Bee City USA

Bee City USA May 5, 2021 Via Teleconferencing through Zoom 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent Staff Brenda Alexander X 6/30/2022 Aubrey Batten X 6/30/2023 Craig Beatty X 6/30/2023 Maria Ulloa-Bustos X 6/30/2022 Anahi Espindola X 6/30/2022 Ariela Haber X 6/30/2021 Alan Hew, Chair X 6/30/2021 Ordom (Brian) Huot X 6/30/2021 Marc Pound X 6/30/2023 Jim Sauer X Also present: Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:01pm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the agenda and Mr. Huot seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 2. The April 14, 2021 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept with one change, and Mr. Sauer seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 3. City Report. Ms. Alexander reported the following: a. The City signed up for the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. There are several items on the list that may work for Bee City USA also. The Pledge includes the Mayor issuing a proclamation during a public meeting. b. Reviewed webpage for the committee. The committee would like the Pollinator info on a separate page under the City Guide Panel. Mr. Hew made a motion; Mr. Huot seconded. Motion carries for approval 5-0-1. c. Ms. DeWalt reformatted the Native Plant Vendor list and will be added to the website once approval is received from the Communications Coordinator. The Native Plant list will also be added to the website once approval is received from the Communications Coordinator. 4. Discussed “No Mow May.” This suggestion will be planned for in 2022 and it should probably be scheduled in April for our area. There was a suggestion to rename it “No Mow Movement.” While this is not a specific requirement for Bee City USA, Mr. Hew will reach out to the Xerces Society for suggestions on promoting this idea. All details will need to be finalized, including how Code Enforcement will be notified, and sent to Ms. Alexander. She will then draft a staff report and discussion will follow at a City Council work session. 5. Pollinator Week is the third week of June. Reviewed the BINGO card created by Ms. Espindola. Prizes could be awarded to participants, for example a Bee Hotel kit. CBE is  willing to spend some of their budgeted funds to cover several Bee Hotel kits. The committee will work with the College Park Arts Exchange. A hashtag will be created for the event. Since this will be an annual event, this event application may not be required in the future. Ms. Espindola made a motion to request approval on the Pollinator week event. Mr. Sauer seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 6. Bee City USA requirements: a. Pollinator Plant List. It was suggested to add a column for the size of plants – S-M-L- XL. It was also suggested to translate it into Spanish and present it as a double-sided document. Once completed, the committee would like it posted on the City website. Ms. Alexander reminded the committee that any posting on the website must be approved by the City’s Communication Coordinator. All information should be emailed to Ms. Alexander and she will submit it for approval. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the Pollinator Plant List with the addition of the sizes of plants and Spanish translation for submission to the City for placement on the Bee City’s webpage. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. b. Native Plant Vendor List was submitted by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos. It was suggested to add Earth Sangha to the listing and also translate into Spanish. Mr. Hew made a motion that once the native plant vendor list is completed, it will be sent to Ms. Alexander for submission to the City Communication Coordinator for placement on the Bee City’s webpage. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. Ms. DeWalt agreed to re- format the vendor plant list into an Excel spreadsheet for convenience. 7. Pollinator Reward. Discussed the need for criteria/qualifications for residents to receive an award. Mr. Hew has spoken to CBE and they would be willing to include the Pollinator Award as a new category in the established Green Awards. Mr. Pound agreed to work on criteria and will have for the committee’s review at the June meeting. 8. Ms. Espindola was contacted by several local jurisdictions concerning the Pollinator Pledge. She has agreed to set up a Zoom meeting and discuss what the committee has been doing so far. Andy Fellowes, former Mayor of College Park, has also expressed interest in Bee City USA and the Pollinator Pledge. 9. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 7:00pm. Mr. Sauer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Hew seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:03pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.