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Agenda and Minutes 2011-10-19 City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee 210 Main Street, City Hall Northampton, MA 01060 Community Preservation Committee DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 TIME: 7:00pm PLACE: Community Room, JFK Middle School, 100 Bridge Road * Please note location* Contact: Katharine Baker, Chair, Community Preservation Committee bakerkg@comcast.net Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner slavalley@northamptonma.gov (413) 587-1263 Agenda  7:00 - Public Comment  7:05 - Chair’s Report  7:10 - Minutes October 5, 2011 o  7:15 – Public Comment Session on 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications Conservation Fund o Mineral Hills Bookends o CT River Greenway o Beaver Brook Bridge o Academy of Music Renovations o Florence Fields o  Financial Review/Update  Begin funding Recommendations for 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications  Project Updates  Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published  9:30 - Adjourn For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website: http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/ Community Preservation Committee Minutes October 19, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm Place: Community Room, JFK Middle School, 100 Bridge Road. Members Present: Katharine Baker, Brian Adams, David Drake, Jim Durfer, Bill Breitbart, Joe DeFazio, Downey Meyer, Fran Volkmann Staff Present: Sarah LaValley Katharine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Public Comment Marlene Morin, Florence Road, noted that debates have been scheduled on the same nights as CPC meetings, and requested that another public comment session be held after the election. Jesus Leyva, Holyoke Street, asked if applications would be approved at the meeting. Katharine referenced the schedule, noting that recommendations must be referred to Council for their consideration at two meetings before funds are awarded. Chair’s Report Katharine stated that a forum is scheduled for discussion of the CPA, and CPC candidates will also be in attendance. The House approved a gaming bill that would provide some funding to the statewide Community Preservation Fund through licensing fees. It has not yet been passed by the Senate. Minutes – October 5, 2011 Jim moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Bill. The motion carried unanimously. Public Comment Session on 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications Katharine noted that the session is part of a public meeting, and is not a public hearing. Comments should be directed towards the applications under consideration. Approximately 55 people stood up to express support for the Florence Fields project. Kevin Lake, Conservation Commission Chair, stated that almost all of the acquisitions in recent years have been made possible by the flexibility of the Conservation Fund. The Commission has been building the Mineral Hills corridor for many years, and this project us an important opportunity. Marvin Ward, MassBike, stated that the CT River Greenway should be given consideration. Additionally, the Beaver Brook Bridge must be handled now before it becomes more costly. Glenn Connly, Northampton Little League, stated that the League receives information and statistics each year. One of the most important is the limitations on spaces for games and practices. Funding the Fields would be the most important thing the CPC will do. Arthur Burke, local scholastic soccer officials and baseball umpires association, stated that he has seen many fields around the region, and Northampton’s are lacking for a community of its size. Practices provide important opportunities for interaction that games do not, but practices in Northampton are limited by lack of available fields. Carol Bertrand, Recreation Commission, stated that the Commission is grateful for past support of Bean/Allard. The Commission does not have the staff capacity to manage a large fundraising campaign, but does have volunteers, and will work to secure grants. The full amount has been requested to reduce the need for phasing. Aaron Fisher, South Street, stated that adult soccer players have difficulty finding fields for pick- up and league play. Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 1 October 19, 2011 Mark Tanner, Northampton Soccer Club, stated that use of the Oxbow Fields is limited, so kids are often forced to travel to other communities to practice. Lance Lashway, Florence, President of Mike Laga Baseball Association, stated that two fields are shared with many other teams, and that outfields overlap with other sports, making play difficult. Michael Holaroid, soccer coach, stated that skills must be taught during games, and practice time with full fields is severely limited. Jackie Spain, Prospect Street, pediatrician, noted a link between sports and youth obesity. Any investment that can be made to reduce childhood obesity is money well spent. Julie Steiner, Loudville Road, stated that she recently moved to Northampton and was shocked at the poor condition of fields. Dave Herships, Warburton Way, stated that construction of fields should be the responsibility of the City, and should not require additional fundraising by users. Marlene Morin stated that she supports the fields, but noted that an Act to Sustain Community Preservation is under consideration and if passed, would allow for funds to be spent on existing fields. The neighbors should be allowed to have additional input, since the fields will impact the area. If fields are leased, there will be additional traffic concerns. Jesus Leyva asked what allocating the sum of money requested would do to the set-aside accounts. Downey provided a summary of the ten-percent requirement. Julie Rosten, Hawthorne Terrace, stated that her daughter has attended theater camp at the Academy. The building and programs are very important and must be preserved. Scott Goldman, PVPA Charter School, suggested that the Academy is a jewel. The Valley is known for the arts, and the Academy is an important part of that. Its visitors also patronize other downtown establishments. A Hadley resident stated that her daughter is involved in Academy programs. The programs are excellent, but the building is in need of a lot of work, which CPA funding can provide. Kristen Cole spoke on behalf of her daughter Katie, who is involved in Academy programs, and found a voice onstage. The City-owned resource deserves to be funded. Beau Flahive, NHS Choral Director, stated her opinion that the Academy is the face of downtown, and is a special place for both kids and adults. Walter Kloon, Pioneer Valley Ballet, stated that any child that wants to be a part of the Nutcracker can be, and this is only made possible by the Academy’s backstage area. There is no other local venue that provides this opportunity Debra J’Anthony, Academy of Music Executive Director, distributed four additional support letters for the project. Andrew Crystal, President of the Academy’s Board of Directors, noted that the marquee work funded by the CPA will be receiving a Preservation Award from the Northampton Historical Commission, and that the interior work proposed will be held to the same standards. Bruce Kriviskey, Northampton Historical Commission, stated that the Commission supports the Beaver Brook Bridge application. The project meets the criteria of the CPC plan. Historic resources and recreational opportunities are what make Northampton special, and this project will protect both. Gina Norton Smith, Murphy Terrace, stated that her street ends at a rail trail, and it provides recreation and transportation opportunities. She writes a blog about biking, and has found that many people are searching for Northampton trails. Both the bridge and greenway will be great additions to the network. Wayne Feiden, Planning Director, distributed an additional support letter for the Mineral Hills project. Peter Wells, Berkshire Design, spoke to the additional cost and design information requested by the CPC. He stated that he is comfortable with the estimate provided based on the level of drawings, and noted that bids for the bike path portion of the project, funded with PARC and Bean/Allard CPA funds came in on target. Downey noted that some elements of the budget are standard, but others, like the concession stand, could vary greatly, and asked for more information about those. Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 2 October 19, 2011 Peter stated that the specifics of these items could vary greatly, but at the amounts shown in the budget they would be attractive and durable. Examples could be provided. Peter stated that items such as playgrounds, restrooms and concession stands have been CPA funded as part of recreation fields in other communities. Brian noted that the playground line item is $300,000, but no one has spoken to the immediate need for playgrounds or pavilions. Peter replied that it is beneficial to have several different components of a park to complement the playing fields. David asked about potential for increased insurance premiums. Ann-Marie stated that fields are covered under the City’s umbrella. Katharine asked about any demonstrated need for pavilions. Ann-Marie replied that demand for pavilions and picnic areas is more ‘on-demand’ than fields. These are not formally scheduled, but are used if they are available. Downey suggested that a full financial picture of the project would be helpful. Fran asked about the possibility of phasing. Ann-Marie replied that the project was initially presented as a phased, but it is difficult to design drainage and permitting on a piecemeal basis. Downey asked if similar facilities have been constructed without restrooms. Peter replied that new facilities typically involve restrooms, but renovations to older facilities where sewers are not available usually do not. The Committee discussed the potential for reduced leveraging if the project were fully funded. Wayne noted that the biggest funding source is the PARC grant. However, the City applies for only one annually, and there are other projects in the queue. Fran noted that fundraising often occurs for capital projects, but that is not proposed here. Ann- Marie replied that leagues often purchase backstops, benches, and other items, so the focus for fundraising will come later, when fields are constructed. Brian asked about the potential for leasing fields. Wayne stated that the rights to use the fields couldn’t be sold to another group, as that would be commercial renting, prohibited under zoning. Fees could be charged to users, and tournaments held. David asked whether the playground would be considered a destination or a diversion. Peter replied that as planned, it is lacking the components to be a destination. Financial Review/Update Sarah presented some different potential scenarios for bonding, and the Committee reviewed available funds. Begin funding Recommendations for 2011 Round 2 CPA Applications The Committee will submit individual funding recommendations to Sarah, who will compile them for the next meeting. Project Updates None Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published None Adjourn On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 PM Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 3 October 19, 2011