Through a search on the internet, we were not able to find any other cities that have ordinances against the spraying of lawns (other than water). This does not mean that there are not other examples out there. And of course your actions here could lead to many other towns and cities with future policies of this sort. So how could this be presented to the city to have the best effect? Of course a non-confrontational, positive approach is always best, and particularly one that builds on the town's strengths. This doesn't mean you won't ever criticize current conditions but try as much as you can to build the investment and collaboration with others, at all levels. There is no reason why you shouldn't start by going to the city and asking them how these ordinances can get developed. At the same time, strike up conversations with others in the town about your idea, and slowly see who might also be interested in joining the coalition. Emphasize the fact that the town could be a model for the nation in this regard. And conduct some more research, showing the harms that certain types of spraying can have on the environment. Use other innovative conservation ordinances that similar towns have initiated. Try to call or visit some of the people in your town's government to see if they would be interested in working on this endeavor or helping out in any possible way. As with any community action initiative, you may feel at the start that an ordinance with an absolute prohibition is the only goal. But you may find along the way that the means are as important as the ends. You may consider small compromises along the way, and you might encourage people to help you think creatively in this regard. No matter what, all along you and your coalition will be building your ability to articulate positive arguments for this change. You will be raising awareness to those in city government and those in the town as a whole. So even if the end goal appears, at any moment, to seem daunting, think about all of these positive effects you'll be having along the way. Community action is always about practice. Keep on practicing different positive approaches. You may want to expect some people to be protective of what they can or cannot do with their lawns. Understanding their perspectives and respecting their feelings in a positive way, but also showing why the non-spraying approach may be the best long-term plan for the town, is all part of your objective.
