Bee City USA

Bee City USA March 9, 2022 Via Teleconferencing through Zoom 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent Staff Brenda Alexander X 6/30/2023 Craig Beatty X 6/30/2024 Gail Brown X 6/30/2023 Maria Ulloa-Bustos (a 7:50pm) 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: Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The Presentation of No Mow Month was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair at 7:00pm. 1. Ms. Espindola showed a presentation on No Mow Month to the residents that participated. Following the presentation, questions from the participants were answered by the committee. The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:30pm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the agenda. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 2. The February 9, 2022, minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the minutes. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 3. City Report. a. The committee members whose terms expired on 6/30/22 should be receiving an email from the City Clerk’s office with information about re-applying to stay on the committee. If you have any questions, please reach out to Janeen Miller, City Clerk or Yvette Allen, Assistant City Clerk. b. The annual questionnaire from the Ethics Committee needs to be returned by April 30, 2022. If you have any questions concerning the form, please reach out to the City Clerk’s office. c. Two Bee hotels were installed. One is located in the Old Town Community Garden, on a fencepost facing east. The other hotel is located at the Hollywood Gateway Park near the pavilion facing east. There will be a third hotel installed somewhere on the Trolley Trail once adequate preparation is made for an attachment. There are two Bee hotels left that can be used at the June 25 event for templates/examples. Several committee members asked if a plastic sign/shield could be placed on the Bee hotels recognizing the Bee City Committee; Ms. Alexander will be make inquiries. d. The Bee City USA application has been completed and submitted.  e. There are currently 115 residents signed up for No Mow Month. The sign competition, hosting with CBE, was tabled for discussion to a later meeting date. 4. Discussed Spring seed distribution through the Free Little Libraries. Ms. Espindola has the Partridge Pea seeds and needs to have labels completed. Ms. DeWalt volunteered to print the labels. 5. The Bee Hotel building project, scheduled for June 25 from 1pm-3pm, will need supplies purchased. Ms. Alexander stated that she has a Home Depot credit card and can make arrangements to accompany a committee member to Home Depot to purchase supplies. Ms. Alexander also has a city credit card for supplies that could be ordered from Amazon.com. If necessary, there is a small amount of petty cash that be used for supplies. An exact list with all pertinent information will need to be given to Ms. Alexander. Mr. Hew will reach out to Melissa Sites with CPAE to discuss the small fee ($5) for attending the project. Also discussed if a projection sign announcing Pollinator Week could be placed at City Hall or a banner at Duvall Field. Ms. Espindola brought forth that a bilingual group of UMD students interested in the Bee Hotels may be interested., however, information would need to be translated. Discussion needs to take place with the City Communication’s Coordinator and possibly with Ms. Sites. It was also mentioned that UMD Office of Community Engagement is sponsoring an Earth Day activity; the committee inquired whether they might be willing to sponsor Pollinator Week. 6. The third Route 1 Green Team Summit will be held on March 16 from 6:30pm-8:30pm. The link for registration was provided on the agenda. 7. The Prince George’s County Audubon Habitat Advisors received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for promoting pollinator gardens. This was discussed as a potential project for Good Neighbor Day. Mr. Hew will invite a member from the Audubon Habitat Advisors to the April Bee City meeting. 8. The committee discussed potential locations for Bee City USA signage throughout the city: a. Trolley Trail, near the old Cafritz property at the Whole Food site b. Entrance signs to the City of College Park c. Hollywood Gateway Park entrance d. Route 193 behind 7-11 e. Pollinator garden in Berwyn Ms. Alexander will make inquiries and let the committee know. 9. There is a free film screening on April 5 from 1:00pm-2:00pm of “My Garden of a Thousand Bees.” The film takes place in London. 10. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos seconded. Motion carries 8-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:50pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.