Bee City USA

Bee City USA June 9, 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 6/30/2024 Alan Hew, Chair X 6/30/2024 Ordom (Brian) Huot X 6/30/2024 Marc Pound X 6/30/2023 Jim Sauer (d. 8:31pm) X Also present: Ryna Quinones, Communications Coordinator; Kimberly Anne Seif, Reporter, College Park Here and Now; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:04pm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the agenda with suggested additions and Mr. Beatty seconded. Motion carries for approval 9-0-0. 2. The May 5, 2021 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept with suggested changes, and Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 9-0-0. 3. City Report. Ms. Alexander reported the following: a. Ms. Alexander attended a webinar hosted by Sustainable Maryland on community wildlife habitat. 4. Ms. Quinones stated the advertising for Pollinator’s week has begun: a. The Insects and Pollinator’s page was created on the City web site. b. Pollinator week BINGO card has been uploaded on the Pollinator page. c. Native plant list was added to the pollinator page d. Pollinator information can be included in the Municipal Scene, Weekly Bulletin, College Park Here and Now e. Pictures can be added to the website provided that photos have a caption and owner provided permission to use 5. No Mow May. Mr. Hew spoke to Alex Schultz in the town of Appleton, Wisconsin. They had 25% of their resident population participate. Mr. Schultz is sending the town resolution to Mr. Hew; upon receipt, Mr. Hew will share with the committee. Ms. Teng (from CBE) and Mr. Beatty are working on a logo competition details; however, a name will need to be chosen since May is too late in the year for the College Park area. Suggestions made were: Early Spring Grow, No Mow Month, April is No Mow Month. The committee worked on a timeline for submission to Mayor and City Council for approval of the project:  a. Work on project outline with all details to be completed by October and submitted to committee for review. b. Final design submitted to Ms. Alexander in November to forward to City Clerk’s office. c. Placed on December agenda for Mayor and Council by City Clerk’s office. d. If approved, advertise to residents in February and March. e. April will be the no mow month. f. If would be helpful to discuss the idea with the council person for your respective district and neighborhood/civic associations. 6. The Native Plant Vendors and Seed Vendors will be a separate list from the Native Plants. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos agreed to research the list and share with the committee. She also agreed to translate all of the lists into Spanish. 7. Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. Ms. Alexander drafted a Pollinator Week Proclamation. The Mayor will be reading the proclamation at the next council meeting. The Mayor’s Monarch Pledge is designated as the first Saturday in October. Monarch gardens can be planted at individual residential homes. 8. CBE has agreed to make a Pollinator category as part of the Green Awards. Once the parameters are reviewed and accepted by the committee, the Green Award brochure, done by CBE, will be updated. Mr. Pound made a motion to add the Pollinator category to the CBE Green awards and Ms. Ulloa-Bustos seconded. Motion carries for approval 8-0-0. 9. Ms. Espindola was contacted by Erica Hernandez from Greenbelt through her job at the University of Maryland. Kevin Driscoll, who is the Greenbelt Environmental Coordinator, also reached out. They are looking for information concerning the work of the Bee City committee and want to coordinate efforts. Ms. Alexander stated she will reach out to Greenbelt. 10. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Beatty seconded. Motion carries 8-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:02pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.