One of the primary topics of discussion was the $10,000 Electric Landscaping Grant from the state, aimed at procuring new equipment for the Department of Public Works (DPW). Of this grant, $7,500 is designated for purchasing equipment and conducting training sessions. The council discussed specific equipment needs, including leaf blowers, trimmers, chargers, and extra batteries, but noted that no lawn mowers were included in the grant application. A light-hearted mention of acquiring an electric scooter was made, connecting it to the borough’s new electric vehicle ordinance. Billy Mus from the DPW was identified as the key decision-maker for scheduling workshops and making equipment purchases. The council also acknowledged Richard McCoy from the American Zone Alliance, who had previously visited Belmar to discuss the grant’s implementation.

In tandem with the Electric Landscaping Grant, the council reviewed plans for distributing literature funded by the grant. Efforts to distribute the materials included locations such as the library and borough hall, with potential participation in town events like the Belmar Pro in September and the San Jane Festival in October. Jenna Van Nest was noted as the contact person for reserving tables at these events. The council expressed enthusiasm for engaging with the public through these venues. The discussion included humorous references to festival contests, such as a cannoli-eating competition, adding a light note to the proceedings.

The meeting also delved into inter-municipal collaboration on environmental concerns, particularly water quality and watershed management. A recent event coordinated with a senator’s office was praised for successfully bringing together mayors and officials from multiple towns to address flooding and emergency management issues. The emphasis was on fostering collaboration among towns to tackle joint projects, with discussions covering topics from sustainable gardening to dredging needs. The council recognized the shared challenges of towns along the Shark River, particularly concerning water quality, and proposed reviving a “commission of commissions” to allow environmental representatives from different municipalities to convene and collaborate on shared concerns. The concept of a two-tiered system was floated, where mayors could focus on high-level issues while environmental commissions handle localized concerns. The council proposed hosting joint meetings in Belmar to encourage discussions on sustainability and local environmental initiatives.

Further environmental initiatives discussed at the meeting included a new program called “Patchwork for Wildlife,” sponsored by the environmental commission. This program aims to recognize local homes that have implemented sustainable landscaping practices and used native plants. An awards ceremony is planned, and a second round of nominations will be conducted to recognize neighbors’ efforts. The program focuses on positivity and acknowledgment, with information about recognized homes available on a website connected to the initiative. A geomapping feature on the website allows residents to see the locations of these homes in Belmar and surrounding areas like Lake Koa and Pleasant.

The council also discussed the collection of fine plastics for recycling, mentioning a former group member now involved with Bradley Beach’s recycling efforts. The council is exploring Bradley’s program, which includes recycling containers for fine plastics, and has a call scheduled with Bradley Beach to gather more information. In addition, the council is developing a multi-year energy plan for Belmar, engaging a local government energy audit organization to identify buildings for energy audits. The goal is to uncover potential cost savings and energy efficiency opportunities, working with Sustainable Jersey to explore funding opportunities. The council discussed maintaining silver status with Sustainable Jersey and expressed a desire to achieve bronze status next.

To improve compliance with Sustainable Jersey’s requirements, the council proposed having each member monitor specific categories to avoid future oversights. The importance of social media engagement was emphasized, noting that unless posts are shared with the borough’s social media team, they do not get posted. Suggestions were made for a more systematic approach to social media, highlighting the potential use of platforms like Hootsuite to streamline reporting and engagement.

Lastly, the council discussed organizing an environmental fair to increase community engagement with local environmental issues. The event would model successful fairs held in neighboring towns, featuring environmental organizations, vendors, music, and activities for children. The timing of the event was debated, with suggestions to schedule it at the end of August or in October. The council discussed involving local schools and educational institutions. Additionally, the council briefly mentioned plans for a bay cleanup event in October and ongoing discussions about dredging and shoreline resiliency projects.