Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

Saratoga Springs Open Space Committee MINUTES March 24, 2021 5:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting 1. WELCOME AND ATTENDANCE — Tom Denny, Tina Carton, Tony Izzo (Asst. City Attorney), Jenn Hunt Dempsey, Tim Holmes, Steve Samuell present. Dave Miller joined at 5:12 PM. Maureen Roberts and John McMahon were absent. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public in attendance. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES i. JANUARY 27, 2021 MEETING MINUTES — Accepted as circulated ii. FEBRUARY 24, 2021 MEETING MINUTES — Accepted as circulated 4. AMENDING OSAC COMMITTEE POLICY — With input from Tony Izzo, City Assistant Attorney, the committee discussed two possible revisions to committee policy: eliminating the term limit for the office of Chair and a more substantive revision of the OSAC’s charge to more accurately reflect what the committee is doing currently. In reading section 110-6 of the City Code, Tony felt the only term limits designated were for membership for the committee. As written, the committee would have discretion to determine officer terms. Steve Samuell moved to eliminate sentence in bylaws limited chair term to two years. Tim seconded. Motion approved unanimously. Jennifer Dempsey nominated Tom Denny for re-election as chair. Steve seconded. There were no other nominations. Tom was unanimously elected for another term as chair. 5. OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS a. LAUNCH OF WEBSITE: www.saratogaspringsopenspaces.com — Tina Carton introduced the Open Space Plan Update website and encouraged everyone to complete the survey. b. OPEN SPACE SURVEY: Committee discussed the survey and where will be posted. c. OUTREACH PLAN — Tina Carton will send the committee language for members to use to help distribute survey in our own personal and professional circles. Tina listed various places both physically and on social media where the survey is being distributed. The goal is for at least 1000 responses from the community. To date consultants have received 100. Tom had developed an expanded and prioritized version of the Palmertown Range outreach effort and making it available as a Google doc for committee members to divvy up outreach tasks. Dave offered to distribute to Lion’s Club duathlon list. Tina welcomed committee’s help in distributing fliers. Tony brought up Sarah B. Foulke project for PLAN. Tina is on the steering committee and offered to distribute to committee information on trail planning efforts in the Palmertown area. Jenn volunteered to upload Tom’s modified Palmertown outreach spreadsheet to committee via Google Sheet so we can all claim organizations and outreach channels. d.  Saratoga Springs Open Space Committee MINUTES March 24, 2021 5:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting 6. CROSS PROMOTION: Committee discussed potential ways to participate in or support the following events. a. I LOVE MY PARK DAY —THE LARGEST SINGLE-DAY VOLUNTEER EVENT IN NYS—WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2021. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 1ST-2ND. — Tina gave us background on event i. HTTPS://WWW.DEC.NY.GOV/PUBLIC/109545.HTML b. NATIONAL TRAILS DAY – APRIL 24, 2021 — Also Earth Day. Another event potential for engaging participants in Open Space Plan Update i. https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/celebrate-trails/toolkit/? 7. PUBLIC COMMENT — No public in attendance. Meeting adjourned at 5:53 PM. Next meeting is Wednesday, April 28, at 5 PM.