Feb 15, 2023 Monthly Meeting Minutes
Ambler EAC
Meeting Minutes
February 15th, 7pm
Meeting Held at Ambler Borough Hall
Attendees:
Members: Hannah Lloyd, Wes Pipitone, Nancy Roecker-Coates, Kirsten Puskar
Visitors: Chris Raines, Judy Baigis, Tom Voter (Wissahickon Trails), Heidi Shiver (Bird Town PA/ Master Gardener/ Upper Dublin Bird Town Coordinator), Mark Setman, Dan Downing, Margaret Rhode,
Absent: Will Nassau
Call to Order / Introductions
Presentation: Tom Voter of Wissahickon Trails: Bird Town
Interested in making Ambler a Bird Town
Wissahickon Trails: local non-profit that maintains local trails, waterfowl preserve, holds community events, monitors wildlife, monitors invasive species, monitors water quality and much more.
What is a bird town?
Committing to create a town that is more sustainable for birds.
Ambler is a good candidate for becoming a bird town due to size and proximity to other bird towns.
Becoming one gets you access to bird town resources.
Collaborating with Wissahickon Trails on this program will make a larger impact.
Things you can do as a Bird Town:
Plant native bird friendly gardens
Educate on bird friendly windows
Hold Bird walks
Much more
Who else is a bird town?
38 total in 9 counties
Good to ‘cluster’ these for better impact
Upper Dublin and Lower Gywnedd are bird towns.
We Conserve PA is a partner of Bird Town along with Audubon
There is a good resource page on the website above.
Citizen Science activities available on this website.
Bird Town newsletters, flyers and Facebook page group (Forum for Bird Town leaders) available.
Four tiers to being a Bird Town
Application process:
Meet with Heidi and go through the tool kit
Get together a team of at least three people
Make a resolution
Fill an application and submit for review
Benefits of birds:
Pollinator health
Ecosystem balance
Song (quality of life)
Just a few above.
Audience and members presented questions and comments.
Q: Avian Flu and feeding birds and issue? Myself and my neighbors have been told previously to remove feeders over the winter. A: PA Game commission will let you know whether or not it is safe to feed birds due to Avian Flu. Currency not an issue.
Q: Are birds able to thrive on a main street like Ambler with traffic and lights etc? A: They will navigate more to the quieter corners but they are adaptable.
Q: Invasive species affect on native birds? A: Can have some value as far as food goes, since the birds are adaptable as far as what food they can eat (insects and plants). However, native plants support the insects the birds naturally eat. Invasive plants can compete with these systems and create uninhabitable environments.
Public Comment: Often those who do not know native versus non native and the implications of this may not realize a lot of ornamental plants are not native. They may choose to garden without natives and their benefit in mind.
Q: Is there a certain amount of activities you need to commit to in order to be a bird town? A: No specific amount, there are suggested activities and Bird Town supports the initiatives the EAC already has.
Questions or follow ups? Contact: pabirdtown@gmail.com or Tom@wissahickontrails.org
The EAC invited Bird Town to come to Earth Fest.
The EAC will share Bird Town info on Facebook and Instagram
Nancy asked for images and shareable material to do so.
If any members of the public are interested in becoming involved with Bird Town you can also email the Ambler EAC.
Comment: A lot of birders gather around the Waterfowl preserve, are Ambler local and could likely want to be involved as well.
Ways to Get Involved
Come to the Earth Fest steering committee meetings.
All dates on EAC website
Next Meeting is February 19 at 7pm in Ambler Borough Hall
Electronics Recycling Event
March 11 9am - 11 am
Montgomery County Community College
Upper Dublin Environmental Open House March 4 10am - 12pm
Upper Dublin Public Library
520 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington, PA 19034
Formal approval of minutes for January
All motioned to approve
EAC Updates
Wes & Hannah will table for the Ambler EAC at Upper Dublin's Environmental Open House at the Upper Dublin Public Library.
Hannah and Wes will also help promote this event and distribute the flier online as well as post it to the website.
Committee Chairs No new updates from Education and Outreach Committee, Open Space Committee or Creek Monitoring on Rose-Valley Creek.
Education and Outreach Committee (Shelly - has missed 15 consecutive monthly meeting)
Treasurer (Wes)
Please be sure to add any and all EAC expenses to the reimbursement sheet.
Discuss Earth Fest Budget
Some Earth Fest funds are allocated by the borough and some are raised via sponsorships.
The EAC got their fully allocated budget but did not get our request for funding for the park signage.
Wes spoke to the Borough treasurer and there is the ability to be loose in how we allocate our funds ( ie, what buckets we put them in). We can choose to spend our funds however we choose without worrying about hitting each exact category.
Funds are often used for subsidizing tree purchases for the community tree planting. This planting/tree sale did not happen for Spring and is tentative for the Fall. Wes proposes we pull funds from this bucket to use for Earth Fest and maybe the signage depending on how much we use.
At Earth Fest we are allowed to sell items for fundraising. Wes proposes that we use these funds to raise money for this signage.
We are selling gig posters (collectible art posters) and water.
For Earth Fest, the biggest expense is music.
Paying the acts and renting a stage. Also, hiring a sound team.
The EAC also collects funds also through vendor fees.
Public comment / suggestion: Wes - reach out to school of rock. There is one in Upper Dublin. Maybe they have equipment to lend or rent out.
The EAC is going to have to spend at least 2,000 of our own budget (projection). Hoping to replenish our funds spent on Earth Fest through sponsorships and have money for the signage.
Two financial goals for this year (in general for the EAC as a whole): park signage and Earth Fest
Signage would cost about 2,000
2 panel wayside sign
No cost needed for writing and graphics since those are volunteer efforts. Ambler Borough would also install this.
Cost is for printing and structure
Public comment Idea: We could offer a level of sponsorship that helps fund the signage and could get your name or company name / logo on the sign.
Wes - look into this.
Public comment: sites such as gofundme could be another avenue
Public comment/question: Parks budget allocation?
A survey was taken of Ambler Parks.
The Borough will work on small projects, one at a time at each Ambler Park. Potentially starting at Locust Park to put in some equipment.
Dog park potential budget item as well. Dog park was the most voted for item in this survey. (Within the 200 responders to the survey).
Keep Ambler Beautiful Committee (Nancy)
Cell phone Recycling Program
At the library
These are collected and donated to Laurel House who recycles these and uses the funds for domestic violence victims.
There has been a slow down in donations previously but that has now trended on an increase.
Litter/Trash ordinances
No updates
Plastics Ordinance education
March 1: plastic bag component of the Single Use Plastic ban will be in effect.
In a year (March 1 2024), polystyrene will be banned.
Ambler is the first municipality to ban polystyrene!
Eventually, straws will be only on request.
Paper bags allowed, businesses do not need to charge for these but they may do so.
Education started, fliers and fact sheets available on Borough website.
EAC has started social media posts to educate on this as well.
Nancy has been invited to panel for a Single Use Plastic ordinance talk with the League of Women voters. Feb 28. Webinar.
Awaiting more information before committing to attend.
Resource: Beyond Plastic
Was given to Ambler Main Street to distribute to local restaurants.
Public Comment: How to avoid plastic take out containers? I am finding a lot of styrofoam when I take home leftovers after eating out.
Let your restaurants know that, as a consumer, you would review them higher and support them more if they used eco friendly products.
Signage for Ambler Borough Park:
On hold until there is an update on funding. Covered above.
Four bags of trash and 515 cigarette butts collected by Mark Setman. THANK YOU!
Shade Trees Committee (In Need of Champion)
Possible volunteer interest in organizing tree plantings.
Mark Settman would like to talk to Jill Sanchez about the tree planting program. Hannah to make the connection.
Climate Action Committee (Wes)
CCA for PA
Table this discussion for after Earth Fest.
RF100 meeting recap (Nancy attended)
RF100 document linked above and on Borough Website.
Narberth county EAC headliner spoke.
Next meeting is March 27.
Three things accomplished from RF100, the program has since stalled but it is coming back into focus.
East Butler switched to led lights
Increased EV Chargers within the borough
Borough Hall switched to green energy supplier
The Ambler EAC is encouraged to read this document and see where some actions could be taken.
Public comments
Journey Works: helps install native plants and could help with rain gardens with volunteers. She is also a birder.
They will be tabling at the Ambler EAC Earth Fest.
Maybe we should table this next to Bird Town, if they attend, so they can make a connection.
A resident had concerns about the use of pest control substances and their toxicity to pets and wildlife. This falls under PA game commission. Resource: https://extension.psu.edu/landowners-guide-to-wildlife-control-and-prevention-laws-in-pennsylvania
Updates from Borough Council:
RF100 above.
Closing Thoughts
There are two open seats on the EAC for membership.
Next meeting: Wednesday March 15th, 2023 at 7:00pm
Adjournment