Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JULY 24, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Tom Denny (Chair), Tim Holmes, David Miller, Steve Samuell, John M. McMahon, and Maureen Roberts. ABSENT: Zuzia Kwasniewski CITY STAFF: Tina Carton, Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability Coordinator OTHERS PRESENT: None RECORDING OF PROCEEDING: The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. CALL TO ORDER: Tom Denny called the meeting to order at 5:07 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT-15 MINUTES No Public Comment APPROVAL OF MINUTES The meeting minutes from the 6/26/19 meeting were not available for review prior to tonight’s meeting. Approval of the minutes was tabled until the next meeting. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI) UPDATE AND DISCUSSION A revised proposed project schedule for the NRI was sent to the City from LaBella and received on 7/24/19. The project is roughly seven months behind the initially proposed schedule. The committee has received several updated and improved maps, but the maps are still in draft form and have not been accepted as final.. 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JULY 24, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS The committee discussed the Impervious Land Cover map and the fact that the data coming from Landset satellite data with a spatial recognition of 30 meters. At this distance, the data may not be as granular as needed. In addition, the impervious surfaces may be covered by the tree canopy, which can affect the results. Tom Denny shared a tree canopy map that was created through utilizing I Tree canopy software. A discussion ensued as to whether or not the tree canopy map, due to its limitations in crude measurements, was useful enough to be included in the NRI packet. The committee discussed using census tracts instead of census blocks to break the city into neighborhoods and give finer detail about tree cover. This data could then be used as a metric for future tree planting, or deciding on tree cutting. Many at the meeting felt that Mr. Tom Denny’s tree canopy map was more useful than the LaBella impervious surfaces map. The LaBella group was also sent the dark skies information and files from Tom Denny. For the scope of their final report, best practices are included, but NOT recommendations or approaches. The City will be requesting a complete set of updated maps from LaBella, with a hope to receive them a week or so before the August meeting. ACQUISITION CRITERIA UPDATE The City has been utilizing a open space acquisition form that is used to recommend to the Open Space Advisory Committee and City Council properties that we may wish to acquire. The OSAC would like to have this form updated, and it was suggested that the Bethlehem, NY criteria is reviewed as it has a scoring matrix. Utilizing a scoring matrix makes the review less subjective. EXECUTIVE SESSION Tom Denny led the committee into executive session. There was a discussion where the proposed acquisition, sale, or lease of real property would substantially affect the value thereof. No action was taken. SCENIC RESOURCES A detailed discussion of the Field Assessment Form followed. It was initially shown to us months ago by the University of Albany graduate students who worked on the NRI project with the committee and the City. It is a scoresheet used to evaluate scenic viewpoints, looking at viewpoint characteristics such as: accessibility, amenities, character, natural and historic 2|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JULY 24, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS elements, composition, vegetation, water and other features, panoramas and distant views, and whether or not the view is at risk. The committee discussed whether or not certain attributes should be given greater weight to a view. They then took a sample view in Saratoga Springs, and as a group evaluated it using this field assessment form. The group also discussed that there is a National Park Service form to evaluate scenic views that could be looked at as another option. The 2002 Open Space map highlighted 18 scenic viewpoints and rural gateways and corridors. The upcoming revised Open Space map will probably have more detail, and include water access, as we have a better sense of that now than in 2002. The group felt that highlighting vistas in need of conservation should be one of our goals. Tina Carton said she will circulate the National Park service form. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. ADJOURN There being no further business, Tom Denny adjourned the meeting at 6:37 p.m. NEXT MEETING: AUGUST 28, 2019 5PM, RECREATION CENTER / CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3|Page