Parks Commission

Carolyn Grodinsky Bill Johnson Bryan Pfeiffer Kip Roberts Sarah Swenson Geoff Beyer, Parks Director Parks Commission Meeting Minutes Date: March 22, 2016 Commissioners Present: Bryan M. Pfeiffer, Carolyn Grodinsky (taking minutes), Sarah Swenson, Geoff Beyer, Bill Johnson, Kip Roberts (via conference call) Meeting Agenda: Carolyn made the motion to approve the revised agenda, Sarah seconded, motion passed. Parks Commission Chair, City Council liaison, and planning liaison: ● Carolyn made the motion to appoint Bryan, Sarah seconded, motion passed. ● Bill Johnson and Bryan Pfeiffer will tag team as the City Council liaison - will review agendas and attend meetings as needed. ● Bill Johnson will be the liaison for the Strategic Planning Group (combining city Departments). Approving February meeting minutes and Parks business: ● No quorum yet - approving February meeting minutes moved to April agenda. ● Parks Commission will continue to meet the third Thursday of each month. ● Re Parks emails – Geoff will arrange to have Montpelier IT department send all emails sent to the Parks Commission email account routed to all Parks Commissioners. One commissioner can draft a reply to an email, have the commission review it, and send it off. ● Parks webpage to have a link to an email that goes to all the commissioners (Bryan to do). ● Meeting minutes need to be posted 5 days from meeting date (Sunday after a Tuesday meeting) ● Secretary must distribute minutes by Thursday, and comments/edits made by Saturday. ● Goal to post meeting agendas at least week before each meeting Nature trail bridge over vernal pool (biologist, John Jose participated in discussion) ● Would include a fence around the pool that would exclude dogs and people but allow wildlife to get through ● Dog disruption and siltation has an impact on wood frogs and spotted salamanders ● Concern is the bridge is too big, will shade vernal pool wildlife ● John suggested Commission wait to build structure until the end of the summer, but put the fencing in before the eggs are laid. ● Alternative is bridge portion with bulb out, but no wings ● Bill suggested bridge get redesigned/downsized ● John will send note to list serve of other herpetologists to find out about other bridges and will send Commission suggestions for fencing that keeps dogs out and protect amphibians. www.montpelier-vt.org/464/Parks-Commission parks-commission@montpelier-vt.org 802.223.7335  ● Could fence one side for this year and a sign educating dog owners about the vernal pools. ● The Commission tabled this project. It won’t happen this spring and may not happen this year. ● Geoff will put a fence on the road side of yet vernal pool. Dog Guidelines: Carolyn to bring doggie guideline postcards to City Clerk’s office and hand out a postcard to local stores that want to display it. Bryan to make a PDF of postcard for the Park’s webpage Carolyn will follow up on a training/education on dog owners’ responsibilities in the park. Group permission Form: Geoff will make decisions on shelter reservations and inform Park’s Commissioners ● Bill Johnson to work with Geoff to come up with a proposal to revise shelter reservation fees (look to other communities,’ state parks, and others’ reservation fees too) ● Geoff to talk to Jesse Baker if there is any City provision prohibiting fee charges City Dog Ordinance Review meeting: ● Carolyn or Sarah will represent Parks Commission in a City committee Dog ordinance meeting Friday March 25th Subcommittee Work Rather than working in formal subcommittees, Commissioners will take on specific work (with willing community members) outside of our monthly meeting. ● Long term Administrative Planning and Budgeting – Bill and Sarah ● Green Print – Carolyn and Geoff ● Outreach, Education, and Events — Bryan Funding sources: To help bring in more revenue for Parks. Model to look at Burlington Penny for Parks – got approval from Burlington City Council, penny on the tax rate toward parks (would generate $85,000 for Montpelier) Park’s Commission Work plan: ● Bryan to draft a workplan for the commission for this year Other notes: ● Onion River Sports, Frozen Onion cancelled due to mild weather Carolyn motioned to adjourn, Bill seconded, 9:05 meeting adjourned Next meeting Tuesday, April 19th NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, April 19, at 7PM. DRAFT April Agenda: • Approve February and March Commission meeting minutes • Trail name changes, review map with proposed new names • Bill and Geoff – proposed shelter reservation fees and program • Revenue ideas for raising revenues (including idea from Sharon at the meeting: when people get their dog license, ask them if they want to make a donation toward the doggie waste station) • Update on the City Council’s dog ordinance review www.montpelier-vt.org/464/Parks-Commission parks-commission@montpelier-vt.org 802.223.7335