Committee for a Better Environment

Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom October 24, 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 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 6/30/2024 X Caroline Wick (a 7:07pm) 6/30/2023 X Also Present: Susan Whitney, Councilmember; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:03pm by Todd Larsen, chair. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept. Mr. Scally seconded. Motion carries 9-0-0. 2. The September 26, 2022, minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hew motioned to accept. Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 10-0-0. 3. City activities: a. There is approximately $4,941.23 in CBE’s budget. From the previous month, there were expenditures of $1,058.77 for supplies for UMD art students storm drain paintings and for previously approved items. b. There are currently 189 registered applicants for the curbside pickup of the food scrap program. The program will begin on November 15, 2022. The initial cut- off date to apply and be included in the first pickup is November 7, 2022. Residents can still apply and will be added to the list. A question was raised about apartments and condo building residents participating in the program. Ms. McCaslin stated that if they currently have recycling, they can participate. However, there needs to be one central location. It was suggested that residents place their names and addresses on their carts. At this time, businesses cannot participate.  c. CBE is responsible for the maintenance and planting of the permaculture garden. It was noted that it needs attention. There should be a quarterly schedule made for keeping the permaculture garden in good shape. Mr. Hew noted that he has been handling the permaculture garden and it is scheduled to be a Good Neighbor Day project. d. The City of College Park has been re-certified by Sustainable Maryland and achieved Silver status. There is press release which can be found on the City’s website. 4. Reminder that Good Neighbor Day 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: 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 concept is scheduled for the College Park’s City Council work session on November 15. Mr. Larsen and Ms. Bely will be representing CBE and Martha Ainsworth, Prince George’s County Sierra Club, will also be present. Mr. Larsen will make the presentation to City Council. FYI – Greenbelt, Beltsville, and Hyattsville are also interested in the banning of plastic bags. 6. The Trolley Trail tree labeling. The signs have arrived and are different colors than the previous signs, however, they will be used. Ms. Bely, Ms. Simmons, and Mr. Lynde volunteered to install the signs. Mr. Hew volunteered to loan his big nail tool. Ms. Bely will ensure that the GPS coordinates of each tree is sent to Ms. McCaslin and the GIS engineer to have them placed on the current map located on the City’s website. 7. Storm Drain update. Terrapin Row paintings are completed. There will be an artist reception on November 5 from 3:00pm-5:00pm which is being hosted by CPAE and CBE. There is a story posted at dbknews.com/2022/10/14/umd-students-storm-drain- paitning-pollution. An additional 260 medallions were purchased. Two fraternities placed the medallions throughout Old Town and Calvert Hills and in the northern Branchville area. Hollywood and North College Park will have medallions placed during Good Neighbor Day. Mr. Larsen will be placing some in the Berwyn area. This will be the last time for placing medallions this year as they will not stick in temperatures less than 40o. 8. Climate Action Plan. Mr. Lynde shared that there are resources that should be added to the City’s website, and he is working on collecting all the information. Ms. McCaslin spoke to the City’s Communications Coordinator about creating a sustainability page and add links to other pages on the website. The suggestion was made to try and consolidate the information on one page and share with the public.  9. Gas-powered leaf blowers. There was discussion on asking City Council for potential incentives for residents to purchase electric leaf blowers. It was noted that several cities have banned the use of gas-powered leaf blowers with putting a phase out date in place. Ms. McCaslin stated that the City staff does not like the electric blowers as they are not as powerful. Ms. Bely noted that volunteers could help rake the leaves in public areas, like the Trolley Trail and placed the leaves in a container. Mr. Hew stated that the Bee City committee would like to promote leave the leaves. Ms. Simmons noted that Hyattsville is in the process of rolling out a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers and she will find out more information and share at the next CBE meeting. 10. Bee City update: a. The Girl Scout Troop 96 installed their bee hotel on the Trolley Trail. There will be some planting of pollinator plants around the bee hotel. b. CBE and Bee City shared a table at College Park Day. c. Mr. Hew attended that the City of Laurel Bee City USA sustainable festival. At the festival, he spoke with a representative from the USDA Bee Lab. There is space available to grow native plants and share with residents; volunteers will be needed to maintain the area. If interested, please contact Mr. Hew. 11. Municipal Scene: a. December – Proper home ventilation while cooking on gas appliances – Holly Simmons 12. Green Awards. Please continue to think of people/groups who can be nominated. It was asked if the UMD art students might be eligible for a Green Award. Ms. McCaslin stated she would inquire about the possibility. 13. TLB Update: a. No one from CBE attended the October meeting. A reminder that it is part of the charter that a representative from CBE attend each TLB meeting. b. The tree giveaway went well. c. The new arborist has started. 14. Noted that there is indication of development in the Autoville preserve. 15. Mr. Larsen will work on drafting the Annual Report of CBE activities for City Council as well as the Work Plan for 2023. The reports will be reviewed at the next CBE meeting. 16. The next CBE meeting will be on December 12, 2022, at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Mr. Larsen motioned to adjourn. Mr. Hew seconded. Motion carries 10-0-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.