Environmental Advisory Council

EAC November 18, 2025 Minutes Members in Attendance: Grant Alger, Dan Ford, Dave Riedel, Steve Nelson, Jason Wood, Karen Graziano (via Zoom), Karyn Hyland, Director of Planning and Zoning, and Grant Rowe, Sustainability Coordinator. Dennis Livrone, Borough Council member, also attended. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:31 pm. Approval of Minutes, October 21, 2025: The minutes were approved as submitted. Reports: • DCAP: The Doylestown Climate Action Plan (DCAP) is moving forward in the adoption process. In addition to a public comment period, a joint Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and Planning Commission (PC) meeting will occur on January 20th at 6:30 pm. Work is underway to determine who from the EAC will present at this joint meeting. Steve will not be present. • Outreach & Communications: o Website: Karen and Kirstyn are continuing to work on compiling information related to the benefits of native plants and current Doylestown Borough efforts to support native planting. The goal is to eventually post this information on the website. o 2026 EAC Speaker Series: Grant A. introduced the idea of creating a speaker and/or film series in which the EAC would plan and promote an educational event to the community. Steve asked about the availability of Borough Hall to host such events, and Karyn informed the EAC that Borough Hall can be reserved and that Wednesdays are often available. Council Member Dennis Livrone suggested that an upcoming April speaking event at Delaware Valley University, the One Health Seminar Series, will focus on the DCAP and could be promoted as part of this proposed EAC Speaker Series. Grant R. suggested that the EAC begin by planning two public events for next year and shared that Penn State University already hosts an online film/speaker series, the Intersections Film Series, that the EAC could partner with. Grant A. will share a file with the EAC to brainstorm ideas for this series. o Earth Day Programming: EAC discussed plans for an Earth Day event. Grant R. suggested that EAC host an Earth Day event on April 25, 2026, as it is the weekend after Earth and Arbor Day, and the Borough should have trees to give away if that date is chosen. Karyn informed EAC that a “Medication Take Back” event will also be occurring at the Borough that day. Dan shared that EAC reached out to various organizations last year for Earth Day. Dan will reach out to these same organizations and connect them with Grant R. Grant R. will connect with the Director of Parks and Recreation, Caitlin, to see what supplies are available for an Earth Day event. Steve asked about music for such an event, and Dan confirmed that Nook Nook was contacted to lead music at the event last year and can be contacted again. • Park Habitat Enhancement: Grant R. shared a draft educational sign for Chapman Park based on feedback from the last EAC meeting and asked for more feedback. Dan suggested adding a border around the recreation graphics on the sign to maintain formatting. Grant A. suggested adding graphics for nature-based activities, such as fishing or birdwatching. Steve inquired about whether a graphic/logo exists for the Fanny Chapman Memorial Pool and whether it should be added. Grant A. suggested changing the word “countless” to something else, and Karen suggested making the bottom text, “observe don’t disturb,” more noticeable. Jason pointed out that the Chapman Park sign could be easily edited to apply to other parks in the area.  Finally, Dan suggested reviewing the text size to ensure everything is consistent and that space is used as effectively as possible. • Bird Town: Grant A. informed the EAC that Bird Town, PA, recently hosted an annual meeting where various organizations shared their work on Bird Town initiatives. Grant A. highlighted that the Pennsylvania Audubon Council has relaunched the “Bird-Friendly Habitat” recognition program. Organizations, including municipalities, can apply for $30 and receive signage upon recognition. Karen asked whether an organization needs to have physical birdhouses to receive habitat recognition. Grant R. shared that the Borough plans to install birdhouses in the future, so this criterion would be covered regardless. Grant A. suggested that Doylestown Borough apply for recognition at Chapman Park. • Staff Report: o Grant Application Update: Grant R. shared that Doylestown Borough applied to the PECO Green Region Open Space program for $10,000 in funding for invasive plant removal, native plantings, and bird and bat box installations at Chapman and Veterans Memorial Parks. An update on the application will be coming early next year (2026). Grant A. shared a few more grant opportunities he found, and Dan forwarded a few more incentives to Grant R. The EAC also discussed funding opportunities related to bird houses. o Planting Initiatives: Grant R. shared that Doylestown Borough is promoting a variety of planting programs, including ordering trees to be given away around Arbor Day 2026. o Borough Hall SRECs: Grant R. shared that the Borough Hall solar array is officially generating solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) and that the Borough is making funds from selling said credits. Old/New Business: • Naturalized Lawn Ordinances: Grant A. discussed a naturalized landscape ordinance shared by WeConservePA. Karyn and Grant R. briefly discussed current ordinances in place in Doylestown Borough. • Green Points Incentive Program: Grant A. suggested incorporating bird-friendly glass into the Green Points program in the future. • December Schedule: EAC decided to keep their meeting in December. • Micro-Forest: Karen shared information related to micro-forest programs and how Doylestown Borough could participate. The EAC agreed to look into this opportunity further, including exploring whether some members could attend a February webinar. Karen also shared that this will be her last meeting with the EAC. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 pm. Respectfully Submitted by: Erika Fellman Minutes Secretary