Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 062220 Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through GoToMeeting May 18, 2020 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Suchitra Balachandran X Alexa Bely X Pablo deOliveria X Chunyang Ding (7:10pm) X Matt Dernoga X Oscar Gregory X Alan Hew (7:16pm) X Todd Larsen X Andrea McNamara X Nikki Pancho X Cameron Thurston X Daniel Walfield X Caroline Wick X Also Present: Janet McCaslin, City Liaison; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:04pm by Todd Larsen, chair. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Ms. Bely motioned to accept the agenda. Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 10-0-0. 2. The February 24, 2020 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Walfield made a motion to accept. Ms. Bely seconded. Motion carries 11-0-0. 3. City activities:  CBE currently has a budget of $7,475.76 as of April 14, 2020.  The food scrap program continues to go well.  The bulk trash program re-opened with new rules, i.e. $20 per item to pick up televisions, monitors and appliances. Also, $100 per collection per hour to use the crane for oversized bulk items. 4. The CBE Project Drawdown seminar for May 30 has 30 registrants. The event will be done via Zoom. The website for registration is https://projectdrawdowndmv.eventbrite.com. Please share the website and information on this seminar. 5. Reviewed previously approved expenditures:  GAT traps – 25 received by Ms. McCaslin. Mr. Hew and Mr. Ding are going to do some research on best practices to share at the June meeting.  Seed packets were not ordered as it is too late in the season.   There are still compost buckets at Davis Hall.  $1000 allocated for translation of CBE Brochures into Spanish. Still waiting for completion. New expenditures:  Car magnets were discussed by committee. Dr. Balachandran objected to electric cars based on information of how certain car parts are obtained around the world. A link will be added to the CBE page about electric cars and bicycles. Ms. McNamara motioned to have two different magnets printed as designed by Ms. Bely not to exceed $1000. Mr. Ding seconded. Motion carries 11-1-0.  Several varieties of plants have died in the Permaculture Garden (blueberries, Nanking cherries, pawpaws). Mr. Walfield motioned to spend up to $300 for replacement plants for the Permaculture Garden. Mr. Dernoga seconded. Motion carries 11-1-0. Mr. Hew will talk to Brenda Alexander about purchasing the plants.  Discussion on potential signage to place on trees showing species. Mr. Gregory indicated there was a tree map done by the Tree and Landscape Board. Mr. Hew indicated he would research way to put signage on the trees without damaging them. 6. Discussed the Bee City USA Committee which was approved by Mayor and Council. Mr. Hew indicated he would be interested in chairing the committee. Mr. Gregory would like to be a member. 7. Todd reminded the committee about the Green Awards. Ms. Bely and Mr. Hew both indicated that they would be submitting candidates for an award. 8. Discussed Mayor and Council’s 5-year plan and how it will affect CBE especially the sustainability aspect. Ms. Wick, Ms. Bely, Mr. Dernoga, Mr. Thurston, Ms. Pancho, and Mr. Larsen will form a sub-committee to work on sustainability. 9. Ms. McCaslin brought forth the Sustainable States Energy Challenge. Sustainable Maryland solicited several municipalities to participate in a multi-state, peer-learning cohort on the topic of community energy efficiency. This project will help municipalities to benchmark the work they have done to advance clean energy goals with other municipalities and provide technical assistance to collectively advance energy efficiency policies and practices. 10. TLB update:  600 trees were removed from the College Park Airport.  Reviewed recommendations for Tree Permitting process.  Discussed upcoming Pepco tree cutting in College Park.  Discussed Mayor and Council’s 5-year plan. 11. The next virtual meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2020 at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Mr. Ding motioned to adjourned. Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 12-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:00pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.