Clean City Commission

FULL COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Hampton Clean City Commission November 10, 2020 ~ 3:30pm Board Members Present: Ryan Adams, Barb Abraham (via Zoom), Jackie Cannan, Chris Grady (via Zoom), Alex Maness, Grady McLean, Gayle Mooney Also Present: Chris Bowman, Lola Perkins, Jim Williams, Arthur Ward, Debbie Blanton, Cris Ausink, C’Faison Harris, Wendy Iles Opening Business Welcome and Time Sheet: Ryan Adams opened the meeting, board member Grady McLean was introduced. Grady, a 35-year Hampton resident, is a Virginia Department of Corrections retiree and a 7-year active Adopt- A-Spot sponsor. Roll Call, Protocol, and Approval of Minutes: Roll call conducted; a quorum was present and voted to allow members Barb Abraham and Chris Grady to attend via Zoom. A motion was made by Jackie Cannan to accept 1 the September minutes as written and to add the October Notes as an addendum to the minutes. Ryan seconded the motion. Parks, Recreation & Leisure Services Annual Report: None Public Works: No report City Council: Chris Bowman stated that the James Wilson Fishing Pier reopened and that boardwalk renovations should be completed by the spring/summer of 2021. Gayle Mooney asked why the swings at Buckroe Beach Park were moved; Chris said he would check into that. City Attorney’s Office: No report Financial Report: Financial data was distributed. Discussion & Voting Items Revised By-Laws Update: Lola Perkins, Deputy City Attorney, stated that the principal decision to be made at this meeting dealt with what term will be used for persons attending meetings that are not quorum members. Out of the list of terms that included contributor, adjunct, supporter, and volunteer, members agreed that 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. 20201110 volunteer would be term used. Chris Bowman noted that on the majority of other city boards and committees, that term was commonly accepted and used. Alex Maness moved that the by-laws be accepted as revised using the approved terminology. Ryan seconded and the motion carried. Lola noted that it is imperative for each sub- and ad hoc committee to select its five members as soon as possible. Debbie Blanton asked members to submit names of possible candidates for each committee within the coming week. In December, a holiday activity is usually planned the day of the regularly scheduled meeting, but due to the pandemic, plans were delayed. Instead, board members agreed to meet December 8 to finalize selection. When asked whether board members could act as sub- and ad hoc committee members, Lola stated that they would be able to fill in if a quorum is needed. Holiday Dinner Update: Jim Williams stated that he is against holding the dinner this year due to the pandemic and suggested that maybe something else could be done in its place. Board members were in agreement. Wendy Iles announced that she is donating toward the WHCC Senior Thanksgiving Turkey Drive- by and suggested that members could donate also. The event is scheduled for Thursday, December 20 with donations of turkeys, non-perishable items accepted through December 19, 9am – 5pm, Monday through Friday. C’Faison Harris noted that while monetary donations may be made, the center prefers gift cards that enables them to buy items for the drive-by. Jim asked if members would be willing to make a monetary domation, and C’Faison stated that since checks have to be made to the City of Hampton, the funds would not be available to the center in time. She stated that she’d ask the center if another event would be done in December, and, if so, monetary donations could be collected in time for that. Volunteer Recognition Event: Because the event was postponed until April 2021, Jim suggested sending a 2 virtual thank you to volunteers to coincide with Thanksgiving as way to let them know that their commitment and support, even through the pandemic, is appreciated. Further planning was tabled until January 2021. Project/Program/Initiative Planning (Brief Status Updates) Beautification: Tree plantings took place October 24 at Bluebird Gap farm and November 7 at Armistead Pointe/Boo Williams Sportsplex. Keep Hampton Green funds paid 108 native trees and shrubs which were planted by 65 volunteers. Water Quality-Upcoming International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), etc.: Cris Ausink reported that the International Coastal Cleanup event resulted in 35 of the 38 shoreline and waterway sites (43.4 miles) being cleaned to date. These cleanups include 316 volunteers who picked up 277 bags of trash & debris. She added that Jamie Osso’s group had 31 volunteers who cleaned up Grandview Island. Other sites included Pembroke Spit and Newmarket Creek. Litter Prevention & Abatement, Community Cleanups: Debbie said the committee met November 5 and that she and Cris will begin planning a list of community cleanups for 2021. She stated that due to the pandemic, the annual litter index will now be a virtual event with 10 districts and 100 sites being videotaped for an online evaluation. There will be a Tour de Recycling on November 13, and a final Tour de Trash Express to 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. 20201110 Goodwill on December 2. This year’s final Household & Chemical Collection will be Saturday, November 21 at the Coliseum and the last community cleanup also on November 21 at Cooper ES. Committee & Partner Updates Bee City USA: Debbie announced that a Bee City budget line item subservice has been added and that donations may now be accepted. Donations would be used to purchase supplies and equipment for pollinator plantings. Wendy added that plant donations have been received for Bee City with several garden plots now with perennial planters. The Phoebus Community Garden has a pollinator strip along Mellen Street. Clean & Green Workplaces: Jim said the committee met October 20 at Goodwill and the new director of the Hampton Coliseum, Peter ???, attended. The committee will meet again on November 17. Community Gardens: Wendy announced that the hoop houses are 95% completed and volunteered contributed over 70 hours working with the project. In addition, ADA beds at Buckroe Garden were replaced. Master Gardeners: Gayle stated that the group will meet November 11 to discuss next year’s agenda. Wendy said a Zoom class on master composting will be December 2. Congratulations also given to Wendy on successfully receiving her Chesapeake Bay Landscaping certification. School Pride In Action: Debbie discussed the need to have a mechanism in place for a more collaborative 3 effort between the school board, faculty, staff and students in the maintenance of environmental projects. She added that Sally Lewis recently told her how the butterfly garden built at Kecoughtan High School had been dismantled by custodial staff at the beginning of this school year. This was a huge disappointment to the teachers and students, current and former, who planted the garden. Debbie asked board members to submit any ideas, suggestions, etc., they have on how best to convince all school partners on how best to appropriate a portion of the school system’s $220M budget toward environmental education and projects. Debbie will first work on this via SPIA. Ryan suggested having current and former students address the issue at school board meetings. Staff Reports: Staff and subcommittees to submit reports as an addendum to the notes. Meeting adjourned Meeting adjourned at 4:47pm Announcements  Veteran’s Day, November 11  Tour de Recycling – Chesapeake, Nov 13, 9am 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. 20201110  America Recycles Day, November 15  Clean & Green Workplaces Meeting, November 17, Goodwill, 3:30pm  Bee City Meeting, HCCC, November 19, 1pm  Community Cleanup, Nov. 20, Milford/Brightwood/Westwood/Shell, 3pm  Community Cleanup, Nov. 21, Cooper ES, 10a  VPPSA Household & Chemical Collection, November 21, Coliseum, 8am  Thanksgiving Day Holiday, November 26-27  Tour de Trash Express – Goodwill, Dec 2, 9am  Master Gardener Master Composter Class, Zoom, 5:30pm  Community Cleanup, December 5, Barrack Street, 9am  Full Commission Special Meeting, December 8, Hampton History Museum, 3:30pm  Christmas Day Holiday, December 24-25  New Year’s Day Holiday, January 1  Full Commission Meeting, January 19, 2021, Hampton History Museum, 3:30pm 4 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. 20201110