City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Conservation Commission, 8 Feb 2023

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2.8.2023 Conservation Commission

A

A

um Welcome everybody to the february 8 2023 regular meeting of the portsmouth.

A

Conservation commission, um the first item on the agenda is the election of officers and peter did.

A

You want to start with a little background on the process. Well, yeah. Every year we do an.

B

Election of officers and typically the way that it's done is like any other business before the.

B

Conservation, commission there's a motion on the floor and emotion can be to elect.

B

Chair or a motion to elect a chair and a vice chair and then a second and then that's where a.

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Discussion can take place so if you have reason to support the motion or not support the motion.

B

Just like any motion, that's where you can sort of voice your your interest or your.

B

um If you have a different uh path, you want to follow, you can express why you're not going to.

B

Support the motion that kind of thing so just as similar to any other any other.

B

Motion on the floor is how we've always done it, and then we don't typically have the alternates.

B

Vote on the on the election and that's all the boards to it. That way is my understanding.

B

And I guess the only other point is it's. It usually is in january, but we didn't have a.

B

Meeting last month, so that's why we're doing it in february so yeah so we'll have a motion and.

A

Then um and then discuss the motion and if there's opportunities for more people too, if whatever it's.

A

Needs are at that point, so allison I'd like to make a motion that samantha collins.

C

Be the chairperson and barbara mcmillan be the vice chair.

A

um So discussion, so is there any well? My reasoning is that.

C

You've been on the commission a very long time. You know how things run and I think you both do a.

C

Splendid job, so that's why I would appreciate it if you could stay on in those capacities.

D

Thanks allison videos: do you wanna, do you want, and I want to talk sure so um I appreciate.

D

That allison I've uh been on the conservation commission going on it'll be six years in april.

D

I think, um and for those of you don't know before um way before this, I was environmental consultant.

D

And I have my master's in coastal geomorphology, which is the changing of coastal landscapes, which.

D

Many of you probably don't know, because I don't really do any of that anymore, find out. I know.

D

um So I do have a lot of background in this and I thoroughly enjoy um all the applications that.

D

Come in front of us and getting to learn about new places in portsmouth, I've only lived here since.

D

uh 2012. 10 years now, but um still there's still plenty. I don't know about portsmouth.

D

And I love kind of finding these new places and helping to conserve what we have left.

D

um I'm also very happy to be working with barbara, as vice chair. I.

D

um Obviously, have two little kids, so I don't have a ton of time, but this is something I really enjoy.

D

And want to devote what I, what time I have to it and barbara's been kind enough to stay on as.

D

um Vice chair to kind of help me with a lot of the behind the scenes stuff so that both.

D

Of us together can continue in the capacity that barbara's been doing a lot of on her own.

A

Thanks, I had no idea, that's what you did. I know that's great to know um now we could tap you in.

A

The tv yeah, um so I um my background, is having worked with the department of environmental.

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Services as the watershed outreach coordinate coordinator for 20 years and then um also being.

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Very active in a lot of other environmental boards and things like that over the years um and uh I.

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Really feel like, I still have something to give to the conservation commission um and as support.

A

From samantha and everybody else and really enjoy some of the things on the sidelines that different.

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Commissioners have brought up and and started, and I really want to stay on the commission and.

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Be active in those things and then samantha has been awesome as far as a vice chair when she has.

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Been the chair during some of the meetings, she really takes a great role of leadership and and.

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Does it really well and is very diplomatic and not biased and and very knowledgeable.

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Topics and has a lot to contribute, so I'm excited about you taking over as chairs barbara, so other.

A

So do we want to have a we're all here, so we can just have a regular vote right. We.

A

Don't have to do a oh, very close, there's nobody on zoom from the commission, so you.

B

Can do a regular vote? Maybe you should do a roll call for the first one. I can't okay.

B

Do you want me to do that sure? Yes, I'm trying to think, should we or shouldn't we, it's really.

B

Up to you, barbara I'll say anything: no, we'll just do it right now. So all those in favor.

A

And opposed and two not voting as alternates right, unanimous of who voted. Okay. Thank you.

A

For motion passes. Thank you guys. Yeah harper's gonna finish out this meeting, though.

D

Barbara may I have a point. I just have a a point of order question. I guess.

E

According to our rules, we're supposed to meet once a month, why didn't we meet last month.

A

Why didn't we meet last month? We didn't have anything on the agenda, I mean any.

E

Land use things on the agenda, but this election would have been one.

E

We might want to talk about some of the things you know extra time for us to all get together.

E

So, who can not, when do we not have a meeting of whose call is that you know.

E

So is there a way it would change? You could pull the commission and see if or you could.

B

Call the meeting it's up to you. I guess that's typically in the past, that's how.

B

We've done it if there's no applications, then we postpone the meeting, but there's no reason.

B

You can't have it so that's something to consider for the future. I think.

A

So maybe if you don't have anything on the agenda, you can contact the chair, sure and.

D

Then I can put it out and just see if anybody has anything that they want to talk about, or we.

B

Can come up with things if you want to yeah that's a good idea: yep thanks ted awesome.

A

Okay, um uh I just wanted to say also just in case anybody's here, that we did have one postponement.

A

um For the 105 bartlett street yeah, we received a email from them that they want to postpone until.

B

Next month's meeting, but just let everybody know s, I think you should have a vote because it's not.

B

On the advertised agenda, so then the postponement would be formalized to the next month's meeting.

A

Jess, I will uh make a, I can't think of the word now motion there we go. I will make a.

F

Motion to postpone the application of 105 bartlett street to the march meeting at the.

F

um Request of the applicant I'll second, okay, all those in favor opposed.

A

Okay, great excuse me do we know the legal status of 105 outlet street right now.

B

I just know it's uh there's a court, a court case going on um over the site plan review.

B

Approval the city's approval, so I did know that the housing appeals board right, overturned, the.

E

We have new members too, but there was an appeal that of a decision at 105 batman street. The appeal.

E

Basically, was that the they were turned down at the planning board, with the board of adjustment.

B

The I'm sorry: what do you, what was the appeal on the housing bills.

E

Put the the appeal of the planning boards decision went to the housing appeals board.

B

I guess so: that's the instead of the superior court, it went to the housing sales board, which.

B

Is a path that's allowed in the new hampshire legislature, the judicial system? Now that's new.

B

It's new yeah. I knew in the last five ten years. Okay,.

A

Any other questions.

A

Excited them on the agenda's: approval for the december 14 2022 meeting minutes.

A

um Anybody want to make a motion allison I'll, make a motion to approve the minutes.

C

Of the december meeting, okay, second I'll, second, that I can discussion.

A

I had one comment: it looks like brian, I mean uh stewart is both there and not there. I think.

G

It's present pretty good trick.

A

S like present and not in absence.

G

Okay, okay, you were, you were sick. When you were out of town yeah, he was out of town, so he was.

A

Not should be sure yeah, he is listen as absent, but he's also a city's present. That's amazing.

B

All right, we'll fix that. Sorry about that great! No other changes all those in favor.

A

Motion passes next item on the agenda. Is the state wetland bureau application new business.

A

And we have a minor impact for 393, newcastle ave anybody here to speak to that. Yes, thank you. I'm.

H

Steve riker from amba engineering, I'm here today on behalf of david sinclair who's, the.

H

Property owner at 393, newcastle ave- this is a ds. Wetlands, application and des will be looking for.

H

Comment from this commission in regards to this application in their review process, we had a.

H

Sidewalk last wednesday, which was the february 1st, and [music] I gave a brief overview of the project.

H

At uh at the site, walk answer some questions, um I'll sort of do the same here today for those.

H

Who maybe weren't at the sitewalk? This is the existing conditions plan. There's an existing.

H

um Let's see if I can get this to work, it says right on it hold top button for pointer.

H

There's a structure residential structure here I believe there are three units in this building.

H

There's parking on one side of the building, as well as a parking in a driveway on the other.

H

Side of the building, um almost uh the entire, uh it is in the 100 foot title buffer zone.

H

I've got an 11 by 17, so it's hard to see yeah almost the entire lot, except for this.

H

This very corner right here is in the 100 foot title buffer zone so therefore requires a des.

H

Wetland application to perform site improvements, as proposed so so sheet c2, is the permit plan.

H

And we've colored it to identify impact areas and what we're doing the project proposes. A driveway.

H

Reconfiguration, slash um expansion. That area is shown in the orange the blue area around. It is.

H

The temporary construction impact area- that's the area that will be disturbed to perform the.

H

Installation, in addition, the the driveway will be it'll consist of porous pavements.

H

And that poorest payment detail is shown on sheet d1, which is the last sheet in the in the plan, sets.

H

Yeah the poorest paving detail is this detail in the upper right hand, corner which shows.

H

The base that's uh constructed underneath the actual surface itself, going back to c2.

H

The other thing I wanted to point out was there's a I'll walk away.

H

There's a walkway that currently exists as a as a porous paver surface.

H

That poorest paper surface is going to remain, however, the property owner, while.

H

He's there doing all this work is going to pull those pavers up, clean them and replace them.

H

On the other side of the building, um there is a overhead electrical wire that that goes from.

H

This pole and provides power to the home, the property owner would like to go underground.

H

With that, so this shows the underground trench, which the line will be laid in communications.

H

Cable will also go in that same trench and then the other area, that's shown to the south of that.

H

Is uh sewer is an existing clay, sewer pipe that comes out of the home? It's pretty old.

H

And the owner also thought: why were there doing work, let's replace that too. So those are the.

H

Improvements that we're proposing uh the um impact area calculations are are shown on this plan.

H

A couple things to point out is: uh we have a reduction of impervious surface on the lot from 30.9 percent to 24.4 percent.

H

It appears to be about roughly 1200 square feet. That's a pretty good, pretty good reduction on the.

H

Lot that should improve storm water uh treatment and quality that is associated with this lot.

H

And lastly, uh back to the detail: plan, which has all the required notes.

H

Has a trench detail, a buried, electronic or buried electric and communications cable detail.

H

As well as the porous paver section detail also attach those plan set, you should have.

H

A copy of the des wetland application that was submitted to ds, which is currently under review.

H

It's been accepted and it's under review, which has all the required maps and disease.

H

Coastal functional assessment, coastal vulnerability assessment is in there as well.

H

I think that's all. I have I'll take any questions. Steve questions, allison, yes,.

C

um I have a couple so on page 44 and then again on page 77 in our packets.

C

um It says that the project proposes extension of existing docking and I think.

C

That that's incorrect sounds like sounds like a nice typo error on my part. Okay,.

H

That was paige, sorry 44.77 in my packet, so I'm not quite sure where it would be.

H

I will find them okay and then another thing was that we um talked about the fact that the the.

C

Edge of the grass area on the sort of northeastern side looks like it's starting to degrade and and.

C

We recommended putting some plants there to help stabilize it. That was this side right along there.

C

Yeah, so if you could add some plantings there, that would help to stabilize that it would be.

C

Yeah the property owners looking for a solution there. If I've had that discussion with him and.

H

I think he's going to plan something because um we could tear all that apart and replace it.

H

In kind with a permit, but I advised him that he should try plantings first yeah, that's cheaper.

H

And doesn't require a permit yep, so just get some roots in there to help stabilize it. Yep.

I

Wrapping around the front where the grass meets the yeah we've had the conversation.

H

About because he's got the little things, yeah we've had the conversation about his.

H

Entire frontage, because yeah yeah there's some signs too, with the might just look nicer too.

I

Yeah on this side too, it's starting to curl over on that side as well, so yeah, okay, yeah.

A

Thank you. Yes, um just in regards to the pervious surface, will the owner just um sort of do a quick.

F

Tutorial for the tenants about how to take care of it, there's a little bit of so. The tenants wouldn't.

H

Take care of it he would take care of it, he's the property owner okay, so they don't have to.

F

Do anything around maintenance really for it, even like shoveling and salting and sanding, and he does.

F

All that stuff for them, he does. um Obviously you wouldn't want to sand this surface right right and.

H

It needs to be vacuumed at least once a year right and when I was on site, interestingly enough, when.

H

I was on site taking photos for this application. The vacuum truck was across the street vacuuming.

H

That surface uh piscataqua landscaping, so I got to see that that little zamboni work, pretty cool.

F

Great, that's! I just wanted to check if they had any responsibility that they just know how to take.

F

Care of it well yeah, it's on the, uh I believe it's on sheet. D1 too, there should be a maintenance.

F

Yeah, I thank you. I already mentioned that you would give you the maintenance, but if.

H

It was ever you know somebody else who was responsible for the maintenance just.

F

Making sure they knew how to do it as well yeah, whenever we propose.

H

Poorest pavement, we always have a conversation with a property owner because one it costs about.

H

Three times the amount of regular asphalt and then the cost of the maintenance so.

H

It's kind of an upfront conversation we have before. We even put it on a plan and just for.

F

Purposes of this formal discussion and anybody who wasn't at the sitewalk, uh the property owner's.

F

Plan is still to replace any of that. Those plantings and things that have to be dug up.

F

But more specifically on the side of the side of the house by the sewer and yes yep. Okay, it's great.

A

This follow-up to that.

H

To them yeah, I didn't, I didn't see it, I think we might have to add it, and I.

H

Can tell you that ds will catch that because it's one of their.

H

One of their items that they need to check check the box. Typically, our detail has.

H

Has something underneath it to the in regards to how to maintain it.

H

And it looks like it looks like our detail. Does not.

H

Yeah, there's usually a couple notes underneath the um under the detail itself.

A

Yeah- and maybe I mean we- I know this isn't our permit, but yep. We really like to have.

A

um If there's any way to have it be with the deed, with the deed yeah, with the not.

A

Just the homeowner having it through this plan, but having an actual document.

A

Of maintenance, with the deed or to pass on to the homeowners more than just having it.

A

In the plan, because they don't have this plan in front of them all the time understood, yeah.

A

And I yeah and I because they've said the application is complete at this point right.

H

uh From a ds standpoint, yeah yeah, it's a complete and underview. I have a note to add it.

A

Any other questions, yes and I I actually don't. I don't know the answer to this. Maybe I should but.

J

um You know before you decide to to go ahead with a porous pavement solution. Is there some.

J

Sort of a test of like the permeability of the existing soil yeah, so we did a yeah.

H

Yeah, sorry, I mean I'm interrupt you um yeah. We dug a test pit.

H

H

It's right there test pit one and then the test pit log. What.

H

We call the test bit. Log is right here which shows I'll try to read some of it.

H

So we have an estimate, estimated seasonal high water table of 32 inches.

H

We had a total depth of 64 inches in the test pit. um We had no restrictive feature within that 64.

H

Inches and no refusal in that 64 inches, that would mean we didn't have bedrock in 64 inches.

H

That's what refusal means couldn't go any farther, so um yeah 32 inches is suitable.

H

um If you look at the detail, we have to dig down subgrade 7, plus 15 22 inches.

H

So the purpose of digging the testpit is to make sure that our.

H

Our uh our base, underneath the porous pavement, isn't into the water table right right. I'm going.

H

To want to create a situation where we can't percolate water through it, which is the whole.

H

Purpose right, so if it was in the water table, okay, so that's kind of the cut off. It's got to be able.

J

To yep, okay, but it can be anywhere below that. Okay, good question explanation. Thank you. Anybody else.

A

Do you want to do a motion, allison yep I'll, make a motion um to approve or to send a letter of.

C

Agreement regarding the application on newcastle avenue with two stipulations.

C

One is that plantings need to be added to the eastern side of the property between there and.

C

The deck to stabilize the bank and the second is a maintenance plan for the porous surface.

A

Sounds good anybody else. Second, I'll! Second, that thank you and discussion.

A

Thank you for the site visit yeah. That was really helpful. I.

H

Think it's great that you guys are doing sidewalks.

A

Okay, I think, have a boat all those in favor. Anybody opposed.

H

Okay, thank you have a good night thanks. Thank you.

A

Next item on the agenda is a standard, dredge and fill for 20 227 market street. Anybody here to speak to that.

K

Good afternoon, everyone, uh neil hanson, with time bonds. uh Also here, is the applicant joe.

K

Mcnamee with grant state minerals, um so we're here for the state wetland permit application.

K

For a project that they're looking to do at the uh the terminal there, um as I think most of you were.

K

At the sitewalk that we had last week, the two pieces of this project involve the replacement.

K

Of two of their existing mooring, bollards and then the second piece of this project is a storm.

K

Water upgrade for the site that is connected to their multi-sector general permit through.

K

The epa which requires them to treat certain contaminants of stormwater runoff through the site.

K

um So up on the screen here are the two boring wallet: mooring. Bollards excuse me that are looking.

K

They're looking to replace uh the one on the left of the screen is the one that we were able.

K

To see on the sidewalk, the existing one is that the red dot right there, uh the new one they're.

K

Looking to put a little bit to the, uh I believe, that's the south of of that existing uh ballard.

K

The other one is here on the right side of the page that is located on the back side of the salt.

K

Pile so that was the one that we were not able to see on the sidewalk um and both of those they're.

K

Looking to to upgrade to uh current standards, because the the two that are there quite old.

K

um If we go to the site plan, that'd be great, which way is it? You know probably yeah? That's.

K

A good question that was slow, bollard plans are at the end of the package. So it's okay! Let me let me.

B

Let me let me get to it here, so um so the stormwater upgrades so we're looking to.

K

Install a storm water, filtration unit and a outlet to the piscataqua river, um the photos.

K

Just on the screen, you could see that the salt street, from where the uh the current runoff goes.

K

um So we'd be looking to install that storm water filtration practice at the low point of the site.

K

um 261 that has been uh sized to to treat um the stormwater runoff from the site and.

K

We're using a stormwater filtration system that does have the capacity to treat some of.

K

The heavy metals which are the required contaminants they need to test for.

B

Is this the one you want ah that'll work.

K

So yeah, so this is the overall site, so the entrance to the site is right here. So this is.

K

Market street and then this is the uh the building that's to the right of the entrance. When you come.

K

In and then when we're, when we're on the sidewalk, we're standing right about in this location,.

K

So the the bar we couldn't see is the one that's back over here.

K

um The second one they're replacing is is there's the existing one right there. The.

K

New one will be approximately where this two is located, uh and then this is also.

K

The low point on the site, so that is where the storm water treatment practice, will be located.

K

So the application involves a total of 66 675 square feet of previously disturbed title buffer.

K

Impact and uh 75 square feet of impact to an area below the highest observable tide line and that.

K

Is for the construction of the outlet? I mean it's that 75 square feet that I that makes this uh into.

K

A major uh application, as opposed to a minor impact or some other type of hds application.

K

So that's that's the project and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

A

The questions allison- I I didn't see it- maybe it's.

C

Here but a maintenance plan for that contact, filtration device.

K

You are right and uh we have not included that in the package and I'm sure ds will.

K

Catch that as well but we'd be uh certainly want to have that included, so that the.

K

Maintenance procedures are part of the o m for the site. The site does have a currently.

K

In place, operation and maintenance plan for the site as a whole, so that would just be.

K

A supplemental document that we can provide to them, um but yes, that we will definitely add that.

A

um I had a question about timing on construction. You may have it in there, but.

A

When are you guys going to be doing this, so it's not in there.

K

um A little bit undetermined, as I was talking with joe actually before we came in about that and.

K

Basically, the site needs to be empty for them to to do this, and with the the mild winter that.

K

That pile isn't disappearing as quickly as it normally would. So it's it's kind of dependent.

K

On on when the site gets cleared out and when they'd be looking to do that and do you have to.

A

Depend on like do you guys have to worry about the sturgeon, and no so that that was reviewed by a new.

K

Hampshire, fish and game, and they had no concerns with with the uh the surgeon they did come up on.

K

When we did that process, but um they didn't give us any time constraints for construction.

D

Are you saying the whole cell pile has to be gone before you can start? I I don't know. I.

K

Wouldn't think yeah? No, no has that ever happened, um but a large you know pretty much the you know.

K

So this this area is obviously they don't they don't pile of salt right where that would be.

K

Going, but to have an active construction zone while this, this pile is being currently you.

K

Know trucked off site. You can't really have both going on at the same time makes sense.

A

Any other questions, what's the capacity of those bombers, what.

E

Are they designed for how much would we I, uh it was a different company.

K

Designed the uh the ballard, so I don't know the answer to that: okay,.

K

Joe's at 100 ton.

K

Yeah apple door, marine engineering uh did the the baller design and those.

K

That we did include those plans as an appendix to this submission.

K

um This idea, yes, could have a chance to look at them. Thank you, I'm unclear as to what the.

L

One and five represent on the map two and four and three yeah. This is the photo location plan.

K

That was part of the application, so those those numbers and arrows correspond to.

K

Photos that were included with the application and the arrows the direction they were taken.

L

Thank you and then is epa. It's not requiring you to worry about the source at all of the heavy.

A

Metals, I mean because I know, there's a question at the site about you know. Probably there's some.

A

Historic yeah, that's that's not part of it. um It's they just have a quarterly testing requirement.

K

um And so they they take a storm water sample, currently they're, just taking it right off the.

K

Ground so once the system is installed, there's we're going to have a manhole downstream of the.

K

The treatment unit so they'll be able to pull the sample out of that post-treatment.

K

The the tricky one that they're dealing with currently is aluminum and um trying to identify.

K

The source as well, which is also proving to be tricky, it's hard to tell where it's coming from.

A

There's no and they're either bmps other than maintaining vehicles better or something yeah.

K

Vehicle maintenance, frequent sweeping of the yard- um I think those are the.

K

Two main ones, I'm sure, there's also you know, procedures if there's spills stuff like that.

A

So those are in place or those are in place already. Yes, okay,.

A

Oh sorry, allison yeah. There was something that I forgot it's on our page 96, but it's.

C

A box that is not checked, there's, no yes or no is dredging uh for dredging projects is.

C

The subject property contaminated, so this is not a dredging project, which is why it.

C

Would be awesome, it's just that you're you're gonna have to dig in order to get.

C

To be able to situate the contracts device correct, but that's not considered dragging yeah.

F

Yes, yes, I will uh make a motion to.

F

Support the those site improvements at 227 market street on the des application. Thank you second.

F

Can we add a stipulation yeah, I was gonna say with any stipulations. If people have.

F

Them adding a maintenance plan for the filtration. Oh, yes, that's right.

D

That's the only one I had I'll second it, but I also have one more question: okay,.

C

Okay, um so what are you doing with the material that you're taking out with the when you're.

C

Placing the contracts device uh it would have to be disposed of, based on state regulations for for.

K

Disposing of construction debris? Okay, so it's not going to be tested to see if it's contaminated.

K

I don't know if there's any uh requirements related to that um there are legal means of.

K

Disposing construction uh materials- and I don't know those regulations off the top of my head.

A

Or maybe one just to make sure that nobody misses it, I guess they will.

I

And that's stipulation, tested epa probably will.

C

Yeah well, I think I think that we should add something that they need to properly dispose of.

C

Anything that is disturbed during the operation to place the filtrix or the contracts filter.

A

Okay with that with your ear, so we have a motion: that's first and seconded with two stipulations.

A

Discussion, in addition,.

A

Vote all those in favor anybody opposed nobody motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks very much.

A

Oh, that was so much quicker than I thought it was going to be today. Well yeah. The next one would have taken forever. Yeah.

A

Yeah um other business on the this officially, but we tried to get other business on there.

A

But there is a lot of other business peter and I have and then I some other people have other.

A

Business and I also wanted to welcome stuart- um I should have done that in the beginning.

A

But this is your first official meeting, so it's great to have you here and I know you've been.

A

At all site visits, which is really great too, so I wondered who you were [laughter].

A

um And for other business you had something to jess on this yep to start, maybe sure um so one.

F

Of my many hats, um I am helping to organize an earth day. Kickoff event in collaboration with the.

F

Portsmouth library, it is to be held on april 21st, which is the evening before earth day from four.

F

To seven, the vision of this event is really to educate the community about all the ways that they.

F

Can get involved and things that are happening in around the seacoast and at the state level.

F

um And hopefully, encourage them to actually take action on earth day and go do something. We've.

F

Primarily asked a lot of non-profit organizations, but we've also asked the city to be there as well.

F

So dpw has committed to being there. Hopefully this this, the blue, ribbon sustainability committee will.

F

Be there in some capacity, I'm talking to peter and kate, about whether we'll might have the ability.

F

To talk to the contractor for the climate action plan, or at least start to educate people without.

F

A climate action plan is coming um and we have a bunch of people who have already committed blue.

F

Ocean society seacoast deep, locals, surf ride or gundalo. I could give you a whole big list, um but I.

F

Wanted to throw it out to this commission and just see if anybody was interested in being there as a.

F

Representative of the conservation commission and just again, it'll just be a table, and you can just.

F

Kind of share about the work that we're doing and opportunities just so people can know about either.

F

Actions they can take around nofa or whatever it might be so well. I have a quick thought. The.

E

uh The city of providence, when they kicked off their online organic land gap program, they did.

E

It on earth day, you know they announced on earth day, so I would set a goal. They have all that done.

E

And reviewed and ready to go by everything, okay, great! So let's get a waiting on the pita to get.

E

His approval to work with alan and I.t, so we can get going, but the man's got the stuff ready to go.

D

Just this is at the library uh it'll be at the connie bean actually and hopefully.

F

um In the at the field area, next to it as needed, there'll be events is the hope so that people can.

F

Be engaged um we're trying to see if we can get food there in some capacity, but we have to work.

F

On that with the city, and maybe some live music or something so some of the details, we're still.

F

Sorting out at this point, but it is at the connie being four to seven friday april 21st.

E

uh Is laura from the library help you see the organizer she's one of them? Yes, there's several.

F

People from the library peter doesn't the city usually plant a tree or something like that on our.

B

Staff arbor day they usually arbor day and there's 400 trees being planted this year for the 1400.

C

So right, let's see about maybe getting something along that lines yeah. I think that might be good.

A

I know alice and I have done exhibits before like sustainability things in portsmouth, and I.

A

Mean I I'd be have if you want to have a table just about the conservation commission, too,.

A

It's totally up to you, like, I said we're just kind of.

F

Asking people to come and share either what they're doing or ways people can take action.

F

On their own or help support their action they're doing already so um we're kind of just letting it.

F

Be a little organic and whatever feels right for people, but we're just the goal is really to try.

F

To bring as many people together because I know that's for me- one of the pieces is like there's.

F

So many different groups and organizations and committees and things that are all.

F

Doing different stuff so it'd be helpful to try to get us together, so we can all share with everybody.

F

Whatever feels right, if, if you're interested in being there, that's great, I will add you.

F

To the list in future emails yeah, I would be- I don't know if anybody else wants to.

E

Meet me in the email list, okay, let me get going well, I'm wondering if one of the.

C

Things that either the city table, or we could offer, is that people could, if we're supposed.

C

To be doing something on earth day, they could help plant one of those trees. You know what.

C

I mean like we could have people sign up with their email address and tell them where to be.

C

Well, we could also provide the. I think the city already has a list for people that want.

B

Trees, planet as part of the course of 400 and there's there's information about that on the.

B

Website but we could provide that at the at the fair or the whatever we're calling it yeah.

F

I don't know it's been called many things: yeah, okay,.

F

That would be helpful actually, because I know I signed up to get some trees, but I.

F

I think the city website says that you won't get any more information.

F

Until april or something which makes sense but yep um so yeah, I can check with that.

J

I thought we could brainstorm a few things to have at a table like if we all teamed up.

J

To have a little a table there, you know the landcare stuff. That ted was talking.

J

About but even like the boundary markers it'd be fun to like talk to people about those yeah.

I

um Have them for sale, yeah first boundary marker went up on regina road yep.

J

Even like a map of the conservation areas and yeah like putting out there that.

J

You know cities looking to expand their conservation properties and.

J

I'd love for dpw2 to talk a little bit more about like some of the kind of storm water improvements.

J

They're trying to do- and I don't know if they would want help with that or so they'll- do that.

F

On their own, brian has committed okay, they'll, be there, so so brian can talk about storm water.

A

That's it yeah yeah. You can have the envirus escape or whatever ces yeah the es table. That.

B

That yeah, the big table shows where storm water goes, that'd be cool, so is brian. That's doing it.

F

Yeah and if anybody else has any other suggestions about groups or anybody else who they think you.

F

Know feel free to email me, those as well like I said we have a pretty good long list, a whole bunch.

F

Of people have committed already, some still maybe and some were still waiting to hear back from, but.

F

Anybody has any thoughts around that too we're open to suggestions. Let me just tell you: we want a.

A

Table or do we tell, I will consider that you will be there and, yes, you have a tape yeah. Where are.

C

The tables coming from are they from the library or uh oh well. That would be helpful, so I know for.

F

In my past experience doing these events a lot of these organizations, they kind of just come ready.

F

Like they have tents and tables, and they just come with the whole shebang, so I've been asking um that.

F

Of the organizations outside the city, but I would imagine that I could you know we can probably ask.

F

The connie being to have five or ten tables available just for city people know when they.

B

Did the sustainability fair way back whenever that was they rented a bunch of tables, because there.

B

Were so many vendors and people that just and they tried to make it fit yeah, they have like a layout.

B

And all that, but this probably isn't quite as big or organized like that. We're still waiting to see.

F

But maybe yeah maybe it'll get there, um but right now yeah. I think we can still sort of manage it.

F

We've talked about mapping out the connie bean as we need once we know how many people are in.

F

um And again, once I once we get a better a full picture of who's coming and what they can bring.

F

Then we'll kind of talk about what else we need to supply and stuff so great. Thank you.

A

um So what time do you have to leave ted uh in a couple minutes? Because there were two things.

A

That I wanted to bring up that had to do with things you had brought up before which one was.

A

um The city annual report, you would ask for something to be in that and.

A

um So I was going to draft something and then with city staff, with pig iron cake.

A

This year's for 2022 so and then just run it by just a paragraph or two about what we're doing.

A

um He just wanted to have the annual reports. The town annual reports usually considered to.

A

Have something in there about the conservation commission, the other one was um you had mention.

A

Something about this sustainable land care. Do you want to set up another meeting for that.

A

Actually, the last meeting we had in october, we are very fortunate that I've got.

E

Assisting on this because she's very experienced in putting together websites, so she had gotten.

E

Together with alan brady and after our meeting in october, when people he had made suggestions and.

E

Maybe changed the name, so it's not the same as the is brian's project you know, and so she took those.

E

Incorporated them and talked to alan and he's waiting to hear from the city administration to.

E

Say it's okay, you can go, go on this thing, so we're ready to go and I think we can get it done in.

E

Short order once we get there, okay, once alan goes to okay yeah, it should be moving along. We have a.

B

Lot of content that probably needs to be added to, but I think the content has to be reviewed.

B

um The final sign off, but I don't see an issue with it and hopefully we can get.

B

All the graphics and things in it by earth day and oh yeah- I have a nice splash for it.

J

Postcard or something that we could give out at the table, I'd have the url and a tiny bit about what you can find there or just make a sign with.

G

Qr code yeah, so people can hit it with their phones. That's trash, okay, sustainability.

A

Right so no meeting, are you saying then uh not until we have a whole bunch of contacts. You know.

E

Content once she gets starts working with alan, then we'll have something we could share. Share a.

E

Link to everybody, take a look at it and then set up a subcommittee meeting for those that want to.

E

With them say this, is it, do you want to change anything or add anything or anything like that.

A

Great, thank you and then um another update I had was that yesterday before yesterday I did present.

A

um At the city council meeting when they were talking about the cip when they had that as.

A

A public hearing, so I just did a sort of a shortened version of the letter.

A

But then, as follow-up to that, I got invited to a governance.

A

Because they're talking about having a.

A

Parks committee- maybe okay, so it's on monday, I'm gonna go find out what it's all about and.

A

Then report back to everybody and um let everybody know because that seems like.

A

Definitely something we should be involved in which I expressed after the invite so.

A

See what our role could be so and then the regulation update. Do you want me to give that.

B

Good, um well just that you had submitted a letter to the city council yeah, asking permission yeah.

A

Asking permission if it was okay for us to move ahead with regulation updates planning on some.

A

Level yeah and the council supported that effort. Just you know, it was more of a notice that the.

B

Group wanted to proceed and, as we discussed, I think the process that we talked about was.

B

A work group that was going to work on areas to do amendments not necessarily write the.

B

Amendment but specific areas where changes should occur that work group would come up with a set of.

B

Amendment ideas then have a work session with the conservation commission. Get everybody on.

B

Board or change it or come up with what the commission's final kind of ideas are on that.

B

And then have a work session jointly with the cop, with the planning board to go over wetland.

B

Amendments and then once the planning board and the conservation have a chance to agree, we can.

B

Figure out the next steps we most likely do a more formal, specific amendments. That would then go to.

B

The city council, the way the city council handles it usually is to send it to the land use board.

B

um To have them review it support it, actually that they would do that before they created.

B

The amendments they might want to they'll- probably they'll, probably.

B

um Just support it at this case, because it'll probably be pretty far along then.

B

We might from there at some point, draft the ordinances to go to the city council.

B

Process is kind of typically. What the process is is the planning board sends something to the city.

B

Council or the city council send something to the planning board, but ultimately the both the city.

B

Council and the pioneware have a chance to review it. The city council ultimately approves it. So it's.

B

At the end of the day, the city council is the one that approves changes to the zoning ordinance, but.

B

I think the path we've laid out gives a lot of people a chance to participate that are on.

B

Different boards, there can be a public process as well at different points along the way and.

B

We'll work that in but that's kind of the the vision the council was given was just that the.

B

Commission wants to work on them and wanted to get their support, and the council supported that so.

D

Other questions, peter one, is there any like deadlines that we have to like? Is there only.

D

A certain time when the council will look at these or no but I'd, say they're, you know, there's.

B

A lot of zoning things going on they're doing uh they did doing a height amendment. That's almost.

B

Approved and there's um a um adu amendments in the zoning ordinance and now they're the work, the.

B

Land use committee is looking at incentives for housing as the next.

B

Step in the housing, so housing's been a big focus, but I think after that.

B

um There's other things: people are talking about it in different ways, but there's no real deadline.

B

I guess is the answer: if you want to get it before this council, then you'd have to do it.

B

In their term and they're the ones that supported it, so I guess that would be one to think about it.

B

A year from now per year from last month, and then my other question is um you had said, we.

D

Would talk about just like ideas and not actually writing the language? Would we ultimately write.

D

The language, or is that, like typically we'd, have someone like a ordinance writer, a person.

B

Who's done that click on city staff, or is this it could be city staff, depending on how complicated.

B

It is we often contract for it, but it could go either way. Okay, we've done it both ways.

A

All right, thank you, so the next step is to have a little some committee kind of look at.

B

Well, uh just a work group, I think, is what we had talked about. So it's not really a quorum.

B

And that work group would work with the whole conservation commission in a work session format.

B

And whether that's you know a separate meeting or it's straightforward enough.

B

That you could send it out in a packet and then talk about it at a meeting.

B

You know if you have a light meeting or set up a separate meeting. However, you want to do it.

D

I'll think about it and then that work session after the commission's sort of on board. If it's.

B

That one work session or multiple, then let the planning board know that we'd like to have a.

B

Work session with them and talk about it with them, they might have a different perspective on.

B

What they want to change so get everybody on the same page, hopefully moving forward.

B

And yeah, I guess to answer your question on the time frame that the faster it goes. The.

B

Better because if there are ordinance changes, it takes three readings of the city council, so.

B

That might take two months. You know you're saying they also have a lot on their plate right now and.

B

They have a lot so yeah, but the bigger you get it there get in line, get in line. Yeah.

B

I mean it doesn't have to go to this council either, but I think you know.

B

It's just a goal: it's a good gohan sustainability, so yeah.

A

um So we have what sam put together originally and then I've got sort of a list of different things.

A

um That we wanted to so do we want to have that as a little work group, first or or as a.

A

On the agenda here, um I guess it's up to you guys how you want to handle it.

C

If you feel like you've got it together enough, then we have like a lot of ideas.

D

I feel like we discussed that we kind of want to like why don't we have the work group meet.

B

With staff- and we can talk about what makes sense to move forward, what doesn't maybe or.

B

What you know, at least, we can identify some of the challenges you might have with certain things. Okay,.

B

Or you know, or not, but at least sort of have an approach yeah. If you want to do it that.

B

Way and then have a work session with the whole commission yeah, I feel like it just needs to be.

D

And then everybody can say: oh, this is missing right. That's missing, yeah, which.

D

Is better than but then we can say well we did talk about that, but this is what.

A

What alert group is you and you me, is there anybody? No, it's an executive committee, an.

A

Executive committee was there, somebody else, wasn't lynn helping. I thought it was yeah. Then.

J

You were helping you learned, yeah with my time is limited. I wasn't, I think, if they send somebody.

J

Else I wanted to do it that'd be great. If there isn't, then maybe I would okay you're looking at.

C

Me anybody else want to volunteer yeah. It would be fine. I would like to do it, but the thing is.

C

That I'm going to be gone from march 11th through april, 2nd to let you know. Okay, thank you for more.

C

I'm going to ireland to see my daughter.

A

Work with bigger groups, good with that yeah- and I know that I have talked to the planning.

A

Board chair a couple of times and he's definitely really interested in the assault meeting together.

A

For communication, so the other, the other idea that we had around this topic was um applying.

J

For a little, a little grant through prep that, if we did want to like bring in a consultant.

J

To help with some of the ordinance drafting, or there was even sort of the idea of like maybe.

J

Even piggybacking, some like a deep dive into the regulations with some, maybe some outreach work or.

J

I mean I could come up with a few ideas in that compartment yeah. I think educating realtors for.

J

Example, one of the things that we didn't understand was what enabling legislature.

C

There was to enact some of these, you know what I mean peter said there had to be enabling.

C

Yeah people have a handle on that.

J

I don't think those grants have been announced yet, but that would be I don't know so. There's.

A

Like for technical assistance kind of grants, I mean, I think it's just money.

J

That town could use, however, the city could use, however, they want, um but yeah. You could use.

J

It to hire somebody to provide assistance if you wanted, but it's it's actually cash.

B

Not this program, no, I mean, I think it's it'll be like preppa, okay,.

B

Isn't proper, like a review of the ordinances that are in place.

J

Yeah, they call them prepa grants. I think so. I think it's like a small grant program.

J

To support communities and sort of moving in the trajectory of, like you, know, doing better.

L

In those indicators that prepa monitors, um but I think this kind of thing would be eligible, bye, ted.

B

I made a note: okay. Yes, I have some. Are we done with that topic? Yeah? It goes totally random.

D

um Is it possible to get bookmarks in the packet for plans.

B

Possible, or and or site photos too. I mean it just when the packet is like 600 pages yeah.

B

um Well and I, but if that's typically, the packet also has the breakout of each one. So you can look.

B

At them individually, that way, but usually we there are- there are bookmarks in there for.

B

Each item there is for each internal bookmarks. It depends on how we receive it. Sometimes too.

B

So I'm not totally familiar how to do that, but I can ask about it. Yeah. I think I asked.

A

Him before and he said it was possible yeah, that's like I said, but I bet it's more work.

D

I mean I think this might have been the biggest packet we've ever received, so I was gonna say in.

L

600 pages a standard no but like this statewide impairments are very long yeah. So there's a lot.

B

Of information there and you got to learn how to work a lot of it is repetitive too totally.

C

But um so what we, what I had sent you an email about, I'm wondering if we could have if 105.

C

Bartlett is going to come back if they can do a summary of the changes that they've had to make.

C

To the I did talk to them about that, oh you did before they vote, so they're willing. Okay, what do.

B

They do because that is a very large, complex project that we spend hours going over so and.

C

Many meetings and the project changed along the way because of the input they got so quite a bit.

D

If they have figures too, that show like maps that show how it changed over time. That'd be.

D

Awesome, but what are the rules if there are any to recuse yourself, because I found out.

L

Sunday, talking to a friend and spent the afternoon with him, he's an attorney attorney. Sorry for a.

L

Company that is involved in that project, I'm like, uh uh if you you know it's it's. You have a complex.

B

If you've been involved in it directly somehow or in that, might bias your opinion about it or.

B

If you're financially going to benefit from the outcome of the decision or if you work for one.

B

Of the companies, you know different things, but we could talk about it. If you want, you can ask, but.

B

You can it's kind of using your own judgment in a lot of cases, but if there's a direct.

B

You know if you've been involved in it and spoken about it outwardly before you.

B

See it then that's kind of a bias that you know that would be clear um or the.

B

Financial side, sometimes it gets gray and people just feel more comfortable.

B

Saying I don't want to be involved, because I know them really well and I wouldn't want to vote no.

B

Kind of thing, then that might be a reason, so you kind of have to use your judgment at some point.

B

But ideally it's kind of like the juror standard you want to. You want to come into it with an.

B

Objective viewpoint that you haven't there's no bias that you can you're bringing to the table.

B

When you first review the application, that's sort of the best way to think about it. If I asked you.

A

To give out, or in the past they say you know, I'm trying to do this thing on my property, I'm going.

A

To be coming to the conservation commission- and it's like don't talk to me because you can talk.

A

To me now, then, I have to recuse myself sort of thing and it sort of keeps it simple and people.

A

Don't try to sway you or anything because they want you to reduce yourself anyway,.

C

Well, the thing is, though, that there are public hearings about certain things or.

C

Once we have a sidewalk, I mean I become biased. When I see something.

B

That's how you're you're introducing yourself to the application as a conservation member on.

B

Site walk, okay, same thing, I mean, if it's a hearing with a different board. That's another story right.

A

Outside information, I have one more item: oh go ahead. Yeah, sorry,.

B

um So I think everybody knows we applied for a grant from the moose.

B

Plate grant to do a wetland update of our citywide butler maps and we got it.

B

um We're gonna get twenty thousand dollars to do a city-wide update of our of our uh citywide.

B

Wetland maps, so maybe they could come over to my property. Well, the thing is nobody. It's not.

C

On any maps that it's wetland and yet I pay for flood insurance, so it would be good if somebody.

C

Could look at it? Well if it's flood insurance, it hasn't flooded right, it has not. It has to flood.

B

No, we can, if that's a great idea, we could make a list of properties where we know that our.

B

Maps are wrong to have them, do field work and inspect those that's. The idea is to look at the.

B

Boundaries see where they've changed. You know there's places where beavers have expanded the.

B

Boundaries, the last five years, so it's really wetland not where it wasn't or the storm water.

B

Or drainage has changed so that an area didn't doesn't receive water, it might not be wet anymore.

B

Different things have happened. The original maps were just wrong in some places, so yeah, so that.

B

Was the idea it's pretty far out of date? 2003 they did that effort and it's not a delineation.

B

It's still just a guide, but it's something we use quite a bit and applicants, use and saves people.

B

A lot of money not to have to do a donation on a really small project like a shed or something so.

C

Yeah, well I I mean I moved to the property 44 years ago and there's been a perennial stream.

C

On my property, for that entire time it's never been dry, and yet it shows nowhere.

C

So it would have been good if that had been left. It does show up in an old usgs map. Does it.

G

I've seen it, I have one other question.

J

Wasn't there going to be a flood risk workshop, or did I miss it or did it get canceled? No, I.

J

Literally, missed it: oh last week, yeah okay, they should have sent out another reason. It was great.

C

Honestly, it was really good, but not a bad day. It was recorded yeah, I think yeah. I don't think I.

F

Actually was able to go even though I signed up, so I can send you the link, okay, cool yeah. There was.

A

Little breakouts that weren't recorded right yeah, those were you know, different groups, but they were.

B

Going to put notes together, so it's all virtual, then, with the planning board with members of.

B

Different htc everybody at city council, everybody was invited. That was like one message from isaac.

A

Isaac list of people on the console yeah, they got it from us.

B

I don't know you only got one message about it: yeah.

A

Right and then yeah, I think, once again yeah. I think that's what it was yeah yeah and then.

A

That has, if anybody I know, allison and I think stuart, you would attended the first session of.

A

The conservation association of conservation commissions thing on wetland, delineation kind.

A

Of or identifying was it good? I thought it was good. I don't know super interesting. It.

B

Was good great was that virtual, also yeah yeah? I think they're gonna have one or two.

A

In person there's like a series of six, oh wow, um and they do record those too.

A

Yeah, which is helpful because it's in the middle of the day, but I strongly recommend.

A

Registering and they'll do the same thing: they'll send it out to you if you can't go yeah, I I said.

I

That I couldn't I registered- and I told um barbara- hey barbara- um uh that I couldn't make it then, but.

I

I read if you registered, then you could see it later and she was going to send something.

I

Out did any of you guys, because I didn't get anything to have the to get the link okay, so.

I

I was gonna follow up, but I wanted to ask you guys because it hasn't gone out yet because I look for.

K

It also what it hasn't gone out yet because I okay, I look for it also, and it was supposed to.

K

Still, okay, all right good yeah, because I don't think I got the one of them. Could you imagine.

C

Motion to adjourn all those in favor.