Committee for a Better Environment

Committee for a Better Environment Davis Hall, College Park July 24, 2017 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Matt Dernoga X Sarah D’Alexander X Ben Flamm X Alan Hew X Todd Larsen X Janis Oppelt X Daniel Walfield X Donna Weene X Guests Present: Steve Beavers, City Liaison; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:14pm by chair, Ms. Oppelt. Introductions were made to our newest member, Ben Flamm. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Ms. Oppelt made a motion to accept the agenda with the additional items. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. The minutes from the June 26, 2017, meeting were reviewed. Ms. Weene made the motion to accept the minutes with the corrections discussed. Mr. Dernoga seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 3. Mr. Beavers gave the following City updates: a. FY18 has begun as of July 1, 2017. There is $11,000 in the CBE budget. Costs for the Rain barrel workshop have not been deducted. b. Upgrading of locks on bikes in the bike share program will be done during the first week in August. The new locks are Bluetooth locks and can be unlocked using a Smart phone. If you do not have a Smart phone, you can use the pad on the back of the bike. c. The public hearing on the proposed Fence ordinance is August 11. It appears that garden fencing will be permitted. d. The City has compost bins for sale for $20 each. e. Pepco is coming to remove trees. The committee suggested signs in each neighborhood reminding residents of the day Pepco will be in their area. f. There will be a second rain barrel pickup in September. 4. Dr. Balachandran updated SMART. Most of the informational pieces are completed. Ms. Oppelt has been assisting in editing the contact. The sub-committee is still waiting  on Bulk information from Gemma Evans and Bob Stumpf. The next meeting is this Wednesday, July 26 at 7:30pm at Davis Hall. Dr. Balachandran did email Councilmember Nagle about postponing the presentation to Mayor and City Council until September. Ms. Oppelt had a show and tell with different color and sized trash bags. 5. The Rain Barrel event this past Saturday went very well. Over 50 people attended the event with 66 barrels being sold. We had 16 downspout attachments available for College Park residents; they were all given out and an additional 15 downspout attachments were requested. Mr. Larsen made a motion to spend $500 on additional downspout attachments. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. Ms. Oppelt stated that this was the third rain barrel event that CBE has given. 6. Discussed the idea of storing CBE items, brochures, etc. in Davis Hall. 7. Discussed the idea of CBE making a recommendation for a new energy efficient refrigerator in Davis Hall. Ms. Beavers will find out the proper procedure for making that recommendation. 8. Mr. Hew gave an update on the permaculture garden. A sign order will be placed through Mr. Beavers. It was suggested that as you are going by the permaculture garden, if something looks awry, please take a picture and send it to CBE. It will help determine if additional weeding needs to be completed or if a plant is dying. 9. Green Awards will be handed out at College Park Day on October 7, 2017, 11am-4pm. CBE will have a table at College Park Day. Ms. D’Alexander agreed to register CBE for the event. Ms. Oppelt, Mr. Larsen, Ms. Weene and Ms. DeWalt all volunteered to help at the CBE table. 10. The committee agreed to cancel the August CBE meeting. Ms. DeWalt will inform the City Clerk’s office. 11. The next meeting will be held on September 25, 2017, at Davis Hall at 7:00pm. Mr. Larsen made a motion to end the meeting. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. The meeting ended at 8:20pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.