Bee City USA

Bee City USA Committee September 11, 2024 – Davis Hall 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 6/30/2027 Melissa Rogers X 6/30/2026 Valerie Novak X 6/30/2027 Jewel Tomasula X 6/30/2025 Terra Virsilas X 6/30/2026 Frank Cifaldi X Staff Liaison Jon “Dutch” Nagelvoort X Councilmember Alan Hew X Also present: Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. The committee hosted a surprise potluck dinner for Maria Ulloa-Bustos to thank her for her dedication to the committee and for being the chair. The Bee City Committee meeting was called to order by Ms. Ulloa-Bustos at 7:31 pm. 1. Review and approval of agenda Ms. Espindola motioned to accept the agenda with amended changes and Ms. Rogers seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 2. August 2024 minutes Ms. Novak motioned to accept the August 2024 minutes, and Ms. Espindola seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 3. Municipal Scene The article for October will be turned in next week. November – Cleaning up and readying the Bee Hotels – Ms. Rogers (Ms. DeWalt will send out an email to the Girl Scouts asking them about cleaning out their Bee Hotel.) December – Summary of Good Neighbor Day projects by Bee City – Ms. Virsilas 4. Lake Artemesia planting is still pending. 5. New members The committee needs new members, especially from District 2. 1 6. Events  Bee City will have a table on College Park Day on October 5 but will ask for a tent separate from the city tent. Volunteers will be needed. The smaller 4- inch potted plants will be used for this event. A plant guide will be created to help people understand when to plant, how big they may get, how often to water, etc.  North College Park is having a resident “Meet N ’Greet” on September 14.  Berwyn Day is scheduled for September 28 (rain date September 29) at Berwyn Neighborhood Park from 12Noon – 4:00pm. Ms Ulloa-Bustos and her husband will be there for the entire event and will bring plants. Ms. Novak volunteered from 12Noon-2pm. Another volunteer will be needed from 2pm- 4pm.  Planting natives at Juniper removal site on the Trolley Trail on October 19 from 10:00am-2:00pm. Volunteers will be needed.  Good Neighbor Day is scheduled for Saturday, October 26.  The August Hollywood Farmer’s Market went very well. They are asking the committee to come back with the native plants. 7. City updates  The city will be assisting with Good Neighbor Day projects. There are donated trees from Defensores de la Cuenca, a non-profit association, that will be used in planting at College Park Woods clubhouse property, Sunnyside Park, and 4th St. Lakelands, 4704 Calvert Rd. and the east side of Edmonston Road. Trees are Eastern Red Cedars and white pines – all native trees. There will also be a clean-up and planting hardy pansies at the Yarrow entrance monuments. A question was posed if yarrow could also be planted at the entrance to Yarrow Estates.  The Bee hotel was installed in the Cherokee garden.  Please continue helping the city staff by watering the trees. 8. Bee Lab update In process of waiting for plants to bloom as the plant flags were lost and we are not sure what kind of plants are there. It will soon be time to harvest seeds for the winter. Ms. Ulloa-Bustos said she will still do the Bee Lab until they move in November. Councilmember Hew may have someone who can take over the Bee Lab. Councilmember Hew is giving a tour of the Bee Lab to residents from University Park. Possibly Berwyn Heights and Greenbelt may also want to be a part of the Bee Lab. 9. Mosquitos. Brief discussion on the county spraying for mosquitos. Inquired about using gat Traps. It was explained that 98% of people who live in a neighborhood would 2  have to use them. Discussed keeping gutters clean and installing gutter guards which will help keep mosquitoes limited. 10. Senior Citizens Discussed the idea of reaching out to the senior citizens. Some may be interested in helping with the gardens, bee hotels, Bee Lab, but may not know much about the committee. 11. New Co-Chairs Ms. Novak, and Ms. Haber were nominated from the committee as co-chairs. Ms. Virsilas made a motion to nominate the co-chairs and Ms. Tomasula seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 12. October Meeting The October meeting will be on October 9, 2024, at 7:00pm at Davis Hall. Ms. Novak made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Ms. Rogers seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary. 3