Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 18, 2020 5:00 P.M. MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM 1. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING a. Committee: Tom Denny (chair), Tim Holmes, Stephen Samuell, Jennifer Hunt Dempsey present. David Miller and Maureen Roberts joined meeting in progress as noted below. b. City Staff: Tina Carton, Admin of Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation/Sustainability 2. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING a. No public comment. 3. RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings. Mr. Denny called the meeting to order at 5:09 PM. 4. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - The minutes form the October 28, 2020 meeting were unanimously approved. 5. NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY (NRI) Ms. Tina Carton stated that she had completed all of the finishing touches on the NRI. On November 19, 2020 she will send if off to the consultant, La Bella Associates, noting that the OSAC made many significant changes to the document in the past month. For instance, the data about the climate in Saratoga Springs was moved into the introductory chapter from the Climate Change chapter. There was significant editing and additions to the climate chapter, with regards to adaptation, mitigation, and general recommendations. The next important step would be presentation to the City Council as a whole, possibly in early December 2020, and then hopefully adoption of the document. Individual discussions with Commissioners before the formal presentation will be undertaken by Tina Carton. 6. OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS A steering committee is being put together that will include several OSAC members, as well as interested stakeholders from the community. So far, we have the State Park Director, Cheryl Smith from the Recreation Dept, a representative form Saratoga PLAN, Ryan McMahon from the City Center board, someone from the School District, two people from MJ Engineering, the consultants, and three OSAC members. Ms. Tina Carton will  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 18, 2020 5:00 P.M. MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM be chairing the steering committee. They will be charged with evaluating updates to the 2002 Open Space Plan as they are developed, and coming up with solid outreach strategies to get input from a diverse group of interested community stakeholders. They will possibly be meeting the first week of December, 2020 to begin their work. The committee discussed Tina Carton’s proposed Roadmap to the new Open Space Plan. It provides a framework for the necessary steps in creating a new Open Space Plan, and how to incorporate ideas from the general public. These community outreach events will likely need to be coordinated by members of the OSAC. Ms. Jennifer Hunt Dempsey has offered to spearhead outreach efforts utilizing social media, and the commitee discussed the possibility of creating an Open Space 2020 Facebook page. The New York State Dept. of Health is looking at open space initiatives as a priority this year, and Tina Carton may invite one of their members to sit on the Steering Committee. 7. SIGNAGE ALONG CITY TRAILS Tina Carton showed slides of new signage placed along several established Saratoga Springs trails, such as the Spring Run Trail. The group complimented her on the quality of the signs and valuable information they shared, including historical facts and details about natural features found on the trail. The group felt the signs were a wonderful addition to the trails for both locals and tourists alike. Tina mentioned that a sign was needed at the Blodgett property adjacent to the kayak launch site on the Kayderosseras creek. She is going to work on gathering historical information and old photos to put on the sign. 8. UDO The last day for UDO comments is 11/25/20.The Planning Board will be commenting. It was noted that enforcement of zoning ordinances is important for them to have their intended purpose and enforecement remains a challenge. Mr. Steve Samuell stated that conservation development rules allow the Planning Board to waive requirements without any criteria. He plans on commenting on this by 11/25. Steve also GIS’ed all of our conservation easements, and this data could prove useful within the UDO. 9. PUBLIC COMMENT — No members of public present  SARATOGA SPRINGS OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 18, 2020 5:00 P.M. MEETING HELD VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM 10. Meeting adjourned at 6:07. Next committee meeting is in January and the December meeting shall be canceled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++