meeting - June 26, 4-5:15pm on Twitter Share Next Meeting - June 26, 4-5:15pm on Linkedin Email Next Meeting - June 26, 4-5:15pm linkStay tuned for our next meeting on Monday, June 26th from 4-5:15pm!
The committee continues their work in small teams to refine the priorities and goals for the Pollinator Action Plan consultant team. Much of the session will take place in breakout groups to give them time to discuss, brainstorm, and build their arguments. Then they will present their ideas to each other. Join us!
Note that there is a new Zoom link for the next three meetings: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87467480669?pwd=UEc5eTAzRjRzZWVUc0JQbG1wMHZoQT09
ID: 874 6748 0669
Passcode: 398990
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,87467480669# US
+13092053325,,87467480669# USAs a reminder: We always welcome your feedback! Five minutes will be set aside at the end of the meeting for comment and you are always welcome to leave questions/ideas on this page.
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Next Meeting - June 5, 4-5:15pm
Share Next Meeting - June 5, 4-5:15pm on Facebook Share Next Meeting - June 5, 4-5:15pm on Twitter Share Next Meeting - June 5, 4-5:15pm on Linkedin Email Next Meeting - June 5, 4-5:15pm linkHello again!
Our next meeting is on Monday, June 5th from 4-5:15pm and you are invited to join us. The committee members continue to work through big questions about the goals of the Pollinator Action Plan. These conversations and decisions are key to framing how we eventually hire someone to write the Plan. At the next meeting, the committee members will spend most of their time in breakout rooms to move toward decisions about these key questions. If you'd like to see this process, log on and listen in.
We always welcome your feedback! Five minutes will be set aside at the end of the meeting for comment and you are always welcome to leave questions/ideas on this page.
The meeting link is always posted under the tab "Zoom Meeting Link". You can find us next Monday at the following meeting link:
Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88169073083?pwd=YlR2R2hwRnAydWVmTHA1YnBQeFN4QT09
ID: 881 6907 3083
Passcode: 172997
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,88169073083# US
+13092053325,,88169073083# US -
Next Meeting - May 22, 4-5:15pm
Share Next Meeting - May 22, 4-5:15pm on Facebook Share Next Meeting - May 22, 4-5:15pm on Twitter Share Next Meeting - May 22, 4-5:15pm on Linkedin Email Next Meeting - May 22, 4-5:15pm linkGreetings!
Thanks for following our work. We're happy to you're here.
Our next meeting will be on Monday, May 22 from 4-5:15pm. We'll be talking through the #1 task of the committee's first phase of work: writing a "scope of work." When we begin to look for a consultant team to develop the Pollinator Action Plan, interested firms will refer to this document to understand the project goals and process. This document also helps us to define the most important elements of the Plan, the impact we want it to have, and it helps us to envision what makes a successful project. Some questions we'll discuss:
- What are the major goals of the Pollinator Action Plan?
- What does the consultant need to consider while developing the Plan?
- What materials do we need the consultant to develop?
- How do we measure the success of this Plan?
- ...among others
If you'd like to hear the committee talk through these ideas, come join us on Monday. Everyone is welcome to listen in and we'll take public comment at the end. If you can't attend but you'd like to leave us feedback or ask a question, please feel free to do so in the Questions/Comments tab.
Hope to see you there!
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Next Meeting - May 8, 4-5:15pm
Share Next Meeting - May 8, 4-5:15pm on Facebook Share Next Meeting - May 8, 4-5:15pm on Twitter Share Next Meeting - May 8, 4-5:15pm on Linkedin Email Next Meeting - May 8, 4-5:15pm linkAt our third meeting, we'll talk about the committee's tasks ahead, the process of hiring a consultant, and public engagement events. Come join us if you'd like to learn more about our goals and our operations!
If you can't attend, register to "Stay Informed" and we'll keep you updated about future meetings and opportunities to participate. You can always post in our "Questions/Comments" tab if you want to share an idea or question.
Photo courtesy of Nick Dorian/Tufts Pollinator Initiative
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Next Meeting - April 24th, 4-5pm
Share Next Meeting - April 24th, 4-5pm on Facebook Share Next Meeting - April 24th, 4-5pm on Twitter Share Next Meeting - April 24th, 4-5pm on Linkedin Email Next Meeting - April 24th, 4-5pm linkAt the next meeting on April 24th, the SPAP committee will discuss pollinator action plans made by other towns, regions, and organizations. We'll be trying to understand what has been done, what went well, and what we would like to do differently. You can find PDFs for these existing project examples under "Documents" on the sidebar. Come join us to hear the conversation and to learn about what others have done.
We'll be thinking about these questions:
- How is the plan organized?
- Who participated in the making of the plan?
- Was the public involved in any way?
- If so, what role did they play?
- Was the public involved in any way?
- Who is it written for? Who do they expect will read it?
- Do you think it’s legible to that audience? Why or why not?
- What kind of proposals are made?
- A toolkit of parts?
- Changes to a specific location?
- Policy?
- How do they describe those proposals?
- Are those proposals convincing? Why or why not?
- Imagine yourself in the shoes of different audience members:
- …a constituent who loves pollinators
- …a constituent who is unfamiliar with this issue
- …a DPW worker
- …a policy-maker
- Imagine yourself in the shoes of different audience members:
If you'd like to join us in this work, take a look at the plans! What do you think? Share your feedback with us under the "Questions/Comments" tab on this webpage.
We hope to see you on Monday!
Meeting Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88169073083?pwd=YlR2R2hwRnAydWVmTHA1YnBQeFN4QT09
ID: 881 6907 3083
Passcode: 172997
One tap mobile
+13052241968,,88169073083# US
+13092053325,,88169073083# US -
Listen In - April 10, 4-5pm EDT
Share Listen In - April 10, 4-5pm EDT on Facebook Share Listen In - April 10, 4-5pm EDT on Twitter Share Listen In - April 10, 4-5pm EDT on Linkedin Email Listen In - April 10, 4-5pm EDT linkYou can register to listen in on the Introductory Meeting of the SPAP Advisory Committee at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1168000637375254106
This meeting will be held from 4-5:00 PM EDT and a recording will be posted to this page following the meeting.
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Getting Started
Share Getting Started on Facebook Share Getting Started on Twitter Share Getting Started on Linkedin Email Getting Started linkOur first committee meeting will be April 10th, kicking off what we hope will be an exciting year of work to develop Somerville's Pollinator Action Plan. Stay up to date by checking this website often and signing up for our mailing list. We'll send you updates about public engagement events and opportunities to share your thoughts with the committee. We look forward to hearing from you!
Photo Credit
Banner photo courtesy of Nick Dorian/Tufts Pollinator Initiative
Key Dates
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May 13 2024
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June 10 2024
Zoom Meeting Link
To join the SPAP Advisory Committee meetings:
April 29th, 4-5:15pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84918856854
Meeting ID: 849 1885 6854
May 12th and June 10th, 4-5:15pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84718702212?pwd=bHVGWEFydW1adXpUQ2pvdHljT2hmQT09
Meeting ID: 847 1870 2212
Videos
- A video by Nick Dorian describing the Transverse Banded Flower Fly
- A video by Nick Dorian describing the Banded Longhorn Beetle
- A video by Nick Dorian describing the Two-Spotted Bumble Bee
- A video by Nick Dorian describing the Great Black Digger Wasp
- A video by Nick Dorian describing the Monarch Butterfly
Follow Project
Who's Listening
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Email spap@somervillema.gov
Documents
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Precedent Projects
- 2023_Easthampton_PollinatorActionPlan.pdf (84.3 MB) (pdf)
- 2021_Lincoln Pollinator Action Plan.pdf (29.9 MB) (pdf)
- 2021_Franklin County Regional Pollinator Action Plan.pdf (14.3 MB) (pdf)
- 2021_EU Progress Report on Pollinators Initiative.pdf (445 KB) (pdf)
- 2021_Tufts_PollinatorGardens_LandscapingforBiodiversityinthe21stCentury.pdf (6.29 MB) (pdf)
- 2020_EU Guide for Pollinator-Friendly Cities.pdf (2.22 MB) (pdf)
- 2019_Seattle POLLINATOR PATHWAY TOOLKIT.pdf (2 MB) (pdf)
- 2018_Great Barrington Pollinator Action Plan.pdf (5.48 MB) (pdf)
- 2016_MDAR MA Pollinator Protection Plan.pdf (1.89 MB) (pdf)
- 2015_Portland Pollinator Vision Plan.pdf (61.4 MB) (pdf)
- 2015_US Pollinator Research Action Plan.pdf (748 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting Agendas
- 20240429_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (155 KB) (pdf)
- 20240108_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (154 KB) (pdf)
- 20230724_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (167 KB) (pdf)
- 20230710_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (175 KB) (pdf)
- 20230626_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (179 KB) (pdf)
- 20230605_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (180 KB) (pdf)
- 20230522_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (180 KB) (pdf)
- 20230508_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (178 KB) (pdf)
- 20230424_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (152 KB) (pdf)
- 20230410_SPAP Meeting Agenda.pdf (173 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting Slide Decks
- 20240429_SPAP Meeting 14.pdf (918 KB) (pdf)
- 20240108_SPAP Meeting 9.pdf (950 KB) (pdf)
- 20230710_SPAP Meeting 7.pdf (503 KB) (pdf)
- 20230626_SPAP Meeting 6.pdf (1.68 MB) (pdf)
- 20230605_SPAP Meeting 5_combined.pdf (9.8 MB) (pdf)
- 20230522_SPAP Meeting 4.pdf (2.07 MB) (pdf)
- 20230508_SPAP Meeting 3.pdf (1.08 MB) (pdf)
- 20230424_SPAP Meeting 2.pdf (629 KB) (pdf)
- 20230410_Kat Wyatt_SPAP Precedents Presentation.pdf (2.02 MB) (pdf)
- 20230410_SPAP Introductory Meeting Slides.pdf (834 KB) (pdf)
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Meeting Minutes
- 20240318_SPAP Meeting Minutes_off week.pdf (185 KB) (pdf)
- 20240311_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (221 KB) (pdf)
- 20240226_SPAP Meeting Minutes_off week.pdf (258 KB) (pdf)
- 20240212_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (276 KB) (pdf)
- 20240108_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (192 KB) (pdf)
- 20230710_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (169 KB) (pdf)
- 20230626_SPAP Meeting Minutes and Jamboard Prioritization.pdf (1.27 MB) (pdf)
- 20230605_SPAP Meeting Minutes and Jamboard Brainstorm.pdf (623 KB) (pdf)
- 20230522_SPAP Meeting Minutes and Jamboard Brainstorm.pdf (912 KB) (pdf)
- 20230508_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (222 KB) (pdf)
- 20230424_SPAP Meeting Minutes.pdf (263 KB) (pdf)
- 20230410_SPAP_Meeting Minutes.pdf (282 KB) (pdf)