Complete Streets Advisory Board

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 25, 2018 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Tim Holmes, Suzanne Kwasniewski, Tom Denny, Erica Gifford, and Maureen Roberts. ABSENT: Beth Wurtmann and David Miller CITY STAFF: Tina Carton, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: Amy Durland, Resident of Saratoga Springs RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Tina Carton called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT-15 MINUTES No opening public comment. APPROVAL OF MINUTES There was no official meeting in March due to lack of a quorum, there were no meeting minutes to approve for March. The committee did vote to approve the 2/28/2018 meeting minutes. Suzanne Kwasniewski made a motion to approve the minutes and Maureen Roberts seconded. Unanimous vote. DISCUSSION AND VOTE: SELECTION OF NEW CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, AND SECRETARY Prior to the discussion on nominations and selection of a new chair and secretary the committee, Tom Denny made a motion to discussion the need for transparency, public interest and public attendance at future Open Space meetings. Tim Holmes seconded the motion to establish a presence on the City website with agendas and meeting minutes published on a monthly basis. 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 25, 2018 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS The committee unanimously approved the publishing of meeting minutes and agendas to the City website. At the end of 2017, the chair of the OSAC, Matt Veitch, resigned from the committee, and the secretary’s (Bonnie Sellers) term expired. The Vice Chair, David Miller, still has one year of his two-year term to serve. Mr. Miller expressed interest to continue as the Vice Chair. With election of two new officers on the table, members of the committee nominated both Tom Denny and Suzanne Kwasniewski to serve as chair. Suzanne Kwasniewski expressed honor at the nomination but declined. Tom Denny accepted the nomination. The committee voted unanimously for Tom Denny to become the new chair of the committee. After a discussion about the roles of the secretary, Tim Holmes Erica Gifford nominated Erica Gifford for secretary and Suzanne Kwasniewski seconded. Erica Gifford accepted the nomination. The committee then voted unanimously for Erica Gifford to become committee secretary. DISCUSSION ON 2018 COMMITTEE PRIORITIES As the new chair of the committee, Tom Denny led the discussion on priorities and expected focus in the 2018 calendar year. The committee discussed next steps to revive the Open Space Bond Act. The committee decided to create a subcommittee consisting of Suzanne Kwasniewski and Beth Wurtmann to concentrate on reviving the open space bond. Tom Denny then led the discussion on other methods to fund acquisition and maintenance of open space and parks. He also discussed the mandate for the committee to determine criteria to screen and acquire open space. The committee discussed the Town of Bethlehem’s Open Space Criteria. Tom Denny then discussed the past committee’s focus on pocket parks. With Matt Veitch no longer chair, Tom Denny would still like the committee to focus on pocket parks in the city. One parcel of particular interest is the “front” lawn of the city’s water treatment facility. This parcel is slated to become fenced in. It is in an increasing urban corridor and aligns with the future Saratoga Greenbelt Downtown Connector. At the conclusion of the discussion, the committee decided to draft a resolution to advise the city council that Saratoga Springs citizens have a need for open space. The OSAC agrees that there is urgency to save the water treatment front lawn as open space to be enjoyed by residents. The resolution could include the following:  Information and justification for new funds to be added to the open space bond fund 2|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 25, 2018 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS  Creation of a water works park  Additional information on other funding mechanisms to secure open space and park lands  Concept of map of Saratoga Springs areas that could be conserved and protected Suzanne will draft the letter and send it to the committee for review. Tina Carton stated that prior to the city council meeting it would be prudent to meet with the Mayor to discuss the resolution and update the Mayor on Open Space priorities in 2018. NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY (NRI): UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS Tina Carton released an RFP in late March. Three consultants bid on the NRI:  AKRF Inc. - $40,000  Le Bella Associates - $29,420  CHA Consulting - $97,000 She is currently reviewing the proposals and will then need to progress securing the matching funds. The DEC grant covers up to $15,000 (50% match required). PUBLIC COMMENT Amy Durland brought to the committee’s attention that role that the committee can have in helping to guide the Unified Development Ordinance and future planning for the city. Development shapes land use and how it effects open space and public amenities. She stated that the Planning Board lately was inclined to define art in windows as public amenities and this loses out on a large opportunity to provide public space as part of large projects. She also stated that the NRI is important for the city and can help define our resources. She discussed Saratoga Lake and lake pollution as issues that need to be addressed. ADJOURN There being no further business, Maureen Roberts made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Erica Gifford seconded. Unanimous approval. NEXT MEETING: THE NEXT MEETING OF THE OSAC WILL BE ON MAY 24, 2017 5PM, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. DUE TO MEMBERS WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, THE COMMITTEE WILL BE POLLING MEMBERS TO POSSIBLY RESCHEDULE. 3|Page