Clean City Commission

FULL COMMISSION MEETING Minutes October 10, 2017 ~ 3:30pm Community Development Conference Room Board Members Present: Barb Abraham, Ryan Adams, Jackie Cannan, Wendy Iles, Will Kotheimer, Gayle Mooney, Jamie Osso Other Members Present: Cris Ausink, Debbie Blanton, Jason Mitchell, Claire Neubert, Teresa Schmidt, Kay Trotter, Jim Williams, Welcome, Time Sheet Reminder, and Roll Call: Vice Chair Jackie Cannan opened the meeting. Debbie Blanton called roll. A quorum was present. Approval of September Minutes: The September minutes were approved, moved by Will Kotheimer, seconded by Jackie. Public Works Report: Jason Mitchell reported that Public Works met with Master Gardener representatives to engage with schools on storm drain ponds. Master Gardeners agreed to work with educating school staff at the sites. Financial Report: Teresa Schmidt asked about salary refunds from the budget office. Debbie will check back with Brian DeProfio for an update. Wendy Iles reported that HCCC received $250 from Embassy Suites to support the Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Jim Williams suggested asking Macon Brock of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Brock Center for a donation. Bylaws: Debbie said the group would decide on three sections that still needed to be resolved and said she hoped the bylaws could be finalized at this meeting. Section 2.02, “Any member of the Commission may be removed by the City Council with or without cause.” Will moved to acknowledge that Section 2.02 is the rule governing the board as written. Jamie Osso seconded. Vote: unanimous approval. Section 3.05 – “By majority vote, the Commission may remove any officer at any time with or without cause.” Will suggested “may be removed by majority vote”. Barb Abraham clarified that removed officers will still be board members. Will suggested “By majority vote, the Commission may remove any officer from their position at any time.” Barb moved approval, Will seconded. Vote: unanimous approval. Section 5.01 – “The Committee chair shall appoint members of the Standing and Ad Hoc Committees and may remove a committee member with or without cause.” Will proposed “The Committee Chairs shall appoint members of a Standing or Ad Hoc Committees. A committee member may be removed by a majority vote of the Board.” Will moved acceptance as modified, seconded by Jamie. Vote: unanimous approval. Section 5.02 – “Chairs of the Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, who must reside or work in the City.” A typographical error was pointed out - “Chairs of the Standing and Ad Hoc Committees must reside or work in the City.” The typographical error change was approved. Veronica Meade asked permission to change minor grammatical points. The group agreed. Will moved that the bylaws as amended, Jackie seconded. Vote: unanimous approval. Seafood Tour Proposal: Claire Neubert proposed, on behalf of Hampton Waterways Restoration Project, a seafood industry tour (name will be changed as idea develops) to help connect the importance of clean waterways to citizens of Hampton. The basic plan is to visit seafood businesses and the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center to allow participants some insight into the importance of our seafood industry and clean water. A guidebook, transportation, target audience, and charging for the tour were discussed. Name recommended: Tour de Seafood. The project will evolve throughout planning. Will moved approval to proceed, Gayle seconded. Vote: unanimous approval. Clean City Awards Selections: Debbie will send information as a survey monkey to determine Clean City Award winners. Volunteer Recognition Dinner: Cris Ausink reminded everyone the date of the recognition dinner will be October 26th, Phoebus High School. We need donations of candy from members and we need questions and movie promos for tables. The black and gold decorations were donated by Langley Air Force Base and led to a Theater/Movie theme. The menu is chicken potatoes, green beans, and dessert. There was a recommendation for mushroom gravy to be changed to brown gravy. Ideas about displays and information by committees were discussed. Monetary donations are welcome. The Hampton Clean City Commission works to improve and enhance the physical environment of Hampton through beautification, solid waste management education, coastal awareness activities, and litter abatement programs; educates citizens; and encourages their participation. As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., we share the philosophy that each of us has a responsibility for enhancing our community environment. 20171010DLB Hampton Community Gardens: Wendy Iles reported that five new gardens started in the previous month. Fundraising Committee: Wendy – A fundraising paint night will be held at Painting With A Twist on October 20, 7pm – 9pm, $35 per person. Need a minimum of 20 people. Santa’s Clean & Green Workshop is a possible fundraiser in November, with emphasis on recycling and reusing to make Christmas decorations. Beautification Committee: Barb Abraham is trying to get a meeting scheduled. Debbie reported that the Yard of the Year winner was selected. Greg Riebe is the Yard of the Year winner. September winners need signs. Clean & Green Businesses Committee: Jim Williams proposed changing the name of the committee to Clean & Green Workplaces Committee. Members met with Mike Yazkowsky regarding collaboration with the Hampton Economic Development Department. They will be selecting the winter Clean & Green Workplaces Award winner at the next meeting. The last winner was the Wawa at Mercury and Aberdeen. Next meeting will be October 17 at 3:30. Hampton Waterways Restoration Project: Claire reported that Oyster Gardening is going well. Water quality testing is going well, and supplies for it were purchased with the proceeds of the last Art Show. Additional art show flyers were distributed and Debbie will send a copy via email. The project team is waiting for the no-charge lease application to be approved. Members are participating in coastal cleanups. The meeting on Thursday will feature Chris Moore from Chesapeake Bay Foundation to discuss menhaden. Jamie will be cleaning up Saturday at Beach Road and State Park Road. Litter Awareness Committee: Debbie reported that Committee members and additional volunteers completed the litter index, results will be distributed when tallied. There is a cleanup on Aberdeen Road on October 20 at 3pm. School Pride In Action Committee: Debbie reported that the committee’s first meeting of the year will be held at 4:15 at Clean City Office October 11. Master Naturalist: Claire reported that Master Naturalists participated in an oyster shell washing project. They are also collecting plastic bags to earn a plastic bench. Master Naturalists helped install a rain garden at Armstrong Elementary School. HCCC Staff Reports: Debbie and Ryan Adams attended a Virginia Council for Litter Prevention and Recycling mini-conference on September 28. Debbie volunteered to coordinate their social media. Members of VCLPR are clean community organizations that receive non-competitive Litter Prevention and Recycling Fund grants throughout the state. The basis of the clean community model is sharing information and ideas to improve all our programs. A representative of the Department of Environmental Quality announced a competitive grant opportunity that will be available this fall. Ryan agreed that the program was interesting and helpful. Spotsylvania County does a Cash for Trash program where high schools and middle schools compete to clean up throughout the county, paid $5 per bag of trash, used for participating group fundraising. Public Comment: No public comment The Hampton Clean City Commission works to improve and enhance the physical environment of Hampton through beautification, solid waste management education, coastal awareness activities, and litter abatement programs; educates citizens; and encourages their participation. As an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful Inc., we share the philosophy that each of us has a responsibility for enhancing our community environment. 20171010DLB