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2010-06-02 CITY OF BEVERLY PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES BOARD: SUBCOMMITTEE: DATE: BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: RECORDER: Dunne calls the meeting to order. Open Space and Recreation Committee June 2,2010 Elizabeth Dunne (Chairperson), Suzanne Beaudoin, Robert Buchsbaum, Nancy Coffey, Marilyn McCrory, and Sylvan Menezes David Brewster, Pam Kampersal, Michael Ralbovsky, and Bill Squibb Environmental Planner Amy Maxner, Associate Planner Kate Newhall Andrea Bray Discussion of the Community Preservation Act (CPA) All of the attendees introduce themselves. Maxner provides an overview of the CPA, making the following points: . History: In effect since Dec 2000. Since 2002, $334M has been disseminated. The intent is to provide municipalities with the resources to fund local initiatives. . The three main elements who would benefit from the funds are, (1) Open space, (2) Affordable housing, and (3) Historic preservation. . The Website: www.CommunityPreservation.ORG, is a great resource for information. . A committee made up of representatives from the three interests makes the decisions regarding the expenditure of CP A funds locally. When specific projects come before the committee the public has an opportunity to provide feedback and comments. . There is an option for the community to repeal the CPA after it is in effect for 5 years. . There are two ways to get the legislation on the ballot, (1) with 5% oflocal citizens signing a petition, or (2) with a City Council vote to place it on the ballot. . The CPA is funded through surcharges on property tax. Citizens can elect to have between .5% and 3% as the surcharge. . Commercial sites can be taxed or exempted, and the first $100,000 in assessment value can be exempt. Senior citizens can be exempt. . The State will match some or all of the money that the City raises. The State funds are collected from the fees at the Registry of Deeds. . Once funds are raised they must be spent according to a formula: 10% on Affordable Housing, 10% on Open Space, and 10% on Historical Preservation and the remaining funds can be redistributed as the committee deems appropriate. Up to 5% can be used for Open Space & Recreation Committee June 2, 2010 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 4 administrative costs for the committee. If the required 10% is not used in one of the three categories that money must be set aside for later use by that category. Maxner states that from 2002 through 2007 the State matched 100% of all funds raised by the Cities ($247.7M), and then matched 73% in 2008, and 40% in 2009. Marilyn McCrory describes the current legislation being introduced that will amend the CPA in the following ways: 1. It will guarantee a 75% match from the trust fund. 2. As a way to help cities pass the CPA, they will allow communities, in addition to having a surcharge on property taxes, to use other sources of revenue to fund the CPA, from a 1 % tax surcharge up to 2%. 3. They will add an optional commercial exemption (currently optional exemptions for elderly) 4. The will allow the CPA funds to be used for rehabilitation of existing parks. Currently the fund can only be used for the development of new parks. McCrory states that the bill is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee, and must then go through the full House and the Senate by July 31,2010. Nancy Coffey provides some insight into the work done by the surrounding communities that have been successful in getting passage of CP A. She explains that in Gloucester the bill was voted down twice prior to its acceptance. Dunne shares the advice received from Kathy Leahey, who spearheaded the Gloucester effort. These points include: . They should not have anyone of the three constituencies dominate the movement. . The Chairperson should not be viewed as particularly political and should not be involved with any of the three interest groups. . Doing the campaign at the same time as the City election is a bad idea. They should hold during an off year. Coffey states that Peabody passed CPA in the first year with 1 % and, to date, $6,453,321 has been received. She adds that Manchester started at .5% and this year raised it to 1%. Much discussion ensues on the strategies used to pass the CPA in Gloucester. City Councilor Wes Slate asks when they anticipate doing this. Maxner states that they are preparing for the election in 2012. Slate states that he is in favor of anything that generates revenue that the City will not get in other places. He explains that the budget projection for next year is not good, and there will be some lag time between the economic recovery and the receipt of new revenue. He cautions the group not to use the "cup-of-coffee" analogy because it has been so overused. Instead, he suggests talking about the money on the table, and about the money that is going into the fund Open Space & Recreation Committee June 2, 2010 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 4 which Beverly is not getting back, and about the projects needed, and the exemptions. He acknowledges that, at the moment, it would be tough sell but in two years it might be easier. He agrees that the strategy is good, and the political support is crucial. Dunne states that the OSRC does not believe it is appropriate to take this on as a Committee of the City and they wish to find others that are willing to spear head the campaign. Sue Goganian of the Historical Society states that as a whole it can have a positive impact on the City. Dan Wuenschel of the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition states that the genius of this Act it brings together disparate groups that often clash over projects. Slate suggests that everyone should make a phone call to Mary Grant and/or Fred Berry to ask them to support the Bill of Amendment when they leave this meeting. Don Preston with the Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition states that the affordable housing entity seems to be considered the bottom 10%, and rarely does a City allocate more than 10% to affordable housing, and in every town there are problems with parks which may get the lion's share of the funds. There is much discussion regarding the allocation of the funds. Buchsbaum advises not to be specific during the campaign. Maxner asks if they will be able to get a core group of people that can make this considerable commitment for the next two years. Nancy Coffey asks what should happen next. Sue Goganian states that they need to find people that will put some time into this. Mary Roderick suggests publishing a short press release about this meeting. Buchsbaum states that there is some institutional support form the CPA Coalition. Wendy Pearl suggests posting a Facebook Page. She volunteers to set up the Facebook page. Buchsbaum volunteers to write the press release. They agree to name the Facebook page "Beverly Alliance for Community Preservation". They agree to have a table at the Beverly Homecoming. They agree to meet at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, August 11,2010. Open Space & Recreation Committee June 2, 2010 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 4 Slate encourages the group to speak during the first 15 minutes of the City Council meetings on the first and third meetings of each month. He adds that the Council would have to vote to set the election and to fund the money. Coffey reviews the action items. Slate states that he will speak to Mike Cahill. The meeting is adjourned at 8:50 PM.