Committee for a Better Environment

Approved: 102422 Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom September 26, 2022 7:00 PM Staff Present Absent Janet McCaslin X Members Term Expires Present Absent Alexa Bely 6/30/2025 X Brendan Hall 6/30/2024 X Alan Hew (a 7:48pm) 6/30/2023 X Wentao Guo 6/30/2024 X Todd Larsen 6/30/2023 X Alec Lynde 6/30/2024 X Nikki Pancho 6/30/2025 X Donnie Scally 6/30/2023 X Holly Simmons 6/30/2023 X Stacy Teng 6/30/2025 X Cameron Thurston (a 7:30pm) 6/30/2024 X Caroline Wick 6/30/2023 X Also Present: Rachel McCrea, School of Journalism, UMD; Katie Little, UMD; Jenelle Rush, AKA Sorority Community Program Chair; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:10pm by Todd Larsen, chair. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Larsen accepted the agenda without exception. 2. The August 22, 2022, minutes were reviewed, and one change was noted. Ms. Bely made a motion to accept with the change. Ms. Simmons seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 3. City activities: a. The budget for FY2023 is $6,000.00. Ms. McCaslin shared the following outline of the budget and expenses thus far: Green CBE 2023 Budget Total Budget Paint Budget Medallions budget Award Budget $ 6,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 350.00 $ 400.00 Vests - 12 $ (96.00) $ (96.00) Paint Budget* $ (1,000.00) Medallion Budget* $ (350.00) Green Award Budget* $ (400.00) Paint (Red, Blue,White,Green, Yellow) $ (189.80) Supplies - UMD group, 12 Rollers, 12 Covers, 12 Trays, 10 Mixing Containers, 13 Shortcut 2" Sash Brush, Primer, 12 - 3" Chip Brushes, 2 Can Openers, Sealer $ (320.58) Medalions (gloves, brushes etc) okayed $350.00 $ (60.62) Funding from CPAE for paint supplies $ 500.00 $ 500.00 Balance Remaining $ 4,654.00 $ 393.62 $ 289.38 $ 400.00 Starting Budget $ 6,000.00 Money spent to date $ (667.00) Total remaining funds that haven't been spent, doesn't include funds that have been allocated* $ 5,333.00 b. There are currently 167 registered applicants for the food scrap program. The city is waiting for the final contract. c. Mulch and compost are available for residents from Davis Hall. d. October 1 is the tree giveaway. Mr. Lynde volunteered to assist. e. October 8 is a clean up and shredding day for the city. 4. Ms. Katie Little, from UMD, discussed Good Neighbor Day, which is scheduled for November 12 from 8:30am – 12:00noon. There are 41 projects and service programs scheduled for the day and 25 of them are sustainability related. More volunteers are needed; there are about 1500 open slots. Please encourage people to sign up and volunteer: www.UMD.edu/Good-Neighbor-Day. There will also be a food drive from October 8 through November 12 to help support the College Park Food Bank and the UMD Food pantry. Dropping off of food items is taking place at Ikea. 5. Better Bag Ordinance (f/k/a Plastic Bag Ban) update. The town of Easton, Maryland has passed their ordinance, but exempted restaurants. The concept will be introduced at College Park’s City Council work session on November 15 and the vote will likely take  place in late November/early December council meeting. CBE will need to do a presentation at the November 15 work session. 6. The Trolley Trail tree labeling. The signs have arrived. CBE is now charged with installing the signs. Ms. Bely will find two different dates in October-November and send out an email asking for volunteers. Supplies will be needed for installation of the signs. Ms. Bely made a motion to spend up to $100 for supplies. Mr. Larsen seconded the motion. Motion carries 7-0-0. The TLB webpage will have a link to the Trolley Trail information on the CBE webpage. 7. Storm Drain update. The drain in Lakeland was completed on September 17 and the sealing will be done this week. The UMD art students will now be painting six drains on Terrapin Row. Drawings were presented and Ms. McCaslin, Ms. Simmons and Ms. Wick from CBE and Melissa Sites from CPAE attended the Zoom meeting to view the pictures; Ms. McCaslin was able to share her screen and show the drawings. Each drawing showed the logo “Only Rain in the Drain.” The drains on Terrapin Row were primed on September 20 and the painting has begun. The sorority/fraternity volunteers will be placing the medallions on the storm drains in Branchville, Calvert Hills, Old Town, Fox Street (north of Edgewood). Mr. Larsen stated that more medallions would be needed to finish the project. Ms. Bely made a motion to spend $500 on additional medallions. Mr. Lynde seconded the motion. Motion carries 7-0-0. CPAE is hosting an artist reception and is asking CBE to co-host. Ms. Simmons made a motion to contribute $100 towards refreshments. Mr. Larsen seconded the motion. Motion carries 7-0-0. 8. Bee City Committee. a. The Girl Scout Troop Bee Hotel is completely painted. Within the next week, it should be assembled and place at the site. b. Black-eyed Susan and Swamp Milkweed seeds will be given away at College Park Day. c. Bee City has several projects in Good Neighbor Day: Landscaping around the American Legion; Half Moon Garden area at 53rd and Lackawanna; and Calvert at Rhode Island painting project. 9. Reminder to think about potential Green Award nominations which will be discussed at the October meeting. 10. Mr. Guo and Mr. Lynde discussed information received from Bowie and University Park on their Climate Action Plans. There are many questions that need to be posed to Mayor  and City Council regarding what College Park may be thinking, goals for the City, and what may already be underway for the City. It was noted that UMD is their own separate entity and would not be required to follow the city. Further discussion will take place at the October CBE meeting. 11. Municipal Scene: a. November – Stormwater drains – Caroline Wick b. December – Proper home ventilation while cooking on gas appliances – Holly Simmons 12. TLB Update: a. There were 12 applications for tree removals. b. Fall tree care will be an article for the Municipal Scene. c. Riverdale will be hosting an Art Tree seminar. CBE representation at TLB. Mr. Lynde, Ms. Bely and Mr. Larsen volunteered. Ms. DeWalt will send out a schedule with TLB meeting dates for the next 6 months. Ms. McCaslin will coordinate with the City Clerk’s office on sending out the meeting link to the appropriate person. 13. College Park Day is Saturday, October 15 from 12:00noon – 6:00pm. Mr. Lynde, Mr. Guo and Mr. Larsen volunteered to assist at the CBE table. 14. The next CBE meeting will be on October 24, 2022, at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Ms. Bely mentioned to adjourn. Mr. Hall seconded the motion. Motion carries 8-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:52pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.