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Sustainable Jersey Certification Report

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This is the Sustainable Jersey Certification Report of Cape May Point Boro, a Sustainable Jersey bronze certified applicant.

Cape May Point Boro was certified on December 16, 2020 with 220 points. Listed below is information regarding Cape May Point Boro’s Sustainable Jersey efforts and materials associated with the applicant’s certified actions.

Contact Information

The designated Sustainable Jersey contact for Cape May Point Boro is:

Name:Catherine Busch
Title/Position:Commissioner / Public Works, Parks and Public Property
Address:215 Lighthouse Avenue P.O. Box 409
Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Phone:609-884-8468 x18

Actions Implemented

Each approved action and supporting documentation for which Cape May Point Boro was approved for in 2020 appears below. Note: Standards for the actions below may have changed and the documentation listed may no longer satisfy requirements for that action.

  • Animals in the Community

    Pledge Supporting NJ Wildlife Action Plan *Retired 12/31/22*

    10 Points

    Program Summary: In March 2018, a member of the Green Team presented the NJ Wildlife Action Plan (NJWAP) to the Environmental Commission as a project to undertake. The subcommittee reviewed the NJWAP online and developed a table listing the "New Jersey Focal Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Cape May Point" with details of habitat use and status, and developed a plan for "Critical Habitat Management of Cape May Point Public Lands." These documents were reviewed and approved by the Environmental Commission January 8, 2020 and presented to the Borough Commissioners at their work session March 10, 2020 (see attached). As a result, the Borough Commissioners passed a resolution pledging support of NJWAP on April 9, 2020 (attached). In early June 2020, a memo was distributed to key staff (attached) and distribution of that memo is also attached. Finally, the Pledge along with supporting documents was posted on the Borough website https://www.capemaypoint.org/community/our-environment.html and shared with community volunteer organizations that conduct activities on public lands.

  • Community Partnership & Outreach

    Green Team

    10 Points
    Bronze Required Silver Required

    Program Summary: The Cape May Point Green Team was appointed in August 2016, and met regularly September through December 2016 to research the feasibility of applying for certification in 2017. A report was submitted to the CMP Commissioners and the decision was made to go forward with the certification process in 2017. Bronze certification was achieved in 2017. All of the initial Green Team members were reappointed in subsequent years through 2020 (see 2020 Green Team Reappointments). For the past three years, we have continued to support our approved projects and took on a number of new actions towards recertification in 2020. (See the most recent summary of activities - 2019 Green Team Summary.)

    Green Challenges

    10 Points

    Program Summary: For our Green Challenges Program, the Green Team chose to build on the success of two of our other efforts: Backyard Composting Program and Reusable Bag Education Program. In addition to the activities described in those two actions, we undertook to get residents to sign a pledge to commit to sustained changes in their everyday behavior. The population of our small town ranges from 214 full-time residents in the winter to an estimated 2,905 residents, second home owners, and visitors here in the summer. There are approximately 600 residential units, primarily, single-family homes. We initiated the Backyard Composting Challenge pledge in September, 2018 by asking attendees at a Composting Workshop to sign a pledge committing to compost vegetable scraps, leaves, grass clippings and other compostable items (see attached pledge form). Homeowners are periodically reminded that free compost bins are available from Public Works, and the Director of Public Works is responsible for obtaining the pledges for this program. To date, 36 have signed the pledge which represents 6% of households in the Borough. The Backyard Composting Program and pledge is promoted through the Borough website, posters in Borough Hall and the Post Office, on community bulletin boards, notices in the Cape May Point Taxpayers' Bulletin, and at tabling events (see attached poster). We initiated a Green Challenge Campaign to switch to reusable bags for shopping in October, 2018 (attached) which many recipients of our Green Team bag have signed. The Clean Communities Coordinator is responsible for obtaining pledges for this program. To date, 75 people have signed the pledge which represents 2.6% of our total estimated summer population. We will continue to provide reusable bags at Beach Clean-ups and tabling events and will ask recipients to sign the pledge. The Spring Beach Clean-up was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Shelter-in-Place Order; the Fall Beach Clean-up is scheduled for September 26, 2020. This summer, we are beginning a campaign to encourage homeowners to stop spraying pesticides in their yards to protect Monarch Butterflies and other pollinators. Due to on-going Covid-19 restrictions and the median age of our residents (73.3 years old https://www.nj.com/data/2018/07/nj_towns_with_the_youngest_oldest_populations.html), in-person and tabling events may not happen this year. We are determining a social distanced, safe means of obtaining signatures for this challenge. Our Green Challenge poster will be used to publicize our success to date and help announce our new challenge (attached).

  • Emergency Management

    Climate Adaptation: Flooding Risk *Retired 12/31/22*

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: This action was approved in 2017. The Getting To Resilience (GTR) Report from then is attached. A GTR Progress Report discussing how the results of the GTR tool have and continue to impact municipal decision-making is also attached. Cape May Point government and residents are actively involved in taking steps to reduce our vulnerability to flooding as a coastal community.

    Coastal Vulnerability Assessment *Retired 12/31/22*

    20 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May Point completed their Municipal Coastal Vulnerability Assessment, May, 2016 Final Report (CVA) with the assistance of Sustainable Jersey staff (attached). The report includes the required elements, and it was distributed to the governing body, key staff, and the Planning Board (attached). The Planning Board's "2017 Master Plan Reexamination Report and Master Plan Amendment" (attached, see page 18) included the CVA report in the appendices and addressed recommendations for going forward in becoming a more resilient community. The CVA was given to the Environmental Commission for preparing their "Environmental Resource Inventory Re-Examination and Update, 2017" (approved in another action in 2017) and information and four maps from the CVA were incorporated into Chapter 10 (attached).

    Emergency Communications Planning

    15 Points

    Program Summary: This action was approved in 2017. Much of the information remains the same. See the attached Emergency Communication Planning Submission Checklist and supporting documents ESF 2, ESF 15, a July 19, 2019 letter sent to all property owners, and a screen shot of the June 7, 2017 test of the Code Red text alert managed by Cape May County. In January 2020, Cape May Point significantly improved the Borough website which included for the first time, a system that could handle sign-ups for email alerts and notifications (see https://www.capemaypoint.org/newsletter-notices-signup.html). See also the Emergency Notification Signup on the Home page which links to Code Red Enrollment. The Important Links page includes links to Code Red and to Register Ready and the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management. The emergency Management page (https://www.capemaypoint.org/departments/emergency-management.html) provides contact information for Borough EM Coordinator and staff as well as an explanation of the different emergency siren codes.

    Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Information about Register Ready is on the Borough website https://www.capemaypoint.org/community/important-links.html. It was promoted at a Cape May Point Taxpayers’ Association sponsored community forum on “Aging in Place” on April 28, 2018 and is on their website https://www.cmp-taxpayers.org/info--links.html. Register Ready brochures and paper forms (attached) are available in the lobby of the municipal building and the post office. Information about emergency preparedness and notification was mailed to all property owners with the municipal tax bill in July 2019 (attached) including the Register Ready program brochure. The Borough’s new website facilitates gathering of email addresses for notification so that vital information can be more easily distributed to residents and property owners via email. This will be used during the summer of 2020 to remind residents about Register Ready as a part of hurricane preparedness.

  • Energy

    Energy Tracking & Management

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: The Borough conducted a building inventory for each of its four facilities and provided a collection of 12 consecutive months of electric usage which was submitted in 2017 for our first certification. For this resubmission, we are submitted an updated building inventory which reflects the installation of natural gas heating system for the municipal building. We are also attaching energy usage spreadsheets for the past year. The Borough is continuing to update the energy usage spreadsheets to assist in developing effective strategies and potential replacement and upgrades to equipment to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce electric consumption.

  • Innovative Projects

    Innovative Community Project 1

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Our innovative project, the Cape May Point Community Mosquito Program, reflects a partnership between Borough Commissioners, Environmental Commission, Green Team, Cape May Point Taxpayers Association (CMPTA), Cape May County Mosquito Commission and dedicated community volunteers to raise awareness about Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (ATM) an invasive species of particular concern. ATM are active and bite during the day and can transmit harmful diseases such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Zika virus, and West Nile virus. ATM are difficult to prevent because they can breed in a teaspoon of water, and spraying pesticides for the adults is ineffective (and kills beneficial insects such as pollinators). The focus of the Community Mosquito Program is to teach residents and visitors how control mosquito larvae by reducing or eliminating all sources of standing water and by treating larger bodies of water (backyard ponds and water features, flowerpot saucers, etc.) with environmentally-friendly "Mosquito Dunks." https://www.summitchemical.com/mosquito/mosquito-dunks/ Through a combination of presentations at Borough meetings, mailings, Mosquito Dunk give-aways, articles in CMPTA weekly bulletins and newsletters, and tabling events, many residents, second-home owners, renters, and visitors were educated on how to reduce Asian Tiger Mosquitos on residential properties. (See attached Community Mosquito Program materials - letter, handouts, meeting minutes.) The handout and dunks were given away at Green Team tabling events, Borough meetings and the lobby of the municipal building during beach tag sales. Education efforts will continue in 2020, and additional Mosquito Dunks will be purchased and given away to continue our efforts to reduce ATM in Cape May Point.

  • Land Use & Transportation

    Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Local Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning Assistance Program, the City of Cape May and the Borough of Cape May Point are finalizing "BikeWalk Cape May", a joint bicycle and pedestrian plan that seeks to improve mobility and safety for non-motorized traffic. This plan included a detailed review and inventory of pedestrian and bicycle traffic generators, crashes, and overall conditions at major intersections and along key corridors. Following that review, a series of conceptual recommendations have been developed to address many existing deficient conditions. Ultimately, the recommendations are intended to create a robust bicycle and pedestrian network that better links the two communities, enhances connections between neighborhoods and key destinations, expands the existing on-street bicycle network, leverages the communities' historic and natural assets, and strengthens Cape May and Cape May Point as major tourist destinations. The uploaded supporting documentation includes a draft of the plan as well as flyer advertising public meeting to solicit public input to the proposed plan before its final adoption by the City of Cape May and Borough of Cape May Point. Reviewer Feedback The "Must Revise" component requests a copy of the governing body resolution incorporating the Bicycle Plan into the Municipal Master Plan within 10 years of the June submission date. Please note, the governing body does not produce the Master Plan. It is developed and approved by the Municipal Planning Board. We have attached the 2017 Amended Master Plan. Also attached are the Planning Board's approval of the Plan in addition to the governing body's acknowledgement of the Plan. The Master Plan approved by the Planning Board and acknowledged by the governing body incorporates the Bicycle Plan within its circulation element.

    Green Infrastructure Implementation

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Project 1: The Municipal Rain Garden was designed and installed in July, 2019 by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff and interns. The Borough’s Public Works staff assisted with preparation, grading, and mulching the site. The project was funded by a Sustainable Jersey grant and was reviewed and overseen by the Environmental Commission. The rain garden was designed to manage stormwater from two downspouts that drain 2700 square feet from the front roof. See the attached Rutgers Design and Installation Plan and Rain Garden Photos. Project 2: A Permeable Pavement walkway was installed as a part of a renovated ADA-accessible Lake Lily Park. The product chosen, Porous Pave (https://www.porouspaveinc.com/), was reviewed by the Borough Engineer and recommended by the Environmental Commission after a public hearing to be used instead of concrete. This was the first use of this product in Cape May County. Documentation includes an aerial view after installation and contract details (attached). Education: A Rain Garden workshop was held Sept. 7, 2019 and was attended by 16 participants. The Borough website https://www.capemaypoint.org/community/our-environment.html has links to the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program Rain Gardens page and to Porous Pave. A custom sign was installed, and can be seen in the previously referenced photo library and in a flier describing the Municipal Building Rain Garden on the Borough website. A Rutgers Rain Gardens brochure was printed and distributed at tabling events and in the Municipal Building lobby. See the attached education documentation. Maintenance: Public Works staff are responsible for maintaining both projects using guidelines provided by Rutgers and Porous Pave. The attached maintenance instructions were provided to the Public Works Director who ensures that maintenance is done properly by his staff.

  • Natural Resources

    Natural Resource Inventory

    20 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: Cape May Point’s 1999 Environmental Resource Inventory (aka Natural Resource Inventory) was reviewed and revised over the past six months by Environmental Commission members. A consultant reviewed the draft document, the same consultant who conducted an extensive survey and inventory of plant and animal species in the Borough in 2014. The new ERI includes Vegetation and Wildlife chapters based on the consultant’s report, much of the original text of the 1999 ERI, updated information from Cape May Point’s Master Plan (2007), the Master Plan Reexamination Report and Master Plan Amendment (2017), and from online sources including the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Maps were developed from online GIS applications as well as taken from other Borough publications. An Open Space Inventory was developed for the first time. New to this edition is the chapter on Critical Environmental Areas. This is of particular importance for assisting in the protection of undeveloped parcels for the benefit of endangered and threatened species of plants and wildlife. As a largely built-out residential community that values its natural vegetation, wildlife, recreation, and seaside setting, those elements that are most relevant to the community have been addressed in this edition. The draft Environmental Resource Inventory Re-Examination and Update, 2017 was approved by the Environmental Commission at the September 13, 2017 public meeting. A resolution to incorporate it into the Master Plan was passed by the Planning Board at the October 18, 2017 public meeting. As the ERI is too large to upload, it can be found on the Borough website on the Downloads and Links page. http://www.capemaypoint.org/downloads-links.html

    Environmental Commission

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Cape May Point Environmental Commission (EC) was established in 1988 and has been an active component of local government ever since. The EC meets monthly throughout the year and works closely with Borough Commissioners (one of whom serves as a liaison member) and community groups to restore and preserve natural resources in the Borough of Cape May Point. An early accomplishment was the writing of CMP's landscape ordinance specifically to preserve natural habitat as town continued development. Following the adoption of the ordinance in 1990, the New Jersey Audubon Society gave its Conservation Award to the EC "for leadership in protecting New Jersey habitat for migratory birds.” The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions gave Environmental Achievements Awards to the EC in 2009 and 2010 (see ANJEC awards). Please see the 2019 EC Annual Report for the past year's accomplishments.

    Environmental Commission Site Plan Review

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Starting in 2016, the Environmental Commission (EC) began regularly commenting on applications before the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Our small Borough is a nearly fully developed largely single-family residential community. Most applications are for variances related to remodeling existing structures with the occasional minor subdivision of an oversized lot. The EC Chair serves as the Class II member on the current combined Planning Board, and the EC comments are conveyed either verbally during hearings or by letter. A report summarizing reviews and actions is attached along with the two most recent letters (2020 & 2018). As can be seen in the report, there are two or three applications heard by the Planning Board each year. The recommendations of the EC have been included where appropriate in the final determinations by the Planning Board.

    Habitat Conservation Ordinance

    10 Points

    Program Summary: Cape May Point was the first municipality in New Jersey to enact a Landscape Ordinance specifically to preserve natural habitat as the town continued development. Following the adoption of the ordinance in 1990, the New Jersey Audubon Society gave its Conservation Award to the Environmental Commission "for leadership in protecting New Jersey habitat for migratory birds.” As a result, the majority of developed properties in Cape May Point have a minimum of 60% overall area of each lot covered by vegetation to include the retention or replacement of trees and shrubs which benefit migrant and resident wildlife. When a property is developed, significantly altered, or more than 25% of the vegetation is removed, trees must be retained or replaced per the ordinance. See the 150-21 Landscaping and Vegetation Plan on page 7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

  • Operations & Maintenance

    Adopt a Green Purchasing Policy by Resolution *Retired 12/31/23*

    5 Points

    Program Summary: On September 22, 2020 the Cape May Point Commissioners passed a resolution supporting a Green Purchasing Policy. The policy was distributed to all Department and Division heads as documented by the attached memo and affidavit from the Borough Clerk. The policy can be found at the following link on the Borough’s website https://www.capemaypoint.org/government/document-center/green-team/1405-green-purchasing-policy-1/file.html

  • Waste Management

    Prescription Drug Safety & Disposal

    10 Points
    Bronze Priority Silver Priority

    Program Summary: In 2017, the Borough of Cape May Point and the Cape May City Police Department initiated a partnership to promote the Prescription Drug Safety and Disposal Program for the benefit of Cape May Point residents and visitors. The program kicked-off at the “Coffee with a Cop” event in 2017 which was successfully repeated in 2018 (attached) to cement the partnership. The Chief and a detective from Cape May City Police Department were present to answer questions, and they brought with them a portable disposal unit for unused/expired prescriptions. A poster in the lobby of the Municipal Building describes the Prescription Drug Safety and Disposal Program with links to national websites and directs residents to the permanent 24-hour Prescription Drug Safety Disposal Drop Off site in the Cape May City Police Department lobby located at 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ. Information is also available on the Borough website - https://www.capemaypoint.org/community/our-environment.html - via two attached fliers: "Prescription Drug Safety Disposal Program" and "How to Properly Dispose of Your Unused Medicines." Each April, the National RX Takeback Day is advertised on the Borough website, on community bulletin boards (attached), and through the CMP Taxpayer’s Association e-bulletin. A sample quarterly report from Cape May City’s certification is attached (per Sustainable Jersey feedback instructions) documenting the collection amounts in total; separate amounts for Cape May Point are not kept by the Cape May Police.

    Recycling Depot

    10 Points

    Program Summary: The Borough of Cape May Point has a conveniently located Municipal Trash and Recycling Yard on Sunset Blvd. The location is advertised regularly throughout the year (example attached). It is easily accessible to residents and property owners. Because we are a seasonal, shore community, hours vary throughout the year to reflect the needs of the year-round residents, weekenders, and summer visitors. The facility is locked when not open to protect the water utility and prevent dumping of unauthorized materials. The facility is supervised when open to insure that recyclables are deposited in the recycle bins while trash thrown in the trash bins. Single-stream recycling materials as mandated by Cape May County are collected there as specified by the "Single-Stream Recycling Brochure" (attached). The operating hours are found on the Borough website https://www.capemaypoint.org/departments/public-works.html. The yard is closed January to March when there is no demand for drop-offs, but weekly household pick-up of trash and recycling continues which is sufficient for the small winter population of largely one and two person households. In addition, Cape May Point also has curbside pickup of organic materials placed in yard-leaf bags on Tuesday and larger branches on Wednesday. Cape May Point residents can bring other recycle materials to the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (CMCMUA) transfer station located in a nearby community. More information about recycling is on the Borough website https://www.capemaypoint.org/community/our-environment.html Pictures of signs posted on the gate of the Municipal Trash and Recycling Yard and the recycling dumpsters are attached.

    Backyard Composting Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Environmental Commission and the Green Team launched the Borough’s Backyard Composting program in July, 2017 with a workshop led by Master Gardener Linda Conover from Rutgers Cooperative Extension. A follow-up workshop was held in September, 2018 with an emphasis on a live demonstration of the type of materials to put in a compost bin. A permanent 3-bin composting structure was installed in 2018 for the use of Public Works and volunteers who maintain the Pavilion Circle gardens, and it was also used in the demonstration workshop (see photos). Free Geobins (www.geobins123.com) for starting a backyard compost site were provided by the Cape May Point Environmental Commission to attendees at both workshops along with fact sheets from Rutgers Cooperative Extension regarding Home Composting (attached). Currently, the Environmental Commission purchases 20 Geobins a year for distribution to home owners upon request. Bins are distributed by Public Works staff in return for pledge to use them here. Our current focus is to periodically remind residents of the availability of compost bins at the Department of Public Works. Along with the bin, residents are given the Home Composting factsheet explaining how to compost. Our methods for publicizing include: a flier on the Borough website along with the fact sheet, notices in the CMPTA Bulletin, and posters placed on public bulletin boards at beach entrances, post office and lobby of the municipal building (attached). To date, 60 Geobin compost bins have been distributed to residents.

    Reusable Bag Education Program

    5 Points

    Program Summary: The Green Team was the committee that addressed reusable bags. Because the Borough only has two businesses (both of which have already stopped distributing single-use plastic bags), we focused on educating residents and visitors on reusable bags for shopping in other towns, particularly, at grocery stores. We purchased 250 reusable bags with Clean Communities Funds from Envirotote, the market tote size suitable for groceries, made from recycled plastic in the USA (see photo). These were distributed to volunteers participating in our Beach Cleanups held each spring and fall (Fall 2018, Spring & Fall 2019). Educational materials are included (Plastic-free July flier and Green Team Plastic pollution rack card) and each bag has a washing care label. These educational materials are also posted and available at Borough Hall and the Post Office. Short and long range plans include continuing to distribute reusable bags at Beach Cleanups, promotion at community events, and outreach to community organizations. The Environmental Commission reviewed the ANJEC model ordinance on single-use bags and recommended that the Borough adopt it - pending at the time of this application. The Green Team had a table at three community events in 2019 at which reusable bags provided by Shop-Rite were distributed (letter & photos). Our plan is to table 3 events each year to promote this and other Green Team actions, however, this plan may be affected by the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.