Committee for a Better Environment

Committee for a Better Environment Via Teleconferencing through Zoom June 24, 2024 – 7:00 PM Staff Present Absent Janet McCaslin X Susan Whitney, Councilmember X Members Term Expires Present Absent Alexa Bely 6/30/2025 X Frank Cifaldi 6/30/2026 X Wentao Guo 6/30/2025 X Brendan Hall 6/30/2027 X Michael Hottinger 6/30/2026 X Todd Larsen 6/30/2026 X Nikki Pancho (a. 7:11pm) 6/30/2025 X Shyamala Rajan 6/30/2026 X William “Donnie” Scally 6/30/2026 X Nicole Sieck 6/30/2026 X Stacy Teng 6/30/2025 X Caroline Wick (a 7:30pm) 6/30/2026 X Janice Wallace 6/30/2026 X Also Present: Bekkah Lampe/Erik Lauridsen; Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary The meeting began at 7:04pm by Todd Larsen, chair. 1. Ms. Sieck motioned to accept the agenda, and Mr. Hottinger seconded. Motion carries 7-0-0. 2. The May 2024 minutes were reviewed. Mr. Hottinger motioned to accept, and Ms. Sieck seconded to accept the minutes. Motion carries 7-0-0. 3. City activities: a. The remaining budget is $2,757.33. b. Lawn care rebates: 51 people have applied. 74 rebates have been approved for mowers, weed whackers, leaf blowers, rakes. There are $1,930.00 remaining monies for rebates. 4. Bekkah Lampe accepted a green award on behalf of her husband, Erick Lauridsen. 5. Green Events. Paperwork has been sent for approval to use Davis Hall for the Town Hall meeting on September 15. At the town hall, the results from the survey will be presented. Ms. Bely is working on a power point presentation. 6. Stormwater drains. The girl scouts painted their drain in Hollywood and the NASA group painted their drain in Berwyn. Mr. Scally volunteered to seal both drains. Discussed the suggestion of painting drains along Edmondson Road since the sidewalks have all been renovated. Mr. Hall stated that his spouse would like to paint a drain and will submit a drawing for approval. 7. Climate Action Plan. The letter to Mayor and Council was submitted. It should be on the July 5 council agenda for discussion. 8. Several Trolley Trail trees were re-labeled. During Trolley Trail Day about 25 brochures were distributed. 9. Municipal Scene - August – Saving water/water conservation. Ms. Wick volunteered to do the article. We will look for September and October article ideas at the July CBE meeting. 10. Bee City update: a. Attended Hollywood Farmers Market on June 22 to celebrate National Pollinator’s Week. About 200 plants were given away. b. There are about 1500 plants at the Bee Lab that will need to find a new home. c. The committee may be requesting another table at the Hollywood Farmers Market in August. d. July 13 will be a clean-up day at Cherokee Garden. e. Maria Ulloa-Bustos, current chair, will be stepping down as chair as her husband and she will be moving back to the West Coast. f. The date to do volunteer work at Lake Artemesia is still TBD. 11. Mr. Larsen will be researching Sustainable T-shirts or polo shirts for committee members. 12. CBE has been asked to send a letter to Mayor and Council to oppose the Beltway Expansion. A previous letter was written, but never sent; Ms. Wick volunteered to update the letter. 13. CBE has been asked to send a letter to Mayor and Council regarding the proposed amendments to the Prince Georges County Better Bag bill to eliminate the 10-cent charge for paper bags, exempt food service, and allow compostable bags to be considered reusable. Mr. Larsen volunteered to write the letter. Ms. Sieck made a motion for Mr. Larsen to draft the letter and Ms. Wick seconded. Motion carries 9-0-0. 14. CBE is willing to help spread the word about increasing the curbside food scrap participation. Currently the city has 9% of residents participating. It would be advantageous to reach at least 10% of residents participating for a cost savings. Lakeland, Berwyn, College Park Estates, Old Town – very low participation. College Park Woods – okay participation. Hollywood has very good participation. Suggestions were made:  a. Go door to door and hand out flyers b. Give out flyers at neighborhood association meetings c. Hand out flyers at the August Farmers Market Bee city table d. Hand out flyers at College Park Day 15. A motion was made by Mr. Larsen to spend $500.00 on purchasing horticultural vinegar and spray bottles to use on the Mugwart in the Permaculture Garden. Ms. Sieck seconded. Motion carried 9-0-0. The next CBE meeting will be July 22 at 7:00pm via Zoom. Mr. Hottinger motioned, and Ms. Sieck seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carries 9-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.