Bee City USA

Bee City USA January 12, 2022 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 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 (a 7:10pm) X 6/30/2024 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 7:03pm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the agenda with one amended change. Mr. Beatty seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 2. The December 8, 2021, minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the minutes with amended changes and Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 3. City Report. a. Native Plant vendor list has been posted to the Pollinator page on the City’s website. b. The required street sign has been installed at the Pollinator Garden at Cherokee and 49th Place. The location has been sent to Sustainable Maryland to add to the Route 1 corridor pollinator group map. The No Mow Month resolution was also sent to the Sustainable Maryland Route 1 corridor pollinator group. c. A No Mow Month sign was developed, with the help of Janet McCaslin at DPW, to use for this year’s pilot No Mow Month initiative. A sign competition will be held the following year. To promote No Mow Month, the following will need to be accomplished: - Articles written for the Municipal Scene and the Here and Now. Dates for the February issue of the Municipal Scene is due January 25 and for the Here and Now is January 28. Dates for the March issue of the Municipal Scene is due February 22 and for the Here and Now is February 25. Ms. Haber volunteered to write these articles. - Information will need to be posted on the City’s website with the assistance of the Communication Coordinator. - Educational forum (Q&A) will need to be held for City residents. The consensus is to do the forum on March 9, 2022, from 7:00pm-8:00pm and the Bee City meeting will take place from 8:00pm-9:00pm. Ms. DeWalt will make arrangements with the City Clerk’s office. - Social Media posts will need to be developed & pushed out throughout February and March. Ms. Espindola volunteered to handle social media posts. - Advertising will need to occur prior to No Mow Month to get the word out.  - Registration form will need to be created and posted on the City’s website. Requirement will be name and address; email and phone number will be optional. d. The Annual Committee Report was submitted to the City Clerk’s office and is on the agenda for the City Council meeting on January 18, 2022. Mr. Hew made a motion to accept the final edit of the Annual Report that was submitted to the City Clerk’s office for Mayor and City Council. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries 8-0-0. e. Working on budget funding for FY2023 (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023). Ms. Alexander has requested $2,000.00 for Bee City to cover various expenses. If the committee has suggestions for funding requests, please send to Ms. Alexander. 4. Reviewed IPM plan sent via email by Ms. Alexander. A motion was made by Mr. Sauer to adopt the IPM plan as submitted. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries 6-0-2. 5. Discussed Spring seed distribution through the Free Little Libraries. Several committee members have volunteered different types of seeds for distribution. This discussion will be finalized at the February 2022 meeting. 6. The suggestion was made to partner with the College Park Arts Exchange on creating Bee Hotels as a summer project and displaying them throughout the City. Further discussion needed. 7. A reminder that Pollinator Week is the third week in June. Discussions on how to handle and what projects/tasks can be accomplished with be discussed at the March meeting. 8. There is a vacancy on the committee created by resignation of member from District 4. If you know of someone who is interested, please have them complete the application form on the City’s website. Ideally, the committee would like a resident from District 4, but would welcome other interested residents. 9. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Huot seconded. Motion carries 8-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:50pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.