Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Freihammer explained the City worked with Neel and was pretty good most of <br />the time but he thought Neel got very careless at the end trying to wrap the project <br />up. <br />6. No Mow, Less Mow May Discussion <br />Environmental Manager Ryan Johnson introduced Mr. Russ Henry, owner of <br />Minnehaha Falls Landscaping, who made a presentation on the No Mow/Less Mow <br />May conservation initiative. <br />Mr. Johnson acknowledged the City received a comment from Mr. Fester, who was <br />in support of No Mow May. <br />Mr. Johnson asked the Commission to discuss this and consider options for No <br />Mow/Less Mow May and provide recommendations to the City Council. <br />Building Official David Englund summarized the complaints the City received in <br />May of 2022 regarding No Mow May. <br />Member Collins asked what a food forest is. <br />Mr. Henry explained the definition of food forest to the Commission. He noted this <br />includes berries and an entire world of edible plants. He explained he will send <br />links to the City regarding starting a food forest. He noted there is also a seventh <br />step in the trajectory, the love forest, a term utilized to add some of the Minnesota <br />peak ecosystems succession trees onto the property allowing them to grow up <br />which stays as the underlayer. <br />Chair Ficek inquired about the cutting and general rule of never cutting more than <br />one third. He asked if someone does participate in the No Mow May and their grass <br />grows ten to fifteen inches, whatever to get back down to the five inches, assumed <br />this is done in layers, what is the proper way to do this if the person wanted to get <br />down to the five inches. <br />Mr. Henry thought most people will mow it all down at once but the proper way <br />would be to mow athird at atime over aperiod of time. He indicated aperson does <br />not want to mow more than twice a week because of compaction and overgrazing <br />of the plants. If it has gone No Mow for all of April and May the person would <br />want to mow once at the tallest setting of the mower the first or second week of <br />June and then maybe go to every other week mowing. He explained there are <br />municipalities that have adopted managed natural landscapes. <br />Chair Ficek asked if "good time Charlie" and dandelions were bad for bees. He <br />noted this is what Mr. Fester indicated in his comment to the City. <br />Mr. Henry begged to differ with Mr. Fester, in fact, food is important so if an animal <br />chooses to eat from something, and animals have an innate wisdom and know when <br />Page 3 of 8 <br />