Bee City USA

Bee City USA Committee December 13, 2023 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent 6/30/2026 Maria Ulloa-Bustos X 6/30/2025 Anahi Espindola X 6/30/2025 Ariela Haber X 6/30/2024 Marc Pound X 6/30/2025 Terra Virsilas X 6/30/2026 Jennifer Lindstrom X 6/30/2026 Frank Cifaldi X 6/30/2026 Sally Wood X Staff Liaison Brian Barr X Also present: Kim Stranger, MNCPPC Park Ranger; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos at 7:01 pm. Congratulations to Ms. Espindola who is pregnant and will be going out on maternity leave for six months. We welcome Brian Barr, our staff liaison, replacing Brenda Alexander. 1. Review and approval of agenda Ms. Espindola motioned to accept the agenda and Mr. Pound seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 2. November 2023 minutes Ms. Espindola motioned to accept the November 8, 2023, minutes with amended changes. Mr. Cifaldi seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 3. City Activities:  The committee would like Mr. Barr to inquire if there are any monies left in the 2023 budget for Bee City. 4. Bee Lab Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will send out the plant list next week. Some of the larger plants have taken over the ground area and the committee will need to look into smaller plants and ground covering plants. While Ms. Ulloa-Bustos is away for 2½ weeks, will someone be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:00am – 3:00pm until her return during the first week of January 2024. 5. Good Neighbor Day There is a follow-up meeting concerning Good Neighbor Day, but we have not received any information. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will email Alan Hew and Michael Ellis for an update. 1 6. Municipal Scene Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will be developing a 2024 spreadsheet so committee members can take a month to do an article for the Municipal Scene. The subject area should be associated with the season/time of the year. It is generally due the 3rd week of the previous month and should be sent to Mr. Barr. 7. Bee City Certification Renewal The Xerces Society renewal is due in February. Mr. Barr will review information left by Ms. Alexander and inform the committee of what other information may be needed. 8. Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Ms. Alexander submitted the pledge to the Mayor and Council prior to her retirement. 9. Lake Artemesia Ms. Stranger talked about items going on around Lake Artemesia: meadow restoration, spring and fall plantings, volunteers needed. Ms. Stranger will speak to her supervisor about participating in No Mow April. They are definitely interested in putting native plants around the lake. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos volunteered to gather contact names for Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights, and Lakeland Association to see if they are willing do some volunteer work around the lake. 10. Sally Wood Since Ms. Wood has never attended one meeting, the committee would like to have her removed. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will contact the City Clerk’s office. 11. Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2024, at 7:00pm. The committee would like to meet in person. Mr. Barr will check the availability of space at Davis Hall. Since the February meeting is on Valentine’s Day, the committee will move the meeting to February 7, 2024. Ms. DeWalt will inform the City Clerk’s office of the February date change. Ms. Lindstrom motioned, and Mr. Pound seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:18pm. Motion carries 7-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. 2