Open Space & Recreation Committee

CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: September 1, 2021 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Alden-St. Pierre (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Todd Callaghan, Gregory Sharp BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Chelsea Zakas, Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Thomas Beaseley RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury 1. Call to Order Alden chairs and opens the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Note, this is a hybrid virtual meeting as allowed by extension (Act effective June 16, 2021 thru April 1, 2022) of state Executive Order signed March 12, 2020 due to COVID-19. Alden confirms that all members who affirmed are present and can hear all participants. 2. Members of the Public Opportunity to Address the Committee Thomas Beasley is looking for Eagle Scout projects. Members discuss the project list and make some suggestions for the community service component of his Eagle Scout project. MaryAnn Holak was not able to attend tonight’s meeting. Zakas provides the updates on the Walk in the Woods program. There being no further comments or concerns. No action required at this time. 3. Approval of Minutes Mann moves to approve the July 7, 2021 minutes as amended. Callaghan seconds. The motion carries 8-0-0. Dunne abstains. 4. Open Space and Recreation Plan Updates a. Survey Zakas reviews the survey feedback. Zakas discusses the climate change effects and best wording/phrasing for certain questions. Callaghan suggests adding a time commitment to complete the sixteen questions. Callaghan noted people tend to focus more on the clock than the amount of questions to answer. Mann clarifies wording of the question. Climate change is already happening; open space relates to creating resilience to climate change. Miller chimes in and agrees with Mann regarding resilience aspect. McCrory inquires from Zakas what is the goal of the response and how does it circle back to open space. Alden discusses the new police  Open Space & Recreation Committee September 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 building and a particular part of the solar grant where a small green area would need to be paved in order for the solar panels to be constructed. This is atypical of most solar panel constructs. Callaghan suggests as a question, “would you be more open to the city to acquire more open space to become climate resilient.” Zakas will continue to work on the questions and wording as they relate to open space and the goals of climate change resiliency. The survey will be published Wednesday September 15, 2021 and the public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday October 6, 2021. Zakas informs the members the public meeting is scheduled at Council Chambers, City Hall. Bev Cam will broadcast the meeting. Alden asks if there are contingency plans for hybrid meeting if necessary. Zakas informs the members this public meeting is in place of the regular OSRC meeting. Mann suggests holding the public meeting 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.; the regular meeting from 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. Members agree on the meeting time structure. Zakas asks the members who would not mind contributing to the public speaking. Mann and Alden volunteer. Members parley the best way to showcase OSRC accomplishments, topics of interest and concern, and what the committee does. McCrory brings conversation back to focus on public feedback and involvement. Zakas discusses public engagement and participation strategies. Callaghan suggests keeping the topics to 3 or 4 in order to maintain order, focus, and attention from the public. Alden will create loose outline for the public meeting. b. HarborFest, Sunday September 19, 2021; 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Lynch Park Zakas goes over the flyer for the event. The committee may have a table set up at the event to promote civic engagement. Mann volunteers time. c. Outreach to relevant boards and committees Zakas provides an update on the multiple committees receiving positive feedback and ideas on the survey as well as other community issues such as public access on the waterfront; ADA mobility access; community language barriers; etc. Members discuss wheelchair adaptability and access at the various trails and parks. 5. Principal Items of Business a. Community Preservation Committee – Representative Report McCrory provides the updates. Public hearing scheduled for September 30, 2021. It is the annual hearing for CPC priorities, needs, items of interest and funding. Pre-applications are anticipated due by October 28, 2021. b. Planning Board – Representative Report Miller, no updates at this time. c. Harbor Management Authority Updates – Representative Report Callaghan provides the updates. Discusses HarborFest and the local food vendors, breweries, and other local business involvement. There is a special dispensation granted for alcohol on Lynch Park premises. There will be live music. The HMA is looking to move forward with mounted binoculars at Lynch Park. More kayak racks are expected to come in. The racks are a hot  Open Space & Recreation Committee September 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 commodity item for the public. Callaghan discusses a few parcels the city has recently acquired on Cove Road. This will become a public access way. d. Conservation Commission – Representative Report Alden provides the updates. Alden discusses the membership noting the current members total 4. They have capacity for more members. Alden discusses the cumbersome onerous processes of NOIs for trail building and other light projects/activities. Members have lively discussion on how to simplify the processes and associated fees. Callaghan suggests the eagle scout candidate researches and locates all crossings on the trails as a potential project. e. Parcel Updates i. Green Street update 27 X – No updates at this time. 27A – No updates at this time. ii. Project Adventure update Per staff report the Trustees are in the process of purchasing the parcel. Funding is in the process and details are not finalized. iii. Congress Street – “Pocket Park” No updates at this time. iv. Gloucester Crossing No updates at this time. a. Beckford Street b. Simon Street v. Bass Haven update There are brief updates. Mann went on the historic walk with Matthew Swindell. It was informative. Mann highly recommends the walk with Matthew Swindell as it was well done. vi. Norwood Pond update There are no updates at this time. vii. NSMT There are no updates at this time. viii. Congress Street parks There are no updates at this time. ix. Endicott college trail There are no updates at this time. x. Pole Swamp There are no updates at this time.  Open Space & Recreation Committee September 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 xi. Ryal Side Parcels There are no updates at this time. xii. Temi Parcel along Robinson Road There are no updates at this time. xiii. Tanzella Hill There are not updates at this time. f. Encroachments Letters went out to individuals encroaching on discussed city properties. Callaghan suggests involving the ward councilor appropriate to the individual’s address to propel action on the encroachment issues. xiv. 43 Wood Lane Public access is being blocked again. It is a public way. Alden suggests posting a sign. Members agree. 6. Trails & Open Space Discussion a. Subcommittee discussion/Trail Safety & Trail Guidance The subcommittee has not been organized yet. Alden goes over the contact information provided for first responders that are interested in assisting with trail safety. Dunne will spearhead the initiative for first steps. b. Trail Markers Alden provides the updates. In the course of replacing the previously discussed found several more missing markers. Members review errant trails that are not plotted on the maps. Zakas provides personal perspective on a recent trail experience. Zakas comments on the trail numbering and color organization. As an avid trail runner, Zakas associates trails with colors, not numbers; finds color hashes on the trees confusing. Members discuss the trail organization system and how to make it more user friendly. c. New trail Sally Milligan Brewster provides brief updates. There trail markers Nathan Currie mapped out vanished or were intentionally removed. Landmarks were not identifiable. Mann inquires about the local bird species. On the site walk Brewster identified the wetland bird species and their habitats. Brewster does not find it to be an issue if there is a single-track path there. The birds have chosen an urban setting in which to thrive. Callaghan notes the parking is not always available since the city locks the lots; this is a safety issue. Members continue discussing the potential connecting trail. 7. Other Business a. Greens Hill/CPC grant Mann would like Councilor Rotondo to go on a site walk to review for any inhibiting factors for benches and picnic tables. McCrory asks if the unwarranted structure built was removed. Zakas will follow up with Pirrotta on Gary Marshall. b. Future agenda items  Open Space & Recreation Committee September 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 There are no updates at this time. c. Community Outreach There are no updates at this time. 8. Adjournment Callaghan moves to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. McCrory seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Next Meeting: October 6, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.