Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 032717 Committee for a Better Environment United Methodist Church, College Park February 27, 2017 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Matt Dernoga X Sarah D’Alexander X Alan Hew X (arrived 7:15pm) Susan Keller X Todd Larsen X Janis Oppelt X Daniel Walfield X (arrived 7:10pm) Donna Weene X Guests Present: Pujita Tipnis, UMD student; Miriam, UMD student; Steve Beavers, City Liaison; Janet McCaslin, DPW (arrived 7:30pm); Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by chair, Ms. Oppelt 1. The agenda was reviewed and a few changes were noted: a. Several areas stated “2016” in the date instead of “2017” b. Added vote on Melissa Avery as a member Ms. Weene made a motion to accept the agenda changes. Ms. D’Alexander second the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. The minutes from the January 23, 2017, meeting were reviewed. Mr. Walfield made the motion to accept the minutes. Ms. Oppelt seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 3. There is $8269 in the CBE budget. 4. Mr. Beavers discussed the City Tree Canopy program in absence of Mr. Dernoga. Mr. Beavers did some more research on tree canopy programs. The research he found was current up to 2014. There has been a 5% decrease in tree planting. Mr. Beavers is going to check with Prince Georges County to see if they have any more current information. In the meantime, Brenda Alexander has a list of trees that are native and will do well in College Park. What is needed are residents who are willing to plant trees in their front yards and should contact either Brenda or DPW. 5. Discussed the CBE brochures updating them. There may be ways to incorporate two brochures into one, e.g., grass clipping and composting. Mr. Hew said he would review the noise brochure. Ms. Oppelt and Ms. McCaslin will review the recycling and zero waste brochures. The Memorial Tree brochure will be eliminated from CBE. All the brochures are on the CBE website. All members should review and have comments to Ms.Oppelt and Mr. Larsen by March 16. Ms. DeWalt volunteered to help type up the new brochures. 6. Ms. D’Alexander discussed Good Neighbor Day which is scheduled on April 1 from 9:00am-1:30pm. She also passed out a flyer about the event. As in the past, headquarters will again be at the College Park Community Center. There are currently 220 people registered and they are hoping to have 500 registered. One of the goals is zero waste for the event. CBE will have a table and we will be showcasing our newly revised brochures. Ms. Weene indicated that the boy scouts and girl scouts will help. She asked if a badge could be made with the Good Neighbor Day logo for the scouts. Ms. D’Alexander said she would look into the possibility. Ms. D’Alexander also passed out a flyer on UMD Spring Vegetable Gardening Workshop Series. One of the events will take place during Good Neighbor Day. 7. The committee voted to remove Melissa Avery from the CBE. The committee was apprised that Kennis Termini has resigned from CBE effective January 23, 2017. 8. Mr. Hew discussed that he is still working on the Green Awards. He does not believe they will be ready to award them by Good Neighbor Day. It may have to wait for College Park Day. It was suggested that we could encourage more people to participate in the Green Awards by having a Most Valuable Person (MVP) of each group participating at Good Neighbor Day. Forms would be available at the CBE table. Ms. Oppelt indicated she would work with Mr. Hew on this project. 9. Mr. Hew is still working with various environmental groups to get an accurate reading on the soil content. He would like to have $60 for additional soil testing. Ms. Oppelt made a motion to budget $60 for the additional soil testing. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 10. There is a proposed state bill which will impose mandatory recycling at all special events. CBE agrees to send a letter to City Council in support of this bill. Ms. Oppelt will send a copy of the letter online for all to review. 11. Ms. Tipnis has been working on her app and has created a mock link to play with the app and send back comments and suggestions. She would appreciate our assistance with  comments and suggestions by Monday, March 6. Ms. Oppelt will forward the link to the committee. 12. CBE is opposed to fracking. Ms. Weene made a motion that CBE should send a letter supporting the ban on fracking. Ms. D’Alexander seconded the motion All in favor; no opposed. Mr. Larsen will write the letter and share with the CBE. 13. Ms. McCaslin announced that the City is working on residential food scrap collection to be outsourced. She will share information as plans are solidified. 14. Mr. Hew mentioned that he attended the meeting on potentially moving the FBI to Greenbelt. The main focus of the meeting was to discuss traffic and parking surrounding the site. The storm water issue was never addressed. 15. The site for a North College Park community garden has not been determined. Ms. Weene stated that if the dry cleaners is still on the list that the gas containers were never removed. 16. Mr. Walfield discussed an Energy Efficiency workshop he attended in Berwyn Heights. He suggested that CBE could be a co-sponsor on additional workshops with Berwyn Heights. 17. The next meeting will be held on March 27, 2017, at the United Methodist Church at 7:00pm. Ms. Weene made a motion to end the meeting. Ms. Oppelt seconded the motion. The meeting ended at 8:25pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.