Water conservation emerged as a primary concern, with one participant highlighting the city’s ineffective communication regarding conservation efforts and ordinances. They pointed out that although comprehensive letters had been sent to residents, they lacked essential updates on current conservation practices. This gap in communication prompted a call for more regular publications to inform residents about water-saving measures, suggesting that proactive dissemination of such information could lead to significant reductions in water usage and costs, especially related to the new diesel plant. The conversation further delved into the city’s landscaping ordinances, with frustration expressed over the prevalence of non-native, water-intensive landscaping in recent developments. The issue of enforcing these ordinances was raised, leading to a proposal for an exploratory committee to explore improved enforcement strategies. Additionally, there was a discussion about the neglected condition of median strips on Pennsylvania Avenue, with a suggestion for partnerships with local businesses and possibly the Coast Guard Community Foundation to enhance these areas.

Another topic was the community wildlife habitat initiative. Gretchen Whitman explained the need for an annual progress report due by December 31st to maintain the certification, requiring the commission to accumulate 30 points. She proposed several initiatives, including writing a nature column for the local paper and hosting the annual Monarch Fest, each contributing 10 points. Whitman emphasized the importance of promoting the program and increasing homeowner participation, which had dwindled since the program’s inception. With New Jersey Audubon no longer having the staff capacity to facilitate the program, the responsibility for maintaining certification partially falls on the commission. To rekindle interest, Whitman suggested reaching out to the nature center for assistance and using sign-in sheets at events like Monarch Fest to gauge participation.

The Monarch Festival, scheduled for September 28th, was another focal point of the meeting. Plans for the festival included a proposal to reach out to the nature center to confirm table reservations and suggestions for collaboration with the West Cape May Environmental Commission. The presence of a distinguished researcher from Mexico as a guest speaker and support from organizations like the Cape May Bird Observatory were highlighted as positive developments. There was also a discussion about the commission’s festival table, with interest in providing engaging, hands-on activities for children and informative materials for adults.

In addition to these topics, Justine Magariel provided updates on the sustainability management program collaboration. This involved a new cohort of students undertaking a year-long project focused on stakeholder engagement in water conservation efforts. She mentioned the introduction of focus groups targeting business owners to discuss water usage and expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration and the implementation of the recommendations. Magariel also discussed a proposal for a biodiversity study of the harbor, which had shifted focus to the intersection of historic preservation and coastline resilience due to faculty availability. This project has garnered support from the Historic Preservation Commission and aims to explore sustainable materials to preserve the community’s historic integrity while addressing rising building material costs.

The meeting also addressed a new initiative called Firefly Gardens, designed to connect local gardeners with food pantries to address food insecurity. Details were shared about the program’s potential community impact, encouraging gardeners to donate excess produce. Additionally, attention was directed towards the Monarch pledge, with a flyer distributed to highlight the five sections chosen for re-certification. There was a sense of urgency to achieve the pledge’s goals by year-end.