Environmental Advisory Council

EAC March 17, 2026 Minutes Members in Attendance: Grant Alger, Dave Riedel, Kirstyn Gudknecht, Steve Nelson, Emma Jenkins-Long, and John Thomas. Grant Rowe, Sustainability Coordinator, and Borough Council Member, Elizabeth Wyckoff, were also in attendance. Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:32 pm. Approval of Minutes, February 17, 2026: The minutes were approved as submitted. New EAC Members: The EAC welcomed two new members, Emma and John, and conducted a round of introductions. Reports: • DCAP: Grant R. shared that, following many efforts from the members of the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), the Doylestown Climate Action Plan (DCAP) has been officially adopted as an amendment to the Doylestown Borough Comprehensive Plan. He noted that the plan is available on the Borough’s website, that steps to implement the DCAP are underway, and asked that the EAC begin brainstorming ways to promote the plan. Dave suggested that the EAC consider creating a poster or other promotional graphic for the DCAP to use at public events. • Outreach & Communications: o Earth Day Updates and Promotion:  Grant R. shared the flyer for the Borough’s Earth Day event on April 25, 2026, and highlighted the various organizations that are participating. One of these groups is ATS Tree Service, which is providing wood for kids' crafts and a wooden canvas for an event sign.  The EAC members discussed their budget, specifically regarding whether or not they could afford to cover the costs of face painting at the Earth Day event. Following the discussion, the EAC decided to avoid the expense and ask the vendor to charge per person/child.  Steve shared that he reached out to George Mullikin, a community member with expertise in energy efficiency, to table at the event. o CUSP Sustainability Kits: Grant R. reviewed the “Tree Machine” sustainability game and walked the EAC through how it is used. He added that the other game, “Tiny, Slimy, Carbon Keepers,” is still being put together and will be completed for the Earth Day event. Grant A. asked if there was a guide on how to facilitate the two games. Grant R. informed the EAC that instructions for both games are available. o Website: Kirstyn has put together important information related to native plants. Grant R. will work with Kirstyn to put this information on the Borough Website. Progress is continuing in this area. • EAC Collaboration Ideas: o Grant A. shared that the Doylestown Borough EAC has been invited to host a rain barrel workshop with the New Britain Borough EAC on May 2, 2026, at Doylestown Borough Hall. If interested in collaborating, the New Britain Borough EAC is asking the Doylestown Borough EAC to pitch in $150 with them ($300 combined, $150 from each EAC) to help reduce the cost of 30 rain barrels for attendees of the joint workshop. Following the discussion, Dave made a motion for the Doylestown Borough EAC to contribute $150 to the rain barrel workshop. Kirstyn seconded the motion, and all were in favor. With the motion passed, Grant R. is looking into reserving a space for the event. o Kirstyn shared that the Peace Valley Nature Center is looking to screen a 60-minute family-friendly film related to caterpillars in the spring or fall. It is titled “The Extraordinary Caterpillar,” and Peace  Valley is open to working with municipalities to screen the film, including the Doylestown Borough EAC. Emma added that this film connects with the Eric Carle exhibit at the Michener Art Museum. Grant A. suggested looking into a speaker to complement the film and mentioned a connection through Bird Town. John suggested that Penn State or Delaware Valley University may have someone. The EAC agreed to investigate this opportunity further, with Kirstyn taking the lead. • Park Habitat Enhancement o Everything has arrived for the Borough to install new educational signage at Chapman Park. Grant R. is working with the Director of Public Works, Dave Burger, to select an installation date. Emma suggested installing the sign around the time Fanny Chapman Memorial Pool opens and holding a ribbon-cutting/promotion for it. • Bird Town o Grant A. highlighted that Doylestown Borough achieved gold certification for Bird Town this past reporting season. He also added that the reporting process is significantly changing for the next reporting season (2026) as Bird Town connects with Bird City Network. Importantly, to maintain its gold status, the Borough would need 7 properties to register in the Bird Habitat Recognition Program. Grant A. will investigate the details of this requirement. o Grant A. also added that the Pennsylvania Game Commission has funding for bird houses. • Budget Check-In o Grant R. shared a document with the EAC to keep track of its budget. • Staff Report o Plant Grant Award. Grant R. shared that the Borough applied to a plant grant opportunity through Bowman Hill’s Wildflower Preserve and was awarded approximately 100 plants to be installed at Broad Commons Park this year. The Borough is working with Doylestown Fish to host a community service event for this planting. o PECO Green Region Open Space Grant. Grant R. noted that the Borough was awarded its full request of approximately $10,000 from the PECO Open Space program. These funds will go towards habitat enhancement projects at Veterans and Chapman Parks, o Compost Opportunity. Grant R. noted that the Borough is looking into the feasibility of a compost program, an action highlighted in the Doylestown Climate Action Plan (DCAP). In such a program, the Borough would likely partner with a private company to promote compost pickup. Kirstyn suggested that the EAC look into sponsoring several compost buckets, e.g., giving away 10 for free. • Old/New Business/Public Comment o The EAC discussed creating a welcome packet of sorts (or updating an existing one if it exists) to share important information related to recycling providers, compost programs, native plants, Bird Town, etc. o Council Member, Elizabeth Wyckoff, noted that the Pump Track is under construction and that its grand opening is planned for June 9, 2026. The EAC is invited to the table. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 pm. Respectfully Submitted by: Erika Fellman