Bee City USA

Bee City USA July 20, 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 (a 7:52pm) 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: Katie Little, Lead Community Engagement Specialist, UMD; Kendall Kovarik, Kathryn Kovarik, Cara Krot – Girl Scout Troop 96; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:02pm. N.B. Due to the last week’s storm and all the damage throughout College Park, the meeting had been postponed one week. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Ms. Espindola motioned to accept the agenda. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries for approval 5-0-0. 2. The June 8, 2022, minutes were reviewed. Mr. Pound motioned to accept the minutes. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 5-0-0. 3. City activities: a. Major cleaning up from last week’s storm. There are several other surrounding jurisdictions who are assisting College Park. b. Many trees were lost in the storm and Ms. Alexander’s main focus is on debris removal and tree replacement. c. There will be free fresh wood chips available for residents from the downed trees. An announcement will be in the weekly bulletin. These chips can be used for trails, pathways, existing plantings. d. TLB plans to sponsor a free tree giveaway this Fall. 4. Girl Scout Troop 96 presented their plan to create a Bee Hotel in the shape of the Girl Scout Trefoil. It will be placed at the south end of the Trolley Trail in Calvert Hills. The Girl Scouts will maintain the bee hotel until they “graduate” from this level. Ms. Espindola stated she will talk to the Calvert Hills Green Team about taking over the maintenance once the current troop is has “graduated.” There was discussion about ways to mount the hotel to keep it secure with posts, L brackets, and facing south/southeast. They were reminded to call Miss Utility to mark the location of water, sewer, communication lines before they start diggings for the posts. Several committee members gave kudos to the Girl Scouts for their ambition and design of the  Bee Hotel. Ms. Espindola made a motion to approve the Girl Scout’s plan for the bee hotel. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 5. The final No Mow Survey was emailed out by Mr. Hew. The committee will discuss at a future meeting to help improve the event for next year. 6. Mr. Hew announced that Mr. Beatty will be resigning from the committee for personal reasons. 7. The Bee Hotel workshop was a success! Mr. Beatty shared pictures via email to the committee. There was a suggestion that there needs to be a way to prepare materials in advance and streamline the process. There is a suggestion to repeat the workshop for Good Neighbor Day. Ms. Little reminded the committee that applications for Good Neighbor Day projects need to be turned in by August 26. The committee will further discuss at the August committee meeting. 8. Another planned seed distribution in October/early November. Mr. Sauer volunteered to help distribute the seeds. 9. Further discussion on the sign for the Cherokee Street pollinator garden. The sign will be something made from a more substantial material, like aluminum. The City logo and Bee City logo will be on the sign along with the No Mow background. The verbiage will be simplified based on the suggestion sent by Ms. Brown: POLLINATOR GARDEN UNDERWAY, a home to native plants that provide critical food and habitat for butterflies, bees, and other wildlife. A native garden SLEEPS the first season, CREEPS the second season, and LEAPS the third Ms. Brown motioned to accept the verbiage for the Pollinator Sign at Cherokee Street. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 6-0-0. 10. Mr. Sauer mentioned again about a sign at Albion Street by the bee hotel. The committee is tabling this discussion for either the September or October meeting. 11. July Municipal Scene – 5 types of pollinators – Ms. Espindola. 12. Discussed the plantings at Lackawanna Street & 53rd Ave to renovate the existing plantings to incorporate more pollinator friendly native plants. Mr. Hew will email the City Engineer about painting pollinators on the yellow curbs. Ms. Haber will take pictures. Ms. Little will send  information to the committee about fall funding and guidelines from the Endangered Species Coalition to follow for the purchasing of native pollinator plants. 13. There is a webinar on Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA: Pesticide Reduction Strategies on July 27 at 1:00pm. Mr. Hew provided the link for registration. 14. The next meeting is scheduled for August 10, 2022, at 7:00pm. Mr. Hew made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:00pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.