Keep Gallup Clean and Beautiful Board

MDraft KEEP GALLUP CLEAN & BEAUTIFUL BOARD (KGCB) MINUTES at the Solid Waste Conference Room, March 10, 2020 4‐5:30pm Mission statement: “To inspire and educate people to take action every day to improve and beautify Gallup” Members Present: Alice Perez, Kara Smith, Greg Kirk, Cory Lebeck, John Ortiz, Elizabeth Barriga KGCB Board members reviewed a May 2nd, 2020 Comcast Cares & KGCB Clean‐Up Day draft ‐ 1/3 page bill insert ‐ event flyer, and made suggestions asking that the KGCB Logo be placed on it, write event ‐ location ‐ where to meet, time, and instructions such as “Dress Appropriately – wear closed toe shoes (no sandals)” in the dark blue blank areas. John explained a little about his background ‐ having 12 years of experience with Comcast Cares. Currently, he has a staff of five. He has experience teaching and assisting with football teams, grade schools, and teachers. He mentioned ‐ we need more trash pick‐up volunteers, the more the better. During last year’s May 2019 Comcast Cares Day, Team Leader ‐ John Ortiz, with volunteers, chose to clean‐up lots of trash on 9th Street, and near the Metro Fire Station. He says, since not everyone can attend May 2nd, to work a week ahead with volunteers to pick up trash prior to May 2nd, 2020 Comcast Cares & KGCB Clean‐Up Day which can also help mitigate event day weather issues. The four Team Leaders, with their volunteers, will split up to pick‐up trash in different areas throughout town. John mentions have a couple of people for each District clean‐up go ahead of their group, who are on alert for dangerous and unsafe issues, to make the clean‐up event safe by reporting issues to Team Leaders. He also states do not have volunteers go across the road. Comcast Cares donated T‐Shirts to this event. He suggests, this year, to plan ahead and order 125 T‐Shirts. Elizabeth will add T‐shirt to the FY21 NMCB grant application request, and include: Bus Fees, and (4‐5 each) Traffic Control, 2‐sided Signs (2‐3’ tall orange, portable, wind resistant signs). These safety signs can say: “Slow Down”, “Men At Work”, or “Clean Up In Progress”. Also, new, large signs will be requested such as: “Please Pick-Up your Trash” – all over town, per Greg’s suggestion. Alice says - most people understand only written words, and it is better to show simple pictures. On the Comcast Cares and COG Waiver Form – write ‐ that pictures will be used to advertise this event. Elizabeth will create a Team Leader Duties ‐ Punch List‐ to be given to each District Team Leader at the beginning of event stating – distribute blue water bottles to volunteers; during clean‐up: take before, during, and after pictures; keep volunteers hydrated; pass out 33 gallon trash bags to volunteers; and, promote safety (such as alerting Team Leader’s if a hazard is found: such as sharps, broken glass, or encountering wild critters); and, if needed ‐ have a First Aid Kit ready to use. May 2nd ‐ Team Leaders include ‐ John Ortiz (Council District 1); Cory Lebeck (Council District 2); Elizabeth (Council District 3); and, Alice Perez (Council District 4). Elizabeth will obtain coffee plastic containers for sharps, and contact the COG Fire Dept to provide First Aid Kits, and provide First Aid training prior to the event at a designated KGCB meeting. She will also contact the COG Parks Dept to provide, on each bus, a 5 gallon water jug that has a spigot. Alice stated let’s get the Mayor and four City Councilors more involved. The Community Pantry asks for volunteers regularly. She and Greg volunteered to talk to the new Mayor & Councilors during May or June 2020. She suggests networking with lots of people. Having more volunteers may help get more future grant funding. Kara stated it is more advantageous to increase participation. Ray said that I‐40 off‐ramp intersections are full of trash, and suggested to call the DOT, and/or ask for inmates to help clean these areas. He also mentioned that at the end of the Amtrack Station, homeless are picking through, and throwing trash out of dumpsters daily. Greg said recently the jail staff is short‐staffed. For future clean‐ups ‐ contact Ron Silversmith, who is in charge of adult inmates. The juvenile detention center has been closed for a while. It was mentioned to contact Ms. Armond to be an adult mentor, HS Team coaches such as Athletic Directors, Gallup HS Athletic Director‐Andrew Rodriguez, and Martina GreyBear of Miyamura HS (505) 721‐1900. Alice called LORI PARRA during today’s meeting, project coordinator with McKinley County. Also, a friend of Greg. Alice reached out to Lori to add KGCB to the DWI Compliance & Probation Program list – to give inmates the option to do Trash Clean‐ Ups in lieu of mandatory Community Service time, and invited her to future KGCB meetings. Greg says we need Trash Clean‐Ups on a regular basis. Cory invited attendees to send her information to add to our new KGCB Facebook page: “Facebook@kgcb505”. Create a Buzz in town – Care and Put‐In the Effort. Kara says to do both, for the May 2nd Comcast Cares & KGCB Clean‐Up Day: a) have a full Facebook Event with a radius location demographic page; and, b) Boost it. Elizabeth will send Cory a one color KGCB logo, and an updated event flyer. We can ask Jennifer how she does it for COG quotes and billing purposes. Cory would like to include a 5th Downtown & Alleys clean‐up location, in addition to the four Council District Pick‐Up locations, for Comcast Cares & KGCB Clean‐Up Day. John said in the past, volunteer groups, such as HS coaches and/or youth team players, solicited downtown businesses door to door to help maintain alleys, but it did not last long. How do we get street folks involved? Maybe, entice with a food incentive for work performed? Ray says have Carrot, Stick, or Incentives to get homeless involved to keep the trash from building up. Kara will write and email a letter to the Business Improvement District (BID) members requesting help, partnering with KGCB, to clean up downtown. To invite BID Board members, who have a vested interest of keeping downtown clean & beautiful, to help 1 with sponsorship or donations to KGCB to help clean up the BID business areas. For Clean‐Up events please send Cory and Kara ‐ Before and After pictures. These pictures will be encouragement for the BID to take care of their downtown streets and alleys. Elizabeth mentioned she will work on a future do‐it‐yourself trash clean‐up program: “Adopt a Site”, which could be created in a couple of months. Action Items: None 1. 2‐18‐2020 KGCB Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously. 2. Meeting adjourned at 5:30pm. The next meeting will be second Tuesday of the month. We will meet in person only after the Governor approves lifts the COVID restrictions. Date Approved: ___May 12 , 2020___ ________________________________________________ Kara Smith, KGCB Chairperson Elizabeth Barriga ATTEST: _______________________________________ Elizabeth Barriga, Environmental Program Coordinator 2