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OSRC minutes_05.03 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: Open Space and Recreation Committee SUBCOMMITTEE: None LOCATION: Beverly City Hall Council Chambers DATE: May 3, 2023 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair David Alden-St. Pierre, Gregory Sharp, Todd Callaghan, Charlie Mann, Marilyn McCrory, James Passanisi, Alison Dudley, Elizabeth Dunne BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chair David Brewster, Amber Redmond, Wayne Miller STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Ken Clawson OTHERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Naomi Moca 1. Call to order Chair Alden-St.Pierre calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. 2. Public Outreach Alden-St. Pierre states that he advertised the planned trail work on Norwood Pond on Sunday, May 7 from 9 am— 11 am on social media. Alden-St. Pierre states that the volunteers will meet at North Beverly Elementary School's soccer field. The Committee discusses that Passanisi's child's Cub Scouts group is welcome to join the project and that gloves and pruners are recommended. The work will entail the cutting back of overgrowth of invasive species, such as multiflora rose, and trash removal. Clawson provides waivers for adults and children. The Committee discusses that work in other areas, such as Gloucester Crossing, is appropriate as well, especially trash pickup. The Holcroft Park on Gage Street has new wood chips, has been cleaned up, and that the streets leading up to a park are part of the purview of open space. The committee discusses that the dog waste bags are a particular issue being thrown over the fence into the GU school property, and whether signs are beneficial for common sense, courteous behavior by residents or dog owners. The Committee discusses creating a rotating schedule, perhaps by Ward, to gather volunteers to do work in public open spaces, starting tentatively on Sunday, June 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Holcroft Park. Dudley states that she will confirm the date with Ward Councilor Crowley. Alden-St. Pierre states that presentation for City Council Ix/year every fall, summarize number of hours and total# of people in the presentation. 1 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 Mann states that he walked the land with Mike Coughlin and Sgt. Henebury removed no parking signs on Webster at the Glen Urqhuart School. Alden-St.Pierre states that he attended a North Shore Trails Summit and that the topic of parking was discussed with the representative from GU School, and now the signs are gone. 3. Updates from Boards and Commissions: a. Planning Board Clawson states that the Planning Board is to write a letter of support for the seven-year OSRC plan so that the plan can get finalized. It has conditional approval and next it needs to be finalized. b. Conservation Committee Materials added to the record: • Email update from Amber Redmond Clawson summarizes that in the email, Redmond states that the Commissioners conducted a site visit at Sally Milligan on April 22, 2023 with Mann to discuss options for stabilizing the bank. At the April 25, 2023 meeting, the Commission approved the option to settle the wood directly into the bank. The Commission also approved the cutting of the white pine tree using hand tools. Mann states that the trail will be closed. Landscape pavers notch into bank Alden-St. Pierre states that he will confirm the materials list for the new bridge and email it to Clawson. The Committee discusses Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 8 a.m. as the date and time to assist with the bridge construction at Sally Milligan. The Committee discusses that the funding comes from a MassTrails grant, and making the bridge look "official"with signage such as Beverly Trails stickers. The bridge will not have a railing. The trail has been getting a lot of use so the trail has been set up so as not to interrupt soccer games at the Cross Lane Soccer Fields. c. Community Preservation Committee McCrory states that the predominant topic was the Birch Plains pickleball courts project. McCrory expresses dismay at the public process and that it was done in a very compressed time frame. For example, the City provided the CPC with materials at the meeting instead of in advance, and that the project plan had been modified since the last CPC meeting. McCrory states that the City's request for funding for soundproofing passed non-unanimously. The Committee discusses that players may use the sound mitigation wall to practice pickleball skills inadvertently causing more noise, and that planting shrubbery in front of the fence may act as a deterrent. 2 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 d. Harbor Management Authority Callaghan states that the Authority is designing Phase III blue signs directing people to the waterfront. Ideas: Sign near Bass River, steps to walkway behind car wash, sign behind softball field, sign at public walkway behind Stop and Shop parallel to the Stop and Shop access road. Kiosk at both ends. Sign at 127 toward Beverly Farms, Brackenbury and 127 but no parking. The Committee discusses not adding more signage so as not to attract more people causing problems for the neighborhood. Sign at Prince Street,the eastern edge of Brackenbury beach, no parking, very narrow, City owns access road to public beach, not a great idea for a sign. Brackenbury ownership to mean high water. Sign at Rice's. The Committee discusses ways to convey that there is no parking available, such as icons of a car or a pedestrian. Sign public walkway Woodbury beach on both ends. Binocular stand at Hospital Point. New Harbormaster Peter Dickman Overlap with Parks and Recreation, for example binoculars and kayak racks Independence Park has a new square concrete platform at the end of Central Street that is not for a kayak rack and could possibly be for a new bicycle rack. 4. Open Space Conditions/Issues a. Ward 1 Mann states that at Green's Hill wire mesh fencing will be installed. The Committee discusses whether doing an opening would be appropriate, or just posting photos of signs and kiosks like what was done last fall on social media. Chris Lapointe of Essex County GreenBelt Director re: 27A has sent multiple notes and voice mails to owners, Mann willing to try to knock on the door. b. Ward 2 McCrory states a resident on Abbott Street has placed mulch on the sidewalk. Rowand's property is to be torn down and made into parking lot. Trail access and walkways will be landscaped in a way to ensure continuity. Clawson states that Historic Preservation is redoing the steps going down to the water at Gillis Park and the work is scheduled to be done before the end of June c. Ward 3 Clawson states that there are no updates for the Simon Street parks other than playground equipment has been ordered 3 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 d. Ward 4 Alden-St. Pierre states that Sally Milligan has already been discussed and that Fox Hill is in decent shape. Clawson states that there has been no contact for some time regarding an easement with Endicott College and he will reach out and re-start the conversation. e. Ward 5 Norwood Pond trail cleanup was previously discussed. The topic of public access to Moraine Farm was brought up and Clawson stated that the Planning Department conducted a site walk last week to catalog the existing conditions of the areas that are being acquired. L Ward 6 i. Trail maintenance issues for Beverly Commons Clawson states that a concerned citizen emailed the city two weeks ago regarding trail building at Bald Hill, used heavily for biking, including clearing of trees to build an unauthorized trail. Clawson states that he, Mayor Cahill, and the Chief of Police met with the citizen and came to an agreement that there shall be no new trail building. Clawson states that temporary signs were installed and the citizens were satisfied with this solution. The Committee discusses that there is a real need for a delineated bike area, such as a bike park, in the City, as the activity is very popular. The Committee discusses issues with the establishment of a bike park including finding a site and building a park thatencompasses lots of different features for skills and ages. At a meeting two years ago at Bald Hill, Alden-St.Pierre, Jenna Pirrotta, citizens, and the police, it was discussed with Kathy Feldman about how to move forward with a bike park. The hangup was where to build it. Obviously there is a need for it. Mann states that the ideal placement for a pump track park is near a parking lot or near an easily accessible point. The construction of bike ramps and jumps at Beverly Commons Trails is discussed. The issue of who actually owns the land is brought up and the idea that if kids think no one owns the land then no one will care and no one will see them. Dunne states that families donated land to City and deeds never got transferred. The Committee discusses possible locations for a proper, official bike park, even just a delineation without building a formal park. Alden-St. Pierre states that he will reach out to Tim Flaherty Executive Director of Sterling YMCA, to discuss property behind the Y. Mann states that there is money for trails in the Norwood Pond area that may be available, depending on how it's worded. Clawson states that he will look into the wording for Cummings Properties in the Dunham Road area, contribution to the City for trail work. 4 City of Beverly Open Space and Recreation Committee May 3, 2023 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Encouraging cyclists to maintain trails of a certain width, considering width of tires turning radius, widening with heavy use, creating lanes, and taking input from cyclists. Alden-St. Pierre states that NEMBA is willing to do trail work. Mann states trail to GreenBelt land at Webster. Possibly cut Norway Maples to widen the shoulder, and establish parking for eight to 10 cars. Need to get a work day together later in June, no date yet, stewardship group from GreenBelt coordinate date with Beverly guys. 5. Staff Updates a. NOI for trail work Clawson states that he has been working on NOI, researching other cities, but does not think it can be done in-house. And that a consultant is the way to go. Carol Lloyd Director of Essex County Trails Association may be a good resource. b. Easements/Parcels of Interest i. Pole Swamp Pole Swam got 9 more parcels of City land transferred to Conservation Commission control. 6. Approval of minutes a. April 5, 2023 Members review and offer edits to the April 5, 2023 draft meeting minutes. Callaghan Motion to accept the April 5, 2023 meeting minutes as amended. Passanisi March: seconds. Motion carries (9-0). Callaghan Motion to accept the April 5, 2023 meeting minutes as amended. Passanisi March: seconds. Motion carries (9-0). 7. Adjourn Callaghan: Motion to adjourn. McCrory seconds. Motion carries (9-0). Meeting adjourns 8:33 p.m. Next meeting: June 7, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. 5