Stormwater Public Education Task ForceJanuary 13, 2016

Agenda

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. 2017 Doo the Right Thing Pledge

3. Texas SmartScape

4. FY15 Project Update

5. FY17 Project Brainstorm

6. Other Business/Reminders

7. Roundtable

8. Next Meeting Date

Welcome and Introductions

And photo!

2017 Doo the Right Thing Pledge

• Pledge now open on website (dfwstormwater.com/petwaste)

• PETF’s calendar contest promotion: Start around late April?

• Contest closes at the end of June

• Submissions posted by end of July

• Public voting in August

2017 Doo the Right Thing Pledge

• Any preliminary input for this year’s press release template, social media graphics, etc.?

Texas SmartScape 2016 Plant Sales• Have photos from last year’s sales? Send them to bgeck@nctcog.org.

• Deliverables to come (insert, city-specific flyer, regional flyer, posters, newsletter and social media graphics, event sign, FAQ doc, emag on USB)

• Plant Sale Planning Committee meeting with Rick/Home Depot this week; regional planning meeting to come–will discuss timing with Rick

Texas SmartScape Train-the-Trainer Class• Not planning on having a Train-the-Trainer Class for the SmartScape sales.

• Interest in general class? Dotty Woodson, AgriLife, provided the following dates she currently has available: Jan. 25, 26, 27, and 29 or Feb. 8, 9, and 10.

• Thoughts for a future class targeting landscape companies/nurseries and/or ISDs? Possibly in June?

March Is Texas SmartScape Month

From COG site:

Q: Why is "March Texas SmartScape Month"?

A: SmartScape Month is a regionally coordinated effort to promote the water conservation, pollution prevention, recycling, composting, and waste reduction principles of Texas SmartScape. Since March is an active month for landscaping, this is an excellent opportunity to conduct public education and outreach on water conservation, pollution prevention, recycling, and composting.

During March, cities and other interested organizations are encouraged to plan events to disseminate the SmartScape message to their citizens. NCTCOG will conduct region-wide media promotion to announce all participants, and to demonstrate that we are all working together to improve and protect our water resources. Participants are highly encouraged to tailor the press release and other tools to conduct outreach to their local media contacts to increase local coverage of their event(s).

Moving forward … what do you need from COG to support this effort?

March Is Texas SmartScape Month• Possible Slogans

1. Sustainability theme – Beautiful. Maintainable. Sustainable. – Texas SmartScape [sustainability theme]

2. Plants that thrive—come rain or shine.

3. Go native and help your yard bloom where it is planted. [Play on the poem “Bloom where you are planted”…but does have religious context we may want to avoid]

4. Other suggestions? Plants that thrive -- Weather or not.

• Ideas for PSA graphic(s)?

Plant List Update• Status

• Photos

• Ideas for promotion

• Other plant lists, wildflowers

FY16 Project IdeasDescription: This project will focus on extending support for the Texas SmartScape program. This will help support “March Is Texas SmartScape Month,” the Texas SmartScape plant sales, and/or the Texas SmartScape plant list update. New content will be developed for the txsmartscape.com website (possibly including a couple of short videos for irrigation quick fixes, plant selection, etc.), and already developed content from other resources will be added to the site (for example, the diagrams AgriLife is developing, other videos, etc.). There will be increased outreach to nurseries and landscape companies related to becoming a SmartScape-Friendly Company.

Current Website Thoughts

• Possible website video additions: Texas Pure videos on amending the soil, usingmulch and compost, Plano’s videos for backyard composting.

• Possibly better integration of AgriLife’s resources/links ?

• Looking into Center for ReSource Conservation’s Garden in a Box as a sample of something we might be able to emulate (selection of professionally designed,perennial gardens that use xeric plants; DIY kits with 15-30 plants, a plant and care guide, and 1-3 plant-by-number maps).

• Other potential videos: Irrigation quick fixes, yard makeover (possibly using the 7 steps, maybe “sponsored” by nurseries for plant donations)

FY15 Project Update

Description: Develop outreach materials to satisfy fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticideapplication permit requirements. The specific requirement: “A program element topromote, publicize, and facilitate the proper use, application, and disposal of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers by public, commercial, and private applicators and distributors.”

• The PETF developed a template outreach document for newsletters, social media,etc., taking it beyond proper application to relevant BMPs.

• Status: Almost wrapped up. Finalizing the images, then providing the document to the Regional Stormwater Coordinating Council for approval.--Summary of image/graphic changes requested--Thoughts on call to actions, text overlapping graphics, etc.

FY17 Project Brainstorm• An Extension of the Educator’s Toolbox (video demonstrations, matrix with topics and grade level, resources, city contacts)

• Stormwater social media calendar, posts (similar to regional air quality social media posts)

• Texas SmartScape and K-12 educational enrichment

• Other ideas?

Other Business/Reminders• Cooperative Purchase order communications

• SmartScape-Related Events webpage: Add your events by emailinginfo@txsmartscape.com

• Public Education Activity Reports

Roundtable

What have you been up to?

Wednesday, April 6, 20169:30 a.m.Tejas Conference Room

Next Meeting Date

Stormwater PETF ContactNalani JayEnvironment and Development Plannernjay@nctcog.org817-695-9224