Committee for a Better Environment

-Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom September 25, 2023 – 7:00 PM Staff Present Absent Janet McCaslin X Susan Whitney, Councilmember X Alan Hew, Councilmember X Members Term Expires Present Absent Alexa Bely 6/30/2025 X Brendan Hall 6/30/2024 X Wentao Guo 6/30/2025 X Todd Larsen 6/30/2026 X Nikki Pancho 6/30/2025 X William “Donnie” Scally 6/30/2026 X Nicole Sieck 6/30/2026 X Stacy Teng 6/30/2025 X Caroline Wick 6/30/2026 X Janice Wallace 6/30/2026 X Also Present: Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:04pm by Todd Larsen, Chair. 1. Noting the wrong date for the next meeting on the agenda, Mr. Larsen accepted the agenda without exception. 2. The August 28, 2023, minutes were reviewed. Ms. Wick motioned, and Ms. Bely seconded to accept the minutes with amended changes. Motion carries 6-0-0. 3. City activities: a. There is $10,892.75 currently in CBE’s budget. The $6,000.00 for better bags, electric mowers and blowers was not encumbered in time; Public Works paid for the better bags out of their budget. Expenses of $1,107.25 for tree signs and the big permaculture sign. b. October 14 and October 28 are clean up days. Shredding will also be available on October 14. c. Reminder to sign up to volunteer for Good Neighbor Day projects. 4. The permaculture sign has arrived. Miss Utility has been contacted to make the area first. Hopefully it can be installed in time for Good Neighbor Day. 5. Good Neighbor Day projects that will do clean up and native plantings: a. Muskogee Playground b. American Legion.  c. Calvert Hills d. Cherokee Median e. Permaculture Garden 6. Prince George’s County Better Bags ordinance will go into effect for enforcement on January1, 2024. There is a daily violation of retailers and restaurants for non-compliance of the ordinance. College Park’s ordinance does not allow biodegradable bags. Some committee members noted that some retailers who are complying are complaining about those who are not. Prince George’s County will be considering an amendment to their Better Bag ordinance to exempt SNAP and WIC recipients and implement a maximum of 10 cents charge on paper or reusable gags. College Park’s ordinance states a minimum of 10 cents charge per paper bag and the City is giving out free bags to ensure residents who need them. Mr. Larsen made a motion to send a letter to City Council to oppose the Prince George’s County amendment of charging 10 cents maximum per bag and realign the amendment to coincide with College Park. Ms. Wallace seconded the motion. Motion carries 6-0-0. Mr. Larsen noted that the hearing on the County amendment is this Thursday, September 28. For any resident who wishes to comment, there is a portal on the Prince George’s County website. There was a discussion on how to set up a “Leave a bag, Take a bag” program with some of the local stores or a place within a City building, e.g., Davis Hall or City Hall. 7. Stormwater drain art. Eco-Latinos is scheduled to paint a few storm drains on Good Neighbor Day in Northern College Park near Youth and Family Services. It started as a continuation of the CBE storm drain art, but the group is interested in painting pollinators to fit in with the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. The City has requested CBE’s input on the designs that Mr. Larsen emailed to the committee. The committee had a discussion to ensure that either marshy or swampy milkweed is being use and Monarch butterflies. The continued message of “Only rain down the drain” will be put on the storm drains in both English and Spanish. Mr. Larsen made a motion that CBE will inform City Council that the committee supports Eco-Latinos to create art on the storm drains with the provided suggestions. Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 6-0-0. 8. Climate Action plan was tabled until the October CBE meeting. 9. Due to the rainy weather, the Electric Vehicle event has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 30. Mr. Larsen asked for consideration of reimbursement of $75.00 for advertising in the Berwyn News. Mr. Hall made a motion to approve the $75.00 reimbursement. Ms. Wallace seconded. Motion carries 5-0-1. 10. Reminder that College Park Day is October 7 from 12:00Noon-6:00pm at the College Park Airport. CBE will have a table under the city tent. 11. Gas leaf blower exchange program/incentive. Councilmember Whitney is still pursuing clarification of this idea. The subject was tabled for a future CBE meeting.  12. Bee City Activities: a. A majority of the plants for Good Neighbor Day will be coming from the USGS Lab. b. Discussion on having an educational seminar explaining the difference between pollinator gardens and meadows. Explain various stages of each. c. Bee City will participate at the September 30th MNCPPC tree giveaway with plants from the USGS lab. 13. Municipal Scene Articles: a. November – Leave your leaves – Mr. Larsen b. December – Using various materials for wrapping presents – Ms. Wallace 14. TLB report: a. There are 55 locations for tree plantings on rights of way. b. College Park tree canopy assessment report should be available by the end of September. This will be discussed at the November 14 City Council meeting. c. Discussion on how to protect trees from the deer. d. Tree giveaway, with MNCPPC, on September 30 at the College Park Airport. First come, first serve. e. Discussed Adopt a Park volunteer programs and the requirements on volunteering, i.e., fingerprinting volunteers, background check. f. Continuing to work on the vine removal video. 15. Creating of a shared google drive account with a generic email address. Ms. Wallace volunteered to create the account. 16. The next CBE meeting will be on October 23, 2023, at 7:00pm. Instructions will be sent out via email prior to the meeting date. Mr. Larsen motioned and Ms. Wallace seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:40pm. Motion carries 6-0-0. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.