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Montpelier Conservation Commission - 2002-2005 Strategic Plan Conservation Commission subsection links Main Page   |   Conservation Fund Guidelines   |   Conservation Fund Application   |   2005 Annual Report 02-05 Strategic Plan   |   Minutes & Agenda Archive   |   Agenda 02-05 Strategic Plan links  Goals & Actions  |  02-05 Accomplishments  |  How We Do Our Work  |  Stakeholders Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats In June 2002, the Conservation Commission started the process of preparing our strategic plan for the next three years. The last strategic plan really helped guide our actions over the last 3 years, and amazingly, the Commission achieved most of its objectives. Three Year Strategic Plan: 2002-2005 Mission Statement To help protect, preserve, and enhance Montpelier’s environmental quality, natural resources, and character for residents of Montpelier and surrounding communities. back to top GOALS and ACTIONS Rivers Restore, protect, and increase access to Montpelier's rivers and riparian areas. Higher priority • Prepare river vegetation management plans for North Branch and Dog Rivers, and Stephen's Branch. • Continue to implement vegetative management plan; coordinate with Celebrate the Winooski; acquire more stable funding, e.g. through City budget. • Continue to co-sponsor and financially support Celebrate the Winooski on an annual basis. Medium priority • None Lower priority • Stay aware and informed about of Army Corps of Engineers proposal to study flow issues related to the Winooski River in Montpelier. • Investigate possibility of rehabilitating Langdon Pond. • Pursue broad range of funding support to enhance water quality. • Support river-walk proposal (between Langdon and State streets). Open Space/Green Space Protect open space/green space with critical recreational and habitat values. Higher priority • Implement Conservation Fund; establish subcommittee; finalize procedures. • Increase natural resource inventory to cover 80% of significant open space in Montpelier (up from current approx. 50%). • Identify priority parcels for protection using natural resource inventory and public input as a foundation. • Cooperate with Capitol Area Land Trust in protecting specific parcels. • Participate in Carr Lot and ensure significant portion is green space. Medium priority • Pursue establishing more pocket parks. • Educate public about the values of open space. • Support protection of open space in surrounding towns; connectivity to Montpelier. Lower priority • Investigate options for improving Blanchard Park Resource Use Encourage and promote resource conservation and ways for residents and the City to reduce negative environmental impacts. Higher priority • Work with City and schools to reduce resource use and use of toxics. • Encourage City Council to adopt Earth Charter. Medium priority • Undertake community programs to increase recycling and composting. • Promote alternative transportation to the automobile and reducing downtown traffic by implementing specific community programs; e.g. bike-to-work day. • Under community programs to promote water conservation among residences and businesses. Lower priority • Consider joining International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) CO2 reduction campaign • Support efforts to implement a bio-mass energy project in Montpelier. • Cooperate with other institutions and organizations to involve a broad spectrum of community members in community-wide environmental initiatives, such as Green-Up Day events. • Explore establishing bike shuttle program from satellite parking areas using parking replacement fund or other sources. Berlin Pond Implement a comprehensive approach for protection and use of the Berlin Pond Watershed. (Work with Berlin Conservation Commission on the following:) Higher priority • Complete Berlin • Pond Site Conservation Plan. • Complete water conservation plan. • Pursue conservation easements on Montpelier City owned land around Berlin Pond; explore funding options as needed; work with Vermont Land Trust. Middle priority • Support efforts to acquire Benjamin Falls for public benefit. • Monitor and help ensure that recommendations in Source Protection Plan are fully implemented. • Monitor and ensure that recommendations in Water Conservation Plan are fully implemented. Lower priority • Work with Vermont River Conservancy and others to pursue purchase of additional lands and easements in watershed. • Implement limited recreational opportunities around Berlin Pond consistent with Berlin Pond Site Conservation Plan. Education and Involvement Increase citizen's awareness of the community's natural resources and issues affecting these resources. Higher priority • Organize tours of Montpelier's natural resources. • Work with media to get word out about MCC’s work. • Advise and inform City government, residents and businesses on resource conservation issues through presentations, public information sessions, and other means. Medium priority • None Lower priority • Work actively with Montpelier schools to involve students and teachers more directly in work of the Commission. • Develop educational materials for schools specific to Montpelier's natural resources. • Post regular updates of the Conservation Commission's activities on the City's website. Policy and Planning Participate in local and regional planning processes, such as the Master Plan, to promote conservation of natural resources in the community. Higher priority • Provide comments to Planning Commission on significant development proposals. • Play an active role in the preparation of the major re-write of City Master Plan. Medium priority • Participate in the City-State Commission Capital Complex Project to ensure the provision of adequate green space. • Play an active role in the rewrite of zoning ordinances. • Support efforts of Friends of Sabins Pasture to protect open space. Lower priority • None back to top ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS Berlin Pond • Helped in preparation of site conservation plan (prepared in partnership with Berlin Conservation Commission) • Supported land purchases around Berlin Pond (worked with Vermont River Conservancy) • Led effort for City to prepare water conservation plan; a draft plan needing revisions is currently pending • Source protection plan: provided extensive comments Rivers • Vegetation Management Plan (completed for Main Branch of the Winooski only) • 20 new trees planted along Winooski -- implementation of River Vegetation Management Plan • "Celebrate the Winooski" river clean-up: co-organizer and funder for four years in a row Open Space • Open space plan: views and vistas component completed; natural resource inventory -- will soon be completed for almost 50% of open space in Montpelier • Conservation fund established ($40,000) • Capitol Area Land Trust: helped establish and fund Policy/Planning • Master Plan: submitted extensive comments • Zoning ordinances: prepared comments • Stone Cutters Way: prepared comments Other • Gateway park: completed • Education forums on conservation: i.e. conservation easements, land trusts • North Branch bridge: co-sponsor • North Branch park – expanded acreage • Playground equipment for Elm Street recreation area • Carr Lot rehabilitation begun; wrote grant and received brownfields assessment money from US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) back to top HOW WE DO OUR WORK education/outreach - advocate collaboration - organize advise - technical assistance celebrate - provide funds seek funds - facilitate work session - research/study watchdog - create influence - encourage back to top STAKEHOLDERS Friends of the Winooski Tree Board Capital Area Land Trust http://www.montpelier-vt.org/htm/boards_parks.shtml">Parks Commission City Council City of Montpelier Department of Public Works Planning Department Health Officer Montpelier Downtown Community Association Town of Berlin City-State Commission Association of Vermont Recyclers Large and small landowners New England Culinary Institute (NECI) students Onion River Arts Council Lost Nation Theater Property taxpayers Sports people Vermont Audubon Society Children: teens and younger Teachers Developers Construction workers Businesses on the river Foodworks; Two Rivers Center North Branch Nature Center - Vermont Institute for Natural Science (VINS) Homeowners/buyers Cemetery Commission Renters People who live around Berlin Pond State of Vermont, Department of Environmental Conservation Vermont River Conservancy Service organizations (Kiwanis, Elks) Montpelier-based non-profit organizations:       Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG)       Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC) back to top STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, and THREATS Strengths Loose tribal network Informal nature of meetings Individuals on Montpelier Conservation Commission 10 year track record Collective wisdom, vision, and courage to speak for conservation needs of Montpelier Strong leadership Access to City staff; supportive staff Humor, fun! Favorably viewed by some or most residents Leveraging external resources New people volunteering to be on the commission High energy and high expectations Weaknesses Minimal city budget High turnover - volunteer nature of organization Being a city commission – limits types of activities, funding sources Not strong enough on public visibility; relations, outreach How we sell our accomplishments; focus; how to market Opportunities Montpelier voters supportive of environmental issues Teachers/students as an untapped resource re: education and volunteers Supportive City Council Many non-profit organizations in City with comparable mission Sabins Pasture, Berlin Pond Growing awareness of need for regional cooperation People want to avoid "New Jerseyifying" Vermont University of Vermont Events in the City Funding Sources Agengy of Transportation enhancement Vermont Housing/Conservation Board EPA brownfields Green space – federal State Forest and Parks Recreation Trails Lake Champlain New England Grassroots Environmental Fund Land and Water Conservation Fund Vermont Land Trust Trust for Public Lands Vermont Community Foundation Montpelier Foundation State Municipal Planning Grants Conservation Fund (private, national) Ben and Jerries Watershed grants (state license plate fund) Wharton? Other private foundations, e.g Freeman Threats Chittenden County Developers Lack of housing Chittenden sprawl as ASD Population growth Reliance on automobiles Cell towers; radiation effects T.V. - apathy of public Economic downturn - negative effects on fundraising High property taxes Tourists Consumerism Increased water usage and effect on Berlin Pond Updated April 1, 2005
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