Clean City Commission

FULL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Hampton Clean City Commission November 13, 2018 ~ 3:30pm Board Members Present: Will Kotheimer; Ryan Adams; Barb Abraham; Wendy Iles; Alex Maness; Gayle Mooney Also Present: George Curran; Gaylynn Johnson; Jim Williams; Cris Ausink; Debbie Blanton; C’Faison Harris Opening Business Welcome and Time Sheet: Will Kotheimer opened the meeting, then issued the statement of protocol, noting afterwards that he appreciates the agency’s mission concerning environmental education for Hampton citizens, particularly with programs like the Tours de Trash and Recycling. He added that he will be going on these tours himself and encouraged board members to do the same. Roll Call & Protocol: Roll call was conducted with Debbie Blanton. There was a question about volunteer hours dedicated to the November 10 yard sale. Debbie said she would calculate those hours for each participant. Approval of August & September Minutes: Barb Abraham motioned to approve the October minutes as submitted; Wendy Iles seconded. City Attorney’s Office: No report City Council: No report 1 Parks, Recreation, & Leisure Services: Although Kay Trotter could not be at the meeting, she wanted everyone to know how much she enjoyed the 40th Anniversary celebration. She also stated that HPRLS is currently working on adding credit card payment capability and that receiving donations online should be available in the very near future. Public Works: No report Financial Report: Distributed with agenda packet. Also included was a comparison chart of expenses for the 2017 and 2018 volunteer recognition events. New Business None Discussion Items Bee City USA: Barb introduced a project proposal for consideration. (Have Barb, Debbie, Wendy, and Will provide info for this section.) According to the website: “Bee City USA fosters ongoing dialogue in urban areas to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in our communities and what each of us can do to provide them with healthy habitat. The Bee City USA program endorses a set of commitments, defined in a resolution, for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators, which are vital to feeding the planet. ​Incorporated cities, towns, counties and communities across America are invited to make these commitments and become certified as a Bee City USA affiliate. “By working together, our goal is to make a difference in reversing the threat currently facing pollinators around the world.” Bee City USA began six years ago through the efforts of a Phyllis Stiles. Currently across the US, there are 77 Bee Cities and 54 Bee Campuses. Bee City USA has three major components: to raise awareness; enhance habitats, and celebrate participating cities. This initiative actually overlaps many of the programs done by the agency, area schools, the Community Garden program, and the Hampton Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists. Barb would like to have this program sanctioned by City Council, but Alex Maness stated that the first thing city officials will ask is how will Bee City USA benefit the City of Hampton in turns of revenue. Wendy stated that the proposal, once put in place, could definitely be a tourism draw. 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. 20181113 Will asked what specific role the agency would play in this initiative. Barb responded that Bee City USA could be an initiative under the Beautification Committee which now only oversees the seasonal beautiful and sustainable yards contest. The program requires a $500 fee that is renewable on a yearly basis and questions arose as to how that fee would be paid. Jim Williams asked if Keep Hampton Green donations could be used in support of the program. Debbie stated that KHG funds could be used to purchase small trees and shrubs, but that it is possible that once the online donation capability is in place it would be another way to support the program. Wendy made a motion to continue exploring the proposal and to move forward with it. Gayle Mooney seconded; all were in favor. Wendy mentioned that one of her goals is to renovate vacant unbuildable, city owned lots into pollinator gardens and this goes along with the Bee City mission and could be designated as such. 40th Anniversary Celebration – Evaluation: Wendy stated that complimentary feedback was received with only concern being that she wished the serving line for food had gone a little better. Attendees didn’t seem to be aware of the different food stations and chose to stand in a line rather than randomly go from station to station. Will asked that the subcommittee meet again to do a recap of what went well/what could be improved upon, and to begin planning for the 2019 event. Debbie thanked subcommittee members on a job well done, and C’Faison Harris commended Wendy on how she did the majority of the footwork and planning, making C’Faison’s role much easier in securing venue, caterer, and promotional items. Christmas/Holiday Dinner: Debbie asked for a volunteer to head this subcommittee, with the event date being Tuesday, December11, 6pm. Wendy asked Will to see if the Hampton Yacht Club could accommodate 20-25 persons and what type of menu would be offered. She stated that past complaints revolved around the venue, with comments stating that they weren’t high-end enough. Wendy noted that previous venues were chosen to make people feel comfortable and to provide prices that were affordable to all. Ryan Adams and Jim Williams both stated they would also check venues, with suggestions being Mango Mangeaux and The Grey Goose. Debbie asked that suggestions be forwarded to her as soon as possible. Appointed Member Reports Beautification Committee: No report Fund-Raising Committee: Wendy announced that the November 10 Yard Sale earned $296. There are a few beautiful Christmas wreaths still available for $10ea, made by Melanie Libby, and calendars and notecards donated by Debbie. She encouraged members to participate in the December 6 Painting with a Twist at the Peninsula Town Center, at 7pm – cost is $45. Another fundraising event 2 will be a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater hosted by the Hampton Women’s Club. Tickets ($35) will be available beginning January 2 for the January 24 event. An Italian meal will be served and the event will begin at 6pm. Wendy added that at least 49 participants are needed for this event to be a success. For more information or to RSVP, email hccc@hampton.gov. Hampton Community Gardens: Wendy stated that no classes are scheduled for the remainder of the year. HCCC Staff Reports Clean & Green Workplaces: Jim Williams said the 4th Quarter Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Forum breakfast was held on November 7 at the Freight Shed at Riverwalk Landing and was hosted by the York County Beautification Committee. The new Kroger on Coliseum Drive was Hampton’s Clean Business winner and he, Leslie Crandol, Wendy, and Debbie were in attendance. The guest speaker was Veronica Warwick of York River Academy, who spoke about the Academy’s Greenhouse Team, business structures and plans, and future goals. A community collection is slated for February 2 at Goodwill Resources on Saville Row, and Jim said the committee hopes to expand the event through environmental components, particularly involving ‘reduce/reuse/recycle’. Other ventures being discussed are shredding events, pet adoptions, and a possible partnership with the Health Department in providing flu shots. The Virginia Peninsula Clean Business Forum breakfast will be held on March 7 – venue to be determined. The topic of discussion is Green Funerals. Hampton Waterways Restoration Project: George Curran introduced himself as the chair elect for the committee and asked Debbie and Cris to provide a committee report. Debbie noted that the committee completed a water quality monitoring component on November 10-11 and encouraged members to check the agency’s Facebook page for information about the committee. Litter Awareness & Recycling: Debbie said the next community cleanup will be Friday, November 30, 3pm, along Aberdeen Road between Wingfield and Briarfield. School Pride in Action: Debbie stated that schools have been slow in the Plastic Bag contest participation, and is unsure why when grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 are available to both elementary and secondary schools. 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. 20181113 Virginia Cooperative Extension & Hampton Master Gardeners: Gaylynn Johnson reported that activities for Hampton Master Gardener are shut down for the winter months. She is currently preparing for Pesticide Recertification and is working on the required 5- year needs assessment for Virginia Tech that is due by March 1. She asked for needed input from both Wendy and Barbara, and will provide a trial survey to assess how best to increase effectiveness. Hampton Master Naturalists: No report Staff Reports: Cris Ausink stated that 29 Intercoastal Cleanup events were held in October and November, resulting in 337 volunteers participating that cleaned up 32 miles of shoreline and collected 1,980.8 lbs. of trash and debris. Wendy noted that Cris also worked very hard in removing two recliners from an area in New Market Creek during a clean sweep on November 10. Also completed on that same day was tree maintenance at Lake Hampton. Tree maintenance will again take place on November 14 at Gosnold’s Hope Park. Cris added that the HWRP holiday party will be Thursday, December 13, 6:30pm, at Ventures. Debbie announced that the Virginia Council on Litter Prevention will host a seminar on November 16 in Henrico County. She has procured a bus for transportation and encouraged members to contact her if they wish to participate. The bus will leave HCCC promptly at 8:30am. Public Comment Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 5:01pm. Announcements  Tour de Recycling, November 15, HCCC, 8am  VPPSA Community Collection, November 17, 8am  Clean & Green Workplaces Meeting, November 20  Thanksgiving Day Holiday Observance, November 22-23 3  Community Cleanup, Aberdeen & Wingfield, November 30, 3pm  HCCC Holiday Dinner, Venue TBA, December 11, 6:30pm  HWRP Mtg., January 10, FMCC, 6:30pm  Clean & Green Workplaces Meeting, January 15  Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, January 21  Murder Mystery Dinner, January 24, Hampton Women’s Club, 6pm  VPPSA Community Collection, February 2, 8am  KAB National Conference, February 6-8  LARC Mtg, February 7, Mama Rosa’s, 11:30am  Beautification Mtg, February 11, HCCC, 8:30am  Full Commission Meeting, February 12, HCCC, 3:30pm 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. 20181113