Environmental Affairs Committee

Staff Liaison Dyan Backe Staff Phone 301-258-6330 Staff Email dbacke@gaithersburgmd.gov Council Liaison Cathy Drzyzgula

Advises the Mayor and City Council on environmental issues, promotes environmental education and outreach activities, monitors county, state and federal statutes and regulations for impacts on City operations, and explores new environmental initiatives.  Also supports the City’s Green Week celebration and programs related to green building, climate protection, pollution prevention, and watershed protection. 

Meeting Frequency:  Monthly - Second Tuesday
Time:  7 p.m.
Location:  City Hall - Lower Level Conference Room

Mission:

To advise the Mayor and City Council on environmental protection, pollution prevention, and the restoration of sensitive, scarce or unique ecosystems and to advocate for the conservation of all Gaithersburg's natural resources for the benefit of future generations. 

Long Term Goals:

• Rehabilitation of streams.

• Creation of baseline information on quality and quantity of natural resources.

• Educating citizens.

• Community stewardship of neighborhood natural resources.

• Expansion of source reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts.

• Implementation of bicycle and sidewalk projects.

• Expansion of green space for natural and recreational uses.

• Protection and enhancement of urban wildlife and associated habitats.

• Use of integrated pest management to minimize the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

• Additional forested areas and street trees.

• Promotion of green building in public and private development.

Long Term Strategies:

• Encourage the City to create and maintain a database describing the geography and natural resources of the City.

• Identify environmental problems and opportunities and alert the Mayor and City Council and Planning Commission.

• Educate the community on environmental issues.

• Engage the community in an ongoing discussion about neighborhood stewardship of local natural resources.

• Establish and maintain lines of communication between the community and the Mayor and City Council on environmental issues.

• Seek information through investigation and community input.

• Recommend problem-solving strategies to the Mayor and City Council and provide on-going support and monitoring.

• Review federal and state statutes and regulations to determine impacts on local environmental efforts.

Minutes (PDF format)

• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 5/14/2013
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 3/12/2013
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 12/18/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 10/9/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 9/18/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 5/8/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 3/13/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 2/23/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 1/10/2012
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 8/9/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 7/12/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 6/14/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 5/10/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 3/8/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 2/8/2011
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 11/19/2010
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 10/12/2010
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 9/14/2010
• Environmental Affairs Committee Minutes, 8/10/2010