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Home My WebLink About2017_05_02 Sustainability Collaborative Minutes TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2017 0502 Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative Meeting Notes, May 2, 2017 Attendees: Mitch Green, George Roniger, Michele Lewis, Steve Moser, Steve Altieri, Sue Odierna, MHS Seniors Henry Harwood and Sam Mollin Minutes of April 4, 2017 meeting were accepted. Quality of Life and Sustainability—Town Cleanup and Sheldrake Spring Festival/Raking and Rain Barrel promotions Sue and Mitch reported on both successful Earth Day events. The Cleanup boasted close to 50 volunteers who picked up a total of 30 bags of recyclables and trash, close to 300 lbs. Nancy and Sue asked the volunteers sign petitions supporting bicycle lanes in the Town and a Reusable Bag Initiative. The Collaborative' s efforts at Sheldrake were also successful; Mitch, George and Tony sold a total of$370 worth of merchandise (4 rain barrels and 2 large wheeled recycling barrels) despite poor weather and low festival attendance. Printouts regarding the Town's various environmental achievements and programs were at both events. Rakes have been returned to the Highway Department for now. Action Item 1: Henry to talk to YES office about having kids register there as available rakers for residents to call for hire. Reusable Bag Initiative(RBI) A flyer promoting the RBI contest(see attached) was sent to MHS teachers, Sophia Andrews and Emily Dombroff to share with students... Ms. Dombroff(video teacher)will put it on "MHS Info"which all students see.The contest is to create a short video or slideshow depicting plastic bags in a humorous or serious way to educate residents about the effort. The Sustainability Collaborative will choose the top three entries and award cash prizes to them. (At our next meeting on June 6th, we'd like to choose the winners,so please attend!) We discussed marketing a petition in support of the RBI and having students go door to door to obtain signatures. . Mitch suggested Collabs should have a presence at upcoming spring/summer events with RBI (and bike lane) petitions and suggested we have a schedule of these events so Collabs could volunteer for shifts. We also discussed "Reusable Bag Challenge"To hold a contest to create a design for reusable bags in Town. Mitch suggested we contact parochial schools as well as public schools in the area to get kids to submit designs for the bag. (Update: Sue spoke with New Castle's Jennifer Mebes-Flagg who strongly recommended we find advocates in the schools in order to get entries. Most of their entries were from the younger kids in middle school.) Action Item 1: Interns to get permission to post hard copy of flyer on walls at MHS Action Item 2: Sue to post flyer to Town website/FB page and to LMC-TV Action Item 3: Sue to discuss with IT department best format for RBI videos to be sent to Town. MHS Intern Henry suggested "Google Drive." Action Item 4: Sue to send out schedule of Town summer concerts and Larchmont Farmer's Market dates for Collabs to volunteer 1 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2017 0502 Solid Waste Steve announced that Westchester County will present the Town's Sustainability Collaborative with an award for "Education on Recycling and Waste Reduction" on the County's own "Earth Day," Saturday May 13t". Nancy and Neha will attend to accept the award. The Sustainability Collaborative members and the public are3 invited. The ceremony is Saturday, May 13 at 10am at Kensico Dam Plaza,Valhalla. Recyclopedia Steve A, on behalf of Neha, presented the Recyclopedia. Steve explained the color coding system of the categories of items: Red for hazardous items, Black for garbage, Grey for metal and so on. He said the Recyclopedia will contain an introduction explaining the color coding and that the appropriate receptacles at Maxwell Avenue Facility will match the appropriate Recyclopedia category's color coding. The Collaborative liked the color coding and the alphabetizing. There was discussion about changing the structure of the columns such that the "garbage" column would be furthest to the right—as a last resort practically and visually, after residents try to recycle or repurpose as noted in the other columns. The Collabs thought the Recyclopedia should be done in a "searchable" database. Mitch asked if we could have the guide up on the website by September. Action Item 1: Interns Henry and Sam started working for the Town and are helping Neha finish the Recyclopedia by confirming with local retailers who will take items for recycling and/or repurposing. They are making calls and visits to area stores. Action Item 2: Neha to make changes suggested by Collabs and explore the Recyclopedia "app" as an alternative way for residents to see the guide (aside from website). Action Item 3: Sue 0 and Neha will consider how to publicize the TOM "Recyclopedia," including in educational programs at the schools, and how it might be featured at spring 2017 Environmental Events. —Leaf Blowers Marc K and George presented the Collaborative's recommendations to the Town Board on April 5t". The TB will continue their discussions at the May 3rd meeting. George asked if in the TOM the summons is written to the individual leaf blower or the organization he represents. Steve A. to check. There was some confusion amongst the Collaborative regarding the main recommendation to the Board which is to change the Leaf Blower Law to require decibel limits of 65 decibels or lower at 50 yards. It was thought that "50 yards" is too far and that this was a typo and the distance is actually"50 feet." Sue to confirm from Marc Karell's letter. Action Item 1: Follow up with TB 2 TOM Sustainability Collaborative 2017.0502 Energy Curtailment Program Steve A. explained the energy curtailment program with NRG in which Town Board will participate. When there is a large amount of stress placed on the grid,the Town will be notified and power to our largest user(the Hommocks Ice Rink) can be partially or fully shut off. The Town will receive an annual payment of$15,000 for participating in the program regardless of whether or not we actually turn off the power. Biking Safety Since the last Collaborative meeting, Steve M and Mitch, along with Bike Consultant, Mike Flynn, presented to the Town's Recreation and Traffic Committees for their input, hoping they would endorse the plan. Those presentations went well. The proposal then went to the Town Board, who felt they needed the details to be "nailed down."They'd like traffic counts and more detailed renderings. Mitch and Steve M will appear on LMC- TV's Local Live broadcast on Thursday, May 4th to discuss bike lanes. In addition,the Journal News would like to do a piece on the proposed bike lanes and their reporter and photographer met with Steve M and Nancy for photos and details for the story. Nancy will let everyone know when the piece is to be published. Action Item 1: Mitch and Steve M to get Traffic Committee more detailed info Action Item 2: Traffic Committee should hold a "Public Discussion." Below are ideas discussed at March Collabs meeting regarding further steps in promoting the new Bike Lanes to residents. Need to determine which steps will be initiated and by whom: • Press Release • Robo-calls and/or door to door visits to residents on affected streets • Using some marketing materials that Safe Routes to Schools uses to promote benefits of biking/bike lanes • Homeowner Associations "MHS Info"The meeting was adjourned at 8:10pm. The next meeting will be Tuesday,June 6,2017 at 6pm at the VFW. 2017 Priority Initiatives—Task Force Leaders • Air&Noise Pollution George R Renewable Energy&Local Energy Frank 0,Marc K,Mitch G • Walk-able,Bike-able TOM Stephen M Near-Zero Waste Community Steve A,Neha D • Improve Water Quality Nancy S,Michele L,Beth R Education&Awareness Michele L,Beth R • Maintain&Improve Infra Steve A,Frank 0 Climate-Smart,Zoning&Codes Nancy S • Community Preparedness Tony G 3