Conservation Commission

MCC July 13, 2017 Meeting City Hall Chambers James, Charlie, Page, Brenna, Nick, Asa, Emily • Agenda approved with minor changes (7:07) • Shawn White – Friends of the Winooski (email) o Introductions o What the Friends are up to in Montpelier o GSI within the city ƒ Making sure we’re not missing opportunities ƒ Friends helping with grants, public outreach for GSI o River clean up – annual ƒ September 9th, second Saturday of September ƒ Would love volunteer help o Water quality monitoring every summer ƒ North Branch, Stevens, Winooski, Dog ƒ Ecoli measured in the rivers ƒ Measured high even upstream of CSOs ƒ Non point source issues are likely bigger problems ƒ Some sewage pipes connected to SW • Friends found some and helped get them fixed o Public outreach ƒ Stream simulation table ƒ SW assessment at landowners properties ƒ SW stencil project – let people know the storm drains don’t go to treatment plant ƒ Hoping to do public education regarding SW master plan ƒ Working on elementary school playground rain gardens o Priorities based on SW master plan that might be good collaboration with MCC ƒ Hubbard Park access roads have poor SW ƒ Bailey Ave – curb issues with gravel parking areas ƒ Montpelier HS – unofficial parking area near credit union • Veg area in traffic circle • SW area behind school not working well ƒ Grants – Friends mainly go for state dollars ƒ Match requirements – more money helps, CC could help o Friends will often have two phases ƒ One for planning ƒ One for implantation o James mentioned collaboration on a small project ƒ Nick to summarize some of the projects mentioned earlier in the meeting that are already in the SW master plan ƒ Nick to work with Shawn on coming up with priority collaboration projects • Charlie – go over update on SW sedimentation issues behind NL o Folks to go for a site visit  o Charlie talking with DEC on what existing SW infrastructure might not be functioning. o Could NL help contribute to help with cleanup? • John Jose – Vernal Pool Mapping o If we do field verification, we should wait until spring 2018 o There was a kickoff meeting yesterday for the overall project o There is some initial data run on Montpelier o The vernal pool project could be taken up by the RPC mapping o James and Charlie to review existing mapping • Brenna has started the facebook page for the MCC o Brenna to friend us and send us a note about the page o Asa asked to speak at the AVCC Summit ƒ Members can go and get reimbursed ƒ Asa will send note out to the group about topics to speak about • Brenna elected to be on the Conservation Fund o Emily motioned, Charlie Seconded – unanimous o James suggested Brenna take the lead on how to get this going ƒ All agreed • Budget questions o How does our money work o Emily and Page to help work on budget concerns • James to work on getting a shelter reserved for next meeting – grill, team building • Adjourned – at 9:07pm