Bee City USA

Bee City USA Committee March 13, 2024 7:00pm Term Exp. Members Present Absent 6/30/2026 Maria Ulloa-Bustos X 6/30/2025 Anahi Espindola (maternity leave) X 6/30/2025 Ariela Haber X 6/30/2026 Valerie Novak (a. 7:35pm) X 6/30/2025 Terra Virsilas X 6/30/2026 Jennifer Lindstrom X 6/30/2026 Frank Cifaldi X Staff Liaison Janet McCaslin X Also present: UMD students: Jessica Ahn, Natalie Jeon, Jonah Delman; Erik Valentine, CP Planning Department, Rakhmel (Rocky) Rafi, CP Grant Coordinator, Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos at 7:07 pm. 1. Review and approval of agenda Ms. Virsilas motioned to accept the agenda and Ms. Haber seconded. Motion carries 4-0-0. 2. February 2024 minutes Ms. Lindstrom motioned to accept the February 12, 2024, minutes and Ms. Virsilas seconded. Motion carries 4-0-0. 3. Plants at Davis Hall Ms. Ulloa-Bustos stated that 39 pod plants had died. A member of CBE came by and picked up five plants. David Wigglesworth took some plants for the Permaculture Garden. Ms. Ulloa- Bustos has personal plants at home that she is willing to share at the Bee Lab and other planting projects if needed. 4. Seeds Seeds have been ordered and will be ready for planting in early April. 5. Bee Lab Updates There is a seeding event at the Bee Lab on March 23. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will send out the information to the committee. 6. Cleaning of Bee Hotels After discussion among the committee, the recommendation is to remove the tubes and place new ones in the hotels in July. Both the leaf cutter and mason bees should have emerged by then. 7. Municipal Scene Ms. McCaslin has Ms. Novak’s April article on Native plants and will submit for publication. 1 8. Bee City Certification Renewal The Xerces Society renewal has been completed. 9. April event Due to scheduling conflicts, Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will ask to reschedule the planting at Lake Artemesia to Saturday, April 27. Volunteers will be needed. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will reach out to TLB and CBE to inquire about volunteers from their committees. Marc Pound’s going away luncheon will be the same day. Ms. DeWalt will coordinate with Mr. Pound and inform the committee. 10. Community Gardens Presentation by Mr. Valentine on community gardens near Davis Field, off Kenesaw Street. There are areas where native plants could be placed. A suggestion was made for a Little Library there and a parking pad. Mr. Valentine will discuss this with Mr. Marsili. 11. Upcoming Events The decision was made not to be a part of Maryland Day at UMD. The committee will participate in the College Park parade on May 4. June Pollinator Week – Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will talk to Michael Ellis, UMD, about hosting another event there. 12. There will be a pollinator meeting in DC sponsored by the Xerces Society on April 22. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos will forward the information to the committee. Mr. Cifaldi, Ms Haber, and Ms. Ulloa-Bustos are interested in attending. 13. April and May Meetings The April meeting will be on April 10, 2024, at 7:00pm via Zoom. The May meeting will be held in person, at Davis Hall. Ms. McCaslin will notify the City Clerk’s office regarding the in person May meeting. Ms. Virsilas motioned, and Ms. Haber seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:20pm. Motion carries 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. 2