Bee City USA

Bee City USA May 11, 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 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: Vivi Phan, Kathryn Kovarik, and Malaya Gage – all with College Park Girl Scout Troop 96; Katie Little, Lead Community Engagement Specialist, UMD; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:02pm. 1. Mr. Hew mentioned that Dr. John Lee Hellman, founding director of Life Sciences program at UMD has died. He was very prevalent and well respected in the Entomology department and a mentor to Mr. Hew. 2. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Sauer motioned to accept the agenda. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 3. The April 13, 2022, minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept the minutes with one change. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 4. City Report. a. 348 residents signed up for No Mow Month. Signs are slowly being returned to Davis Hall; there is an outside bin for the signs. b. City Council approved the Tree Protection ordinance. It goes into effect on July 1, 2022. c. Reminder that anyone whose term expires on June 30, 2022 and wishes to continue on the committee should return the application to the City Clerk’s office. 5. Girl Scout Troop 96 presented their plan for the pollinator garden at Rhode Island and Greenbelt Road. They plan to have common milkweed, Black-eye Susan, New Jersey tea, Lanced Leaved Coreopsis, Butterfly weed, Cherry Laurel and Winterberry Holly Shrubs. The committee congratulated the troop on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness with their plans. There were several recommendations the committee offered to ensure that the garden could be as successful as possible. Group plants that are similar together. Put the lanced leaved coreopsis by the sign. Milkweed and Butterfly weed in the back as they grow tall. Black-eyed  Susan around the perimeter as shorter growing plants should be around the front. It was suggested that phlox would make a good low growing ground cover. It would be helpful to list the species and the number of plants of each kind. The troop asked if they could place an acknowledgement sign in the garden; Ms. Alexander will inquire and let the troop know. Ms. Alexander offered wood mulch from City Hall and could arrange to have mulch delivered. Mr. Hew made a motion to approve the garden providing the troop sends an updated diagram of the plantings using the suggestions. Mr. Sauer seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 6. Reviewed survey questions on No Mow Month. Mr. Hew is working with Bob Ryan to see if there were any complaints or any issues with Code Enforcement. The committee would like to add a question about sighting of additional wildlife. Ideally the survey will go out during the week of May 20-25. Ms. Alexander will work with the City Communications Coordinator to execute the survey. Mr. Hew made a motion to approve the survey with the additional question on wildlife. Ms. Haber seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 7. Spring Seed distribution. Ms. Espindola distributed Partridge Pea seeds in the Little Free Libraries. Mr. Huot will also do a Milkweed seed distribution in the next few weeks. Ms. Alexander reminded the committee to take pictures to be used for the recertification. 8. Mr. Beatty sent pictures of a bee hotel for Pollinator Week and Mr. Hew shared with the committee. 9. The committee would like to have copies of the Xerces X-kids booklet for the Pollinator event on June 23. Ms. DeWalt volunteered to make 75-100 copies. 10. Ms. Brown shared the QR code sheet that she developed to be used at events. Ms. Alexander will present to the City’s Communication coordinator for approval to use. 11. Good Neighbor Day is tentatively scheduled for November 12, 2022. The Permaculture Garden has always been an event for Good Neighbor Day. The committee would like to include the additional pollinator garden locations. Ms. Little will continue to update the committee as to the progress of Good Neighbor Day events; the first planning meeting is scheduled for late June. 12. Brief discussion on the rye grass overgrowing in the pollinator garden at Cherokee Street. It needs to be mowed or clipped around the perimeter of the garden. It seems as if Black-eyed Susan’s may be blooming shortly. We are waiting to see what flowering plants may bloom. 13. The next meeting is scheduled for June 8, 2022, at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Brown seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:00pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.