Conservation Commission

MINUTES OF THE MEETING August 27, 2015 LACONIA CONSERVATION COMMISSION CITY Hall Room 200B Approved at the Wednesday September 9, 2015 meeting I. Call To Order : D. Anson, Chair, called the meeting to order with a roll call vote at 6:00 PM PRESENT- Dean Anson, Chair, Deborah Williams, Lisa Morin, Mike Foote, and Marnie Schulz OTHERS PRESENT- Susan Perley, Jon Jude, and Domenic Jude, members of the AIMS subcommittee and Scott McPhie, Staff Review of the minutes for the June 3, July 8, and August 5, 2015 meeting. L. Morin made a motion to approve the June 3, 2015 minutes as written. D. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. D. Williams made a motion to approve the July 8, 2015 minutes as written. M. Schulz seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. D. Anson made a motion to approve the August 5, 2015 AIMS minutes. D. Williams seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. II. New Business: 1. Milfoil Subcommittee Discussion S. Perley, Chair, called the AIMS subcommittee meeting to order at 6:05 PM. S. Perley passed out her recently completed Milfoil Control Strategy plan. The document included historical controls, an action plan, a no action plan, economic impacts, herbicide options, proposed budget, funding partners, and milfoil controls utilized by surrounding towns. D. Anson and S. Perley met with S. Myers at City Hall last week. The question was the ability to utilize Current use funds for Milfoil control. Laconia’s City attorney indicated funds could be used for milfoil control. S. McPhie explained that Current use funds are generated from a land tax penalty. The Laconia Conservation Fund receives up to $250,000 in their land acquisition account. Statewide the money is generally used for property or easement acquisition. The Laconia account is currently f maxed out. All additional new current use funds end up in the City’s general fund. We have two options to use current use funds one would include use of funds already in the Current Use account and the other would be to wait for the inevitable additional current use funds to be generated and then take a percentage of those funds for milfoil control. Separate accounts would be recommended. We should consult with other Towns to determine if taking current use funds out of the existing conservation current use account is the best option or if waiting for new current use funds to be generated and placing the additional funds into a milfoil specific account.  D. Anson wanted examples of other Towns using Current use funds for milfoil control. J. Jude indicated Gilford was using current use funds for milfoil control. D. Anson said the strongest argument to use current use funds for milfoil control was data indicating property values can be reduced from 10 -20% where milfoil is infesting a lake. M. Foote suggested only a percentage of the current use funds should be used for milfoil management. The remainder would need to be left for land or easement acquisition. A motion was made by L. Morin and seconded by D. Williams that in the event Current use funds are available for milfoil management a percentage of those funds will be diverted for milfoil management. The motion passed unanimously 7-0. D. Anson requested S. McPhie determine how much additional current use money will be generated as various subdivisions become built out and the tax penalty is put into place. 2. Lisa Morin, River Clean up discussion The consensus was the Day of Caring event would be the Winnipesaukee River Clean up to be held on Friday September 18, 2015. 3. D. Williams volunteer project summary D. Williams reviewed the many projects her student volunteers completed in July. Storm sewer stenciling, rain gardens, and monitoring incoming boats for invasive species were some of the many projects completed in just one month. If these efforts could be extended from June –August much more could be accomplished. D. Anson suggested adding a line item in the Conservation Budget to help finance this great summer program. Now that the Con Com is seeking weed watchers for the summer adding a few dollars to fund such an endeavor would be a great way to add a solid foundation to these efforts. 4. 30-foot natural seasonal stream buffer zoning amendment S. McPhie passed out the existing ordinance change approved by the Planning Department. At the time the change appeared to be a benefit increasing some waterbody buffers to 75-feet. Unfortunately at the same time the 30-foot buffer was given up around smaller streams. The change was made a few years back and did not become an issue until the recent Akwa Vista Duplex project took place. A seasonal stream flowing down a steep slope is located on site. The stream then enters a manmade swale that flows into Lake Winnipesaukee. A seasonal stream can quickly vary in size depending on heavy rain and snow melt. The lack of a buffer may pose problems in the future. The Con. Com will evaluate the change and decide on the issue at the next meeting. III. Old Business: 1. Brook Subcommittee updates -Jewett Brook TMDL Update  The Black Brook Bill for completion of the Geomorphological Assessment has been submitted. 2. Facebook Discussion Tabled 3. Day of Caring Ideas See river Clean Up under New Business 4. Non-Public Session concerning land acquisition per RSA: 91: A: II (d) –roll call vote required to enter non-public session D. Anson read Non-Public Session concerning land acquisition per RSA: 91: A: II (d) to enter. A roll call vote of all members was taken to enter the session. IV. Liaison & Sub-Committee Reports: 1. Permit Sub-Committee review and updates D. Anson took a copy of the two wetland permits that S. McPhie reviewed. He would also review the applications and return them with comments if any to City Hall. V. Other Business: 1. Subdivision/ Site Plan update Four enforcement letters were sent out for site stability compliance. Site visits are taking up multiple days each week. 2. Commissioners Comments Tabled 3. Staff Comments Tabled VI. Adjournment: L. Morin made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:15. The motion was seconded by M. Foote passing 5-0.