mic's on. In compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. If any member has reason to believe that this meeting is being held in violation of this act, they should state so at this time. Having done that, pledge of
allegiance, please. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible. >> David, roll call, please. >> Michael,
>> yes. >> Councilman Bonner, >> here. >> Gretchen, >> here. Kim, Barb >> present. >> Sarah >> here. >> Randall. Jennifer >> here.
>> Rose >> here. >> John >> here. >> Charlotte >> here. >> Justine and myself. All >> righty. All right. We have minutes.
You have minutes for uh April 28th, 2026. >> A motion to approve. >> Make the motion. >> There a second. >> I'll second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I
Okay. Old business. Uh my report. I don't have anything for the last meeting. We do have an interesting application tonight. It's a subdivision proposal out near the uh East Cape May Associates or the track that's uh the soil tract and we'll just see where it
goes. This is its first time in front of the board. Uh Steve, you got a council report? >> Yes, sure. Um so at the last city council meeting, um city council passed a bond ordinance authorizing the
construction for the uh the seaw wall. um the seaw wall. It's a project we've been talking about for a long time. Um down at Wilmington Avenue and Beach Avenue regarding um it's important for Kate May regarding resiliency and to protect the
infrastructure of Kate May. It's a $35 million project. What had been help holding this up at this point was awaiting the FEMA award. Um that's a significant amount of money and uh going an expense going towards the the
project. It's a so the the city has received an award for $24.3 million um towards the $35 million anticipated cost for the project. So um between that award and other grants uh the city
anticipates um about 84% of the project cost will be uh will be covered. um city match I think is 25% but um city manager um has worked very hard to work getting uh other other grants that is going to
bring that that ultimate cost uh down. So, uh, as I said, we introduced the the bond ordinance at the last city council meeting. Uh, the way the FEMA award is structured, it's loan forgiveness. So, as money is expended towards the project, um the awarded money will
essentially reimburse the city for the uh for those costs that are um that are uh expended. Um, just want to I want to acknowledge Justine and thank her for the presentation that she made. I think we
probably talk about it briefly today as well, but um recently Justine made a fantastic presentation regarding improving water sustainability in Kate May uh regarding phase one and phase two from Columbia University before city council. Um you know I I think it was it
was very wellreceived. Um there was applause at the end of the um of the end I think as an appreciation for the work that was done but also recognition that um the the work that was done by by Colombia regarding the sustainability
and the um other tools that have are have been put in place for the city to be able to utilize regarding this project are really going to be useful for the city. So, um, I don't want to put you on the spot, Justine, but if you want to at some point give us a little bit of a, um, overview of of that and
even some feedback as far as your thoughts on it, I would really love to to hear them um, a little bit um, today as well. Um and the last item that I would mention is um I was it was also at the last uh city
council meeting there was a resolution was passed authorizing the planning and permitting of the USS Jacob Jones memorial project. Um so the city has given its stamp of approval for that. Um John Becker is one of the people who's
uh on uh involved on the on that committee uh with Miles Martell and I want to acknowledge you know you and Miles I know there's other people who are involved deeply involved in that in that project as well. Um but they've
and John if you want to address it at some point as well I'd welcome you to offer some remarks today as well. And essentially what um I think what has come around is between location and design um all of that has come together
and uh again there's a seems to be a great deal of not just city council support but community support for the project. So um that project is in a position to be able to move forward with the city's approval. So that's my report for today. Mike
>> John, may I uh Steve, excuse me. Um in terms of the wall. Um there are some vegetation plans um that this commission created some years ago for that seaw wall. So it
would be good for us to try to get that out again. Gretchen, do you have a copy of >> No, I don't. No, >> there was an approved set of vegetation plans for the city wall. >> So Charlotte, we have our city manager
is here today. So, um, and I I know Paul is going to be, um, is here to provide some some updates, but I think that would be a a fine topic of discussion. Um, if there's any other matters as well. >> And Mike, you're leading this meeting. I
don't know if this is a time for Paul to jump in. >> It's fine. It's fine. That's >> okay. >> Informal here, guys. Very informal. >> Yeah. So, as far as the landscaping plans go, the um those are set by the D. Um there it is part of our D permit. I
mean I can the I think the landscape plans are online. If not I can make sure that they get up there online but the uh uh that was prescribed as part of our D permit um to have it's all native you know vegetation that they required as
part of the D permit. >> Great. Thank you. might also add that integral to the memorial itself are a number of sizable bay berries that create a layer and then inside of that >> about the seaw wall >> well this will be within that landscaping area in the seaw wall that's
the only comment I wanted to make is that we'll be coordinating with the city's construction contractors for the seaw wall >> yet to be determined along with anou between our nonprofit organization and the city with regard to maintenance and
care and contracts and all that sort of business. So, that'll be you'll see that sometime soon hopefully. >> Thank you. >> Anybody else have any questions for Paul so he doesn't have to sit here the whole time? >> I go ahead. >> Just am wondering about the progress of
Harbor Harborview Park. Is it on target? >> It is not. It's a little bit behind because there's some uh of the seating items. Um the one item that we thought was going to be a long lead time ended up coming in early. That was the um the
gazebo. Uh so that's actually been being installed now. They should be done that this week. Uh if you've been up there, they're grading everything. This the uh um the boardwalk and the railings all up. So it's it's even a nice little nice little walk up there now. Um but there's
some of the seating has been delayed. So, I'm waiting to have a call this week with the contractor to see if we can still make the uh I'll say the week of July 4th opening or not, but I'm not 100% sure yet on that.
>> I know the nature center has their fundraiser scheduled for July 11th there. So, >> well, it probably won't. There's a there is a likelihood that it might not be there. >> Give Emily a call.
Um, they need to come up with a plan B. >> Yes. >> Um, yeah. >> Okay. >> Is that a almost definite or a definite? It's not going to be >> I I mean, >> you better they need to have a plan B. I mean, >> I'm not. >> We're hoping a manufacturer ships us
something on June 15th that gives the uh contractor essentially two weeks to install it and have it ready to be open for that week of July 4th. So, you know, it's until I know that it's been shipped, I
won't have a a good date. Um, but we'll probably, you know, do a tentative ribbon cutting, but I have to find out from the contractor this week if he's heard any more on the shipping date of those items. >> Anybody else have any more questions for
Paul? >> I mean, what can you do? >> Yeah, I know. We're we're at the hands of the the manufacturer >> of the weather. >> So, as long as they ship it >> by the 15th, we should be okay. But if that slides a week,
>> then we're we're getting real close. >> Okay. Thanks, Paul. >> No problem. >> Uh Justine, you want to talk about the your your part of that climate school thing, I guess? >> Um Okay. So, >> oh, by the way, I want to thank you again for showing up at the open house
>> meeting the other night we had and it was very nice. She Justine spoke for about five minutes about what we do as did all the other commissions and advisory committees and for the rest of this rest of the city. It was good. Did he get any hits? >> Yes.
>> Good. Just son had to she had to leave. He did. >> Very nice. Okay. And you did see it? >> I did. Okay. >> I did. I made it. >> Okay. Um, thank you. I actually the open house was great. I I wish more people had attended. I I mean, I actually
learned something about some of the other bodies. >> I like that because I got I now have a copy of everybody's who's part of all these committees and I had no idea that who was who was on these committees and it was nice. >> I I I in particular learned more about
MTRA and and what it does and how it functions in a way that I was not aware of. So um anyhow um in terms of the the climate school so um David shared the presentation uh with all of you the
links um by email this past week um that was presented to city council. It was quite a lift. It was probably 200 slides condensed into 13. Um so we're talking broad brush
strokes here. Uh but I think it did a successful job at summarizing what we've been able to accomplish over the past 18 months. Um the recommendations really do range from being um engineering uh
processes and phases in terms of operations and then um you know all the way to design and media assets and what the environmental commission can do to help in terms of water conservation. Because the projects are uh so varied
and of you know much different nature. The idea at this point is how do we divide them up and what can be implemented now and then what has to wait uh you know 3 months, six months, a year um for other departments of the
city um to catch up with us. Um, so I I actually emailed with Steve and Paul a few days ago and the idea of moving forward with the public art campaign um was met with positivity.
Um, so that's great and I identified a grant that could potentially help fund that as well. Um, I spoke with Casey Ratigan. She was is very enthusiastic about the community engagement pieces
regarding uh water conservation and she said she's happy to pitch in however she can in terms of taking the brochures, table tents, um letters, business engagement opportunities, and then
getting them uh throughout the community and strategic spots. So, it seems like we may actually be able to put some of this hard work to use this summer, which is fantastic. Um,
the other update regarding the climate school, it's actually pretty exciting. So, um, I don't know if you remember or not, but this, uh, project on water conservation was actually two parts,
phase one and phase two. um it extended around 18 months but concurrently there was a second project that focused on coastline resilience and historic preservation. So the phase one of that
concluded um the end of last year. So I pitched the idea to the climate school that they do a phase two of that project. Um and it looks like they bit. So, um, that would be really fantastic
news for the city and I should be finding out within the next few weeks if they will take those initial recommendations and come back and work with us again um to create um like hard deliverables um for this second project.
So, those are the broad updates. Um any questions? Thanks. Yeah. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Anything that we should be doing as a committee right now as far as divvying up things that we can do to help? >> I love that question.
>> Um, yeah, that's great. Um, >> I think yes. So, what would be really helpful is if we can create a subcommittee to look at the different media assets that were
provided. Um maybe we can form one group that can proof the story map, you know, one group that can proof the different media assets like the table tents and the flyers. Um just so that we can more
efficiently roll them out, you know, particularly before July 4th would be great. So, I'm happy to send an email kind of breaking that down organizationally and then maybe we can each sign up for one small portion of
the project. >> So, we got subcommittee right now to the two or three people. Is that what you >> Yeah, I think that would be suitable. >> Okay. >> I mean, I don't think it would take more than two of us to proofread the story map for instance.
>> Anybody want to volunteer for that? >> I will. Okay, good. >> I can help with the story, man. That's true. >> Okay, great. >> You all right now? >> Yeah. I love this. >> Okay. >> Distributing. It's good. >> Um, so I'll just put on my to-do list to
make sure to send um those files and and documents to everyone with some other ideas for how we might um break apart this project into >> any other >> reasonably >> any other divian out you want done? >> No. you're all right.
>> Um yeah, so there was um the idea for the in order to be eligible for the grant money to fund the public art campaign um it may be strategic for the city to partner with a nonprofit because there are certain grants that
municipalities are not eligible for but nonprofits are. Um, so there is the Seagrove Arts Cooperative is a newly formed um, arts nonprofit in Kate May and I happen to be on the board of it.
So I pitched the idea and they the all the rest of the board said they would be happy to partner with the city in applying for those grants. So it might be nice also if someone from the EC could help review some of those grant applications. they'd actually do the
grant. >> Yeah, we've I mean I worked on one last year through this same um opportunity and it's pretty straightforward. >> I think we'll just use a template. Um but >> you know I I don't I don't want to be
the only one >> um from the environmental commission partnering particularly because I also represent the other organization. >> Distance yourself from that. Really? You should. Yeah. Yeah. So, that's also on the table.
>> I could do that. >> Okay. Awesome. >> I'd be happy to help, too. >> Okay. Great. >> All right. >> Anything else you got there? >> Um, >> I mean, I can >> we'll talk about the composting later. It's still about that. It's still about
that later because I promised Gretchen. I mean, I promised Charlotte that she could speak. I've been able to speak for a long time. >> Okay. >> Well, >> we'll get we'll get to that. We'll get to that. >> Yep. No, no problem. You're on. >> Thanks a lot. Um, we talked just a tiny bit about Rachel Carson.
um mentioned her name actually at the last meeting and um we know that the first Earth Day was established in 1970 because of her works and that it was
Senator Nelson who forced the issue onto the national agenda and because of that we now have the federal agency the EPA. I don't know if anybody remembers that link or not, but um so
but back in January, we put together um some opportunities for the city to continue with trying to have um more ordinances that protect our
particular unique, wonderful area. And one of the ones that was suggested has to do with the monarch butterfly. Um, and it it kind of I mean we've always thought that that was important, but it
was cemented when Mayor Mullik met with um the mayor from um Rosemary in Canada and that happened in 2023. Um, it was an outstanding day at the
nature center uh for the two of them to meet and to actually let those monarchs go at the release day. Um, so I think that we kind of fit right in with
needing a monarch butterfly protection ordinance in that we've already set in motion this important meeting and also we have the opportunity for gardening
for wildlife in the city of Cape May and that's It's a really big deal. Um, we have New Jersey Audabon and all of their fabulous presents throughout our entire island.
And it would seem to me that we should be putting some words together that says this is what you can do in your backyard to support the wildlife of both the butterflies and the bees. Um, I would
like to get that going as soon as possible because we are almost halfway finished the the year now. Gretch, do you want to say anything about that? >> Well, a couple things. Um,
so in my next Star and Wave article, which is next week, I talk about that. Um, I'm going to do a series of articles called the good, the bad, and the ugly, which are basically, you know, kind of this conception that we pigeonhole
critters into a category. We think of them as good or bad, but I'm trying to explain the good virtues of of all of them. Even those eastern cottontail rabbits that eat my vegetables in the backyard, but um,
>> don't like them either. that that was my article last year that I wrote about that. Um, but I do talk about the fact that um people may not be aware that we are a certified community wildlife habitat for the Cape Island. We got that
um I think it was 2017. Uh we that is a national wildlife federation program which New Jersey Audabon is the state affiliate for um NWF.
So Audabon promotes that every year and um I feel like it's kind of asleep now. Um people don't realize it's ongoing. You can certify your own backyard. Um,
I think that one thing changed in New Jersey Ottabbon is they do not have a dedicated staff member now doing doing that program, but the nature centers still promote it. Things like the plant sales and monarch festival and all of
that, but I did have to reapply or re every year you have to certify with NWF that you're meeting the goals. and I did do that at the end of December and we were good for another year. Um,
but you have to show that you're making progress. So, what are you what are we doing in the community? What types of things? Well, Monarch Festival is one of them. A lot of the programs the nature center does is part of that. But the reason I'm on the agenda is I wanted to
talk about other things that we as an environmental commission can be a little bit more proactive about. Um what types of programs or events or things can we be doing as a commission? I know is the
budget still like in limbo for the commission. Where are we? Where are we? >> Pretty sure pretty sure that we're at the 10 grand point still >> on our budget. >> Okay. So, pretty sure >> what are we doing with that 10 grand? >> We have all the alternatives we want.
>> So, we need to brainstorm. That's true. You know, what what do we want to do? Um I mean, I'm really excited about Harborview Park being completed because the majority of the plants selected for that park are natives. or have some kind
of wildlife benefit and we need to highlight that. Um I did apply last year and we didn't get it. We uh one of the mini grants from Anjack which was a Kate May garden and open space scavenger
hunt. Um I think we have an opportunity to to do that. I mean the grant was for $1,500. We didn't get it. we can maybe pay for it ourselves. And the idea was to make a interactive map that highlights where
all of the gardens, open spaces, nature trail, the parks, the cove, and you know, you have to go to those locations, hopefully spend some time there, and there's a little sign, and on that sign,
there's something that you have to get. I I actually as I was driving here, I thought, oh, instead of it being like a question that you have to answer, maybe you go there and get a couple of letters that then you have to unscramble and get
a quote. The quote could be, you know, native plants, um, plant native plants to enhance wildlife or whatever. We'll come up with some slogan. Um, but the idea is get people to visit these parks
and um I remember commenting to somebody in the garden club about Rotary Park and like oh well that's not really like for flowers and stuff and I was like you still got to go there. There's something beneficial that that that's at all of
the locations. So that's a project that I think we can do. Um we participate in events like like uh you know Harborfest and um not Harbor not Harbor Fest >> Doom Day again. >> Dune Day. Yeah. We we need to
>> what are we going to do? I mean thank goodness Justine's initiatives with the climate school and all those things are happening that we're kind of tagging along with but that's really sort of independent of the environmental commission. you you're making that
happen and we support it, but what are we as a commission >> going to take the initiative to do? Um, >> and I could that we have, you know, we have so many visitors. I mean, we have
thousands of visitors and we're offering them a grand opportunity to visit our parks and to learn something and to engage their children in a nice little activity where parents are talking to
kids and the kids are learning as well. So, I think it's extremely important and I know that a past member of our commission, Evelyn Loveitz, has a New Jersey Autobon certified garden and she
is very willing to open it to all of us if we'd like to go and see it. Um, and she'd be she'd welcome the opportunity to show you an enormously wonderful garden.
And it's on Cape May Avenue, just a little bit beyond Mike Shovelin's garden there, which is the water conservation garden for which we got a grant in 1992 for that particular garden. But those
things should be somehow, I think, collected and we should continue to go on with it. >> All right. Well, look, we have the money to do that. So, let's just What What do we want to do right now to get that on get that rolling? What your your What your ideas right now? What do you What
do we think we ought to do? >> Well, I can work on it. The expenses that were involved were making the signs, making uh creating the map, which would be like a trifold. >> Um
whether or not there's any kind of like prize or something if you complete the challenge, which could be, you know, you end up at the nature center and and whatever it is ongoing thing all year long. >> It can. And actually what I thought about is how do you once you do it you
feel like oh I did it before why would you do it again? Well you can change the the secret message each year. Um and so I have some thought I don't mind working
on this as a project but there will be some expenses. And one thing I'm just throwing this out there. My daughter does signs, handmade signs for Longwood Gardens, and she does like callig calligraphy and hand lettering and all
of that. I mean, I could talk to her about creating the signs and each sign could be, you know, have a different message about the habitat. Um, and then I thought what we would do is get like a
logo sticker made that goes on the sign that you know you're at the right spot and then there would be another sticker that would have the secret code that you have to >> anybody problems with us doing that project on the on the board. I think it's a great idea.
>> Let's run with it. And who want who do you need to help? You need somebody to help you with that. Would you like to just whatever right now? Now, you want to do it yourself? >> No, I don't. I'm I'm open to to help. I mean, anybody good at
computer work to to lay out the map? >> Rose, why don't you help her? >> I'm not a computer. >> Oh, but you're good at layout. >> Yeah, >> that's what I I'll see if I can recruit my kids. My son is a graphic designer, but um All right, I'll get back to you.
But what else? Like that's just one idea. >> Like Dune Day, which will be in the fall. We have to spend money on that to buy the the whatever the the plots, the plugs, whatever they are. Uh and that's what in October, I think, so we can get
that started. U >> What about the composting? >> Well, all right. Now we're back on compost. Go ahead. >> Going back to what you're saying, I'm more than willing to help you do anything but sit in front of a computer. >> Okay. and we've worked together before
um with some ideas. Just scratch out >> the locations, the message or even each location has a quote relevant to it, right? Collect the quotes. >> Yes. >> So that way you don't have to go to four
spots, but maybe two and get something. I'll I'll talk to you. >> Okay. All right. >> There's a prize. I mean, I don't we don't know how many people would complete it, right? But if you made it to all of them and collected something, maybe there's some sort of prize, >> right?
>> I mean, obviously, if there 200 people doing it a day and peak summer, the city can't do that. But if there just a handful, maybe there is something >> Well, you can enter for a drawing for a prize. >> Oh, that's a great idea. Like a beach tag or something like that.
>> Yeah, maybe. Yeah, a drawing. All right, I'm on it. >> Okay. >> So, hearing you guys talk about the monarchs, something just came up for me, and this might be a really weird idea, but something groundbreaking happened
right here in KMA that had never happened before. One of our residents, David Leuma, who I think you guys probably know, he and his company developed for the first time micro trackers that can actually now track monarch >> Sure. >> migration paths. might be interesting. I
just adopt a monarch this year and and you can then get that number on that tracker of that monarch and track your >> right >> like your little buddy. Now, it won't last long, of course, but just just wonder if that's something that >> Mexico.
>> Yeah. Coordinate that with David maybe. I don't know. I bet he'd be excited about it. >> But that festival's what? In September. Yeah. >> Well, yeah. We so there's monarch festival and they come. So both New Jersey Aottabon and uh the Kit Point Science Center do that type of adopt a
monarch. New Jersey Aottabon's been doing it the oldfashioned way with a little tag, but they've been doing that for more close to 40 years now. And now with the the radio transmitters um you know they do that too. So those
opportunities exist and they happen at Monarchfest. I don't we have to figure out like how we would partner with them or help promote it. Um I don't know. >> It would be fun for the city to adopt
its own monarch though and then >> post about it on its >> Oh, sure. Yeah. the cities >> name it like Cornelius or something, you know, and like you know like >> So we we have a mascot for the environmental commission. Exactly. We should. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Hey, we could do that with horseshoe crabs, too. We could tag a horseshoe crab. And >> I vote for a name in a max. >> Yeah. Um >> uh horseshoe crabs. What do you mean by that? I mean, >> well, they do tag horseshoe crabs. Yeah.
>> And time what time of the year would that be? now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean the it's really fun to see where they go. Lauren, my son had he tagged a monarch last year and every morning we woke up and where did it go yesterday
and it was really so it would be fun for the city to >> post updates every few days for its followers. >> Did you do that with Dave >> Columbus have our own website? Do we have that with our website? This like
who taking care of that for us? Like the environmental commission's landing page and all that. >> A couple of us do. >> Okay. >> I have access to it. I >> mean, if Dave can't do it, then he'll get somebody else to do it. >> Yeah, we can get some.
>> It's probably just a, you know, a link to uh Just >> monarch. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah, that's easy. Generate interest. Yep. >> So, is that something we have to do right now? Yes.
>> Oh, no. The monarch thing. No, >> the monarch. I'm talking We're not going to do the horseshoe crab. We're going to do the horseshoe crab now or we're not going to do >> No. I So, it's not the same type of program. Do the horseshoe crab. I'm just saying there's other things going on like that that we can bring an awareness. I mean,
they tag birds, they tag horseshoe crabs, and you know, it's some it's a way to connect people. Um, also their citizen science programs. So, you know, people volunteer.
Councilman Bald Baldwin, she's done the hummingbird tagging. Um, so yeah, I don't know if that's something we put on our website. just saying these opportunities exist and that's why Kate
May pen peninsula is so you know important you know we'll think about that up website web page updates with links
Facebook probably links to social media okay >> now years ago ago. I through nature center made application for the wildlife garden and I got that and have this placard in front of my house
>> and I thought one of the goals I think it was coming out of the nature center was to recruit every year more and more gardeners who would make that application and that was one of the reasons our community
garnered that status. it is. >> And that's so this year, this year, honestly, when I was filling out our reertification, >> I was like, we don't have many new >> homeowners doing this. That's why I'm
saying I feel like the the program went asleep for a while that people don't know. It's still active. And unfortunately because of funding or whatever, New Jersey Audabon doesn't have a designated
employee overseeing that program. the program still exists and I think you know the different nature centers do a little bit with it when they have programs or events related to it but
without that dedicated employee really like working on that grant um I just don't I don't see it happening a lot but it's out there. >> Yeah. And it was easy because I went and got some kind of paperwork from you and then I went online. Yep.
>> And I had to certify that my garden had ABC D pay fee of some nominal >> $25 and and I think it's like $25 and then $5 goes to New Jersey Audabon. Um
and there are some opportunities that the fee would be waved um through these grants. So I I can call Audabon and say, well, you know, the environmental commission is interested in trying to see this brought back and
how can we help? Um because again doing that reertification this year, I'm like, okay, what can I say that we did? And most of it were things that >> happened in the past. will know that the
nature center or the bird observatory was doing not really the city was doing. I mean the city was doing certain things. You did the mayor's monarch pledge paperwork >> for example um pocket parks like Moren
Moren at the Village Green pocket park that's across the street from me has a garden but I do the garden because Moren can't do it. I live across the street. So, I go over and do it a little bit. It's like, you know, it's almost self- sustaining. >> But can we link like
>> I love that idea. Or how many are there pocket parks? >> I don't know. I just saw her one day across the street and I said, "You need water." The next thing you know, I was watering it. The next thing you know, I was tending to it. Which is fine. She does the yman's work. >> That's the village green. That's the village green sign.
>> See something like that. That the those little wedges of that that's an opportunity for a grant from the Xeri Society, which the Cain Point Science Center got one for their courtyard garden. The nature center got
one this year. um and they give you the plants and that would be an awesome project for the city to do for next year which maybe we as the environmental commission could apply for that and then enhance those little
>> pocketbook I >> Yeah. So Gretchen, if you could, and I'm not pointing directly at you, these are great ideas, but I what I would think is if we can get all this together and want compile all this information together, we can have a conversation with the city
manager to make those applications as far as what the different opportunities are that are out there so we can do this in a coordinated way. This is, of course, the brainstorming session to talk about this. We bring this together, then we can have a conversation. So, um I'd be happy to work with you on helping
compile that that list. Um so I but I so but if you would like to head that up um >> okay >> I would think I think that would be really really helpful. Anybody else wants to get involved with that? Of course >> sign there sign is a nice we could put
some kind of a just do it around right on Madison Avenue there. There's nothing there but that little where the where the boy scout did that work there. we could you could do another nice thing around that park and maintain it, you know, kind of a thing. >> Yeah. So, we can if we can identify those opportunities to perhaps apply for
grants and additionally if there's information on the website that needs to be updated because I think one of the issues that I'm hearing is you identify something for instance the you know the the uh the backyard program it happens
for a while and then it loses momentum. I think one of the reasons it loses momentum is the information just isn't out there. Um if we're able to continue having that information upfront on this on the city website, it's always in the forefront. We can update that. So, um,
if there's an opportunity for to update our the environmental commission page on the website with links that we think are, um, that'll direct people for information, completed projects, opportunities, things of that nature, whatever we feel is a the right set of
information to provide. Um, I guess that's another another thing that we can we can work on. I'd be happy to work on that with uh with the commission. >> So, If you and I were going to talk about a map, we could possibly have links or mentions at the bottom of it.
>> Yeah. >> And I I'll work with you on that. And I'm more than willing to be a point person for the gardening. In other words, you know, to go over to the >> the gardening club or to go to some local areas and talk about what this
project is and how to get involved >> as as we move forward with this. >> Wonderful. >> Charlotte, you said you want to speak. >> Yeah. Just one little last part. So, I had a note from um West Cape
May Environmental Commission um this winter um staying in touch with Hillary Pritchard um a good friend and certainly a wonderful environmentalist. And she says here, "I meant to ask you
during our recent call, is the Cape May Environmental Commission doing anything regarding pesticide education in an ordinance regarding chemicals used on the lawn.
We here in Westgate May are working with pesticide free in California and they have been very helpful. Currently we are mostly focused on the education to get
it out there. So, I think that that links right into what we're talking about with our gardens and taking care of the monarchs and taking care of the bees and the birds.
Fewer pesticides or pesticidefree. We don't have that campaign going. >> Can we find out what Westgate May has done? An example. I mean, literally, I was driving to the nature center this
morning and I passed a truck that was it was called like mosquito be gone spraying the entire lawn. And I'm like, but why? Why? Like that's not where the mosquitoes are. >> I don't get it. And it's happening in
the city. >> Um, >> can you get Hillary to send that to you? to who they're actually talking to. >> No, here it is. >> All right. I mean, what? But we don't know the website that what you call pesticide free. >> Yeah, she did. She called it pesticide
free California. >> Putting together a draft of an ordinance to eliminate the usage of things like Roundup would not be difficult. We essentially have templates >> we could use. Um, and I know Chris
would be happy to look at it and I know that Zach would support that. He's brought it up to me for years >> that he wants the EC to look into it. >> Paul will probably talk about compliance
>> and the landscaping companies and the like sure we can adopt that kind of ordinance but how are we actually going to enforce it? So just like to think proactively about how to address those
conversations before we start having them would probably be a good idea. >> Thank you. >> Because there's a whole component of licensing when you're going to even administer or put down pesticides
>> for things like Roundup. >> Not for Roundup, but most of our our commercial >> um landscapers um they think they're within the bounds of good
good stewardship because they they go through all the licensing and the >> you know all of the conditions to be able to put the stuff around. It's interesting. We had a member, Rachel Polarmo, and she has a recipe for
vinegar and what else? To get rid of the weeds rather than pesticides, but maybe we can dig out. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay, we have some projects. We have some things. >> Uh, you want to bring up composting? I
just was an idea as we were talking about new projects because we did so much of the preliminary discussion what three years ago probably at this point like we identified space out at the Delaw and
recycling um canning house location. Um Randy had offered to lead the initiatives for community workshops and just doesn't seem like a heavy lift. People can drop off their own compost
and then as it grows they can pick it up for their own gardens for free or the city can use it for city gardens and public works. So seems like something that could be implemented without
a lot of leg work. >> Does Randy still have the stuff on that? >> Yeah, he composts. >> Okay. all year round all the time. He has multiple bins going in his backyard. >> All right. Next time Randy shows Well, we'll we'll put put Randy on the list
next month for the compost. >> Yeah. I mean, that would just be a community workshop. I guess the rest of it would just be getting it out to the community that this is available. >> We got money. We got money to put it out
there or even just on the website. We might need to have like bins, like a little bin people could pick up for free if we bought a few hundred of them >> with part of our budget. >> And West Kate May gives out compost bins. Um >> Okay.
>> Or they're inexpensive. I mean, I got a free one last year at the >> farmers market. Um, so that's another thing to to and it's just basically a big plastic >> round tube with holes in it and I had to
put posts in it. Um, it came rolled up in a box. So, I mean, we can look into that. >> I can call Hillary if you like. I can call her and ask about the pesticide
ordinance and how they get their bins. You know, there might be some program inexpensive. >> That'd be great. Yeah, >> that'd be great. I >> mean, New York City at much different, but there's actually compost pickup.
There's like a a special colored trash can that's provided and they pick up your compost, >> take it away every week with the trash and recycling and then anyone who is a part of that program is has access to that compost. Different from back doing your own
backyard compost, but might be attractive for people here who >> don't want to have the compost bin in their yard, but would be willing to save their eggshells. I don't know. Maybe do both. >> I mean, Lower Township um public works
has the leaf compost and and the do >> mulch. >> Mulch. Yeah. >> I still go over there even though I don't live in lower township anymore, >> but they don't ask, you know. I mean, that's that's like, you know, gold to get that stuff.
>> And it would be great if the city could do that, too. And really encourage >> do it. Um, yeah, we have and we have the space. There's so much room >> up there. >> So, there's a bunch of stuff here.
That's good. Anybody else have anything? They >> I have one more little thing. Go ahead. >> Okay. So, um, this has to do with a human resource. Um, in 1984,
um, I learned that, um, New Jersey was going to be responsible for having a recycling program in every town. And I went to the freeholders meeting and I sat and I listened to what
we might be expected of us. And then I ran upstairs here in city hall and met with Mayor Bloomquist and I said, "We need an environmental commission. We need to get this information out." And
at that point then we needed members. And one of the members I want to mention today with great fondness actually J. Shots. J. shots was an original member of the
environmental commission of the city of Cape May and he also in his private life was a chemist. And so when we understood that we had some soil problems here in
the city of Cape May, he was the person from our environmental commission who met with and it was our coal gasification
project. He met with state officials. He met with city officials and he also let our environmental commission understand what kinds of problems we we
actually had here in this city and how we could make sure that a a thorough cleanup would happen for all of us. And I just wanted to let you know that we have had some of the most outstanding people
helping us for so many generations. Thank you. >> Thanks, >> Mike. I do have one thing. >> Go ahead. Go ahead. >> So, every year we did the every year, um, with Monarch Fest, um, it plays hand inhand with our Monarch pledge that we
do. So, are we in agreement that we want to donate again this year or something you want to coordinate with the people over there to see that looks like in terms of how much money we want to donate towards the Monarch Fest? >> I don't work there anymore.
>> No, but I wasn't sure if No, I I I know you don't. I wasn't sure something you want to talk to me about. I want to reach out myself or if there's a a dollar amount that everybody has in mind. I think >> we will be we will be making a donation at least of what we did the last year. >> Yeah. So, in the past, it's been around $500, I believe. >> Okay.
>> I just want to I mean, I can reach out to her, no problem doing it. So, I just want something that's something kind of get >> they'd be pleased. >> Moving sooner than later. >> That's fine. >> So, if agreement, I can kind of propose that and send them out. >> I know we also talked about doing beach dune signs, >> right?
>> Yeah, that and I don't know. Certainly now, now that we have the money, we may want to really dive into that thing again and want put them on like the entrances to the beach. Is that what we were thinking about doing? >> I actually I have a folder at at home
with that kind of we started it and it just kind of fizzled out. But I just so happened to be visiting my college roommate in Belmar, New Jersey, and they have they have dune signs. There's a little trail and I was like, "Oh." So I took pictures of what they did, right?
>> Um >> so yeah, that >> looked good. Did it look good? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Sounds like we have a lot of signs we need to buy. >> Yeah. >> Well, you know, >> water conservation signs at every shower, beach shower. I mean, the kids
just play in that water. >> That's a good point. >> It's crazy. They just turn it on and play in it. >> All right. Why don't everybody between now and next meeting, let's try and get what if they see a sign that really looks good or that makes it makes sense,
let's let's get it and get a copy of it. So maybe we can just duplicate it and and get it done. Won't take us that long to get these signs made once we once we get an idea of what we want to do. >> Okay. >> All right. >> But there there's a little bit of process for approval for >> What's that?
>> Money. There's there's a process for >> um >> putting them on Put him on the dune. I get it. I understand that. >> Um for it's more than that. It'll need to be discussed with the city manager's office as well. there's just anything involving signage throughout the town, no matter how well-intentioned it is.
Um, it just needs to be >> just coordinated. That's all. That's all I'm saying. >> It's fine. I don't I don't wouldn't think anything else. You just can't go out and put something on the D. >> Yeah. So, yeah. >> Right now, I think it's a good idea that we we do do that because it makes sense.
>> I agree. As well as um you know, the remark made about at at the shower. I mean, to >> Well, that's what I'm because the the water the water's on all the time. You're I mean that's that's a yes it's correct. >> Okay. >> So um so a lot of great ideas. Um Mike
you've been furiously writing notes over there. Are you building a structure here as far as who's going to be working on what or >> also I think with the minutes but Dave's ter hopefully taking some minutes on this stuff of what we've been talking about >> and then Okay. I'm just trying to get I just trying to get a framework as far as how
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um I just I >> I think Yeah. Ste next steps are going to be >> great ideas. I'm just uh so I'm just asking how do we take that information and put that into a workable format. So we have these subcommittees working on
the different ideas to be able to to work on them. Just throwing that out there as far as how we're going to get from where we are right now to that next step. Do you think that we need to come to city council and make a presentation of
our projects, an overview? Um >> I um I think that there would be a time for that, but right now I think that um I think more work needs to be done based off of the conversations we've had right
right here to uh to put that together a little bit a little bit more. >> We almost need to >> Oh, I'm going to piggy back off of what you said, Steve, that I think we need to take a minute. We just brainstormed a lot.
>> If we get one or two things actualized, >> you know, you think big, but >> that doesn't mean we're going to do all of this because an undercurring theme that I'm hearing is we're we're replete with starts, >> but finishing is is has been a challenge
because we're volunteers. So perhaps at our next meeting is there have a table of all the different things we just said and could we either put them in some kind of chronological order, priority order and like right now you you um
Justine we talked about all of this information just from the water which seems to be very big and then we talked about monarchs which seems to be very big and then we've a lot of other things but can we get it into a I'm going to use a terrible word, but a
more uh priority concrete like what exactly what you're saying. >> I think that's I think that's a fair way to put it and and in part because some of these items might be lowhanging fruit. We may be able to do it inexpensively and quickly. Others may be more long-term projects. So, we may want
to to you work through that one. Go through this list list um what they are. identify whether something is a longer term project. Um whether something is short-term and we can get done quickly as well as we just said we have a budget as well. So let's let's utilize the
budget um but recognize that we do have a budget. So um I think that would be yeah I I think that is a necessary step um as we move forward. >> Yeah. Would it help before our next meeting to have like a Google doc or
something that we email around that's just a master list of all these projects? >> I'd like to work off of some kind of flowchart together. >> You know, I can I can sit at home and look at it, but I think we need to um
chew it. >> I think I think the meeting >> the hard part is that you we get all excited and then it's another month and we come back to it. Like I almost feel like we need some kind of mid
>> meetings or some kind of planning setup for, you know, let's get on it, get it done >> for at least the committees, >> right? Yeah. >> So that we can portion it out and get it going because we're going to be back here.
>> Well, we had we had the ideas about the projects, but now we like you said, we don't know which ones we really want to go after. >> And how what does it take to get them off the ground? Well, I'm sending the water conservation art campaign grant information to Gretchen. And
>> well, that was that was definite that was that was a definite to understood that one. >> And I'm sending the story map information out as well and Jen everything is good. So, >> and you want me to continue with the doomday? >> What's that? >> Dundday. You want to continue doing?
>> Oh, absolutely. Dundday. That was another >> Yeah, because at the also in touch with vendors too with that ordering >> the plants for that. So we want to continue with a little mixture of the grasses and with the flowers itself. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And then I can and then when I get a
quote I can send you guys a quote how much it's going to cost to give you an idea >> because that'll come out of our budget. >> Pretty easy. anybody who wanted to what we talked about I mean like you had issues with some of the things that you were talking about just send an email to everybody and and just see if there's
anybody that wants to help you do whatever whatever we're doing here. >> Uh >> that's a great way to get going. get the information out there and it's >> well maybe that we have this I like the idea at the next meeting we come
together and at least spend a little time on this prioritizing >> and update it doesn't mean that we can't start making >> there's five or six things here that we really talked about today that that are they're they're good ideas and they're good projects we not may not be able to
do them all but for sure but Let's think about what everybody has an idea that they would that they really want to piggyback on. Let's bring it up and have a good idea next meeting that we can do it. I hate to keep pushing it off, but and I don't want to I don't want to meeting itis either. >> Nobody knows.
>> If you structure, sorry to jump in, but if we structure the meeting as a work session, you walk away saying, "Okay, we know now where we're going and who's doing what, what time it entails." So there's a benefit to using this one
meeting to be, you know, moved from talk to task. >> You want another meeting before our next meeting? All right. That our next meeting that's >> it's just progress is slow, but it's continuous, but at least we're moving. >> I have a work appointment. I need >> Okay.
>> All right. I think we're done now anyway. But uh please think about these ideas and we will prioritize and we will get people to work on these committees next for the next meeting. Okay. >> All right. Motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make a motion. >> Thank you. Goodbye.
>> Thank you everybody. Mic off. >> Did you have a chance?