Committee Report - OSEE - 9-16-15 — File 199991

Open Space, Environment and Energy Special Committee Page 1 of 3 Printed 9/21/2015 September 16, 2015 REPORT OF THE OPEN SPACE, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEETING AS A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Katjana Ballantyne Chair Present Robert J. McWatters Vice Chair Present Rebekah L. Gewirtz Ward Six Alderman Absent Matthew McLaughlin Ward One Alderman Absent Maryann M. Heuston Ward Two Alderman Present Tony Lafuente Ward Four Alderman Present Mark Niedergang Ward Five Alderman Present John M. Connolly Alderman At Large Absent Dennis M. Sullivan Alderman At Large Present Mary Jo Rossetti Alderman at Large Present William A. White Jr. Alderman At Large Present Also present: Brad Rawson - OSPCD, Stan Koty - DPW, Jill Lathan - Recreation, Oliver Sellers- Garcia - OSE, Omar Boukili - Mayor's Office Approval of the May 21, 2015 Minutes RESULT: ACCEPTED 197711: Conveying the recommendations of the Somerville Fields Task Force. Mr. Boukili & Commissioner Koty discussed the recommendations of the Somerville Fields Task force. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 198203: That the Administration report its Action Plan in response to the recommendation of the Fields Task Force. The mayor will provide a presentation some time in October on these items. Mr. Boukili discussed his last conversations with DCR regarding Drawer 7 and noted that this space was

Open Space, Environment and Energy Special Committee Page 2 of 3 Printed 9/21/2015 used as a snow farm during the past winter. The Administration's goal is to redesign Drawer 7 and make the Dilboy Auxillary field more usable and practical for the community. The turf and track need to be replaced at Dilboy Stadium. Foss Park is in the same category as Drawer 7, having no funds for design and the usage of this field is more regional. The Administration would like to take over the management of Foss Park, Drawer 7 and the Dilboy Auxillary field. Members discussed making the management of the fields a priority, recommendation for Lincoln Park as it related to the grass fields, field maintenance under the plan, over-use of fields due to scheduling, the appropriateness of artificial turf, involving the state delegation in the effort, the need for more natural grass in the city and possibly cutting back on outside usage of the city’s fields. Mr. Koty stated that the Gale Association would be analyzing the soil when the fields close in the fall. The DPW has hired a contractor for fertilizing the fields and park staff is actively monitoring the watering of the fields. City staff is working closely with the Gale Association to adjust the maintenance of the field. Alderman Heuston’s motion, that the Commissioner of Public Works provide the committee with a list of fields that would benefit from the plan this fall vs. the fields that would not benefit, was approved. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199713: That the Commissioner of Public Works update this Board on the condition of all athletic playing fields, especially Lincoln Park. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 199791: 671 Somerville petitioners communicating their support for keeping natural grass at Lincoln Park, not artificial turf. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199792: Lynn Weissman submitting comments re: grass fields at Lincoln Park. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199479: That the Administration update this Board on taking control of Foss Park, Draw 7 Park and the Dilboy Auxiliary Fields from the State. See 198203 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 199519: That the Mayor pursue negotiations with DCR for control of Foss Park, Draw 7

Open Space, Environment and Energy Special Committee Page 3 of 3 Printed 9/21/2015 Park and the Dilboy Auxiliary Fields and share regular updates with this Board. See 198203 RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 199133: That the Director of SPCD determine if any of the city's trees have been infected by the Emerald Ash Borer, and report back to this Board with any strategy to save them, possibly by spraying Tree Azin. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199714: That the Director of Recreation report to this Board on the use of athletic fields by non-Somerville groups, and whether Somerville youth organizations’ access is restricted by those outside groups. Ms. Lathan distributed a list of the top 10 non-Somerville organizations using the city’s fields, noting that Valeo is made up of all Somerville Latino children using the field and the Somerville Rampage is comprised of Somerville High School alumni. The Boston Women Football Alliance uses Dilboy Stadium; which is a regional stadium. The city may need to limit the types of field usage by non-Somerville adult organizations. Alderman Sullivan favors letting the fields rest to be more available for the city’s youth. Alderman White asked Mr. Boukili to look at the allocation of Foss Park and the usage of Drawer 7 over the last 5 years. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 199561: Conveying information about exploring Electricity Community Choice Aggregation for Somerville. Mr. Oliver Sellers-Garcia discussed whether aggregation is right for Somerville and noted that Lowell has already gone through this process and Salem and Melrose are in the midst of the process now. Alderman Lafuente asked if solar panels were being considered as a way to defray some of the city's costs. RESULT: WORK COMPLETED 199625: Requesting authorization to develop a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) plan to aggregate the electricity load of residents and businesses, per MGL c164 s134. President White would like an explanation of the BOA's role in the process for public participation and have it sent to the BOA in advance of the committee’s next meeting, scheduled for the first week in October. Mr. Boukili will communicate the request to the City Solicitor. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE

Open Space, Environment and Energy Special Committee Page 4 of 3 Printed 9/21/2015 199097: Submitted by Vertex Companies Inc to install 2 groundwater monitoring wells in the grassy area just north of the Community Bike Path, 180 feet and 250 feet west of Cedar St. The committee requested that a written update be provided on this item prior to the committee's next meeting, currently scheduled for October 6, 2015. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199419: That the Director of Capital Projects and/or the Director of Sustainability and Environment update this Board and the Ward 5 Alderman regularly on the testing for contamination of groundwater from 154 Cedar Street. The committee requested that a written update be provided on this item prior to the committee's next meeting, currently scheduled for October 6, 2015. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199420: That the Director of Capital Projects and/or the Director of Sustainability and Environment report to this Board whether contaminated groundwater from underneath 154 Cedar Street may be getting into the pools of standing water beside the Community Path west of Cedar Street. The committee requested that a written update be provided on this item prior to the committee's next meeting, currently scheduled for October 6, 2015. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199696: That the Director of SPCD update the Ward 3 Alderman on plans for renovating Central Hill Park. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE 199712: That the Mayor’s Aide and/or the Director of Sustainability and the Environment report to this Board on progress in addressing the litter from Globe Direct circulars, and whether Cambridge’s agreement with Globe Direct is being implemented here. The committee requested that a written update be provided on this item prior to the committee's next meeting, currently scheduled for October 6, 2015. RESULT: KEPT IN COMMITTEE