Bee City USA

Bee City USA July 14, 2021 Via Teleconferencing through Zoom 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent Staff Brenda Alexander X 6/30/2023 Craig Beatty X 6/30/2023 Maria Ulloa-Bustos (a 7:05pm) 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 X Also present: Stacey Teng, CBE member; Erica Hernandez, Greenbelt Sustainable Committee Member; Terra Virsilas, College Park Resident; Alex Schultz an Appleton, WI Councilmember District 9 Representative; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:02pm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the agenda and Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 2. The June 14, 2021 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned and Mr. Beatty seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 3. Aubrey Batten has resigned from the committee, effective today, due to personal concerns. 4. City Report. Ms. Alexander reported the following: a. Ms. Alexander made contact with the Greenbelt community and their representative Erica Hernandez is joining the meeting this evening. b. The presentation on Duvall Field was made at the City Council meeting on July 13. c. The plans for the park at Odessa are completed. Waiting on final DPIE approval. All native plants will be placed there. d. There was a question asked about planning projects, tree removal, and plantings and how Bee City could assist in ensuring native plants are planted. Ms. Alexander explained that the TLB is in charge of reviewing all plants, but she will inform the TLB of Bee City committee’s desire to assist with recommendations on plantings. Ms. Hernandez commented that developers do not always know what native plants are and usually work in conjunction with a Landscape artist who has knowledge of native plants. 5. Pollinator week update: a. The information was published in the Municipal Scene, Weekly Bulletin (4 times from June 4-25), College Park Here and Now, Facebook and Twitter. b. Social media shows 4600 people were reached with 215 engagements.  c. Twitter is showing 5500 impressions with 170 engagements. d. One person sent a picture of the Bingo card. e. Ms. Alexander has the 5 Bee hotels in her office and emails have been sent to the winners to contact her to pick up the Bee hotels. When the winners come to the office, she will take a picture and have it posted. 6. No Mow Month. Mr. Hew had previously shared the resolution and other documentation provided by Appleton, Wisconsin. The resolution used was fairly straightforward and should be able to be adaptable for use in College Park. Discussion at last month’s meeting outlined a timeline for working on the information and presentation for Mayor and City Council. A first draft will be prepared for the August meeting containing the following information: a. Why are we recommending this project? b. What benefits is it going to produce? c. How will Code Enforcement know who is participating? d. Why should the Mayor and City Council support this? e. Are there other college towns supporting a project like this? If so, please reference. f. A subcommittee was formed of Mr. Beatty, Mr. Hew, Ms. Espindola, Ms. Haber. 7. Reviewed the Green Awards brochure showing the changes to include the pollinator verbiage. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos made a motion to approve the verbiage and Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries 6-0-1. 8. Bee City USA survey is due tomorrow. Mr. Hew will share the link and asked the committee to review and complete as individuals. 9. Ms. Espindola has been in contact with Ernst’s seeds regarding possible types of native plants to use in the designated areas suggested by Ms. Alexander. This is in conjunction with the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to have native plants for monarch pollination. Ms. Alexander will be to speak with Ernst’s seeds and explain the soil content in the areas and review their plant selections. 10. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:15pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.