Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS PRESENT: Tom Denny (Chair), Tim Holmes, David Miller, Steve Samuell, and John M. McMahon ABSENT: Maureen Roberts 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 5:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT-15 MINUTES No Public Comment APPROVAL OF MINUTES The committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes from the 8/28/2019 meetings. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI) UPDATE AND DISCUSSION The committee discussed the section on environmental concerns. Tom Denny asked for observations of the environmental concern section from other committee members. Tim Holmes asked if the material the consultant provided was standard format, if anything was missing in terms of categories. Tina Carton suggested that radon should be added as a concern. The committee agreed to dig deeper into environmental concerns and discussed what degree of specificity should be included. Tom Denny suggested that remediation sites in the one-mile buffer should be noted and then ensure that the narrative or associated chart states that these sites are in buffer and not within city limits. The 1|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS suggestion was made to asterisk and footnote locations within buffer. The committee then discussed the geology narrative. John McMahon noted that the references to the Cambrian sea directly oppose one another. The City has reached out to local geology high school teachers and a Skidmore professor for assistance with the review. Skidmore geology Professor Frappier has agreed to help with the review. The committee continued to discuss other areas of concern with the data. Tom Denny suggested that the committee send a refined document to the geology professor in order to utilize her donated time wisely. Tom Denny asked Dave Miller if the degree of detail provided in the narratives was appropriate or if it went into too great of detail. Dave Miller stated that the committee nor the city may not have the time and/or resources to properly corroborate all of the detailed information. Tim Homes suggested the more detailed information be referenced as a bibliography rather than as a part of the document. Tom and Dave agreed. Water Resources The committee discussed the narrative of the water resource section delivered by LaBella. Tim Holmes questioned the 11% mentioned in the opening paragraph relating to the upper Hudson River watershed. He assumed that it would be a larger percentage. The committee discussion what the appropriate description of the watershed should be. The committee then discussed the impoundment that created Loughberry Lake, well heads and well head protection, and the interconnection of the Loughberry Lake and Bog Meadow water resources. The committee discussed if the impoundment shown on LaBella maps at Bog Meadow was necessary for the wells. Other previous errors were corrected such as the Geyser Crest wells location and the update on the decommissioning of the Interlaken wells. Tom Denny mentioned that the Sutherland Report was a vital resource to add information into the NRI. Urban Forest Section Tom Denny drafted the urban forest section. Tina Carton and Rick Fenton are currently reviewing the section. It will be made available for OSAC review when available the review is complete. No new information on scenic resources to report Dark Skies 2|Page  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 5:00 P.M. SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS John McMahon offered his report, going into a great deal of detail, and suggested the important thing to remember such as what dark skies are and why they are important, the city in the country the link to country skies, and how human health is affected by lighting. There are also ecological issues with prolonged artificial light exposure. He discussed the magnitudes of stars tied to Bortle scale. Tom Denny generated a map based on observations with 3 zones developed - the rural suburban transition, suburban sky, and city transition. High intensity blue LED light was discussed. The committee raised the question of how do to make progress in making the city Dark Sky friendly and the need to make it clear that we can turn it around. The committee discussed in further detail and discussed possibly utilizing R.P.I as a resource for review. Conservation Mapping Steve Samuell presented his conservation land mapping. The map shows all lands conserved via bond act or other city acquisition in first map. The committee suggested adding the range of years the properties were conserved as well as the creation of bullet points to elaborate on dates of acquisitions. 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. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. ADJOURN There being no further business, Tom Denny adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m. Dave Miller seconded. NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 23, 2019 5PM, RECREATION CENTER / CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 3|Page