AGENDA. 2. MS4, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, Presentation (7:05)

Transcription

1 NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF MEETING!!! WHO: WHEN: WHERE: Nashua Regional Planning Commission Wednesday, June 15, :00 P.M. NRPC Conference Room AGENDA 7:00 pm - Call to Order 1. Welcome and Introductions (7:00) 2. MS4, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems, Presentation (7:05) Guest Speaker: Suzanne Warner, Environmental Protection Agency MS4 permit requirements and tools/assistance to communities 3. Privilege of the Floor (7:50) 4. Approval of Minutes March 16, 2016 (7:55) 5. Annual Business Meeting: (8:00) a. FY 2017Budget and Work Program (action required) b. Annual Grant and Contract Authorization (action required) c. Setting of FY 2018 Dues (action required) d. Election of FY 17 Officers (action required) 6. Commissioners Roundtable (8:30) 7. Adjourn (8:45) Next Meeting The next NRPC Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 7:00 pm AMHERST BROOKLINE HOLLIS HUDSON LITCHFIELD LYNDEBOROUGH MASON MERRIMACK MILFORD MONT VERNON NASHUA PELHAM WILTON (603) Executive Park Drive Suite 201 Merrimack, NH

2 Members Present: DRAFT MINUTES NASHUA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Held at the NRPC Office 9 Executive Park, Suite 201, Merrimack, NH March 16, 2016 Susan Ruch, Amherst Steve Brown, Lyndeborough Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, Nashua Michael Dell Orfano, Amherst Karin Elmer, Merrimack Dave Hennessey, Pelham Martin Michaelis, Amherst Tom Mahon, Merrimack Hal Lynde, Pelham Jill Adams, Brookline Anant Panwalkar, Merrimack Jim Kofalt, Wilton Venu Rao, Hollis Janet Langdell, Milford Kermit Williams, Wilton James Battis, Hudson Chris Costantino, Milford George Hall, Hudson Mike Fimbel, Mont Vernon Thomas Young, Litchfield Dan Kelly, Nashua Others Present: Staff Present: Commissioner Victoria Sheehan, NHDOT Nancy Mayville, NHDOT Tim Roache, Executive Director Sara Siskavich, GIS Manager James Vayo, Nashua Downtown Specialist George Skuse, Milford Jen Czysz, Assistant Director Karen Baker, Program Assistant WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS: Chairman Hennessey called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. He pointed out there were a couple new Commissioners present and asked for introductions around the table and to include if they were first timers to the Commission. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: The public present did not wish to speak. Ruch asked the group to give applause to Michaelis who had previously stated he has been on the Commission for 45 years. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES DECEMBER 16, 2015 The Chair asked if there were any comments on the minutes of December 16, Lynde pointed out on page 5 under the Commissioners Roundtable, it should be Sherburne Rd, not Sharon Rd. Michaelis also pointed out that Roache was no longer the Interim Executive Director as listed under Staff Present. After further discussion, Ruch motioned with a second from Young: THAT the minutes of December 16, 2015 be approved as amended. The motion carried with two abstentions. GUEST SPEAKER: VICTORIA SHEEHAN-COMMISSIONER, NH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Roache introduced Commissioner Sheehan and provided a little bit of background on where she had worked previously. He informed the Commissioners that she would be providing an update of activities at the NHDOT related to projects of regional interest and related to the Ten Year Plan. Sheehan thanked the group for having her and started off by sharing her thoughts on the DOT and how she looked at the DOT website before taking the position as Commissioner. She added that she would be providing information on what is currently going on and initiatives moving forward with the DOT. Sheehan provided a presentation which started off with The road to success is.currently under construction. She stated the DOT Mission and the purpose Transportation excellence in New Hampshire is fundamental to the state's economic development. The Department will provide safe travel options for all of the state's residents, visitors, and

3 NRPC Commission Meeting DRAFT Minutes March 16, 2016 goods, through a transportation system and services that are well maintained, efficient, reliable, and provide seamless interstate and intrastate connectivity. She noted that the gas tax increase did help bring more money to transportation as well as the FAST Act program. She commented that the DOT is one branch of government that you can t avoid. In order to meet the mission and purpose, DOT focusses on: Safety for the users of the system, our employees and our contractors; Stewardship - maintain the state s infrastructure in a state of good repair, while enhancing the environment and maintaining the unique character and quality of life; Customer Service secure mobility and travel options for all of the state's residents, visitors, and the movement of goods; and Efficiency provide a system and services that are efficient and reliable, maximizing the value of every dollar invested and establishing an environment that promotes innovation. Sheehan noted that Stewardship is the most challenging. She added that DOT uses the balanced scorecard to demonstrate efficiency. She talked about the US Transportation Agency challenges of being asked to do more with less, when already struggling with an aging workforce and an increasing attrition rate and relying on institutional knowledge to get the job done. Sheehan talked at length about Asset Management as a way of doing business for DOT with the goal of maximizing value for long term sustainability of the transportation system, the strategies of maintaining the assets with and without maintenance, cost effectiveness over the lifecycle of the asset, and preserving, rehabilitating and replacing assets as necessary on schedule. Performance Management is another focus for DOT and Sheehan stated that they use performance management to help employees understand how they will support achieving the asset management goals and then tying employee, section, bureau goals into the agency goals. She reviewed streamlining and process improvement and the challenges ahead and the issues that private and public sector are facing with the attrition rate increasing, the average age of the remaining workforce, underutilization of technology and the need for knowledge transfer. The Commissioner added that DOT is always looking at transportation innovations, referring to e-construction & document control, stakeholder partnering, asset management to mention a few. Sheehan referred to changes in systems operations and using real-time information to better manage traffic incidents and accidents as well as having an informed public which assists with travel plans by having better information to avoid delays. Sheehan continued with her presentation moving onto the Ten Year Plan Process. She briefly reviewed the process stating that previous plans were over programmed. She noted that the final Ten Year Plan is scheduled to be adopted into law in June of 2016 with the stipulation that funding for the capitol corridor rail project be removed. Sheehan proceeded to review the current state of the infrastructure related to condition and history on pavement and bridges. For pavement, overall, 68% of NH s roads (state & municipal) are in good/fair condition, while 32% (1,345 miles) are poor/very poor condition. On bridges, of the 3,846 State & Municipal Bridges, 1,208 are 75 years or older, redlist bridges have trended upward over the last 3 years, on average 23 bridges have been added per year over the last 5 years, and 21 bridges per year have been removed from the redlist. As of 2015, 7% of the State s bridges or 153 are in poor condition. Sheehan pointed out the priorities for the proposed TYP: Emphasis on Red List Bridges & Bridge Preservation and Pavement Preservation Dedicated TIFIA pledged funds for rural roads & bridges Completion of I-93 & Funding for Exit 4A Heightened Financial Constraint Next the Commissioner reviewed funding and estimated program expenditures, noting that the Ten Page 2 of 6

4 NRPC Commission Meeting DRAFT Minutes March 16, 2016 Year Plan is a fully constrained Plan using the Federal Formula. She commented that the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) was a huge impact on the plan being fully constrained. She stated that in January of 2015 NHDOT submitted a letter of interest to the USDOT & FHWA to use TIFIA and in May of 2015, will be the awarded a Rural Rate of Finance which enables NH to finance the $200M remainder of I-93; pave 40 percent of NH rural roads and fix 23 red list bridges while costing NH $20M less than financing the $200M for I-93 alone through capital markets. She added the money is used much more efficiently due to this low interest rate loan with the first 9 years only for interest. This allows for the gas tax revenue to be used to pay for other repairs related to pavement and bridges. Sheehan reviewed the funding breakdown for the proposed TYP noting that the general projected outputs of the draft Plan result in an additional 200 estimated miles per year of pavement and 23 additional rehabs or replacements of red listed bridges utilizing the TIFIA. Sheehan concluded her presentation reviewing the timetable for Major Turnpike projects construction under the Turnpike System Capital Program with a starting point of 2017 out to She also provided a look ahead on bridge conditions stating that DOT expects move 244 bridges from the red list but will still see an increase. For road conditions, she stated that DOT is still playing catchup on this but are setting realistic expectations in the next ten years. She asked if there were any questions. Williams referred to a red list bridge program and a Wilton red listed bridge and the issue that the Town can fix the bridge for cheaper than what DOT can and if there is any flexibility with that. Sheehan referred the question to Mayville who is the DOT Bridge Program expert. Mayville stated that for municipal bridges, State funding is 80% of design, construction and ROW. She added that most of the bridges are not in the federal world, so there is some flexibility. Additionally, she said there are guidelines and a basic process that is required, but a town can request design extractions, opt for rehab or full replacement. Mayville stated that often towns choose shorter than 75 year lifespans or addressing load capacity and opt to deal with abutment later. Williams referred to the cost Wilton came up with to replace vs. the DOT cost and asked what number they should be working with. Mayville said they can get estimates from DOT. Panwalker referred to the LPA process and cases he has worked with. Lynde commented on the good relationship Pelham has with the State and the problems they have had with bridges in town and felt the process has been very good. He also commented that the problem solved in town with traffic flow by putting in the 2 roundabouts and how smooth traffic flow is now. Lynde noted that the Context Sensitive Solutions approach that was used and asked why the state does not use this more and it should be used instead of traffic lights. Sheehan replied that they look at the project and choose the best solution to remedy it. She added that the footprint plays a key role but they do look at every opportunity for the most efficient solution. Langdell asked how long the TIFIA has been around. Sheehan replied that it is for larger scale projects and has been in place since MAP21 (about 5 years), but this is the first time NH has used it. Langdell asked if the 30M in municipal aid was an increase over the last TYP. Mayville said yes adding that 12% of highway revenues go toward block grant aid. Sheehan commented that you will not see this increase until next year. Langdell also asked about Nashua E. Hollis St roundabout project that was added into the TYP and if the project was prioritized by the region. Roache said yes. Dell Orfano referred to the 101 Bedford to Amherst project and how Amherst is looking into changing the zoning to commercial and how every intersection fails along this corridor. He asked if this was discussed for recommendation. Roache said not in this round but it is carried in the NRPC LRTP with a cost of 50M and small repairs have been done along the way, but not as 1 project. Roache added that NRPC would be going out on the road to discuss these gorilla projects. Dell Orfano elaborated some and commented that they are having a hard time getting approval from the State to put a traffic light in for safety. Sheehan stated that if there is an accident safety issue, you can work with your RPC to conduct a Road Safety Audit and possible short term Page 3 of 6

5 NRPC Commission Meeting DRAFT Minutes March 16, 2016 solution. Dell Orfano added that this makes it difficult for land development along 101 for economic development due to the safety issue. Sheehan suggested articulating together the needs to the state, to advocate for funding. She referred to the I93 major development planned along that corridor and the partnering with industry and business to set realistic parameters. Brown referred to the 1700 population in Lyndeborough where half of their roads are gravel and the struggle they have as to where they belong. He stated his concerns in regards to the traffic congestion related to the TYP 101A project and the discussion of economic development along the corridor and his reluctance to have that type of issue in Lyndeborough. Hennessey spoke about 101a and his constrained desire to have his business there and the need for the project. He questioned if this was the purpose of the Commission; to promote urban sprawl and if this is what we do as a board; support economic development. Sheehan explained that economic development comes in many forms, understanding what business is coming into the region and how to deal with it from a transportation perspective. Roache commented that it does not have to look like Nashua. Hennessey talked about the impacts to Peterborough and lost value in homes due to factories and economic development entities that left. Fimbel followed up with a question to Dell Orfano s question asking how it works at the State level for economic development. Sheehan said similar to the Town process adding that they make efforts to work with developers for safety and congestion. Kelly commented that 68% of Nashua would want rail and why with that ration would it not be supported. He added that it is good for economic development, so what do we do in Senate to fix this. Sheehan noted that the committee was split and there was funding available for certain parts. She added that there was concern with the amount of money spent in the southern part of the state. There was discussion on getting rail costs and fully evaluating them. Sheehan stated that she was a big advocate for transportation but there is only so much money to go around. There was further discussion on what money can be committed, FTA funds and funding availability. Roache talked about money that was being appropriated to NH as a TMA. Williams said there are too many representatives that don t want it to look good and have concerns as to whether it would be a sound investment. Hennessey said there should be a conversation with the legislators on rail. Sheehan said that other transit modes need to be advocated for also as part of the economic development component. Vayo asked if there was a funding mechanism for non-motorized transportation in the TYP. Sheehan commented that extending sidewalks could be folded into projects but there was not a dedicated program. Lynde referred to the increase in the gas tax of 14% and if it was still the same. Sheehan said we together need to answer the question, is that enough and that DOT would be advocating for additional funding but it would be up to the legislature. Her estimate was another 16 cents to get where we need to be. PHSMA GRANT UPDATE Siskavich provided an update on the NRPC s pipeline safety planning grant awarded through the US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program. PHMSA pointed out that PHMSA s regulatory jurisdiction begins where FERC s ends, which is, once a pipeline is constructed and is operational. Siskavich thanked the Town of Brookline, the Town of Pelham, the City of Nashua, and the full NH Congressional delegation who wrote letters in support of NRPC s application. Siskavich also pointed out that while the motivation for NRPC s application was driven by the Northeast Energy Direct proposal, the grant activities apply regionally as to prepare our communities uniformly for any proposal that might come in the future. NRPC s successful award is multifaceted and reaches a variety of safety stakeholders through four main Page 4 of 6

6 NRPC Commission Meeting DRAFT Minutes March 16, 2016 strategies. To advance inter-agency data exchange, NRPC gathered GIS pipeline data from a variety of sources including PHMSA, Tennessee Gas, and Granit. NRPC mapped large medical, schools, daycares, camps, and other difficult-to-evacuate locations known by PHMSA as identified sites. This information compilation is now available on maps and as GIS datalayers through NRPC s new Open Data Portal: data.nashuarpc.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets To engage local first responders, NRPC is working in conjunction with the Nashua Office of Emergency Management (OEM) who provides fire mutual aid to the region. Nashua OEM will be providing pipeline safety training to first responders and public officials, and will also be developing two planning templates: a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) template for fire, and an annex on pipeline safety which can be added to community Emergency Operating Plan (EOP) documents, both of which will be available in the public domain. For communities that wish to implement either template, Nashua OEM will provide the necessary implementation assistance. Lastly, Nashua OEM will also conduct outreach, marketing, and promotion to support all these grant activities. The last safety strategy to be followed under the grant, geared towards local government, is to promote land use planning best practices. Sound land use planning increases community resilience from pipeline hazards, and there is a large body of general guidance, none of which has been widely implemented in NH. NRPC is currently evaluating what of this best practice literature is practical for the Region to consider, and will be preparing educational materials for member towns as appropriate. Lastly April is Safe Digging Month. NRPC is in touch with the NH Dig Safe office and will conduct a media campaign piece to encourage safe digging in the Region. Kelly asked if we received data on the demand. Roache said that info is out of the scope of the grant. He added that the FERC process is still ongoing. Dell Orfano asked if we could get information from the utility companies on their safety plans or guidelines. Siskavich said she is aware that Tennessee Gas has to comply with integrity management regulations dictated by PHMSA, and also recently they conducted a workshop in Hudson for first responders. She pointed out that Nashua OEM s activities were not meant to duplicate the utility company s trainings and information, but to expand upon it. Fimbel asked if Liberty would help fund if the training complimented what they have to do federally. Siskavich could not say for certain. Langdell expressed concern that emergency responders across towns do not have compatible communication equipment. Czysz commented that this general concern has been raised in the planning documents she has seen as well as corrective strategies. Langdell reiterated that in her opinion, KM and Liberty should be held to an expectation of community betterment. Siskavich said that general recommendations on this problem can be reinforced in the templates under development. Siskavich also reminded the group that while the risk of pipeline failure is very low, it is important to appreciate that all the strategies being pursued can also be applied to gas distribution, which in many ways represents a more significant threat to public safety. Williams asked if each town would benefit with coordinated GIS data. Siskavich said yes, this support was very much a capacity-building opportunity. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Roache summarized the Probe Data work that NRPC is working on and briefly explained the map included with the paragraph in the 1 st Quarter Program Highlights. Its main component is to find congestion spots. The full article can be found in the highlights located here: Page 5 of 6

7 NRPC Commission Meeting DRAFT Minutes March 16, 2016 He summarized the MPT Projects Update piece and informed the group that NRPC would be visiting the towns in spring and summer to find out what the true needs are for the MTP LRTP related to transportation. Both local and larger projects will be looked at. To read the full article, use the link below: Baker provided a brief summary on the 2016 Household Hazardous Waste Collection season which will kick off on April 23, at the Nashua Public Works Garage in Nashua from 8-Noon. She also mentioned the May 7 th Milford event as well as the 7 th event added this year to be held in Pelham NH on August 27 th from 8-Noon. Lastly, she informed the group that participation continues to grow each year. Also, latex paint is not accepted at the collections, Electronics have been suspended from the collection events this year, to visit the website for more info or to call NRPC with any questions. 8:39 PM - COMMISSIONER S ROUNDTABLE The Commissioner s Roundtable was held. Below is a brief summary of what each community had going on: Litchfield - Young: Mosquito Control District Meeting makes news, UTube. Hudson Battis: Maddox not re-elected to BOS, budget passed with NRPC dues. Hall: All pay raises approved except Town Clerk, Track repair passed for Alvirne. Brookline Adams: 3 new businesses in Brookline. Flower shop, Car Repair, BBQ Restaurant. Merrimack Mahon: Traffic issues on primary day, Teflon in water problem, Redlisted bridge fixed, CC will deny surveying to KM, New Pennichuck building / Elmer: Marijuana dispensary approved, 2 closed bridges (Bean & McCaw). Pelham Everything passed acres of open space acquired, 2000 acres for forest management. Wilton Williams: Voted to hire Town Administrator, Eco Dev key for new person. Milford Langdell: Town Meeting results: Default municipal budgets for town & school, No capital improvement money, South St improvements moving forward, Nashua oval improvements, Pumpkin Festival maintained. Nashua Melizzi-Golja: Make It Labs new facility open on Crown Street, tours every Thursday. Kelly: Open forum Monday, March 25 on rail. 50,000 capital improvement for Master Plan, Atlantic Mgmnt looking at Dow Property. Amherst Michaelis: Had same accident on stretch on 101 where Amherst resident killed years back / Dell Orfano: Planning Board activity-expansion of Labelle Winery (BB, Restaurant, Distillery, Hotel Accomodations). Ruch: Hazen parcel for open space, losing Community Development Director. Mont Vernon Fimbel: Space needs assessment in town, Looking at business district. Hollis Rao: Centralized system coming to fruition, warrant article to ask for money. ADJOURN Motion to adjourn came from Mahon with a second from Dell Orfano. The meeting ended at 9:03pm. Respectfully submitted Tim Roache, Official Recorder: Page 6 of 6

8 N A S H U A R E G I O N A L P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N June 15, 2016 FY2017 Budget and Work Plan ADOPTION PENDING

9 PAGE 3 JUNE 15, 2016 Table of Contents Proposed Fiscal Year 2017 Budget NRPC Staff Contact Information... 4 NRPC Commissioners... 4 Social Media Links... 4 Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Narrative... 5 Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Budget-Resources... 6 Fiscal Year 2017 Proposed Budget-Expenses... 6 NRPC Work Program FY2015 Program Achievements... 8 GIS Programs for FY Transportation Programs for Land Use Programs for Environmental Programs for

10 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 4 NRPC Staff Karen Baker-ext. 11 Program Assistant karenb@nashuarpc.org Jill Longval-ext. 27 Senior Environmental Planner jilll@nashuarpc.org Tim Roache-ext. 28 Executive Director timr@nashuarpc.org Matt Waitkins-ext. 18 Field Data/Transportation Planner mattw@nashuarpc.org Julie Chizmas Senior Transportation Planner juliec@nashuarpc.org Cassie Mullen-ext. 17 Regional Planner cassiem@nashuarpc.org Kristina Sargent-ext. 23 Regional Planner Kristinas@nashuarpc.org Jen Czysz, AICP-ext. 31 Assistant Director jenc@nashuarpc.org Camille Pattison, AICP-ext. 14 Program Manager camillep@nashuarpc.org Sara Siskavich-ext. 21 GIS Manager saras@nashuarpc.org Ryan Friedman-ext. 20 Senior GIS Planner ryanf@nashuarpc.org Tanya Reinert-ext. 10 Finance/HR Administrator tanyar@nashuarpc.or Joe Taranto-ext. 26 GIS Technician joet@nashuarpc.org AMHERST Michael Dell Orfano Martin Michaelis Susan Ruch BROOKLINE Jill Adams Tom Rogers HOLLIS Robert Larmouth Venu Rao HUDSON James Battis George Hall Ted Luszey LITCHFIELD Michael Croteau Thomas Young LYNDEBOROUGH Steve Brown Bret Mader MASON Louise Lavoie MERRIMACK William W. Boyd III Karin Elmer (Chair) Margaret Morris Anant Panwalkar COMMISSIONERS MONT VERNON Michael Fimbel (Treasurer) MILFORD Janet Langdell Chris Costantino George Skuse NASHUA Contact NRPC Mark Cookson Dan Kelly Roger Houston (A) Sarah Marchant Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja Daniel Moriarty (A) David Schoneman (A) Nashua Regional Planning Commission 9 Executive Park Drive, Suite 201 Merrimack, NH PELHAM David Hennessey (Vice Chair) Harold Lynde WILTON Jim Kofalt Kermit Williams Like us on Facebook PH: FAX: Follow us on Twitter

11 PAGE 5 JUNE 15, 2016 Fiscal Year 2017 Budget and Work Program Overview In November of 2015 NRPC began a strategic planning effort with a one day retreat at River University. With nearly 25 Commissioners in attendance and full participation from the NRPC staff we took a first step in developing a strategic plan for the agency. Since then, NRPC has been engaged in a strategic planning effort to help guide the agency towards a sustainable future in ever changing fiscal environment. This strategic planning effort comes on the heels of the completion of our comprehensive regional plan and is well timed to help layout a means to assist member communities interested in implementing components of the plan consistent with their local values and goals. The overarching strategic principle for the agency is to provide excellent services to meet the needs of our member communities. To be successful several critical requirements need to be defined and established. NRPC needs to identify diversified and sustainable funding to match the range of community needs. The NRPC workplace, culture and resources empower staff to excel on behalf of the communities. Communication between NRPC and its stakeholders is constant and mutually productive. In the coming weeks and months NRPC staff and the Executive Committee will work to complete a Statement of Strategy to guide the agency forward in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. All Commissioners are welcome to participate in this process. Looking ahead to FY 2017 the proposed budget and work program provides some exciting opportunities to address the needs of the region. Beginning this summer NRPC will work with local officials to address transportation priorities of the region relative to the goals and objectives of the regional plan. NRPC will also continue to offer local technical transportation planning assistance through pavement management services, intersection analysis and traffic counting. Other focus areas of the FY 2017 budget will include partnering with public health officials to address the nexus of climate impacts on health. NRPC will collaborate with Nashua s Great American Downtown to promote farmers markets and bolster the availability of local fresh food in areas with unmet demand. NRPC will be developing a suite of resources to enhance planning for, and access to parks and recreation opportunities in the region. Outstanding grant proposals include a partnership with the Nashua Transit System, Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services and Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative to to the Federal Transit Administration to provide transportation to a mobile health clinic. NRPC has partnered with the Central New Hampshire Planning commission and applied for funding through Community Development Finance Authority to obtain the seed funds to build regional economic development capacity through local pilot project implementation. This is an exciting opportunity consistent with the recent strategic planning efforts. The FY17 Budget revenue breakdown is: Local Dues $163,000 12% Local Planning Contracts $83,500 6% Federal Contracts $981,063 70% Grants and Other Income $159,137 11% State Contracts (OEP) $11,111 1% The details of each of these categories are shown in the proposed budget spreadsheets and discussed on the following pages. We at NRPC value the relationships we have with each of our communities, and we are constantly on the lookout for ways we can assist you individually and collectively. We appreciate your strong support and enthusiastic participation in NRPC. Please contact Tim Roache, Executive Director, at timr@nashuarpc.org if you have any questions about the NRPC Budget and Work Program.

12 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 6 Budget ~ Resources

13 PAGE 7 JUNE 15, 2016 Budget ~ Expenses

14 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 8 FY2016 Achievements GIS Projects GIS Open Data Portal for downloadable GIS data: Updates to MapGeo: and online traffic counts Regional utility mapping: GIS Brownbag Lunch series: NRPC Standard Maps Comprehensive Update: Local technical assistance highlights: Mapping Biking Suitability in Nashua; Hudson Emergency Response Time Forecasting Pavement Condition Map Templates Tax map updates for Amherst, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, and Mont Vernon. NRPC GIS Poster selected for display at NEURISA Conference Metropolitan Transportation Plan Project Listing Workshops Probe Data Analysis TMA Certification Review Process Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Equipment Installed on the Nashua River Rail Trail Annual Listing of Obligated Projects Federal Fiscal Year Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Improvement Program Amendments Transportation Projects Land Use Projects Pipeline and Hazardous Materials First Responder Training Plan4Health Nashua Wilton Master Plan: Economic Development Chapter Wilton Conservation Plan Mont Vernon Town Center Zoning Pelham CIP Community Planning Metrics Land Use Planning Factsheets: Planning Board Basics: Regional Dig Safe Awareness Campaign Environmental Projects Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program: Regional Competitive Electricity Supply Project: Nashua Region Water Resiliency Action Plan (no link available) Renewable Energy Tool Belt (no link available)

15 PAGE 9 JUNE 15, 2016 GIS Projects for FY2017 Recreational Opportunities Datalayer and Analysis NRPC will develop GIS data and analyze comparative recreation opportunities for all 13 communities in the region. This analysis will focus on identifying existing recreation facilities in the region, the percentage of each community s population that lives within walking distance of parks and playgrounds, the availability of different facility types and acreages of recreation lands in each community. Staff will work directly with local planning boards, recreation commissions and municipal departments to ensure the accuracy of the data. The final work products will include a series of display quality community recreation maps, online apps, and an analysis report-out. Sidewalk and Pedestrian Infrastructure GIS information on sidewalks and associated pedestrian infrastructure is currently incomplete for the NRPC region, and this has been identified as a priority action area of the NRPC Regional Bike/ Ped plan. In FY16 NRPC developed a data collection plan to guide future development of sidewalk assets, using existing data sources, GPS, and the NH SADES data development framework. In FY17 NRPC will put the data development plan into action so to address this critical data gap.

16 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 10 Regional Trails Inventory NRPC continues to GPS public-access trails in the region with the goal to have a comprehensive regional datalayer for general-purpose trail mapping. The emphasis is on sub-meter trail data collection to support navigation, as well as accurate attributes describing permitted uses. Demographics Data Library Over the past few years NRPC has amassed a wealth of demographic data in support of the RRPC Regional Plan. Concurrently the U.S. Census continues to offer updated products that enhance and inform every aspect of planning at the Commission. NRPC will take a complete inventory of its holdings and strategize mechanisms by which all staff have quick, efficient access to authoritative demographic data to better support our efforts and those of our communities. ArcGIS Online/ArcGIS for Server n FY 2016 NRPC made a substantial financial investment in upgraded ESRI client and database software. These advanced tools enabled NRPC to establish a multi-user database that supports simultaneous viewing and editing and has substantially improved our data maintenance workflows. NRPC will be evaluating the costs and implementation feasibility of ArcGIS for Server in either a cloud or self-hosted environment, for more robust support of custom applications such as ESRI storymaps and other ArcGIS Online applications such as ArcGIS Explorer for mobile trails navigation, above, and the Hollis MS4 data editing application featured above.

17 PAGE 11 JUNE 15, 2016 Transportation Projects for FY2017 Metropolitan Transportation Plan Update As we wrap up the development of the Ten Year Plan it is time to look ahead to the start of the next two year transportation planning cycle beginning this fall. NRPC has adopted the practice of maintaining an open project solicitation period to review and consider new projects for the Long Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan or MTP. The MTP is used as a holding tank for projects under consideration for inclusion in the next Ten Year Plan. Over the course of this summer and fall, staff will update the MTP project listing to include new projects received over the last year and incorporate new input from local decision makers provided during a series of transportation workshops. Transportation Improvement Program Update The Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) is working cooperatively with New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) to develop the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is the fiscally constrained listing of projects to be implemented over the course of the next 4 years. Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative (SVTC) NRPC will continue to work closely with the Souhegan Valley Transportation Collaborative and Nashua Transit System to provide demand response transit service for the elderly and disabled population of Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Milford, Mont Vernon and Wilton. Info for the Service can be found at Pavement Management Pilot Project NRPC will wrap up a two year project in collaboration with the state s RPCs and NH DOT to pilot a cloud based pavement management system using the Statewide Asset Data Exchange System (SADES) Road Surface Management System (RSMS) software. NRPC has been working with the Town of Brookline to pilot the usage of the software from beginning to end of the RSMS process including data collection through budget development. Staff have completed a road inventory. Year two will engage RSMS software to scenario plan capital investment needs for the pilot community. This opportunity is fully funded through NRPC s UPWP contract. Performance Measurement Planning In cooperation with NHDOT and FHWA, NRPC staff will research planning based performance measures related to the delivery of services or plan implementation in compliance with federal rules. NRPC is actively collaborating with the other NH RPCs through the Performance Based Planning and Programming Workgroup to further develop appropriate performance measures for NH and NRPC that help tell the story of transportation planning and needs for our communities, transit providers, and other transportation and planning sector partners. In FY2017 NRPC will have additional funding and technical assistance under a SHARP2 grant. Congestion Management Process The Congestion Management Process (CMP) refers to a systematic approach, collaboratively developed and implemented throughout a large metropolitan region that provides for the safe and effective management and operation of new and existing transportation facilities through the use of demand reduction and operational management strategies. During FY2017 NRPC will continue to update its congestion management process methodology document as well as develop several corridor reports that assess peak congestion. Corridor studies will focus on completing report outs of data collected in

18 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 12 FY 2016 for the F.E.E. Turnpike, along with NH Routes 101, 101A, 3A, 130, 102, and 111, plus, the DW Highway and Nashua s Main Street. Additional routes will be selected for new data collection. East West Travel Many of the corridor studies that have guided our transportation planning process and project selection process are more than ten years old. The recommendations from these documents were based on assumptions developed at the end of a period of relatively high population growth and assumed a continuation of growth into the 20 year planning horizon. With the recent recession and the benefit of hindsight we know that these forecasts are not likely to play out. In the balance are hundreds of millions of dollars of proposed improvements that need a second look. Among them, the northern crossing of the Merrimack River, the southern segment of the Circumferential Highway/ Hudson Parkway, improvements to NH101 and NH101A. During FY 17 the NRPC Staff will follow up on recent conversations about priority transportation needs and host a North Bridge Summit, if this project remains a high priority. The summit will bring together decision makers at the local and state level to develop a pathway towards solution to this and other east west travel concerns. Nashua Transit System Comprehensive Plan The Nashua Transit System (NTS) currently provides fixed route and demand response service within the City of Nashua with limited demand response services to the adjacent communities of Merrimack and Hudson. NTS has an interest in improving their current service and plans to do so through both capital and operating expansions. NTS has significant short term capital needs due to its aging bus and van fleet and is currently planning a complete fleet replacement over the next two years. They are also interested in coordinating additional service with groups to expand service within the region and possibly beyond to destinations like the Boston-Manchester Regional Airport. Over the past years, NRPC and NTS staff have worked closely to develop a comprehensive plan for the transit system to identify current services and facilities and prioritize future service expansions and the corresponding capital requirements over the next decade. All service expansions require detailed analysis on a variety of factors to determine the potential feasibility and operating and capital needs. The final product will be a Comprehensive 10 Year Plan for Nashua Transit System documenting existing facilities and services and prioritizing future capital and operating needs. To date, drafts have been developed for the Public Outreach, Demographics, and Existing Routes and Services Chapters. The entire plan will be completed this summer. NRPC Traffic Counting Program The NRPC traffic counting season has begun. This year, staff will conduct counts at approximately 130 locations throughout the region at the request of New Hampshire DOT. NRPC will also conduct traffic counts at the request of our member communities. The data is used both by NRPC and NHDOT to generate reports that assist in decision making by local and state officials. Data reporting will be enhanced in the coming year with weekly traffic count updates through various social media. For more information about the NRPC traffic counting program please visit the traffic count page of our website, located here: Traffic counting service is available to communities at the request of local elected officials or their designee. NRPC can provide 24 hour traffic volumes, speed data and vehicle classification data. In addition, NRPC can provide turning movement count data for intersection analysis and signal warrant analysis.

19 PAGE 13 JUNE 15, 2016 Land Use Projects for FY 2017 HNH Parks and Playground Project The Nashua Regional Planning Commission proposes to develop a suite of resources to enhance planning for parks and playgrounds in the region. Through this initiative, NRPC will develop a series of recreation opportunity maps for all 13 communities in the region, provide and assessment of access to recreation opportunities, and produce a guidebook for municipalities to proactively plan for parks and playgrounds. Development Review and Planning Services Part of NRPC s comprehensive services is to offer direct local land use planning assistance. Currently, the Towns of Litchfield, Mason and Wilton utilize contract planning services to directly assist the Planning Board. Services include providing assistance to applicants in submitting subdivision or site plan applications, written reviews of submissions to the Planning Board, attending hearings and work sessions to assist and answer questions, and supporting the Board and Town staff in preparing ordinance and regulation updates, notices, draft amendments and warrants for Town Meeting. Wilton Master Plan NRPC has been working with the Town of Wilton on an ongoing basis to update its Master Plan. The Natural Resources and Town Facilities Chapter is currently under development and will continue into FY2017. Also planned for the coming year is an update of the Housing and Demographics, Transportation, and Cultural and Historic Resources Chapters. Pelham Master Plan and Capital Improvements Plan The Town of Pelham has requested NRPC s assistance in the update of its Master Plan and Capital Improvements Plan. Master Plan updates will focus on bringing basic demographics and population projections up to date and begin the process of updating chapters. The CIP updates will build off of past work completed by NRPC for the Town. Farmers Market Promotion Program NRPC collaborated with Nashua s Great American Downtown to submit a grant application to the USDA for the Nashua Farmers Market Promotion Program that aims to bolster the availability of fresh local foods in an area with unmet demand. If funded the program will increase the existing market s sustainability and strength through direct consumer marketing, expand the number of vendors to increase variety and bring additional farms into the market, recruit new customers, and add SNAP/EBT payment options. NRPC will also perform a market analysis to determine the demand for and feasibility of additional opportunities to increase access to local foods in the area. Options to be evaluated will include a winter market venue and a prime growing season mobile market.

20 JUNE 15, 2016 PAGE 14 Environment Projects for FY2017 Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Best Management Practices NRPC is continuing efforts on a grant from the U.S. DOT s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to help promote best practices in the region. Staff is currently developing a guidebook with best management practices regarding pipelines and land-use planning. The guidebook will be geared towards elected officials and planning board members. In addition, a model ordinance will be designed to address development in close proximity to pipelines. These materials will be rolled out this summer, so please let us know if your town or board would be interested in an individualized training. Household Hazardous Waste Program NRPC, on behalf of the Nashua Region Solid Waste Management District, was awarded a $50,382 HHW Collection Grant from the NH Dept. of Environmental Services for FY The grant will help to fund collection events scheduled for August 6, 2016; August 27, 2016 (in Pelham); October 1, 2016; November 5, 2016; April 22, 2017; May 6, 2017 (in Milford); and June 1, For more information about the HHW program, visit Regional Competitive Electricity Supply Project In FY 2017 NRPC will continue to work with municipalities and school districts to procure a competitive electricity supply as an aggregation. NRPC will conduct a competitive bid process this summer, with the goal of signing contracts by the end of September. Renewable Energy Tool Belt Imagine that you are a Facilities Committee member. You are planning for a new Fire Station in town and you d like it to incorporate renewable energy. Solar companies call you daily to get your business, but is solar really the best option for the building? Would biomass heating work even better? How would you start to compare the two? These are questions communities across NH face as they work to increase their use of renewable energy. Until now, there has not been a tool to help them begin to compare renewable energy options. With that in mind, the Nashua Regional Planning Commission in partnership with the Local Energy Solutions Work Group will develop the Renewable Energy Tool Belt. The Tool Belt will consist of a series of worksheets and short decision guides that will help communities to compare production potential and return on investment among various renewable energy options. It will not replace the work of an outside professional, but it will give communities a starting point to compare renewable energy options. The Renewable Energy Tool Belt project is being funded by the NH Charitable Foundation.

21 PAGE 15 JUNE 15, 2016 NRPC Hazard Mitigation and Climate Resiliency Initiatives Planning for natural disasters can reduce loss of life, injuries, and property damage. Hazard Mitigation Plans identify critical facilities and areas of concern throughout a municipality, analyze potential natural hazards and risks to these facilities, and prioritize mitigation measures to address the hazards. Municipalities must update their FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plans every five years in order to maintain eligibility for federal mitigation grants. In FY2017, NRPC will work with Brookline, Mason, and Pelham to conduct Hazard Mitigation Plan updates. Increasingly, communities are using the hazard mitigation planning process as a way to address the impacts of climate change on water infrastructure and other critical facilities. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission has developed detailed templates to incorporate climate resiliency into various elements of FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan. The FY2017 updates to hazard mitigation plans in Brookline, Mason, and Pelham will be the first in the Nashua Region to address climate change resiliency. Wilton Conservation Plan The Wilton Conservation Commission has contracted with NRPC to assist in the update of its Conservation Plan. Efforts will begin by updating basic data points such as population, conservation lands, and land use change. NRPC will prepare and analyze a variety of supportive maps depicting water bodies, watersheds and aquifers, prime farmland, scenic vistas and roads, and existing conservation areas. Additionally, NRPC will develop a GIS-based conserved lands inventory based on the Granit template and cross-tabulated summarizing town-wide acreage totals of conserved lands and lands in current use. Additionally, NRPC will complete a comprehensive review of the plan to update and edit all text and integrate an updated set of goals, objectives, and outreach findings as articulated by the Town. Building Resiliency Against Climate Effects and Severe Weather Climate Health Adaptation Plan NRPC will use the framework established by NH DES, a multitude of local documents, and consult with topic experts to identify potential relevant health hazards due to severe weather and climate change. These hazards will be linked to associated health impacts and potential intervention strategies to minimize community burdens from such events. The NRPC in collaboration with the NRPHN is well suited to develop the CHAP as the NRPC has developed all of the local Hazard Mitigation Plans for the entire public health region. In doing so, they have well established relationships with town officials, staff and local responders who will likely be addressing the effects of climate change events and will serve as an excellent resource for this effort. This project will foster further collaboration with these contacts while connecting them with public health officials throughout the region. This connection could stand to be strengthened in an effort to most effectively work as a region in minimizing the effects of hazard events.

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