Commission on Conservation & Agriculture

Chairperson Elisabeth Holder (’22) Commission Vice-Chair Members Brian Gartner (’23) Michael Thomas (’20) Kate Miller (’23) on Jane Brawerman (’23) Katharine Owens (’22) James Miller (’23) Bob Daniels (’22) Conservation & Agriculture Barbara Schukoske (’23) Vacant David Bauer (’22) Alternates Ellen Lukens (’23) Judy Konopka (’22) Staff Marek Kozikowski, AICP, City Planner REGULAR MEETING MINUTES DATE: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. Meeting was held online. Public Access was provide by: 1. Going to https://webex.com and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting number and password 2. Launching the WebEx application and joining the meeting using the appropriate meeting number and password 3. Via telephone at 1-408-418-9388 and the appropriate access code Meeting Number/Access Code: 1739455889 Event Password: Conservation In attendance: Commissioners Elisabeth Holder, Brian Gartner, Bob Daniels, Kate Miller, Jane Brawerman, Barbara Schukoske, Michael Thomas, Judy, Konopka, and Ellen Lukens. Staff in Attendance. Marek Kozikowski, City Planner. Public In attendance: Josh Eddinger. A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. B. Accept the Agenda A motion to move F.6 to the end of the agenda was made by B. Gartner and seconded by B. Daniels passed unanimously. C. Public Forum Josh Eddinger discussed potential zoning regulations regarding farmstands, farm markets, and wineries that were drafted in 2019 but never brought forward to the Planning and Zoning Commission. He requested that the Commission continue to move forward with it or he will pursue it independently. D. Approval of Minutes: 1. Minutes from the April 20, 2021 Regular Meeting A motion to approve the minutes of the April 20th regular meeting with minor corrections was made by B. Daniels and seconded by M. Thomas passed unanimously. 2. Minutes of the May 11, 2021 Special Meeting A motion to approve the minutes of the May 11th special meeting with the inclusion of J. Miller’s notes was made by B. Daniels and seconded by B. Schukoske passed unanimously. E. Request for Comment None. F. Officers and Committee Reports 1. Chair’s Report i. Red Maple Mapping No update. Page 1 of 3  ii. Organizing stewardship E. Holder reported that there are stewards for various open space parcels, but there is need to put together a formal roster of stewards for each of the property and better define the responsibilities of the stewards. She will put draft the roster for the next meeting. iii. Report on bond spending priorities E Holder suggested that two or three people take on one of the four priorities that were voted on at the last meeting to move forward with them. A discussion ensued regarding developing an overarching framework for prioritizing funding based on suggestions make by J. Miller at the previous special meeting. E. Holder suggested this get discussed as new business at the next scheduled meeting. 2. Trails Committee i. Upcoming trail work The committee is scheduled to meet at the Guida conservation area to see what improvements may be necessary there. ii. Update on ATV’s at Wilcox No update. 3. Agriculture Committee i. Farm survey working group No update. ii. Letter to City officials B. Daniels reported that he reached out to some councilors and Councilor Nocera reached back and offered support. 4. Outreach Committee i. Conservation Corner update J. Brawerman reported that the third article was just published discussing yard and lawn cares. J. Konopka’s article on aquatic invasive are next. ii. June trails day walk B. Gartner reported that the trails day walk is coming up. Restrictions are being relaxed so more people will be able to attend. iii. Other Outreach J. Konopka suggested setting up a Facebook group to share updates, news, and events. 5. Open Space Management Committee i. Utilizing bond money for maintenance The Commission agreed that the implementation of the Wilcox Management Plan is a priority now since it was created two years ago progress had halted. M. Kozikowski will contact Eric Hansen, who helped develop the plan and offered to assist with the management. G. Old Business 1. Timber Management and Southern Border Safety No update. 2. Update on Fedex Trailer Parking Expansion Project M.Kozikowski reported that revised plans were submitted that eliminated the new trailer parking expansion and creating two smaller expansions over existing landscaped area. A motion to request that the CT River Conservation Page 2 of 3 District revised and provide comments on the revised plans made by E. Holder and seconded by B. Shukoske passed unanimously with one J. Brawerman abstaining. 3. Meeting time M. Kozikowski noted that Room 208 is not available before 7pm on the third Tuesday of every month. H. New Business 1. Property on Home Place- Ravine Park E. Holder reported that there is property on Home Place that is across the street from Ravie Park that an abutting property owner is seeking to buy. It is not clear if the property is part of Ravine Park. Furthermore, it is not clear under whose purview the parking is under. B. Gartner noted that that he did some research on Ravine Park and emailed a report to staff and the Commission. M. Kozikowski offered to look into this and see what the options are for sale of the property. M. Kozikowski reported that he was approached by a third farmer seeking opportunity to lease land from the city for farming. He suggested that putting out an RFP for people seeking use of city land will be a fair and equitable way to provide access to those who are interested. I. Member Forum J. Brawerman inquired about the schedule for the department split. M. Kozikowski provided an update. F 6. Open Space Acquisition Committee- Executive Session i. Pending Property Updates (Mckiernan, Sunshine Realty, Westlake Drive) ii. South Plumb Road iii. OSWA Grant- Majestic Oaks- Wilson Property Update A motion to move to executive session inviting M. Kozikowski made by B. Schukoske and seconded by B. Gartner passed unanimously. The Commission went into executive session with M. Kozikowski at 8:32pm. The Commission came out of executive session at 9:23pm. J. Adjournment A motion to adjourn made by B. Schukoske and seconded by M. Thomas passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:23 pm. 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