Open Space, Natural Resources, and Trails Committee

OPEN SPACE, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND TRAILS COMMITTEE Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020; 7:00 p.m. via Zoom Present: Jonathan Sherwood, Chair, Pascal Rettig (Planning Board), Vanessa Johnson-Hall, Richard Hucksam, Stephen Thiel (Conservation Commission), Angela Cleveland, Director, Community & Economic Development for City of Amesbury 7:05 Meeting called to order Agenda: • Approval of February 26, April 16, and July 22, 2020 Meeting Minutes • Return to in-person meetings - Discussion • Review/approve 12-month OSR Action Plan • Member updates: o Sherwood: Meeting with Angela Cleveland, OCED Director o Sherwood: Amesbury Rail Trail Connector – Coastal Trails Coalition – MA DOT o Sherwood/Johnson-Hall: Presentation for City Stakeholders o Rettig: Survey summary-visual, for use with stakeholder/public communications o Sherwood: Woodsom Farm Farmer Conversation 1. New member Steve Thiel (Conservation Commission representative) and Community & Economic Development Director Angela Cleveland introduced to OSNRT members. A. Cleveland shared updates on structure of Community & Economic Development department. 2. OSRP Discussion: • Full Open Space & Recreation Plan now on City’s OSNRT web page; still need to add Mass Audubon’s Woodsom Mowing Plan to website. • J. Sherwood shared proposed OSNRT’s OSRP 2020 Action Plan. A. Cleveland discussed pressing interest in creating a Chapter 61 Right of First Refusal (ROFR) protocol for the City. The City would like to ensure that it’s aware of priority parcels that are protected under Chapter 61 and have a protocol in place for adequate and inclusive review of the ROFR’s when landowner notices are presented to the City. A. Cleveland will work with V. Johnson-Hall on drafting a protocol to present to the Mayor. • Mayor, A. Cleveland and Nipun met to review parcels City owns via tax title to identify priorities for conservation and are preparing a plan to ensure these parcels of conservation interest (i.e., adjacent to existing City-owned conservation land and trails) are permanently preserved as conservation land. • J. Sherwood discussed OSRP action item for Management Plan for Woodsom Farm, which the City committed to as part of the City Council and Mayoral transfer of Woodsom Farm to Article 97 protection. A. Cleveland said she would help the OSNRT work on identifying funding for the management plan.  • A. Cleveland said that the City had formally accepted a grant from the Coastal Trails Coalition to initiate the process with MassDOT for a study on the connection between the Riverwalk and the Ghost Trail Connector across from Elm Street through Carriagetown Plaza. The owner of Carriagetown Plaza is supportive of creating the connector through the Plaza. OSNRT representatives mentioned need for an Elm Street crossing that adequately warns cars of pedestrians / cyclists crossing from the bike path, ideally something with flashing lights. 3. Approval of Meeting Minutes • February 26, 2020 Minutes: Motion to approve minutes as presented: P. Rettig moved to approve as presented. 2nd R Hucksam. All approved except Steve Thiel, who abstained. • April 16th Public Forum: Motion to approve minutes subject to confirming attendance at Public Forum: V. Johnson-Hall moved to approve. 2nd P. Rettig. All approved except Steve Thiel, who abstained. • July 22 Minutes: P. Rettig moved to approve subject to addition of “Hucksam” to attendance; 2nd. V Johnson-Hall. All approved except Steve Thiel, who abstained. 4. Return to In-person Meetings: J. Sherwood shared memo from City urging boards and committees to return to in-person meetings, particularly where committees don’t have a large public presence. Masks and physical-distancing would still be required. The City has invested in technological updates that make in person meetings more efficient. OSNRT members all expressed reluctance to return to in- person meetings due to continued risk from COVID-19, notably in indoor, enclosed spaces. No action was taken at this time to return to in-person meetings. 5. OSNRT Action Plan Updates • S. Thiel asked how 2020 Action Items were determined. J. Sherwood said criteria were a combination what items the OSNRT was in a position to impact, OSNRT strengths, and which were the highest priority. • Johnson-Hall – Sherwood Presentation to City Stakeholders: Greenbelt has updated prioritization maps with trails data; that combined with Strava heat-map will highlight multiple benefits of priority parcels. • S. Thiel asked if there were items not on the action list because of absence of Cons Comm rep. J. Sherwood suggested importance of compiling list of parcels under the care, custody & control of the Conservation Commission so that the Cons Comm knows what parcels it is responsible for managing. • 2020 Action Plan will be standing item on OSNRT Agenda to hold members accountable. Next meeting October 28th. Motion to adjourn 8:33pm. P. Rettig, 2nd R. Hucksam. All approved. Submitted by, Vanessa Johnson-Hall