Parks Commission

May 19 2015 Montpelier Parks Commission Meeting minutes th Present: Geoff, Kip, Bryan, Emily, Bill, Carolyn Approval of April minutes: Bryan proposed to approve, Kip seconded, April minutes approved Commission Subcommittees and Subcommittee process: Long term budgeting and administrative planning, Bill Land acquisition, park visioning, and Greenprint, Byan Outreach, education, and events (includes signage), Alec Process for getting subcommittee members: • Post committees in minutes • Committee heads define goals and objectives of their committees • Committee heads to recruit committee members Planning Commission Zoning Proposal: Parks Commission members asked how does making Sabin’s Pasture a high density zone provide any incentives to meet the city Master Plan goals of open space. They ask where is the incentive for providing a park and how does high density meet the goals of housing and parks? Incident Reports: Geoff · Flurry of incidents in the Fall, very few incidents this Spring · Geoff to check in with Montpelier police re its reports in the park · Suggests doing a walk of the pirate trail (where mountain biking is occurring) the hour before the next parks commission to evaluate for a mountain bike trail. Invite someone from the downtown bike advisory committee, Bill Merrylees, and MAMBA. Pond update: Money in parks budget to repair/dredge. Geoff to begin this summer Bryan will groundtruth vernal pools in Hubbard Park next April 2016 Safety update: Geoff: Attended Parks and Rec meeting with VT League of Cities and Towns Learned that if Parks charges a reservation fee for park shelters, city is liable if someone gets hurt. Geoff’s recommendation is to ban alcohol. Broken glass is a problem. Next Steps: • Events and/or admin committee can review the insurance and banning alcohol issues • Events committee will need to clarify insurance needs before we have music events in the park • Kip to check with VLCT (Sarah Jarvis) and Bill Frasier to talk about coverage needs and needs for music events in the park and determine if they need to come to the next Parks meeting Geoff reported that Two Rivers property is for sale: ·Property is owned by Vermont Conservation and Housing Board and has easements on it. Geoff asked if we could partner with someone to purchase the property. Next Steps: • Land acquisition committee will put this on their workplan, visioning use of this space • How much would it cost to preserve the conserved part White tailed deer – Bryan Has received some requested for the park to deal with the increasing deer population and the ecological problem of the damage deer are making • Geoff noted there is a local ordinance that there is no discharge of weapons in the park • Fish and Wildlife doesn’t help with population control in communities • Parks Committee needs to hear from an expert and Parks needs to learn what our options are – Bryan to check in with UVM Park concerts: July 26: Vermont Swing August 16th: Big Bang Banghra Brass Band August 23rd: Green Mountain Playboys September 13th: Montpelier Chamber Orchestra National Life gave us $500 to pay for performers. Alec is seeking a sponsor for the Banghra Brass band since they need $600. Seeking food vendors for each of the dates. • Need to look into liability for hosting an event. • Carolyn to check with Middlesex band concerts to see about liability and issues with selling food. Kip proposed - Due to the sensitive nature of the topics to be discussed including land acquisition and park personnel, need to go into executive session Bill seconded Carolyn voted to move out of Executive Session, Kip seconded Meeting ended 9:05