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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDraft Minutes 021224 February 12, 2024Planning & Development Department 367 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601 – Phone: 508-862-4678 Open Space Committee Minutes February 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTION OF MEMBERS Chair Canedy calls the meeting to order at 5:31. Also in attendance is Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant; Alicia Messier, GIS Coordinator; and Kris Clark, Town Council Liaison. NOTICE OF RECORDING This meeting of the Open Space Committee is being recorded and broadcast on the Town of Barnstable’s Government Access Channel. In accordance with MGL Chapter 30A §20, I must inquire whether anyone else is recording this meeting and, if so, to please make their presence known. APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 11, 2023 – Doug Payson moves to approve the minutes. Cate Gulliver seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Douglas Payson, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None January 8, 2024 – Lev Malakhoff moves to approve the minutes. Doug Payson seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Douglas Payson, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION New Business • Mapping Update – Alicia Messier Alicia Messier, GIS Coordinator shows the Committee a draft of a web-based, filterable version of the Walking Library. It’s built for desktop, tablet, and cell phone use. She is working on a set of instructions because it’s not intuitive for people not used to maps. She is looking for feedback from the Committee, including on coloration and what filters they’d like included but asks the members to keep in mind that space is limited. One of the difficulties is that many of the trails overlap and can make the map confusing, especially with the inclusion of the Cape Cod Pathways. All the current trail information was pulled from the existing library. The map has a “find my location” option and the site also provides PDFs in case people won’t have cell service. Chair Canedy sends an email to the Committee sharing the link to view the draft and asks the members to send feedback to her; she will compile comments and send them to Ms. Messier. Lev Malakhoff says a trail in the community college area has changed. Member Present Absent Ann Canedy – Chair X Farley Lewis – Vice Chair X Elizabeth Lewis X Douglas Payson X Elissa Crowley X Anne Rowland X Tracy Pratt X Cate Gulliver X Lev Malakhoff X The group discusses whether the colors and options for levels of difficulty make sense. After discussion, Ms. Messier says she will add filters for hours and miles. She also says the Crooked Cartway Loop timing was listed as TBD. Farley Lewis will send that timing over. Doug Payson thinks urban walks in Hyannis should be added—they have been well attended. He and Cate Gulliver will come up with some, potentially Sea Street or the JFK memorial walk. Lev Malakhoff asks if mapping has been completed. Ms. Messier says mostly—they are still working on West Barnstable and then it will be reviewed by Conservation. Lev Malakhoff asks if they are mapping non-town properties like the college. Ms. Messier answers that they only have permission to map town property. Alicia Messier says she is struggling to identify a staff liaison for Cape Cod Pathways. Chair Canedy says it might be David Anthony. The group discusses a desire for there to be a single employee who is the land steward, rather than having the responsibility spread out among departments. Councilor Clark asks if this draft library is on the website yet. Alicia Messier answers that it’s not available for the public yet because it’s still a work in progress, but that is the goal. She is hoping to have it on the website by the Spring Walking Weekend event. Chair Canedy says the goal for this Committee is to have all feedback to Ms. Messier by the next meeting. • Open Space & Recreation Plan Chair Canedy plans to go through the plan and identify relevant excerpts rather than having the Committee review the whole thing. Councilor Clark says Section 9 has the action items. Chair Canedy will send that around and hopes to talk about that at the next meeting. The plan was signed in 2018 and it’s a 7-year plan so in 2025 the process will start again. Old Business • Update – Outstanding Conservation Restrictions Chair Canedy explains that the state EEA discovered the Prince Ave CR and contacted the town’s legal department about it. They don’t know why it was set aside but they are working on it right away , as well as Harju and Amaral. They are hoping all three will be resolved soon. Lev Malakhoff asks if there is a way to allow the public to see what restrictions are on parcels, and if there is public access. The group discusses whether that is feasible. Farley Lewis suggests creating a list of the properties that prohibit access. The group thinks it could be a long-term project. • Update – Pathways update including NEMBA path project and Geocaching Frank Merola introduces himself as President of the Cape Cod NEMBA chapter. There are 250 local paid members who do lots of maintenance on the trails and various projects. One of his lia isons, Terry Downey, works for Spaulding Adaptive and received a $1,000 grant for signage. It was approved by Conservation so volunteers put in 30 posts in West Barnstable—it took close to 200 hours of labor. An individual cut down the majority of the posts so the police have been involved and Conservation and COMM water have been notified. They believe they know who the individual is but there is no proof. Mr. Merola thinks the damage has stopped since the police talked to the individual, but NEMBA doesn’t want to do any more work on this as a result of the damage. The group discusses what the person’s motivation could be. The group discusses a need for trails separated by use, so bike riders would have designated trails they could use to avoid walkers. Frank Merola offers an update on the Eagle Scout proposal: they haven’t had luck getting it approved by Conservation. Chair Canedy believes Mark Ells would be the decision maker. Councilor Clark says she spoke with Elizabeth Jenkins, Director of Planning & Development, who manages Conservation. Ms. Jenkins will bring herself up to speed on this issue and will connect with Conservation. Frank Merola says there are eroded trails that need to be modified. Chair Canedy believes it’s a liability issue in the eyes of the town. Doug Payson thinks the town has failed to manage certain properties, some with erosion 4 or 5 feet deep. Chair Canedy agrees that there is an issue with land management and stewardship. Doug Payson will reach out to Mark Ells. The group discusses a renewal of motorized vehicles on trails. Chair Canedy relays that she received a communication from Sue Sullivan of Barnstable Land Trust (BLT). At the suggestion of Kelly Barber, Ms. Sullivan wanted to introduce the Committee to Nancy McIver, who is a wellness coach at Cape Cod Community College. Ms. McIver had inquired about being trained to lead regular hikes. BLT doesn’t have the capacity but thought this Committee and/or Lev Malakhoff might be a resource. Lev Malakhoff says he started composing a reply—he’s been working with a college student on a similar project but having a staff member at the college as a steward would be helpful. Doug Payson suggests connecting with Cape Cod Healthcare about their efforts with the National Parks Service for the “Healthy Parks, Healthy People” program. Doug Payson will tell Nancy McIver about that. • Report from Tracy Pratt regarding Santuit Preserve Chair Canedy says they will have a meeting in March. • Report from Farley Lewis regarding Community Preservation Committee Open Space applications Farley Lewis says the last meeting was January 22. COMM water district approved the CPC application to have a pocket of money to purchase land. Lindsey Counsell and Tom Lee are going to meet with COMM to discuss projects. Chair Canedy thinks other water districts should be informed that they have access to that money as well. Farley Lewis explains that the Wheeler Road grant was awarded to the town of Barnstable and accepted by Town Council on December 7, 2023. The CR for that property is still at the state for review and approval. The CR for the Mills property in Mashpee to be granted to the MA Division of Fish and Wildlife was forwarded to Town Council for final review and approval. No letters of intent or applications were received. • Report from Town Council Liaison Kris Clark Councilor Clark has no update other than her meeting with Elizabeth Jenkins. MATTERS NOT REASONABLY ANTICIPATED BY THE CHAIR Farley Lewis says the Spring Walking Weekend is set for May 17-19 and asks the members to start thinking about walks. Lev Malakhoff will let Cassie Medeiros know to start thinking about geocaching options. Lev Malakhoff sent language about geocaching to Genna Ziino with a request to add it to the website. Genna Ziino explains that she is waiting for confirmation that there is no conflict before adding it to the website. PUBLIC COMMENT ADJOURNMENT Doug Payson moves to adjourn. Cate Gulliver seconds. Vote: Aye: Ann Canedy, Farley Lewis, Douglas Payson, Cate Gulliver, Lev Malakhoff Nay: None DOCUMENTS USED AT THIS MEETING • December 11, 2023 minutes • January 8, 2024 minutes • Alicia Messier’s Walking Library draft (link: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ee39e0f8413b42798fe9d633b105197e/) • Letter from Sue Sullivan Respectfully submitted, Genna Ziino, Administrative Assistant Further detail may be obtained by viewing the video via Channel 18 on demand at http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us