Committee for a Better Environment

Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom January 24, 2022 7:00 PM Members Term Expires Present Absent Alexa Bely 6/30/2022 X Dylan Burns 6/30/2024 X Brendan Hall 6/30/2024 X Alan Hew 6/30/2023 X Todd Larsen 6/30/2023 X Alec Lynde 6/30/2024 X Abigail Muro 6/30/2024 X Nikki Pancho (a 7:18pm) 6/30/2022 X Donnie Scally 6/30/2023 X Don Schmadel 6/30/2022 X Emily Shohfi 6/30/2022 X Holly Simmons 6/30/2023 X Stacy Teng 6/30/2022 X Cameron Thurston (a 7:14pm) 6/30/2024 X Daniel Walfield 6/30/2023 X Caroline Wick 6/30/2023 X Also Present: Janet McCaslin, City Liaison; Martha Ainsworth, Prince George’s Sierra Club; Janis Oppelt, Prince George’s Sierra Club; Renee Domogauer, resident; Catherine Oberfield, resident; Dawn Delong, Prince George’s Sierra Club; Susan Whitney, District 2 City Councilmember; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:04pm by Todd Larsen, chair. 1. The agenda was reviewed and amended with one change. Ms. Bely motioned to accept with the amended change. Mr. Walfield seconded. Motion carries 11-0-0. 2. The December 6, 2021, minutes were reviewed. Ms. Bely motioned to accept the minutes. Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 11-0-0. 3. City activities: a. The current budget is $2,597.92. b. The TLB will be hosting a tree giveaway for Earth Day. More information will be forthcoming. c. The food scrap drop-off site in College Park Woods is still waiting for City Council approval. d. Budget requests are being taken for FY2022. A motion was made to increase the CBE budget to $6,000.00 by Ms. Wick. Ms. Bely seconded the motion. Motion carries 12-0-0.  e. The City’s Director of Planning, Terry Schum, will attend the February 2022 CBE meeting to discuss Project Open Space. 4. Green Awards were handed out to Renee Domogauer (Calvert Hills) and Catherine Oberfield (Berwyn). Ms. McCaslin will make arrangements for them to receive their check and certificate from the City. 5. Further discussion on the proposed ban of plastic bags. Potential stores to survey are Shoppers Food Warehouse, CVS, Target, Lidl, Moms, Home Depot, and 7-11. Members of CBE who volunteered to do a study of plastic bag use at the stores are: Ms. Pancho, Mr. Lynde, Mr. Larsen, Ms. Bely, Ms. Teng, and Mr. Walfield’s interns. Training will need to be completed; Ms. Oppelt volunteered to coordinate the training. Mr. Burns mentioned that the TLB is on board with the proposed plastic bag ban. 6. The Trolley Trail Tree labeling is coming along. There was a bit of an IT glitch with the QR codes, but a work around has been found. The City website is in process of being updated. One tree sign was destroyed by vandalism. There will be an article in the Here and Now on the labeling of the trees. 7. Ms. Wick is continuing to complete the grant application for the stormwater drains. Mr. Hew mentioned that his neighbor, Ms. Julie Cooney, would be interested in painting a drain. Artists may have to be sought after in different ways and Ms. Wick is still hopeful that CPAE will assist. 8. No Mow Month is set for April. There will be an article in the Municipal Scene and the Here and Now. On March 9, from 7:00pm-8:00pm, the Bee City committee will be giving an informational overview, via Zoom, and answer questions. 9. Municipal Scene – March – Nontoxic rodent control – Mr. Larsen. April – Earth Day? 10. Reviewed letter in support of Funding for Sustainable Maryland. Mr. Lynde made a motion to accept the letter and send to Mayor and City Council. Ms. Shohfi seconded. Motion carries 12-0-0. 11. The next CBE meeting will be on February 28, 2022, at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Mr. Hew motioned to adjourn. Mr. Burns seconded. Motion carries 12-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:36pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.