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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources & Conservation Committee - 08/04/2021 NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes for Wednesday 08/04/2021 at 6:05 pm Attending: Ashley Parker, Larry Kupferman (Acting Chr), Jean Sebastien-Chaulot (Acting Co-Chr), Lisa Yankowski & David Crawford. New committee members : Bill Wargo, John Bossange & Katherine Boyk Missing: Drew Shatzer Public attendees: Alan Young & Rosanne Greco from the SB Land Trust 1) Welcome from Larry. The emergency protocol has not been established yet. This is our 1st meeting in the new city hall. There is a front stair case and a back staircase. 2) No changes to the agenda. 3) Introductions of committee members, this is our 1st meeting with our new committee members. Orientation consisted of reminding new members to review the Open Meeting Laws. We have a site where the committee can store documents they may be working on. We also have a page on the city website where we can post and share items with the public. a. We are an advisory committee to the city council. We interact and work with the DRB (Development Review Board), the SB Land Trust, and the Planning commission. New members should review our charge from the city council. All of the mentioned documents are on the city website. 4) Committee elections: Jean Sebastien-Chaulot nominated as the new chair, Larry Kupferman nominated as the vice chair, Lisa nominated as the continuing clerk. 2nd by John. Passed unanimously. 5) No comments from the public. 6) Approval of minutes from the 06/02 meeting passed since we did not have a quorum of the meeting attendees. 7) Alan Young & Rosanne Greco for the South Burlington Land Trust - “4 For Four” presentation to the city council 08/02/21. (Documents included in meeting information.) a. The Land Trust is asking for a special election in October 2021, for a temporary - 4 year, $.04 tax increase on the municipal tax rate. Funds for the exclusive use of boosting the amount available towards purchase/protection of identified natural resource sensitive parcels and climate change mitigation. The goal is to work on having some action plan in process before Interim Zoning ends in November. We are currently in a climate change crisis in the U.S. and around the globe. There are 25 sensitive parcels already identified some of which are being looked at for development. Katherine inquired as to whether other funding options are being looked at. With increased development comes the need for increased city services and increased property taxes to pay for these increased costs. The Land Trust is aware there are other avenues to looks for funding. Larry motioned for the NRCC to approve support for the special election of the SB Land Trust 4 For Four. John 2nd. 6 Ayes for approval, 1 abstain. 8) SB City Council Climate Change Resolution a. Reference the copy of the council’s resolution. The council will be deciding how they will involve/utilize some of the other city committees. We are waiting to hear. The city council will be meeting 08/17/21. b. John motioned to support the Climate Change Resolution and to revise our work plan to support the resolution. David 2nd. Approved unanimously. 9) Work plan and annual report. Larry & Jean will work on the new report for the city council. (A copy of the previous annual report was included in the information packet for this meeting.) Per Ashley- we are being asked to appoint members to be on/involved with other standing committees and task forces. a. Lisa will be involved with the “Common Areas for Dogs”. John will be the liasson for the CVCP Task Force (Champlain Valley Conservation Partnership). Ashley is working on the management plans for the various parks and Larry will be involved. Lisa already works with the Recreation & Parks Dept and Red Rocks Park and some of the issues occurring there. John will attend the city council meeting 08/17 for the 4 For Four. 10) Members & Staff reports. a. Chair-none b. Staff Reports- see the document included. Ashley is busy working on the management plans for the parks. The new signs in Red Rocks look great. She will be asking us for our support of the CIP (Open Space Project Fund) – probably in October. Future agenda items - Annual report. - City council meeting for the 4 For Four- feed back. - Work plan review. - Katherine asked about grant money for projects for clean water projects, pro-active projects. NEXT MEETING IS 09/01/21 6pm Larry motioned to adjourn, John 2nd – adjourned 8:05 pm South Burlington Land Trust dedicated to preserving South Burlington’s forests, wetlands, farmlands and other natural areas through landowner preservation agreements and other conservation vehicles to maintain city residents’ high quality of life. South Burlington Land Trust Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization: Tax ID # 75-3133866. 500 Cheese Factory Rd., South Burlington VT 05403 Jessie Baker, So. Burlington City Manager So. Burlington City Hall 180 Market St. So. Burlington, VT 05403 Dear Ms. Baker, The South Burlington Land Trust respectfully asks for the opportunity to address the South Burlington City Council as part of their agenda on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021. We would like to present a power point (attached). The essence of the presentation is a proposal we would ask be put before the voters to boost the funds contained in the Open Space (Conservation) Fund. The reasons for the proposal are many, but chief among them are the identification of priority open spaces through the interim zoning process, the fact that we do not yet have an action plan to respond to these findings before interim zoning is completed, the desire to demonstrate the City's continued commitment to conservation options for land owners, and last but most important, the need to respond locally to the global climate emergency which has become so much more imperitive in the past year. The key elements of the proposal are: 1) A temporary increase of 4 cents on the municipal tax rate 2) The increase to be for four years only 3) The increased funds to be used solely for the purchase of open space and natural resource land 4) A special election in October to bring this opportunity to the voters 5) The timing of the vote intended to focus attention on this hugely important issue and establish an action plan prior to the completion of IZ 6) The City CAN pursue both open space conservation and development goals and enhance the quality of life all our citizens should be able to enjoy Thank you for considering our request to bring this before the Council and ultimately before the voters. Sincerely, Sarah L. Dopp, President of the South Burlington Land Trust Board of Directors President Sarah Dopp Treasurer Michael Mittag Secretary Karen Ryder Janet Bellavance John Bossange Alyson Chalnick Rosanne Greco Allan Strong 4 For Four How to raise $6 million for land conservation and climate change mitigation This proposal is to ASK THE VOTERS through a special election in October to temporarily increase the open space fund by 4 cents for four years to purchase natural resource lands and mitigate climate change impacts Why? ➢Respond to key information that came to light during Interim Zoning ➢Respond to the climate emergency -drought, heat waves, flooding, fires, etc Why Now? ➢Leave a legacy for our children ➢Plan NOW for a sustainable future ➢Finish the work of Interim Zoning S. Burlington Citizens Consistently Support Land Conservation Bolduc, V. 2018. South Burlington Exit Poll, Midterm Elections, November 6, 2018. https://cms6.revize.com/revize/southburlington/Planning/Project%20Docs/Exit%20Poll%20PP%202018%20Bolduc%20Final.pdf In 2018, 82% of residents said they would be willing to pay an extra $100 in property taxes to tackle climate change Brief History of South Burlington’s Conservation Fund ➢2000: Voters approved a 1 cent permanent tax for a Conservation Fund (Open Space Fund)to preserve open land and natural areas (currently raises approximately $310K annually) ➢2005-2018: City purchased the Leduc Farm (with partners, SB $500K), Scott Property (SB $970K), Goodrich Property (SB $62.5K), Underwood Property (SB $1.66M), Auclair Farm (with partners SB $606K) ➢2008: Alteration #1:Use of CF money approved to purchase land for recreational as well as conservation purposes ➢2010: Alteration #2:Use of 5% of CF money approved for maintenance of land ➢2016: Alteration #3:Approved borrowing $1.3 M over 10 years to fund enhancement projects on open lands and natural areas; debt to be repaid from CF money (not to exceed 50% annually) Land conservation has positive effects on the climate, the environment, the economy, and society Photo: Elizabeth Milizia Conserving Land Mitigates Climate Change Impacts ➢Cooling temperatures through preserving shade trees and decreasing impervious surfaces ➢Sequestering carbon in trees, soils, grasslands, wetlands ➢Decreasing extreme weather events like flooding, heat domes, fires Climate change is impacting Vermont NOW (air quality, algae blooms, drought, flooding) South Burlington needs to be proactive and prepared for these challenges Conserving Land has Environmental Benefits ➢Forests: erosion control, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, air purification ➢Wetlands and riparian habitat: mitigation of heavy rainfall/snowmelt events, sediment and nutrient retention, water purification, erosion control ➢Grasslands: pollinator habitat, soil accretion, bird habitat ➢Soil conservation: carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, food production ➢Biodiversity: ecological balance minimizes destructive non-native species Conserving Land has Social Benefits ➢Gift to the next generation ➢Recreational opportunities ➢Spiritual well-being ➢Mental and physical health ➢Cleaner air and water ➢Nutritious food from fertile soil ➢Reduced sprawl, traffic congestion, traffic pollution and less fossil fuels use Social benefits of open lands became obvious during the pandemic Conserving Land has Economic Benefits ➢Non-market value of ecosystem services provided by 20 priority parcels deliver between $5 million to $16 million in benefits annually ➢Cumulative values over next twenty years is conservatively estimated at $73 million to $240 million ➢Vermont study found that every state dollar invested in land conservation returned $9 in natural goods and services ➢Ecosystem services are fundamental to a functioning economy ➢Growth in the City budget is not sustainable Sources:: Molden, O., Fletcher, A., Cousins, K. Natural Capital Valuation of Interim Zoning Open Space Parcels for the City of South Burlington, Vermont. 2020. Earth Economics. Tacoma, WA: Erickson, J., and J. Roman. 2015. Economics of Conservation in Vermont. Final Report to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Available online at https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Recreation/Learn_More/Library/Economics%20of%20conservation%20report%20final7_8_15.pdf . 4 For Four Proposal ➢Adding 4 cents for four years accrues approximately $6 million ➢Provides the city money to purchase some high priority lands ➢Signals that South Burlington is serious about land conservation ➢Gives landowners more options for their land ➢Steers future development to city growth areas ○Minimizes sprawl, traffic congestion, and disproportionate demands on city services ○Does not stop development ➢South Burlington Land Trust will partner with the city to help the public understand the proposal and advocate for voter approval What will this cost city tax payers? ➢Additional four cents will increase the ○median condo tax by $33 per tax bill ($99 annually) ○median single family home tax by $52.60 per tax bill ($158 annually) ➢Less than $9/month for condo owners and less than $14/month for single family homeowners Conclusion ➢South Burlington has conducted a rigorous three year process to identify natural resource lands and ways to conserve them ○Open Space IZ Committee identified the highest valued lands to conserve ○To date, City has no plan on how to conserve these priority lands ➢Purchasing land is feasible and fair to all ➢SBLT requests the Council use the democratic process and allow the voters to decide South Burlington can be a leader in the climate crisis Conserving land creates a cleaner, affordable, healthier future -NOW IS THE TIME TO ASK THE PEOPLE-