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Agenda and Minutes 2009-04-15 City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee 210 Main Street, City Hall Northampton, MA 01060 Community Preservation Committee Agenda DATE: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 TIME: 7:00 PM PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall) Contact: Fran Volkmann, Chair, Community Preservation Committee Franv@comcast.net Tom Parent, Vice Chair, Community Preservation Committee ParentBridge@hotmail.com Bruce Young, Community Preservation Planner byoung@northamptonma.gov (413) 587-1263 Agenda Public Comment ? Acceptance of 4/1/2009 Minutes ? Chair's Report ? Public hearing on the needs, possibilities and resources of the City Northampton ? as identified in the 2009 Community Preservation Plan Discussion of future agenda priorities ? ? Other Business For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website: http://www.northamptonma.gov/gsuniverse/httpRoot/comm/ 1 MINUTES Community Preservation Committee Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Time: 7:00 pm Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St. Members Present: Fran Volkmann, Tom Parent, George Kohout, Don Bianchi, and Downey Meyer Staff Present: Bruce Young, Community Preservation Planner John Frey, Community Preservation Planner Fran Volkmann opened the public meeting at 7:03pm. 1. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT ?? Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Development, stated his request for an expedited review of the Manhan Rail Trail Extension project. The state has received $4.67m in federal stimulus money to fund completion of the project. However, the city must fund various soft costs and must advertise for bids by June 12, 2009. He is requesting $100,000 of CPC funding toward the $110-160,000 needed for soft costs. This trail would complete a 2.4 miles gap to Ferry St. in Easthampton. The city is responsible for all design before going out to bid, bid documents, plans, surveys, appraisals, titles, and land acquisitions. ?? Tom Parent stated that Massachusetts is ranked last of all states in using federal rail trail money mostly because the state does not cover soft costs such as those listed here. ?? Wayne Feiden confirmed that is true. The state has provided enhancement grants in the past, but no longer. He also stated eminent domain takings of National Grid land is likely to be waived. Land acquisitions may include five small parcels privately held worth $58,000. The city is preparing to buy that property for the appraised value. However, land acquisition costs may vary depending on landowner pricing of the parcels. ?? Nicolas Horton, Prospect Street, President Friends of Northampton Trails and Greenways, stated this is a historic opportunity to build out these paths. Northampton Trails and Greenways have fundraised on a more modest basis and will continue to do so to support this and other rail trail projects. ?? David Narkowicz, South Park Terrace, City Councilor and Transportation Committee member, urged the CPC to take this project up on expedited review. He believes it meets the criteria for such review. ?? James Lowenthal, Crescent Street, President MassBike, stated Easthampton and Northampton were linked extensively by a rail system a hundred years ago. This project would help complete a modern-day regional alternative transportation system. The top reason citizens cite for not riding bikes more is a fear of traffic. The trail would provide 2 an alternative to using Route 10 to travel between the two cities. Northampton is the nexus of the regional trail movement. This trail extension is the top missing link. ?? Craig Della Penna, Chestnut Street, Northeast Greenways Solutions and MassHwy Greenways and Trails Task Force, stated just a small percentage of federal stimulus money is headed this way for other projects, if this opportunity is missed future funding will be many years away. This project is smart growth, connecting urban centers. There are over 200 projects in the works within a 100-mile radius of Northampton. The Northampton Bike Trail is the oldest municipal path in the U.S. ?? Michael Sullivan, Fort Street, stated he is a personal user of the local rail trails. The extension to Easthampton is needed and would be heavily used. It is currently very difficult to cycle to Easthampton. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ?? Fran Volkmann presented the minutes of April 1, 2009 meeting for discussion. There being no additions or corrections, Fran Volkmann announced the minutes approved as read. 3. CHAIR’S REPORT MEETING WITH MAYOR ?? Fran Volkmann stated she, Tom Parent, Downey Meyer, Lilly Lombard, and Bruce Young met with the mayor today to present the Round 1 projects. The mayor agreed to recommend all the projects to city council, but she first commented on the historical survey projects. She wants to see it coordinated with the state surveying efforts. Also, she wants to see specific language requiring the final product to be a searchable database. Finally, she suggested looking into the state grant for such projects. Bruce, Jane and Peg have already started on this. It appears possible they may use us as a pilot program. ?? Tom Parent stated the mayor is concerned the state would let us do the work and then take it. ?? Fran Volkmann worried also that our results might not be structured in line with state database once they finally decide on a format. May 21, 2009 is the scheduled first reading before council. Perhaps the CPC would be ready with survey changes by then. ?? George Kohout asked if the survey recommendation would be taken out of the voting process. ?? Fran Volkmann stated that might be possible unless we get the new requirements ready in time. ?? Bruce Young stated the Planning Department GIS coordinator contacted state (Mass Historic Commission). They have an existing database and they said we could include our data in theirs, but we must meet their formatting standards. However, we are ahead of them with our planned standard and currently they could not accommodate us. They may use us as pilot program. However, we may also end up wasting effort in not careful from start. We may be able to tap them for money though. ?? Fran Volkmann stated there would be an update at next meeting. 3 TIMETABLE FOR REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENTS ?? Fran Volkmann stated David Drake’s appointment vote before city council is set for tomorrow. However, the Housing Authority appointment is still uncertain. The mayor stated she would talk with councilor, Paul Spector about streamlining the process when an appointment is for someone already on another board. ?? Tom Parent stated they are still treating board representatives as a new appointment requiring the process to go through the sub-committee. The sub-committee only meets monthly. That will be discussed for streamlining. 4. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NEEDS, POSSIBILITIES AND RESOURCES OF THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON AS IDENTIFIED IN THE 2009 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PLAN PUBLIC COMMENT ?? David Narkewicz, city councilor and South Park Terrace resident, thanked the CPC for the good work and he supports the updated plan. ?? Fran Volkmann closed the public hearing. 2009 CPC PLAN ?? Upon motion by Don Bianchi, seconded by George Kohout, all voted in favor of adopting the 2009 CPC Plan as presented. 5. DISCUSSION OF FUTURE AGENDA PRIORITIES ?? Fran Volkmann presented for discussion the list a future agenda items created earlier this year (see Appendix A). She stated signage and CPC Plan revision are completed and could be eliminated from the list. ?? George Kohout commented his only concern regarding the degree of detail in the minutes was its impact on our budget. Currently it is a big time effort requiring many hours. However, the consensus is to continue with present standard. ?? Fran Volkmann stated discussion of term limits is on the back burner. Also, discussion of incomplete applications is settled as the CPC has decided to return incomplete applications for re-submittal next round. The staff handles that decision with an appeal to full board possible for the applicant if needed. There is sufficient flexibility in the process though. ?? George Kohout asked the item be kept on the list though. ?? Bruce Young stated model grant agreements are on the website and in the plan. We have described them in Preservation Guarantees guidelines also, but given no examples. Examples may actually raise too many questions. Staff can easily share applicable examples upon request. All agreed that plan makes the most sense. ?? Tom Parent and Downey Meyer stated they would begin process for grant reporting and monitoring protocol. ?? Fran Volkmann stated this leaves strategy for outreach, website, expedited applications, policy for reserve fund, and mayoral role as the only unsettled issues. 4 ?? Downey Meyer stated regarding mayoral role, the mayor originally stated she would bring forward any and all applications to the city council. But that didn’t happen as seen with the foreclosure fund application. Perhaps her role needs to be defined. Perhaps we need to specifically clarify with applicant that after CPC vote the project is not necessarily going to council for a vote. ?? Fran Volkmann observed that the Mayor did not decline to forward the foreclosure fund application, but rather asked the committee to hold it back until more clarity could be gained. She suggested the CPC define steps for final approval more clearly in the next CPC Plan. ?? Tom Parent stated this is especially so if there is a new mayor. ?? Fran Volkmann stated regarding expedited applications, she thought the CPC had a policy already. ?? Don Bianchi summarized the threshold as 1.), there must be a compelling public benefit and 2.), extraordinary need for timely review. ?? Bruce Young stated the plan does not spell out the specific criteria. Currently it is a decision of the CPC based on the merits on a case-by-case basis. ?? Don Bianchi suggested it is better to spell out the criteria. This is important because any expedited project would disadvantage future projects. The CPC must be specific and limiting. ?? Fran Volkmann asked Don Bianchi to draft such language. ?? Don Bianchi stated he would do that. ?? Fran Volkmann stated she believes that Lilly Lombard is willing to work on CPC outreach and website. ?? George Kohout stated he too would be willing to work on the website. ?? Fran Volkmann also volunteered to help on the website. ?? Fran Volkmann asked if there is a way to increase outreach. ?? George Kohout stated larger organizations know of the CPC and are putting forward applications. Smaller organizations require more outreach and hands on assistance but we don’t want to limit their access to funds. ?? Fran Volkmann suggested convening a small group to brainstorm. She will reach out to Lilly Lombard, David Drake, and Jack Hornor to work on this effort. ?? Fran Volkmann summarized that working groups are now formed for outreach, website, expedited review, and grant reporting. 6. OTHER BUSINESS SUMMER SCHEDULE ?? Fran Volkmann stated her belief that just one meeting per month would be sufficient this summer, June 17, July 15, and August 19. ?? Upon motion by Don Bianchi, seconded by Downey Meyer, all vote in favor of the limited summer meeting schedule. MANHAN RAIL TRAIL EXPEDITED APPLICATION 5 ?? Fran Volkmann stated the CPC is not to evaluate detail of the application tonight, rather only to decide if we are willing to review it in an expedited fashion. We need to know the degree of public benefit and the reasons for urgency. ?? Don Bianchi questioned what is the overrun policy for the project. ?? Wayne Feiden clarified the city would be responsible for anything over the built-in 10% cost overrun of $467,000. ?? Don Bianchi asked how the estimate of $110-160,000 needed by the CPC was calculated. ?? Wayne Feiden stated there is a need for an engineer on call, which could be $5-50,000. Also, we must pay for an as-built plan. The city must go to bid by June 12,2009. That action obligates the federal money, otherwise it is lost. Finally, more money may be needed for acquisition of a few parcels. ?? Don Bianchi asked why the CPC is just hearing about this now. ?? Wayne Feiden stated the city has been trying to get MassHwy to pay for the project. Originally it appeared funding would be a few years off. However, since our project is ready to go they fast-tracked us when the federal stimulus money became available. Now, if we don’t meet this funding schedule future funding opportunities will be many years away. This opportunity only presented itself in the last few weeks. ?? Tom Parent asked if the Jackson Street connector is being paid for by the state. ?? Wayne Feiden stated that he believed it would be however the design is changing. It is to be a bigger project using federal stimulus money via the state. Costs are going up with MassHwy standards. The public hearing is set for May 20, 2009. Right-of-way taking is scheduled for May 21, 2009 with city council. ?? George Kohout asked if the Planning Department would apply under the recreation category. ?? Wayne Feiden stated yes, but they are also buying a right-of-way, so perhaps under open space as well. ?? George Kohout asked if this project could full under the new Conservation Commission Fund using their $100,000. ?? Wayne Feiden stated some land acquisition would absolutely qualify for open space preservation. However, it is much easier to qualify under recreation. ?? Fran Volkmann stated if the CPC agreed to accept the application it would be discussed on May 6, 2009. That would mean city council would vote on May 21 and June 4, 2009. ?? Wayne Feiden stated final approval on June 4, 2009 would be acceptable but May 21, 2009 would be better. He might ask for one reading only. ?? Don Bianchi asked where would you make up funding shortages. ?? Wayne Feiden responded that they have raised $65,000 in private donations. Also, $72,000 could be used from the traffic mitigation fund from the new gas station on South St. They have flexibility in the funding timeline but need commitment now. ?? Tom Parent talked about the leveraging of funds in this project. Leveraging is very high as $100,000 in CPC fund would leverage $4.67m. ?? George Kohout stated another huge benefit it that this is a regional collaboration with Easthampton. Also, he believes it meets the urgency standard for expedited review. ?? Don Bianchi stated he is willing to expedite. ?? Downey Meyer stated there exists clear reason for expediting and clear leveraging of funds. 6 ?? Fran Volkmann stated this is a huge step forward for the sustainability plan. It would be a long-term gain. ?? Upon motion by Tom Parent, seconded by George Kohout, all voted in favor of accepting the application for expedited review. ?? Fran Volkmann stated the application review would be added to the May 6, 2009 agenda. ?? George Kohout asked Wayne Feiden to be clear about money not being used in Easthampton. ?? Fran Volkmann stated the application does not need extensive detail of the engineering and route design. Rather, explain how it is a good use of money and demonstrate taxpayer support. ?? Don Bianchi asked for details on how much has been spent to get to this point, how much is needed for land acquisition, and then how much after to completion. ?? Tom Parent requested a general timeline of construction dates. ?? George Kohout asked for proof of Easthampton support. ?? Don Bianchi asked for the application by end of next week, April 24, 2009. ?? George Kohout asked for a narrative describing urgency in order to use the federal stimulus money. ?? Don Bianchi asked for Recreation Department feedback. ?? Tom Parent stated the Recreation Department would discuss on May 4, 2009. STATE REPORTS ?? Bruce Young stated the state CPA reports are due in mid-June. Staff would work on this for the next meeting. Upon Motion by George Kohout, seconded by Tom Parent, all agreed to adjourn the meeting at 8:40pm. Respectfully submitted on April 22, 2009, John Frey, Community Preservation Planner 7 APPENDIX A: Community Preservation Committee: Rating Sheet Possible Agenda Items (from previous minutes) 01-07-09 Agenda Item Very Moderately Back Important Important Burner _____________________________________________________________________________ 1T. Policy re setting aside funds for future 5 2 0 1T. Mayoral Role in CPC Recommendations 5 2 0 3. Strategy for Outreach to Community 3 4 0 4T. Expedited Applications 4 0 3 4T. Signage: Policy and Details 3 2 2 6T. Processes for Grant reporting/monitoring 2 5 0 6T. Policy re incomplete applications 2 5 0 6T. Revision of CPC Plan 2 5 0 9. Website (and blog?) 1 5 1 10. Model Grant Agreements 0 3 4 11T. Term limits for officers 0 2 5 11T. Form/detail of minutes 0 2 5 13. Executive Committee 0 0 7 8