HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Natural Resources & Conservation Committee - 07/18/2024
NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
JULY 18, 2024
ParƟcipaƟon OpƟons
Electronically: hƩps://meet.goto.com/374347629
Via phone: +1 (571) 317-3122| Access Code: 374-347-629
Special Session 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
1. Additions, deletion, or changes in order of Agenda Items (12:00)
2. Comments from the public not related to the agenda (12:03)
3. *Adoption of meeting minutes (12:06)
4. Tree Regulations: Vote on Tree List (12:10)
5. Next meeting, August 7th
6. Adjourn (12:15)
Respectfully submitted:
Dave Wheeler
Water Resources Engineer
***Attachments included
NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
DRAFT MEETING MINUTES
The South Burlington NRCC held a regular meeting on Wednesday June 05, 2024, at 6:03 pm, in
Room 301, 180 Market Street and by GoToMeeting remote participation
Members present: D. Wheeler, City Liaison; L. Smith, City Council Liaison; J. Chaulot, Chair; L.
Kupferman, Vice Chair; K. Boyk; J. Keene; L. Yankowski, M. Korpos
Public attendees: R. Doyle
1. Mr. Kupferman welcomed everyone.
2. Additions, deletions or changes to the agenda.
1. Miss Boyk suggested moving item 7 later to allow Mr. Chaulot's arrival to this meeting.
3. No comments from the public related to the agenda.
4. Adoption of meeting minutes.
1. Miss Boyk motioned to approve, Mr. Keene 2nd. Approved unanimously with 2 spelling
corrections.
5. City Updates.
A City
1. Parks and Open Space Master Plan submissions will end in July and the the staff
will be begin the review process.
Bid & RFP Opportunities (southburlingtonvt.gov)
2. The city issued a request for proposals for the biological process and SCADA
system for the Bartlett Bay waste water treatment facility, with real-time cloud-
based process optimization.
3. The city has received a $700,000grant towards waste water facility upgrades.
B City Council Updates
No big updates
6. Committee Reorganization Meeting
1. Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Kupferman attended. Was hosted by Jessie Baker, City Manager; Ilona
Blanchard, Community Development Director and Paul Conner, Planning & Zoning Director.
Discussion were about staff and city council liaisons how being on committees impacts their time and
work in their city positions. The perspective is that committees seem to be split into 2 groups: advisory
and action. Bike & Ped is an “action” group involved with recreation and connectivity between all the
new development. NRCC is advisory, that is our city charge. Staff appeared to prefer the “action”
groups. Questions/frustrations arise when a liaison is un-sure how to advise or council their committee
when advice is ignored. Miss Boyk brought up that the NRCC has done “things” like develop the open
space inventory being used to develop the Open Space Plan. Miss Yankowski mention how the
committee has consulted on various projects like the 2nd Phase of the O'Brien Bros project and we
have been very active. The NRCC pushed to get the city council to consider treating ash trees. Our
city council liaison- Mr. Smith, sees his job as, “A means to get our thoughts and ideas into and through
the city council.”
1. Miss Boyk inquired about her term on the committee. She believes it is ending but
has not heard anything about reapplying. She was advised to wait until the city
manager and the council finish their possible reorganization discussions.
7. Home Grown National Parks https://homegrownnationalpark.org
1. Per Mr. Smith, the city is looking into this idea and possibly implementing it. It is in the
city plan. The idea is to allow 50% of lawnscapes to go wild. He feels this would be a good
project for the NRCC to champion.
1. Add future agenda. Committee members should check out the Homegrown National
Parks website.
2. Mr. Doyle mentioned that the Chittenden County Regional Planning Committee
(CCRPC), has grants for funding natural resource restoration projects. The city
should look into this for trees to replace ash trees. It was mentioned that there are
local growers who grow and sell native plant species.
8. Stormwater pond lawn maintenance policies.
1. This had been brought up previously to provide habitat for pollinators. But now the
Stormwater Utility at DPW is going to re-evaluate their mowing schedule for practicality
purposes. They may make some changes to frequency.
9. Tree Regulation: Strategy for LDR revision draft creation.
1. We had been sent the document to look at and reply. Per the work group: they did have
some feedback to work with when revising and re-crafting from planning and J. Baker had
provided additional feedback on a claus. We are hoping to get this presented to the Planning
Commission in July. Mr. Smith said to not expect the language to be accepted. We are
aware there will be additional changes. The tree list information is too “wiggley.” What is
a “key tree”. Mr. Kupferman suggested a list of trees not to protect. This will be worked on
for better definition by Miss Boyk, Miss Korpos and Mr. Doyle will assist. We want to send
a week before getting onto the Planning Commission agenda in July. Mr. Chaulot motioned
to send this edited draft to Kelsy in the Planning Department, Mr. Keene 2nd. 5 approved 1
oppose.
1. We will have a zoom meeting JULY 18 at NOON.
10. Member updates
1. CAD (Common Area for Dogs Committee)- It looks like the work on Farrell Dog Park is
further delayed because of the wetland and someone wants it delineated now. More delays
for further permitting.
11. Other business.
1. Mr. Kupferman want to remind everyone the VT Landtrust does invasive work the 1st Friday
of the month. Contact Larry Kupferman for more information.
Adjourned at 8:05pm