Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 092120 Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through GoToMeeting August 24, 2020 7:00 PM Members Present Absent Alexa Bely X Pablo deOliveria X Matt Dernoga X Oscar Gregory X Alan Hew 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. Noted that the committee is reviewing the July minutes. Ms. Bely motioned to accept the agenda with the change. Mr. Thurston seconded. Motion carries 9-0-0. 2. The July 27, 2020 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Thurston motioned to accept the minutes with one change. Ms. Bely seconded. Motion carries 9-0-0. 3. City activities: a. CBE has a budget of $3000 for this fiscal year. None of the receipts have been processed yet. b. October clean-up will be October 10 and October 24. Shredding will also be done on October 10 and paint recycling will be done on October 24. This year household batteries, light bulbs, block Styrofoam will be accepted for the clean- up. c. Keep America Beautiful day is September 20. d. Tips for Municipal Scene for September – change in energy providers. Janet will need the article by Thursday. e. New expenditures for FY 2021: i. $450 – GAT Traps ii. $200 – Spanish translation iii. The magnets were not approved by July 1 and Ms. McCaslin had not encumbered the funds. She will speak to finance about moving the charges to FY 2020 and will advise the committee. iv. City offices will be closed on September 7, November 3, November 11, November 25, and November 26.  4. Mr. Thurston made calls to many university towns to discussed renting furnished apartments for off campus housing rather than disposing of usable furniture as bulk trash. He received a response from Ohio State University who does not have any type of program. He will continue to follow up. 5. The Rain Barrel seminar might be able to be scheduled in September. 6. Good Neighbor Day has been rescheduled for November 7. It will be on a smaller scale. The permaculture garden will be part of the Good Neighbor Day projects; Mr. Hew will work with Brenda Alexander on plantings needed for the fall.. (The landscape crew was at the Permaculture Garden a few weeks ago to pull weeds.) All safety precautions will be followed – masks, gloves, small groups for in person projects. There will be online webinars and lectures. All volunteers will receive T-shirts, gloves and masks. 7. The committee agreed to partner with the Sierra Club in trying to adopt a resolution for clean energy for the schools and working on setting up an educational event. Mr. Larsen made a motion to write a letter to Mayor and Council to support the resolution. Mr. Gregory seconded. Motion carries 9-0-0. 8. The committee was reminded about submissions for Green Awards. All nominations should be submitted to Mr. Larsen and Ms. McCaslin. 9. The GAT traps distribution went well. All traps were picked up. Ms. McCaslin has received weekly counts from three residents. Fifty more traps have been ordered by the Department of Public Works and will be available for sale at cost - $45.00 plus tax per trap. 10. The car magnets have arrived, and Ms. McCaslin has them available if any member would like to have some for distribution. 11. Councilmember Kate Kennedy seems interested in the environmental analysis. Mr. Larsen will follow up with her. 12. Mr. Gregory gave an update from the July TLB meeting: a. PEPCO is doing tree pruning/removal in Old Town, Calvert Hills and Lakeland. b. MNCPPC are working on replacing trees on park and planning land. c. TLB would appreciate CBE helping to share the Tree permitting recommendation. d. Discussed on tagging trees. It was stated the UMD has a tagging system and perhaps we could use their system. e. TLB website and brochures are working on being updated. 13. The next virtual meeting is scheduled for September 21, 2020 at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Mr. Walfield motioned to adjourned. Mr. Gregory seconded. Motion carries 8-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:42pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.