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Sustainable Maryland Community Certification Report

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This is the Sustainable Maryland Certification Report of Hyattsville, a Sustainable Maryland bronze certified applicant.

Hyattsville was certified on October 05, 2016 with 400 points. Listed below is information regarding Hyattsville’s Sustainable Maryland efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Maryland contact for Hyattsville is:

Name:Jim Chandler
Title/Position:Director / Community & Economic Development
Phone:301-985-5013

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Hyattsville was approved for in 2016 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Community Action

    Conduct Community Barriers and Benefits Assessment

    15 Points

    Program Summary: Prior to the start of the public process for the 2010 Community Legacy Revitalization Plan, the Hyattsville Community Development Corporation, in conjunction with the City’s Office of Community Development engaged the community in a classic Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis. The process included six publicly held Community Assessment workshops and seven SWOT Analysis workshops conducted over the course of one month. Additionally, more than 20 similarly structured stakeholder interviews were conducted with the municipal government, businesses and development communities. The City is currently in the process of updating our Community Sustainability Plan. As part of this update, the City is again performing a SWOT analysis to identify the barriers and benefits of the City. Approximately 150 stakeholders from different groups have been or will be invited to participate in a focus group style SWOT. Targeted stakeholder groups include the following: business owners, nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, schools, elected officials, government agencies, utility companies, developers and property owners, seniors, youth, non-native English speakers and civic groups. One month into the update, the City has interviewed 35 of those stakeholders. A summary of the responses from the SWOT analysis will be completed in the upcoming months and used to guide the priorities of the City for our 2017-2022 Community Sustainability Plan.

    Participate in SM Green Team Training

    5 Points

    Program Summary: On February 17, 2016, the City of Hyattsville hosted its latest Green Team Training. 10 members of the Green Team and staff attended the event. The presentation provided an overview of program benefits and requirements, as well as gave an update for both statewide and countywide programs. It also outlined actions submitted during our last application, as well as new actions and projects the City could participate in to accrue more points.

    Green Team Action Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City has developed policies (City Sustainability Policy) and a plan (City of Hyattsville 2011-2015 Community Sustainability Plan) to implement sustainable actions. The City’s Sustainability Plan was approved by the Governor’s Sub-Cabinet for Smart Growth in 2011, and it utilized by Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development as a benchmark for local community sustainability plans in the State of Maryland. The Sustainability Plan was developed through a 14-month public process and distributed to 500 community and regional stakeholders, including local, County and State officials. The City of Hyattsville has already implemented and adopted this document as our community’s Green Team Action Plan. The action plan within the Strategic Plan identifies 12 specific Implementation Actions that are necessary for the City to achieve local sustainability. The City is currently in the process of updating our Community Sustainability Plan. We have already begun performing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) Analysis, which will be complemented by a series of public meetings scheduled to take place in the Fall of 2016. To start off the update process, the City created a scorecard report, noting the status of each of the Implementation Actions and their corresponding Critical Action Items. As of April 2016, two of the Implementation Actions are fully complete, seven are in progress, and three have seen minimal action. Upon completion of the plan update, it is likely that the City will develop new Implementation Actions to move towards becoming an increasingly sustainable City. The 2011-2015 Community Sustainability Plan, as well as notifications regarding the update to the plan can be found at http://www.hyattsville.org/210/Planning-Zoning.

    Green Team

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Hyattsville’s Green Team was created in response to the City’s interest in becoming Sustainable Maryland Certified. The Green Team has joined Hyattsville’s Environmental Committee to provide a diverse mixture of private citizens, elected officials and City employees. The Green Team meets monthly. On September 12, 2011, the mayor and Council designated the City’s Environmental Committee as the City’s Green Team. Current members of the Green Team are as follows: Jim Groves, Chair; Julie Wolf, Ward 2; Elizabeth Arnold, Ward 2; Alyson Reed, Ward 3; Jack Nackoney, Ward 2; Rebecca Schaaf, Ward 2; Alan Mattlage, Ward 2; Marcus Shappirio, Ward 4; Brielle Welzer, Ward 1; and Marc Tartaro, Ward 1. The chair of the Green Team/Environmental Committee has started a Google site for the committee, which can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/hyattsvilleenvironment/

  • Community Based Food System

    Local Food Cooking & Preservation Classes

    15 Points

    Program Summary: During the weekly Hyattsville Farmers Market, the City provides a variety of educational experiences related to local foods, including free cooking demonstrations. Area chefs and City staff spend the day at the market showing visitors how their can turn their just bought, local goods into fresh and nutritious meals for themselves and their families. In 2015, the Farmers Market held 14 demonstrations on a variety of recipes including strawberry salsa, apple nachos, beet lattes, watermelon salad and detoxifying juices. Roughly 20 people participated in each event. In 2016, the market plans to continue with their food cooking and demonstration series. Two of the most popular demonstrations at the market so far have been the watermelon salad (August 4, 2015) and the strawberry lime mocktail (June 13, 2016). The market is currently advertising a cooking class featuring DC chef Jonathan Bardzik, who will be leading a 90 minute class on August 9 to celebrate Farmer's Market week. More information on his presentation can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/262604790594543/photos/a.263380297183659.1073741827.262604790594543/575244135997272/?type=3&theater

    Establish Local Farmers Market

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Hyattsville is in our 25th Year hosting the Hyattsville Farmers Market. In 2016, the Farmers Market will run from June 7 until September 27. The market takes place on Tuesday afternoons, from 3-7 pm at 3799 East-West Highway, the parking lot of Redeemer Lutheran Church. The market is run by the City’s on-staff Wellness Coordinator, Ellarose Preston. Vendors vary each date, but typically include fresh produce distributors, prepared food options, baked goods, fresh meat and/or eggs, and the event of the day which ranges from health screenings, to food demonstrations to exercise classes. The Farmers Market is also partnered with Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program, which enables the City to give low-income families receiving federal assistance $10 vouchers to spend at that week’s market. The market is heavily promoted, with signs places throughout the City, publicity on the City’s website and calendar, as well as Facebook and Instagram pages for the market itself.

    Community Gardens

    15 Points

    Program Summary: On December 13, 2010, the Mayor and Council authorized a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Hyatt Park Community Garden Association, which outlines the management and operations of the Community Garden, budgets costs and states membership requirements. The MOU was again renewed on December 7, 2012. The garden is located on a quarter-acre of the two-acre Hyatt Park, which is at the intersection of 36th Avenue and Hamilton Street. The Hyattsville Park Community Garden Association provides and maintains organic vegetable plots within Hyatt Park. A total of 60 Hyattsville residents participate in the garden. The garden’s website (www.hyattparkgarden.org) provides information for gardening questions and resources, as well as maps of the plots and the organization’s rules and bylaws. The group is required to have two formal meetings each year, led by informally elected co-lead, secretary, plot monitor and treasurer positions. Members pay an annual fee that is used to maintain the garden.

  • Energy

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Energy

    15 Points

    Program Summary: 1. Renovation of Public Works Facility 2. Municipal Wind Energy 3. Municipal Building White Roof

    Municipal Energy Audits

    30 Points

    Program Summary: The City participated in an energy audit solely for our Administration Building in 2009. In 2011, the City contracted Hess Construction and Engineering Services, Inc. for a complete facilities assessment of all five buildings. The five buildings assessed are located at the following addresses in Hyattsville: 4310 Gallatin St., 3505 Hamilton St., 4633 Arundel Place, 4318 Gallatin St., and 3911 Hamilton Street. The audits assessed a wide range of issues regarding the municipal buildings. Buildings were inspected from their foundation to their exterior to their heating, electrical, and plumbing systems. The reports addressed deficiencies in the current status of the buildings and recommended improvements that among other things would make the buildings more energy efficient, and environmentally friendly.The assessment included an existing conditions report, space utilization analysis and the development of a 20-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that identified capital replacement costs and incorporation of more efficient and renewable energy technology. Since the audits were performed, several changes have been made to City owned buildings in order to improve their energy efficiency. Improvements include the installation of additional insulation and a white roof on the top of 4310 Gallatin Street; designing the new DPW building (4633 Arundel Place) to LEED standards; changing the incandescent can lights in the Council Chambers (4310 Gallatin Street) to LED lights; and in all buildings replacing the old, magnetic light ballasts with electronic ones. Though not actually in a City building, the City is also in process of upgrading city street lights to LED bulbs. 90 lights are being worked on for replacement this summer.

  • Greenhouse Gas

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Greenhouse Gas

    25 Points

    Program Summary: 1. Neighborhood Electronic Vehicle Purchase 2. Police Vehicle Anti-Idling Device Installation 3. Maryland Smart Energy Community Designation

  • Health & Wellness

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Health & Wellness

    35 Points

    Program Summary: 1. Healthy Eating, Active Living Designation 2. Cooking Matters Nutritional Tours 3. Moving with the Mayor 5. Hyattsville Health Weekend 6. Walk to School Day

    Workplace Wellness Program

    15 Points

    Program Summary: As one aspect of the HEAL initiative, the City has committed to promoting a healthy municipal workplace. In the past year there have been several actions contributing to our healthy workplace including a Brown Bag Lunch series, the annual Employee Wellness Fair, which features insurance information, health screenings and fitness demonstrations, the “Anytime Fitness Challenge,” which encourages employees to take a few minutes out of their day to get in some exercise. Additionally, when snacks are provided to staff during all hands events and celebrations, the City commits to providing a healthy snack option for every “treat” available. For example, birthday celebrations may feature cupcakes, but also will have fruit and nuts available as healthier options. The workplace wellness program managed by Ellarose Preston, the City's Wellness Program Coordinator. As part of her duties Ellarose also runs the Hyattsville Farmer's Market. Funding for the program is from a combination of the annual Human Resources budget and grants received through our HEAL designation. On average events falling into the "employee wellness program" category see a participation rate of 40-45%. The national average seems to be 35-38%. Below is a full listing of actions the City participates in as part of our Workplace Wellness Program. • Brown Bag Lunch Series o June 22 – Men’s Health o March 30 – Smoking Cessation o March 9 – Financial Wellness o February 10 – Juicing for Wellness • Employee Wellness Fair – May 18 • May 2016 Zumba Program: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 – 5:30 for the month of May • April 2016 4 week walking challenge (5,525 active minutes logged by staff) • Anytime Fitness Challenge – 2/3 times per week with exercise ideas and tips • Walking meeting policy • Healthy snacks at all-hands events • Couch to 5K training program and funding for staff to participate in area 5K races • Blood Pressure machines available in each office • Desk treadmill check outs • Standing desks

  • Local Economies

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Local Economies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Big Belly Trash Compactor Pilot: In an attempt to reduce and consolidate waste generated in the City, the City has launched a pilot program for locating several Bigbelly solar trash and recycling compactors throughout the City. The goal of the pilot is to improve operational effectiveness and awareness of trash and recycling throughout the City. City staff and representatives of Bigbelly using GIS technology created a mapping system for the placement of 16 Bigbelly Duo systems throughout the City. Strategically placing each unit throughout the City will allow residents and visitors to easily dispose of recycling and trash all at one drop. Installation of the Bigbelly Duo Systems is scheduled for late August 2016. Assuming positive feedback from the pilot, the City will consider additional locations to place more bins. The funding for this project is in the City Capital Improvement budget.

    Local Purchasing Preference Policy

    10 Points

    Program Summary: As part of the City of Hyattsville’s Procurement Policy, adopted April 2012, it is the desire of the City to purchase from vendors located within the City whenever possible. The City will endeavor to encourage local vendors and suppliers to compete for all City business. If goods and/or services are not available from vendors located within the City, preference may be given to those within Prince George’s County and then the State of Maryland. Vendors are currently kept informed about bid via the eMaryland marketplace. The City in the process of creating a local vendor database and updating our preferred vendor policy so that local vendors are given advanced notice on bids and similar opportunities. The update to the policy and completion of the database is estimated in Fall 2016.

    Local Business Procurement Notices

    10 Points

    Program Summary: As part of our local business procurement notices, the City provides the following “doing business with” link on our municipal website, http://www.hyattsville.org/360/Bids-and-RFPs. The webpage posts all Requests for Proposals and Requests for Qualifications. Additionally, the City distributes all RFPs through the eMaryland Marketplace, a state run procurement portal used to search for bids and contracts, as well as vendors. A number of vendors located within the City are registered as vendors on the eMaryland site, ensuring that they have access to all RFPs placed out to bid. At the moment the City does not have a local vendors list, but are working on the creation of a list in tandem with our local purchasing preference policy. The database in anticipated to be complete in Fall 2016. Currently all communication and procurement notices are through eMaryland.

    Green Purchasing Policy

    15 Points

    Program Summary: As part of the City’s Procurement Policy, adopted April 2012, it is the desire of the City to reduce waste by increasing product efficiency and effectiveness; purchase products that minimize environmental impacts; purchase products that include recycled content, and use wood from sustainably harvested forests. The Procurement Policy continues to state specific specifications on source reduction, remanufactured products and recycled content products that are the preferred alternatives in City purchasing. The policy continues that the City shall comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) established minimum recycled content standard guidelines, such as those for printing paper, office paper, janitorial paper, construction, landscaping, parks and recreation, transportation, vehicles, miscellaneous, and non-paper office products, shall contain the highest post-consumer content practicable, but no less than the minimum recycled content standards established by U.S. EPA Guidelines. The City shall purchase remanufactured products such as laser toner cartridges, tires, furniture, equipment and automotive parts whenever practicable, but without reducing safety, quality or effectiveness. The City's Green Purchasing Policy is most evidently seen in our Requests for Proposals (RFP) for various City services. Where applicable, our RFPs state our preference for green products or service models, and adherence to the green purchasing policy is a line on the rubric for scoring RFP responses. A prime example is the City's March 2016 solicitation for building cleaning services. On the scoring rubric, the use of green products can boost a firm's score by up to 10%. In this specific RFP, only 6 points separated the top two firms, so the use of green products could make or break whether a specific firm is selected or not. There has been limited feedback from residents regarding the green policy, but of the feedback gathered, all seems to be positive. The policy can be found on the City's website (http://www.hyattsville.org/417/Policies-Documents). The procurement policy was last updated in 2012. Many parts of the policy, including the local buying and green purchasing policies are slated for an update during FY17.

  • Natural Resources

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Natural Resources

    50 Points

    Program Summary: 1. Composting Pilot Program 2. Hyattsville Green Expo 3. Tree Inventory 4. Leaf Mulch Program 5. Student Conservation Assn. Partnership 6. Sustainable Land and Building Management Policy 7. Magruder WoodsTrail Restoration

    Tree City USA

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Hyattsville have been designated a Tree City USA for the past 25 years and a Growth Award recipient for the last 7. The City’s Park Maintenance Supervisor, Dawn Taft is a certified arborist and manages Hyattsville’s Tree City USA program and application. To aid in our Tree City USA efforts, the City is currently in the process of developing a tree inventory, which will identify, geolocate and note the health of all trees located within the public right-of-way. The Shade Tree Board currently has three members- Gloria Felix-Thompson, Ward 1; Theresa Creel, Ward 5; and Joe Luebke, Ward 3- and is actively pursuing residents to fill the remaining six vacancies on the Board.

    Adopt a Pet Waste Ordinance

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Chapter 52-2 of the Hyattsville Charter and Code details the City’s pet was policy. The policy prohibits persons with dogs or cats from allowing excrement to remain on public property. The lone exception to this is for individuals with seeing eye dogs. Removal and proper disposal are required immediately after the excrement is put on public property.

    Stormwater Management Program

    15 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Hyattsville’s Department of Public Works has created a stormwater management program that as targeted areas on City property that can be transformed into bio-retention features. The 2014 to 2016, the City has installed over 10,000 square feet of rain gardens and bio swales along streets, parks, and at City owned buildings, which helps to mitigate thousands of gallons of stormwater. Each year, DPW targets new areas to retrofit and projects get designed and installed with City staff as community build projects. Projects for FY15/16 that are currently in the process of being installed or are complete include: Crittenden Street Rain Garden, Melrose Trail Conservation Landscaping and Rain Garden, Crittenden Street Renovation Rain Gardens, Huerich Park Rain Garden, Magruder Park Rain Gardens and Carrollton Terrace Rain Garden. These projects have been supported by City funds and grants from outside resources.

    Provide Voluntary Opportunities for Citizen Engagement in Watershed Stewardship

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The City has been holding extensive volunteer watershed stewardship opportunities over the past several years. Hyattsville has monthly invasive non-native plant removals at Magruder Park. The monthly removals average 12-15 volunteers per month. The program is organized by Colleen Aistis, the City's Community Services Manager. In addition to the monthly activities, the City also utilizes a wide range of other organizations to facilitate greater opportunities for its citizens. Hyattsville partners with the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission, PG Parks Park Ranger’s Office, Anacostia Watershed Society, Maryland Native Plant Society, our local schools, colleges and universities in the Washington Metro Area. Since January 2016, 108 individual volunteers have participated in at least one clean up event. There is a small group of volunteers who tend to come out several times a year. According to the City's Parks Supervisor, Dawn Taft, the monthly removals have been effective in increasing wildlife habitat, as well as have created a more healthy and inviting atmosphere for those using the trails. Although not environmental in nature, the removal of invasive shrubs and vines have improved visibility through the woods which has reduced opportunities for crime and other nefarious behaviors on the trails. Volunteers are pursued in a vast array of strategies. Hyattsville utilizes traditional methods through the City’s Office of Communication; The Hyattsville Reporter, Hyattsville Life & Times, HCTV cable channel, flyers and contacts of both individual & groups volunteers through previous engagements.

    Facilitate Engagement in Existing Watershed Stewardship Opportunities

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The City of Hyattsville actively works with the Anacostia Watershed Society in order to facilitate watershed stewardship opportunities. The Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is a nonprofit group dedicated to protecting and restoring the Anacostia River and its watershed communities through cleaning the water, recovering shores and honoring heritage. They deal with native plant restoration, invasive species elimination, green roofs, water quality monitoring as well as community clean up days. For many years now, the City has partnered with AWS to facilitate and encourage their work within the City.The City helps AWS locate activities to perform in the City, such as tree plantings, and then actively maintains those resources through volunteers and staff duties once AWS leaves the site. Additionally, if there are groups that reach out to the City wanting to perform work that the City does not have the bandwidth for, we work to refer the group to AWS to find a project that suits everyone's needs. So far in 2016, the City has partnered with AWS for two specific events. On May 5, 2016 AWS hosted 10 members of the Montgomery County Conservation Corps at Magruder Park (City property) where they performed maintenance on a grove of trees planted by AWS several years ago. On June 1, 2016 30 volunteers from Northrop Grumman performed weed removal and re-staked young trees in Magruder Park. For both of these events, AWS worked through the City's Parks Supervisor, Dawn Taft, to organize the event.

  • Planning & Land Use

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Planning & Land Use

    30 Points

    Program Summary: 1. Shuttle UM Partnership 2. Solar Parking Meters 3. Citywide Biking Improvements 4. Green Streets Policy 5. Sidewalk Retrofit Pilot

    Participation in DHCD Sustainable Communities

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Hyattsville received a Sustainable Community Designation from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development in October 2011. The designation lasts for five years, meaning that it will expire in the fall of 2016. The City’s application details the current situation and areas for improvement in the four key areas in the City (Prince George’s Plaza Transit District, West Hyattsville, U.S. Route One Corridor, and Neighborhoods and Parks). The application contains a profiles of the City’s demographics, as well as information on recent projects and sustainable policies. For several years now the City of Hyattsville has used DHCD Community Legacy funding to implement a commercial facade program in the City's three revitalization districts (Prince George's Plaza, West Hyattsville and Gateway Arts District). In order to receive Community Legacy Funding, a municipality must be deemed a DHCD Sustainable Community. Our Commercial Facade Program provides matching grants of $10,000-$45,000 to commercial businesses making approved improvements, such as new signage, windows, masonry or painting to the exterior of their building. Our program guidelines, application and information can be found at: http://www.hyattsville.org/477/Commercial-Facade-Improvement-Program

  • Transportation

    Innovative Demonstration Projects - Transportation

    5 Points

    Program Summary: Emerson Street Food Forest Installation: The City of Hyattsville established its first food forest on May 14, 2016. This is the first of two public food forests following passage of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) resolution, which calls for food forests among a suite of other health related programs. The Emerson Street Food Forest, located at Emerson Street and 46th Avenue, provides a critical green link in a Hyattsville neighborhood lacking open space. Neighbors in the area have expressed their overwhelming enthusiasm for this new asset to be located in their community. More than 50 volunteers participated in preparing the site and planting trees in the forest. The food forest will grow apples, pomegranates, pears, berries, plums and nuts, amongst others. As the trees develop and fruit, residents and passerbys are encouraged to take a few pieces of fruit home to share with their families. In fall 2016, the City will embark on its second food forest, the McClanahan Food Forest, which will be located on the 3400 block of Oliver Street, adjacent to the Prince George’s Plaza Metro. The McClanahan Food Forest will exemplify the City of Hyattsville’s vision for Community Living Rooms, while providing tasty treats for community members, and people heading for the nearby Metrorail station. Both projects are supported by the City operating budget and assistance from the designer during installation of the forest.