Bee City USA

Approved: 12/14/2022 Bee City USA November 9, 2022 Via Teleconferencing through Zoom 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent Staff Brenda Alexander 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 Marc Pound X 6/30/2023 Jim Sauer X Also present: Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Alan Hew, Chair, at 7:02pm. Mr. Hew announced that Brian Huot sent out an email formally resigning from Bee City USA. 1. The agenda was reviewed, and a few items were added for review. Mr. Pound made a motion to accept. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion caries for approval 7-0-0. 2. The October 12, 2022, minutes were reviewed. The name of the contact for the American Legion was updated in the minute. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos motioned to accept the minutes with the amended change. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. 3. City activities: a. The new arborist has started. Ms. Alexander is in process of training him. b. The Mayor’s Monarch Pledge is due by the beginning of December. c. Preparing for Good Neighbor Day. Ms. Alexander will be dropping off plants & supplies early Saturday morning. 4. Good Neighbor Day is Saturday, November 12. Discussed project updates which shows that each group for the pollinator planting projects have enough volunteers. Ms. Alexander will drop off items in the morning and pick up supplies and tools after the event. 5. Ms. Espindola sent out a draft presentation to the City Council on why No Mow Month should become permanent in College Park. The presentation was reviewed during the meeting and suggested updates were made live during the meeting. Mr. Hew made a motion to send the updated presentation to Ms. Alexander for inclusion in the City Council’s packet. Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries for approval 7-0-0. Mr. Hew, Ms. Espindola, and Mr. Sauer will be present at the December 6 work session. 6. College Park Day event went well. Almost 2/3 of the Xerces x-kids activity books were taken. All the milkweed seed packets were taken. About ½ of the Black-eye Susan packets were taken.  7. The committee’s 2022 year-end report and work plan for 2023 will be due at the end of December. Mr. Hew is working on the draft and will email to the committee to review at the December meeting. Suggestions made for inclusion were: a) native plant list updates [Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will work on updates]; b) IPM plan to be reviewed and updated; c) expand existing plantings; d) educational information to residents; e) try and work with the schools to get the students involved. 8. Municipal Scene article for– November issue- Where do pollinators go for the winter? Ms. Espindola 9. There is an online workshop on November17 from 7:00pm-8:00pm by Max Ferbuto on leaf removal. There is also a Maryland Nature event: https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event- 4985041. Pesticide publication of interest: https://academic.oup.pnasnexus/article/1/5/pgac230/6814445?login=false. 10. The next meeting is scheduled for December 14, 2022, at 7:00pm. Ms. Espindola made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:48pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.