Conservation, Energy, & Environment Committee - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Good afternoon. Um, thank you for joining and we'll call the meeting to order. It is what time do you have? 4:32. Okay. So, uh, uh, Paula, uh, Paula Jones is here. Nancy Bowden is here. uh Bob Dickinson, Claudia Guardiac, David Hagar, uh Brenda Watson, and Jessica White. So, thank you for joining. And uh in terms of guest, I see Leah Chase online. So, thank you for joining us. All right. Um approval of agenda. Uh any additions or changes? I have one correction or maybe I don't. Nope, never mind. Somebody told me there was an error on it in terms of a date. Um shred day is May 30th and I think that's consistent throughout the agenda, so we're good. All right. Uh, so the agenda is approved. Uh, approval of April 9th, 2026 meeting minutes. Hopefully you've all had a chance to review. Could I have a motion? Okay. Uh, second.

Okay. Okay. So, Brenda is seconding and Bob has a comment. Yeah. Whoops. Right at the last sentence uh about Okay. into the mic. Sorry. Is it on?

In the last sentence, uh it said Mr. Dickinson voted unanimously to Oh, wait, excuse me. Uh suggestions for the proposal solar regulations to encourage solar in industrial areas. I I don't know exactly what I said, but uh I would say not to not to restrict solar only in industrial areas. Okay, you have that. Okay. So, um we've got one correction to the minutes with that correction. All in favor of approval?

I Yep. Okay. Um, any abstensions or nays? No. Okay. All right. Um, on to the meat of the meeting. Uh, town planner and environmental planner reports. Done.

Uh, good afternoon everybody. Um we do not have the uh normal um written or slide report um update that we usually do every month because there was no meeting of the governance committee which is who we prepare the report for. Um and also it's the last three weeks have basically been all things budget. Uh and um so we um terms of updates um the town plan and zoning commission will be having a a planning meeting next Thursday, a week from tonight um devoted entirely to the POC. Uh they will be receiving um final drafts of all of the uh sections. They will be receiving a proposed future land use map. They will be receiving um a chart that indicates the changes from the existing future land use map to the new land use map. Uh and they'll be receiving a chart that relates uh existing zoning districts uh to the land use map. Uh hopefully uh at the end of that meeting the commission will be satisfied that we can send everything for a to print um and that we would have a book um at least for the commission and one that uh we won't have all the books but couple of books um available um in early June uh when they hopefully would then have a special meeting to adopt it and um referred as required um to the town council u and they're also going to refer it to the cap region council of governments. Um there's a new

state statute that's in effect that has changed the um time allowed for um the town council review from 35 days to 65 days. And so um we need to follow that. Uh so that leads us to hope and that is for their review only. The commission is the adopting authority. Uh and no additional votes are needed if um town council objects to the plan. Um but that would lead to an early August um final adoption date. Um which is obviously far further than any of us would like to be. Uh but that's where it's that's the reality of the situation. the uh town center plan. We are we are in the process of preparing um a revised application for round eight of the CIF funding uh in response um to comments they've made and they're not funding it before. That's due in early June and uh hopefully we'll be more successful this time. Um terms of developments, major developments, um the um First Cathedral will be starting their process um um on this this regular meeting of the TPZ which is July 28th when they're coming in for some zoning changes um starting that process which will probably take through the summer. Um the economic analysis, feasibility analysis for a potential tax assessment um for that property is just beginning. Uh and one has just been completed for a potential development at 800 Cottage Grove Road, which I think I mentioned before, which is about 230 units.

Um, we have been I have been and I have the building official leaning hard on Popeye's uh to try and get that done. It's an it's a absolute eyesore and we've told them that and um we're using every um avenue possible we can to push them along. The truth of the matter is if they bang a nail a day they can continue for quite some time. Um but it is an eyesore and um you know basically beginning to approach blight. So the we're working on that and I think that briefly is um the general report. Um and um just um sort of non-planning. Um you should know that um the budget obviously has been adopted and does have an impact uh a negative impact on all management and non-union staff um in terms of um a freeze on pay uh a delay in pay increases uh cola increases that uh and for required furlow days. Once that's all sorted out, I will make a decision on the availability of staff for all the boards and commissions. Um decisions have impacts and um this decision council obviously has the perfect right to make the decisions they have. Um, but that could potentially impact the availability of staff particularly for off-hour meetings and I'll leave it at that questions.

Um, yes. Go ahead, Nancy. Yeah, we on the uh POCD. Am I understanding that council cannot make changes? They can only vote yes or no. Is that what you're saying? Uh the council has does not have a vote. Council can make comments uh but then the commission technically can ignore all those comments. The authority rests entirely with the TPC. Okay. So the 65 days is just for that. It's just it's um

I mean you could call it a courtesy. You could also if the the council can hold a public hearing if they want. Um the commission will hold a public hearing. The council can hold a public hearing and get those can get public comments and send them on to the commission. Then the commission can choose at that point what it wishes to do. David, there was a a referendum uh or petition being what? A petition being circulated for a referendum regarding the budget. What What is the status on that? Do we know?

They're still collecting signatures. A decision was made to um allow an additional week for the signatures to be collected. Um I will not give you my personal views on that process. Right. Right. That that petition for to have to reject the budget but in with the object to increase the budget or decrease the budget.

I really I really just I just know was being circulated. I don't I think probably that they disagreed with the budget. Right. The petition would be to say no to the budget. They were required to get 7 and a half% of the registered voters to sign the petition. Um they once that's turned in, the clerk, town clerk has 10 days to certify those decisions. If she certifies that there's sufficient number, the council has 10 days to set and set a date and location for the referendum. The referendum is to basically say yes or no to the budget. Um, a majority of either yes or no of 15% of the registered voters is required for the referendum's action to be valid.

I think if the referendum was valid, uh, I mean, depends on the group. If a group was fighting cuts to the budget, then they would be asking that the reconsidered budget be increased. Yeah, actually, I'll jump in. Um because I think we're kind of straying from the agenda. Um I think um I guess my sense is is there's not a definitive answer on what the the circulators want. That's a good question. Um, but I don't think speculation in this meeting is going to get us any closer to an answer. It's not not really written out.

Right. Right. Right. This time, right? Yeah. Um, I guess I Are there any questions online? Um, for John, I'm sorry, M Mr. Town Planner. Um, for the town planner, I have I have uh I guess two. Um, and I there was an article printed in the in the current yesterday that that was one and it referenced kind of activity, potential activity, potential application on Cottage Grove. Um, and then it referenced kind of, you know, waiting for the POC um, just in terms of that application coming in. So, you know, that raises questions obviously. Um and then I guess my second question is so it's going to the TPZ for their planning meeting next week, next Thursday. Um in terms of the public um in particular the CC having an opportunity to see kind of the final the final draft I guess for that. Um is there an opportunity? Um is there an opportunity?

Absolutely not. No, of course there will be. I think once the commission signs off on it um on this part, they're going to hold a public hearing because there have been both time and substantial changes since the first public hearing they held on it. And I would think in the intervening period between uh their action uh next week and the public hearing, it'll be forwarded to uh to to you all among others to review and you'll have a time to get comments back. Okay. Forwarded by forwarded by email or something like that or what does that mean? Forwarded

or or maybe at least information in terms of availability of how to get it. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Okay. I I would guess it would be posted on the town website at some point. It will be. Okay. Right. Okay. Well, I don't understand what you're saying about the relationship between the POC and the um cottage Grove. Did you read the article?

I scanned the article. Yes, absolutely. Um, it talked about I mean it just made references to um the applicant I think potentially being advised to wait until there's a new POCD before submitting an application. And you know I think what's gerine to that is the zoning zoning zoning changes um future land use and how that all relates together because right now Cottage Grove is zoned professional office and there's been a lot of discussion over the last few years about commercial um and I know at the 800 we're talking about converting professional office to residential potential um which I think is a by right kind of thing because of state state regulation. But there's just kind of a lot there's a lot going on. I'm just going to say that there's a lot going on and um this is I think things that you know have been in the works and uh we haven't seen. That's why I'm asked the question. Does that help Dave? Yeah, I I don't know if if you're saying that the POCD may have a zoning change in it for a place like that area.

Um I don't think it it has zoning changes in it per se. I think it's more um maybe future land use. I I we have existing zoning, right? And I'll I I will stand corrected. we have existed zone existing zoning but in terms of um what the forward view is for particular areas in town um you know I think that's part of what the point of a PC is and the future land use map would tie to it. So, I mean, no judgment, just I think it's something to be aware of. And I was a little um I mean, I just thought it was an interesting article. The timing was interesting, too. So,

my understanding is that the you might change zoning based on the POC if you cho so chose to do so. Yeah. It's kind of the whole point I I Yes. And I'm sorry I'm interrupting you. Yes. Right. Is that fair what I've just said or Yeah.

What um the chair has indicated is basically correct. The future land you spend is just that. It's a guide and a broad sense of what the commission after hearing from the community um believes are potential uses in various parts of the community. Be they residential and what density, be they commercial, be they be they industrial. Uh that map uh the future land use map is a guide for zoning which is much more detailed and and more basically almost down to lot by lot. Um the statutes require that you know if you're going to make a zoning change that uh you indicate its conformity or lack thereof to the plan of conservation and development. This all of Cottage Grove Road has been under discussion by the commission as it's going through the POC. It's certainly one of the areas they have focused on in terms of how do they want to see that developed in the future. Those decisions made on the future land use map could and probably will over time have an impact on the zoning that now exists along Cottage Grove Road in terms of what the commission thinks is believes based on what it's heard what's there now uh what the appropriate development types would be. um this property um has made has indicated all along that they wanted to wait until the POCD was adopted um before they came came back in for their application.

Um I don't want to put words in their mouth, but I think they're hoping that the POC will be uh supportive of what they intend to propose. Um there is no way I will comment on that at this moment. Uh we will staff will be making a presentation to the commission next Thursday and it will be up to the commission to decide um the ultimate decision on what the appropriate use is.

So I I think at this point unless there are questions online we'll move on. But what I'm taking away is commission sees it next Thursday. If they approve it, um it's there's a book. Um the council gets 65 days and it goes to the Capitol Region Council of Governments and at that point a public hearing will be scheduled and we we and the public will have an opportunity to take a look at it. That's fair. That's that's correct. Okay, great. Thank you. So stay tuned for the next round. Okay. Um, okay. On to old business.

Don't forget the environmental planner. Oh, I'm sorry. But but but as actually for the sake we have we have a hard stop. Yeah, for the sake of time I think as you do your report, we will be touching on a number of these things which Thank you, Mr. Director for reminding me. You're up. Oh, so should I give my little report or Okay, I'll can be I'll be very quick. Take your time. Okay, you're good.

Sure. So, just things that will not be covered later in the agenda because they're already pointed out. Um, stuff that might be you all might be interested in knowing about. Um, there are some regulations uh IWWC regulations that will be discussed at a public meeting in June. Um, the meeting is open to the public, but it is not a public hearing. So, if people are interested in learning more about that, I figure there might be interest on this committee here. Um, just in terms of other things that I have been working on that aren't necessarily on the agenda already, I've been working closely with the Park River Watershed uh management association. Um, there was a meeting at UHart uh with Mary Pelleter who's come here to speak as well. We kind of talked about how the portion of the Park River that goes right through U-Hart and also continues into Bloomfield into Bloomfield on land owned by U-Hart. We talked about the best ways we can manage that land in the future and just to kind of have like an open line of communication about, you know, thoughts, decisions, that kind of stuff. So, that was just kind of an opportunity to like get more folks at the table and including Bloomfield. Went very well, I thought. And then just today, I'm officially I think officially a member of uh the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Recreation Task Force. Uh yeah, so um I was invited to that by Mary Pelletier. Uh you know, trying to get Bloomfield, you know, at more tables, so to speak. Um my it's an interesting group. They're essentially looking at ways to promote and investigate recreational opportunities throughout the Connecticut River wershed. So, it's there's people from Connecticut, Mass, New Hampshire, and Vermont all on this little task force and we all represent different states. Um, and I'm the only person I think representing a local government. So, like that's kind of the perspective I'm

bringing. So, just food for thought as to what I'm doing. Um, yeah, it's really neat. So that I think concludes stuff that's not already on the agenda for me. Thank you. Any questions for the environmental planner on that part of this report?

Okay. Um moving on to old business uh landscape zoning regulations and ordinances. This is the um what the ordin there's two pieces to it. Um, I forwarded an email um with an attachment um in terms of the regulations. Yes, the regulations. Um, I don't know if any of you had an opportunity to take a look at it or not. Um, I did. So, if do you want to um speak to it or

Sure, I could. Um, yeah, I guess I can give a broad overview and if there are specific questions, I can probably be more pointed. Um so long story long I suppose since I've started here you know there's been questions about the best ways to manage trees vegetation those resources resources in town initially we went the route of uh amending reg zoning regulations then we went the route of an ordinance and I think after just thoughtful uh thoughtful thought the the sort of best the the simplest and the most kind of like easily facilitated a way to make a change I think is to make tweaks to both zoning regulations and ten ordinances. That said, uh our staff reviewed they've been disseminated to staff for their review. Uh the land use staff has reviewed the regulation um mainly because uh we are waiting for the input of the tree warden because the ordinance concerns his jurisdiction. So before our staff talks about it, we wanted to make we want him to be at the table as well and we're just kind of waiting for that kind of that piece of the puzzle so to speak. Um but we reviewed the regulation uh it's out of our staff. We we're ready for the public for you folks to look at it get your thoughts and then depending on the that timetable they can be it they can be reviewed by the TPZ as early as this month. Uh but we do want to give you all a chance to provide your feedback. Um the the amendment regulation is to current regulation 6.1.C existing vegetation.

Questions or comments? I mean I I want to give people an opportunity to look at it. Mhm. I didn't look at it. Yeah. Well, did you send this? I just sent it this afternoon because I got it today. Our our staff finished looking at it. Sorry to interrupt. You finished looking at it this morning. It just happened to align up with this meeting. Right. Right. I haven't seen it. Yeah. Yeah. Nancy, um I was trying to figure out whether the the town uh I think I've asked this question before, the town right ofway um affects the factor in that like for private owners.

Yeah. So in terms of the way the town right ofway I think broadly that's more of a factor with the ordinance that we're you know proposing to amend because all trees either wholly or in part in a town right of way those portions or whole parts are town town property. So decisions about those trees are really up to the town tree warden and then you know he can discuss with staff or advisory committees about those kinds of decisions. Um but in the regulation it's not as much of a factor. It's more about uh general land use zoning uh and what is you know what needs to have site plan review special permit review uh those types of things.

Yep.

So the decision of a private land owner to just clear all the trees on their own property is not really covered by that. I uh I would disagree uh because to do certain actions of a certain scale, you change the land use of that part of town to an extent where it may require a site plan or special permit. It is in the regulation as to what extent that is, but I did a lot of research on this uh both what towns do and also like Connecticut general statutes and the duties of tree wardens. it seems to one cannot simply tell anybody to not cut or to cut trees on their that are wholly on their property um as far as I can tell. So that's why the stuff that's being proposed is stuff that can the town can propose at this time or is clearly proposable.

Yeah.

I mean I read through it and my impression is it's stronger than what we had before. It kind of rolls in significant trees as well as heritage trees and it has it's sort of a cleanup in terms of having a definitions section which kind of clearly spells out what's meant, right? And then there's the um which is tied into the ordinance. There is the um provision for if it's not suitable to repl if a tree is removed and not suitable to replant on that particular property then um in addition to like if it's not suitable to replant then the idea is like you have a tree fund and dollars could be paid into the tree fund. So that would be useful for the town in terms of trees in the rightway, trees on municipal, you know, trees where trees are needed. So that seems positive. I mean I read it before coming to the meeting but those are my initial impressions. So would you like feedback? When would you like feedback I guess from the committee?

I suppose in my opinion I think hopefully this regulation will make it to the agenda for the TPZ. I think May 28th is is the plan. Could change. I don't think it's written in stone. So ideally before then. So I guess that's two weeks from now. Yeah. If not that's okay. But that'd be be pretty cool. I I guess I I would just encourage people to look at it. Um it's I don't think it's a heavy lift. It's not real long. Um and there's a red line version as well as a clean version. Um so it's easy to look at kind of both copies of it. What's the red red line? What's that mean? It it it it shows you exactly what's changed. I see.

Yeah. And it's very clear like it's mostly additions. It's more like here's a section with all the definitions. You know, the language gets tweaked so it's a little bit um more extensive. Um and then there's a clean, you know, accept changes and then you see what it looks like as a clean copy. So, you already sent it to us? Yes. This afternoon at about 2:30, I think. Did you make any uh comments yourself? No, because I want you to look at it and I'm making my comments now, but I need to look again.

I'm really interested in what you think about it. um on first read I think it looks pretty good. That would be my but you know I don't want to prejudice anybody if you think of something you think is a gap. Yeah. Feedback is very helpful. Yeah. Yeah. On a personal note. Yeah. Okay. Are we good there? Sustainable CT.

Yes. So as you all know uh we submitted last month. So, in a way that's, you know, sustainable CT is a much cooler topic in our office. There's not as much to talk about because, uh, we submitted and we're waiting to hear back. I'm, you know, hoping to hear back positive results. I've gotten good feedback from sustainable C staff, but I think we're supposed to hear back in June. So, one more month. Hopefully, we'll have an answer for you at the next meeting. However, there's a couple fun things we could talk about in the meantime related to it. I I think it was we've met before we had the event at the Capitol. So that was pretty cool. We made the the Bloomfield Messenger I saw. Uh yes, look at that. What a what a team. Yeah. So we went Bloomfield was one of 14 towns I think that were specifically called out as you know noteworthy towns on this effort. So we got to go to the capital. It's really awesome. uh chance to talk with other towns sustainable CT staff and lawmakers and we were so lucky because our very own representative Gibson uh he came to talk to us and he said point blank what can I do to help to so that was just a real that felt great. Um so we have a line of contact you know he seems to be very supportive of anything involving stable CT so I would call it a a rousing success. Uh, and then the other thing I will note is I don't I didn't don't know if I told anybody else this yet, but um I think Sustainable CT is very impressed with the work Bloomfield is doing. So much so they reached out to me because they are running a workshop on how to write uh equity and inclusivity statements which are part of the uh a section needed for sustainable CD certification. They were so impressed what the town did in 2025 with the resolution affirming Bloomfield as a welcoming and inclusive community. They asked the town to teach other towns

how to write these kinds of things, how to get these things passed and challenges you may experience. So Bloomfield, I mean, we're a trailblazer. Uh it's just such it's such great news. Uh yeah, only good things to say about this so far. Any comments or questions? talk about the resol tally forward or that was a um go ahead. I just is that I mean she revised an old welcoming opening and firming. Okay. That okay. Yeah. And I think she worked with um Deputy Mayor Lloyd maybe on it. Yes. Yep. Yep.

Yep. Um I will mention um our monthly Democratic town committee meeting was last night. I will just mention that there is a section on the agenda called good and welfare and it's about what good things are happening in Bloomfield. So um I took the opportunity to brag um I bragged about your work um Nick I I bragged about the fact that we were invited to the capital. I bragged about the fact that we were invited to the sustainability fair um and just said, you know, there's so much attention being paid on all the problems, affordability issues, you know, there's just a lot going on and the environment sometimes and sustainability sort of takes a backseat, but it's very important to remember that it's very important. So, um and you know, people were very receptive and pleased to hear that. So, yep,

that's great. And then somebody um prodded me to talk about shred day, which was good because I didn't even think about shred day. So, um we announc we announced that last night as well. So, yeah. Okay. Um and we'll pause for a moment. Uh Lorenzo, you have your hand up. You kind of stole my thunder a little bit because I was gonna say

you stole my thunder a little bit because I was going to say before you said that when Nick finished that we'd been bragging about Bloomfield um and the sustainable CT stuff cuz we had our members go through the application right that was up online the stuff that got submitted and like the last couple of meetings and people were really impressed with the stuff and of course we all took credit for it because nobody knew about sustainable CT before us. But no, like we told them like no, we had met with Nick that um like he was really open. He's been in the meetings that we're part of this meeting. Brenda, your name came up even right on just it was just kind of like I'm you know folks were really like yeah just they felt kind of good about it. They were down we've been down about the PCD plan getting pushed pushed around but like the sustainable CT stuff that was solid. I just want to I was going to take a minute to say thank you for that, but then you start talking and stole my thunder.

I apologize for stealing your thunder. Um, yeah. No. And I will mention too, the great thing about Sustainable CT, they have the community match kind of fund available and the local farmers market just did a campaign um for coupons, you know, to to kind of help folks um buy fresh food, produce, and meat at the farmers market. And uh they hit their goal and they got, you know, they raised $6,000 and got a $6,000 match from Sustainable CT. So that was a successful campaign. Yeah. And Laura Plandre um has talked to us about kind of her efforts. So uh that's good news as well. Yeah. All right.

She is really all over. She's Oh, she is just uh you know doing very very active work. She is. Yeah. All right. Can I say real quick? Yesterday we had our we had our Baja meeting yesterday, right? That's our little agricultural justice alliance group. Literally, we said the same thing to Laura in that meeting last night. Laura, you are everywhere. You're on top of all like we took like a solid like seven to eight minutes to talk about Laura. She legit is everywhere. Like she beats she she turns over every stone. Yep.

She does. Yep. All right. Very good. Um at this point, let's move on to to extreme heat update. Um, Nancy Claudia.

Um, well, uh, we had a little conversation and, um, uh, Nancy already knew about this, but I I didn't know that Yukon had the Corey Stringer Institute. Do does everyone know about this? It's a program in the college of agriculture and it's focused on um it it came about Corey Stringer was an athlete who um died uh from uh exercising. He was a football player and he you know about it. Yeah. So I didn't know I don't follow football but anyway so his widow uh established this institute at Yukon where there was already in the college of agriculture a professor who was researching heat issues. So I didn't know about this at all. So I thought I'd just bring it to the table and propose a next step. um because it seems like they really know a lot about this and they're right around the corner. So um and we agreed on this um report. Uh so the Cyringer Institute provides re this is their mission statement. I'll be quick um I'll just make this three minutes. provides research, education, advocacy and consultation to maximize performance, optimize safety and prevent sudden death for the athlete or fighter and laborer. So those are some good three categories there. And um they're uh they they're quite a large organization. And I would say there's like 40 people working for that

um that institute at Yukon. They have six divisions. Uh athlete performance and safety, occupational safety, research and laboratory operations, war fighter performance and safety, education and sports safety. Um, and through the Yukon Extension Service, which has an office in Bloomfield at our farm, from what I read, I hope I'm right. Is that do you know that Yukon Extension Service, which is their public service arm? I mean, uh, universities who were originally a a agriculturally based have to provide services to the community at large. And they have an organization within their structure called the extension service. And I worked at Yukon, so I know this stuff a little bit. And from what I understand, they're located at um our farm. They have several off eight offices around the state. So I'd like to get in touch. This is the plan. This is the next step idea and with both Yukon Extension Service and the uh Corey Stringer Institute at Yukon and ask them some basic questions like uh that come out of this committee that this is a group of concerned citizens. we meet to discuss environmental issues. What should we be asking? What should we be thinking about? Um, from their perspective, they're experts in the field and they're local. So, I would like to follow up on this on my own

time. Of course, na Nancy may want to join and um and and report back. Yes. Um, and uh, how it fits into the overall extreme heat project that we were talking about is that I'm giving up on that. Um, because Oh, is it is it should be up?

Okay. Uh, maybe I'm not speaking on it. No. Um for the time being because I think it's too big a project to try to accomplish in this municipal environment to your point about budget and furlows and staff uh being stretched. So when I originally had thought about our follow-up to our webinar, it would be to include all um pertinent departments in some way on a discussion of policy and protocols. And I sent out an initial email. Well, I got some responses and I kind of gave people an out because I said, "I know it's budget season, so I'm not going to expect you to answer right away, but please say yes, you're in or name somebody." So, um, however, Corey Stringer Institute was already on my list of resources that we would look into. And so, Claudia said, "Hey, have you ever heard of these people?" I said, "Yes." So, that's why she's doing that. The other piece that we can do is take our webinar itself or the slides that we use for that webinar and take them around on a I don't like to say dog and pony show but that's what it would be. So the senior citizen the senior services sorry maybe to um leisure services um including camp staff to kind of educate them about the dangers to the human health of extreme heat which is still the theme that that I see and what Claudia is talking about is calling on somebody who's already doing a lot of that work for some of the audiences which would be public works and would the um athletes, whether it's kids or adults, I guess, in town playing soccer, if they're still doing that. Now, as far as the the extension services, I do know about that because

I'm a master gardener and extension services um offer the master gardener program. I don't think it's at our farm anymore, but it's still in Hartford County. I think it may have moved to Farmington to the exchange, but that's minor. just telling you that it used to be located at our farm as far as classes and things. So anyway, um I endorse this change in the project is what I'm saying uh for for now for this year because I couldn't tell what was going on. Uh, I still can't tell what's going on in the town and um I want to push it forward in some way, but I uh I give up on trying to create a whole town coordinated project for this year. Somebody else wants to take it on, be my guest. And I guess I would ask our building and land use director and our environmental planner if you think that's kind of a reasonable pivot to take. It's not a complete pivot but

I do at this point particularly in view of the um organizational changes that are going to be right ongoing at the effective departments u over the next few months. I think once the dust settles um in the fall um or mid winter depending on how things go um it you may want to revisit it at that time but I think it's a very wise decision at this point. Okay. So I guess um just looking for kind of nods around the table from the committee. Everybody think that makes sense? Yeah.

Okay. I mentioned before I do have a tacit agreement from I bet y you uh to come do a lunch and learn I think they call it at the senior center. So I will get in touch with her and Okay. See where we go from there. Okay. Very good. All right. Thank you for that update. Um Claudia and Nancy. Okay. Um agricultural zone update.

Not too much to update at this point. Um admittedly most of my time is focused on the landscaping and tree ordinance. That was the the big thing in front of me in terms of like the order which I receive things frankly. However uh I see item F is the chicken regulation which is related to agriculture and I have yes and uh I'll have updates on that once we get to it. So anyway, agricultural zone is now kind of the top of my list because these other things are now maybe not totally wrapped up, but they're off my desk. So agricultural zone is coming up. Great. So let's move into solar regulations.

One thing on the ag we've staff has made certain that it's um appropriately included in the POC.

Okay, good. Thank you. Um so solar regulations um actually that had been off um but it's back on and part of the reason it's back on because Bob had sent an email um which I think was circulated to everybody I hope um just in terms of kind of revisiting and his concern about kind of restricting only to industrial zone. So um um Nick or Bob?

Sure. I guess I can quickly give my update which is very short. Uh my update I suppose is we have you know received additional comments. Um the solar regulation is currently scheduled to be discussed at the May 28th meeting scheduled to be a public hearing. Again, that is just the plan. Um, and that's I guess that's it. Go ahead, Bob.

I guess it's appropriate that I can keep my comments for the May 28th 28th. And so I guess the question is um for the May 28th meeting, what would be in front of the TPZ would be the latest iteration of the draft regulations with changes you've incorporated so that um anyone including Bob would have an opportunity to look at it prior to the public hearing. Yeah. Uh,

they should or will be posted as part of the agenda. Yeah, that's what Yeah, thank you. Yep. Okay. I'll just clarify. No changes have been made to them since the last review I guess was in March at this point. So, okay. Nothing has been altered, but it is going to be discussed in May.

Okay. Okay. I I just want to throw one thing out and and first of all I for totally forgot to bring it so it's only a theoretical off top my head memory but I will send it to you Nick that it it has to do with it was it was in the Sierra Club magazine this past month or some previous month I'm always behind but it talked about ways to streamline um the permitting of solar primarily for for residential but not just and so you know so much of the cost so much of the delay is in uh how to slow it down I guess you know uh that some states I think are have developed a process to cut it down to days instead of weeks and months and that's all I can remember hazily from the article um but it might be you know and obviously it's not something well I shouldn't say obviously I don't think it's something that Bloomfield could do by itself. There's probably state layers, but I just thought it would be something that we could look at at some point.

Yep. You know, after maybe you have Y some insight. So, so Bob is eager to say something. Go ahead.

I just have a a current example of old St. Andrews put uh so solar on their roof and I guess we started back in November that we committed and it uh the contractor uh didn't get his permits and so forth and anyway it was installed installed in March and uh forget a couple weeks into March and it still hasn't been turned on and I think the I I'd heard about three weeks ago the and did their inspection, but Eversource is I think is the the holdup right now. So, it's it's not it's not just the towns, it's it's the right

power company.

Okay. And um when we get to legislative update session summary um there was a bill passed in terms of related to solar and I joined a Connecticut League of Conservation Voters meet um webinar kind of late yesterday and I came into the solar piece but um looks like some things like balcony solar and things like that are kind of in the mix going forward. for it. And they're also trying to make they're making some changes um and I don't have the details. They're making some changes in an effort to kind of keep renewable moving forward um in the um current environment where you have a hostile federal administration. Um so that you know the I looked the bill up and it looks very interesting in terms of all of the things that are in it. So that's probably worth looking at. Yeah, I know third act um the group Third Act has really been promoting um kind of the expedited permitting and that's been one of the things they've been um championing in if I said that right. All right. Um chickens,

what' you call me? Revision of the chicken regulations.

Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. Had to do it. Um yeah. So, I guess uh for all those who aren't aware, um we as a staff are looking currently looking into updating our zoning regulations regarding the keeping of chickens here in town. Um the regulation, the idea kind of came from our zoning enforcement officer because he was receiving lots of mainly questions, a few also concerns about you know the kind of like how difficult it is to follow the current regulation or you know therefore have chickens on your property. So, it has been reassessed. Uh, and actually, uh, Chairwoman Jones, I'm not sure if you saw about an hour before this meeting, I did send you an email with the staff reviewed chicken, uh, regulation proposed update.

I did not see it and I will forward it. Sure. No, it was literally once again just because we happened this is a Thursday and we get together on Thursdays to discuss these things. So, I was last minute, but that wasn't intentional. Long story short being in addition to reviewing the tree regulation, I hope you will all also take a look at the chicken regulation. Uh trees and chickens. Wow. Um what a mix. So anyway, that's my mix. Yes. You know, like don't make me love you more because it is this sounding like we're gonna do something about these limitations on people. That is essentially the crux of it. This what we're talking about. Yeah. No, that's exactly it. So um I can quickly summarize. It's a pretty

and and I will include you when I forward the email. So yes ma'am I I'll quickly summarize the proposed additions. It's really an addition. Um it is to decrease the required buffer for certain things regarding chicken keeping and uh rearing. Uh it also clarifies that this regulation will not apply to commercial operations. So if you are a commercial chicken owner producer, this regulation is not specifically for that. That is governed by a different a different type of regulation. So this is kind of more like I guess you would say smallcale chicken owning.

Yeah.

Yeah. And I and I actually I'm sorry. Um does anybody have any questions or comments? I will just um I think when we were talking about it um and at least I know in one conversation that Nick and I had um it was a little you know we we got into the well what about um 45 farm which has a bunch of poultry you know and I know and I know for a fact they have a rooster that's in that's in a hoop house right now because I could hear it crowing the last time I was at 45 farm Um, you know, you have farms to Nick's point, you have commercial operations. This was never done with the intention of trying to be punitive or more restrictive. It was more like what's the current reality? People are keeping backyard chickens, you have some farms, you know, you got to make sure you have uh reasonable realistic regulations. So, um I think it's great that that it

came up. Yeah. Yeah. So, I I will forward that to everybody including um you know, our group and uh our our friends and uh everybody. Can we forward it to Middletown? No, I'm joking. Yeah. All right. Okay.

Um Okay, we'll move on to new business. Um this is a um I think um something this is something that Brad Huskinson who is um kind of running with the story of plastic film screening and panel discussion with uh Bloomfield Public Library in September. Uh it turns out that um you know this group has that he's involved with has um kind of an annual pla you know it's like no mo may don't mow your lawn this is plastic free July um and I forwarded the link I think that he had provided to give you a sampling it has a daily activity calendar which has things you can do to reduce your use of plastic to kind of think differently about it and his question to CEC was, "Is this something we could put on our web page?" And I'm looking at Lynn um too. Um and um seems like a um very obvious thing for us to support. So I just wanted to um make sure. Are you okay? So are you making a motion?

Do you want a motion? Um well, let's take a motion. Sure. I move that we support lastic free July by right putting a link to that material on our website.

That sounds good. Second. Second by David Hager. Um are there any nos? Yep. And I'm looking at Jessica. Yeah. Any nos? Any abstensions? All right, it's unanimous. All right. Um, okay. So, at this point, I'm going to move into um just sort of some updates, I guess. Uh, we have our shred day in small electronics recycling on Saturday, May 30th. Who can help? I can help.

Okay. A little late. Okay, that's fine. So, Dave I think I Okay, Claudia maybe. Okay. Practical question though is the absence of the uh teenage group that usually helps uh is a significant absence because there's a a fair amount of heavy lifting. It's I think we can manage because um youth and social work youth and what youth and

social work thank you services um they're going to provide at least three or four staff um myself husband will be there you know I think we I think we can we can handle it okay yeah I mean we've moved it you know um in part to um accommodate different scheduling needs So, uh, but yeah, that's why I'm looking for, you know, making sure we have a I'll I'll kind of cast a wider net. What staff are you talking about would would be helping?

So, the folks from Camila's department, she'll be sending staff people. She I think she typically does, but I think every I think there will be more hands-on. Um, we will have I think we'll have kind of the usual crew. I mean, we'll be missing some some youth, but how many do we typically have? Three, four, I think. I'm talking about biceps. We'll use my husband. He He still has some.

I think we can manage. Evan, turn off your uh computer.

Yeah. Right. Okay. So, um and and regular volunteer Elizabeth Seria, who's you know, she can come and help with the food pantry, that kind of thing. So, so I think we'll be fine. Um all right. Uh story of plastic screening and panel discussion. That's just on there as a reminder. Um, trees for Bloomfield, Tree City USA. Um, Arbor Day celebration was very nice, I thought. Um, very nice. Um, I just I think we had about 60 people. Yeah. No, it was very nice. It was dedicated to uh David Man, so it was very nice. Very nice event. And um, we had somebody from deep there, which was nice. And uh that's about it. We are um just in terms of trees for Bloomfield update. Um I'm talking to Sharon Man about possibil different possibilities for things for projects. Um she's been approached by the Arbor Day Foundation again about doing something. Um and we're going to talk this weekend about what that might be. Um the other thing is and Nick is aware of this uh parks and wreck supports a proposal by um a woman who lives near Maplewood Park. She's got some real chops in terms of background. Um she's a biologist. She she wants to try to do some type of repairarian kind of buffer improvement in Maplewood Park. It kind of fits in

with um the forest stewardship plan. There's a source there's a there's a source of funding um not town funding to provide the trees, that kind of thing. uh Farmington River Watershed Association has got a um some money from the Long Island Sound Fund. Um and you know, part of the purpose of that money is for um for uh spit it out, Paula, for storm water management, which that that's something Maplewood Park needs. So Michelle Kachchowski, I bet. Yeah, she um is finishing up her semester now. She teaches at CCSU. So I will ask her to come to a meeting and talk a little bit more about her plan. Um because I think this committee should hear about it and would appreciate it. And um there's a potential for some tree keepers and trees for bloomfield volunteers and also Corey's on the phone. I think the other thing or on the on the Zoom um there's also the potential for pollinator pathways potentially, you know, if not right away eventually. It's a really nice project as far as kind of leveraging a lot of different things that are going on in town. Corey, anything you want to add to that? I Michelle's on the committee with me for pollinator pathways. Um so we have had the pleasure of

hearing about the project and seeing the project. Um and yeah, just let her know whenever she's ready, however we can support and participate, we will do that. Um and then there was also a connection um with a member of the Army Corps of Engineers um that we discussed. He there's a potential partnership where we'll be working with them to get native plants out of the way of um spaces they're working in. And so that was offered as well to the Maplewood project um should they need more beyond what the funding provides. Great. Where is Maplewood Park?

Um okay. It's basically um Maple um Maple A. Um, Maple A and then it's a street perpendicular to Maple A. And I'm drawing a blank. Malard. Malard. Maple A and Malard. It's like 14 acres or something. It's a goodiz park. Sounds right.

Yeah. Yeah. It's a goodiz park. It's there's kind of a water course flowing through it. I think it's from Tumblebrook maybe. Um, and it's really wet and kind of soggy and there are drainage issues. And the idea is to try to and right now it's just kind of barren looking. And I think the ultimate plan is to really make it a refuge ties into extreme heat because one of the things and I'm stealing her thunder thunder. One of the things she envisions doing because she's a biologist is having a summer intern do some things like do temperature checking, water temperature checking kind of as a more of a longitudinal pro project as far as measuring temperature plings and over time seeing kind of what impact that has in terms of uh you know cooling in the summer. So, uh, it could be a very neat neat project. Um, but yeah, it's it's great. And for you, I'm glad you mentioned, uh, the Army Corps guy because I heard about the Army Corps guy who apparently came through the sustainability fair in uh, Simsbury. So, really great connections. Yeah, really great connections. Yep.

We just have to have a truck, right, to go get the tree, get the get get the material. I think we need volunteers to dig the material and transport the material. Yeah. Yeah. But a free source of native plant material. So, yeah.

Yep. Good. All right. Um Okay. Simsbury Sustainability Fair Recap. Um I understand it was very successful, over,200 people. Um, I want uh Lynn, if she's got if she can screen share to share a solar map. Um, I will invite who who helped table Nancy. Yep. I was going to say Jessica.

Jessica. Yeah, Jessica was in the paper with Sharon photo. Yeah. and and actually take a look at this cool solar map and Nick. So, um we have a few minutes. Uh I I' be interested in hearing people's impressions. Nick, can you talk you talk about the map a little bit because I think this is really cool.

Be my pleasure. Yes. Okay. Um so this map uh illustrates essentially where CTE has data for where there are existing solar projects in town. Uh so if Lynn could scroll down just a touch, you can see the legend. So that's how I chose to broke it down. Um, essentially, uh, the smallest dot that's essentially white or like really light green, those are projects that are between, uh, zero and 1 kilowatt. Uh, and some of the projects get as big as, geez, no, this is like an eye test now. 2820 kilowatts, I think. Um, so you can kind of more or less this pretty much all the small ones are essentially residential properties, more or less. uh you're not going to have much more than a kilowatt on just a suburban house, so to speak. Um but it's worth noting that some of the projects that are the big dark green circles, some of them are ground mounted, but I think actually the largest one in town, I think, is the Niagara Bottling Company, which is a a rooftop solar project, but it's one of the largest in town, one of the largest in the Tritown regions that I assess. I also assess Simsberry and Avon as well. Um, that said, I'm not sure if the other map is the other map up there. Uh, I was asked to compare. Oh, I think it was just on a different tab.

It's coming. Oh, okay. Yeah. Um, I was asked to look at all three towns because all three towns were part of the Simsberry sustainability fair. So, it was only fair that I did the other two. Um, although there's a really big old one up in Simsberry. If you look at total number of solar projects, Bloomfield is by far the leader of these three towns, uh, namely thanks to the large amount of residential solar projects. You know, I say projects, but essentially roof mounted residential solar. Um, I would call I think it's fair to say Bloomfield's a real leader as far as um, you know, uh, at home solar or just general solar infrastructure in town.

U, that's kind of my quick spiel. Can Can you identify some of them for us? I think Yeah, I I was afraid somebody would ask that. You go up there and actually point to them. I mean, sure. You know them. Do I? No. Yeah, I think I can try and do a few of these things. Uh, go ahead, Mr. Dick. Where is Simsbury? I mean, Sabberry. Oh, yeah. Sure. So, are these maps available online? Uh, no, but I I think it's okay for them to be shared. They were in the They were at the fair. They're public. They're here at a public meeting. We We just figured we'd do the grand unveiling right at C at CC after the fair.

The virtual ribbon cutting. Yeah. Uh yeah, I'm pretty sure Seabberry So actually I also had like a satellite imagery map. That may be easier for her to figure out, but I'm pretty sure Seabberry I can try and get up if you want. I feel like I'm hosting a game show right now. Um I think I think I think because Cabberry had two like one was um one's not on their main campus I guess the word is and then one is on their campus here. I think these along I think these are both CBerry I'm pretty sure. Yeah. Where where's the um education? Um

I'm pretty sure it's one of these two. I'm pretty sure. And and the um the one you said that most of the residential ones are one kilowatt less less. Yeah. And and the huge one up in in uh is that Tobacco Valley? That really big one. It's called Tobacco Valley. As you drive along the road, it's acres of It's huge. Yeah. Yeah. I believe that was a sighting council project just because it's so big. Yeah. And uh Yep. So, are there places in Loomfield having done this where you would say here are some targets for larger solar projects?

Are you asking for my personal recommendation?

Uh, I don't know if that's something that uh I mean I guess one could look at existing properties. I think what'll make it more clear is if there is a zoning regulation that may or may not get passed this month, that would certainly inform any opinion of mine or just the possibility. Um, but I mean, I guess you could see there's kind what I the first thing I did notice is as far as residential, I think the residential amount of solar kind of corresponds to the most dense amount of housing. There's much denser housing in the this this section of town and there's less dense housing here. So that kind of corresponds to to where there might be potential for rooftop solar. As far as other types of solar, I guess it'll be dependent on habitat, maybe zoning soon. Uh and then the the interest with the land owner, I suppose.

So where would um the church you mentioned? Oh, St. Andrew. Oh, yeah. In the northwest corner of Boomfield. It may or may not be on the map because Mr. Dickson, did you say it just yet? So, trying to figure out in there. It's up in there. Yeah, I I got this data in I think February. Probably up in the corner. Dated. Yeah, you've got a date. Well, the the date on the the date of the map is when I published the map. Yeah, the prior. Yeah, the data is from like February, I think. So, but it's pretty pretty up to date. How's this for cool though? Wonderful.

And sun for sun day. S U N D A Y. Oh yeah. Oh, can I use this map? Yeah. No materials for the Nick that you have these putting it in the messenger for instance and letting people see this. Yeah. Um um is a Yeah, it's an opportunity I think. Who wants to write an article? Why Why are you looking at me? I'll write an article. Yeah. I I mean I think it again it's a great opportunity and just being able to Oh yeah, sure.

Yeah. I mean and I'm and and recognizing um Mr. Coleman's uh caution about kind of allocating staff time and all of that. The fact that um Mr. Gaba now has a G GIS license. I mean that just that gives there's lots of different things that potentially can be analyzed that would be beneficial. So that's um a nice tool to have. Is that how you got this?

Yep. Uh I was uh I now have a GIS license that I can use uh to do to create maps but also do spatial data analysis. So if people have a question about the percentage of what kind of resource we have in town, where is it, what what is a buffer, what's the distance from it, like I can do all that now. Uh thanks to my director and the department and the town in general for uh letting me use this resource. So we can do a lot for agricultural waterheds, whatever you need. That's an article right there. Wow.

Wow. Yep. And we have Corey. Yep. Go ahead, Corey. Um, Nick, quick question. So, in this type of project, and this is kind of maybe adjacent to this mapping, are there data points that are collected or does this map reflect any of that, I suppose, is my question about the efficacy of the actual installations that are up in terms of like where the numbers are, where homeowners are actually seeing solar take over. Um there are other fuel sources, how much of those other fuel sources are still being used in all the areas do have solar? Um is that any kind of data that the town collects or that Deep collects or is that available anywhere?

Sure. I'm happy to uh describe what I know about. Uh I don't think the town that I don't know if the data that the town might have related to your just your inquiry here. The first thing I thought of was PACE. Uh PACE um people's action. You you got it. Um they are a Connecticut organization and they essentially do largecale and specific energy tracking. So they actually have the breakdown for what percentage of Bloomfield in particular too, where the energy comes from that is used daytoday, what the sources are, how much I think even like how how much money it would take to transfer all fuel to renewables. Like they have some really just specific and really cool data points. That's the first place I would look. The state, they might have more as well. Like I said, I got this data I got this data actually from PACE from the directly from the state. So they might have data that I don't know about off the top of my head. Uh the reason they have this data I think is because in order to have a solar panel there's a registration process that that deep accounts for in a way. So it's all public information. Uh is that helpful at all?

Yes. Yeah. Goo Google Pace and PACE Connecticut. Yeah. Right. and the and the website will come up and they have what town specific kind of every town in Connecticut. Yeah. From it's and it's pretty user friendly from Bridgewater Bridgeport to Cornwall. Yep. Is there a way to get information on the cost of electricity as the amount of solar increases? Oh, that's a really good question. Again, off the top of my head, the first place I would check is pace. Uh but I don't know if the town has been tracking that. I don't not I don't know. That's a look at that's a question for a future meeting or ever source. Yeah.

Ever rates is Yeah. I think Pace may really have that. It's worth looking there. It's a great website. Okay. At the Did you have you want Do you have anything? I'm going to follow up. Okay, good. And maybe we can publish I mean we'll we'll talk about getting this out. I mean, at least you all have it at this point, so you can take a look at it, but we can maybe put it on our website and in the messenger. Yeah. I mean, I think I think it'd be nice to do a And and Nick, didn't you Yeah. Didn't you say like 11% you thought was some you you cited some percentage a way back, but maybe that was early. I don't know.

What did I say? Well, you you said something like 11% of Oh, yeah. like of proper. Yeah, I think I I was able to calculate the percent of total. I can maybe I don't want to waste people's time, but I could quickly find I think the percent of properties in town that contain solar. Yeah, it was around 10. So, one out of 10 properties have solar. That doesn't mean 10% of the geographic area is covered in solar because like some properties are like, you know, 100 acres and some are, you know, 0.25. But I think it's something like that. Don't please don't quote me. I'll check I can check in and get the number for you later. I won't. You can read the draft.

I'll read the draft. Anyway, no, Bloomfield has done a lot. Great. So, I'm I'm going to watch the clock at this point, but in terms of the fair, um Nancy, Jessica, Corey, Brenda. Yeah, Brenda. Sharon. And Brenda may have left. Did Brenda leave? Yeah, Brenda. Sharon, man.

Yep. Well, Sharon, but uh does anybody want to just comment on their experience at the fair? I was really sorry to miss it. I had to be out of state, actually. Um I heard it was great. Really great connections. I heard about the Army Corps guy and he's got trees and whatever else he's got that he'd love to give homes to instead of chopping them down. And all that was good. So, yep. Yeah, it seemed like a super engaged

uh group there. And someone I knew who had attended last year said last year they like didn't want to go back this year because they were like it was me last year and this year um they were like, "Oh man, like because they got there late or whatever." They're like, "This is much cooler." So they did a really good job with whatever growth they had in the last year. Um A lot of us who were like outside did leave a little bit early because the weather wasn't great. But even for not having good weather, it seemed like a really good turnout and a lot of really engaged participants.

Yep. Over 1,200 came through. So that was a new record. Um yeah, and it's like Bob sat in on one of the planning meetings. I think I missed one. They started in I don't know February or something. So, uh, yeah, I mean, a lot of effort and planning went into it. It was interesting to participate more as a spectator. Um, I represented Bloomfield, but, um, you know, obviously they're kind of getting their rhythm and putting this thing together, so that's good. They were really happy about they were really happy about the maps. Go ahead, Jessica. Yeah,

I was really happy to see the number of Bloomfield residents that came through. There was a lot of people who said they lived in town that were just there seeing. So, it was good visibility for us, too. And I think I don't know. I felt proud that they were That's great. Yeah. Showing up.

Excellent. Good, good, good. And I think we'll be invited again next year. So, um hopefully um all right, at this point, um just very quickly on legislative session summary, um House Bill 5340, which is the solar bill, um got passed in some form, so that's good. Um also what um House Bill 501 which is no excuse absentee ballot voting that was talked about that got passed. Um bottle bill there will be more. This is from this is the uh league's kind of overview. uh the bottle bill there was a real kind of push I think to take the 10% um deposit and kind of push it back to five and that push is going to continue. The problem is is what more than 100% more more than 100% of the bottles that the deposits are paid on are being redeemed because you got out of stator coming in. So they're trying to enforce some monitoring. Um

penalties are

the p Yeah. penalties. Thank you, Bob. Um, oh, balloons bill, no intentional release that got passed. Um, which is really a nice thing. I, uh, what was reported was Mary Mashinsky, um, environmental champion, kind of got to toward the end of the session and at one point she just said, "It's just littering. Pass the damn bill." And then they passed it unanimously. So, um, that's great because, you know, you read about what balloons can do. Uh, the repairarian bill, uh, that they, you know, that's something that probably we'll we'll see more of in the future, but, um, apparently a position got funded at deep to kind of look at more at repairarian issues. And do you know something?

Please comment on that. Yeah. So, actually, uh, I very early on in the session here, I mentioned the IWWC is revisiting some regulations. Yeah, it is related to the riparian bill. They're trying to potentially like get ahead of the curve, but if you want to learn more about it and see what the town is considering in relation to it, you know, that's the June meeting. So,

perfect. That's great. That's great. Um, okay. And the um actually the the one comment that was made by a couple of the um representatives um on the uh on the call um was that you know what you can do as a resident is and as an advocate is really um advocate on the municipal level and really work and streng work to strengthen your relationships with your representatives um because you know at the end of the day um they rely on us to better inform them because they can't be experts on everything. So to the degree we have things we want to work on um we need to you know be more activated. So, uh, that was the takeaway from a couple. That's a very quick summary, but, um,

do you have any action steps about that last point? Uh, I would say it's more it was more related to some of these environmental issues. Mhm.

Um or environmental bills kind of what gets them across the finish line are the kind of big environmental advocacy groups in the state like League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, um Rivers Alliance, you know, different the different the advocates kind of meet um kind of on a regular basis during session and they kind of each focus on certain bills and then support each other. But the emphasis was we should pay attention to those alerts. We should make a point of you know talking to our representatives and uh the recording of that session is going to be available I think on both um I think it will ultimately be on the league's website. So it probably would you know it's a good hour spent kind of just listening to the recap. The comment was made it was interesting. the comment was made and this is positive very positive. I think it's it was a really short session, like the shortest session ever. And the I think some of some of the um environmental advocates, senators, I think the expectation was after some of the big bills, environmental bills that got through last year in the long session, they wouldn't get as much done this year and they ultimately ended up getting a surprising amount done. So I think people were happy about that. So um so anyway, we can kind of figure out more as you know the dust settles, but um that was that's a quick recap and that's good to know about the uh IWWC meeting in June. That that's kind of one of the things. Yeah. Okay. Um, it's coming up on six o'clock and uh we have a hard stop. So,

at this point, are there any public comments before we adjourn? Like a 30 secondond thing to the point you just made about the legislature. Yeah.

Um, one one of the reasons one of the ways the legislature does that is they kind of count talkers, hours, time. One of the thing ways they made space to pass those other bills was by killing um a number of criminal justice policies like Senate Bill 503, the Senate Bill 497, there's a few of them. So like not that that really not that that is germanine to this committee necessarily, but like that is a thing that as the town of Bloomfield like we uniquely take, you know, the the um basic human needs work as serious as we take the um farm agriculture work, right? We actually kind of talk about that stuff in ways that some people don't where farm is, you know, food is medicine. So like to that point, the population of people impacted by the bills that they killed to make room to pass these other bills, right, that actually uniquely impacts like us in Bloomfield in ways that may not in other places because we we prioritize both of them. So

good good actually good comment and I will I will um chair's prerogative I'll kind of end things but with a comment I think that is maybe relevant to what you're saying Lorenzo. Um, one comment was made was that that was made was when you're looking at these different bills, um, trying to get kind of a head start and have conversations with your representatives and with different groups early in the session is really important to try to work out any kinds of wrinkles and bugs. um so that you can avoid those you know talking things and killing bills later in the session. So um you know

I'll just offer that as a comment. Okay. Okay. Can I have um a motion to adjurnn? So move and a second from Bob. Okay. 601. Sorry.