Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 05/22/17 Committee for a Better Environment United Methodist Church, College Park April 24, 2017 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Matt Dernoga X Sarah D’Alexander X Alan Hew X Susan Keller X Todd Larsen X (arrived 7:15pm) Janis Oppelt X Daniel Walfield X (arrived 7:10pm) Donna Weene X Guests Present: Steve Beavers, City Liaison; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm by chair, Ms, Oppelt. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Ms. Weene made a motion to accept the agenda with the additional items. Mr. Dernoga seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. The minutes from the March 27, 2017, meeting were reviewed. Ms. Oppelt made the motion to accept the minutes with the corrections discussed. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. Ms. Oppelt noted that Ms. Keller has resigned from CBE and sent a letter to the City Clerk’s office. 3. There is $7903 in the CBE budget. Mr. Beavers reminded the committee that the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2017. LED lightbulbs were purchased for $205 for Good Neighbor Day. The committee made suggestions on items that the CBE could purchase with the remaining budget. The list and costs will be finalized at the May meeting. 4. The community garden event on April 8 had about 20 people present to help map out the raised beds. There will be 15 plots in total and seven or eight plots have been sold. 5. The following issues will be discussed at City Council work sessions: a. Fence ordinance – May 2 b. Hollywood Street Scape – May 2 c. FY 2018 Budget – May 9 6. The Arbor Day event will take place on April 26 at 6:00pm at the United Methodist Church. The boy scouts and girl scouts will be present to help plant the trees. Refreshments will be served. 7. There will be two new Bike Sharing places by the end of the week: Monument Village and by the Berwyn trolley trail. 8. Mr. Hew stated that he would email to the committee the information on the tree grants. 9. Ms. D’Alexander discussed Good Neighbor Day. There were 730 people in attendance. Approximately 120 trees were plants and 2000 plants, shrubs and flowers. One hundred bags of garbage was picked up throughout College Park. Everyone stated that the food was very good. The CBE table had great traffic flow. People stopped and took the LED lightbulb quiz and about 50 bulbs were given away to College Park residents. Ms. Oppelt stated she has the names of five people who are interested in more information about CBE. 10. Bike to Work Day is scheduled for Friday, May 19 from 6am-8:30am. Mr. Dernoga and Ms. D’Alexander stated they would be present for the event. It was agreed that 25 copies of the following brochures will be available: Green Awards, City Tree program, and composting. 11. “Before the Flood” was shown on April 19 at 7:00pm in Council Chambers. About 30 people attended the showing. Mr. Dernoga did a great job leading the discussion and getting people involved. Dr. Balachandran stated that another film that should be viewed is “Awake”; a film based on Standing Rock. 12. Ms. Oppelt will be sending all of the finalized versions of the CBE brochures to Mr. Beavers. A staff member will put them into the standard format used by the City of College Park. 13. Mr. Hew has emailed DPW to inquire about working with them on the permaculture garden. He will inform the committee as soon as he hears from DPW. The next phase of the permaculture garden has to be approved by four different groups: CBE, Tree and Landscape Board, the City horticulturist and City Council. The next phase will be discussed at the May CBE meeting. 14. Mr. Larsen attended the College Park City-University Partnership Sustainability Committee meeting. He noted the following items were discussed: a. A $50,000 grant was awarded for the Campus Community Connection pilot program which will be used in part for three schools: Cherokee Lane, Hollywood and Paint Branch. b. Paint Branch Green Team is taking a break this year for recertifying the school as green. They need some additional support and help. c. Updated the group on the recycling rate and rain check rebates.  d. There is interest in a Prince George’s County/CBE hosting a seminar on how to set up rain barrels. Ms. Woodall, from Prince George’s County, will reach out to CBE in scheduling a date. Mr. Larsen, from CBE, will take the lead on this. CBE discussed at this meeting that end of June/beginning of July would be best once Davis Hall is available. Ms. Oppelt has information from a past rain barrel seminar that she can share with Mr. Larsen. At least two rain barrel vendors should be invited. Ms. Weene, Mr. Walfield, and Ms. D’Alexander would like to be involved in the event. e. There will be a grant to support environment design and public art displays. f. Mr. Fellows discussed storm water management strategies. Mr. Larsen stated he would email copies of the full notes to the committee members. 15. Dr. Balachandran gave a brief update on SMART. Almost all informational sections have been completed. Gemma Evans and Bob Stumpff are working on the bulk trash section. Councilperson Nagle stated that at least four to six weeks lead time are needed to schedule for a City Council work session. The next meeting is scheduled for May 10 at 7:30pm at City Hall. 16. Discussed ways to stress the Anti-Litter campaign: a. More public education b. Cameras c. Trash patrol d. Walking campaign to pick up trash – give away Anti-Litter T-shirts and borrow trash pinchers from DPW e. Advertise on Next Door f. Go to Civic Association meetings g. Adopt a Trail/Street h. It was noted that littering in Prince George’s County carries a $1000 fine. 17. Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation have put money in FY 2018 budget for the College Park bike trail that will connect to the Paint Branch trail. It should be completed by the end of 2018. 18. Janet McCaslin sent an email stating that College Park currently does not have a vendor to pick up food scraps. 19. The committee discussed the idea of pesticide free yards and perhaps starting with City property. 20. The next meeting will be held on May 22, 2017, at the United Methodist Church at 7:00pm. Ms. Weene made a motion to end the meeting. Mr. Dernoga seconded the motion. The meeting ended at 8:35pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.