Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC)

Saratoga Springs Open Space Committee MINUTES April 28, 2021 5:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting 1. WELCOME AND ATTENDANCE — Tom Denny, Jennifer Hunt Dempsey, Dave Miller, Tim Holmes, present. Steve Samuell, Maureen Roberts and John McMahon absent. City personnel Tina Carton, Tony Izzo (Asst. City Attorney), present. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: No public in attendance. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES i. MARCH 24, 2021 – MEETING MINUTES were approved. 4. AMENDING OSAC COMMITTEE POLICY — With input from Tony Izzo, City Assistant Attorney the committee discussed the history of the policy document. It was agreed that it is important to have approval of the City Council on updated policies. Tom Denny and Tina Carton would work further on wording. 5. OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS – THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS DISCUSSED AFTER THE FRIENDS OF TRAILS. 6. FRIENDS OF TRAILS Recommended reading had been distributed to the Committee: a. LAYING FOUNDATION - HTTPS://WWW.PTNY.ORG/OUR-WORK/SUPPORT/NYS-PARK-FRIENDS/RESOURCE- KIT b. BEST PRACTICES FOR STATE PARK & HISTORIC SITE FRIENDS GROUPS c. COLLABORATION WITH COMPLETE STREETS COMMITTEE Tina Carton reported the Saratoga Spa State Park has good practices with volunteer groups. The State Park shared resources with the City on setting up both volunteer and Friends groups. Parks and Trails also has online resources available on how to set up “Friends” and volunteer groups. The OSAC could work with the City’s Complete Streets Advisor Board since both committees have overlapping interest in trail maintenance and beautification. The responses on the Open Space subcommittee Survey on the committee website www.saratogaspringsopenspaces.com were discussed. It was considered that the high response rate and expressed  Saratoga Springs Open Space Committee MINUTES April 28, 2021 5:00 p.m. Zoom Meeting viewpoints indicate strong support for trails and possibilities for volunteers. Attorney Izzo identified some of the distinctions between city volunteer groups and formalized 501c3 organizations. Committee members reported affirmative work with both sorts of groups. [AGENDA ITEM 5] OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS The Committee reviewed opportunities deriving from the Open Space Plan Update survey on the subcommittee website www.saratogaspringsopenspaces.com. Formatting a presentation of the results was discussed. It was agreed to build on the Recreation Master Plan and to preserve the city’s identity in values such as ‘City in the Country’. Displaying survey results was considered important. A one page visioning statement would be prepared. Tom Denny would prepare a letter to the Council regarding voluntarism for trails. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT — No public in attendance. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM., next meeting Wednesday May 26, 2021