Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 032618 Committee for a Better Environment Davis Hall, College Park February 26, 2018 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Sarah D’Alexander X Alan Hew X Todd Larsen X Tim Miller X Janis Oppelt X Jordan Schanker X Daniel Walfield X Donna Weene X Guests Present: Steve Beavers, City Liaison; Janet McCaslin; Andy Fellows; Willem Klajbor, UMD Student Sustainability Committee; Kate Harrison, UMD Student Sustainability Committee; Lauren Brown, UMD Student Sustainability Committee; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm by co-chair, Mr. Larsen. 1. The agenda was reviewed and additional items were added; the Fence Ordinance and Pay As You Throw. With Mr. Mark Stewart’s absence, we tabled the Renewable Energy Goals to the March meeting. Ms. Oppelt made a motion to accept the agenda changes. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 2. The minutes from the January 22, 2018, meeting were reviewed. Ms. Oppelt made the motion to accept the minutes with the changes discussed. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 3. Mr. Beavers gave the following City updates: a. There are no changes to the budget; however, the costs of the permaculture signs ($770) will be deducted from the account now that the signs have arrived. b. The March 6 worksession on Business Recycling has been postponed indefinitely. c. Thank you to Ms. Oppelt for sharing the statewide foam ban survey with Mayor and City Council. d. The effective use of Boards and Committees at the February 20 Council meeting was discussed. Nothing specific was confirmed. e. The second annual Pet Waste Summit is scheduled for March 29 from 6pm-9pm in Largo. 4. Mr. Fellows discussed the Greendurance app prototype, initially created by Pujita Tipnis. There is a team of four grad students continuing the initial work by making the app successful with an interactive map. Upon completion the grad students will present the app to the CBE. 5. The office of Danielle Glaros has put forth a business recycling bill to the County Council which should close any questions or concerns. It will probably be reviewed at the mid-March County Council meeting. The UMD Student Sustainability Committee is very concerned about business recycling and is willing to assist in any way possible. 6. The permaculture signs have arrived. Hopefully they can be installed on Good Neighbor Day. Mr. Hew is going to speak with DPW and Miss Utility about digging the holes with an auger prior to Good Neighbor Day. 7. The 2017 Green Awards were given out. The ceremony was very nice with the reading of why the participants won the awards. 8. Dr. Balachandran is concerned that the recommendations regarding the fence ordinance were not included in what City Council just approved. Various committee members agreed to speak with their respective Councilmember and a letter will be sent to the City Council. 9. Dr. Balachandran is finalizing the report on Pay As You Throw. It should be presented to Mayor and Council in April. 10. Good Neighbor Day is scheduled for April 7, 2018. CBE will have a table at the event. Mr. Larsen made a motion to set aside $150 to purchase seed packets as a giveaway. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. Mr. Larsen, Ms. Weene, Ms. Oppelt, and Ms. DeWalt volunteered to be at the CBE table. 11. Bike To Work Day is scheduled in May. Mr. Beavers made the suggestion to purchase towels with the logo on them. We would be purchasing with three other communities and would be getting a bulk rate cost. Ms. Oppelt made the motion to spend $500 on Bike to Work Day for towels and refreshments. Ms. Weene seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. 12. The Annual Report will be due in the summer. 13. CBE will probably receive the usual $11,000 in the new fiscal year budget.  14. The next meeting will be held on March 26, 2018, at Davis Hall at 7:00pm. Mr. Larsen made a motion to end the meeting. Ms. Oppelt seconded the motion. All in favor; no opposed. The meeting ended at 8:50pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.