At a glance
The Conservation Advisory Council met Tuesday, November 5, 2025. The council scheduled a November 19 subcommittee meeting to work on Climate Smart Communities recertification, approved plans to spread waffle stone at State Street Park on November 21, and confirmed 5,000 dollars from DPW for a final round of fall tree plantings. Members discussed launching a volunteer tree steward program modeled on New York City's Green Keepers, with training from a new DEC forester. One council seat remains open.
Call to order, minutes, membership
The council opened the meeting and approved minutes from October with one correction. One council seat remains open. Members agreed to promote the vacancy on Instagram and the city website.
Key points
- Meeting called to order, minutes approved with corrections
- One council seat remains vacant
- Members will post the opening on Instagram and spread the word to recruit new members
Climate Smart Communities platform and subcommittee meeting
The council discussed the Climate Smart Communities online platform. Several members had not yet logged in or were unclear how to navigate it. The council scheduled a November 19 subcommittee meeting at Return to review the platform and plan recertification tasks.
Key points
- Some members reported difficulty logging in to the Climate Smart Communities platform
- The council will need to recertify for Climate Smart Communities status
- Subcommittee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, at 6:30 PM at Return
- The chair will ensure all members are linked into the platform before that meeting
Wednesday, November 19, 6:30 to 7:30 PM at Return. The subcommittee will review the Climate Smart Communities online platform and identify recertification tasks.
Budget and tree planting funding
The council received 15,000 dollars for next year, the same as last year. DPW Superintendent Rob Perry provided 5,000 dollars from his budget to cover a final round of fall tree plantings, six trees at five sites. About 1,500 dollars may remain; members discussed encumbering that for spring plantings.
Key points
- The Board of Estimate and Apportionment approved 15,000 dollars for the council, unchanged from last year
- Rob Perry gave the council 5,000 dollars from DPW's budget for fall tree plantings
- Six trees will be planted at five sites this week, the last planting of the season
- Approximately 1,500 dollars may remain; members discussed contracting with Rise and Run to encumber funds for spring tree orders
The council requested 30,000 dollars but received 15,000 dollars, the same as last year. The 5,000 dollar contribution from DPW allowed the fall tree planting to proceed.
Light bulb exchange program closed
The light bulb exchange grant is exhausted, with about 30 dollars remaining. Bulbs are currently available at city hall, Hudson Library, Spark of Hudson, and Rolling Grocerers.
Key points
- The grant for the light bulb exchange program is exhausted, with approximately 30 dollars left
- Bulbs are available at city hall, Hudson Library, Spark of Hudson, and the Rolling Grocerers co-op
EV car charger grants and site visits
The chair met with four vendors for site visits over the past two weeks. Two locations look promising: the Bark Park parking lot for a level 3 charger (near the sewer plant where electricity is available), and the Amtrak lot for three level 2 stations with six ports. The Amtrak site will include handicap-accessible charging as required by next year. Requests for proposals are due next week.
Key points
- Four vendors conducted site visits over the past couple of weeks
- The Bark Park parking lot is a strong candidate for a level 3 charger (fast charging), because electricity is available near the sewer plant
- The Amtrak parking lot will host three level 2 stations with six ports, starting near the handicap parking spot to meet upcoming accessibility requirements
- National Grid funding is available for the level 3 charger; grant money may cover electrical work for level 2 stations next year
- The chair told vendors no trees can be cut during installation
- RFP submissions are due next week
Hudson aimed to be the first municipality in Columbia County with a level 3 charger, but another site installed one a couple of weeks ago.
Arbor Day tree plantings and remaining funds
The last round of tree plantings will happen this week: six trees at five sites, funded by Rob Perry's 5,000 dollar contribution. About 1,500 dollars may remain. Members discussed encumbering those funds with a contract for spring plantings to avoid losing the money at year-end.
Key points
- Six trees will be planted at five sites this week, the last plantings of the year
- Rob Perry provided 5,000 dollars from DPW when the council was short by 3,500 dollars
- Approximately 1,500 dollars may remain in the tree budget
- Members discussed asking the city treasurer whether a contract with Rise and Run could encumber the leftover funds for spring tree orders
The council will ask the city treasurer if a contract with Rise and Run can encumber the remaining 1,500 dollars for spring tree plantings, avoiding a loss of unspent funds at year-end.
Tree ordinance, community solar, idling law
The tree ordinance remains with the Legal Committee after a meeting with mutual confusion. Community solar passed the Common Council (members believed), but the status of the mayor's letter to residents is unclear. The anti-idling law passed the council; members did not recall the effective date.
Key points
- The tree ordinance is still with the Legal Committee; no progress since a meeting that left both sides confused
- Community solar was presented to the council and may have passed; the mayor's office needs to send a template letter to residents about the opt-in program
- The anti-idling law passed the council, though the effective date is uncertain
- Members will follow up with the city clerk and the mayor's office on community solar status
Community solar requires only a letter from the mayor's office to residents, not city funding. The program would save residents 10% on electric bills if they opt in.
Tree replacement at Harry Howard Park
The contractor said they will wait until the first frost to replace trees at Harry Howard Park. The council will follow up on timing.
Key points
- The contractor plans to wait for the first frost before replacing trees at Harry Howard Park
- Members noted the city had a brief freeze last week, but it may not count as a sustained first frost
- The council will contact the contractor to confirm the planting schedule
Waffle stone delivery at State Street Park
The council scheduled a volunteer work day for Friday, November 21, at 4 PM to spread waffle stone at State Street Park (also called Ankle Breaker Park). The stone will be delivered by truck to the upper level. Members will bring brooms, rakes, and wheelbarrows. The chair will ask DPW if water can be temporarily hooked up to wet the stone after spreading.
Key points
- Waffle stone delivery scheduled for Friday, November 21, at 4 PM
- The stone will be dumped at the upper level of State Street Park (Ankle Breaker Park)
- Volunteers will spread the stone with brooms, rakes, and wheelbarrows
- The chair will ask Rob Perry if DPW can temporarily connect water to wet the stone after placement
- Members will coordinate tools; some may borrow from DPW or the Tool Shed
Friday, November 21, 4 PM at State Street Park. Bring brooms, rakes, wheelbarrows if available. Contact the chair if the date does not work; the council will confirm delivery timing with the vendor.
Tree steward program proposal
Members discussed launching a volunteer tree steward program modeled on New York City's Green Keepers. The program would train residents to care for street trees, work with the Hudson Business Coalition, and possibly partner with DPW. A new DEC forester offered to provide training. Legal questions remain about whether volunteers can work on trees in the public right-of-way on private property. The council will develop a proposal for the Common Council.
Key points
- The council reviewed a proposal for a tree steward program based on New York City's volunteer model
- The program would train residents in street tree care and maintenance, with possible partnerships with the Hudson Business Coalition and DPW
- Joshua Del Rio, a new DEC forester, offered to provide training and expressed interest in working with the city
- Legal questions remain about volunteers working on street trees, which are on private property in a public easement
- Most property owners would likely welcome free tree maintenance
- National Grid also prunes street trees periodically; the program could coordinate with that work
- Members suggested starting with a pilot project, possibly a volunteer day on Warren Street trees with a DEC training session at the library
- The council will develop a timeline and proposal, possibly starting in spring
Joshua Del Rio, a new DEC forester, reached out to the council and offered to provide training on tree care and pruning. He also invited the council to a dedication at Philmont's White High Falls reforestation project.
Street trees are technically on private property in a public easement. Property owners are responsible for sidewalk and tree maintenance. A tree steward program would need to address liability and property access, possibly through a Common Council resolution.
Sidewalk replacement and tree pits
The council discussed the city's sidewalk replacement program, led by Gary Purnhagen. The committee is establishing a fund to redo sidewalks in stretches rather than individually. The Conservation Advisory Council proposed enlarging tree pits where possible, adding bioswales, or allowing permeable pavement. One member noted that permeable sidewalks may not work in Hudson's climate and require maintenance. The Sidewalk Committee meets Thursday, November 6, at 5:30 PM; a council member may attend to raise these ideas.
Key points
- The Sidewalk Committee is developing a citywide sidewalk replacement program funded by fees into a dedicated fund
- The committee plans to redo sidewalks in stretches to reduce costs
- The Conservation Advisory Council suggested enlarging tree pits, adding bioswales, or changing code to allow permeable pavement
- One member noted permeable pavement requires maintenance and may not work in Hudson's freeze-thaw climate
- The council proposed developing a sidewalk design template that includes tree pits and plantings
- The Sidewalk Committee meets Thursday, November 6, at 5:30 PM; a member may attend to present these ideas
The city installed water-collecting tree wells on Union Street as part of a DEC-funded project several years ago. Early design errors affected tree health, but newer plantings are doing better.
The Sidewalk Committee meets Thursday, November 6, at 5:30 PM. A Conservation Advisory Council member may attend to discuss tree pit expansion and green infrastructure.
Green Amendment and Earth Law Center
A member explained that New York passed a Green Amendment in 2019, guaranteeing residents the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment. The Earth Law Center offers a toolkit for municipalities to use the amendment in litigation or advocacy. The council suggested the Waterfront Committee might benefit more from a presentation.
Key points
- New York is one of three states with a constitutional Green Amendment, passed in 2019
- The amendment guarantees the right to clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment
- The Earth Law Center offers a toolkit for municipalities to use the amendment as a legal tool
- The council suggested the Waterfront Committee might be a better audience for a presentation
Adjournment
The council adjourned the meeting.
Key points
- Meeting adjourned
About this page
FUTURE HUDSON is an experiment in civic engagement: every public meeting of the City of Hudson since January 2026, transcribed and made readable, so any resident can follow what the city is deciding without attending every meeting. This page covers one meeting; see the full archive.
How it was made
The meeting video was transcribed automatically; the transcript was then organized into sections and summarized. The raw transcript is above, every claim can be checked against it.
What to be skeptical of
The transcript is automated and contains speech-recognition errors; names and numbers may be wrong. This page has not been reviewed by a human. Nothing here is an official record, the city's official minutes are authoritative.
About coverage of this body
Meetings of the Conservation Advisory are uploaded to the city YouTube channel by members on a best-effort basis (not by the city audiovisual coordinator, who posts only the Common Council family, Planning Board, and HCDPA). If a meeting of this body is missing from the archive, it usually means the recording was not uploaded. See the archive index for the full coverage note.