Bee City USA

Bee City USA Committee May 8, 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 X 6/30/2025 Terra Virsilas X 6/30/2026 Frank Cifaldi X Staff Liaison Janet McCaslin X Also present: Councilmember Alan Hew; Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos at 7:03 pm. 1. Review and approval of agenda Ms. Ulloa-Bustos motioned to accept the agenda and Ms. Novak seconded. Motion carries 5-0-0. 2. April 2024 minutes Ms. Ulloa-Bustos motioned to accept the April 10, 2024, minutes with one amended change and Ms. Virsilas seconded. Motion carries 5-0-0. 3. Xerces Society Annual Report Ms. Ulloa-Bustos completed and submitted the final re-certification Xerces Society Annual Report. Two questions were sent from Xerces in which Ms. Ulloa-Bustos explained that the City of College Park handles, not the committee. A copy of the report will be shared with the committee by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos. For the 2024 report, it is important that we continue to take pictures of all events, keep copies of all flyers and advertisements, have information for any educational seminars conducted by the committee, etc. All of this information is vital to the annual report. FYI – Xerces Society hosts meetings for the Mid-Atlantic region and Northeast region once or twice a year. You can log onto the website, www.xerces.org, and signed up to receive their newsletters and emails. 4. Bee Hotels There are two bee hotels left. One will be placed at the Cherokee Pollinator Garden and we need a suggestion for the other bee hotel. 5. Cherokee Garden Ms. Ulloa-Bustos planted Bee Balm, both white and pink. There is a suggestion to place a seed library at the garden for people who want to donate seeds that can be shared with other residents. 1 6. Green Awards There are two green awards available for this fiscal year. If anyone has a suggestion, please submit to Ms. McCaslin. 7. Supplies Ms. Ulloa-Bustos is requesting paint markers to write on the plastic plant tags. Ms. Ulloa- Bustos motioned to spend up to $20.00 for paint markers. Ms. Virsilas seconded. Motion carries 5-0-0. 8. College Park Parade The parade went well. All of the seeds were handed out. 9. Municipal Scene The June article was submitted. Ms. Espindola submitted an article for July prior to maternity leave. At the June Bee City Meeting, we will discuss a topic for the August Municipal Scene. 10. Lake Artemesia planting Still waiting to confirm a date to help create a native plant garden near the big metal butterfly. The county would like to eliminate all exotic plants and have local, native plants. 11. Jon “Dutch” Nagelvoort has been hired as the Assistant Director of Gardening and Landscaping. 12. No Mow April A survey needs to be done by the residents, similar to last year’s survey. However, the committee would like to add a couple of questions: Are you familiar with Bee Hotels/Bee Houses? Do you have one in your yard? The committee would like to know if there could be an incentive program to encourage residents to replace their lawns or portions of their lawns with native plants or have a native plant border. Ms. McCaslin stated that the current ordinance would have to be reviewed. If this can be accomplished, the committee would need to send a letter to the Mayor and City Council for their support and approval. 13. Community Gardens at Davis Field Ms. Virsilas and Ms. Haber had emailed to the committee a letter of support to send to the Mayor and City Council. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos motioned and Ms. Novak seconded to approve and send the letter. Motion carries 5-0-0. Ms. Virsilas asked that the letter should be copied to Eric and Rocky, from the City. 14. Bee Lab update Twenty-one flats were planted: milkweed, lobelia, bee balm, and bergamot. There will be a Wild Bee and Wildflower festival at the Patuxent Wildlife Center on May 11. Ms. McCaslin shared a recent wildlife article that she will scan and share to the committee. 2 15. Black Bean plant, in the permaculture garden, whose beans can be harvested, and residents can be made aware. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos saw a nice, laminated sign at the Kensington library and it would be nice to have one of these at the permaculture garden by the Black Bean plant. 16. Pollinator Week. National Pollinator Week is June 17-23. The committee will have a table at the Hollywood Farmer’s Market on Saturday, June 22. 17. June Meeting The June meeting will be on June 12, 2024, at 7:00pm at Davis Hall . Ms. Novak motioned, and Mr. Cifaldi seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm. Motion carries 5-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. 3