20240513 City Council Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes Hannah L. Bowen-Chair CITY OF BEVERLY
RECEIVED AND RECORDED
Steven M. Crowley CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Danielle M. Spang
102U smi I U P 2: 08
Public Services/City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
Monday, May 13, 2024, 6:30PM
City Council Committee Room, 3rd Floor, 191 Cabot St.
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm.
Members present: Steven Crowley, Danielle Spang, Hannah Bowen
Also present: Director of Parks and Recreation Bruce Doig, City Solicitor Stephanie Williams
Order Date to Description Action Taken
Number Committee
#105 4/l/2024 National Grid-Plan#30665817-to install 1 JO pole on Hold
Lothrop Street
#138 5/6/2024 Appointment-Dominic Copeland, 38 Hathaway Avenue Recommend the
to serve on the Trustees of the Beverly Library Council approve 3-0
Appointment-Paul Willenbrock, 5a Clifford Avenue and Recommend the
#139 5/6/2024 Marilyn Hourican-Osburn, 112 Conant Street to serve Council approve (3-0)
on the Commission on Disabilities
Discussion on Parks & Recreation projects, Field&
Facility Permit Policies, and Camp Paradise usage
Discussion on Parks & Recreation projects, Field& Facility Permit Policies, and Camp Paradise usage
Doig stated Parks and Recreation discussed the permitting policy in June. There are a lot of businesses trying to
make money off of city property. Doig stated there are increases in pay-to-play youth organizations and other
leagues that want to use the spaces. Field access is tight, and every year gets more challenging. In December the
use prices were set. Regarding Camp Paradise, essentially anyone running a free event for Beverly schools can
use the space for free. Anyone running a program that charges attendees a fee is charged a fee by Parks and
Recreation for use of the space. Doig stated Kestrel is offered a reduced price that is half the normal rate.
Doig gave updates on park projects including work at Holcroft Park, the Simon Street lots, wayfinding and
signage improvements,the addition of an ADA spinner and water filling station at Gillis Park, tennis court
replacements in Cove and Centerville, basketball hoop upgrades, adding AEDs at 22 parks, the lights and stands
at BHS, completed pickleball courts, and hiring for the summer park programs and the Counselor-In-Training
program.
Crowley asked for information on the CIT program so it could be shared out to help get more people to sign up.
There was some discussion on getting a project together for Holcroft Park that the kids could be involved in so
they feel a sense of ownership and belonging at the park.
There was a brief conversation about signage still going up at the new pickleball courts.
Doig stated last year for the summer park programs eight families received scholarships, which totaled $6,915.
This year there has been an increase to 12 families and over $12,600. There is not a scholarship budget, but it is
the right thing to do. We sacrifice some of the revenue for camps. It would be good if there was more money
there for scholarships.
Bowen opened the discussion to members of the public.
Jessica Kagle, the founder and program director of Kestrel Educational Adventures, highlighted the second
grade program for Beverly students and thanked Mr. Doig for free use of Camp Paradise for that program.
There will be a free public event on June 10 where kids will share mapping they completed for wetlands and
wildlife.
Dan Richards spoke on behalf of the Friends of Gillis Park. The first fundraiser, a pub crawl, is coming up on
June 1. There has been lots of momentum in the neighborhood and people buying tickets for the fundraiser.
Representative Jerry Parisella has worked to earmark$200,000 for the park. Catherine Barrett has been very
helpful as well. Veterans are helping with the memorial plaque at the park. Richards said the Friends of Gillis
Park is a grassroots effort that is gaining momentum.
Bowen invited comment and discussion of the broader vision for Camp Paradise.
Kagle stated Kestrel is a 501(c)(3)with four staff members and six board members. The school programs are
free to schools based on a grant from Cell Signaling, and the Conservation Club is $40 per semester which is
only to ensure commitment and does not even cover the snack budget. Anyone who says it is a hardship does
not have to pay that fee. We are not a facility rental. These kids are doing conservation work and a service
learning project for the city. We want it to be a partnership. Kagle stated she would like to see a usage plan for
Camp Paradise that is in line with the unique character of the place and asked for priority to be placed on it as a
wetlands space. Kagle mentioned section 1 A of the conservation restriction that is held by Essex County
Greenbelt. Kagle stated regardless of the fee structure,the concern is the use of the wetlands. There is a lot of
trash dumped into the wetlands that the kids find. Kagle stated she would like to see a usage plan for wetland
protection and signage for more education. Kestrel would like to work in partnership with the city to promote
public understanding.
Several students who participate in the Conservation Club program spoke of the importance of Camp Paradise
and protecting the wetlands and species there. They brought in an American toad, a wood frog, and a spotted
salamander they had found at Camp Paradise.
Doig stated there have been issues with people going on the property at night and having fires or leaving trash
and at times the police are called. The city has a carry-in, carry-out policy, and city programs make sure not to
leave trash.
Kagle stated Kestrel would like to offer broader education in hopes that fewer people will dump trash.
One of the students mentioned that the city compost site is less than 100 feet from one of the vernal pools and it
looks like sometimes things that are not compostable are dumped there which may drift over to the pool.
Kagle mentioned concern about frogs on the road for a few rainy nights of the year when they migrate. If there
were a detail and cones to slow traffic,the road could stay open, and Kestrel has volunteers that would help
make sure the frogs get across the road. Kagle said she is hoping for a public/private partnership for
conservation. At Kestrel, we are professional educators and would love to provide more education.
There was some discussion on facility rental versus a program doing something that benefits the city and the
costs associated with maintaining the camp.
Williams stated the city is obligated to ensure the property [Camp Paradise] is not developed. That was one of
the conditions of the grant when the property was bought. There are 15-20 activities that are listed as uses for
the property. Environment education is one of the uses but is not why the city bought Camp Paradise. The city
has been approached to have the Kestrel headquarters at Camp Paradise; it was not something that was part of
the city's plan or consistent with the grant. The Beverly Conservation Commission has jurisdiction over any
improvements to the building or paths. There have been conversations about a more formal relationship with
Kestrel, but it has not really been on the city's agenda. Camp Paradise is under the control of the Parks and
Recreation Commission. It sounds like Kestrel does great work there, and everyone wants that to be able to
continue. If the city were to decide to have a more formal relationship with some kind of organization, there
would have to be a RFP and open bidding process. Williams stated she is comfortable that what the city does at
Camp Paradise is within the conservation restriction. There have been conversations in the past few months, and
a lot of thought has been given to it.
The meeting adjourned at 7:48pm.
Beverly City Council Committee on Public Services Meeting Minutes—May 13 2024 page 2 of 2