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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAG-05/07/2024 WS May 7, 2024 Town Board Work Session Agenda IV-1 9:00 Rev. Margaret Ann Cowden, PhD and Rev. Natalie Wimberly re: Juneteenth Parade and Community Celebration in Greenport on June 15th IV-2 9:15 Councilwoman Smith, Councilwoman Doherty, Assistant Planning Director Mark Terry, Planner Mara Cerezo and Government Liaison Gwynn Schroeder re: Setting Affordable Housing Rental Rates IV-3 9:30 Janet Douglass, Recreation Supervisor with Catherine Bosco re: Proposed PIC Board Project Presentation for Task Park IV-4 9:45 Town Board Break (15 minutes) IV-5 Justice Louisa Evans re: Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition (FISMC) Request for Letter of Support for "Final Design and Planning for Implementing Eco-moorings and Seagrass Area Buoys on Fishers Island, 83566, Henry L. Ferguson Museum" IV-6 Supervisor Krupski re: Church Parking Request IV-7 Announcement: National Safe Boating Week (May 18-24, 2024) Executive Session IV-8 Labor-Matters Involving the Employment of a Particular Person(s) 11:00 Town Attorney Paul DeChance IV-9 11:30 Town Board Lunch Break (30 minutes) IV-10 Potential Acquisition(s), Sale or Lease of Real Property Where Publicity Would Substantially Affect the Value Thereof 12:00 Lillian McCullough, Land Preservation Executive Assistant 12:15 Fishers Island Ferry District Commissioners IV-11 Labor- Matters Involving the Employment/Appointment of a Particular Person(s) 12:45 -Town Comptroller Michelle Nickonovitz 1:00 -Kevin Webster, President Board of Assessors 1:15 -Chief Building Inspector Michael Verity and Fred Visser, Fire Marshall -Councilwoman Doherty re: Committee Appointments 1:45 -Solid Waste Coordinator Nick Krupski .,. ' V IAIUIIRIIDAY Juneteenth JUIIIE P Parade & conlill"Unility 151 F* C4 lebration in Greenport To: Community Members of Southold Town From: The Clinton Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in collaboration with Comin to the Table and the Southold Town Anti-Bias Task Force Subject: 2024 Juneteenth Parade and Community Celebration When: Saturday June 15th, 2024 Dear friends, We invite you to celebrate Juneteenth with us this year! We will start the day at the Clinton Memorial A.M.E.Zion Church at 10:30am with words from Pastor Natalie Wimberly and a blessing from the church elders. From there,we will then walk together to Mitchell Park in parade formation. Please ® ! Come walk withr or individual—and bring signs! We will continue the celebration at Mitchell Park with speakers, musicians, dancers and more to commemorate this important day in history. There will also be food, activities and a 2pm screening at the nearby North Fork Arts Center on Front Street of the documentary: Juneteenth: Freedom and Faith, which explains the significance of this day followed by a panel discussion of why it was recently made a federal holiday. To end the eventful day, we invite everyone to partake in a racial healing yoga practice in the park, so bring your mats! We invite you to join us! Gather a group to march. Invite friends and colleagues. Please reach out to: CTTTNF@gmall.com for more information. All are welcome to this free community event. Sincerely, Reverend Natalie R.Wimberly on behalf of the 2024 Juneteenth Celebration Committee:. Megan Bowles Reverend Margaret Cowden Sylvia Daley Valerie English Nicki Gohorel Carolyn Peabody Valerie Shelby Liz Welch V-5 22 April 2024 Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2024 1133 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 1000 Washington, DC 20005 Re: Letter of Support"Final Design and Planning for Implementing Eco-moorings and Seagrass Area Buoys on Fishers Island, 83566, Henry L. Ferguson Museum" To Whom It May Concern: The Town of Southold, in a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility, fully supports the Henry L. Ferguson Museum's application for the referenced project. This initiative, which aims to create final design plans for implementing public-use eco-moorings, is a crucial step towards reducing anchor pressure in the eelgrass meadows of Fishers Island and improving the health of the Long Island Sound. Through the years, the Town of Southold has proudly kept a town board member as a Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition(FISMC)representative. This representative has served diligently since 2017 to ensure that our organizations work together efficiently and effectively to achieve a common goal to improve Long Island Sound through eelgrass preservation, education, and outreach. The Town of Southold is deeply committed to supporting the Henry L. Ferguson Museum's plan to create public-use eco-moorings and will provide FISMC with the support and cooperation required for this project. Our FISMC representative helped shape the strategic plan and specific goals that have formed and developed this project. We look forward to our coorperation with the Henry L. Ferguson Museum through our representative on FISMC. This project is technically sound and has a comprehensive work plan designed to achieve the proposed project outcomes. Please feel free to contact my office if you should need further information at---.---.----. Sincerely, Signature Name Position a i I l I f I f I f f / r I I i 1 i f,1 1 I 1 1 0;� 1 1 I 1 I � I� II IIIIII ,IIIIII 111111111111111�01�01�Illllllllllllll������I C IIC 11 � 111111111�I � 11 11 1111111III11111�11111110010011101110011111111�1111111�I1 %/�����lI1J�����l�I��III���IIIIII�II111�JI���II���I1J1�I1��Ill����1���������l��I������IIIIIII�I��C�����II��I�1111�1�111ID00000011111111111111100��IIDIDIDIC�II�J�����������1J�1�JI�10�llll�l�1111Illlllll 0 vwr146��0 NR�a Long Island Sound Futures Fund 2024 Proposal Narrative INSTRUCTIONS: This is the narrative portion of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund(LISFF) application. Narrative should not exceed 10 pages in a 12-point font. Please do not delete questions (you can remove the description or graphics after the boldface question category but not the category itself(e.g., maintain Problem/Solution etc.). When complete upload narrative into Easygrants. Project Theme: Check only one "Theme" from the Lot!,g I.slcind,5oir)° "Coiii reherisiir Conservation and lang Bement Plan air Long 1'slan ,5ounc/202(-2 '24 (CCMP) which describes the primary outcome of the proposed project: ( ) Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds; ( ) Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife; or ( ) Sustainable aji Resilient Corninuilities. Project Type: Check only one category that describes the primary project activities. For planning: ( ) EPA 9 Element watershed plan; ( ) Community Engagement, Planning and Priority setting; ( ) Feasibility, Suitability or Alternatives Analysis; ( ) Site Assessment and Conceptual Design; ( ) Final Design esign and Permits;; ( ) Partnership to scale up water quality or habitat restoration project implementation; For other types ofprojects: ( ) Water Quality Implementation; ( )Habitat Restoration Implementation; ( ) Resilience Implementation; ( ) Invasives Control; ( ) Education/Engagement; or( ) Technical Assistance. ( ) Check if your project proposes to collect data. Problem/Solution. The Long Island Sound Study (LISS)targets twelve types of coastal habitat, including submerged aquatic vegetation, such as eelgrass, because of their vital effect on Long Island Sound's health and resiliency. Eelgrass is deeply connected to Long Island Sound's natural resources and recreational opportunities. Even as the extent of eelgrass declines in Long Island Sound, it still dramatically contributes to the economy and ecosystem by providing vital marine habitats. Importantly,this habitat is a refuge for many on the high-priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need(SGCN) list. This sanctuary for marine species protects the diversity of native species in Long Island Sound and improves public enjoyment of recreation. In addition to the unique habitat eelgrass provides it is an efficient filtration system that improves water quality and prevents coastal erosion. Eelgrass has a global impact as a natural carbon sequestration system, reducing greenhouse gases by holding them in the sediments with their intricate root systems. The LISS Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan(CCMP) recognizes the importance of eelgrass to Long Island Sound. It has prioritized the restoration of 2000 additional acres by 2035 based on a 2012 baseline. However, as these restoration attempts increase, the threats of recreational boating to the expanding eelgrass habitat are also expected to increase. Recreational boating represents a direct and largely preventable source of significant damage and restricts seagrass recovery through anchoring and mooring. Anchors create 0.16 m2 scars of uprooted rhizomes, and the total bare patch can reach up to 4 m2 (Liley, et al. 2012, Collins, Suonpaa and Mallinson 2010). Traditional swing-chain moorings create even more damage in seagrass beds as the chain drags around the ground weight with the movements of the tide and wind (Egerton 2011, Unsworth, et al. 2017). The average total loss from a swing-chain mooring is 122 m2 (Unsworth, et al. 2017). The source of the recreational boater threat is on the rise as boat use has consistently increased on Long Island Sound over the past several years. Since recreational vessels and seagrass both prefer shallow, sheltered locations, new techniques for boats to make berth must be innovated and implemented to prevent eelgrass habitat loss. Eco-moorings are a rising solution to the issue of recreational boater and eelgrass co-habitation. There are many versions of eco-mooring, each striving to either replace the swing chain or float it off the seafloor (please reference the photo in the uploads). While some studies compare the methods (e.g., Egerton 2011), the technology is still developing and site-specific. Still, results to shift behavior away from anchoring are promising. In Torbay, Southwest England, a trial eco-mooring alleviated seagrass anchoring events by an estimated 20% (Parry-Wilson, et al. 2019). This study highlights the importance of easily accessed and consistent seagrass and eco-mooring education and community involvement. Many boaters who did not use the trial eco-mooring during the study period reported that they did not know it existed, had trouble using it, or were unaware that its use was free of charge. Others who anchored in the voluntary no-anchor zone stated they did not know they were in a seagrass area. A significant challenge in implementing conservation management strategies for recreational vessels is their perception of freedom. Recreational boaters value their independence on the water; many will prioritize preferred locations over environmental conservation. In a 2017 survey, boaters ranked "sail to another location" as the least likely action they would take when considering anchoring in a seagrass area (Parry-Wilson, et al. 2019). Respondents who reported anchoring in seagrass areas reported their reasons, including flexibility, choice, and independence. The Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition(FISMC) conducted a similar survey in 2023 and received similar results. Respondents claimed,a willingness to engage in seagrass-safe boating but an unwillingness to leave preferred areas. Through the results of this survey, FISMC identified the critical barriers to seagrass-safe boating around Fishers Island, including 1) knowing the locations of seagrass areas, 2) boater site preference, and 3)boater capability with seagrass-safe boating techniques. A central tenant of Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM) is to identify and remove barriers to key, influential behaviors. This approach contrasts with traditional environmental education, which tends to assume that the primary reason the community does not adopt a preferred behavior is a lack of knowledge. While CBSM is frequently education-based, its focus on the community's values and removing barriers to adopting new behaviors is the key to its success. A group in Florida addressed the issue of recreational boaters creating propellor scar damage to seagrass beds using an education-based CBSM approach. They discovered that navigational aids immediately increased seagrass-safe boating practices (Barry, et al. 2020). This cue-based intervention was effective because the buoys marked where the preferred behavior should be applied. Barry (2020) also emphasized the importance of a tazidenn targeted approach, including education and cue-based techniques, in the long-term effects on the boating community. To address the barriers FISMC identified, they must create a comprehensive solution that includes education, cue-based intervention, and easy-to-use berthing solutions. FISMC has assessed seven sites where eco-mooring could effectively manage conservation. Through this assessment, FISMC found two sites, Eighth Hole Beach and Flat Hammock, to be suitable locations for eco-moorings. Through community involvement and input, FISMC found that Eighth Hole Beach would be most impactful and supported by the community as this area causes many residents concern due to the high volume of anchoring in eelgrass. Eighth Hole Beach is just East of East Harbor and is favored by daytrip boaters from Connecticut due to its proximity to the mainland. Over fifteen hours across fifteen days, FISMC has documented over fifty boats anchored or double-anchored in this seagrass area. FISMC wants to minimize the boat anchor damage observed in this area by 1) implementing cue- based intervention buoys to indicate seagrass areas, 2) enabling sustainable site use through eco-moorings, and 3) targeting boaters with audience-specific messaging about seagrass, seagrass areas, and eco-moorings. This project requires a carefully constructed approach to designing and placing the buoys and eco-moorings. Since there are many versions of eco-moorings and the buoys will be placed at the edge of seagrass areas,the anchor for each must be specifically designed to minimize the impact on the seafloor. This project's preliminary design and site assessment phase is currently underway. The figure provided in the photos demonstrates the initial design of the eco-mooring anchor system. A FISMC-led eco-mooring pilot project, starting in the pg. '7.......Long Wand Sound Futures Fund 2024 Proposal Narrative summer of 2024, will create the design of the eco-mooring and test its effectiveness at the proposed site, Eighth Hole Beach. At the end of the pilot project, FISMC will know about any improvements needed for the final design, placement plan and permitting phase. Since eco-moorings are a new and relatively untested technology in Long Island Sound, boaters tend to be skeptical about using or installing,them for private use. Parry-Willson (2019) found that boaters who were told about a plan to implement ec r- aoorings were far more likely to question its effectiveness than boaters who had been shown an implemented eco-mooring. They concluded that boaters form the basis of their trust in the existence of the eco-moorings rather than the design plans. This makes it imperative for Long Island Sound that this technology be implemented first as a free-of-charge, public-use access point accompanied by a thorough plan to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of the new technology. This approach will ensure Long Island Sound receives the full benefit of demonstrating the effectiveness of the latest technology to the public, increasing boater trust in this form of habitat conservation, and encouraging marinas and private mooring owners to use them in the future. Effective implementation of eco-moorings will prevent habitat loss in high- anchor locations for Long Island Sound to ensure eelgrass can thrive as marine sanctuaries and improve shoreline resilience, carbon sequestration, and water quality. This project will finalize the design of the eco-mooring anchors, placement, and quantity of installations, acquire the necessary permits, and create a comprehensive CBSM outreach kit to inform the boating community about eelgrass and eco-moorings. The educational component of this project will be based on the educational materials FISMC has already created, but targeting specific audiences and effective messaging must be determined. Project objectives include: - Coordinate and convene FISMC to create a CBSM education-based campaign around eco-moorings and their impact on eelgrass. - Meet with the Harbor Committee and the Town of Southold to create final placement plans for on-the- water installations and a long-term maintenance plan. - Obtain all permits and authorizations required to install the buoys and eco-moorings. - Finalize the anchor system design used by the eco-moorings and buoys that will be installed in or near eelgrass areas. This project addresses two of the CCMP's cross-cutting principles: sustainability and climate resilience. Seagrass meadows sequester and store twice as much carbon per area as terrestrial forests (Howard, et al. 2014). Furthermore, healthy seagrass meadows protect nearby terrestrial habitats by stabilizing shorelines, settling out sediments, and reducing wave energy, thus contributing to climate resilience. Carbon sequestration and the mitigating effects of seagrass on climate change are among the primary reasons for protecting this resource. This project lays a solid foundation for a project that will include buoys, eco-moorings, and targeted outreach. The maintenance of the proposed installations will be addressed explicitly in the plan to ensure the eco-moorings remain accessible to the public. This will ensure the project's long-term viability while securing the long-term sustainability of the eelgrass habitat at Eighth Hole Beach. This project will address the overall goal of supporting vibrant, informed, and engaged communities that appreciate and help protect Long Island Sound. With this project, FISMC will work on implementing the following strategies: - 3-4al: Provide support to municipalities to facilitate the development and updating of sustainability and resiliency plans that incorporate current concepts on these topics. - 3-1c2: Encourage residents, both homeowners and renters, to engage in environmentally friendly practices around their homes and communities. - 3-5a2: Improve access to Long Island Sound and its embayments, maintain and enhance view corridors and blueways, and enhance water-dependent uses. • 3 1...,a:rnl; Island Sound Futures Fund 2024 Proposal Narrative Table: Implementation Actions _..._ _ .... .......... Implementation Implementation Action Title Action# SC-24 Support community development, adoption, and implementation of new or updated Municipal Sustamability Plans and Coastal Resiliency Plans. ____ SC-15 Support efforts through technical and grant assistance to develop behavior change can:a aigjis that result in measurable environmental i vrovements to the Sound's Scosystem. SC-31 Support planning and implementation to increase the number of points and the length of the Sound's shoreline and rivers that provide equitable public access while also protecting and balancing the health and resilience of sensitive wildlife habitats and breeding areas. i References Barry, S., K. Raskin, J. Hazell, M. Morera, and P. Monaghan. 2020. "Evaluation of interventions focused on reducing propeller scarring by recreational boaters in Florida, USA." Ocean and Coastal Management 186. Collins, K.J., A.M. Suonpaa, and J.J. Mallinson. 2010. "The impacts of anchoring and mooring in seagrass, Studland Bay, Dorset, UK." International Journal of the Society for Underwater Technology 29: 117- 123. doi:https:Hdoi.org/10.3723/ut.29.117. Egerton, J. 2011. Management of the seagrass bed at Porth Dinllaen. Initial investigation into the use of alternative mooring systems. Report for Gwynedd Council, 37. Howard, J., S. Hoyt, K. Isensee, E. Pidgeon, and M. Telszewski. 2014. Coastal Blue Carbon: Methods for assessing carbon stocks and emissions factors in mangroves, tidal salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. Arlington, Virginia, USA: Conservation International, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, International Union for Conservation of Nature. Liley, D., R.K.A Morris, K. Cruickshanks, C. MacLeod, J. Underhill-Day, T. Brereton, and J. Mitchell. 2012. Identifying best practices in the management of activities in Marine Protected Areas. Natural England Commissioned Report NECR108, 155. Parry-Wilson, H., S. Rees, H. Leather, R. Cole, C. Rugg, and M. Attrill. 2019. "Assessing behavioural and social responses to an eco-mooring trial for Zostera marina conservation management in Torbay, Southwest England." Ocean and Coastal Management 180. Unsworth, R.K.F., B. Williams, B.L. Jones, and L.C. Cullen-Unsworth. 2017. "Rocking the Boat: Damage to Eelgrass by Swinging Boat Moorings." Frontiers in Plant Science 8 (1309). doi:https://doi.org/l0.3389/fpls.2017.01309. Technical Merit. FISMC's foundational work to garner support and appreciation for eelgrass in Fishers Island residents and visitors sets up their solutions-based approach to protecting eelgrass beds from anchor and mooring damage. The community supports voluntary actions to protect seagrass around Fishers Island, but they need assistance to engage in these preferred behaviors. To assist the Fishers Island boating community in adopting seagrass-safe boating techniques, FISMC wants to install seagrass area buoys to indicate the start of eelgrass meadows at Eighth-Hole Beach. This technique has been successfully applied in Florida seagrass meadows to help boaters know when to begin the seagrass-safe techniques (Barry 2021). They used an education-based CBSM campaign paired with the buoy system, which led to the widespread adoption of seagrass-safe behaviors. FISMC wants to add an additional element to adapt this technique to work in their area, eco-moorings. These were successfully implemented by Parry-Willson(2019)to protect eelgrass at a high-anchor pressure area in Southwest England. Through this study, they relieved some of the anchor pressure and increased public trust in the new technology. For FISMC to succeed, they must create an implementation plan for the eco-moorings and buoy system alongside an outreach plan created with CBSM techniques to involve and educate the boating community about �,a�ng ���Vruu•d Sound 14°ut uires ILa uund 202,1 If'moposa➢ Nuurrdnflv���, eco-moorings' benefits to Long Island Sound and how to use them. This project will involve two main areas of activity: 1) Create a final design and placement plan for the eco-moorings/buoys and 2) Create a comprehensive CBSM outreach plan to engage the public with the eco-moorings and their impact on Long Island Sound. Create a final design and placement plans for the eco-moorings/buoys. Prior to this project FISMC will have piloted the design for eco-moorings and the anchor system for the buoys to ensure they do not add to the damage in the eelgrass beds at Eighth Hole Beach. The results of the piloting project will be incorporated into the Final Design and Placement Plan for this project. Creating this plan will require substantial communication between FISMC, regulatory agencies, and the boating community of Fishers Island. Specific activities in this area of work include: - Convene meetings with FISMC and its subcommittees to decide on a framework for the plan. - Hire contractors to build out specific plan designs and engineering for the planned project. Meet with Habor Committee members about the project to receive feedback on the proposed project before submitting the application for permits. Communicate with the Town of Southold and Harbor Committee to create a plan for long-term maintenance of the proposed public use installations. - Finalize plans and permit applications and submit them to the Harbor Committee for review. Create a comprehensive CBSM outreach plan to engage the public with the eco-moorings and their impact on Long Island Sound. FISMC is experienced in building off LISS educational resources to engage the Fishers Island community in eelgrass knowledge and preservation. The successful launch of their Save Our Seagrass Movement in 2023 supports their capability to create education-based campaigns. This outreach, however, will include incorporating and explaining the importance of eco-moorings to Long Island Sound. Since the public will need to know how to use the eco-moorings and some will be skeptical of the new technology, FISMC needs to carefully plan how to approach the boating communities about this project. Specific activities in this area of work include: - Convene meetings with FISMC to decide on the content and approach for this outreach plan. - Hire a CBSM consultant to advise and assist in creating the outreach plan. - Hire a graphic designer to create an outreach kit that will be used during the plan's implementation phase. - Finalize the education-based CBSM plan and submit it to FISMC for approval. Table: Timetable for Pro"ect Activities Activi Time Period - The project coordinator will hold meetings with Nov 2024-Aug 2025 FISMC, FISMC subcommittees, Harbor Committee members, and the Town of Southold to direct the final design and placement plan for eco- moorings/buoys. - Hire contractors to design the optimal placement of eco-moorings/buoys Create a Final Design and Placement Plan for Eco- Sep-Oct 2025 mooring Submit Mooring/Buoy Permits for the Habor Oct 2025 i Committee Meetin - Hold Meetings with FISMC to create the Nov 2024-Jan 2026 framework for the CBSM education-based plan. Hire a CBSM consultant to assist in the planning framework. a pg� g ➢��Il��u�d Sound Futures Fund 2024 f'lu't�1p�s r,4a ualivc u� 5 � �bn1i Purpose: Presentation to Southold Town Board By: USCG Flotilla 18-08 Re: Proclamation for NSBW, May 18-May 24, 2024 Date:April 9, 2024 For over 100 million Americans, boating continues to be a popular recreation activity. This is so true in our region, with watercraft use increasing at a rapid pace. As people take to the water and enjoy boating, sailing, paddling,jet skiing and fishing, as well as other water related activities, we find that there also is a great increase in accidents and people encountering hazardous situations. The United States Coast Guard designates the third week in May for"National Safe Boating Week" , "NSBW" . As the local Auxiliary, we will participate in this event in our Flotilla locales. Whereas, Flotilla 18-08 will emphasize to the public: Be Safe! Take the use of safety equipment seriously. Stay alert for unexpected changes in weather conditions. Be prepared when boating after dusk with proper lights. Know the effects of alcohol consumption while out on the water. Education! We encourage all boaters to attend the Boating Safety Course and be aware of " Brianna's Law" , coming into effect in 2025. Vessel Safety Checks are provided by the USCG Auxiliary as a free service to ensure boaters have all required gear on their vessel. As you all are well aware, water related rescues impact our volunteers from our fire departments, EMT's and Officers in the Police Department. At times helicopters are required to assist, and hospital care needed following rescues. We deeply care about our residents and visitors who really only want to enjoy their outings with their family and friends, yet we truly see the need for community awareness regarding their safety. Therefore,we in Flotilla 18-08, as a means to support the USCG, request a Proclamation to declare May 18 through May 24, 2024 as"National Safe Boating Week" in the Town of Southold. Respectfully, The Members and Shipmates of Flotilla 18-08 Southold, New York 1 / G r II I regions., MY p I All1� / I Span Q R ode for J/ /r/ ii� !; _ �rrrrri„" Safd I� YY II i101I l lil y i " Boating ClOtes ;Span QR code forw / Joining w wuxUI,,,,iIIy , For iM NY dM 11. a31) 319-8580 o ! w ■ / tl Orn