Open Space & Recreation Committee

Open Space and Recreation Committee March 3, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 4 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: March 3, 2021 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Charlie Mann (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), David Alden-St. Pierre, Elizabeth Dunne, Marilyn McCrory, Todd Callaghan, Gregory Sharp, Alison Dudley BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Wayne Miller STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Jenna Pirrotta, Environmental Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Members of the Public: Adam Glick, Nathan Currie RECORDER: Sarah Scott-Nelson Call to Order Mann chairs and opens the meeting at 7:03 p.m., noting that it is a virtual meeting as allowed during the State of Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19. Mann confirms members that are present. Members of the Public Adam Glick, Trail Care App Glick shares his history as a mountain-biker and advocate for sustainable trail design and explains the problems for the public being able to submit problem reports for specific trails. Glick then shares the Trail Care website and app detailing the process for viewing reports and for community members to report trail problems. Glick notes that Greenbelt, the Trustees, and a few other groups are currently reviewing the app and stresses the importance of land managers having notifications of issues to be able to address them. In response to Alden-St. Pierre’s question, Glick comments that there is not currently a function to add photos, as this complicates the storage of data on the app, but this function is being considered for the pro-level app. Glick reports that he is happy to provide graphics which the Committee could post in kiosks, etc. and notes that the geo-fence function should be used to select the area of notifications. Nathan Currie, Essex-Cole trail concept Currie presents a new trail idea which would eliminate 0.5 miles of roadway to connect existing trail areas. Currie notes that all this land is private property which would require coordination with the property owners. Callaghan comments that he walked this trail with Currie in the past and describes the area behind the CareOne property. Mann comments that he likes this idea but the major obstacle is obtaining landowner permission. Mann recommends that Currie initially approach the landowners and see if they are open to trail permissions. Currie notes that a large  Open Space and Recreation Committee March 3, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 section of the trail would be on an old roadbed next to a wetland area. Currie will follow up with the Committee regarding initial landowner response. Approval of Minutes February 3, 2021 The Committee reviews the draft minutes. Callaghan moves to approve the minutes as presented. Seconded by Alden-St. Pierre. Mann takes a roll call vote. The motion carries 8-0. Principal Items of Business Community Preservation Committee – Representative report on activities, if any McCrory reports that Mayor Cahill attended a recent Community Preservation Committee (CPC) meeting and continued the discussion about the Cabot parcel. McCrory adds that the Congress Street property precipitated discussion surrounding streets which end at the water and allowable activities in the right-of-way. It appears CPA funds cannot be used to make such right-of-way more park-like. Sharp comments that the proposed pocket park at the end of Congress Street is an excellent idea, but may produce some legal problems if the ownership of the land it disputed or claimed as private rather than city land. Harbor Management Authority – Report on activities, if any Callaghan’s reports that NCIB presented about integrating entrepreneurship into harbor management. Callaghan notes that the Congress Street project will be scaled back and completed with volunteer cleanup. He also notes plans for energizing Harbor Fest once gatherings are able to be held. McCrory comments that the law requires that any land that receives CPA funds be permanently protected park land. Mann suggests that a cleanup of the area in the spring would be a good way to get community involvement. Callaghan adds that the city received a grant from the Seaport Economic Council to do a feasibility study to find a disposal site for dredged sediments within the Bass River. Mann comments that Salem is doing the same thing with the North River Dredge. Callaghan states that since surrounding cities have the same need, Beverly may be able to gain revenue from the project by taking their waste as well. Mann agrees but notes that Paul Whittaker Bridge poses a problem as it is difficult to bring barges though. Sharp asks about the environmental concerns of this project in terms of sediment disruption. Committee Chair/Vice Chair Election Mann nominates Alden-St. Pierre for next Chair of the OSRC. Seconded by Sharp. Mann takes a roll call vote. Alden-St. Pierre abstains. The motion carries 7-0. Parcel Updates, if any  Open Space and Recreation Committee March 3, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 Ryal Side Properties Members recap the properties and individual site walks. Sharp comments the he could not pass through the property as it was too wet and notes the trees and beauty of the Garfield Avenue site. Sharp adds that dumping is occurring on all of these sites which would be challenging to address. Callaghan comments that the Garfield Avenue properties have been dumped on continually and does not expect the City to want to take on the properties unless a civic group takes up the cause. Dunne agrees that unless the community wants to be involved and the City is willing to get the project started, it should not be accepted. Alden-St. Pierre suggests approaching the Ryal Side Civic Association and see if they are willing to take on stewardship. Brewster states that there is so little open space in Ryal Side that if the properties were kept up, it would prove beneficial. Alden-St. Pierre recommends approaching Councilor Rotondo and the Ryal Side Civic Association about stewardship interest. Mann notes that the City may not want to take this on due to encroachments. The Committee agrees that the space needs a boardwalk to be passable in some areas. Callaghan and McCrory discuss the need for the space to be considered a park land in order to receive CPA funding. The Committee discusses the Temi Road parcel and how it is good wildlife habitat that is already unbuildable wetlands and recommends leaving that space alone. Trails & Open Space Discussion Trail Guidance Community Outreach Alden-St. Pierre reports that community outreach is continuing on Facebook and Instagram, noting that he posts updates for the community when he can. Pirrotta reports that the Council on Aging is planning to do a series of outdoor walks and comments that if Committee members are interested, they can volunteer to host a walk with Council on Aging staff, by leading attendees through certain open space properties. Pirrotta also suggests that something like this could replace Spring Walks or the Committee could partner with this group to replace the Spring Walks to accommodate COVID-19 regulations. Alden-St. Pierre suggests posting signs like course marking for a race where community members can walk the path at staggered times, providing a safe way to promote an in-person event. Alden-St. Pierre adds that he will look into outreach programs to see whether the local hospital would like to get involved in this event and suggests that community members could tag themselves on social media for a raffle or giveaway if local businesses are interested in being involved. Other Business  Open Space and Recreation Committee March 3, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Open Space and Recreation Plan Updates Pirrotta reports that the associate planner is working on the update of the Open Space and Recreation Plan and the Committee can expect to hear from her on what needs to be updated, as outlined in the workbook. August 2022 is when a new plan needs to be in place, but there are many steps leading up to this, involving a fair amount of community outreach. McCrory suggests that the associate planner bring the steps in chunks to the Committee so that consistent progress can be made. Pirrotta affirms that she is working on an outline of milestones that she will bring to the Committee when it is complete. Adjournment Sharp moves to adjourn at 9:06pm. Seconded by McCrory. Mann takes a roll call vote. Alison Dudley left the meeting and is no longer present. The motion carries 7-0. The next meeting of the OSRC will be April 7, 2021, held virtually over Google Meet.