HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Natural Resources Committee - 07/06/2016South Burlington Natural Resources Committee
575 Dorset Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 846-4106
www.sburl.com
DRAFT MINUTES
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
5:30pm
South Burlington Municipal Offices, 575 Dorset Street
MEETING MINUTES for Regular Monthly Mee ng
Members Present: Be y Milizia, Russell Agne, Sean Devine (NRC Member), Lisa Yankowski Sarah Dopp
Also present: Jens Hilke, Sarah Dopp, Keith Epstein, Cathyann LaRose
The mee ng was called to order at 6:05 pm.
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. Ms. Milizia stated that she would move the June mee ng minutes to
the August mee ng so that members had more me to review them.
Comments from Public: Keith Epstein spoke briefly about SB involvement with working to win $5,000,000 prize
for energy conserva on in our city. This is both a city wide and residen al endeavor. Talked about hos ng
Energy Par es. The host gets a free energy audit of their home and provides the neighbors who get to learn
more about reducing their energy usage and about the compe on. Keith will send more informa on via
email to Cathyann.
Approval of 5/4/2016 Minutes: See changes to agenda.
Open Space Enhancement Fund Taskforce: Lisa and Sean talked about a spreadsheet that was developed with
tasks needing to be done at each of the parks. The tasks were classified as Priority 1, 2 & 3 and the mee ng
involved going through the lists, deciding which priority was appropriate and fine-tuning the tasks. There is
was a spreadsheet for Red Rocks, Underwood, Wheeler and the Homestead as a separate item. A Master Plan
s ll needs to been done for Underwood. The next mee ng is 07/26, 9:30 am, at City Hall.
Wheeler Conserva on Easement Task Force: The Wheeler Nature Park Conserva on Easement Task Force has
met twice since the last NRC mee ng: a commi ee and an open public mee ng to get sugges ons, ideas,
thoughts about was needs to be conserved/protected. Ms. Dopp shared that the group does not actually write
the easement, they define what the city wants, what is to be allowed and not allowed, what is envisioned for
the future, and how will the natural area change. The city currently owns 100 acres and is hoping to add
another net 13 acres. The search is on for a third party to hold the easement. The papers will need to be
drawn up. For various reasons, Ms. LaRose said she expects some slight delays going forward. Next mee ng is
7/21/2016 6 pm at City Hall.
Invited Guest Lani Ravin, Jens HIlke: Jens Hilke (VT Fish & Wildlife, Assoc. of VT Conserva on Commission). Jens is
responsible for assis ng all of the NGOs, RPCs and towns within the state of Vermont in the conserva on planning and
ac vi es they wish to get involved with. Statewide there are 24,000-43,000 species in VT, of the higher level including
plants, algae, fungi, lichens, invertebrates & vertebrate animals. There is a pressing need affec ng these species due to:
habitat loss, forest fragmenta on & climate change. The climate change exacerbates issues between exo c and na ve
species. He explained that where development has been the greatest this is the area where larger, deep forest species
should be. Their popula ons are being decimated. He also explained how he believes that South Burlington is
suscep ble to sprawl due to its shape.
Further discussion explained the difference between Natural Resource Commission and Natural Resource Commi ee,
what they can and cannot do. He believes towns/ci es with funds- like SB, should have an environmental staff member
to aide in dealing with environmental issues and impacts within the town/city. This raised the ques on of whether SB
would consider le ng the NRC become a commission instead of a commi ee. Members asked what would be involved
to change. Be y has already done some inves ga on into this and Cathyann can also inquire. This will likely be a
discussion item for a future mee ng.
Next Mee ngs: The next Natural Resources Commi ee mee ng is Wednesday, August 3rd at 6pm.
Mee ng adjourned at 7:50 pm.
Respec ully submi ed,
Lisa Yankowski, SBNRC