HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources Committee - 05/04/2016South Burlington Natural Resources Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
6:00pm
South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street
MEETING MINUTES for Regular Monthly Mee ng
Present: Be y Milizia (NRC Co-Chair), Russell Agne (NRC Member), Melissa Cuke (NRC Co-Chair), Sean Devine
(NRC Member), Lisa Yankowski (NRC Member), Cathyann LaRose (NRC Staff Liaison - SB City Planner), Maggie
Leugers (SB Director of Recrea on and Parks)
The mee ng was called to order at 6:10pm.
Addi ons, Dele ons, or Changes to Agenda: Milizia asked if there were any requested changes. No changes,
addi ons, or dele ons were requested.
Comments from Public: No comments from the public.
Approval of 4/6/2016 Minutes: Milizia moved to approve the 4/6/2016 minutes. Agne seconded. The minutes
were unanimously approved.
Nature Park Enhancement Funds Task Force: Maggie Leugers, SB Director of Recrea on and Parks visited the
commi ee to discuss the Nature Park Enhancement Funds and distributed a handout tled “Open Space
Projects Task Force.” The Task Force is intended to review and priori ze projects to receive funding from the
Open Space and Natural Area Enhancement Plan approved by the City Council. The Task Force will focus on
three main Natural Areas including the Wheeler Property (including the Homestead), Red Rocks, and the
Underwood Property. Leugers indicated that she will be the staff person working with the Task Force and the
result of the Task Force will be a report to the City Council in September. The commi ee was asked to volunteer
two members to par cipate on the Task Force including par cipa ng in six mee ngs as well as assis ng in
delivering the final report. Leugers expressed that she would like to have three volunteer members from the
NRC. LaRose indicated the City Council preferred the volunteers for this task force not be the same as those
volunteering for the Wheeler Nature Park Conserva on Easement Task Force. Agne asked about the legacy of
previous Underwood group he served on, the work products compiled by that group and how those materials
would be incorporated into this Task Force. LaRose stated the focus will be on determining priori es and where
to best use the enhancement funds including developing a Master Plan for the Underwood Property to include
research on soil studies, how the property may affect traffic, and possibili es for parking to access the park.
Devine and Yankowski volunteered to serve on the Task Force and Milizia will ask Jeff Dickson to volunteer. The
commi ee discussed having another commi ee member a end when either Devine or Dickinson are unable to
a end. Cathyann expressed this would make it difficult to get agendas, etc. to subs tutes.
Wheeler Conserva on Easement Task Force: The Wheeler Nature Park Conserva on Easement Task Force held
its second mee ng on April 25th. Milizia and Cuke a ended on behalf of the Natural Resources Commi ee.
LaRose provided an update on the mee ng and what are the next steps for the task force including developing
a list of prohibited ac vi es and iden fying which partners are the best op ons. A public outreach mee ng is
scheduled for June 16th. LaRose indicated the type of easement selected through this process may become a
model one for other parks and natural areas in South Burlington.
Staff/Commi ee Member Updates and Announcements: LaRose stated the SB Police Department now has an
animal control person to help respond to dog issues, up to 14-hours per week. Cuke suggested wri ng a
reminder le er regarding dogs in natural areas and parks for placement on Front Porch Forum, the Other Paper,
or on the SB Watch Facebook page. Cuke volunteered to take up the wri ng a dra of the le er for Milizia to
review.
Green Up Day is May 7th. Milizia and Cuke indicated they would a end and staff the area at the Municipal
Offices. Milizia also discussed having a map at the Municipal Offices on Green Up for residents to iden fy their
favorite scenic views in the community.
Milizia provided an update from the City Council. The Council determined the Natural Resources Commi ee
and the Recrea on and Leisure Commi ee would remain as commi ees but that the Red Rocks Park
Commi ee was being merged with the Natural Resources Commi ee. The commi ee welcomed Lisa
Yankowski, who previously served on the Red Rocks Park Commi ee as a member of the Natural Resources
Commi ee.
Milizia, Cuke, and Agne a ended the Planning Commi ee and reported the Planning Commission is looking to
expand their rela onship with other commi ees, including the Natural Resources Commi ee.
Milizia also discussed having Jens Hilke, Conserva on Planning Biologist for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife
Department a end an upcoming Natural Resources Commi ee. Mr. Hilke works with the Associa on of
Vermont Conserva on Commissions and would be a valuable resource to discuss what other looking natural
resource and conserva on commi ees are working on as well as assis ng this commi ee establish procedures
and opera ng parameters. Milizia also indicate she has invited Lani Ravin, former member of the SB Natural
Resources Commi ee, who works with UVM Campus Planning Services to speak to the commi ee.
Ac on Items:
· Commi ee: Review Good Ideas List and come to the next mee ng with your top three priori es. Your
priori es may include new items for the list.
· Milizia and LaRose: Schedule visits from the Associa on of Vermont Conserva on Commissions and
UVM Planning at a future Commi ee mee ng.
Next Mee ngs: The Natural Resources Commi ee normally meets on the first Wednesday of each month.
The next mee ng will be:
· June 1st, 6:00pm – Good Ideas Document
Mee ng adjourned at 8:12 pm.
Respec ully submi ed,
Sean Devine