Mayor Longwell Pledges to Help Save the

Monarch Butterfly

Mayor Longwell is the 200th Mayor to Take the National 

Wildlife Federation's 

Mayors' Monarch Pledge

This past Wednesday, with the support of Mayor Jeff Longwell, Wichita became the 200th city to commit to the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge. This national campaign works with mayors and local government chief executives to help save the declining monarch butterfly. By making this pledge the city is committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and other pollinators and educate citizens about how they can contribute.

"Throughout the Central Monarch Flyway our nation's cities are stepping up to save the monarch through the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge," said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. "By working with leaders like Wichita Mayor Longwell and his colleagues working together in Wichita and with cities up and down Interstate 35, we will ensure that every American child has a chance to experience majestic monarchs in their backyards and communities."

In 1996 Monarch populations soared as high as 1 billion; however, in recent years, despite being found all across the United States, their numbers have declined significantly. This is a result of numerous threats, particularly loss of habitat due to agricultural practices, development, and cropland conversion. Degradation of wintering habitat in Mexico and California has also had a negative impact on the species.

Through the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, cities and municipalities commit to create habitat and educate citizens on the ways they can make a difference at home or in their community. Mayors who take the pledge commit to at least three of 25 action items to help save the monarch butterfly. These actions can include creating a monarch-friendly demonstration garden at city hall, converting abandoned lots to monarch habitat, changing mowing schedules to allow milkweed to grow unimpeded and 22 other possible actions. More than 200 mayors have now committed to take a total of more than 400 of these actions for the monarch butterfly in the coming year.

"Wichita is proud to join efforts to conserve our monarch population for generations to come," said Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell. "This is one more example of how Wichita continues to be a leader in addressing environmental issues that are important to our citizens."

Through the Wichita Park and Recreation Department's Wichita Wild Habitat Areas the city is already managing more than 1,700 acres of land for wildlife, including monarch butterflies and pollinators. Botanica Wichita provides educational opportunities for thousands of kids and adults through its butterfly demonstration garden (established in 1992), its seasonal Butterfly House and countless workshops, lectures and field trips. From the Wichita Wild Habitat Areas to Botanica Wichita's gardens and educational programs to butterfly conservation efforts at local high schools, Wichita is passionate about helping to grow the Monarch population.

"I want to thank Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell and the citizens of Wichita for committing to help monarchs and other pollinators by creating habitat across their city. Planting milkweed and other nectar-producing flowers will create sanctuaries for these charismatic and vital insects, while also engaging families and children in conservation and helping strengthen their connection to the natural world," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. "Working together, we can secure the future of monarchs and make our cities more livable for people."

"We were truly excited to hear that Wichita was the 200th city to sign onto the NWF Mayor's Monarch Pledge," said Angela Anderson, President of the Kansas Wildlife Federation. "Monarchs are a critical species and Kansas is an important stop along their great migration. These efforts are critical to securing the future of this species."

Learn more at Mayor's Monarch Pledge 

In August, large pieces of equipment at Plant 2 experienced failures that impaired the effectiveness of the sewage treatment process. Four of the nine blowers, used to supply oxygen necessary for the treatment process, were unable to return to normal operation after experiencing power losses. One of the four blowers failed completely. Staff began investigating the cause of power shortages and failures and determined that a large amount of birds perching on two overhead power lines contributed to power interruptions. 

Through coordination with Westar and Shelley Electric, corrective actions were made to reduce outages in general, with specific action taken to deter wildlife. Animal deterrent now covers bare conductors and was installed on all insulators and breaker bushings, as well as on the Public Works & Utilities voltage lines.  City staff were advised that the City is the first utility or private entity in Kansas to have these deterrents installed. Staff expects that the actions taken will significantly reduce power losses and improve process control.

Attention walkers, runners and bicyclists!  

As darkness creeps earlier into afternoons and later into mornings, outdoorsy folks must stay bright:  use bright or reflective jackets, caps, shoes or stripes. 

Dark outer gear makes active folks invisible even in twilight.  Neon clothes illuminate us to other walkers, runners, bicyclists-and to cars. 

Hardware and automotive stores have inexpensive reflective tape.   Affix the tape to the front and back of shoes, coats or caps.  Check out a bike shop for reflective shoes, crossing-guard vests, strap-on headlights or-the safest of all-lights in blinking red or green or yellow. 

Keep on moving throughout this fall and winter.  Keep visible, safe AND, you know, healthy. 

Visit BikeWalkWichita  for more tips and ideas!

Don't miss this opportunity. On November 10, 2016, join Christoper Leinberger to learn how demand is shifting real estate markets across the country to more walkable urban developments - with significant potential for communities and individual developers.

 

Participants will have an opportunity to:

• learn what works for making communities attractive to young talent;
• understand how demand for walkable communities is dramatically shifting real estate markets across the country; and
• gain information about opportunities here in Wichita.

Mr. Leinberger is a land use strategist, teacher, developer, researcher and author, balancing business realities with social and environmental concerns. Mr. Leinberger is also the President of Locus; the Charles Bendit Distinguished Scholar and Research Professor, George Washington University School of Business, nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution in Washington DC and a founding Partner of Arcadia Land Company, a New Urbanism and transit-oriented development firm.

Event Details

* Date: November 10, 2016
* Time: 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
* Location: Wichita Art Museum 1400 Museum Boulevard
* Cost: $25 per person

 

Event registration and more information...

 

About Christopher Leinberger...

 

To see the upcoming events for October's Senior Wednesdays,  read more...

The Health & Wellness Coalition of Wichita and other community partners want you to be the example for the future generation!

 

 

The goal of Vote Like A Mother is to educate members of the community on all things voting - where to vote, when to vote, how to register to vote, what options are available for voting, where election information can be found, and more. Our goal is for people to have NO barriers that prevent them from participating in local, state and national elections and voting opportunities.