Open Space & Recreation Committee

CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: City Hall Council Chambers DATE: December 1, 2021 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: David Alden-St. Pierre (Chair), David Brewster (Vice Chair), Todd Callaghan, Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, Wayne Miller, Gregory Sharp BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Chelsea Zakas, Associate Planner OTHERS PRESENT: Nick Stangl, Chris Colby, Rob Hughes RECORDER: Sharlyne Woodbury 1. Call to Order Alden chairs and opens the meeting at 7:00 p.m. This is a hybrid meeting with special meeting format as required to honor Governor Baker’s State of Emergency declared due to the national crisis of COVID-19. 2. Members of the Public Opportunity to Address the Committee a. EMS personnel discuss trail signage Chris Colby addresses the committee, introduces Rob Hughes with Drew McCollough (expected later). Colby recounts a fatal incident 2 years ago where EMS services were called to the Beverly Commons hiking trails. EMS could not succinctly, and expediently locate the patient. Colby would like the trail signs and maps to be clearer. Alden responds and notes that some trails and maps were updated. The committee discusses the ongoing problem of people removing trail markers. Colby suggests installing trail cams and Sharp suggests using stencils to permanently mark trails. Dunne comments that the rare event to rescue people on the trails indicates the importance of an annual workshop or seminar. It would be extremely helpful to review the maps and mimic steps to successfully respond, rescue, extricate and transport victims from trails. Members agree an annual table talk meeting or seminar would be helpful to review with EMS. Miller discusses an app called “what3words”. The app works as follows: what3words is a digital geocoding system. But instead of being limited to addresses, what3words lets you identify any location that’s three by three meters, or 10 feet by 10 feet, in size. The system is available for free on what3words’ website, and it also has Android and iOS apps. While what3words includes a simplistic and satellite map for ease of use, it’s not a navigation app. Zakas presents the app on screen for the committee to view. Miller encourages all phone users to have this app on their phone and suggests advertising the app on trail kiosks. Dunne notes as long as the victim’s phone is on and there is cell coverage anyone should be able to be located. Members circle back to the removal of trail markers and are actively trying to inhibit the public from removing them. Members continue to discuss best methods to provide efficient emergency  Open Space & Recreation Committee December 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 extrication areas along trails; best markups for EMS maps; plus, the probability and effectiveness of leaving EMS equipment in the parks and open spaces. There being no further comments or concerns. No action required at this time. 3. Approval of Minutes Callaghan moves to approve the November 3, 2021 minutes as amended. Dudley seconds. The motion carries 9-0. 4. Open Space and Recreation Plan a. Discuss survey data and next steps Zakas provides the updates. Zakas sent members the synthesized comments, including the 2016 goals in comparison to the present survey data. Members note that the public commented predominantly in the areas of safety, trash, park maintenance, accessibility, etc. Members focus on comments for park maintenance. The public is not interested in building new parks as much as they would like to see current parks maintained better. Miller and Mann discuss funding options that could assist with maintenance from a few entities. Alden inquires if there is any progress on a Parks & Rec representative. Zakas provides the updates. Zakas reached out and coordinated with Bruce Doig. Due to quorum, Parks & Rec members for last month’s meeting were not able to further discuss volunteers for an OSRC representative. Zakas also inquired after which parks and opens spaces the Parks and Rec Department are going to do ADA evaluations for. Alden moves discussion along. Members are encouraged to subcategorize the information from the survey into 5-6 categories. Zakas provides suggestions to the members for categories and organizing the information. Alden suggests dedicating the next meeting to organizing and reviewing the survey information. Callaghan inquires what goals were achieved in the last plan (2015/2016) and which were not. Zakas does not have a comparison but can review the information. Members are interested in a data comparison. Callaghan suggests a smaller list with achievable goals in order to demonstrate success and progress. Members agree tangible and accessible goals are ideal. Dunne suggests adding current projects in progress to the goals. Over time the likelihood of project completion demonstrates success in meeting a goal; adding to the list of OSRC accomplishments. 5. Discuss Principal Items of Business a. Community Preservation Committee – Representative Report McCrory provides the updates. The mayor asked CPC to hold a special meeting on 12/01/21. CPC convened per the mayor’s request. The trustees and the city have been in negotiations about possible CPA project funding for the Moraine Farm parcel. CPC was asked to ask City Council to schedule a public hearing, expecting they will receive the full application from the Trustees soon, and given the tight deadline for the Trustees to raise funding for the purchase. City Council meets December 6, 2021 and will schedule a public hearing. CPC will schedule a special meeting for December 8, 2021 to review the full application for funding, $1.1 million dollars. The city is requesting to purchase development rights for 3 parcels.  Open Space & Recreation Committee December 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 b. Planning Board – Representative Report Miller, no updates from the Planning Board at this time. Miller provides relevant information from Green Beverly as it pertains to OSRC goals. Miller discusses a March 2022 event for environmental activism. c. Harbor Management Authority Updates – Representative Report Callaghan provides the updates. HMA is going to move forward with Phase 2 of the sign project. There is a potential sign for Hospital Point and new signs on Elliot Street behind McDonald’s directing the public walkways. d. Conservation Commission – Representative Report Alden provides the updates. The CR for Moraine Farm is currently on hold. Members would like additional information about the CR. Callaghan inquires if holding the CR allows for better public access to the three parcels. Members discuss the community garden potentially relocating to the Cabot parcel. Parks & Rec is doing some improvement at Gillis Park. There was a site meeting at Cummings Center Dunham Ridge to finalize the trail easement details along Norwood Pond. e. Parcel Updates – additional details outlined in Zakas’ staff report. i. Green Street update 27 X – no updates at this time. 27A – no updates at this time. ii. Project Adventure update Members discussed during the CPC update. iii. Congress Street – “Pocket Park” No further updates at this time. iv. Gloucester Crossing Dudley provides the update. The city will go forward with the CPC application and with the RFPs for the lots. v. Bass Haven update There are no updates at this time. vi. Norwood Pond update a. NSMT Alden provides the updates. There is a meeting with Bill Haney for the trail easement scheduled for December 8, 2021. vii. Congress Street parks There are no updates at this time. viii. Endicott college trail  Open Space & Recreation Committee December 1, 2021 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Members ask Zakas to check with the mayor’s office and provide an update after the Trustees meeting. ix. Pole Swamp There are no updates at this time. x. Ryal Side Parcels There are no updates at this time. xi. Temi Parcel along Robinson Road There are no updates at this time. xii. Tanzella Hill There are no updates at this time. f. Encroachment Updates Mann would like to involve the solicitor’s office in a discussion or request for review on the laws where the city abandoned paper streets. Mann provides an example from Folger Street with access to the waterfront. Members discuss the importance of not losing open spaces connected to paper streets. Mann heavily encourages solicitor involvement. Miller suggests coordinating with another entity (i.e., Green Beverly) to see if such an entity may have expertise on the matter. Zakas suggests creating a list of questions for the solicitor. 6. Trails & Open Space Discussion a. Trail Safety & Trail Guidance i. New trail at Sally Milligan No updates at this time. 7. Other Business a. Greens Hill/CPC grant No updates at this time. b. NOI for trail work – discussion on next steps No updates at this time. Zakas has not heard back from Weston about the abutters list and next steps. Zakas will reach out again for follow up. Miller suggests inviting Rani Jacobson to a meeting. Miller moves to have Rani Jacobson attend the next meeting. Brewster seconds. The motion carries 9-0. 8. Adjournment Callaghan moves to adjourn the meeting at 9:02 p.m. Dudley seconds. The motion carries 9-0. Next Meeting: January 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.